Not sure what books to get your children or middle grade readers this year?

Check out these top picks from Little Red Reads…

Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends
by Shannon Hale
At Ever After High, an enchanting boarding school, the children of fairytale legends prepare themselves to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of Snow Whites, Prince Charmings and Evil Queens…whether they want to or not. Each year on Legacy Day, students sign the Storybook of Legends to seal their scripted fates. For generations, the Village of Book End has whispered that refusing to sign means The End-both for a story and for a life.

As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen’s destiny is to follow in her mother’s wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven’s style. She’s starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.

What if Raven doesn’t sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both.

Lotus Lane #3: Lulu: My Glamorous Life (A Branches Book)
by Kyla May
The Lotus Lane Girls Club is the most fun club EVER!

This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

This third book in the series is written as Lulu’s diary, with fun illustrations and doodles throughout. Lulu loves all things sparkly, adores her BFFs, and is a huge fan of her favorite actress, Penelope Glitter. Lulu enters a look-alike contest in the hopes of being able to attend Penelope Glitter’s new movie premiere. Here are some items on her to-do list:
Pack costume and makeup
Freak out
Calm Down
Make it to the next round?!

The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory–More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Muggles and Wizards
by Dinah Bucholz

With this cookbook, dining a la Hogwarts is as easy as Banoffi Pie. With more than 150 easy-to-make recipes, tips, and techniques, you can indulge in spellbindingly delicious meals drawn straight from the pages of your favorite Potter stories, such as:

Treacle Tart, Harry’s favorite dessert
Molly’s Meat Pies, Mrs. Weasley’s classic dish
Kreacher’s French Onion Soup
Pumpkin Pasties, a staple on the Hogwarts Express cart
With a dash of magic and a drop of creativity, you’ll conjure up the entrees, desserts, snacks, and drinks you need to transform ordinary Muggle meals into magical culinary masterpieces, sure to make even Mrs. Weasley proud.

LEGO Minifigure Year by Year: A Visual History
by Gregory Farshtey (Author) , Daniel Lipkowitz

Includes 3 iconic minifigures!

LEGO® Minifigure Year by Year: A Visual History shows the evolution of this classic toy for the first time ever, with exquisite photography and fascinating facts about each and every minifigure included.

Featuring more than 2,000 of the most significant, popular, and rare minifigures, this engaging reference guide explores minifigures chronologically by theme. Fans will learn little-known facts about their favorite minifigures in this first-ever publishing of the evolution of the famous LEGO minifigure.

The Christmas Wish
by Lori Evert (Author) , Per Breiehagen (Photographer)

In the tradition of The Snowman, The Polar Express, and the many books of Jan Brett this cozy Nordic tale filled with extraordinary photographs will have readers of all ages believing in the magic of Christmas. This is one to pull out every year and savor.

Long ago, a brave little girl named Anja wanted to be one of Santa’s elves. So she leaves a note for her family and helps her elderly neighbor prepare for the holiday, then she straps on her skis, and heads out into the snowy landscape. From a red bird to a polar bear to a reindeer, a menagerie of winter animals help Anja make her way to Santa. A generous trim-size, matte cover, and foiled title make this a special book for the holiday season.

 

Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber [With CD (Audio)]

by Tom Brokaw (Author) , Robert T. Barrett (Illustrator) , David T. Warner (Contributor)

Christmas from Heaven is the story of the humble beginnings of what became a beacon of hope to a war-torn land, the story of Gail Halvorsen, a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps who was assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlift, in which US forces flew much-needed supplies into a Soviet-blockaded Berlin.

 

As he performed his duties, Lt. Halvorsen began to notice the German children gathered by the fences of Tempelhof Air Base. Knowing that they had very little, he one day offered them some chewing gum. From that small act, an idea sprang: He would “bomb” Berlin with candy. Fashioning small parachutes, he and his crew sent them floating down as they approached the Berlin airport, wiggling the wings of their C-54 as a signal to the children that their anticipated cargo would soon arrive.

Lt. Halvorsen became known by hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Berlin as “Uncle Wiggly Wings” or “The Candy Bomber.” Word soon spread, and donations of candy and other supplies poured in from sympathetic Americans. Lt. Halvorsen’s small idea became a great symbol of hope not only to German children in a bombed-out city but to all those who yearned for freedom.

Famed broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw brings this remarkable true story to life in a stunning live performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, captured on the accompanying DVD. Also included in the book is a template and directions for creating your own “Candy Bomber” parachutes.

Katie Sprinkles & Surprises (Cupcake Diaries)

by Coco Simon

The Cupcake Club comes to Katie’s defense when a surprise at school leads to unfair gossip.

When Katie’s mom says it’s time for Katie to meet her new boyfriend, Katie is excited and nervous. She thinks she’s prepared, but she’s shocked instead. Her mom’s boyfriend is Jeff Green—as in Mr. Green, a math teacher in her grade! Katie tries to act as normal as possible, but when mean girl Olivia finds out, she tells everyone that Katie is getting special treatment because her mom is dating a teacher. How can Katie stop Olivia and deal with all the new events in her life? It’s the Cupcake Club to the rescue, as Katie’s friends come to her defense, including an unexpected ally.

 

Lucky Me
by Cindy Callaghan

In LUCKY ME Meghan McGlinchey fails to forward a chain letter and the ensuing bad luck wreaks havoc on her life.   She travels to Ireland to find the letter’s original author and break the curse — but nothing goes smoothly.