Between a charming new tale from fan favorite author Dav Pilkey and an essential text for the anti-racist movement, December’s new release books are must-haves.

Scroll to find them below and get excited to add some fresh reads to your classroom library!

1. Cat Kid Comic Club
by Dav Pilkey

Interest level: 2-5

Welcome to the Cat Kid Comic Club, where Li’l Petey (LP), Flippy and Molly introduce 21 rambunctious, funny, and talented baby frogs to the art of comic-making. As the story unwinds with mishaps and hilarity, readers get to see the progress, mistakes and improvements that come with practice and persistence. Squid Kid and Katydid, Baby Frog Squad, Gorilla Cheese Sandwich and Birds Flowers Tree: A Haiku Photo Comic are just some of the mini-comics that are included as stories-within-the-story, each done in a different style, utilizing humor and drama, prose and poetry, illustrated in different media including acrylics, pastels, colored pencils, felt-tip markers, clay, hand-made cardboard sculptures, photographs, pipe cleaners, construction paper collages and cookies. Readers of all ages will be inspired to dream up their own stories and unleash their creativity as they dive into this pioneering graphic novel adventure from Dav Pilkey and his heartfelt, humorous and amazing cast of characters in the Cat Kid Comic Club.

2. The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person
by Frederick Joseph

Interest level: 9-12

Writing from the perspective of a friend, Frederick Joseph offers candid reflections on his own experiences with racism and conversations with prominent artists and activists about theirs—creating an essential read for white people who are committed anti-racists and those newly come to the cause of racial justice. “We don’t see color.” “I didn’t know Black people liked Star Wars!” “What hood are you from?” For Frederick Joseph, life as a transfer student in a largely white high school was full of wince-worthy moments that he often simply let go. As he grew older, however, he saw these as missed opportunities not only to stand up for himself, but to spread awareness to those white people who didn’t see the negative impact they were having. Speaking directly to the reader, The Black Friend calls up race-related anecdotes from the author’s past, weaving in his thoughts on why they were hurtful and how he might handle things differently now. Each chapter features the voice of at least one artist or activist, including Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give; April Reign, creator of #OscarsSoWhite; Jemele Hill, sports journalist and podcast host; and eleven others. Touching on everything from cultural appropriation to power dynamics, “reverse racism” to white privilege, microaggressions to the tragic results of overt racism, this book serves as conversation starter, tool kit and invaluable window into the life of a former “token Black kid” who now presents himself as the friend many readers need. Backmatter includes an encyclopedia of racism, providing details on relevant historical events, terminology and more.

The ABCs of What I Can Be
by Caitlin McDonagh
Interest level: P-1

Bad Kitty Joins the Team
by Nick Bruel
Interest level: 2-5

I Can Make This Promise
by Christine Day
Interest level: 3-7

Dark Sky Rising: Reconstruction And The Dawn Of Jim Crow
by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Tonya Bolden
Interest level: 4-7

The Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout Of The 20th Century
by Neal Bascomb
Interest level: 7-12

On the Come Up
by Angie Thomas
Interest level: 9-12

Yes No Maybe So
by Becky Abertalli and Aisha Saeed
Interest level: 9-12

District administrators and literacy coaches can give students of all grade levels fresh reads by purchasing all of December 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!