7 New Chapter Books, January 2025
This post may contain affiliate links.
Keep your growing readers reading good books with these new titles celebrating adventure, a love of animals, and friendship.
7 New Chapter Books, Dec 2024
Jackson Wilder Adventures Vol. 1 created by Sarah Davidson 
STEM ADVENTURE GRAPHIC NOVEL
Kids will adore the humor and information in this story about a grumbling boy who thinks his dad’s food is gross. His talking dog transports him to see truly gross food, such as the dung beetle’s food (buffalo poop) and the arctic tern’s food (regurgitated slugs). Great for beginning readers!
Squirlish: Central Park Ghost written by Ellen Potter, illustrated by Sara Cristofori
ADVENTURE / MYSTERY
If you like heartwarming stories that are filled with kid heroes, kindness, New York landmarks, and care for animals, you will love this sweet story. When her rat friend, Benton, tells Cordelia what the sea lions at the zoo are saying, Cordelia and her friend Issac learn that the sea lions are scared of a monster on the loose. Yikes! They piece together clues and realize that it’s not a monster at all. But it is an animal who needs their help. Funny, tender, and a delight to read, this is perfect for any growing reader ages 6 to 9. (While this is the third book in the series, it easily can be read on its own.)
Green Eggs and Ham Take a Hike written and illustrated by James Kochalka
DR SEUSS GRAPHIC NOVEL
The quirky Dr. Seuss character Sam-I-Am (now drawn by James Kochalka in colorful cartoons) invites his video-game-playing, grumpy friend Walter Plot for a green eggs and ham hike and picnic and won’t take no for an answer. Once in the mountains, Walter resists and complains (BUGS, RIVERS, RAIN!) while Sam-I-Am keeps up a continual cheerful excitement. Up, up, up they go in a fun-filled adventure illustrated in comic book panels.
Bad Kitty Party Animal written and illustrated by Nick Bruel
FUNNY GRAPHIC NOVEL
It’s Puppy’s birthday party which Bad Kitty is not thrilled about. In fact, Bad Kitty might be involved in creating chaos. When a scary clown covered in bacon arrives at the party, causing even more craziness, Bad Kitty leaves the party and joins a D&D game. While playing, Bad Kitty imagines a life where they didn’t adopt Puppy, which changes everything. In a gratifying story and character arc, Bad Kitty and Puppy get a sweet and heartwarming ending.
Henry’s Picture-Perfect Day written by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song
REALISTIC
In another sweet story about an autistic boy named Henry, it’s school picture day. Henry and his classmates are waiting for the photographer. When a carrot snack makes Henry realize his tooth is loose, his friends try to fix it so it will look perfect in the pictures. Unsurprisingly, this doesn’t go as planned. Henry’s tooth gets lost somewhere in the classroom and everyone gets dirty from the potting soil. The teacher reassures the class that pictures aren’t supposed to be perfect but are meant to capture memories. But you know what is perfect? Mika’s illustrations!
Ava Lin One of a Kind written and illustrated by Vicky Fang
REALISTIC
In this illustrated chapter book, Ava’s class has a kindness competition. In fact, Ava has some great ideas to win. She enlists the help of her family and a good friend, learning a valuable lesson about what’s important.
Harriet Hound written by Katie Foster, illustrated by Sophie Beer
NEURODIVERSITY / REALISTIC- ish
Dog lovers will enjoy this story about 8-year-old, autistic Harriet, whose special power is that she can summon the dogs in her family’s rescue shelter. The dogs help Harriet solve problems like the case of the vanishing vegetables or finding shelter in a terrible rain storm. In each case, Harriet also finds a home for one of the shelter dogs! This book has three separate stories with some black-and-white illustrations.
