2025 Staff Picks for Grade 3-5: Fiction
Our expert staff members have selected these excellent titles for kids.
Our expert staff members have selected these excellent titles for kids.
So many great books! Here are some of this year's favorites, selected by our expert staff members.
Our expert staff members have selected these picture books especially for this age group.
The list includes books for kids just learning to read, through independent readers. Also see the Staff Picks list for picture books for this age group.
Our expert staff members have selected these books for enjoying both nonfiction and graphic novels.
Some of our favorite 2025 fiction and graphic novels for middle schoolers. From funny to fantasy, realistic to mystery, there's something here for everyone to love.
Our expert staff members look back at the year and share their favorite titles. Age recommendations provided by commonsensemedia.org.
An introduction to disability, these books showcase the diverse worlds of disabled children and adults to help foster a community of inclusion and accessibility. When able, I focused on titles that were created by authors and illustrators who identify as disabled. I also noted which titles are set in dyslexic-friendly fonts or have other formats, like eBooks or audiobooks.
Books featuring Hispanic characters, settings, and stories, with a focus on Hispanic authors and illustrators.
The list includes books for kids just learning to read, through independent readers. Also see the staff picks list for picture books for this age group.
In this list, you'll find funny books, fantasies, realistic stories about kids trying to fit in, true adventure stories, and more.
From books about zombies to escape rooms to spies to time travelers to spooky stories to friend and school stories , this list has staff favorites for every kind of reader.
These are books we think grown-ups will love to share with the littlest readers in their lives. They range from silly to unusual to deeply meaningful, and everything in-between.
Many kids love to share picture books with their grown-ups, and these books were specially chosen for this purpose. Also see the 2024 staff picks list of readers, chapter books, and nonfiction for grade K-2.
Great books for new young readers in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade, to enjoy.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. These books for younger readers discuss the significance of Ramadan.
Be inspired by the lives and creative passions of extraordinary women artists and creators. Enjoy these picture book biographies and great stories to stir your artistic imagination.
Enjoy these books showcasing aspects of neurodiversity, autism, and sensory processing disorders. When possible, we focused on books created by authors and illustrators who identify as neurodivergent.
These books feature neurodivergent and autistic characters and their experiences. When possible, we focused on titles that were created by authors and illustrators who identify as neurodivergent.
These are some of our favorite picture books that celebrate Black children, their families, and their communities.
These picture books that feature Muslim kids and families are great for sharing with young kids. This list focuses on Muslim authors and illustrators.
These terrific books feature Muslim kids and families, and the list focuses on Muslim authors and illustrators.
Enjoy these books with Jewish characters, stories, and themes, focusing on books by Jewish authors and illustrators.
Books featuring LGBTQ+ characters, topics, and themes for babies-grade 2.
Enjoy these books that have Jewish characters, stories, and themes, focusing on books by Jewish authors and illustrators.
Great stories by and about our Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Great stories by and about our Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
From picture books to chapter books and nonfiction, these books offer varied insights into Muslim life, especially in childood.
These books feature Hispanic characters, settings, and stories, with a focus on Hispanic authors and illustrators.
Here at Skokie Public Library, we are committed to intellectual freedom. More information about Banned Books Week and the titles on this list can be found on the American Library Association's website.
Selected in honor of Autism Acceptance Month, these books were written by autistic adults, autistic parents of children on the autism spectrum, and neurotypical parents of autistic children who are also advocates for the neurodiversity movement. Andrew selected the adult titles, Grace the teen titles, and Holly the children's titles.
These are some of our favorite books to share with kids in grades 3-5 that feature Indigenous and Native American people, stories, and information. We focused on Indigenous authors and illustrators.
Books by and about Native and Indigenous people and communities for kids ages 8 and up.
These books feature real and fictional characters with disabilities in order to showcase how inclusion and diversity improve our community as well as remind disabled readers that they're not alone. When able, I focused on titles that were created by authors and illustrators who identify as disabled. I also noted which titles are set in dyslexic-friendly fonts or have other formats, like eBooks or audiobooks.
These books feature real and fictional characters with disabilities to showcase how inclusion and diversity improve our community as well as remind disabled readers that they're not alone. When able, I focused on titles that were created by authors and illustrators who identify as disabled. I also noted which titles are set in dyslexic-friendly fonts or have other formats, like eBooks or audiobooks.