The start of a new school year always feels bustling—almost too much so—with fresh haircuts, back-to-school nights, last-minute trips to the store for sneakers that fit, and one final lick of summer ice cream. My kids are entering with new teachers, trying new clubs, reconnecting with friends, and, if given a moment, eagerly clamoring for their school-issued devices. As for me, I’m doing my best to keep us all reading even when life speeds up. Some days that means letting the clock slip while the kids stay up late with a book; other days it means mustering the energy to switch off screens after school and head to the library. Once we arrive, I always feel like there’s suddenly plenty of time to linger.
There are plenty of excellent books vying for attention right now! It’s worth carving out time for these ten fresh releases from revered longtime creators of children’s literature and from popular, newer talents.
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Christopher Myers, Night Ride Kokila, September 29 recommended for ages 4-8
The artistic reach of Christopher Myers’ latest picture book is truly grand. To realize the stained-glass feel across each spread, Myers lit up and photographed windows of his own design, six feet by four feet, creating a sequence that feels as sacred as a cathedral window. The imagery follows children cycling on a nighttime pilgrimage through emblematic corners of New York City—from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge—and returning home at dawn. Night Ride contains no text, inviting readers to craft their own narrative or simply savor the artwork on its own.
For a lavish, mixed-media experience, pair Night Ride with Jillian Tamaki’s new picture book, Young Cat, Old Cat, which is rendered in embroidery and appliqué.
Kate Beaton, Rebecca illustrated by Sydney Smith Roaring Brook Press, September 22 recommended for ages 4-8
This thoughtful picture book comes from two celebrated Canadian creators, cartoonist Kate Beaton and illustrator Sydney Smith. In a voice reminiscent of Barbara Cooney’s artistry, Rebecca draws on Beaton’s own ancestral history. Rebecca lives with her husband and children on a small island where everyone must work hard to survive in a stark, remote climate. After an accident on the ice takes her father’s life, Rebecca walks beside Sorrow—yet there is still wood to chop, meals to prepare, and love to tend. Even under the shadow of Sorrow, Rebecca finds contentment and joy in her family and work, until the distant day when Sorrow returns to stay for good.
Jack Wong, Goodbye, Koi Orchard Books, September 15 recommended for ages 4-8
In this new picture-book from author-illustrator Jack Wong, a boy and his father ferry their koi to a new home. The boy wonders how the favorite fish will adapt to a bigger pond, new foods, unfamiliar fish, and capricious weather. Simultaneously, the illustrations unfold a parallel tale: the boy and his father are preparing to relocate, and their hopes for the koi mirror their own hopes for this next chapter. The book concludes with an afterword in which Wong recalls his own childhood move from Hong Kong to Canada. Goodbye, Koi offers a wise, comforting read for children facing any fresh start.
Mo Willems, What Will We Find in This Box? (Snake & Bat #1) Union Square Kids, September 1 recommended for ages 4-8
You don’t need me to underscore the genius of Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie books (though I could gush about how delightful they are to read aloud with a new listener). A spin-off series, Snake & Bat, debuts this month and is just as entertaining as the original. In this first outing, Bat and Snake, best friends with playful contrasts, unbox a cardboard carton! Bat is captivated by a multilingual instruction manual, while Snake envisions endless creative uses for the box itself. Yet what else might be inside, and who possesses the box to begin with? My kids, now seasoned readers, flocked to read this aloud with me, and we all enjoyed it immensely.
Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko, I Am a Good Dog (Dogtown #3) illustrated by Wallace West Feiwel & Friends, September 22 recommended for ages 8-12
Young readers who adore dogs—real, robotic, or even kittens—will want to check out Dogtown, the fictional shelter for rescued pups crafted by award-winning authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. Their middle-grade Dogtown series is ideal for kids who appreciate short chapters and lively illustrations. In I Am a Good Dog, the third installment, the narration comes from Metal Head, a robot dog who longs to find a home and be loved. As he assists other animals and people at the shelter on their quests for belonging, Metal Head starts to discover his own sense of purpose as a helper and friend.
Adi Rule, Ghost Chickens: Omelet from the Other Side illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy Tundra Books, September 1 recommended for ages 8-12
If your child loves spirited, funny reads that gradually gain length, Ghost Chickens offers a perfect entry into middle-grade fiction. In Omelet from the Other Side, ten-year-old Florence Fortescue’s life is upended when her family relocates from a lively city apartment to a quiet countryside farmhouse. The moment she bakes and tastes a glowing egg discovered in a deserted chicken coop, she gains the ability to see spectral chickens haunting the new house. Short chapters, abundant drawings, and plenty of humor keep pages turning as Florence adjusts to her new world.
Lois Lowry, Building 903 Clarion, September 29 recommended for ages 8-12
When a beloved author-illustrator returns with a new title, readers are bound to celebrate. Like her acclaimed The Giver, Lois Lowry’s Building 903 imagines a bleak future where children uncover truths about their society and dare to envision an alternative way of living. In 14-year-old Tessa’s world, playgrounds are relics, books are forbidden, and most daily life happens on screens under watchful government eyes. The mystery thickens when Tessa discovers a stash of outlawed books in a home her elderly neighbor was forced to leave, hinting that literature might reveal Theo’s whereabouts.
James Ponti, Art Attack (The Sherlock Society #3) Aladdin, September 8 recommended for ages 8-12
My daughter spent her summer bursting through James Ponti’s City Spies adventures, and I’m thrilled to introduce her to Ponti’s other ongoing middle-grade series, The Sherlock Society. This third entry, Art Attack, unfolds during Miami Art Week as siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock join forces with friends Lina and Yadi to pursue a renowned street artist who uses anonymity as a shield. A developer hires the crew to locate this elusive figure, Funky Munky, but they quickly learn that chasing someone who wants to stay hidden is no easy feat.
Shaun Tan, Hometown Levine Querido, September 15 recommended for ages 10-14
Shaun Tan blends art and text to conjure humor, surprise, and a sense of wonder in Hometown, a picture book for readers of every age. The narrator—a girl who seems human yet lives among neighbors who look wonderfully otherworldly—introduces a community that is warm and distinct. When a human boy visits from Earth and urges the girl to come along, he believes she belongs there; the ending invites thoughtful discussion about belonging and difference. I’m excited to explore the book’s provocative resolution with my kids.
M.T. Anderson, Stealing Saint Nick: A Legendary Corpse, a Notorious Theft, and the Stories that Shape the World Dutton, September 22 recommended for ages 14 and up
In this nonfiction work, National Book Award winner M.T. Anderson invites readers to explore history through curiosity by following the case of Nicholas of Myra, the figure who became Saint Nicholas and, in popular imagination, Santa Claus. While it may be framed as a Christmas topic, the book uses Saint Nick as a springboard for a broader inquiry into history, empire, religion, and myth-making. As Anderson shares anecdotes from Nicholas’s life and tracks the 11th-century bones heist, readers are urged to think critically about how humans weave facts and fictions into the narratives that shape our understanding of the world.
