If the kids are reading it, chances are I have, too.
Author: Rosemary Kiladitis
I'm a mom, a children's librarian, bibliophile, and obsessive knitter. I'm a pop culture junkie and a proud nerd, and favorite reads usually fall into Sci-Fi/Fantasy. I review comics and graphic novels at WhatchaReading (http://whatchareading.com).
I'm also the co-founder of On Wednesdays We Wear Capes (http://www.onwednesdays.net/), where I discuss pop culture and geek fandom from a female point of view.
Braided Roots: The Interweaving of History, Family, and a Father’s Love, by Pasha Westbrook/Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight, (Nov. 2025, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781339015385
Ages 4-8
A girl’s father braids her hair, helping her get ready for school. His strong hands weave the strands of her hair with colorful ribbons as he tells her stories of her ancestors, the Freedmen who walked “that beaten-down dirt path from Mississippi to Oklahoma”, the Trail of Tears. Her braid is a link to generations of family and their strength. Past and present weave together in this lyrical tale inspired by the author’s childhood. Braided Roots is a story of resilience, of family, and of enduring love between a parent and child. Goodnight’s digital illustrations are filled with warmth and love; moving between images of past and present, she returns to a father’s hands and his daughter’s hair and pair beautifully with Westbrook’s emphasis on the braid’s tenacity: “Our hair is our history… It tells us who we are, where we come from”. An author’s note provides further context. An excellent choice for collections.
Let’s Split Up, by Bill Wood, (Sept. 2025, Scholastic Press), $14.99, ISBN: 9798225006143
Ages 12+
A horror-thriller for teens that’s heavily influenced by the Scooby Doo gang, Let’s Split Up starts with a bang: a town’s power couple, football player Brad and cheerleader Shelley, are found murdered in an abandoned mansion. Rumors immediately start circulating that they were murdered by the Carrington Ghoul, a ghost of the angry old former resident. But things aren’t adding up for Jonesy, Cam, Amber, and new girl Buffy. They start poking around, conducting their own investigation as the body count goes up and more secrets come to light, but that only serves to put themselves in the killer’s sights. They’re going to have to crack this case or risk being next on the list. There are some fun nods to the original Scooby gang here and there in the story, but these characters are more relatable to a new group of teen readers: Jonesy and Cam are two teen boys working through emerging feelings for one another; Amber is bisexual and trying to get her parents to understand that she can like both guys and girls; Buffy’s reasons for moving to the town just aren’t adding up. There are some tense, creepy moments that thriller and horror readers alike will enjoy, and it’s a quickly paced novel that makes for good weekend reading.
Have a horror or thriller reader you need to buy a gift for? Pair this with a card game like Don’t Get Stabbed! or Psycho Killer.
It’s that time of year, everyone! If you’re stumped on what to get the kids, tweens, and teens in your life, books are always a great gift. I’ve been reading some good stuff lately, so I’ll be spotlighting them here. I bet they’d each look lovely in a stocking or wrapped up with something a little extra.
J.R.R. Tolkien: The Father of Modern Fantasy (Pocket Portraits), by Don Marshall, (Nov. 2025, Adams Media), $17.00, ISBN: 978150722417
Ages 12+
This was my first foray into the Pocket Portraits series, and I am HOOKED. The fact that the very nice person at Simon & Schuster asked me if I wanted to look at a Tolkien biography makes me think this was serendipity, for starters. First of all, the book is so beautifully crafted. It’s a small book – about 6″ x 4.5″ – and will fit into a coat pocket as easily as it will tuck into your bag. The die-cut cover is sturdy and feels great in your hands, and the book cover’s portrait of JRR himself is beautifully showcased by the die-cut. I was in love from the second I took the book out of its envelope when it arrived.
If you have tweens and teens who balk at biographies – you know I do! – this Pocket Portraits series is for them. J.R.R. Tolkien: The Father of Modern Fantasy captures key moments in Tolkien’s life, interspersed with quotes and brief excerpts from his work and interesting facts. Marshall is known as the Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy and is an excellent choice to create this easily readable, informative, and comprehensive overview of Tolkien’s life and work. Beginning with Tolkien’s childhood, Marshall identifies the moments in his life that influenced his work: the loss of his parents in childhood; the trauma of World War I; falling in love with his wife, Edith; his friendship with C.S. Lewis. Readers see Tolkien’s lighter side as Marshall touches on his reputation as a prankster, and we read about his letters to his children, particularly his son Christopher, who carried on his father’s literary legacy.
There are several other Pocket Portraits books in the series, with more on the way. And they fit easily into a stocking! (I checked.) There’s no shortage of LOTR gifts out there: wrap up a set of the series or check out some creators on Etsy to find the perfect companion gift!
The Arrival, by Shaun Tan, (May 2025, Scholastic Graphix), $16.99, ISBN: 9780439895309
Ages 9+
Shaun Tan’s classic is available in paperback release, and this is a modern classic that deserves a spot on every shelf. A moving story of immigration with a touch of the fantastic, The Arrival is told with beautiful pencil illustrations that resemble old sepia photographs. A man leaves his wife and daughter, traveling by locomotive and steamship to… a new world. In Tan’s universe, images we are familiar with: Ellis Island, families sleeping on crowded trains and ships, close-ups of frightened and hopeful faces, share a world with fantastic creatures both adorable and dreadful. Completely wordless, Tan’s illustrations speak volumes as we see the man struggle with learning a new language and the companion animals that seem to accompany the residents of this new land. Tan taps into the immigrant experience in a way that reaches readers’ hearts as well as their minds. An Author’s Note goes deeper into Tan’s inspiration. Pair with a sketch pad and pencils for a budding artist.
The Arrival received multiple awards, including a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Locus Award; it was designated a 2007 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year; received the 2008 Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for Best Comic Book (for the French edition), and received recognition from The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books.
The Great LEGO® Puzzle Book: 120 Creative Building Challenges, by Jacob Berg, (Sept. 2025, No Starch Press), $16.99, ISBN: 9781718504226
Ages 8+
No Starch Press is my go-to publisher for LEGO books. They have such fun and inventive ideas. When I received a robotics grant from work, I loaded my shelves with No Starch LEGO Mindstorms books. They’re that good. Now, we’ve got The Great LEGO® Puzzle Book, chock full of the coolest building challenges. There are 3-D challenges; fill the hole challenges; create your own challenge type challenges, even challenges that test readers’ ability to match shadows! Every challenge has full-color photo illustrated walkthroughs with detailed descriptions of bricks needed to compete in each challenge. Tips throughout keep builders’ brains working with thought-provoking suggestions. If you have LEGO groups at your library, this is the perfect book for a group challenge activity.
If you’re putting this on your holiday shopping list, pair with – what else? – a fun LEGO set! Consider getting the “classic creative” sets that just include random bricks so your recipients can dive right into some of these challenges.
On the Block: Stories of Immigrant Families, edited by Ellen Oh, (Oct. 2025, Penguin Random House), $8.99, ISBN: 9780593648476
Ages 8-13
Published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) and edited by award-winning author Ellen Oh – a founding member of WNDB – this can’t-miss anthology’s stories bring together the lives of a group of families living in the Entrada apartment building in New York City (if my reading of a few landmarks serves me right). The author’s list is a who’s-who of kidlit, including Tracey Baptiste, Adam Gidwitz, Sayantani Dasgupta, and Debbi Michiko Florence. Chapters are named for apartments where each family lives, giving readers a glimpse into different cultures and lived experiences. Characters from one story will pop up in another, providing a fun sense of continuity.
Who lives in the Entrada? There’s Lila Sooklal in Apartment 5B. Newly arrived from Trinidad, Lila explores the building and meets her neighbors while her family wanders flea markets in search of furnishings for their new apartment. Tumpa Ray in Apartment 4C is almost 12 years old and hasn’t learned to ride a bike yet; when her grandmother arrives from Bengal, she’s determined to change that. Yaniel Fernandez in Apartment 6C is eating popsicles until he’s sick to his stomach in order to make a bridge for class… and learns that there is much more to his grandmother than he ever imagined.
Living and working in an urban area of Queens, these are my library kids’ stories. Readers will laugh and cheer with these characters; they’ll identify with them, and they’ll feel seen. If you didn’t catch the hardcover release of On the Block (then subtitled Stories of Home) last year, put it in your cart for this year.
On the Block has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist.
How Ursula Marvin Mapped Moon Rocks and Meteorites, by Sandra Neil Wallace/Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, (Oct. 2025, Simon & Schuster), $19.99, ISBN: 9781534493339
Ages 7-12
While women were being told to stay home and learn to cook, Ursula Marvin was breaking barriers in science. The future geologist was told exactly that by a male professor when she attended college in the early 1940s; luckily for all of us, she disregarded the “advice” and went on to pursue a degree in geology, eventually earning a master’s and Ph.D. in the field. She believed that meteorites were the key to unlocking the solar system’s origins; it was a belief that “revolutionized how scientists saw the solar system”. She travelled to Antarctica to continue her research, facing bitter temperatures and project setbacks to become the first woman to search for meteorites at the bottom of the world, where Antarctica’s mountains held rocks “blasted from asteroids and maybe even the moon”. She fought sexism and broke barriers throughout her career and was responsible for forming foundational theories in planet geology. Wallace’s writing is informative and accessible, concentrating on details for readers to increase their interest: the process of setting up camp on the “oldest ice in the world”; the 50 pounds of clothing Marvin had to pack to keep warm; the moments of self-doubt, and the excitement of studying the first lunar meteorite, located in Antarctica while she was recovering from an injury back at home. Rock Star has a starred review from Kirkus.
Hi all, it’s been a busy Fall, between Nana fun, work, and conference season. I just got back from my state library conference (and brought con crud with me), where I gave one presentation and guested on two additional panels. It was exciting and so much fun, and I’m reminded yet again how lucky I am do be doing things I love for a living.
I gave a presentation on Tabletop Games to Try Before You Buy for the second year running. It’s part presentation, part gaming speed dating: after a quick presentation on suggested games, resources, and where to find games for libraries, we play! The panel took place in a large ballroom, so we were able to put games on multiple tables and teach folks a quick game; they moved on after a round or two. Here I am, teaching folks to play a round of King of Tokyo. (Photo credit: Clarisa Rosario-DeGroat)
The breakout success for this year was Mantis, from The Oatmeal! Everyone enjoyed the quick gameplay and easy-to-learn mechanics. Sushi Go received a lot of praise, as did Villainous.
I was part of a panel called Gone Clubbin’, where we talked about game clubs at the library. My colleague Barron Angell talked about his video game club; colleague Clarisa Rosario-DeGroat talked about her Pokemon club (and great extension activities), and I talked up Magic: The Gathering. Folks seemed really engaged and excited, and since Pokemon and Magic have been around for a while, that was great to see!
Finally, I spoke on a panel with Dr. Rajesh Singh called Beyond Cultural Competence: Actionable Advocacy for Inclusive Library Services. I met some wonderful librarians who are giving their all for their library communities, and made some good connections. All in all, it was another great year for our state library convention. I’m happy to share slides if anyone would like.
The Agatha Case Files: Welcome to Kittyville!, by Paul Martin/Illustrated by Camille Roy, (Sept. 2025, Twirl Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9791036381447
Ages 5+
Agatha has moved to Kittyville with one goal in mind: to become a detective! The first case begins as she gets off the train: someone has stolen a scientist’s briefcase! Newly emerging readers and more confident, chapter book readers will love this fun, illustrated book containing eight mysteries. Each mystery contains a setup and an illustrated spread with clue prompts for readers. Readers can check and see if their investigation proved correct at the end of the book. Readers who enjoy I Spy books will be well practiced for this one: there are a lot of details to catch! The cartoony illustration is bold and bright, and the writing provokes thought and attention to details. Agatha Kitty (I don’t know if that’s her last name, but that’s what I’m calling her) is an Agatha Christie for the Cam Jansen set. Give this fun book a try where readers like seek-and-find and puzzle books.
The Ultimate Book of the Human Body, by Anne-Sophie Baumann/Illustrated by Vanessa Robidou, (Sept. 2025, Twirl Books), $24.99, ISBN: 9791027613649
Ages 8-12
Who says preschoolers should have all the fun? This introduction to anatomy is filled with flaps and pulls and is perfect for middle graders. The Ultimate Book of the Human Body includes more than 60 pull tabs, flaps, and pop ups and is loaded with information for readers. It’s an oversized book, creating space for a wealth of information, neatly organized on each spread. Unfold a model of the brain, clearly labeled with areas and what function each area controls; use a pull tab to see how our diaphragms move on each inhale and exhale. Study teeth development through different ages using flaps of a child’s developing face; follow a poop’s journey as it moves through the intestine. Detailed illustrations accompany expert-reviewed information on the body and its functions. Illustrations feature a diverse group of individuals. This is great for middle grade science class collections and reference collections. If you’re putting a copy into circulation, keep a backup handy: the moving parts will wear out quickly with hard use. The Ultimate Book of the Human Body is part of Twirl’s Ultimate series, including The Ultimate Book of Animals and The Ultimate Book of Planet Earth. Spruce up your STEM/STEAM library with the set!
How much fun is this news? The Pout-Pout Fish is going to be a movie, with voice actors including Nick Offerman (best choice ever for Pout-Pout), Amy Sedaris, and Jordin Sparks! Take a look at the trailer, right here!
From the official press release:
“In the film adaptation, Emmy winner Nick Offerman leads an ensemble voice cast that also
features Nina Oyama, SAG Award winner Miranda Otto, Remy Hii, with Grammy nominee
Jordin Sparks and Emmy nominee Amy Sedaris. The film is directed by Ricard Cussó and codirected
by Rio Harrington and was written by Elise Allen, Elie Choufany and Dominic Morris.
The Pout-Pout Fish is the hilarious and heartwarming story of an unlikely duo: Mr. Fish
(Offerman) a pouty introvert and Pip (Oyama) an energetic sea dragon, who embark on a
daunting quest to find a legendary fish to grant their wish to save their homes.
“The Pout-Pout Fish has been cherished in classrooms and homes around the world, teaching
lessons of friendship, bravery, and self-discovery to an entire generation,” said Victor Elizalde,
CEO of Viva Pictures. “Bringing this beloved story to theaters reflects Viva’s commitment to
championing iconic IP and delivering bold, franchise-worthy animation. With its educational
legacy, global readership, and stunning adaptation for the big screen, The Pout-Pout Fish is
poised to inspire audiences everywhere.”
“The Pout-Pout Fish began as a single book and has since grown into a global franchise
embraced by readers, educators, and families everywhere,” said Jen Besser, President and
Publisher at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. “The film marks an exciting step in
expanding the world of The Pout-Pout Fish beyond publishing and onto the big screen.”
“From the first draft and designs, The Pout-Pout Fish had us hooked. We’re thrilled to see
buyers worldwide share our love for this unlikely duo — a pouty loner and a high-energy sea
dragon,” said Sola Media’s Managing Director, Solveig Langeland. “Viva is the perfect partner
for a wide U.S. release, and we’re confident they’ll reach the large North American audience
that already loves the bestselling book.”
The Pout-Pout Fish is 89 minutes.”
The Pout-Pout Fish is produced by Australian-based production company Like A Photon
Creative, MIMO Studios and Macmillan Publishers, who also financed.
About Viva Pictures
Viva Pictures is a leading independent film production studio and all rights distributor dedicated
to delivering world-class family entertainment to global audiences. With a diverse portfolio of
animated films and original films in production, Viva Pictures strives to captivate and engage
viewers, fostering a love for storytelling and cinema for all ages. Recent successes include The
Amazing Maurice, which Viva debuted at the Sundance Film Festival before its wide theatrical
release, Night of the Zoopocalypse, and HITPIG, which played on over 2,000 screens
nationwide. Upcoming wide releases include Pets on a Train in theaters October 17 and Grand
Prix of Europe in theaters November 7. In addition, Viva Pictures has an equity interest in the
3D animation studio 3Doubles Producciones and continues to develop a slate of new
productions. Viva Pictures also owns Kidsflix, a kid-safe, parent-friendly FAST channel and
destination to stream free movies and TV series. Kidsflix is available on iTunes, Google Play,
Roku, and major TV brands worldwide.
For more information, visit vivafilmco.com. https://www.vivafilmco.com/
Facebook: @vivakidsfilms
Instagram:@vivakidsfilms
YouTube: @vivapictures
About Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group is comprised of eleven imprints: Balzer + Bray, Farrar
Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, Feiwel and Friends, First Second, Godwin Books,
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Odd Dot, Neon Squid, Priddy Books, Roaring Brook
Press, and Square Fish. These imprints are home to award-winning, New York Times–
bestselling authors, including Madeleine L’Engle, Natalie Babbitt, Leigh Bardugo, Gene Luen
Yang, Tomi Adeyemi, Marissa Meyer, Eric Carle, Nick Bruel, Loren Long, Angeline Boulley,
Nancy Tillman, John Patrick Green, George M. Johnson, Eoin Colfer, and hundreds more
popular authors and illustrators. Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group is proud to publish
many of the classics of children’s literature, including A Wrinkle in Time.
Ready to Walk (My First Milestones), by Lee Wildish, (Oct. 2025, Workman Kids), $8.99, ISBN: 9871523529063
Ages Birth-2
This book made me squeal! An adorable toddler is ready to take her first steps, and lets readers share the excitement with her. With rhyming text and counting to three – and a little help from Daddy and her dog – the little girl stands up and takes her steps: 1, 2, 3! Walking is new, so she has a little bit of a fall, but that’s okay; she’s ready to get up and go again, and when she masters that… it’s time to run! The first in a new series from Workman Kids, Ready to Walk has simple, brief sentences and bright, colorful illustration. The girl and her father are brown-skinned. Perfect for lapsits or cuddle time, these are great for library collections and home collections.
Braided Roots: The Interweaving of History, Family, and a Father’s Love, by Pasha Westbrook/Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight, (Nov. 2025, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781339015385
Mom Read It 