What will be next year's top trends in children's books?

Curated by Scholastic Reading Club editors, this list aims to help more kids discover the power and joy of reading and encourage parents to build home libraries with books guaranteed to engage even the most reluctant reader.

“Last year, we predicted Harry Potter and the wizard universe to grow in a large way in 2016. Now we know Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two was the number one selling book according to many retail sellers. In addition, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them became a pop culture juggernaut,” said David Allender, Editorial Director of Scholastic Reading Club. “Other predictions that became a reality were the growth of superheroes in kid-friendly titles, the boom of coloring books for all ages, as well as the continual growth and demand for graphic novels. We look forward to seeing our trends help kids discover the power and joy of reading.” To hear last year’s trends, listen to our Scholastic Reads podcast.

Don't forget! All titles are available for purchase via Scholastic Reading Club or the Scholastic Store at store.scholastic.com. Parents, ask your teacher if her/his classroom or school offers Scholastic Reading Club.

Scholastic Top Trends in Children’s Books for 2017:

1.)    LESSONS ON KINDNESS WILL BE KEY

This past year’s news headlines can provide children a false perception that the world is unkind and hostile. Parents and educators can take the opportunity to find books by authors and artists who are doing their part to implement the need for kindness in an uncertain world. For younger children, look for titles that teach the importance of empathy, openness and sharing. For older children, discover titles that showcase the power of unexpected friendships.

Our official Scholastic Reading Club blog, JudyNewman at Scholastic, just recently highighted how to teach kindness through children's books. It's a great read!

Top book recommendations: 

Among many others, for young readers and listeners, look for HOW DO DINOSAURS STAY FRIENDS? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague (Scholastic), HOORAY FOR HAT by Brian Won (HMH), BERNICE GETS CARRIED AWAY (Dial), and WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE KIND? by Rana DiOrio and Stephane For older readers, look for launch of the series, THE KINDNESS CLUB by Courtney Sheinmel (Bloomsbury) and, the perennial bestseller, WONDER by R. J. Palacio (Random House). WONDER will be coming to movie theaters in April 2017 so even more people will know Palacio’s story. And Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (March 17, 2017) is also a story where the plot turns on acts of kindness. So let’s hope this is a trend that’s here for good!

2.)    BOOK ANNIVERSARIES WILL REINTRODUCE MODERN CLASSICS

Millennials will remember the joys of picking out the latest titles from their favorite book series at the Scholastic Book Fair or through monthly Scholastic Reading Club flyers.  The 30th anniversary of The Magic School Bus, the 25th anniversary of Goosebumps, and the 20th anniversary of Captain Underpants will introduce a new fan base to these popular franchises. In addition, the new television series revamp of The Magic School Bus, as well as the upcoming film release of Captain Underpants and a new release in Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series will be on every kid’s reading wish list.

Top book recommendations:

GOOSEBUMPS SLAPPYWORLD #1: SLAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU by R.L. Stine (Scholastic), DOG MAN UNLEASHED by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic) and The MAGIC SCHOOL BUS series by Joanne Cole and Bruce Degan (Scholastic).

Don't forget other "book" anniversarie with anniversaries with ELEPHANT & PIGGIE by Mo Willems (Hyperion).The early reader series first launched in 2007 with two titles: MY FRIEND IS SAD and TODAY I WILL FLY.

3.)    “FUNNY” IS STILL NUMBER ONE

Recent research shows that kids worldwide say that the number one characteristic kids look for when picking out a book to read for fun is “make me laugh.”Looking for “laugh out loud” reads is one way to help a child associate reading as a fun and pleasurable activity.

Top book recommendations:

The youngest readers have great new books including MOBY SHINOBI: NINJA ON THE FARM by Luke Flowers (Scholastic) and SUPER HAPPY PARTY BEARS: KNOCK-KNOCK ON WOOD by Marcie Colleen and Steve James (Macmillan). Older readers should look for FRAZZLED: EVERYDAY DISASTERS AND IMPENDING DOOM by Booki Vivat and MY WEIRDEST SCHOOL: MR. NICK IS A LUNATIC by Dan Gutman (both HarperCollins).

4.)    THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH WILL GROW

As social media grows and it becomes more difficult to decipher what’s “real” news versus fake “news,” parents and educators can introduce children to the structure of nonfiction reads, biographies and other important titles that will teach children the basic skills of discerning accurate information.

Top book recommendations:

For young readers, LEGO NONFICTION: BUG OFF! (Scholastic) and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC READERS: FREDERICK DOUGLAS (National Geographic). 

For older readers, LEGO NONFICTION: FACTASTIC (Scholastic), HISTORY BUSTERS: THE TRUTH (& MYTHS ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS) by Linda Peacock (Scholastic), FACT OR FAKE? by Allan Zullo (Scholastic), and HIDDEN FIGURES YOUNG READERS EDITION by Margot Lee Shetterly (HarperCollins).

5.)    CLASSICS WILL RETURN – AND BE REINVENTED

A great way to get kids introduced to new genres and stories is reading classic fairy tales – with an unexpected twist. Meet Little Red Riding Hood, but this time as a superhero. Revisit the land of Oz with the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion as the cast of characters from the Geronimo Stilton series. Children’s literature is always being reimagined in new ways and putting favorite characters into a new world of hijinks is bound to get children of all ages interested in reading for fun.

Top book recommendations:

For younger readers and listeners, look for SUPER RED RIDING HOOD by Claudia Davila (Kids Can Press), THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT by Penny Parker Klostermann and Ben Mantle (Random House), and ITSY BITSY DUCKLING  by Jeffrey Burton and Sanja Rescek (Little Simon). For older readers, the GERONIMO STILTON series (Scholastic) has a new line of classic tales including THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ and ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Also look for the launch of the LITTLE LEGENDS series (Sourcebooks) as it follows favorite fairy-tale characters in legendary new adventures.

Coming next week: the second book in Dav Pilkey's Dog Man! We love this adorable holiday-themed reminder to get your read on this festive season. Enjoy, and check out the full Dog Man trailer for more fun! 

Scholastic Reading Club editors hosted their first-ever “Flyer First Look” Facebook Live event, offering educators and parents a ‘sneak peek’ into this month’s September flyers. In case you missed it, go to our Scholastic Facebook page for their top picks. Facebook Live VIDEO: http://bit.ly/2bFJi2J 

Here is a quick recap from this month’s flyers.

Laura Demoreuille

Laura is the Scholastic Reading Club editor for babies through 1st Grade (includes Early Childhood, Kindergarten, 1st Graders, Baby Boutique, Honeybee, Inchworm and SeeSaw). She has been with Scholastic for 11 years and says the favorite part of her job is, “Monday morning read-alouds with my team. We take turns sharing new ‘picture book discoveries’ – and there are always a lot of laughs.” She loves finding picture books that speak on an emotional level that any young child can connect with and understand. Her favorite childhood book growing-up was “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton.

Her top highlights for September flyers include:

Featured in the Early Childhood catalog:

• Wild Feelings by David Milgrim –  a preschool-perfect book about everyday feelings.
• Begin to build your classroom (or home library) with the “Best of Early Childhood Pack” on the cover of your Early Childhood catalog. It has a variety of titles for all children.

Featured in the Kindergarten catalog:

• Groovy Joe by Eric Litwin; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. It’s the perfect rhyming read-aloud that teaches kids about sharing
• Don’t forget to check out our “Guided Reading Picks” on page 5 of the Kindergarten catalog.

Featured in the 1st Grade catalog:

• Are Pirates Polite? By Corinne Demas and Artemis Roherig; illustrated by David Catow – a silly story that teaches kids about manners.
• Be sure to check out the “Awesome Science” section as well on page 3 as 1st Graders love nonfiction!

Shelly Veehoff

Shelly is the Scholastic Reading Club editor for elementary school students 2nd – 3rd grade (includes 2nd Graders, 3rd Graders, Lucky, as well as special edition catalogs). She has been with Scholastic for 27 years and says the favorite part of her job is, “finding new chapter books that I know all kids will enjoy.” She loves seeing second and third graders begin to develop independent reading skills and discover the power and joy of reading when they begin to choose their own books to read for fun. Her favorite childhood book was “The Story of Barbar: The Little Elephant” by Jean De Brunhoff.

Her top highlights for September flyers include:

Featured in the 2nd Graders catalog:

• Magic Tree House: Night of the Ninth Dragon by Mary Pope Osborne is the 55th book in the Magic Tree House series, and the 27th Merlin Mission. The language and visual imagery the author uses is amazing.
• Lego Nonfiction “Deep Dive.” We are publishing a new line of nonfiction books featuring Lego characters, which covers a range of special topics.
• Check out Dr. Kitty Cat: Daisy the Kitten by Jane Clarke in this month’s ‘Animal of the Month’ feature. Each book in the series explores what happens when you need to visit the doctor or the dentist, and should put young readers’ minds at ease when they find themselves in similar situations.

Featured in 3rd Graders catalog:

• Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey, Dog Man is the creation of 4th graders George and Harold who have come up with four short stories. This is must-read for 2nd and 3rd-graders who love to laugh, and it’s bound to have great appeal for reluctant readers.
• Who Would Win? Triceratops vs. Spinosaurs? is latest battle in the popular Who Would Win? series by Jerry Pallotta. The author compares things such as speed, size, and armor to determine who has the best chance of winning a battle. A checklist at the back of the book invites readers to sort through what they’ve learned in order to pick the victor.
• Check out Boo La La by Rebecca Gomez. It’s great to get into the spirit of the Halloween season. It’s exclusive to Scholastic Reading Clubs and will appeal to fans of Rainbow Magic.

Ann Marie Wong

Ann Marie is the Scholastic Reading Club editor for students in grades 4 through high school (includes 4th Graders, 5th Graders, 6th Graders, Arrow, TAB as well as special edition catalogs). She has been with Scholastic for 12 years and says the favorite part of her job is, “our weekly novels meeting, in which my team gets together to discuss the books we read that week.” She loves seeing middle school and teens discover an emotional connection to a specific genre – whether it’s realistic or fantastical illustrated or told in verse – as long as kids feel a connection to the characters and are invested in the story’s journey.

Her top highlights for September flyers include:

Featured in the 4th Graders catalog

• I Survived: The Eruption of Mount St. Helen’s, 1980 by Lauren Tarshis. This thrilling new title from the bestselling I Survived series features something for everyone – from nonfiction fans to that burgeoning scientist.
• Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier. This gorgeous and sensitive new graphic novel explores a range of themes surrounding a “Dia de Los Muertos” celebration.

Featured in the 5th Graders catalog

• Secrets of Selkie Bay by Shelley Thomas. It’s a lovely and lyrical family story, full of Irish folklore, that we feature in our new “Books with Heart” section of the flyer
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. Return to the wizarding world in this 8th Harry Potter story set 19 years later after the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Enjoy the script book to the now sold-out London play.

To learn more about Scholastic Reading Clubs, visit: https://clubs.scholastic.com/

The much-anticipated Captain Underpants spin-off, Dog Man, is here! 

To celebrate, Dav Pilkey is kicking off a cross-country tour. We hope you'll visit him at one of his stops, where you can take photos with Dog Man himself!

Asked why he created a new series out of Dog Man, a character who appears in Captain Underpants, he tells Publishers Weekly,

"My fan mail started to change. Usually kids would draw Captain Underpants. Starting with book number nine, they were all drawing Dog Man."

Check out the trailer:

This morning BuzzFeed revealed the cover of Dav Piley's next book, Dog Man, a spin-off from his wildly popular Captain Underpants series! Dog Man is a comic book hero within the Captain Underpants world created by main characters George and Harold when they were sent to detention.

Here's a brief description of Dog Man:

George and Harold have created a new hero who digs into deception, claws after crooks, and rolls over robbers. When Greg the police dog and his cop companion are injured on the job, a life-saving surgery changes the course of history, and Dog Man is born. This heroic hound has a real nose for justice. But can this crime-biting canine resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?

Along with the cover, BuzzFeed also has an exclusive excerpt of Dog Man; be sure to check it out!

Dog Man will be released simultaneously in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand on August 30.