Juvenile Literature

The books in this collection navigate themes and ideas appropriate for younger readers. Whether you're looking for contemporary hits like Front Desk by Kelly Yang or beloved classics like Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, you can explore this collection to find a title that will excite the young readers in your life.

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Future, Animals, Nature Versus Nurture, Family, Community, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Climate Change, Children`s Literature, Animals

Publication year 1908

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Beauty, Good & Evil, Literature, Friendship, Animals, Plants

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Animals, British Literature, Classic Fiction

First published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows by Scottish writer Kenneth Grahame is a story for young readers that recounts the adventures of three animals: Mole, Rat, and Badger. In the woodlands where they live, the trio must deal with various problems—which include frequently rescuing their friend Mr. Toad, who loves thrills and often causes trouble.Widely considered one of the greatest literary works for children, The Wind in the Willows has been reprinted... Read The Wind in the Willows Summary

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Love, Memory, Language, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Animals, Place, Daughters & Sons, Family, Siblings, Immigration

Tags Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Historical Nonfiction

The Winter Room is a 1989 young adult novel by American author Gary Paulsen. The story follows 11-year-old Eldon, who lives on a northern Minnesota farm with his family. The narrative explores Eldon’s relationship with his older brother, Wayne, and their connection to their great-uncle David. The boys grow up working on the farm all year and listening to Uncle David’s stories during the winter. The novel received the Newbery Medal Honor in 1989. Gary Paulsen... Read The Winter Room Summary

Publication year 1983

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Family

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Humor, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction

The Witches (1983) is a children’s novel by Roald Dahl. As with his other well-known stories for young readers—Matilda (1988), James and the Giant Peach (1961), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964), and The BFG (1982)—the book has elements of fantasy and addresses themes like identity, family, and good versus evil. There are film adaptations of several of Dahl’s books, and there are two movie versions of The Witches—one from 1990 and another from 2020... Read The Witches Summary

Publication year 1958

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Love, Literature, Colonialism, Place

Tags Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Romance, Classic Fiction

Elizabeth George Speare was a well-known author of children’s books during the mid-twentieth century. Her second novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1957), earned her a Newbery Medal in 1959. She won another in 1962 for The Bronze Bow (1961), as well as a Laura Ingalls Wilder Award in 1989 for her lifetime contribution to children’s literature. Her other novels include Calico Captive (1957) and The Sign of the Beaver (1984). Speare’s books are often... Read The Witch Of Blackbird Pond Summary

Publication year 1900

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Friendship, Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

Tags Children`s Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure

Published in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a beloved children’s classic by L. Frank Baum. It was adapted in 1939 into an iconic film starring Judy Garland. L. Frank Baum went on to write 13 further books set in the Land of Oz. This guide refers to the 2008 Puffin Books edition of The Wizard of Oz.Plot SummaryDorothy is a young girl living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a farm... Read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Summary

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Humor, Bullying, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Animals, Fantasy

Written by Betty G. Birney, The World According to Humphrey, published in 2004, is a children’s novel about a golden hamster named Humphrey who makes a positive difference in the lives of the students and staff at Longfellow School. With a cheerful attitude, a good sense of humor, and a wealth of wisdom, Humphrey narrates his experiences as the class pet of Room 26. Against this backdrop of school life, Birney touches on important themes... Read The World According to Humphrey Summary

Publication year 1938

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Animals, Fathers, Daughters & Sons, Family, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Classic Fiction, Animals, Agriculture, Grief & Death, Children`s Literature, World History

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings published The Yearling in 1938 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1939. Maxwell Perkins, who also worked with F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, edited the novel. The Yearling traces one year in the life of Jody Baxter, chronicling his family’s hardships as they endure floods, plague, and death—and Jody’s tender relationship with an orphaned fawn. The novel became a bestseller in 1938 and has since been translated into 29 languages. In... Read The Yearling Summary

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, World History

The Year of Miss Agnes, a work of historical fiction by Kirkpatrick Hill, tells how the lives of young children in a remote Alaskan village shift irreversibly when Miss Agnes, a progressive and unconventional young teacher, arrives to teach in their one-room schoolhouse. As a teacher in rural Alaska, Hill brings a unique perspective to the subject. This 2000 book (2002 edition) depicts Miss Agnes’s first year of teaching in this school. The Year of... Read The Year of Miss Agnes Summary

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Perseverance, Race, Coming of Age, Fathers, Social Class, Community, Justice

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature

Walter Dean Myers first published his middle grade novel, The Young Landlords, in 1979. Like most of the 100 books Myers penned before his death in 2014, the story centers on Black youth. The Young Landlords is particularly personal to Myers, however, because he writes about the neighborhood in Harlem, New York, where he grew up, describing the sort of activities and individuals he encountered as a youth. The main character, 15-year-old Paul Williams, pays... Read The Young Landlords Summary

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Coming of Age, Science & Technology, Family

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Published in 2002, Things Not Seen, a science-fiction novel written by Andrew Clements for middle-grade students, tells of a boy who becomes invisible and strikes up a friendship with a girl who is blind. They and their parents search for a way to prevent the public from learning about his condition and tearing the family apart. The work is the first in a three-book series.Clements, winner of more than two dozen awards, was the author... Read Things Not Seen Summary