Soccer, robots, mad scientists, and more, this year we read about all kinds of characters, worlds, and real-life wonders. Read on to see what we enjoyed most in 2025! Plus, be sure to check out our Staff Picks lists for teens and adults too.

JUVENILE FICTION, NONFICTION, & GRAPHIC NOVELS

• The Academy by T.Z. Layton (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Drew C. at Gayton
  • Twelve-year-old Ohioan Leo Doyle has great soccer instincts but zero formal soccer training. When he is invited to a teen soccer academy run by a Premier League team in London, he learns just how far he still has to go (while also competing for team spots against teenagers from many different countries and with many different individual specialties, skills, and personalities). Well-written and engaging, this series could make some noise in 2026!

• A Day at the Beach by Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Amy C. a Tuckahoe
  • Masterful middle-grade character development.

• A Day in the Life of Your Body: Find Out What's Going On Under Your Skin by Binta Jallow – recommended by Courtney M. at North Park

• Black Artists Shaping the World by Sharna Jackson – recommended by Naila P. at Tuckahoe
  • An informative read about familiar and emerging artists from Africa and the African diaspora with portraits, written context, and examples of each artist's work on every page. Learn about Faith Ringgold's detailed tapestries, admire the paintings of Toyin Ojih Odutola, and embrace the photography of Zanele Muholi, along with a number of wonderful Black artists who have contributed their art to the world.

• Blood In the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Kelsey C. at Libbie Mill and Ashby C. at Gayton

• Busted by Dan Gemeinhart  - recommended by Penelope F. at Twin Hickory
  • This tale inspires clichés such as "couldn't put it down" and "a rollicking yet poignant adventure"...but what if those are 100% authentic statements?! Jimmy and Natasha are characters that are so rough around the edges, you'll need sandpaper at the ready, but you won't want to miss a moment around them any more than protagonist Oscar...and I guarantee you'll be the richer for it.

• Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Savannah C. at Library Administration

• Framed! by James Ponti (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Kareemah H. at Varina

• Friends Forever by Shannon Hale (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Bridget O. at Gayton

• Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna McDaniel – recommended by Amanda S. at Library Administration

• Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina – recommended by Marie R. at Gayton
  • Part horror and part fantasy, the book keeps one at the edge of their seat and asks the question, how will the main characters survive?

• The Language of Ghosts  by Heather Fawcett (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Kendall H. at Library Administration

• Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle – recommended by Tori N. at TU
  • One of my favorite books I read this year was Life After Whaleby Lynn Brunelle for its heartfelt blend of curiosity and environmental awareness. It follows the science and story of a whale fall providing a fascinating scientific mystery I never knew about! The illustrations are stunning and the facts interesting, making it both emotionally compelling and intellectually satisfying—not bad for a juvenile nonfiction picture book!

• Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo – recommended by Genevieve H. at Gayton

• The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Rachel S. at Fairfield

• The Lost Sunday by Ileana Surducan – recommended by Kristina C. at Library Administration
  • This is a beautifully illustrated little fairy tale about coping with burnout, a lesson that any age can appreciate.

• Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller – recommended by Logan F. at Gayton

• The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon – recommended by Lisa K. at Glen Allen
  • Scattered teacher Millicent Squibb runs a well-hidden school/mad science lab (her own disguises are pretty terrible, though). The orphan sisters invited to attend the school decide it’s probably better than boarding school in Austria. Oh, and of course there's an evil society they need to save their town from. 

• Regarding the Fountain: A Tale, in Letters, of Liars and Leaks by Kate Klise – recommended by Jordan R. at Tuckahoe
  • A funny and also fun-to-read tale of a leaky middle school water fountain. Full of puns and play on words, this is one I have re-read several times since my own childhood and it definitely holds up. 

• Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Kate C. at Fairfield and Benjamin O. at Gayton
  • Ummm, yes hello! From the creator of Spooky Lake Month on TikTok, Geo Rutherford authored and illustrated a book for all your haunted hydrology needs. Learn about lakes from all over the world and what lies beneath them!" – Kate C.

• • In addition to this book being packed with fascinating and spooky facts, it is beautiful to look at. All of the illustrations were painted by the author and give the book a gentle whimsy which softens some of the darker facts about the lakes within. – Benjamin O.

• Stuck by Kayla Miller – recommended by Fritz D. at North Park

• The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman  by Gennifer Choldenko – recommended by Jodi H. at Glen Allen and Gina F. at Gayton
  • Hank does his best to look out for himself and his toddler sister but finds he can’t do right no matter how hard he tries. Realistic fiction that is full of heart. – Gina F.

• The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner – recommended by Bunny H. at Twin Hickory

• The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman – recommended by Rick S. at Library Administration
  • Not since reading The Wild Robot have I been so sure a book was destined to be a classic. Highly recommended.

• Unsinkable Cayenne  by Jessica Vitalis – recommended by Beth C. at Fairfield (also available on Hoopla)
  • It’s hard not to compare yourself to others, as a kid and even in adulthood. Kids can also be really mean, and it’s okay to not be like everyone else. You are what makes you unique.

• Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Barbra S. at NP
  • This graphic novel, written and illustrated by the lead designer of the enchanting game Little Big Planet, is warm and beautiful. The story is told mostly through illustrated panels that spotlight nature discoveries while dealing with emotional challenges in a way that most kids can understand and adults will love. 

PICTURE BOOKS

• The Amazing Hamweenie by Patty Bowman – recommended by Genevieve H. at Gayton

• A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip and Erin Stead – recommended by Amy C. at Tuckahoe
  • The third Amos McGee book captures the magic and childlike wonder of winter as a gentle zookeeper and his animal friends anticipate the first snowfall of the season.

• A Stray Dog for Christmas: How Suzy was Adopted  by Jack Jokinen (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Beth C. at Fairfield
  • A sweet story about an unexpected new family member.

• Axolotl & Axolittle by Jess Hitchman (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Aimee H. at Glen Allen

• Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Martin L. at Fairfield

• The Day Leap Soared by Blair Braverman – recommended by Barbra S. at North Park
  • Blair Braverman's story is based on her real-life team of sled dogs and their real-life personalities. The message of community strength through individual differences is told engagingly and with adorable illustrations. I love it so much that I have my own copy. 

• Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat – recommended by Fritz D. at North Park, Charlie H. at Libbie Mill, and Rachel S. at Fairfield

• Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli – recommended by Rick S. at Library Administration
  • I love a good beginning reader with relatable characters. Greg Pizzoli’s books never disappoint.

• Everybody Says Meow by Constance Lombardo – recommended by Lisa K. at Glen Allen 
  • Doeseverybody say meow? Find out in this fun read-aloud!

• Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan – recommended by Marie R. at Gayton
  • This book captures the love every child has for trash/garbage trucks and how they wait expectantly every week for it to come by. My family will still quote from this book even though we haven't read it in a while.

• Florette by Anna Walker (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Drew C. at Gayton
  • When a girl named Mae struggles to find nature in her new city neighborhood, a chance encounter inspires her to create her own colorful solution. A beautiful ode to the magic of exploration, the excitement of not knowing what could be around the next corner, and the joy that creativity can bring to others.

• Help Me Find My Hamster! by Brooke Hartman – recommended by Jodi H. at Glen Allen

• If You Find a Fawn: A What-to-Do for Wild Wanderersby Kellie DuBay Gillis – recommended by Courtney M. at North Park

• I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Julie Kwon – recommended by Kelsey C. at Libbie Mill

• Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise – recommended by Kendall H. at Library Administration and Logan F. at Gayton

• Lawrence in the Fall by Matthew Farina (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Bunny H. at Twin Hickory

• Lily's Dream: A Fairy Friendship written & illustrated by Bea Jackson – recommended by Naila P. at Tuckahoe
  • Laden with lovely illustrations, this whimsical work is sure to enchant readers young and old. Lily and Willow, fairy and human, cross paths and form a friendship imbued with plenty of magic, jubilation, and wonder!

• My Daddy is a Cowboy by Stephanie Seales (also available on Hoopla) – recommended by Amanda S. at Library Administration

• Scorch, Hedgehog of Doom by Cate Berry – recommended by Kathleen T. at North Park

• This Tank Is Mine!by Jonathan Fenske (also available on Hoopla)– recommended by Penelope F. at Twin Hickory
  • This superb treatise on sharing is as far from didactic as you can get, thanks to the author/illustrator's spot-on comedic pacing. Kiddos will effortlessly grasp the pitfalls of selfish behavior and be all in to experience how generosity benefits everyone, including the giver. (We also have the Spanish version in the World Languages neighborhood: ¡Esta pecera es mía!)

• The Wild Robot on The Island by Peter Brown - recommended by Bridget O. at Gayton

And since you’re already reading, why not earn prizes along the way? Check out our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge and kick 2026 off with a fresh reading goal.  Need more literary inspiration? Submit a My Next Read request, subscribe to genre-specific newsletters and browse thousands of read-alikes and mood-inspired recommendations on Novelist.