Happy holidays! Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, or Kwanza, make books part of your gift giving. Need some suggestions to get started? Check out these 2022 titles below.
PICTURE BOOKS
- Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome Written by Kat Zhang & Illustrated by Charlene Chua Simon & Schuster, 2022, hardcover, $18.99 Ages 3–6 A new, shy kid is in Amy’s class, so she invites him to a dumpling party where they can speak the same language through food.
- Lion Needs a Shot By Hyewon Yum Abrams, 2022, hardcover, $16.99 Ages 3–6 It’s time for Luka and Lulu to get their shots, but who is the most scared: big brother, little sister . . . or dad?
- Pretty Perfect Kitty Corn Written by Shannon Hale & Illustrated by Leuyen Pham Abrams, 2022, hardcover, $18.99 Ages 3–6 Unicorn wants everyone to think he’s perfect, so when a paint spill messes things up, he hopes Kitty will still be his best friend.
- The Year We Learned to Fly Written by Jacqueline Woodson & Illustrated by Rafael López Nancy Paulsen Books, 2022, hardcover, $18.99 Ages 4–8 A girl and her brother learn the power of transporting themselves to other places with their minds, the way their ancestors did.
EARLY READERS AND CHAPTER BOOKS
- Even Robots Aren’t Perfect By Jan Thomas Beach Lane Books, 2022, hardcover, $17.99 Ages 3–6 Blue Robot and Red Robot paint pictures, avoid water (and rust!), and plan to eat their parsnip pie with humorous twists.
- Sydney & Taylor and the Great Friend Expedition Written by Jacqueline Davies & Illustrated by Deborah Hocking Clarion, 2022, hardcover, $14.99 Ages 5–8 A skunk and hedgehog are the best of friends and decide it’s time they reach out to other backyard critters to have a party of more than two.
- Jo Jo Makoons: Fancy Pants Written by Dawn Quigley & Illustrated by Tara Audibert Heartdrum, 2022, paperback, $4.99 Ages 6–9 Jo Jo’s style isn’t usually fancy, so she searches for ways to get dressed up in time for Aunt Annie’s wedding.
- The Bad Guys: Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! By Aaron Blabey Scholastic, 2022, paperback, $6.99 Ages 7–10 Join Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark for their latest mission to do good despite their bad guy reps.
MIDDLE GRADE
- Maizy Chen’s Last Chance By Lisa Yee Random House, 2022, hardcover, $16.99 Ages 8–12 When Maizy’s mom drags her from L.A. to Last Chance, Minnesota for the summer, she learns about her family’s history from her ailing grandfather.
- Sloth Sleuth By Cyndi Marko Clarion, 2022, hardcover, $12.99 Ages 8–12 Paz the Sloth slinks about her mysterious island to investigate what—and who— is making other creatures ill after eating at Cookie’s Diner. (Graphic novel)
- Air By Monica Roe FSG, 2022, hardcover, $16.99 Ages 10–14 Emmie is raising money for a sporty new wheelchair and realizes that she needs to speak up to get the actual support she wants and needs from her school, friends, and dad.
- Button Pusher By Tyler Page First Second, 2022, paperback, $14.99 Ages 10–14 Tyler is diagnosed with ADHD in third grade and starts taking Ritalin, which helps him manage his impulsive and sometimes dangerous actions. (Graphic novel)
YOUNG ADULT
- All That’s Left in the World By Erik J. Brown Balzer & Bray, 2022, hardcover, $17.99 Ages 14–18 Andrew and Jamie meet, band together, and fall in love after a pandemic kills most of the world’s population and leaves everything in a post-apocalyptic stateI
- Must Betray You By Ruta Sepetys Penguin, 2022, hardcover, $18.99 Ages 14–18 Cristian lives in Romania under communist rule where not even families can trust one another with the truth around the secret police.
- Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a WuhaneseAmerican By Laura Gao Balzer + Bray, 2022, paperback, $14.99 Ages 14–18 At age eight, Laura’s family moves from China to Texas, and she isn’t sure which cultural world she best fits into. (Graphic novel)
- Queen of the Tiles By Hanna Alkaf Salaam Reads, 2022, hardcover, $18.99 Ages 14–18 A year after her best friend dies at a Scrabble tournament, Najwa returns to the scene and wonders if one of her fellow competitors could be a murderer.
Visit some of these area stores online or in person for all your kidlit shopping needs
- Author’s Note 519 Main St. Medina 798-3642 authorsnote.com
- Barnes & Noble Mall at Greece Ridge Center, 330 Greece Ridge Center Dr. Greece 227-4020 Pittsford Plaza, 3349 Monroe Ave. Pittsford 586-6020 Towne Center, 1070 Ridge Rd. Webster 872-9710 barnesandnoble.com
- Book Culture 28 S. Main St. Pittsford 203-1501 Bookculture.com
- Hipocampo Children’s Books 638 South Ave. Rochester 461-0161 hipocampochildrensbooks.com
- Lift Bridge Book Shop 45 Main St. Brockport 637-2260 liftbridgebooks.com
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