Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

As librarians, we see first-hand what materials kids are actually reading and getting excited about. Over the past few years, there’s been a lot of anticipation in children’s books with new trends bubbling up to the surface each year. But what does the future hold for children's literature?

Scholastic Book Clubs Editorial Director, David Allender, recently shared 10 trends that he believes will dominate in children’s lit in 2013:

Below is the list of trends along with some suggested books from Toronto Public Library’s collection so your kids can get ahead of the trending curve with their reading choices.

1. Bullying – The Misfits by James Howe – four middle school misfits band together to stand up against their bullies and decide to run for student council elections 
2. Science Fiction – A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle – a young girl and her brother must travel through time and space to find their lost father 
3. Intriguing Nonfiction – Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes - readers will see how kids study in school in India, Russia, China and many other countries
4. Novels in Cartoons –  Big Nate series by Lincoln Peirce - hilarious comic book adventures of sixth-grader Nate and his antics in school
5. Kid Lit on the Screen – Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan - the 2nd book in the Percy Jackson series hits theatres in August 2013
6. War – Canada’s Wars by Jonathan Webb - a look at Canada's involvement in wars throughout history
7. Tough Girls – Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon, Dean & Nathan Hale - this adventurous take on the classic fairy tale has Rapunzel wielding her long hair as a lasso just in time to save the day
8. Survival Stories – Hatchet by Gary Paulsen - the award-winning survival story about a boy lost in the Canadian wilderness
9. Spotlight on Diversity – Drama by Raina Telgemeier - LGBT themes are explored in this graphic novel about a young girl and her friends working on a school musical
10. Nature Runs Amok – Wave by Eric Walters - the story of a young Canadian boy and what happens when he's confronted with the unthinkable - a tsunami