The Best People & Places Kids' Books 2026

1. Hope for Haiti (Hardcover) 9780399255472

ISBN: 9780399255472 ISBN10: 0399255478 Contributors: Watson, Jesse Joshua, Watson, Jesse Joshua,

Hope for Haiti (Hardcover) 9780399255472

2. Holly Claus: The Christmas Princess

Hardcover, Julie Andrews Collection, 2007, ISBN13 9780061440229, ISBN10 0061440221

When young Christopher writes a letter to Santa Claus, he poses a question no one has ever thought to ask before: "Dear Santa Claus, What do you wish for Christmas?" Miraculously, Santa's longtime wish comes true, and a baby girl is born--Princess Holly Claus. But just as the Land of Forever joyously celebrates her arrival, far away an evil is unleashed. A curse is placed on Holly, freezing her heart in ice so her future will be bound by a world of darkness. And with the Gates of Forever now locked, Santa can no longer spread the magic of Christmas to children everywhere. As soon as Holly finds a way to make a daring escape, she begins an astounding journey to the Empire City, determined to free herself and, once and for all, bring back Christmas. This extraordinary and beautifully illustrated adventure is an everlasting gift of Christmas enchantment.

3. Falling into Place

A story told through nonlinear flashbacks traces a teen girl's effort to commit suicide by crashing her car into a tree, detailing the events leading up to her decision from the perspective of an unexpected narrator.

A story told through nonlinear flashbacks traces a teen girl's effort to commit suicide by crashing her car into a tree, detailing the events leading up to her decision from the perspective of an unexpected narrator.

4. Blood Beast

Hardcover, Little, Brown Young Readers, 2007, ISBN13 9780316003773, ISBN10 0316003778

"Locked inside Dervish's study. Breath coming quickly, raggedly. Trembling wildly. I still feel sick and dizzy, but maybe that's fear. I force myself to breathe normally, evenly. When I'm in control, I study my reflection, looking for telltale signs. Am I turning into a werewolf? I don't know..." Grubbs Grady has so far escaped the family curse, but when he begins to experience alarming symptoms at the onset of the full moon, he is scared that the jaws of fate are opening and about to swallow him whole. He has cheated death, defeated demons, moved on with his life. But Grubbs is torn between the world of magic and his wolfen genes. Can he fight the beast inside or will he fall victim to his tainted blood?