{"id":88441,"date":"2024-12-02T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/?p=88441"},"modified":"2025-01-03T11:30:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T16:30:30","slug":"best-childrens-ya-books-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/best-childrens-ya-books-december\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best New Children&#8217;s &#038; YA Books of December"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The year isn\u2019t over yet, and you still have time to finish your 2024 reading goals (or start on your 2025 goals). Whether you\u2019re looking for good books for little children or teens, you\u2019ll find plenty of exciting new books this month to dive into. From heartfelt picture books and hilarious middle grade novels to spine-tingling YA thrillers, here are the best books of the month.<\/p>\n<p> yes no Picture Books   9780593567302  <i>Let\u2019s Celebrate Korean New Year! <\/i>  by Michelle W. Park, illustrated by Hyewon Yum <\/p>\n<p>Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Madeleine and Eloise! The sisters prepare for the holiday by wearing special clothes, decorating, setting up games, and preparing food. But when Madeleine forgets the most important part of the festivities, Eloise steps up to help. This sweet picture book is the perfect way to introduce young readers to Lunar New Year.<\/p>\n<p>  9781662620706  <i>Mr. Krup\u2019s Pup <\/i>  by Eva Lindstr\u00f6m, translated by Annie Prime <\/p>\n<p>This quirky and humorous story will resonate with pet lovers of all ages. Mr. Krup loves his dog more than anything in the world. So, when the dog expresses an interest in the moon, Mr. Krup builds a rocket ship and blasts into space to find the perfect gift for his furry friend.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593352243  <i>Bigfoot\u2019s Big Heart <\/i>  by Sarah Glenn Marsh, illustrated by Ishaa Lobo <\/p>\n<p>As a well-known introvert, Bigfoot relies on his long-distance pen pals for friendship. When Bigfoot loses the Valentine\u2019s Day cards he made, a scout troop comes to his rescue. If you love unconventional holiday stories, pick up this adorable picture book!<\/p>\n<p>  9780593580646  <i>Andy Johnson and the March for Justice <\/i>  by Esau McCaulley, illustrated by Emmanuel Boateng <\/p>\n<p>Faith, history, and a march for justice combine in this rallying cry for action. When Andy\u2019s dad announces that their family is going to a march, Andy feels they are answering God\u2019s call to fight for justice. This inspiring picture book filters modern and historical social issues through a biblical lens.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593652367  <i>Wilder Child <\/i>  by Nicolette Sowder, illustrated by Myo Yim <\/p>\n<p>Encourage your kid to get outside, connect with nature, and get dirty with this heartfelt picture book. Readers will follow along as the children in the story enjoy the wonders of nature through play. Your little ones will feel inspired to head into the great outdoors and have their own adventures.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593658871  <i>We Are Lion Dancers <\/i>  by Benson Shum <\/p>\n<p>Learn about one of the most exciting Lunar New Year traditions with this early reader book \u2014 the lion dance! Siblings Lily and Noah pitch in to help a group of lion dancers create an impressive display for the parade. They even make a lion costume for themselves. The engaging story, colorful illustrations, and fun facts make this book an excellent choice for growing readers.<\/p>\n<p>  yes no Chapter Books &#038; Middle Grade   9781536238105  <i>Harriet Hound <\/i>  by Kate Foster, illustrated by Sophie Beer <\/p>\n<p>Eight-year-old Harriet has autism and a fantastic superpower \u2014 the ability to summon her family\u2019s rescue dogs whenever there\u2019s trouble. Each dog also has unique skills, from keeping watch to staying calm. With Harriet\u2019s spunky personality and plenty of pups to adore, this early chapter book is a must-read for canine-loving kids.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593427811  <i>Super Magic Boy: I Am a Space Tiger <\/i>  by Jarod Rosell\u00f3 <\/p>\n<p>What gift do you get the best mom on earth? Something from outer space, of course! Hugo forgot to get his mami a birthday gift, so he jets into space to the planet of Space Tigers to find one. But he must help the Space Tigers out of a pickle before finding the perfect present.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593618776  <i>Millie Magnus Won\u2019t Be Bullied<\/i>   by Brittany Mazique, illustrated by Ebony Glenn <\/p>\n<p>Young readers who enjoy books featuring spunky girls, friendship trouble, and slice-of-life stories will love this humorous chapter book. When a boy at school starts bullying Millie, she confronts him with unexpected results. But new information helps Millie turn the boy from a foe to a friend.<\/p>\n<p>  yes no YA   9781536235661  <i>When the Mapou Sings <\/i>  by Nadine Pinede <\/p>\n<p>This gorgeous novel-in-verse will sweep you into a breathtaking adventure in 1930s Haiti. When her best friend vanishes, 16-year-old Lucille leaves her mountain home to search for her. She finds work, love, and peril as she looks for her friend and dodges the danger shadowing her. Part thriller and part heartfelt journey, this moving book is well worth the read.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593704080  <i>The Party <\/i>  by Natasha Preston <\/p>\n<p>Get your fill of hair-raising chills with the latest thriller from #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Natasha Preston! Bessie and her friends head to a manor in the English countryside for a relaxing spring break. But their week of fun takes a sinister turn when her friends start dying one by one. A storm, a killer, and the deadliest party ever make this thriller a must-read!<\/p>\n<p>  9780593650936  <i>You\u2019re Dead to Me <\/i>  by Amy Christine Parker <\/p>\n<p>Ruby\u2019s identity as her school\u2019s anonymous gossip blogger gets exposed, and she finds herself the object of everyone\u2019s anger. But when her own ghost confronts her, covered in a bloody prom dress, she realizes that someone is planning to kill her. Ruby has one week before the dance to find the killer and stop them before she meets her grim fate.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593643372  <i>A Cruel Thirst <\/i>  by Angela Montoya <\/p>\n<p>If you have been craving a young adult vampire novel with forbidden romance and ancient curses, look no further! Carolina wants to prove herself as a vampire hunter, while Lalo wants to become human again and return to his calm, predictable life. Sparks fly as the huntress and the vampire forge an unlikely alliance to seek out a common enemy in this swoon-worthy, action-packed romantasy novel.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593899205  <i>Dating and Dragons<\/i>  by Kristy Boyce <\/p>\n<p>Hoping to make friends at her new school, Quinn joins an immersive and intense D&#038;D campaign. But her growing feelings for a cute yet frustrating campaign member go directly against the group\u2019s rules. Eventually, Quinn must risk her heart and her place in the group for a chance at love.<\/p>\n<p>  9780593692714  <i>Ex Marks the Spot <\/i>  by Gloria Chao <\/p>\n<p>Puzzles, travel, and a treasure hunt combine in this adorable second-chance romance from the author of <i>American Panda<\/i>. When Gemma\u2019s grandfather dies, he leaves her a series of riddles that lead to an inheritance. She enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend to help her solve the clues and find the money. As they travel through Taipei, Gemma learns about her heritage, family, and what her heart truly wants. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you\u2019re looking for a last-minute holiday gift or something for your kid to read over the winter break, you\u2019ll find plenty of excellent ideas on this list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":111526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[59,162,365,1147],"coauthors":[146],"class_list":["post-88441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-picture-books","tag-ya","tag-middle-grade","tag-best-kids-books-of-the-month","ages_stages-baby-toddler","ages_stages-pre-k","ages_stages-growing-reader","ages_stages-tween","ages_stages-teen"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Best New Children&#039;s &amp; YA Books of December | Brightly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for a last-minute holiday gift or something for your kid to read over the winter break? 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