Pre-Teens

My Diary: the Totally True Story of Me! Gilles Tibo, illustrated by Josée Bisaillon, $13.95

This is the diary of a young girl. Here she shares all of her wishes, dreams, and secrets. She writes about who she likes, what makes her sad, what gives her joy, and what gives her courage.

Written especially for young girls, MY DIARY is filled with poems, illustrations, inventions, and personal musings on life and happiness. Parents and kids can read along and learn as this young girl explores her world and how she feels about her place in it.


New Kid, New Scene: a Guide to Moving and Switching Schools. Debbie Glasser & Emily Schenk, $10.95 (ages 8-13)

This book gives kids the ins and outs of navigating new surroundings, making new friends (as well as staying in touch with old ones), and finding a place that feels like your own. You'll learn ways to get adjusted and ease into your new school and surroundings. Every chapter is packed with stories from other kids like you, useful advice for when you are worried or upset, and quizzes to help you learn more about who you are. With a little help, you can be comfortable as the star in your new scene!


Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf: a Year Told through Stuff. Jennifer Holm, $9.99

Ginny has ten items on her big "to-do" list for seventh grade. None of them, however, include getting sent to detention for throwing frogs in class or the thousand other things that can go wrong between September and June.


Lessons from a Street Kid. Craig Kielburger, illustrated by Marisa Antonello & Victoria Laidley, $19.95

Join a young Craig Kielburger as he learns about the heights of generosity on the streets of Brazil.


Be Fit, Be Strong, Be You. Rebecca Kajander & Timothy Culbert, $10.95

Learn how to be fit and healthy — inside and out — with these easy skills, tips and ideas.

 


The Luck of Jude. Andrew Larsen, $9.95 (ages 8-10)

A story about fighting, friendships and fitting in.


Tales from the Tundra: a Collection of Inuit Stories. Ibi Kaslik, illustrated by Anthony Brennan, $12.95

Learn why the raven is black or how a little boy was transformed into a bird. Find out why a walrus used to have antlers and how an earth spirit pulled the first caribou from the ground. These fascinating stories will capture the imagination of young readers and introduce them to the rich mythology of the Canadian Inuit.

Anthony Brennan’s illustrations are like nothing you’ve seen in children’s books. Edgy, vivid and dynamic to the extreme, the images enrich the reading experience.


Don’t Behave Like You Live in a Cave. Elizabeth Verdick & Steve Mark, $10.25

Is your behavior sometimes out of whack or out of control? Do you tend to get in trouble more than other kids you know? Don’t worry — you’re NOT a problem child. But you may need help with your behavior at home and school — and that’s what this book is for!


No Girls Allowed. Susan Hughes, illustrated by Willow Dawson, $8.95

Tales of daring women, dressed as men — for love, freedom and adventure!


YUM: Your Ultimate Manual for Good Nutrition. Daina Kalinas, $16.95

Listen to your body, eat well and feel great! YUM explains how you can get what your body needs from the food you eat. It also shows you how to read labels, cook from recipes and gives you the tools you need to make good eating fun.


Hot Issues Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity and Put Downs. Sandra McLeod Humphrey, $16.99

Did you know that there are kids out there who don’t even want to get out of bed in the morning because they know what going to school means for them?

  • being teased and taunted
  • being excluded and rejected
  • being afraid that you’re going to be assaulted and possibly hurt

After reading this book, you may just possibly become a kinder, more compassionate human being, someone who treats others the way you want them to treat you. So come along and join the students at Emerson Elementary and help them make some cool choices!


Middle School Confidential Series by Annie Fox

Be Confident in Who You Are. Annie Fox, $10.99

So begins the journey of Jack, Jen, Chris, Abby, Mateo, and Michelle—six students just trying to figure it all out in middle school. Be Confident in Who You Are follows these characters as they work to meet new challenges and survive the social scene—without losing sight of who they are. Book 1 offers insider information on common middle school concerns and practical advice for being healthy, feeling good about who you are, and staying in control of your feelings and actions—even when the pressure is on.

Real Friends vs. the Other Kind. Annie Fox, $10.99 

Real Friends vs. the Other Kind, the second book in the Middle School Confidential series, follows these characters as they work to forge friendships while navigating tough social situations. Book 2 explores making and keeping friends, resolving disputes, and dealing with common middle school concerns—like gossip, exclusion, and cyberbullying. There's also expert advice on crushes, peer pressure, and being there for friends who need help.

What’s Up With My Family: Annie Fox, $10.99

Follow these young teens as they work on challenges at home. Along the way you’ll find ideas for building trust with adults, getting past hurt feelings and making family relationships stronger. Life at home may not be perfect, appreciating family members and working with them can help everyone get along.


Whispers from the Ghettos. Kathy Kacer & Sharon McKay, $13.99 (Ages 9+)

The stories in this book come from behind the walls and barbed wire of Europe's ghettos during the Nazi regime. We hear the voices of young boys and girls as they live with the fear that they might be deported to the death camps at any moment. Theirs are stories of courage and determination, of struggle and resistance. They speak for those who, like them, managed to survive the war. And they speak for those who did not.


What to Do When Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough: the Real Deal on Perfectionism. Thomas Greenspon, $10.99 (ages 9 – 13)

Most children don’t know what perfectionism is, yet many suffer from it. Nothing they do is ever good enough. School assignments are hard to start or hand in. Relationships are challenging, and self-esteem is low. Written for kids ages 9–13, this book helps them understand how perfectionism hurts them and how to free themselves. Includes true-to-life vignettes, exercises, and a note to grown-ups.


This Is My Planet: the Kids’ Guide to Global Warming. Jan Thornhill, $12.95

This Is My Planet offers a clear and fascinating view of our world’s interconnections. By seeing how we all fit in, readers will discover how even small actions can add up to big changes.


Dancing Through the Snow. Jean Little, $19.99

Min has nothing. No mother. No birth certificate. No baby pictures. Not even a real birthday. The Children’s Aid people just gave her a fake birthday — the date she was found — not seeming to realize it was also the day she was lost. Now, after four different foster families, Min’s not surprised when she’s dumped back with Children’s Aid the week before Christmas. Still, a small part of her can’t help aching for a miracle … and now she’s found an injured dog that needs a miracle too.


The Doggy Dung Disaster & Other True Stories: Regular Kids Doing Heroic Things Around the World. Garth Sundem, $12.95

Eleven-year-old Tilly saved lives in Thailand by warning people that a tsunami was coming. Fifteen-year-old Malika fought against segregation in her Alabama town. Ten-year-old Jean-Dominic won a battle against pesticides—and the cancer the pesticides caused in his body. Six-year-old Ryan raised $800,000 to drill water wells in Africa. And twelve-year-old Haruka invented a new way to scoop dog poop. With the right role models, any child can be a hero. Thirty true stories profile kids who used their heads, their hearts, their courage, and sometimes their stubbornness to help others and do extraordinary things.


Girl in the Know: Your Inside-and-Out Guide to Growing Up.  Anne Katz, $18.95

Get the lowdown on how to take care of your body inside and out and take care of your self, so you’ll be set to handle all sorts of life’s challenges.


See our Parenting 6-12 booklist for adult titles.

Bernadette in the Doghouse. Susan Glaxton, $8.95

A book about friends, friendship and not taking things for granted.


Luz Sees the Light. Claudia Dávila, $8.95

Change is in the air! One minute, Luz and her friends are snacking on chocolate bars and getting rides to the mall. The next, Luz's mom can't afford gas or groceries and the city is dimmed by blackouts. Luz is NOT the type to sit in the dark, so she sets her heart on transforming her fossil-fueled world. But how much can one twelve-year-old do?


Chicken Soup for the Soul Just for Preteens: 101 Stories of Inspiration and Support for Tweens. Jack Canfield, Mark Victor & Amy Newmark, $16.95

You're growing up, your friends are changing, homework is harder and your life has more ups and downs than it used to. This "support group in a book" is just for you. You are not alone and you'll find out why when you read these stories.


The Babysitter’s Survival Guide. Jill Chassé & Jessica Secheret, $13.50

Get the info you need on everything from landing a babysitting job to caring for kids safely. Fun games, cool crafts and how to be the best babysitter in town — it’s all here!


The Co-Walkers Awakening. Hermine Steinberg, $16.95

A novel of magic, self-discovery and destiny, The Co-Walkers will take you on a ride full of adventure, surprise and enchantment.

Three siblings find themselves on their own, sent to live with a stranger they’ve never heard of before. Soon after, they discover they are part of a magical world they never knew existed — and that the very existence of this world may depend on them, The Co-Walkers.


Too Old for This, Too Young for That! Your Survival Guide for the Middle-School Years, 2nd Edition. Harriet Mosatche & Karen Unger, $17.50 (ages 11-15)

The transition to middle school can be difficult. Most tweens are excited about getting older, but they’re often not prepared for some of the challenges that come with growing up. Physical and emotional changes, evolving relationships, and increased expectations at school can all make for some major adjustments.  Too Old for This, Too Young for That is a friendly, reassuring guide that lets readers know they’re not alone and gives them practical tips, tools, and resources for all kinds of situations.


Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change. Garth Sundem, $11.95

Thirty stories of courageous actions around the world from real kids who used their heads and hearts to do awesome things.


Dude, Where’s Your Helmet? David Duncan, $9.25

What’s YOUR excuse?


Siblings: You’re Stuck with Each Other, So Stick Together. James Crist & Elizabeth Verdick, $9.95 (ages 8-12)

Every sibling relationship has its ups and downs, and moments of complete AAAAAACCCCCK! But siblings are more than annoyers and stuff-destroyers. You and your brothers and sisters can be buddies, allies, helpers, role models, secret-sharers and lifelong friends. It all starts with you!


Think for Yourself: a Kid’s Guide to Solving Life’s Dilemmas and Other Sticky Problems. Cynthia MacGregor, $14.95 (ages 9 and up)

What if a friend wants you to shoplift? Your neighbor is cruel to his dog? You have to walk past kids who bully you? Your parents want you to babysit your little brother — again?? Get insight on how to find your way out of difficult situations like these and other predications that might involve friends, family and grown-ups.


My Big Fat Secret: How Jenna Takes Control of Her Emotions and Eating. Lynn Schechter, illustrated by Jason Chin, $11.95 (ages 8-12)

Jenna is having a tough time in middle school. She just turned 12, she hates gym, and she's overweight. Jenna has good friends and cool hobbies, but when some of her classmates make fun of her, she just feels so bad! And to make things worse, when Jenna feels sad or mad or stressed out, she starts to eat and she just can't stop!

Through Jenna's story, kids will learn how to say goodbye to emotional eating and hello to a healthy lifestyle. They'll see how to create an action plan to stop overeating before it starts, identify emotional triggers that push them to food, and get healthier by taking better care of their bodies and minds.


No Contact. Sandra Diersch, $8.95 (8-13)

Debbie’s not sure about her new family, but she is sure about one thing — she loves to play hockey. If only Debbie’s adoptive mother could be more like Debbie’s hockey coach! Will Debbie and her mother ever learn to play on the same team?


Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together. Herb Shoveller, $9.95

Ryan and Jimmy is the remarkable true story of a young boy who wanted to help others — and how that simple wish brought friendship from a world away.


Friends: Making Them and Keeping Them. Patty Kelley Criswell, $11.95 (ages 8 to 12)

Here’s all you need to know about making friends and making friendships last. The book includes tips and quizzes, plus true friendship stories.


Dude, That’s Rude! (Get Some Manners). Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick, $10.95 (ages 8 to 13)

Full-color cartoons and kid-friendly text teach the basics of polite behavior in all kinds of situations—at home, at school, in the bathroom, on the phone, at the mall, and more … It seems like light reading, but it’s serious stuff: Manners are major social skills, and this book gives kids a great start.


Girlness: Deal With It, Body & Soul. Diane Peters, illustrated by Steven Murray, $12.95

It’s hard enough being a girl on the brink of puberty without dealing with a barrage of mixed messages about femininity. From self-image to peer pressure, consumerism to feminism, girls have a lot to grapple with. This volume looks at issues relating to gender identity and how girls can cope with the conflicts that arise when we question what it means to be female.


Guyness: Deal with It, Body & Soul. Steve Pitt, illustrated by Steven Murray, $12.95

As boys become men, pressure to fit into set images of masculinity can be overwhelming. And stereotypes about what makes a man a man can make the early stages of puberty — the beginning of physical, emotional, and sexual maturity — all the more confusing. This volume looks at issues relating to gender identity and how boys can deal with the conflicts that arise when boys fit — or do not fit — the masculinity mold.


The Behavior Survival Guide For Kids: How to Make Good Choices and Stay Out of Trouble. Tom McIntyre, $16.50

The Adding Assets Series for Kids empowers young people ages 8 - 12 to build their own 'Developmental Assets'. Research shows that young people who thrive have specific assets in their lives, including family support, a caring neighborhood, integrity, resistance skills, self-esteem and a sense of purpose.
People Who Care about You: the Support Assets. Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick, $13.95

Book 1 in the Adding Assets Series for Kids introduces and describes the six support assets: Family Support, Positive Family Communication, Other Adult Relationships, Caring Neighborhood, Caring School Climate, and Parent Involvement in Schooling. Each asset is clearly defined and introduced by a story. Kids learn concrete, realistic ways to build family closeness and strengthen other important relationships in their lives.
Helping Out and Staying Safe: the Empowerment Assets. Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick, $13.95

Book 2 in the Adding Assets Series for Kids introduces and describes the four Empowerment Assets: Community Values Children, Children as Resources, Service to Others, and Safety. Each asset is clearly defined and introduced by a story. Kids learn simple, everyday ways to play useful roles at home and in the community, help others, and feel safer at home, at school, and in their neighborhood.

Too Old for This, Too Young for That! Your Survival Guide for the Middle-School Years. Harriet Mosatche & Karen Unger, $17.95

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