Lesson Learned: 21 Reads for the Young & Young at Heart

Books are a fantastic way for young readers (and all of us, really) to learn valuable lessons about the world. They’re an entry point for life’s hard questions, such as, “How do I make friends with someone different from me?” and “Will everything be okay when my family moves to a new place?” and “Why shouldn’t I trust fish?” You know, the big questions. Take a look at all the great titles and lessons our booksellers have for you this month!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann The Peddler of PuddlesBeth Ferry, Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)

This is an adorable picture book about a turtle who travels the land providing puddles when needed to animals and humans, until one day his friends introduce him to the joys of home.

Recommended by Jake Don’t Trust FishNeil Sharpson, Dan Santat (Illustrator)

You should not, under absolutely any circumstance, trust fish. Don’t believe me? Open this book and you will find many, many reasons why fish simply cannot be trusted. Filled from cover to cover with fun facts, compelling arguments, and hilarious insights, Don’t Trust Fish is guaranteed to have you giggling in no time. And even more importantly, you will learn exactly why it is that fish are just so…fishy.

Also loved by Chelsea!

Recommended by Rachel Cat Family Four Seasons: A Lift-the-Flap Book

Lucy Brownridge, Eunyoung Seo (Illustrator)

A lift-the-flap storybook with endless details, the cutest of critters, and an overall cottagecore feeling of community, joy, and little treats through the year!

Recommended by Sarah Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver

Sara Holly Ackerman, Naoko Stoop (Illustrator)

A gorgeous, lyrical biography of one of our most beloved poets. This one is for Mary Oliver fans of any age!

Recommended by Hannah P. The Bear Out ThereJess Hannigan

Jess Hannigan, you’ve done it again. I literally cackled reading this tongue-in-cheek Goldilocks-esque tale and was awed by the vibrant and sharp artwork on each page. My new favorite read-aloud for storytime!

Recommended by Ashby Me & Lavender

Melody C. Peugh, Eve Farb (Illustrator)

Ella is supposed to stay clean for afternoon tea, but it is too hard, especially when an elephant shows up. The two have great adventures but clean up in time for tea. A happy reminder to use your imagination.

Recommended by Cheryl Elvis & RomeoDavid Soman, Jacky Davis

Two dogs are taken to the dog park: one eager, one grumpy. Sometimes it is hard to make a friend until you find out what you have in common. It is so much fun to see them become great friends over the funniest thing.

Recommended by Rae Ann Here Is a BookElisha Cooper

A book takes a journey from idea to a reader’s hands in this beautifully illustrated love letter to books.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Rae Ann Earl & Worm #1: The Bad Idea and Other StoriesGreg Pizzoli

Earl is a happy-go-lucky bird who plays his saxophone to plants. His neighbor worm would rather stay inside and read in silence. Through this trio of stories, they become best friends.

Recommended by Ashby The Tontine CaperDianne K. Salerni

Tontine = a pool of money held by a group; the survivor gets it all. Take one orphan treated badly, one innkeeper who is the source of the bad treatment, and an assortment of odd characters who are part of the tontine, and you have a book with twists and turns where you hope the orphan will end up a winner, but will he?

Recommended by Cheryl The Wrong Way HomeKate O’Shaughnessy

A young girl is taken away from her friends where she had grown up when her mother takes her suddenly across the country to California. Her life had been very structured with total faith in the leader of her community. It was an angry adjustment. However as she starts school, a freer life with a new friend, she realizes that her mother had made a bold but healthy decision.

Recommended by Rae Ann Please Pay AttentionJamie Sumner

8th grader Bea survives a shooting at her school, carrying the aftermath with her. Therapeutic horseback riding and her community help her grow toward healing as she raises her voice for change in this powerful verse novel.

Recommended by Hannah P. Once for YesAllie Millington

Allie Millington knocks it out of the park yet again with her second novel. Every character, even the voice of an old apartment building, feels as real and warm as an old friend. I laughed and cried my way through this tender story of hope, community, loss, and healing.

Recommended by Cheryl Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of EnchantmentAnna James

Juniper studies at Thistledown Academy for Enchanter training while her twin brother Rafferty takes a bookbinder apprenticeship to be nearby. He gets embroiled in a dark secret society and they must team up to fight the monsters.

Recommended by Rachel A Song for You and I: (A Graphic Novel)K. O’Neill

A cozy and slow paced fantasy world where the message is learning the importance of the calmer aspects of life, and that being a hero doesn’t always mean racing into action. Reading this feels like a perfectly paced stroll through breathtaking scenery.

Recommended by Rae Ann Creaky Acres: A Graphic NovelCalista Brill, Nilah Magruder

Nora hates leaving her horseback riding team behind when her family moves to the country. Her new barn, Creaky Acres, is very different. After a few mishaps, Nora shines as a leader when her new team competes in a show. This graphic novel is for anyone who loves horses or has moved and felt out of place.

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Aly The Floating WorldAxie Oh

Cast in a land of darkness, below the magical floating world, a mercenary looking for his brother and a performer with a secret stumble upon one another. Is it by accident or by fate? Either way, they’ll need each other to find the light above in this fantastical tale of magic, danger, and deception.

Recommended by Rachel The Kiss of DeceptionMary E. Pearson

Favorite plot twist of all time! The Kiss of Deception is a perfectly plotted fantasy with world building of epic proportions and a headstrong runaway bride for a main character.

Also loved by Ester!

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Katie Hilda and the TrollLuke Pearson

Our dear Hilda can’t sit still to save her life, so she’s constantly setting off on adventures. While on an expedition she finds an a troll so intriguing that she must draw him, but she swiftly falls asleep. When she wakes up, she finds herself in the middle of a snow storm, desperate to get home. With beautiful art, loveable characters, and silly antics, this graphic novel is so charming.

Recommended by Ester Shatter MeTahereh Mafi

It’s time to reenter your 2010s dystopian era. Prepare to meet one of the best book boyfriends of all time. Absolutely no one compares.

Sprout Book Club: May Selection The Bear Out ThereJess Hannigan

The May 2025 Sprout Book Club selection is The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan. A little girl warns that there is a BEAR out there in the woods. When someone knocks on the door, it’s the bear who comes into his house while the girl flees. This delightful fractured fairy-tale turns the story of Goldilocks upside down.

Early praise for the book:

“Feisty fractured fairy-tale fun.” – Kirkus

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: May Selection The Trouble with HeroesKate Messner

The May 2025 Spark Book Club selection is The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner. Finn Connelly is caught on camera vandalizing a cemetery two years after his father’s death. The grave belongs to a legendary mountain climber whose daughter makes a deal with Finn. She will not press charges if he agrees to climb all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks in one summer. Also, he must bring the late climber’s dog with him. This novel in verse is a heartfelt story of a boy and a dog on a journey to healing.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“Moving and profoundly funny verse and prose informed by postpandemic loss to craft a timely meditation on grief, anger, and the solace offered by nature.” – Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: May Selection The Floating WorldAxie Oh

The May 2025 ParnassusNext selection is The Floating World by Axie Oh. Ren is an acrobat, living with her adopted family in their traveling caravan. When danger strikes, she releases her hidden magical power of light. A gang of mercenaries are sent to capture the girl of light. One of them is Sunho, a former soldier whose memories have been erased. When he meets Ren, he doesn’t realize she’s the girl he’s looking for. This immersive fantasy world is very cinematic with an intriguing fast-paced story.

Early praise for the novel:

“Intriguing, bittersweet, and strongly paced.” – Kirkus

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.