Spring is nearly here! And with that comes spring cleaning and spring reading. Here are some books that will preoccupy children’s interest to while away some of the rainy days of the season.
Fantasy Adventure
‘Small Wonder’
By Ross Montgomery
These days, 10-year-old Tick lives in Ellia with his 5-year-old brother, Leaf, and his trusty steed, Pebble. Before his death, his Grandfather, their sole guardian, had given Tick specific instructions should the dreaded Drenes from across the sea were to attack. It’s time to put the plan into action. It’s now up to Tick to care for his brother and bring him safely to the King’s Keep.
This action-packed fantasy adventure is sure to get the pulses racing as Tick tries to evade the Drene Hunter, bandits, and traitors, while he navigates the rough and unfamiliar terrain to reach their destination.
Fans of “The Ranger’s Apprentice” series will appreciate Tick’s quest to save Ellia and honor his grandfather in this classic David-versus-Goliath trope. Perfect for middle-grade readers ages 9 and up.
Candlewick, 224 pages, March 3, 2026
‘Lightseekers: A Kingdom of Shadows’
By Emily Bain Murphy
Orphans 12-year-old Finn and 10-year-old Lydia, along with their best friend Adrion, live in Bells in the Kingdom of Wildfel, where the sun grows dimmer each day and dark shadows are slowly overtaking it. With a band of others from Wildfel, they set out on a quest to look for a place where there is plenty of light—the Lake of Light. As they travel through the kingdom, this cohort of “lightseekers” must stick together and use their unique talents in order to evade danger—both natural and manmade.
The first book in the “Kingdom of Shadows” series promises to be a fantastical magical reading adventure, great for kids 10 and up.
WaterBrook Children’s, 320 pages, March 3, 2026
Sci-fi Adventure
‘Choose Your Own Adventure: The Stowaway’
By Griffin McElroy
You’re a stowaway on the RSS Radiant, a spaceship that has veered off course and is now lost in space. The crew is nowhere to be found, and now it’s up to you to find your way to your intended destination at Virgo Junction. Things get complicated when you discover that you aren’t the only one who hitched a “free ride.” Can you trust this stranger? Can you find a way to get off the ship before it gets sucked into a black hole? Can you evade the drones programmed to disarm ship intruders?
With many possible endings, this book will keep young readers preoccupied for a long time. For those who are tech-minded and love out-of-this-world adventures, this one’s for you.
Choose Your Own Adventure, 208 pages, March 10, 2026
Nonfiction
‘Diamond Fever!: A True Crime Story in the Wild West’
By Steve Sheinkin and Jon Chad
You’ve heard of the Gold Rush, but did you know that diamond fever also gripped 1870s America?
When two rough-looking, dust-covered prospectors, Philip Arnold and John Slack, walk into a San Francisco bank with a pouch of dull stones, they verify that these unpolished rocks are, in fact, diamonds. With a small group of investors, they set up their mining company and stake their claim. However, Arnold and Slack are very secretive about where they actually found the diamonds. When Slack disappears, leaving investors high and dry, the intrigue begins and cracks become visible on the enterprise’s foundation. With many players’ life savings at risk, many stakeholders are counting on finding and verifying the location of the mine.
By using numerous primary sources and interviews with the descendants of those who lived during this time, author Steve Sheinkin tells the real-life tale of what is now known as the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872. Illustrations and interstitial comic strips by Jon Chad allow young readers to better understand technical concepts, including how diamonds are formed and the work of a geologist. “Diamond Fever!” is a fun nonfiction book that not only expands readers’ geological information of untamed America, but also pushes the boundaries of what was and wasn’t legal in the wild West.
Children from ages 10 to 14 will enjoy reading how the hoax is unraveled before their eyes.
Roaring Brook Press, 256 pages, May 12, 2026
‘America is Wild: A State-by-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife’
By Brad Timm, Jill De Haan, and Margaux Samson Abadie
“E pluribus unum” appropriately describes the diversity found in the United States of America. This diversity lies in the flora and fauna of the land. From the Alabama longleaf pine to Wyoming’s monument plant, from the Alaskan muskox to the Hawaiian goose, this beautifully illustrated encyclopedia provides each state’s unique set of plants and animals sure to promote state pride. No matter where you live, this book provides a bird’s eye view of the wonders and beauty of the natural world that is only found in this “one Nation under God.”
A great reference book to have on a family’s bookshelf.
Wide Eyed Editions, 208 pages, March 3, 2026
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