Fall Equinox: Sweater Weather!
Art © Kamwei Fong
Dear reader,
Autumn has finally arrived, and for many of us, this is THE season for reading. It’s time to cozy up with a new book, brew a pot of tea, and snuggle in for the rest of the season. The Danish word for cozy is hygge, which also means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good company. Hygge describes a feeling of coziness, comfort, and conviviality that fosters contentment and well-being. So….Time to get your hygge on and explore these new books! You have our permission.
—Team LQ
ALL THE AWARDS
It's Been a Banner Month for Awards at LQ — Let's Dive In!
The Forbidden Book (9781646144563) won the NEIBA New England Book Award!
Where Wolves Don't Die (9781646143818) won the Heartland Booksellers Award!
Butterfly Heart (9781646145751) is a finalist for the Kirkus Prize!
The Teacher of Nomad Land (9781646145669) is on the National Book Award longlist!
Sheine Lende (9781646143795) won the Lodestar Book Award!
The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower (9781646144594) is a finalist for the Ringo Awards in the Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel category!
The Art Thieves (9781646143788) is a finalist for the Writers League of Texas Book Award!
Joyful Song (9781646143702) was longlisted for the Massachusetts Book Award!
Kerry did a whole video about it which you can watch on Instagram.
35 Starred Reviews (so far)
Here’s a look at LQ children’s and YA books that have received starred reviews so far this year. Currently, Okchundang Candy, Pilgrim Codex, and Anaconda are tied for the most stars, each with four. However, some of our fall titles are earning stars faster than we can spell “star-spangled booktok.” Which are some of your favorites this season?
Posts we love
Third Place Books features the paperback edition of Daniel Nayeri’s The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams.
TIKTOK
Nadine Takvorian reveals the cover for her new graphic novel, Armaveni, forthcoming in April 2026.
YOUTUBE
Ellen Heck gives readers a behind the scenes look at Sunflower Seeds.
AUTHORS ON TOUR
9/27 - Donna Barba Higuera @ Bookmarks Book Festival (Winston-Salem, NC)
9/26 - 9/28 - Daniel Nayeri, Rebecca Lee Kunz @ Harbor Springs Festival of the Book (Harbor Springs, MI)
10/9 - Sacha Lamb @ NYCC (New York, NY)
10/18 - 10/19 - Donna Barba Higuera, Daniel Nayeri, and Ellen Heck @ Southern Festival of Books (Nashville, TN)
10/21 - Abby White @ Athens Public Library (Athens, OH)
10/25 - Donna Barba Higuera @ Boston Book Festival (Boston, MA)
11/7 - 11/9 - Andrea L. Rogers, Daniel Nayeri and Jonny Garza Villa @ Texas Book Festival (Austin, TX)
11/22 - 11/23 - Donna Barba Higuera and Daniel Nayeri @ Miami Book Fair (Miami, FL))
New Releases
A tale about a tail, and a cat with some VERY big feelings.
Shibu the cat has a lot of feelings and thankfully his fluffy tail helps him express them all! But one day, Shibu realizes that all the other cats are keeping their feelings (and their tails) tucked away. Maybe it would be better to try and fit in? From two extraordinary debuts comes a delightful story on navigating life's highs, lows, and all the big emotions in between.
Written by the author of the Caldecott and Newbery honor-winning picture book Watercress, and marking the impressive debut of illustrator Youa Vang, here is the true story of a man of indomitable spirit. In the mid-nineteenth century, an impoverished father from Canton, China, sold his young son to an American sea captain, Amos Peck. The boy, dubbed “Joe,” worked on the ship for months, not knowing if his fate was to do so forever. Or would he be sold again? When the ship returned to America, Captain Peck brought the young boy to his family, who raised him with the other children. Joe Pierce grew, gave distinguished service in the Union Army, married, had children and ultimately became an American citizen--all at a time when anti-Chinese prejudice was rampant.
Discover the Magic of Aztec Culture Through Words, Art, and Poetry!
From Chocolatl and Axolotl to Guacamole and Quetzalcoatl—open up this spectacular treasury of Aztec words from A to Z!
Award-winning artist Emmanuel Valtierra brings young readers an enchanting bilingual journey through twenty-six words, concepts, and gods central to Aztec and Mexican culture. Each page features a letter of the alphabet paired with captivating poetry in both English and Spanish, kaleidoscopic illustrations inspired by ancient Aztec codices, and pronunciation guides to help families explore these beautiful words together.
What Makes This Book Special:
Bilingual Learning: Every entry includes poetry in both English and Spanish, making it perfect for bilingual families and language learners (Ages 4-8)
Rich Cultural Content: Explore gods like Quetzalcoatl, animals like the axolotl, delicious foods, important historical figures like Zapata, and vibrant traditions
Museum-Quality Artwork: Stunning illustrations echo ancient codex styles while radiating with contemporary energy and color
Educational Extras: Includes a comprehensive pronunciation and etymology guide, information on Aztec glyphs, and a QR code linking to additional resources
Lyrical & Engaging: Upbeat poetry verses range from reverential to playfully humorous, maintaining perfect rhythm throughout
Whether you are looking to teach children about diverse cultures, or support their bilingual education, or simply looking for a gorgeous book to treasure, A-Ztec offers an immersive experience that will inspire young readers to explore language, history, and art.
Every detail—from the background colors to the placement of poems—has been thoughtfully crafted to celebrate Mexican and Aztec heritage.
Perfect for ages 4-8: Ideal for homeschooling, classroom libraries, and family reading time
P R A I S E
★ “From the color of the backgrounds to the styles of the text used for each word and to the way each poem is placed on the pages, this book radiates with a lyrical representation of culture. A must-have for children’s book collections.” — School Library Journal (starred)
“Merrily edifying. Explore the ABCs from axolotl to zapata. Employing an Aztec codex style, the artist injects an anarchic spirit into his colorful artwork.”—Kirkus
A National Book Award Finalist!
Page-turning WW2 hidden history masterfully told by award winner Daniel Nayeri
1941. The German armies are storming across Europe. Iran is a neutral country occupied by British forces on one side, Soviet forces on another. Soldiers fill the teahouses of Isfahan. Nazi spies roam the alleyways.
Babak and his little sister have just lost their father. Now orphans, fearing they will be separated, the two devise a plan. Babak will take up his father's old job as a teacher to the nomads. With a chalkboard strapped to Babak's back, and a satchel full of textbooks, the siblings set off to find the nomad tribes as they make their yearly trek across the mountains.
On the treacherous journey they meet a Jewish boy, hiding from a Nazi spy. And suddenly, they are all in a race for survival.
Against the backdrop of World War II comes an epic adventure in the faraway places. Through the cacophony of soldiers, tanks, and planes, can young hearts of different creeds and nations learn to find a common language?
Master storyteller Daniel Nayeri keeps you on the edge of your seat, uncertain to the very end.
***preorder now… ships August 2025***
WHERE: Middle Woods, Briar, Ohio
VICTIM: Rachel Simon
HERO: D.J. Rosenblum
VILLAINS: ???
It’s the beginning of the school year—and Briar’s newest resident, D.J. Rosenblum, is not here for it. Ever since her cousin Rachel died, D.J.’s family has been a mess: Her aunt and uncle are catatonic. Her mom is even more scatterbrained than usual. She had to postpone her bat mitzvah a whole year. Worst of all, she and her mom had to move—leaving her best friend, Eva, behind.
Briar does have one redeeming factor, though: Here, in Rachel’s hometown, D.J. can finally get to the bottom of her cousin’s death. With the help of a chatty journalist and a queen-bee hacker, D.J. can fill in the last days of Rachel’s life. And if she can just figure out her Torah portion—with help from her cute tutor, Jonah—maybe, just maybe, she’ll be able to solve a bigger mystery.
For fans of Looking for Alaska and Never Have I Ever comes Abby White’s debut novel, D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. It’s a basket of matzo ball soup dumplings for anyone learning to chart their own path, navigate new friendships and crushes, and figure out how to love—and live—after loss.
