6 Late Fall Parent-Child Book Club Picks

Exploring Creativity
Kid Pick: What Do You Do With an Idea?, by Kobi Yamada
Parent Pick: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Creativity comes in all shapes and sizes, and certainly comes to those of all ages. These books will inspire you and your child to explore the creative process together. The kid’s pick shows that creative ideas are gifts to be explored and nurtured; that as an idea grows, so does confidence. Give your child the courage to look at all of their ideas, no matter how big or small, quirky or complex. At the same time, let Gilbert’s book encourage you to nurture your own big ideas.

Aiming High
Kid Pick: Rosie Revere, Engineer, by Andrea Beaty
Parent Pick: Circling the Sun, by Paula McLain
Much like the tenacious and fearless aviator Beryl Markham in the parent pick, Rosie has lofty dreams. Wishing to be an engineer one day, Rosie sets out to build a contraption to help her aunt fly. When the apparatus comes crashing down, so do Rosie’s dreams. However, Rosie soon discovers that she can learn through her failings and try again for success. Both books explore women in aviation, showcase strong female role models, and highlight the tenacity of the human spirit.

Home is Where the Heart Is
Kid Pick: Crenshaw, by Katherine Applegate
Parent Pick: The Art of Crash Landing, by Melissa DeCarlo
In the kid pick, fifth-grader Jackson is dismayed to learn his imaginary friend Crenshaw has returned. The large cat walks on two legs, is prone to silly antics, and always seems to show up when the chips are down. But Jackson soon relies on the return of Crenshaw as Jackson’s family falls on hard times. Not looking to move back into the family van, Jackson looks to his friend for help. The parent pick follows the story of Mattie Wallace—broke, pregnant, homeless and looking for answers—as she travels from Florida to Oklahoma in search of one last chance to get her life right. These books cover heavy subject matter, such as the working poor and homelessness, but offer good points of discussion with your child.

Meddling Mysteries
Kid Pick: Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye, by Tania del Rio
Parent Pick: The Grownup, by Gillian Flynn
If a little mystery is what you and your child are after, then these two picks should give you just the right amount of ghostly discussion fodder. This kid pick is about Warren, a 12-year old orphan living in his family’s Victorian hotel with his treacherous Aunt Anaconda. A mysterious treasure is hidden somewhere on the grounds and Warren is determined to find the treasure before his aunt does. This middle grade adventure will keep your child turning the beautifully illustrated and designed pages as fast as you turn the pages of your short, ghostly, Edgar Award-winning story by the author of Gone Girl. Both books feature Victorian elements, some mystery, and enough creepy characters to keep you on your toes.

On Death and Dying
Kid Pick: The Thing About Jellyfish, by Ali Benjamin
Parent Pick: Days of Awe, by Lauren Fox
There is the concept of friendships dying, and then the reality of friends dying. This kid pick features a young girl named Suzy who is coping with the aftermath of the death of her friend. As she sets to recreate the reason why her friend died, she discovers that their friendship may not have been what she thought it was, and journeys on a path of tween self-discovery. In the parent pick, Isabel must cope with the death of her friend, and the loss of her husband due to the instability of their marriage. With such heavy subject matter, you might expect heavy hearts. However, these books actually bring a sense of peace and understanding to death and dying, along with the triumph of transcending grief and finding joy.

True Stormy Story
Kid Pick: The Finest Hours: The True Story of a Heroic Sea Rescue, by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman
Parent Pick: The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue, by Michael J. Tougias
February 18, 1952 brought a brutal nor’easter to the coast of Cape Cod, and two oil tankers became victims of the storm. Cut in half, both ships struggled to stay afloat and provide protection for the men aboard while the Coast Guard raced to save them. Raging seas loomed, seventy-foot swells crashed, wooden lifeboats were deployed, and a terrifying rescue operation ensued. With interviews, facts from the event, and a spell-bounding written account, you and your child will feel as though you are on the boat during this daring sea rescue. This kid pick aims for kids 9-13 as a middle-grade adaptation of the parent pick.
What combo would you pick for your parent-child book club?