A young reader recently shared with me how much they enjoyed The School of Good and Evil over the summer.

When I read about Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic in Kirkus this week, I immediately added it my to-read pile, thinking of this reader. I was extra excited to see a book trailer for it at the virtual Latinx KidLit Book Festival from author Leslie Adame.

I love hearing about The Helping Sweater by Rachel Más Davidson. In my household, we often have to practice the skill of rolling with the punches, so I think the theme of this book will resonate with many kids. I loved glimpsing the silly illustrations of the sweater getting smaller and smaller as it’s put to good use. Davidson’s most recent book, l Like Your Face, also just got a positive review from Kirkus.

Rex Ogle had several book trailers for the festival. Four Eyes has long been on my reading list, but this book trailer just bumped this graphic novel up to the top. At the libraries that I’ve observed, books like Smile fly off the shelf. This speaks to the need for more realistic fiction graphic novels that deal with the day-to-day llife of upper elementary and young middle schoolers.

So many kids are in transition at the beginning of the school year. Welcome Home, Esmerelda by Daniela Ramirez, a book about frequent moves and the worries that come with it, will speak to that.

Another book trailer from Rey Ortega, writing under his pen name Rey Terciero, this time highlighting his Doña Quixote graphic novel series. The series is a reimagining of Don Quixote, set in present day. It’s been compared to Zita the Space Girl, but I get hints of Percy Jackson.

OK, talk about skyrocketing to the top of my TBR list. Eliza Kinkz delightfully illustrated Mistaco! looks hilarious and like it has a great message about mistakes and recovery from them.

Anyone else have burgeoning horror fans in the house? I have one reader who is obsessed with haunted dolls via K.R. Alexander’s The Collector, so Cassandra Ramos-Gomez‘s creepy book trailer from Lost on Doll Island caught my eye.

I’m starting to get ready to celebrate Disability Pride next month (officially in July, but deserving of a place in the school year), so I couldn’t pass up the chance to highlight a book by Anita Sanchez featuring a blind main character: A Sky that Sings. (Check out the link to Sanchez’s site. She’s written many non-fiction books, a genre with huge appeal to young readers.)