2023 Featured Fall Books for Young Readers

The Red Ear Blows Its Nose: Poems for Children and Others
by Robert Schechter
illustrated by S. Federico
Able Muse Press
April 2023, Hardcover, $24.95; Paperback, $19.95; e-Book $9.99

Starred reviews in Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal, which wrote: “Playful poems that delight....For reading out loud, to laugh at, to muse on, and to grow up with.” An instant classic!

Age range: 7–12

Forwards Always: Poems to Be Read Aloud
by Matthew Hodson
Cicada Books
September 2023, Hardcover, $16.99

Forwards Always is a collection of poems to be read aloud with friends and loved ones. 

Age range: 4–11
Themes: poetry, imagination and play, humor

What If One Day...
by Bruce Handy
illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin
Enchanted Lion
September 2023, Hardcover, $19.95

How would the world change without birds, night, or color? Stretch your imagination and celebrate the abundance of what is in this picture book from a NYT Best Children's Book author and EJK Award winning illustrator.

A Walk in the Woods
by Nikki Grimes
illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney
Holiday House
September 2023, Hardcover, $18.99

In this moving account of loss, a boy takes a walk in the woods and makes a discovery that changes his understanding of his father.

Age range: 4–8
Themes: death and grief, family and relationships, science and nature

The Prince & the Coyote
by David Bowles
illustrated by Amanda Mijangos
Levine Querido
October 2023, Hardcover, $19.99

After his city falls in 1418 and his family is slaughtered, the 16-year-old crown prince of Tetzcoco goes on the run from a tyrant. This action-packed tale blends prose and poetry, including translations of surviving poems by the real-life prince Nezahualcoytl.

Age range: 12–18

Poetry Prompts: All sorts of ways to start a poem from Joseph Coelho
by Joseph Coelho
illustrated by Georgie Birkett, Grasya Oliyko, Amanda Quartey, and Viola Wang
Quarto Books
October 2023, Hardcover, $22.99 

Discover 40 ways to write a poem with award-winning poet Joseph Coelho. Poetry Prompts helps children write poems and read them out loud by building confidence and literacy skills. Essential for budding writers and performers.

Age range: 7–9
Themes: poetry, composition and creative writing, humor

Blood Brothers
by Rob Sanders
Reycraft Books
July 2022, Hardcover, $19.95; Paperback, $10.95 

Calvin Johnston’s secret is out. He and his brothers are tainted. Untouchable. The bad blood flowing through their veins is threatening to kill them. Calvin and his brothers are in the fight of their lives.

Age range: 8–12
Themes: social issues, prejudice, family

The Sniger & the Floose 
by Ashley Fayth
illustrated by Katie Brosnan 
Running the Goat 
October 2023, Paperback, $13.99

Ashley Fayth’s delightful nonsense poem introduces readers to a range of “wild and wondrous” beasts—like the sniger, the squffin, and the butterflabbit. With its playful rhymes and rollicking rhythm, this book is a perfect read-aloud.

Age range: 3–7 
Themes: nonsense poetry, imagination, play, environment, hybrid animals