Category: middle-grade

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Poetry for Kids by 🎨Douglas Florian🎨

📚🎨 Douglas Florian books always feel a little bit like opening a child’s sketchbook in the best possible way.

His poems are goofy, clever, surprisingly smart, and full of the kinds of wordplay kids LOVE repeating out loud. But honestly, half the fun is staring at the illustrations, which look like they were made with watercolor, crayon, collage scraps, scribbles, stamps, and whatever else happened to be nearby on the art table.

Here are three favorites I keep coming back to:

🐉 How to Draw a Dragon 
This book is basically an invitation to imagination. The poem walks kids through creating dragons with “forked tongues” and “sharp back toes,” and the mixed-media artwork looks wonderfully handmade and textured—almost like a classroom art project turned magical. The foldout dragon art show at the end is SUCH a fun touch. 

🧊 ICE! Poems About Polar Life 
This one somehow manages to be funny, informative, and beautiful all at once. Kids get poems about narwhals, puffins, krill, polar bears, and more, packed with puns and playful language (“hi-bear-nate” made me laugh). 

🐄 Cows and Sheep and Chicks That Cheep: Farm Poems 
This newest collection is pure chaotic farm fun. The poems are full of ridiculous puns (“udderly chill” cows, “a-maize-ing” corn), and the illustrations are packed with visual jokes—animals lounging in chairs, taking selfies, knitting, and generally acting like humans. The art was created with watercolor, colored pencil, collage, and even paper bags, which gives the whole thing this loose, playful texture.

I love how Florian’s books make poetry feel playful instead of precious. Kids don’t feel like they’re “studying poetry” when they read these—they just feel like they’re having fun.

✨ Which would your kids grab first: dragons, polar animals, or goofy farm animals?

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🦫 FUN Animal Books for Kids

Honestly, the more animal books, the better in our house. These two book series are packed with fascinating facts, tons of personality, and the kind of humor that makes kids suddenly start yelling things like, “WAIT—DID YOU KNOW…?!”

🐝 Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton
This book is funny and surprisingly persuasive for anyone who thinks bees are just tiny flying villains. 😄 With comic-style illustrations, speech bubbles, and lots of humor, it explains why bees are actually incredibly important—and way more interesting than most kids realize.

🦡 Rachel Poliquin’s Superpower Field Guides
These books are SUCH a fun twist on animal nonfiction. Instead of just listing facts, each animal gets introduced through its “superpowers,” whether that’s surviving extreme temperatures, escaping predators, or being wonderfully weird. The writing is playful and full of personality, and the illustrations make the whole thing feel lively and adventurous.

These are exactly the kinds of books I love handing to curious kids—the ones that sneak learning in so well that kids barely notice they’re absorbing science facts.

✨ Which animal superpower would your kid want most?

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✨Two Middle Grade Fantasy Must-Reads!

Highly recommend you check out these fun books:

🧵 The Memory Spinner by C. M. Cornwell
This book completely won me over with its Howl’s Moving Castle feel—cozy, strange, magical, and just a little melancholy. The magic system, though, felt original and memorable: the enchantress spins cloth from her own painful or unremarkable memories, then weaves it into items of clothing with magical powers. I loved the way the magic was tied so closely to the themes of the book of memory, loss, and identity.

🗺️ The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
Sai is exactly the kind of main character I love reading about: scrappy, clever, and constantly trying to stay one step ahead of discovery. So much of the tension comes from the secrets everyone’s hiding, and I was completely invested in whether she could keep hers hidden aboard the ship. The voyage into uncharted waters gave the story such a strong sense of adventure, too!

Both of these books have adventure and magic, but they also have so much emotional depth underneath the fantasy elements—which is probably why they stayed with me long after I finished them.

✨ Which sounds more tempting to you: magical memory-spinning or sailing toward unknown lands?

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Poetry for Kids by ❤️Joyce Sidman❤️

📚 Have you discovered the dazzling poetry of Joyce Sidman?

If you’re looking for books that blend science, nature, and truly beautiful language, her work is something special. I love it so much! Lyrical, thoughtful, and rich with imagery, these books invite kids to slow down, notice the world, and see it in a whole new way.

Here are three favorites to explore:

🦉 Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen
This Newbery Honor–winning collection reveals the hidden life of the natural world after dark. Each poem feels like a quiet discovery, paired with intricate scratchboard illustrations that glow with detail and mystery. 

🌅 Before Morning by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes
A gentle, hopeful poem about a child wishing for snow—woven with themes of patience, change, and wonder. The luminous engraved, wood-print illustrations, touched with soft color, makes this one especially magical. It truly tugged at my heart.

🌳 Dear Acorn, Love Oak: Letter Poems to Friends by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Sidman’s newest book just came out last year and it is full of clever, heartfelt poems written as letters between elements of the natural world. The mixed-media illustrations are bursting with texture, movement, and charm are just GORGEOUS!

All three books are a celebration of language, art, and the beauty of the world around us—perfect for curious kids (and grown-ups) who love to linger over words.

✨ Do you have a favorite poetry book to share with kids?

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🚀 The Artemis Buzz Is Real—Let’s Turn It Into Learning

Our house was glued to the Artemis mission updates…

There’s something magical about watching history unfold in real time—but for me, it was also deeply personal. My last vivid memory of a space mission growing up was the Challenger. So watching this new chapter in space exploration—and seeing the crew return home safely—felt especially meaningful.

And it’s made me realize how important it is that my kids understand the context of this moment. Why this mission matters. Why it’s exciting. Why it hasn’t always been guaranteed that astronauts make it home.

Kids are naturally curious right now—this is the perfect moment to lean in and help them explore that curiosity through great books. 📚✨

Here are a few we’re loving:

🌕 Who Owns the Moon? by Cynthia Levinson & Jennifer Swanson
A fascinating look at the big questions surrounding space exploration—who gets to go, who makes the rules, and what the future might hold.

🕵️‍♂️ Space Case by Stuart Gibbs (also available as a graphic novel!)
A fun, fast-paced mystery set on the moon—perfect for middle grade readers who like their science with a side of suspense.

🚀 Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
A stunning picture book that captures the wonder, tension, and triumph of the very first moon landing.

☀️ Sun: One in a Billion! by Stacy McAnulty
Part of a fantastic series, this one gives the sun a big personality (a little cocky 😄) while sneaking in tons of fascinating space facts.

Moments like this don’t come around often—and they’re such a powerful opportunity to connect kids with science, history, and big dreams.

✨ Are your kids caught up in the excitement of space right now?

#BooksForCuriousKids #STEMBooks #SpaceForKids #ArtemisMission #KidLit #NonfictionForKids #MiddleGradeBooks #PictureBooks #RaisingReaders #CuriousKids

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Middle Grade Books With ❤️Heart❤️

📚 Looking for middle grade reads full of humor & heart?

These two standout stories follow unforgettable kids navigating big challenges—with courage, creativity, and just a touch of the unexpected:

🏋️ The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
Hercules Beal is given an unusual assignment: recreate the twelve labors of Hercules. But as he tackles each “labor” in his own modern-day way, he realizes he doesn’t have to do it alone. Funny and deeply moving, this one lingers long after the last page.

🎩 Tips for Magicians by Celesta Rimington
After losing his mother, Harrison Boone’s world has gone quiet—no music, no magic to fix what’s broken. When he’s sent to a quirky desert art town to live with his aunt, he discovers a place built on creativity, mystery, and the legend of a missing muse who once granted wishes. With the help of new friends and a stray dog, Harrison sets out on a journey to find the muse—and maybe a way to heal his family.

These books hold great emotional depth. I love them both so much! 

✨ Which journey would your reader choose—ancient labors or a magical quest?

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Thrilling Adventure Books: CANYON’S EDGE and LIFEBOAT 12

📚 Looking for edge-of-your-seat adventure reads for middle grade readers?
If your kid loves stories of survival, courage, and grit, these two unforgettable books will keep them turning pages late into the night:

🏜️ CANYON’S EDGE by Dusti Bowling
When a flash flood traps 13-year-old Nora in a slot canyon, she must rely on her instincts—and her resilience—to survive. Told in alternating prose and verse, this story pulls readers right into the danger while also exploring grief, healing, and inner strength.

🚢 LIFEBOAT 12 by Susan Hood
Based on a true story from World War II, this powerful novel in verse follows a group of children stranded at sea after their ship is torpedoed. Stuck in a lifeboat with limited supplies, they must find the courage to survive together.

Both of these fast-paced verse novels combine action and emotion in a way that feels immediate and immersive—perfect for readers who want adventure with heart.

✨ Which setting would you survive: the canyon or the open ocean?

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Today’s book recommendation: SOMETHING ROTTEN: A FRESH LOOK AT ROADKILL by Heather L. Montgomery | Illustrated by Kevin O’Malley

– Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

– Middle Grade Nonfiction

If you’re super squeamish, this might not be the book for you. But if you can handle descriptions of dead animals, it’s definitely worth a read. I found it fascinating and my boys could NOT get enough of it! We read it together before school, and each day they rushed to get ready so we would have more time to read. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is! 🙂

📚 Here’s the official book promo:

*****
When Heather L. Montgomery sees a rattlesnake flattened on the side of the road, her first instinct is to pick it up and dissect it–she’s always wanted to see how a snake’s fangs retract when they close their mouths, and it’s not exactly safe to poke around in a live reptile’s mouth.

A wildlife researcher with a special penchant for the animals that litter the roadways, Heather isn’t satisfied with dissecting just one snake. Her fascination with roadkill sets her off on a journey from her own backyard and the roadways of the American South to scientists and kids in labs and homes across the globe. From biologists who use the corpses of Tasmanian devils to investigate cures for a contagious cancer, to a scientist who discovered a whole new species of bird from a single wing left behind, to a boy rebuilding animal bodies from the bones up, to a restaurant that serves up animal remnants, Heather discovers that death is just the beginning for these creatures.

Dig into this eye-opening and irreverent look at the dead and dying animals that we pass by without a second thought.
*****

Montgomery’s passionate curiosity is contagious, and I just love how she takes readers along with her on this bizarre, but interesting, learning journey. Her prose is full of good humor, and I found myself laughing out loud so many times reading this book.

SOMETHING ROTTEN has won a ton of awards, including a JLG Gold Standard, an ALA Notable Book, and the Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year, so be brave and give this book a try!

Happy reading!

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Today’s book recommendation: MOLES: The Superpower Field Guide by Rachel Poliquin

– Nonfiction Middle Grade

No matter what age you are, learning about animals is super duper fun, especially when you have Author Rachel Poliquin @rachelpoliquin framing their abilities as sensational superpowers!

I first came across MOLES: The Superpower Field Guide a few years ago, and we loved it so much, I promptly bought the whole series.

I mean, who doesn’t want to know how this “humble hero” of the animal kingdom has the “Blood of Gods,” the “Saliva of Death,” and “Indefatigable Paws of Power.”

*****
💥 Here’s the official book summary of MOLES:
Meet Rosalie, a common mole. The first thing you need to know about Rosalie is that she is shaped like a potato. Not a new potato, all cute and round, but a plain old lumpy potato. She may be small. She may be spongy. But never underestimate a mole.

I know what you’re thinking: moles are just squinty-eyed beasts that wreck your lawn.

You’re right! Those squinty eyes and mounds of dirt are proof that moles have superpowers. There is absolutely nothing common about the common mole.
*****

The simple cartoon-y illustrations are perfect for the witty narration and there are quizzes and even a mole maze to get kids engaging with what they are learning.

I highly recommend these books! Pick one up today and give it a try!

And, as always,
happy reading!

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Today’s book recommendation: THE WINTERTON DECEPTION: FINAL WORD by Janet Sumner Johnson

– Middle Grade Mystery

This middle grade mystery is so, so good! The main protagonists are twelve-year-old twins and the book has so many elements that make it fun: a spelling bee, a mansion with secret passages, a scavenger hunt, hidden treasure, tricky family dynamics, as well as long-buried family secrets.

📚 Here’s the official book promo:

*****
A twisty middle grade mystery for fans of Knives Out, The Inheritance Game, and The Westing Game. Twelve-year-old twins enter a spelling bee in a last-ditch effort to save their family from financial ruin, only to find themselves in a cut-throat competition to uncover a fortune and dark secrets about the wealthy relations they’ve never known.

Hope Smith can’t stand rich people—the dictionary magnate family the Wintertons most of all. Not since she and her twin brother, Gordon, learned that their dad was one. So when Gordon enters the family into the Winterton’s charity spelling bee, Hope wants nothing to do with it. But with their mom losing her job and the family facing eviction from the motel where they live, they desperately need the money, and it looks like Hope doesn’t have much of a choice.

After winning the preliminary round, the Smiths are whisked to Winterton Manor to compete in the official Winterton Bee against their long-lost relatives. Hope wants to get in and out, beat the snobbish family at their own game, and never see them again. But deceased matriarch Jane Winterton had other plans for this final family showdown. Before her death, she set up a clue hunt throughout the manor—an alternate way for Hope and Gordon to get the money that could change their lives.

Still, others are on the trail, too. With tensions at an all-time high, a fortune at stake, and long-simmering family secrets about to boil to the surface, anything could happen.
*****

I especially love the close twin relationship between Hope and Gordon and how they both approach their estranged family and their challenges so differently.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book! The second one, FAULT LINES, is out now, too!

Happy reading!