Alongside the crispness of a cooler breeze and the crunch of leaves underfoot, the start of autumn delivers an equally refreshing new slew of books to nurture your child’s love of literacy.
September is a big month for new releases, with favorite series like Fly Guy, I Survived, and Star Wars: Jedi Academy all debuting brand new titles. You’ll also spot the familiar illustrations of Raina Telgemeier — you know her as the author of Smile and Sisters — and a brand new adventure from many kids’ favorite heroine, Princess Truly.
New releases aren’t just exciting for us bookworm parents who hit the “pre-order” button as soon as we spot it. They also get kids caught up in the fervor and anticipation of a hot-off-the-press book, which can contribute to their love of reading. Plus, if you and your kids are avid readers, these releases will refresh your book basket for the new school year.
Read on to learn about 10 of the most eagerly-awaited books this September, or head straight to the shopping list to stock up now: These books are great gifts for birthday parties and winter holidays, which are just around the corner! Luckily, there’s no need to wait — you can order most of these books already.
(And psst… In case you missed August’s hot new release, check out the newest Dog Man book!)
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1. Guts
Some topics are too often considered taboo to talk openly about: anxiety, persistent tummy woes, and puberty, to name a few. Iconic author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier turns the norms upside down in this hilarious, heartwarming, and core-shaking graphic novel about growing up and finding the courage to face your fears. Based on the author’s own childhood, the story shows Raina dealing not only with digestive issues, but the anxiety that comes with them — all while she navigates a changing landscape at school and evolving friendships.
New to Telgemeier’s work? Be sure to check out Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts. And if you’re not convinced yet of the value of graphic novels, here are three ways they can improve your child’s reading skills.
2. I Survived: The Great Molasses Flood, 1919
Your child may already love the historical fiction I Survived series, and you’re probably familiar with a number of the events these books cover, such as the Joplin Tornado, the sinking of the Titanic, and the Great Chicago Fire.
However, you and your child might both be shocked to learn about The Great Molasses Flood covered in this book. In 1919, a giant tank filled with millions of gallons of molasses exploded, sending a tsunami of syrup into the streets of Boston. Told from the perspective of Carmen, a child caught up in the sticky disaster, this story recounts history in an engrossing way that captivates kids. (New to historical fiction? Here’s some info on it, plus other common children’s book genres.)
3. Princess Truly: I Am a Super Girl!
“If you need a hero, I’ll be there right away. With my magic curls, I always save the day!”
These are the words of the beloved Princess Truly, the star of her very own Acorn series, which is designed to plant a love of reading in early readers (this particular book is great for ages 4 to 6). Princess Truly is mighty, strong, and smart, and Noodles her sidekick pug joins all of her adventures. This school year, you’ll be seeing strong female characters like Princess Truly and pugs like Noodles take center stage as major children’s book trends.
For more reading recommendations by age, here’s a comprehensive reading roadmap for your child.
4. Fly Guy: Attack of the 50-Foot Fly Guy
The eye-catching, shimmery book cover is just a prelude to the action and adventure inside! This book features everyone’s favorite cool bug, Fly Guy, and is author Tedd Arnold’s 100th book (pretty buzz-worthy, right?). When Fly Guy floats over to a can of garbage at a secret science laboratory and accidentally eats a mysterious substance, he grows to be 50 feet tall! Equally giant laughs and adventures ensue.
Your kids will get a kick out of the distinctive illustrations and giant Fly Guy’s exclamations of “Yezz!” and “Eatzz!”, all while the book teaches them essential early reading skills.
5. Jedi Academy #7: Attack of the Furball
Star Wars parents love the Jedi Academy graphic novels because they introduce kids to the galaxy far, far away in relatable and age-appropriate ways (just check out this mom’s take on the series).
In this follow-up to Star Wars: Jedi Academy #7: Revenge of the Sis, legendary Padawan Christina Starspeeder has survived her first year at a new school. But now, she faces all-new challenges and adventures with new classes and teachers, while studying under Skia-Ro (aka the coolest Jedi ever) and dealing with a sassy droid.
Your kids already know and love Baby Shark, and now they’ll adore this rhyming countdown just as much. Kids join Baby Shark as he plays hide-and-seek alongside his family in this interactive read with touch-and-feel novelty. The tale features five squishy sharks that peek through the pages, disappearing on every spread during the game. Know a kid who loves any and all sharks? These shark books also make great gifts.
7. Dragon Masters #14: Land of the Spring Dragon
We always count down the days until a new book is released from Branches, the early reader book line designed to help kids transition from picture books to chapter books (here’s your full list of books for beginner readers). In this newest addition to the Branches Dragon Masters series, the Dragon Masters have defeated an evil wizard, but they now must save the Kingdom of Bracken after it was devastated by the earthquake dragon.
For older kids who are obsessed with dragons, check out the newest Wings of Fire book, The Poison Jungle — ideal for ages 8 to 12.
8. Mac B., Kid Spy #3: Top Secret Smackdown
If you have a child who doesn’t love to read yet, the Mac B., Kid Spy series is perfect for piquing their interest with adventure, intrigue, absurdity, humor, and even fascinating historical facts. (Here are a more great picks for reluctant readers!)
In this new sequel to Mac B., Kid Spy #1: Mac Undercover and Mac B., Kid Spy #2: The Impossible Crime, Mac B. must travel to Iceland to retrieve ravens stolen from the Tower of London. There, he discovers secret submarines, hungry polar bears, mysterious blueprints, and his old archnemesis.
9. LEGO Disney Princess: Meet the Princesses
This is arguably one of the coolest new interactive workbooks for kids: The activity book comes with a mini LEGO activity so kids can create their very own castle for a mouse princess. Next, they’ll dive into skill-building pages that involve coloring with Ariel, connecting dots with Rapunzel, spotting patterns with Jasmine, and tackling obstacle courses with Mulan.
If you’re not a fan of scrambling to find indoor activities on rainy fall days, keep this book on hand as easy entertainment for your kids. (Children who love LEGO will also be obsessed with this STEM-boosting gadget kit.)
10. The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix #7: Boy-Crazy Stacey
The Baby-Sitters Club series you obsessed over as a kid has been reimagined as a graphic novel series for today’s young readers, who get captivated in the series’ eye-catching illustrations and relatable plots. In this new installment that all tweens will relate to, Stacey and Mary Anne are babysitting for the Pike family at the New Jersey shore. The town has a beach, a boardwalk, and the cutest boy Stacey has ever seen — but Mary Anne wishes she’d just stay focused on the Pike kids. When Stacey spends all of her time swooning over this boy (who’s just not that into her), Mary Anne gets stuck with her work, and has to figure out how to be honest with Stacey.
If you’re all about the OG version of The Baby-Sitters Club, we get that too. Here’s a retro tin boxed set with six of the original books!
