Keeping children interested in reading is as simple as finding the right books for your child.

Whatever their interests, here are some titles that might keep them reading this fall. All of these titles can be found online at Running Press Kids.

Timely Topics:

n “Sugar in Milk” (picture book, ages 4-8): This is a beautiful folktale brought to us by acclaimed literary author for adults, Thrity Umrigar, about refugees. A king tells a group of immigrants that his country is too full by pouring a cup to the brim with milk. Then, one of the refugees pours sugar into the milk to show that their presence would sweeten his subject’s lives. The story is important, and the illustrations are stunning.

n “Nuestra America” (illustrated anthology, ages 8-12): Since its founding, the Smithsonian Institution’s Latino Center has supported ongoing research, educational programs, and publications that interpret the diverse Latino experience in the United States. This September, in partnership with the Smithsonian, we are publishing Nuestra America, an anthology that tells the stories of thirty Latinas and Latinos throughout history and their incredible contributions to the character of the United States.

n “The Great and the Terrible” (illustrated nonfiction, ages 8-12): We’ve heard of Alexander the Great. We’ve heard of Ivan the Terrible. But what was so Great about Alexander? What was so Terrible about Ivan? Spanning centuries of history in a culturally diverse framework, The Great and the Terrible takes a humorous look at some of the most glorious and notorious figures in history through the lens of the nicknames they’re remembered by.

n “The Campaign” (middle grade fiction, ages 7-10): Politics are in Amanda Adams’ DNA. Her mom is a member of Congress and her dad is a political strategist who manages her mother’s campaigns. Her plan is to run for class president, and she expects her best friend Meghan to be her VP. But it turns out Meghan has class presidential ambitions of her own. This is a story about running a fair campaign, and what negative campaigning can do to politics, is an important lesson told in a kid-friendly way.

Quirky Gift Books:

n “Jabberwocky” (picture book, ages 4 and up): O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! If you’ve ever wanted a copy of Lewis Carroll’s famous nonsense poem from Through the Looking Glass, here’s your chance! The poem is depicted with beautiful, classic illustrations by painter Charles Santore, who died last year.

n “Clueless: A Totally Classic Picture Book” (picture book, ages 4-8): This illustrated storybook captures the unforgettable fashions, vocabulary, and characters of the iconic 1995 film Clueless with an adorable kid-friendly adaptation about making friends.

n “Really Stupid Stories for Really Smart Kids” (fiction short stories, ages 7-10): For kids who like joke books, The Stinky Cheese Man, or Shel Silverstein, this book offers twenty silly stories to make them giggle. Puns and tall tales abound, all with Alan Katz’ signature humor, making the book perfect for both little bookworms and reluctant readers.

Sequels, Reprints, and Series Continuations:

n “Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different 2” (illustrated anthology, ages 8-12): If you enjoyed the Stories for Boys Who Dared to Be Different book and/or guided journal, we have a new anthology full of 76 more boys and men who will inspire young readers to live boldly and true to themselves.

n “The Newspaper Club” series (younger middle grade fiction, ages 7-10): This fun, original series about a quirky group of kid reporters came out in March, unfortunately right when the pandemic hit the U.S. If you missed it, you can discover the series with the paperback edition of the first book, “The Newspaper Club,” going on sale in August, while the second book, “The Cubs Get the Scoop,” goes on sale in September. And don’t forget to check out additional resources including a guide for kids on how to start their own newspaper club during the pandemic.

n “The Popularity Pact” duology (middle grade fiction, ages 8-12): In book one of The Popularity Pact, Camp Clique, Bea promised to make Maisy popular in their bunk at camp if Maisy would make her popular when they get back to school in the fall. In early October, School Squad comes out–where it’s up to Maisy to fulfill her end of the pact. Can Maisy pull off getting her clique to accept Bea? And what will happen to Bea once she is finally “in”?

n “36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You” paperback edition (YA fiction, ages 12 and up): In 2017, Running Press Kids published a romance about two teenagers who entered a study that was supposed to make them fall in love. They hated each other at first, so watching them go from aggravation to endearment made for a cozy, fun read.

This year, the book is back in paperback with a fresh new cover.