The holiday season may be coming to a close, but the new year is just beginning! We’re releasing titles in young adult, graphic novels, nonfiction series, and more. Whether you want to learn about huge animals, track your favorite athletes, or get lost in an exciting adventure, we’re bringing something for everyone. Celebrate 2024 with us and peruse our list of new books!
New in Paperback
The Monarchs Are Missing: A Butterfly Mystery by Rebecca E. Hirsch
A Junior Library Guild Selection
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6
Why are monarch butterflies disappearing? Scientists are racing to find answers. These iconic orange, black, and white butterflies flutter across much of the North American continent, and are a familiar summer sight in many backyards. But in the last twenty years, the monarch butterfly population has been decreasing. Why? Skilled science writer Rebecca E. Hirsch takes readers on a quest to discover what scientists already know—and what they’re hoping to learn. In addition, she offers tips about what monarch lovers can do to make a difference, from planting a butterfly garden to getting the word out about harmful pesticides to taking part in citizen science projects.
“An excellent introduction to a familiar scientific puzzle.”—Kirkus Reviews
Predator and Save an Ecosystem by Kate Messner
A Junior Library Guild Selection
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8
Burmese pythons are invading Florida.
These enormous snakes are native to Southeast Asia, so when one showed up dead along the side of a Florida highway in 1979, scientists wondered where it came from. No one knew the snakes had launched a full-scale invasion. Pet pythons that escaped or were released by their owners started breeding in the wild, and these enormous predators began eating every animal in their path.
Today a group of scientists at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida is tracking Burmese pythons to find ways to stop their spread. Page Plus QR code links lead to video clips and photos of the scientists working in the field. Delve into the science of pythons and their role as invasive predators.
“[A] fascinating example of field biology . . .”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
Hear Me by Kerry O’Malley Cerra
- Interest Level: Grade 5 – Grade 8
A year after being diagnosed with hearing loss, twelve-year-old Rayne is doing her best to live a “normal” life and act like nothing has changed.
But her hearing keeps failing her. Rayne’s parents are pushing for her to get cochlear implants, which could restore her hearing—though she would hear sounds differently than she did before her hearing loss.
Rayne isn’t convinced the surgery for CIs is worth the risks and challenges. In fact, she’s terrified of it. She begs her parents to consider other options, but they’re not budging.
With the surgery looming, Rayne sets off on a search for alternatives. Along the way, she discovers that “normal” can have many meanings—and that even though her ears may be broken, she is not.
“This empathetic, appealing story highlights Rayne’s journey to self-acceptance while also exploring her complicated but loving family relationships, loyal friendships, and a little romance.” —Booklist
New in Spanish
Formas de iniciar amistades en cinco minutos (Five-Minute Friendship Starters): Guía de Sesame Street® para entablar una amistad (A Sesame Street® Guide to Making a Friend) by Marie-Therese Miller
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
¡Hacer una amistad nueva es fácil con la ayuda de Sesame Street! Este libro encantador, lleno de sugerencias para iniciar la conversación, juegos fáciles y maneras de demostrar aprecio, ayuda a los pequeños lectores a aprender maneras divertidas de acercarse a una persona nueva, conocerla y divertirse con ella . . . ¡en solo cinco minutos!
Making a new friend is easy with help from Sesame Street! Young readers learn fun ways to approach, get to know, and have fun with a new friend—in just five minutes!
Monstruo tranquilo, monstruo amable (Calm Monsters, Kind Monsters): Guía de Sesame Street® para la conciencia plena (A Sesame Street® Guide to Mindfulness) by Karen Latchana Kenney
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
La conciencia plena incluye respirar, tener un diálogo interno positivo, calmarse y más. Los personajes de Sesame Street presentan grandes emociones que es probable que los lectores hayan experimentado junto con soluciones simples como la respiración abdominal para ayudar a los niños a manejar lo que están sintiendo.
Breathing, positive self talk, and calming down—mindfulness includes all this and more. Sesame Street characters present big emotions readers have likely faced alongside simple solutions like belly breathing to help kids cope with what they’re feeling.
Guías de personajes de Sesame Street ® en español (Sesame Street ® Character Guides) Series
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
Elmo, Abby, Archibaldo y sus amigos de Sesame Street juntos en esta presentación positiva de los rasgos de la personalidad y el bienestar social y emocional. Las actividades ayudan a los niños a poner en práctica cada tema, mientras que el texto simple y un diseño colorido hacen que todo siga siendo interesante y divertido.
Elmo, Abby, Big Bird, and their Sesame Street friends join this positive introduction to character traits and social-emotional wellness. Hands-on activities help kids model each topic, while simple text and a colorful design keep things engaging and fun.
Una fruta es una maleta para las semillas (A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds) by Jean Richards, illustrated by Anca Hariton
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 3
Muchas semillas viajan dentro de las frutas. La fruta es como una maleta para las semillas. Las protege durante el viaje.
Los lectores conocerán de qué manera están diseñadas las frutas para proteger a las semillas de una planta y para ayudar a la planta a propagar las semillas en lugares nuevos.
Con una prosa perfecta para la lectura en voz alta y hermosas ilustraciones en acuarela, Una fruta es una maleta para las semillas indaga en el mundo de las semillas, su propósito y cómo crecen, y es perfecto para los niños pequeños. Incluye preguntas y respuestas al final como lectura complementaria y para fomentar el interés.
Many seeds travel inside fruits. The fruit is like a suitcase for the seeds. It protects them on their trip.
Readers will learn how fruits are designed to protect a plant’s seeds and also to help the plant spread its seeds to new places.
With prose perfect for read-alouds and gorgeous watercolor illustrations, A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds delves into the world of seeds, their purpose, and how they grow. Includes questions and answers at the end to further learning and engagement.
Muchos sentimientos (Lots of Feelings) by Shelley Rotner
From the Series Shelley Rotner’s Early Childhood Library
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
Puedes leer un libro, ¿pero sabías que también puedes leer una cara?
Una cara puede decirte lo que otra persona está sintiendo. En este ensayo fotográfico elocuente, con texto simple y fotografías, se presentan las emociones básicas—felicidad, malhumor, cavilación y más—y cómo demuestran estas emociones las personas.
“Ya sea en grupos, con los padres, individualmente con una persona que actúe como orientadora o en una clase, este libro proporciona las herramientas para facilitar una conversación sobre los niños y sus sentimientos.”—School Library Journal
You can read a book, but did you know that you can also read a face?
A face can tell you what someone is feeling. In this expressive photo-essay, simple text and photographs introduce basic emotions—happy, grumpy, thoughtful, and more—and how people show them.
Whether shared with a group, parents, or a counselor—individually or in a class—this title provides the tools to facilitate discussion about children and their feelings.”—School Library Journal
Lightning Bolt Books ® en español — Explorador planetario (Planet Explorer) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 3
Presenta a los lectores los ocho planetas de nuestro sistema solar. Desde las lunas de Júpiter hasta los vientos de Neptuno, los libros revelan información planetaria clave y la tecnología que los científicos usan para estudiarlos. Los códigos QR de Page Plus conducen a modelos descargables para impresoras 3D de la NASA.
Introduce readers to our solar system’s eight planets. From Jupiter’s moons to Neptune’s winds, the books reveal key planetary information and the technology scientists use to study them. Page Plus QR codes lead to downloadable 3D printer models from NASA.
New in Young Adult
The Code Busters Club Series
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6
Meet super sleuths Cody, Quinn, Luke, Mika, and M.E., members of The Code Busters Club. Together they decipher mind-boggling problems and crack the toughest of codes! Each book complements STEM instruction as readers use mathematical and critical-thinking skills to help solve mysteries.
Technology through the Ages Series
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
Ancient societies developed incredible inventions and complex techniques that continue to surprise scientists and historians today. Discover how ancient innovations laid the groundwork for modern technology in this fascinating and thoroughly researched series.
New in Graphic Novels
The Climate Crisis Series
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6
The impacts of climate change are becoming more and more visible, transforming people’s lives and the environments around them. The Climate Crisis series explores the causes and effects of climate change in an accessible graphic nonfiction format. Through these titles, young readers will learn more about key concepts and major developments within this world-changing topic.
New in Single Title Nonfiction
Casting Shadows: Solar and Lunar Eclipses with The Planetary Society® by Dr. Bruce Betts, PHD
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 4
The year 2024 is set to have multiple solar and lunar eclipses.
Solar and lunar eclipses are sights to behold. But you don’t see them every day! Learn about the different kinds of eclipses. Then discover when they happen, how to watch them, and the cool things that can happen during an eclipse.
New in Nonfiction Series
Math All Around (Pull Ahead Readers — Nonfiction) Series
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 1
Learning early math concepts has never been more accessible to young readers. These nonfiction books stand out with full-color photographs and carefully leveled text to support young readers as math becomes part of their world.
Sesame Street® Habitats Series
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
Join your Sesame Street friends as they take a tour of eight habitats! Meet the animals, learn about the plants, and discover key characteristics of each habitat in this accessible series for young learners.
Read about Citizenship (Read for a Better World™) Series
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2
Encourage young readers to learn how to be a good citizen. This series combines engaging examples and SEL connections to help students understand what citizenship means and how it fits into the world around them.
Read about Weather (Read for a Better World™) Series
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2
Let beginning readers learn more about the different types of weather that they observe each day. With STEM connections and engaging questions, this series is perfect for young readers and young scientists alike.
Lightning Bolt Books® — Nature’s Most Massive Animals Series
- Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 3
Introduce young readers to the lives of nature’s most massive animals, including their life cycle, what they eat, and how they behave. These books combine updated scientific research with high-impact photos and accessible, engaging text to entertain and educate. Perfect for the classroom or solitary reading, each book includes a glossary, fun facts, and further reading recommendations.
Lightning Bolt Books ® — Under the Hood Series
- Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 3
From dirt bikes to big rigs, see how vehicles of all shapes and sizes get moving as you take a look Under the Hood—part of the Lightning Bolt Books® collection. With bright designs, engaging photos, and lively text, Lightning Bolt Books® bring nonfiction topics to life!
All-Access Gymnastics (Lerner™ Sports) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
Gymnastics is a popular and highly viewed sport with a long, exciting history worldwide. Competitions range from beginner to professional levels and are made up of a variety of specialized events. This engaging series gives readers an inside look at gymnastics, including its history and the top gymnasts of the past and present.
All-Star Smackdown (Lerner™ Sports) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
Read about the world’s greatest athletes and compare their careers in a fun and exciting head-to-head format. Explore their stats and greatest moments, and then choose a winner. Will your favorite come out on top?
Greatest of All Time Players (Lerner™ Sports) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
Read about the world’s greatest athletes who play some of the most important positions in sports. The amazing stats, thrilling moments, and record-breaking performances packed into each book will fascinate sports fans.
Sports VIPs (Lerner™ Sports) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
Explore the lives of the world’s best and hottest sports superstars in this incredible series. Each title takes readers through the athlete’s childhood and early sport experiences through their rise to fame and current records. Witness how they rule their sports, prepare for big events, and help their communities.
Searchlight Books™ — High-Tech Science Series
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 5
Explore evolving topics in scientific research, including cryobiology, drones, and forensic science. Colorful photos, up-to-date information, and engaging sidebars make these high-interest and curricular topics accessible and interesting to readers.
Searchlight Books™ — Saving Animals with Science Series
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 5
From building bionic limbs for injured animals to special crossings for wildlife, science is solving problems in the animal world. Sidebars dive deep into how new equipment is changing the way people can help animals.
Ultimate Adventure Guides Series
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 5
Discover some of the world’s most intriguing places—from islands ruled by animals to a bridge completely under water. With engaging sidebars, maps, travel tips, and unbelievable true facts, these books allow readers to imagine traveling to fascinating destinations.
Unbelievable! (UpDog Books™) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 5
The universe is full of fascinating, incredible facts. From sports arenas to the oceans to the deepest reaches of space, readers will learn high-interest, educational facts that they’ll want to share with their friends.
Space Explorer Guidebooks (Alternator Books®) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6
Launch readers into space with this exciting series. From far-away universes glimpsed by the James Webb Space Telescope to scientists’ efforts to redirect asteroids, readers will learn about cutting-edge space technology.
The Future Is Female (Alternator Books®) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6
Celebrate the accomplishments of women over the years in this exciting series. Readers discover how women shaped our world through their contributions to arts, science, and politics and how they are continuing to make a change.
Gateway Biographies Series
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8
Discover the human side of newsworthy, historical, and pop culture figures, and learn about people leading key social movements or handling crises. Each biography in this easy-reading series is peppered with quotations and stories, accounts of successes and failures, and descriptions of the inspirational sources and experiences that influenced the subject’s achievements. Detailed timelines and indexes make these titles valuable reference resources.
New in Fiction Series
Math All Around (Pull Ahead Readers — Fiction) Series
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 1
Math is everywhere in these fictional stories that show math in the real world.
Each story features full-color illustrations and carefully leveled text to support young readers as they learn beginning math concepts.
Early Bird Readers — Blue (Early Bird Stories™) Series
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
Fuel the imaginations and reading skills of emergent readers! These fun stories combine age-appropriate text and kid-friendly illustrations perfect for reading levels E-G.
Early Bird Readers — Orange (Early Bird Stories™) Series
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
Engaging, leveled text at guided reading levels H-J help build literacy skills. From animals who learn about playing well with others to pirates who just want to drive diggers, these whimsical stories are sure to entertain.
Hair Magic (Read Woke™ Chapter Books) Series
- Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 3
Shimmer, sparkle, twirl . . . Imani’s hair magically changes when she embraces her inner powers, such as bravery, compassion, creativity, and more. Young readers will love following Imani’s adventures with her hair magic in these early chapter books.
Read Woke™ Books are created in partnership with Cicely Lewis, the Read Woke librarian, to reflect the diversity of our world.
For more of our wonderful books, visit our website.