From the biographical tales of star Rita Moreno to an adorable new story from favorite author Jory John, November brings new releases that your students will love finding on your classroom library shelves.

Scroll to find all our new releases below and get excited to add some fresh reads to your classroom library!

1. A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer!
by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Leo Espinosa

Interest level: P-3

When young Rosita moved from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, she didn’t know what to expect, but she knew she loved to sing and dance. Working to overcome the language barrier and bullying she experienced in a strange new country, Rita eventually made her way to Hollywood with a dream to be a star. There, she fought to be seen and heard and eventually reached the pinnacle of success, landing her iconic role in West Side Story and winning her groundbreaking Oscar.

2. The Couch Potato
by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald

Interest level: P-3

The Couch Potato has everything he needs within reach of his sunken couch cushion. But when the electricity goes out, Couch Potato is forced to peel himself away from the comforts of his living room and venture outside. And when he does, he realizes fresh air and sunshine could be just the things he needs. Readers of all ages will laugh along as their new best spuddy learns that balancing screen time and playtime is the root to true happiness.

3. Luna de Búho (Owl Moon)
by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr

Interest level: K-3

Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer. Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don’t need words. You don’t need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn’t an owl, but sometimes there is. Distinguished author Jane Yolen has created a gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a young child and her father as well as humankind’s close relationship to the natural world. Wonderfully complemented by John Schoenherr’s soft, exquisite watercolor illustrations, this is a verbal and visual treasure, perfect for reading and sharing at bedtime.

4. Blades of Freedom: A Louisiana Purchase Tale
by Nathan Hale

Interest level: 3-7

Discover the story of the Haitian Revolution and the Louisiana Purchase in this installment of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) is seen today as one of history’s greatest bargains. But why did Napoleon Bonaparte sell this seemingly prosperous territory? At the time, France controlled Haiti, and there, enslaved Africans were used to harvest sugar. But in 1791, Toussaint Louverture led the largest uprising of enslaved people in human history, the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804). Napoleon had originally wanted to use Louisiana for trade, but with Haiti out of his control, Napoleon’s dream of making a French empire in North America seemed doomed. So when Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe tried to buy New Orleans, Napoleon sold them the whole Louisiana Territory. Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales are graphic novels that tell the thrilling, shocking, gruesome, and TRUE stories of American history. Read them all—if you dare!

5. The Way Back
by Gavriel Savit

Interest level: 7-12

This sweeping historical fantasy follows two teens on a journey through the Far Country, a Jewish land of spirits and demons. For the Jews of Eastern Europe, demons are everywhere: dancing on the rooftops in the darkness of midnight, congregating in the trees, harrowing the dead, even reaching out to try and steal away the living. But the demons have a land of their own: a Far Country peopled with the souls of the transient dead, governed by demonic dukes, barons and earls. When the Angel of Death comes strolling through the little shtetl of Tupik one night, two young people will be sent spinning off on a journey through the Far Country. There, they will make pacts with ancient demons, declare war on Death himself, and maybe—just maybe—find a way to make it back alive. Drawing inspiration from the Jewish folk tradition, The Way Back is a dark adventure sure to captivate readers of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust.

Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster
by James Howe, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Interest level: K-3

Ra the Mighty: The Great Tomb Robbery
by A.B. Greenfield, illustrated by Sarah Horne
Interest level: 2-5

Pay Attention, Carter Jones
by Gary D. Schmidt
Interest level: 5-7

Harlem Stomp!: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance
by Laban Carrack Hill
Interest level: 6-12

The Toll (Arc of a Scythe series)
by Neal Shusterman
Interest level: 7-12

Winterwood
by Shea Ernshaw
Interest level: 9-12

District administrators and literacy coaches can give students of all grade levels fresh reads by purchasing all of November 2020’s new releases in one collection!

Which of these new reads were you looking forward to most? Which do you think your students will love? Tell us in the comments below!