New Books

Chapter Books Perfect for Emerging Readers

A to Z Animal Mysteries #1: The Absent Alpacas

A to Z Animal Mysteries #1: The Absent Alpacas By Ron Roy and Kayla Whaley; illustrated by Chloe Burgett

Solve Animal Mysteries from A to Z! Young clue hunters Abbi, Daniel, and Lydia sniff out the mystery behind a group of missing alpacas. Inspired by Ron Roy's beloved A to Z Mysteries series, this spin-off is perfect for budding young chapter-book readers--and future detectives!

A is for ALPACAS . . .

It's time for the alpaca costume contest, and Abigail "Abbi" Wallace is excited to see it at the Maine State Fair. But there’s only one alpaca left—the rest are missing! What sent the alpacas packing? Abbi; her dog, Barkley; and her friends Lydia and Daniel are ready to sniff out this mystery!

DON'T MISS the original A to Z Mysteries series by Ron Roy, starting with The Absent Author!

Junie B. Jones #1: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Junie B. Jones #1: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus By Barbara Park; illustrated by Denise Brunkus

“Hilarious. Barbara Park makes reading fun.” —Dav Pilkey, author of Dog Man
 
Barbara Park’s #1 New York Times bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, has been keeping kids laughing—and reading—for more than twenty-five years. Over 65 million copies sold!
 
Meet the World’s Funniest Kindergartner—Junie B. Jones! Remember when it was scary to go to school? In the first Junie B. Jones book, it’s Junie B.’s first day and she doesn’t know anything. She’s so scared of the school bus and the meanies on it that when it’s time to go home, she doesn’t.
 
USA Today:
“Junie B. is the darling of the young-reader set.”
 
Publishers Weekly:
“Park convinces beginning readers that Junie B.—and reading—are lots of fun.”
 
Kirkus Reviews:
“Junie’s swarms of young fans will continue to delight in her unique take on the world. . . . A hilarious, first-rate read-aloud.”
 
Time:
“Junie B. Jones is a feisty six-year-old with an endearing penchant for honesty.”

Dinosaurs Before Dark

Dinosaurs Before Dark By Mary Pope Osborne; illustrated by Sal Murdocca

Read the #1 bestselling chapter book that started it all! Magic. Mystery. Time-travel. Get whisked back in time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie!

Where did the tree house come from?

Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them to the prehistoric past. Now they have to figure out how to get home. Can they do it before dark…or will they become a dinosaur’s dinner?

The Magic Tree House series has been a beloved favorite for over 25 years and is sure to inspire a love of reading—and adventure—in every child who joins Jack and Annie!

Did you know that there’s a Magic Tree House book for every kid?
• Magic Tree House: Adventures with Jack and Annie, perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
• Magic Tree House Graphic Novels:  Jack and Annie's original adventures come to life with full-color, vibrant art, perfect for graphic novel fans and reluctant readers
• Merlin Missions: More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
• Super Edition: A longer and more dangerous adventure
• Fact Trackers: Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures

The Magnificent Makers #1: How to Test a Friendship

The Magnificent Makers #1: How to Test a Friendship By Theanne Griffith; illustrated by Reggie Brown

BOOM! SNAP! WHIZ! ZAP! The Magnificent Makers series is filled with science, adventure, and characters that readers will love! A modern-day Magic School Bus for chapter book readers!

This book includes two science activities kids can do at home! These quick educational activities (30 minutes or less) use items you probably already have on hand!


Violet and Pablo are best friends who love science! So when they discover a riddle that opens a magic portal in the Science Space at school, they can't wait to check it out! Along with their new classmate, Deepak, the friends discover a magical makerspace called the Maker Maze. It's a laboratory full of robots, 3D printers, an antigravity chamber, and more. Doors line the walls of the makerspace, with a new science adventure waiting behind each one.

With the help of a hilarious and odd scientist, the Magnificent Makers embark on out-of-this-world adventures that help them master the science concepts they are learning in school. This series will cover several scientific topics (at an age-appropriate level) ranging from human biology to ecology, while also exploring issues such as managing failure, teamwork, courage, and jealousy.


Don't miss any books in this STEM-tastic series!
 
#1: How to Test a Friendship
#2: Brain Trouble
#3: Riding Sound Waves
#4: The Great Germ Hunt
#5: Race Through Space

Pizza and Taco: Who's the Best?

Pizza and Taco: Who's the Best? By Stephen Shaskan

The first in a hilarious young graphic novel series about Pizza and Taco. Two best friends, lots of toppings...but only one of them can be the BEST, right? Fans of Narwhal and Jelly will eat this book up...and be hungry for more!

Best friends are the BEST! But WHO is the BEST? Is it Pizza or Taco? The question is debatable! They both love water slides. They both are friends with Hot Dog and Hamburger. In fact, maybe they should have a debate and get their friends to VOTE for who's the best! Can their friendship survive the race for top spot on the popularity food chain? Cast your VOTE!

This graphic chapter book will tickle the funny bones of kids ages 5-8 and bolster their reading confidence. oung graphic chapter books are also a great step on the way to longer chapter books and graphic novels.

Readers will devour all the books in the series:
Pizza and Taco: Who's the Best?
Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever!
Pizza and Taco: Super-Awesome Comic!
Pizza and Taco: Too Cool For School
Pizza and Taco: Rock Out!

Discover Even More Chapter Book Series Below!

Dreams from My Father (Adapted for Young Adults)

Dreams from My Father (Adapted for Young Adults)

Dreams from My Father (Adapted for Young Adults) By Barack Obama

Now adapted for young adults—the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, which Toni Morrison called “quite extraordinary,” offers an intimate look at Barack Obama’s early days. This is a compelling journey tracing the future 44th president's odyssey through family, race, and identity.
 
A revealing portrait of a young Black man asking questions about self-discovery and belonging—long before he became one of the most important voices in America. This unique edition includes a new introduction from the author, full-color photo insert, and family tree. 
 
The son of a white American mother and a Black Kenyan father, Obama was born in Hawaii, where he lived until he was six years old, when he moved with his mother and stepfather to Indonesia. At twelve, he returned to Hawaii to live with his grandparents. Obama brings readers along as he faces the challenges of high school and college, living in New York, becoming a community organizer in Chicago, and traveling to Kenya. Through these experiences, he forms an enduring commitment to leadership and justice. Told through the lens of his relationships with his family—the mother and grandparents who raised him, the father he knows more as a myth than as a man, and the extended family in Kenya he meets for the first time—Obama confronts the complicated truth of his father’s life and legacy and comes to embrace his divided heritage.
 
On his journey to adulthood from a humble background, he forges his own path through trial and error while staying connected to his roots. Barack Obama is determined to lead a life of purpose, service, and authenticity. This powerful memoir will inspire readers to examine both where they come from and where they are capable of going.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States, elected in November 2008 and holding office for two terms. He is the author of three New York Times bestselling books, Dreams from My Father, The Audacity of Hope, and A Promised Land, and is the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Michelle. They have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.

Pony

An extraordinary new story from bestselling author, R. J. Palacio!

Pony

The worldwide phenomenon Wonder showed over 13 million readers how to choose kind. Now, the #1 New York Times bestselling author is back with an enthralling adventure that will show readers how to choose courage. A modern classic about a boy on a quest to rescue his father, with only a ghost as his companion and a mysterious pony as his guide.

“Magical—Pony is pure delight.” — Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author

Twelve-year-old Silas is awoken in the dead of night by three menacing horsemen who take his father away. Silas is left shaken, scared, and alone, except for the presence of his companion, Mittenwool . . . who happens to be a ghost. When a pony shows up at his door, Silas makes the courageous decision to leave his home and embark on a perilous journey to find his father. Along the way, he will face his fears to unlock the secrets of his past and explore the unfathomable mysteries of the world around him.

R. J. Palacio spins a harrowing yet distinctly beautiful coming-of-age story about the power of love and the ties that bind us across distance and time. With the poignant depth of War Horse and the singular voice of True Grit, this is one of those rare books poised to become an instant classic for readers of all ages.

“The soul of this rip-roaring adventure lies in the author’s ability to draw significant connections and relationships among characters.”—Booklist, starred review

Also by R. J. Palacio

In the Wild Light

From Jeff Zentner, the award-winning author of The Serpent King, comes a beautiful examination of grief, found family, and the young love.

About the Book

Life in a small Appalachian town is not easy. Cash lost his mother to an opioid addiction and his papaw is dying slowly from emphysema. Dodging drug dealers and watching out for his best friend, Delaney, is second nature.

But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut, Cash must grapple with his desire to protect Delaney and his love for the home and people he must leave behind.

Change is painful, but poetry is a salve for heartbreak in this coming-of-age novel about finding the courage to change the things you can.

Praise for IN THE WILD LIGHT

“This story and these characters will stay with me for a long time, and that’s fine because I don’t want them to go away just yet.” —Leigh Anne E., educator and NetGalley reviewer

“I can implore you to pre-order multiple copies for your classroom library, and prepare to lose many because this is a book kids will clutch to their chests.” —Emily A., educator and NetGalley reviewer

“Jeff Zentner has once again penned a poignant story that will teach us and heal us. Read this book.” —Janice W., educator and NetGalley reviewer “Vitally redefines friendship as something that must be protected, sacrificed for, and tended to with wisdom, patience, and love—and, to our luck, rendered in Zentner’s gemlike sentences.” —Ocean Vuong, New York Times bestselling author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

“In a word: sublime. This gift of a book will leave you with fiery, incandescent hope in your chest.” —Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read

“A novel with the soul of a poem. Jeff Zentner proves yet again that he’s one of the most luminous voices writing for young people today.” —Randy Ribay, author of National Book Award Finalist Patron Saints of Nothing

“An ode to the healing power of nature and art, but also a testament to the beauty of family, both blood and created. No one else can write like Jeff Zentner.” —Silas House, New York Times bestselling author of Southernmost and Same Sun Here

🟊 “A brilliant treasure of a book that holds up a mirror to the best parts of our humanity.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

🟊 “Evocative and moving, highlighting Zentner’s impressive skill with both poetry and prose. ” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

🟊“A wise, gorgeous exploration of loss and survival that will make readers cry. . . . Lyrical and heartbreaking.” —School Library Journal, starred review

🟊 “Heartfelt and deeply moving. . . . A book that readers will unhesitatingly take to their hearts. ” —Booklist, starred review

“Zentner’s signature poetic prose is in full effect as he crafts sentences that read like sweet tea tastes and cotton feels. . . . In the Wild Light is a love letter to possibility. ” —BookPage

2020 Round Up

2020 is in the books – woohoo! We can’t tell you how grateful we are to you for all that you’ve done during this year full of challenges and changes. Since so much happened this year, we figured you might want one easy stop to access many of our events and resources. Here’s a look at what we’ve done this year, in case you missed anything!

Browse Our Book Collections and Download Digital Galleys

Our 2020 Superstars

Stream Author Read Alouds and Download Chapter Samplers

Book Buzzes! Find Classroom Library Favorites for the Virtual World

Webinar Series

Click the images below to clicking to view the recorded conversations.

Check Out Our Resource Hub!

If you are putting together plans for teaching remotely or homeschooling your children and are looking for resources, visit the pages below for discussion guides, activities, and more available for FREE to download.

Elementary Resources

Middle School Resources

High School Resources

A Message About Story Times and Read-Aloud Videos

In these uncertain and unsettling times, many of you are wondering how we can collectively continue to share our books and stories with students and readers everywhere. As a company, we are heartened by the role that books and reading can play to help connect us when we are physically apart. As you may know, our teams at Penguin Random House have been working quickly to enable virtual learning environments and livestreamed story times for educators, librarians, and booksellers, as well as our authors and illustrators. Today, we are pleased to share our plans for the open license we designed as an immediate measure to directly connect our books with students and readers while protecting the long term value of our authors’ and illustrators’ intellectual property. You’ll find all the details here.

Thank you for your shared commitment to storytelling and reading, and to our collective belief in the power of books to connect us—especially during times like these.

Fresh Voices Q&A Series

Welcome to Fresh Voices! In this new series, we are excited to share with you authors whose books capture a unique aspect of the human experience. Enjoy these Q&As!

Author Essays

Throughout the year, many Random House Children’s Books authors have shared some thoughts on their books, inspirations, and tips for educators with us. Discover all of their essays here!

Random House Teachers and Librarians