5-10
The Very Last Leaf By Stef Wade
Taking a leap can be a scary thing. Lance Cottonwood is the best and brightest of the leaves, but he has to conquer his fear of falling. This humorous picture book addresses some of the social and emotional struggles many kids face every day, such as anxiety and fear.
Pumpkin Jack By Will Hubbell
This is the perfect post-Halloween read. Tim loves his jack o’ lantern, Jack. After Jack begins to rot, Tim takes him out to his family’s garden. As time passes, he watches the pumpkin change, and when spring comes around, he’s in for a surprise.
Cavie’s Magic Wish By Julie Huetsch
This heartwarming story shines a light on the vital importance of dog rescue and adoption. Cavie—a brave Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescue dog—sets off on an adventure of compassion and selflessness. When Cavie’s heroic act earns him a magical wish, he faces an important choice.
11-13
The Lost Library By Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
Celebrate the power of a good book—and the librarian who gave it to you! Guarded by a large orange cat, a mysterious little free library appears overnight in a small town. Eleven-year-old Evan takes two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.
Absolutely Truly (A Pumpkin Falls Mystery) By Heather Vogel Frederick
After Truly Lovejoy’s family moves to Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire, she finds an undelivered letter stuck in a autographed first edition of Charlotte’s Web. The discovery leads to a madcap treasure hunt around town. Don’t miss the other three entries in the series.
Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos by Alex Evanovich
Just an average kid, Keeper Chance gets invited to try out for a spot in his local chapter of EVIL—the Evil Villains International League. As members of EVIL go missing, Keeper must race against the clock to save his new friends.
▶ Meet the author! Oct. 19 @ St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch
14+
Zodiac Rising By Katie Zhao
If you’re interested in dark academia or heist stories, this is the book for you. When a student at a secretive magical boarding school in Manhattan is found dead, a vampire, shapeshifter, werewolf and mortal must save the day.
Pumpkinheads By Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
This graphic novel follows seasonal best friends Deja and Josiah. Every autumn, they work together at a pumpkin patch. However, things are different this Halloween as the two are now seniors. On their last shift together, Deja decides they need to go out with bang.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder By Holly Jackson
You may have seen the Netflix show, but don’t miss the bestselling novel that inspired it. After high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, the tragedy haunts the town of Fairview. Pip decides to reexamine the closed case, quickly discovering a trail of dark secrets.