New York Times Bestsellers: Books for Kids and Teens

Last updated: June 17, 2026

Want to know about the biggest page-turners for kids and young adults before you buy? Check out our list of New York Times bestselling kids books. Not only will you find the hottest new arrivals, you'll also see the wildly popular books that stick around on the list for months (and sometimes years). Each week, we'll update our list with the New York Times' bestsellers for kids and teens that we've reviewed. So be sure to come back often, as new books come hot off the presses every week. And for older bestselling titles, check out our list of award-winning books.

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The Wonderful Things You Will Be Poster Image
BOOK

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

age 3+

Sweet what-to-be-when-you-grow-up book taps parental hopes.

We Are Mighty book cover: Six of 12 "ordinary" Americans in the book appear on a teal background around the white title
BOOK

We Are Mighty: 12 Ordinary Americans Who Did the Next Needed Thing

age 4+

Lively look at 12 extraordinary "ordinary" Americans.

I Wish You More Poster Image
BOOK

I Wish You More

age 5+

Feel the love in this cascade of whimsical wishes for kids.

Growing Home book cover: A frowning goldfish wearing a hat swimming above a potted ivy plant that's smiling
BOOK

Growing Home

age 6+

Charming, engaging book has magical twist on friendship.

Troubling Tonsils book cover: A scared marmot with big eyes and an open mouth
BOOK

Troubling Tonsils!: Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales!, Book 1

age 6+

Playful, silly horror story reassures about doctor visits.

Unsettling Salad book cover: A badger and a possum, in black and white, making sad faces at neon green salad in front of them
BOOK

Unsettling Salad!: Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales!, Book 2

age 6+

Funny-spooky story about vegetables' dangers.

Pocket Bear book cover: Small, hopeful-looking teddy bear being cuddled by a gray cat
BOOK

Pocket Bear

age 8+

Sweet, poignant tale of wartime survivors and who they lost.

Wombat Waiting book cover: Small dog in foreground with bat and baby owl in background
BOOK

Wombat Waiting

age 8+

Appealing verse tale of boy and dog in harrowing fire.

War Games book cover: A girl looking toward Berlin’s torchlit Brandenburg Gate. Two lines of Nazis soldier are marching toward her
BOOK

War Games

age 9+

Teen Olympian takes on Nazis in exciting, twisty heist tale.

The Court of the Dead book cover: Asterion the minotaur struggles in chains as Nico, Will, and Hazel try to save him; the Mist swirls all around them
BOOK

The Court of the Dead: A Nico di Angelo Adventure

age 10+

Queer demigods' emotionally intelligent second quest.

The Poisoned King book cover: Long-haired blonde girl and boy with short dark hair back to back with swords
BOOK

The Poisoned King: Impossible Creatures, Book 2

age 10+

Thrilling sequel pits kids and dragons against killer.

Wonder Book Cover: A white face, featureless except for one blue eye, against a light blue background
BOOK

Wonder

age 10+

Moving tale of facially different boy with inner beauty.

Change of Plans book cover: A White woman from nose to chest with brown hair wearing a blue apron and sunglasses
BOOK

Change of Plans

age 12+

Lovely coming-of-age tale of family, friends, and breakfast.

Better Than the Movies book cover: Title in large blue letters surrounded by several small images of a White red-haired young woman and a young man with brown-hair and tan skin reenacting scenes from popular romcoms
BOOK

Better Than the Movies

age 14+

Fun, sweet romance tips hat to romcom films and tropes.

Fake Skating book cover: Illustrations of a teen boy and girl in various poses including ice skating, reading, and piggy back
BOOK

Fake Skating

age 14+

Hockey, swearing in fun friends-to-sweethearts romance.

If Only I Had Told Her book cover: Red rose with flower broken off of stem
BOOK

If Only I Had Told Her

age 14+

Dramatic teen romance starts with tragedy, ends with hope.

Release Me book cover: A large blue eye with broad lashes surrounded by falling tear-shaped diamonds
BOOK

Release Me: The New Republic, Book 2

age 14+

Sci-fi page-turner has too much swooning, too little plot.

The Escape Game book cover: Illustration of a dark room with a coffin, flashlight, skull, overturned chair, bookshelves, handcuffs, and chess board
BOOK

The Escape Game

age 14+

Teens solve reality show murder in page-turning thriller.

The Sun and the Starmaker book cover: Aurora reaches hand out to Starmaker as they encircle a town, their magic castle, and a brilliant sun
BOOK

The Sun and the Starmaker

age 14+

Swoony star-crossed lovers fairy tale tackles grief head-on.

The Thorn Queen book cover: Thorns surrounding a large golden ring with a rose setting
BOOK

The Thorn Queen: The Rose Bargain, Book 2

age 14+

Sisters bond in melodramatic, mature faerie finale.

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Common Sense Media

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