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As seventh grader Tony was bullied, but eventually finds comfort and strength in art, anime, and friendship with other nerdy Black kids. This graphic memoir is honest in its portrayal of tough middle school relationships but is accessible and hopeful.

Magnolia thought that her summer would be boring until she meets Iris Lam, new to the city. Together, Iris and Magnolia venture to reunite lost socks with their owners. Along the way, they meet fascinating, quirky people in this charming, humorous novel illustrated with black-and-white line drawings.

Isabel Beane is a quiet girl who lives with five siblings in a home with hubbub, hullabaloo, and “too muchness.” At school, Isabel feels anxious in class when a new girl behaves unkindly. Find out how Isabel learns to speak up for herself in this accessibly told novel. Resources about autism and anxiety are included.

Goat and Bunny form a friendship when they discover they both enjoy the same coffee. As the friends do many things together but differently, they know that “it is okay.” Whimsical, detailed illustrations complement the well-told tale.

Hank is not only a silly goose, but he’s also rude and downright obnoxious, making his friends miserable. Until they don’t want to deal with him anymore. Lonely Hank becomes a more considerate goose who changes his ways (or does he?) in this slyly funny tale.

Eddy is lonely as he swims — until one day not one, but two friends appear just outside of the fishbowl. The friends’ identity is revealed when Eddy excitedly jumps out the bowl. Tension is high until a true friendship becomes evident. 

Brian was a normal, shy kid until he discovered a bump on his head which grows into a horn: a unicorn horn. When Brian’s best friend Avery is sucked up in an evil vortex, Brian must summon the courage to save him! Though fantastic, themes of friendship, bravery and self-confidence emerge in what is likely the first book in a new series about Unicorn Boy. 

Can a road trip to odd places, with a bit of adventure and a touch of friendship help Pia heal from the loss of her brother and her family problems? This poignant story told in graphic format is visually delightful, both sad and humorous.

Henry decides to share his love of dancing at the school talent show. A sweet, easier-to-read book just right for newly independent readers. Also available in Spanish: Las muestra de talentos (opens in a new window). Look for other titles in the Confetti Kids series.

Orris, a grumpy rat happily lives alone in a barn until one evening a small owl becomes trapped and calls out for help. Can Orris trust an owl, a rat’s sworn enemy? Orris does the right thing, freeing the small white owl. Timble flies off but returns with a butterscotch to thank Orris. And thus begins their friendship in a sweetly told and illustrated novel.

Dan and Aki live different lives — one here on land, the other lives there at sea. While they may seem unalike, when they come together, they discover more than similarities. They find friendship and community, shown on a double gatefold complemented by warm-toned, slightly abstract illustrations.

Like children often do, this dog and cat take a most circuitous route home, encountering lots to see, smell, and hear along the way. Brief rhythmic, sometimes rhyming text accompanies this familiar adventure. Readers familiar with the author’s Inside Cat and They All Saw a Cat may recognize the styles and critters in this volume.

Aurora is nervous before a class presentation where she will use sign language to tell her story. When she makes the butterfly sign, it goes round the world and back, providing the needed confidence. Created by a Deaf author and illustrator, this magical tale will resonate with all.

Bunny’s predictable vacation by the sea is upended with the arrival of Bob, a purple monster. At first Bunny is pleased when a storm ruins Bob’s belongings, but a change of heart allows her to find a friend and new ways to share the seaside. Humorous, detailed illustrations contrast Bunny’s and Bob’s size and their approaches to life.

Their friendship started when one boy accidentally bumped into another’s block building — and then they discovered that building together was more fun. So, too, was imaginatively watching dragons and other fantastic creatures wreck them! Swirling, meticulous illustrations in Santat’s characteristic style detail the children’s friendship with its ups and downs, but one that is built to last.
 

Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel are best friends. One day, they each find a letter. But not just any letter…  love letter. Someone loves them. But who? The answer may surprise you! This tale about a wonderful mix-up reminds us of the joys of friendship.

This warmly-told story teaches us that love really does grow everywhere, in all shapes, forms, and sizes. Through gentle, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, feel the love in a close-knit family who grow plants and sell them in their local market, and discover the types of love that exist in the many homes of their diverse community. There are kisses from Dad, songs with Grandma, charity from neighbors and playtime with friends. There’s old love, new love and everything in between! But there’s a new kid who is not quite so sure… Can the gardeners’ daughter be brave and extend the love to him?

Henry likes Classroom Ten. He likes how it is always the same. But this week, Henry’s class will have a parade, and a parade means having Share Time on the wrong day. A parade means playing instruments that are too loud. A parade means this week is not like always. Join Henry as he navigates the ups and downs of marker missiles, stomach volcanoes, and days that feel a little too orange. From the creators of the Schneider Family Honor-winning picture book A Friend for Henry, this warmly funny book starring a child on the autism spectrum is a reassuring read for school-bound kids of all stripes.

This novel maps one girl’s quest to remember her grandfather through his scavenger hunts; reconnect with her family; and fight for her community in her rapidly changing hometown. Thanks to her Ye-Ye’s epic scavenger hunts, thirteen-year-old Ruby Chu knows San Francisco like the back of her hand. But after his death, she feels lost, and it seems like everyone is abandoning her. After Ruby gets in major trouble at school, her parents decide she has to spend the summer at a local senior center with her grandmother, Nai-Nai, and Nai-Nai’s friends for company. When a new boy from Ruby’s grade, Liam Yeung, starts showing up too, Ruby’s humiliation is complete. But Nai-Nai, her friends, and Liam all surprise Ruby. Alongside Nai-Nai, who is keeping a secret that threatens to change everything, Ruby retraces Ye-Ye’s scavenger hunt maps in an attempt to find a way out of her grief—and maybe even find herself. 

Kara and Amanda are best-friend cousins. Then Kara leaves the city to move back to the Rez. Will their friendship stay the same? Kara and Amanda hate not being together. Then it’s time for the family reunion on the Rez. Each girl worries that the other hasn’t missed her. But once they reconnect, they realize that they are still forever cousins. This story highlights the ongoing impact of the 1950s Indian Relocation Act on Native families, even today. This story about navigating change reminds readers that the power of friendship and family can bridge any distance.

 The story of a dog who unwittingly becomes a hero to a park full of animals. Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes — to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends — a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican — work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and making sure the Equilibrium is in balance. But changes are afoot. More humans, including Trouble Travelers, arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world.

After a series of adult owners, a set of puppets — a king, a wolf, an owl, and a boy (originally owned by a sea captain named Spelhorst) — wind up in the home where two sisters live. There, the puppets’ dreams and yearnings are ultimately fulfilled. Beautiful, spare prose is accompanied by black and white illustrations for a gentle fantasy.

How does a girl stand out from the crowd when she has a braid and a fluffy, flowered sweater on picture day? Olivia (aka Viv) finds a way with unexpected consequences in this authentic, often humorous graphic novel.

A small dog and tiny cat are best of friends, playing all day, until one day Tao is hurt. George misses Tao very much until the friends are reunited, one with a bandage and gentler play. Simple but evocative illustrations complement the effective, brief narrative.