Big Stories for Growing Readers
For each Spotlight blog post, the CBC curates a themed selection from recent booklists, helping parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and children’s book enthusiasts discover standout titles from our member publishers.
Chapter books open the door for young readers to dive into richer stories that build confidence with each turn of the page. Offering a perfect bridge between picture books and longer texts, these shorter tales help kids grow their reading stamina while keeping their imaginations engaged. Through relatable characters and imaginative plots, these February Hot Off the Press picks encourage empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper love of reading. For both emerging and eager readers, chapter books are a joyful step on every child’s literary journey.
The Avian Adventurers #1: Snowy Owl Rescue, by Heidi E. Y. Stemple; illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Charlesbridge Publishing / Charlesbridge Moves) — Action / Adventure, Animals, Friendships, Environment / Sustainability / Recycling, ages 7-12.
Birdwatching! Borrrring, right? Not to these avian adventurers from Maynard Elementary as they fight a snowstorm in order to save a rare snowy owl.
Michael, the star of the soccer team, is about to kick his first practice shot when he hears a noise from behind him. Jet, a bird nerd and member of the Junior Bird Club, appears and shows Michael what he would have missed by being so singularly focused on the ball—a rare snowy owl on the goal post. While they watch, the owl captures a rat and devours it.
The next day, a horde of birders arrive and Michael thinks he may never get his soccer field back. But Jet has discovered that the owl is not well and the Junior Bird Club enlists Michael to help get the bird help during a snowstorm.
Michael promised his parents he’d be home before the snow started, but with a hurt owl, will he? Join Michael and his new friends as they use all their talents and knowledge to rescue the snowy owl.
Classroom Chaos (Diary of an Accidental Witch #8), by Perdita Cargill and Honor Cargill; illustrated by Katie Saunders (Tiger Tales Books) — Fantasy, Humor, Social Emotional Learning, ages 7-12.
The ghost of witching legend Minerva Moon is in Bea’s house! Can Bea find a way to convince the ghost to return to her own diary–and prevent total classroom chaos in the process?
Witching legend Minerva Moon IS IN BEA’S HOUSE! Or at least her diary ghost is. Bea needs to get her to go back into HER diary and stop reading BEA’S (which she is finding VERY funny and Bea is not)!
Bea hoped Ms. Sparks might be able to help, but it turns out the non-witchy inspectors are COMING BACK and she needs BEA’S help. With only a couple of days until the inspectors arrive, it’s going to take all of Bea’s friends (Ash and witchy!) to prevent total classroom chaos! With black-and-white illustrations throughout.
Told through Bea’s diary entries, the Diary of an Accidental Witch series invites readers to follow Bea on a humorous journey of self-discovery as she learns where she truly belongs.
Goodbye, French Fry, by Rin-rin Yu (Penguin Random House / Nancy Paulsen Books) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Cultural Diversity, Family / Community, Social Emotional Learning, ages 7-12.
A sparkling debut novel featuring a Chinese American girl doing her best to stay true to herself in a world that often judges.
Some days, Ping-Ping feels like she just can’t win. She was born in the US, so it’s frustrating when people are surprised by how American she is, but her Chinese relatives feel she’s not Chinese enough. But the things bugging her the most lately are her classmate Lee Beaumont, who has taken to calling her “French Fry” because of the tofu sticks she eats at lunch, and the possibility that her family will have to relocate to Kenya for her father’s UN job. Of all the things Ping-Ping loves, her home and best friend are at the top of the list, and she’d hate to have to leave them. What’s a girl to do when she can’t be in as much control as she’d like to be? Well, good thing Ping-Ping is a wiz at taekwondo—she’s learning how to kick her frustrations away, and there’s almost nothing she can’t master if she puts her mind to it. Rin-rin Yu has written a warm and funny family story that will have kids rooting for Ping-Ping—a girl who is ready to kick all the assumptions made about her aside!
Maysoon Zayid: The Girl Who Can, by Seema Yasmin; illustrated by Noha Habaeib (Simon & Schuster / Salaam Reads) — Biography / Memoir, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Disabilities, Art / Performing Arts, ages 7-12.
From the prolific Pulitzer Prize–nominated Muslim reporter Dr. Seema Yasmin comes an exciting nonfiction chapter book about one of America’s first female Muslim comedians—Maysoon Zayid—the first in the riveting and inspirational Muslim Mavericks series.
This is the story of the girl who could!
Maysoon Zayid was just a girl from New Jersey. She might have sometimes felt like she was in the shadow of her three older sisters, but in her dreams, she was Mimi—an amazing actress, comedian, and dancer! The only problem? People kept telling Maysoon her dreams were impossible!
Achieving her goals certainly wasn’t easy; as a Palestinian Muslim girl born with cerebral palsy, Maysoon faced all sorts of challenges—both physical and societal. But Maysoon didn’t dare give up. Instead, she followed her heart all the way to the screen and stage to become one of America’s first ever women Muslim comedians and an actress on her favorite TV show.
The Princess and the Unicorn, by A.M. Luzzader; illustrated by Anna M. Clark (Sourcebooks / Sourcebooks Wonderland) — Fantasy, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths, Action / Adventure, Animals, ages 7-12.
Discover the magic of being yourself in this heartwarming unicorn tale for kids ages 6-9!
Come away to Wildflower Kingdom, a faraway fantasy land with princesses, unicorns, and even a dragon! Join eight-year-old Princess Olivia and six-year-old Princess Juniper, sisters who are always off to discover new adventures and important lessons.
Juniper feels jealous when the queen says her older sister, Olivia, is big enough to ride the unicorns of Wildflower Kingdom all by herself. Juniper wants to ride by herself, too, and tries every trick she can think of to grow up fast. Can Juniper grow big and tall in just one afternoon? Or will she learn that she can still be a big help by being small? Find out in this fun fantasy princess story for kids ages 6-9.
For more great book suggestions, be sure to check out the full February Hot Off the Press list!
List compiled by CBC’s resident children’s book aficionado, Brooke Pisarsky. Check out other Spotlight booklists on our blog.
