by Katherine Applegate

4.8 stars – 27,435 reviews

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The #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan is now a major motion picture streaming on Disney+

This unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated book is told from the point of view of Ivan himself. 

Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.

In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope.

The One and Only Ivan features first-person narrative; author’s use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective).

This acclaimed middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom.

Plus don’t miss The One and Only Bob, Katherine Applegate’s return to the world of Ivan, Bob, and Ruby!

by A.A. Milne

4.7 stars – 3,854 reviews

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Since 1926, A. A. Milne has written two books about Pooh’s adventures for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard has lovingly given them shape through his iconic and stunning illustrations. Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends—Piglet, Owl, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, and the ever depressed Eeyore—have endured as the unforgettable creations of these two authors.These characters and their tales are classic childhood treasures that still speak to us now with the kind of vitality and warmth that makes true storytelling so special.

by Molly Johnston

5.0 stars – 4 reviews

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True friendship is sticking together through the good and the bad times

11-year-old Madison grew up in Kent Cove, never expecting her life to change. But when she decides to break free from her toxic friendship with the neighborhood bully, Lori, everything changes.

Without Lori, Madison grows closer to Tilly and Morgan. Their friendship strengthens as they have sleepovers every weekend and protect one another from a rabid dog in Tilly’s field and bullies at school. Madison even overcomes her fear of horses to ride with Tilly’s help.

Meanwhile, Lori’s life is upside down. With no real friends to help her through her issues at home, she lashes out with lies for attention. All she wants is to win back Madison’s trust and friendship.

But will Madison ever open the friendship door for her again?

Madison’s Challenge is a realistic and heartwarming middle-grade fiction novel for any kid struggling through the ups and downs of friendship. With Tilly and Morgan at her side, Madison learns to stand up for herself, overcome her fears, and empathize with others. Grab a copy today and dive into Kent Cove, where the strength of friendship prevails over bullies and hardship!

by A.A. Milne

4.7 stars – 3,854 reviews

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Since 1926, A. A. Milne has written two books about Pooh’s adventures for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard has lovingly given them shape through his iconic and stunning illustrations. Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends—Piglet, Owl, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, and the ever depressed Eeyore—have endured as the unforgettable creations of these two authors.These characters and their tales are classic childhood treasures that still speak to us now with the kind of vitality and warmth that makes true storytelling so special.

by Lemony Snicket

4.8 stars – 3,657 reviews

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NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched and will most likely fill you with deep despair.

From The Bad Beginning to The End, this comprehensive collection with unfortunate bonus material that may or may not include trivia questions, character profiles, and several very sad sentences is the only choice for people who simply cannot get enough of a bad thing!

by A.A. Milne

4.7 stars – 3,854 reviews

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Since 1926, A. A. Milne has written two books about Pooh’s adventures for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard has lovingly given them shape through his iconic and stunning illustrations. Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends—Piglet, Owl, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, and the ever depressed Eeyore—have endured as the unforgettable creations of these two authors.These characters and their tales are classic childhood treasures that still speak to us now with the kind of vitality and warmth that makes true storytelling so special.

by Katherine Rundell

4.5 stars – 3,627 reviews

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“The beauty of sky, music, and the belief in ‘extraordinary things’ triumph in this whimsical and magical tale” (Publishers Weekly) about a girl in search of her past who discovers a secret rooftop world in Paris.

Everyone thinks that Sophie is an orphan. True, there were no other recorded female survivors from the shipwreck that left baby Sophie floating in the English Channel in a cello case, but Sophie remembers seeing her mother wave for help. Her guardian tells her it is almost impossible that her mother is still alive—but “almost impossible” means “still possible.” And you should never ignore a possible.

So when the Welfare Agency writes to her guardian, threatening to send Sophie to an orphanage, they takes matters into their own hands and flee to Paris to look for Sophie’s mother, starting with the only clue they have—the address of the cello maker.

Evading the French authorities, she meets Matteo and his network of rooftoppers—urchins who live in the hidden spaces above the city. Together they scour the city in a search for Sophie’s mother—but can they find her before Sophie is caught and sent back to London? Or, more importantly, before she loses hope?

Phillip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials series, calls Rooftoppers “the work of a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination.”

Today’s Book of The Day is sponsored by this week’s Kids’ eBook of The Week:

by A.A. Milne

4.7 stars – 3,854 reviews

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Since 1926, A. A. Milne has written two books about Pooh’s adventures for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard has lovingly given them shape through his iconic and stunning illustrations. Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends—Piglet, Owl, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, and the ever depressed Eeyore—have endured as the unforgettable creations of these two authors.These characters and their tales are classic childhood treasures that still speak to us now with the kind of vitality and warmth that makes true storytelling so special.

by Devorah Heitner

4.8 stars – 108 reviews

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NATIONAL BESTSELLER

The definitive guide to helping tweens and teens set boundaries online when technology and social media prioritize being online 24/7 over privacy

“Essential reading . . . With empathy and insight, Devorah Heitner sheds light on how parents’ scrutiny and monitoring of teenagers can intensify the stress of growing up with social media.”—Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Between social media, constant connection, and addictive tech and smartphones, the boundaries of privacy are stretched thin. We can track our kids’ every move with apps, see their grades within minutes of being posted, and fixate on their digital footprint, anxious that a misstep could cause them to be “canceled” or even jeopardize their admission to college.

All of this adds pressure on kids, particularly Gen Z, who are coming of age immersed in social media platforms that compete for their attention and emphasize “personal brand,” “likes,” and “gotcha” moments. How are kids supposed to figure out who they really are with zero privacy and constant judgment? Growing Up in Public shows us that by focusing on character, rather than the threat of getting caught or exposed, we can support our kids to be authentically themselves. The key is mentoring, not monitoring.

Drawing on her extensive work with parents and schools as well as hundreds of interviews with kids, parents, educators, clinicians, and scholars, Heitner offers strategies for parenting our kids in an always-connected world. With relatable stories and research-backed advice, Growing Up in Public empowers parents to cut through the overwhelm to connect with their kids, recognize how to support them, and help them figure out who they are when everyone is watching.

by Gary Paulsen

4.5 stars – 120 reviews

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rom the Newbery Award–winning, New York Times–bestselling author of Northwind. “A stark, moving portrait of Mexican poverty and street life.” —School Library Journal

Fourteen-year-old Manny is an orphan in Juarez, Mexico. He competes with his bigger, meaner rivals for the coins American tourists throw off the bridge between Texas and his town. Across that heavily guarded bridge await a different world and a better existence.

On the night when Manny dares the crossing—through the muddy shallows of the Rio Grande, past the searchlights and the border patrol—the young man encounters an old stranger who could prove to be an ally or an enemy. Manny can’t tell for certain. But if he is to achieve his dream, then he must be willing to risk everything—even his life.

by Heidi W. Durrow

4.0 stars – 3,533 reviews

Everyday price: $11.99

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“The Girl Who Fell from the Sky can actually fly.” —The New York Times Book Review

Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I., becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy after a fateful morning on their Chicago rooftop. Forced to move to a new city, with her strict African American grandmother as her guardian, Rachel is thrust for the first time into a mostly black community, where her light brown skin, blue eyes, and beauty bring a constant stream of attention her way. It’s there, as she grows up and tries to swallow her grief, that she comes to understand how the mystery and tragedy of her mother might be connected to her own uncertain identity. This searing and heart-wrenching portrait of a young biracial girl dealing with society’s ideas of race and class is the winner of the Bellwether Prize for best fiction manuscript addressing issues of social justice.

by Gary Paulsen

4.5 stars – 120 reviews

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rom the Newbery Award–winning, New York Times–bestselling author of Northwind. “A stark, moving portrait of Mexican poverty and street life.” —School Library Journal

Fourteen-year-old Manny is an orphan in Juarez, Mexico. He competes with his bigger, meaner rivals for the coins American tourists throw off the bridge between Texas and his town. Across that heavily guarded bridge await a different world and a better existence.

On the night when Manny dares the crossing—through the muddy shallows of the Rio Grande, past the searchlights and the border patrol—the young man encounters an old stranger who could prove to be an ally or an enemy. Manny can’t tell for certain. But if he is to achieve his dream, then he must be willing to risk everything—even his life.