This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Alice Nuttall (she/her) is a writer, pet-wrangler and D&D nerd. Her reading has got so out of control that she had to take a job at her local library to avoid bankrupting herself on books — unfortunately, this has just resulted in her TBR pile growing until it resembles Everest. Alice’s webcomic, writing and everything else can be found at https://linktr.ee/alicenuttallbooks. Her debut novel, The Zombie Project, is coming out in January 2025 with [Chicken House](https://w…
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Alice Nuttall (she/her) is a writer, pet-wrangler and D&D nerd. Her reading has got so out of control that she had to take a job at her local library to avoid bankrupting herself on books — unfortunately, this has just resulted in her TBR pile growing until it resembles Everest. Alice’s webcomic, writing and everything else can be found at https://linktr.ee/alicenuttallbooks. Her debut novel, The Zombie Project, is coming out in January 2025 with Chicken House.
View All posts by Alice Nuttall
The chilly autumn nights are drawing in, and what better way to spend them than with a new book? While November doesn’t have the same bumper crop of releases that we get in the build-up to Christmas, there are still plenty of great books for young readers out there. Many of them have strong seasonal themes, with stories of animals exploring wintry nature or sensitive explorations of what happens at this time of year when animals with short lifespans die. There are also tales of bravery, whether it’s the kind that comes with knowing yourself fully or the type that inspires you to get up and try again after a setback.
For middle grade readers, there’s plenty of fun fantasy, including a world of dragons and dark secrets and floating jinn cities in the sky. There are also plenty of great graphic novels and comics for readers who love visual storytelling and horse-y detective shenanigans for middle grade fans.
Whatever the young reader in your life enjoys, there’s something for them this month.
All Access members, your exclusive content begins below.
Alice Nuttall (she/her) is a writer, pet-wrangler and D&D nerd. Her reading has got so out of control that she had to take a job at her local library to avoid bankrupting herself on books — unfortunately, this has just resulted in her TBR pile growing until it resembles Everest. Alice’s webcomic, writing and everything else can be found at https://linktr.ee/alicenuttallbooks. Her debut novel, The Zombie Project, is coming out in January 2025 with Chicken House.
View All posts by Alice Nuttall
Picture Books
When Will My Woodlouse Wake Up? by Sarah Tagholm and Manu Montoya
A sweet, uplifting story — despite the subject matter — When Will My Woodlouse Wake Up? introduces different beliefs about what happens after death. Young Ross is sad when his pet woodlouse named Lord Jeffry dies. Ross doesn’t understand where he might have gone. Through conversations with his sister, Ross deals with his grief by thinking of the different experiences Lord Jeffry might be having now that he’s gone.
Fox and Owl’s Winter Adventure by Jackie Lui, illustrated by Moonlie Fong-Whittaker
The perfect read as the nights are drawing in, *Fox and Owl’s Winter Adventure *follows Ember the Fox and Flint the Owl as they explore a beautiful snowy landscape. Young readers learn about nature and the seasons, and the book includes animal facts and craft ideas, making it an excellent choice for families.
My Gender, My Rules by Andy Passchier
My Gender, My Rules is a great introduction to discussing gender with young children. In this colourful book full of fascinating facts, My Gender, My Rules teaches about the different ways people express their gender; how important it is as a part of someone’s identity; and most crucially, that everyone gets to reach their own conclusions about their gender and deserves to have their feelings respected.
Salmon Run by Annie Chen
Learning about the life cycles of animals is always interesting, particularly for young readers. This beautiful book by Annie Chen will be an excellent read for anyone seeking to learn more about this fascinating species. Salmon Run tells the story of a Pacific coho salmon as she goes from an egg in a freshwater river, travels out to sea, and then makes the long journey back to her birthplace to reproduce.
Come Catch a Dream by Brittany J. Thurman, illustrated by Islenia Mil
Regaining your confidence after a setback is an important lesson to learn. In this story, a budding young skater is feeling anxious following a fall on the ice. But with support from their Momma and by digging deep to find their courage, the hero of this sweet story can return to the rink and achieve their dream: doing a spin.
Middle Grade
Hikaru in the Light! (Volume 2) by Mai Matsuda
Young fans of manga and pop music will love this latest installment of the Hikaru in the Light! series, which follows the titular Hikaru and her best friend Ran as they move through a competition to become musical superstars. This sweet, upbeat story is a perfect graphic novel for middle grade readers.
The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair by Max Brallier, illustrated by Douglas Holgate
Another new release for comic book fans, The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair continues the story of Jack and Quint. This time, readers follow the duo as they fight their way through the Monster Dimension. With a mixture of prose and comics, The Last Kids on Earth is ideal for emerging readers, as well as for kids who love adventure.
The Last Ember: The Aerimander Chronicles by Lily Dodd
Fantasy fans will love The Last Ember, the first installment in a new series set in a land of magic and dragons. Called Aerimanders, these dragons are believed to be extinct until young heroes Eva and Dusty find the impossible: a dragon egg. Now, they must protect the egg from those who want to exploit it and find out the secrets at the heart of the Department of Kingdom Secrets.
Windy Creek Stables: Harper and the Horse Show Sabotage by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson
The latest installment in the Windy Creek Stables series, Harper and the Horse Show Sabotage, sees friends Harper and Presley preparing to participate in the annual horse show when, suddenly, horses at their stables begin to fall ill. The friends suspect that the horses’ illness is no accident. They then set out to find the saboteur before the competition is ruined.
Farrah Noorzad and the Realm of Nightmares by Deeba Zargarpur
In the finale of Zargarpur’s fantasy duology, Farrah Noorzad, a girl who is half-human and half-jinn, is still trying to find her place in the jinns’ flying city, connect with her father, and stay strong against the influence of the malevolent fire jinn Azar. When she discovers a prophecy that states she might either save or destroy the jinn world, Farrah must determine what she’ll do to save the City of Jewels.
Looking for more middle grade? Try The Best New and Recent Middle Grade Series. For picture book recommendations, check out The 65 Most Essential Picture Books.
Join All Access to read this article
Get access to exclusive content and features with an All Access subscription on Book Riot.
- Unlimited access to exclusive bonus content
- Community features like commenting and poll participation
- Our gratitude for supporting the work of an independent media company