The start of the school year can bring kids new energy, excitement, experiences—and books! Teachers and librarians introduce fresh stories for all kinds of readers and give students a chance to revisit old favorites. Every season, there are dozens of new releases for all grade levels, from picture books to middle grade comics and novels for teens. Here are some with school settings to get them pepped and prepped for fall.
PICTURE BOOKS
By Jalen Hurts & Nneka Myers
Flamingo, 2026, hardcover, $19.99
The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback authors and stars in this book about a boy who’s excited for the new school year—until he learns the football program is cut. Can he find a way to save his favorite sport?
Getting Ready for Second Grade
By Vera Ahiyya & Debby Rahmalia
Random House, 2026, paperback, $5.99
This volume is part of the author’s Getting Ready series, where a student tackles a new school year with different classmates and changed routines. On the plus side? There’s a class pet!
By Meena Harris & Marissa Valdez
Little, Brown, 2026, hardcover, $18.99
On a class trip to Washington, D.C., Meena wonders why most of the statues are of men. The answer inspires her to create monuments for women in her own community.
By Andrea Pippins
Random House, 2026, hardcover, $18.99
A young artist’s classmates don’t understand her artwork. Is the way she sees the world wrong? Or is her creativity something to be celebrated?
CHAPTER BOOK
Sebastian Metzger Solves a Sticky Situation
By Kyle Lukoff & Kat Fajardo
Little, Brown, 2026, paperback, $6.99
The eleventh book in The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class multi-authored series stars Sebastian, a third grade student who checks out a brand new library book only to have his sister ruin it. Will he ever be able to face his school librarian again?
MIDDLE GRADE
By Tracy Wolff
Simon & Schuster, 2026, hardcover, $18.99
Sister and brother twins arrive at their Greek-based academy ready to excel, but nothing goes as they predicted, and the magic begins to break the world they thought they knew.
A Kid Like Me: A Graphic Novel
By Norm Feuti
HarperAlley, 2026, paperback, $15.99
Evan just wants to use his old cell phone and play his card game with his best friend in peace. When middle school starts, the rules of fitting in begin to change, and Evan’s not sure he can keep up.
By Chantel Acevedo & Natalia Sylvester
Simon & Schuster, 2026, paperback, $8.99
Two classmates, who are definitely not friends, watch in horror as their parents date each other. The girls vow to break them up so they never become sisters.
By Christina Diaz
Gonzalez & Mari Costa
Graphix, 2026, paperback, $14.99
Nicky is happy that the middle school soccer team is going co-ed, but Al is not. Will they ever be able to be on the same team in name and spirit?
By Christine Hartman Derr
Heartdrum, 2026, hardcover, $18.99
Raven is already making enemies at her new school while working through grief and loss, but with the help of two friends and magical baking skills, her life may work out yet.
YOUNG ADULT
By S. Hati
Feiwel & Friends, 2026, hardcover, $20.99
Aarya gets into a prestigious life sciences school only to be tormented by people who don’t want her there—and someone who urges her to find out what nefarious purposes the school really holds.
Ramin Abbas Has Major Questions
By Ahmad Saber
Simon & Schuster, 2026, hardcover, $21.99
At his new Islamic private school, Ramin falls for the captain of the soccer team and tries to make his conflicting feelings fit into his religion and life.
By Brian Lee Young
Heartdrum, 2026, hardcover, $19.99
At Sagefield Academy, Derrick is struggling while away from his familiar rez life. When he realizes what his term paper should be on, he has a renewed energy to make the most of his opportunity and grandmother’s memory.
By Shaenon K. Garrity & Emily Holden
Margaret K. McElderry, 2026, paperback, $14.99
A humanoid science experiment escapes the university lab where she was created and gets a job at the college coffee shop. Out in the real world, she goes to great lengths to avoid returning to her less-human life.
By Nisha J. Tuli
Mayhem, 2026, hardcover, $24.99
In a dystopian, magical world, Poet’s entrance to Amery Academy does not go as expected, and she must choose between securing her future or falling for a dangerous outsider.
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of (585) Kids.
Views: 4
