The Best Kids' Books of September 2026

This month officially kicks off spooky season, and we have the perfect assortment of fun adventures and silly scares for little readers. Meet new heroes at Camp Half-Blood, visit the Gruffalo family and more in the best kids’ books of September 2026.

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Sashimi is excited for his first field trip ever…but after boarding the wrong bus, he gets lost before the trip can even begin! Help Sashimi find his way home in this silly new story from Dan Santat.

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Lois Lowry, author of The Giver, returns with a must-read tale of power, resilience, censorship and humanity. In a world ruled by a tyrannical leader, Tessa searches for her missing brother and uncovers a powerful truth that changes everything.

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Meet Bob, the talking axolotl. Bob says that 11-year-old Griff is the only one who can save the world in this laugh-out-loud new series from the creator of The Bad Guys.

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The third book in the Impossible Creatures saga brings Christopher back to the Archipelago for a new adventure. It's the Midsummer Feast, but with bandits making their way through the island, Christopher and Anya must outwit the enemies to survive. This book features interior illustrations, a map and a bestiary guide to magical creatures.

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Return to the world of Percy Jackson in a brand-new spinoff series featuring new heroes. The training camp for young demigods comes to life as Rick Riordan and Annabelle Oh team up for the first series installment, The Wild Zone. As the newbies arrive at Camp Half-Blood, prepare for magical adventures, epic battles and funny shenanigans.

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The Swifts are back for another hilarious story infused with wit and wordplay. The Swift children take Manhattan and piece together a century-old art mystery in this whirlwind new adventure.

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Where do lost socks go?! In this hilarious tale from the author of Tiny T-Rex, discover what really happens to the socks that disappear without a trace.

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After restaurant owner Owl Capone is betrayed by his former pal Gus, he learns the power of kindness and community in this heartfelt and hilarious tale for little ones.

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Are you red-y for color fun? Our favorite Pigeon returns with a new early-learning concept book for young readers, with touch-and-trace features, perfect for little readers.

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Dragon Dog (half dragon, half dog) is used to being alone. But when he meets a curious lamb named Dandelion, he learns that friendship can take many forms in this silly picture book.

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First, they board a plane, then a massive cruise ship, and just when they think the vacation can’t get any more fun, amusement park adventures await The Baby-Sitters Club crew .

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Julia Donaldson invites readers back to the beloved, quirky world of the Gruffalo. Silly and sweet, get ready to meet Gruffalo Granny in this delightful celebration of family.

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Mac Barnett teams up with X. Fang, author of Broken for a hilarious tale following a sneaky sheep and a curious young boy who swap brains.

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Eleven-year-old Dylan must fight for survival after his plane crash in Botswana's Okavango Delta, leaving him alone with nothing but the unforgiving wildlife.

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Alan Gratz is back with a companion novella that coincides with his story Two Degrees. Forced to flee Honduras, Dani and her brother set out to find their parents in this story of courage and sacrifice.

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Everyone’s favorite sixth grader is back for more middle school mischief. The latest collection features all kinds of fun shenanigans and epic adventures for Nate and his pals.

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Horizontal Crocodile lives a nice and relaxing life of leisure in his looooooong house. But he must clean up before a friend arrives! Help Horizontal Crocodile tidy in this charming and silly story.

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Rosie isn’t your average baby. The mini detective has a mystery to solve…as long as she can crack the case before nap time. The hilarious Detective Baby series kicks off with a hijinks-heavy tale from Meg Cabot.

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Lights, camera…action! The second book in the Dream On graphic novel series follows Cassie as she finds the courage to face her fears as an extra on the set of a big Hollywood movie.

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Butter the cat and Owl the raven set out on an unforgettable journey to find a witch in this heartwarming tale of friendship.

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Discover the origin story of Darktail, the infamous villain in the Warriors universe. In this standalone novel, Darktail embarks on a quest to hunt down those who wronged him.

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The third installment in the exciting series follows Jack and his friends as they discover an ancient evil that won’t rest until the Earth is destroyed.

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The worst part about baking cookies? Waiting for them to be done! Pete the Cat invents an ultra-fast cookie machine that spirals into chaos in this hilarious new adventure.

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The author of A Wolf Called Wonder returns with the standalone survival story A Raven of Rainforest. Follow Westerly the raven as she embarks on an important journey in this story of fate, bravery and survival.

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YouTube star Mark Rober shares the secrets to his epic experiments in this eye-opening book, jam-packed with unbelievable facts, pictures and more.

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After she discovers something strange about her new teacher, Junie B. Jones puts her detective skills to the test in this exciting graphic novel adaptation. This laugh-out-loud story is perfect for fans of The Baby-sitters Club.

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Are you ready for spooky season? Little witches and wizards can prepare with the debut picture book from Pete Holmes, featuring silly spells, magic and mayhem.