Handpicked by Our Editors

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson
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Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson

Why We Recommend It

Jackie Robinson was special on the baseball field and off. His daughter's bio of the slugger-as-dad emphasizes courage.

Read our full review
Finding great books for children makes them lifelong readers.

When you give your children books they love, you give them a gift that lasts forever. But finding books that appeal to kids when there's so much else competing for their time has become really tough. Our recommended lists by theme and topic will help you find books for children of all ages and interests, from All Things Harry Potter to the best books to share with dads.

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Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan Series by Darren Shan
Parents Need to Know...

that the author claims in the introduction that this is a true story, which some young readers may find confusing. Also, many new fans may result from the release of the fall 2009 movie The Vampire's Assistant, which is based on the first ... read more

Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan Series
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Half-Minute Horrors by Holly Black, Neil Gaiman, M.T. Anderson, Pseudonymous Bosch, Libba Bray
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a book designed to creep kids out, but stays clear of adult content (bad language, sex, etc.). While there's no gore, stories are at times scary and unnerving and sometimes involve murder or the attempted murder of people. read more

Half-Minute Horrors
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The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L. J. Smith
Parents Need to Know...

that this book, first published in 1991, has been loosely made into a TV show. It bears no resemblance to the vampire sensation Twilight (other than that a vampire poses as a new high school student and a local girl falls for him). In ... read more

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening
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Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Parents Need to Know...

that although this is a werewolf story, there's more romance than horror. It's a love story between a boy and a girl; the boy just happens to be a werewolf. The passion between the characters grows throughout the story, and they do have ... read more

Shiver
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Seer of Shadows
Parents Need to Know...

that this book is best for older tweens, rather than the publisher's suggested target ages of 8-12. The language is beautiful, yet formal and sophisticated, as it reflects the historical time period. Younger kids may have difficulty ... read more

Seer of Shadows
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The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Parents Need to Know...

that this is mildly creepy with a bit of violence, suspense, and threat, including a man who murders a family and tries to murder a toddler and a teen boy and girl. read more

The Graveyard Book
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The Devouring by Simon Holt
Parents Need to Know...

that on the ever-escalating horror scale, this falls fairly low in terms of violence and mayhem. Much of the disturbing action takes place in a "fears cape" where nightmares seem to come true. While it's certainly gross and ... read more

The Devouring
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Classic Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask
Parents Need to Know...

that the scares in this book won't be too much for most tweens. A classic creepy guy in costume shop has some gross masks, and suspense is of the "who's in that costume?" and "what's chasing me?" variety. More frightening is when a ... read more

Classic Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask
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Bliss by Lauren Myracle
Parents Need to Know...

that this book is a departure from Myracle's previous, light instant-message novels. It's an often disturbing book involving human blood sacrifice; occult rituals (including a reference to "Holy Communion"); graphic descriptions of the ... read more

Bliss
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The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
Parents Need to Know...

that, while there's no graphic violence here, there are references to lots of deaths, some rather gruesome, such as being impaled by a tree limb. Also, the main character steals, though he later either pays for or returns what he has ... read more

The Crossroads
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Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some violence and swearing here, as well as many references to things commercial and sexual, though nothing graphic. read more

Prom Dates from Hell
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Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Mirdechai Richler, Adam Rex
Parents Need to Know...

that these monsters act, well, monstrously. So expect some mention of blood-sucking, some scary-looking zombies, and bad behavior on the part of Godzilla (who poops on someone's car). The detailed pictures are true to their subjects, and ... read more

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich
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Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
Parents Need to Know...

that there are a lot of sexual references, but nothing graphic, and nothing described. The plot hinges on the 19-year-old main character's loss of virginity and a sexually transmitted disease. read more

Peeps
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Who Let the Ghosts Out! (Mostly Ghostly, Book 1) by R. L. Stine
Parents Need to Know...

that a dog is turned inside out in this horror tale. read more

Who Let the Ghosts Out! (Mostly Ghostly, Book 1)
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Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Parents Need to Know...

that this story is pretty creepy -- and certainly not for sensitive children. But it's a good choice for kids who want horror and whose parents would prefer it be well-written and not too gruesome. Coraline's world includes rats, spiders, ... read more

Coraline
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The Evil Moon by R. L. Stine
Parents Need to Know...

that this fast-paced supernatural thriller is notable mostly for the gore and violence. read more

The Evil Moon
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Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by James Howe
Parents Need to Know...

that this book is about a vampire rabbit, but the horror aspect of the plot is mild. The sketchy illustrations are incidental, and a wacky story sprinkled with goofy one-liners will captivate kids from the great title to the last page. read more

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery
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Crictor by Tomi Ungerer
Parents Need to Know...

that the ironic delivery of this preposterous story gives it a special charm, while the artwork, with its scratchy line work and humorous imagery, might have used Crictor's clever tongue as a brush. read more

Crictor
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