Children’s Books To Look Forward To In November 2019

While fewer November 2019 children’s books are coming out than in previous months, we still have some great books to recommend. Check out our picks from previous months for even more new 2019 children’s books.

Margaret’s favorite children’s books coming out in November

How I Met My Monster (I Need My Monster) by Amanda Noll, Howard McWilliam (November 1, Flashlight Press)

Do you know why monsters really hide under children’s beds? To make sure they stay in it. There’s a big test going on in Ethan’s bedroom to see who can keep Ethan in bed. If you’ve already read the other books in this series then you know which monster will win in the end. This is a funny picture book, with only the mildest of scare factors.

Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure by Eva Chen, Illustrated by Derek Desierto (November 5, Feiwel and Friends)

Juno Valentine is back! This time, she needs to find the perfect outfit for school picture day. When her brother gets lost in her magical hall of shoes, she’s at first frustrated. But as she meets famous women in her search for her brother, she learns more about herself and collects more pieces of clothes until, voila, she has her brother back and the perfect outfit for pictures. I’m looking forward to when Marian starts picking out her own clothes like Juno!

I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown and Jason “Rachel” Brown, Illustrated by Anoosha Syed (November 5, Henry Holt and Co.)

Another one I haven’t read yet, though I do have a copy on the way. By Queer Eye star Karamo Brown (though I know him from The Real World, lol), this picture book celebrates how a son and his father are perfectly designed for one another, and the power of families.

The Midwinter Witch by Molly Know Ostertag (November 5, Scholastic)

This is the third book in a middle-grade graphic novel series. Aster is a boy who is also a witch, but in Aster’s magical family, only girls can be witches. In the latest installment, Aster competes in the Midwinter Festival competition. This is a great series to examine gender expectations in an engaging and approachable way.

Fearless Felines: 30 True Tales of Courageous Cats by Kimberlie Hamilton (November 5, Scholastic)

Do you need cat biographies? Who doesn’t need cat biographies is the real question. While geared for older children, my one-year-old still has a blast flipping through these pages and seeing all illustrations of awesome cats from history.

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez (The Questioneers) by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts (November 5, Abrams Books for Young Readers)

I so wish I’d landed a copy of this one! I adore The Questioneers’ series. They’re excellent read-alouds AND have a great message. This one has grandparent love, community gardens, and activism–all things I need more of in my life.

M is for Movement by Innosanto Nagara (November 5, Triangle Square)

I can’t believe there’s a new Innosanto Nagara book coming out and I’m just now hearing about it! We’re big fans of A is for Activist and Counting on Community. I can’t wait to check this one out, and I’m intrigued that it’s for older kids, even though the title suggests it’s keeping with a similar pattern as his two board books.

Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison (November 19, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

This collection continues Vashti Harrison’s biographies from black history series for young readers. I’ve yet to read it, but I’ve enjoyed the series so far and I’m looking forward to eventually checking it out! It’s for middle-grade readers.

Jen’s favourite books coming out in November

Most of the Better Natural Things in the World by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Angel Chang (5 November, Chronicle)

This is a stunning picture book that introduces various natural land formations like dune, estuary, archipelago, and oasis. We follow a tiger through these various physical features, and the funny thing is that the tiger is carrying a chair in every spread. Why? The lovely little mystery is resolved on the final page. This book makes my geographer heart happy.

One More Hug by Megan Alexander, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata (12 November, Simon & Schuster)

Another one of those somewhat sappy books about the parent-child relationship. I’m usually not a fan of those kinds of books, but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The story depicts a child growing up, asking for one more hug or one more kiss in various situations, and is a lovely tale of the unconditional love and comfort offered by parents as a child grows up. The watercolour illustrations are gorgeous, too.

Art This Way by Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford (18 November, Phaidon)

Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford create some of my favourite children’s books and their latest collaboration lives up to my high expectations of their work. This is a fun interactive board book with flaps and directions and introduce kids to works of fine art from the Whitney Museum’s collection. The message behind the book is one that many kids are already familiar with and good at: keep looking.

Which ones look good to you?