Great Fall Reads for Kids from Diesel Bookstore in Larkspur

Marin Mommies presents a guest article from Clare Doornbos, the children's book expert at DIESEL bookstore in Larkspur, who highlights some fantastic new books for fall.

Fall is here, school has been back in for a while, and choosing some great kids' books to read is a must! There are so many great books to choose from for toddlers to independent readers. You already know many of the classics, so Clare from Diesel bookstore in Larkspur has picked out some great new books that will keep your kids reading this fall and winter.

Picture Books for ages 2–4

McToad Mows Tiny Island by Tom Angleberger
McToad loves Thursdays, because that's the day he gets to take his ride-on lawn mower to Tiny Island. On the way to Tiny Island he takes many different forms of transportation. This is a rare thing, a truck book with some great visual jokes for parents too.

It's Tough to Lose Your Balloon by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
A picture book about looking on the bright side of all the small misfortunes that can befall the under-fours. I particularly like the idea that when your ice cream starts to melt, it can go into a bowl and wear the cone as a hat.

I Can Play by Betsy Snyder
A fun little rhyming board book about sports. What makes it stand out are the holes that run through the book, designed so that when you put your fingers through the holes, they look like the character's legs. I Can Play is a truly interactive book!

Picture Books for ages 4–8

Leo by Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson
Leo is a friendly ghost, but most real people are scared of him. Then he meets a girl named Jane who thinks he is her imaginary friend. They play at being worthy knights together, because they want to. Leo is an old-fashioned and slightly spooky book about real and imaginary friendship.

The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
The Crayons are back! This time they're writing to Duncan about their adventures away from the crayon box, maybe under the sofa or that time that two of them melted together in the sun. Just like the original The Day The Crayons Quit, this book is funny, silly and strangely thought-provoking.

Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner
Dewey Bob is a raccoon who collects buttons and experiences, but he's not so good at collecting friends. This is a charming story about being an eccentric, a maker and an inventor, which really touches the heartstrings.

Books for New Readers aged 6–8

Milo Speck, Accidental Agent by Linda Urban
A very silly fantasy story about giant ogres, secret-agent kids and rogue clothes dryers. There's lots of fun wordplay here as well as a big and perilous adventure.

Cakes in Space by Philip Reeves and Sarah McIntyre
Astra lives on a spaceship where all food is made by computer. She programs this computer to make "a cake so delicious it's scary". Unfortunately, something goes wrong and Astra has to save the ship from angry baked goods. Another fun story with great illustrations from the team behind Oliver and the Seawigs.

Little Robot by Ben Hatke
The story of the friendship between a lonely girl and a lost robot. This is an easy-to-read graphic novel with plenty of action and heart.

Books for Confident Readers aged 8–10

The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell
Feo lives in the wilds of Russia where her mother is teaching her to be a wolf wilder. A wilder is the opposite of a trainer and Feo helps animals return to the wild. This book has a deceptively simple story, with beautiful writing and all the emotional complexity you would expect from Katherine Rundell.

Voyagers, Project Alpha by D. J. MacHale
Four exceptional kids set out into space on a mission to find a sustainable power source for Earth. This is a new series with well-drawn characters in extreme situations.

Astounding Broccoli Boy by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Three kids suddenly turn green and believe they now have superpowers. But are they really "super" or is the power in the confidence they find as they work together?

DIESEL is located in Marin Country Mart at 2419 Larkspur Landing Circle. Visit their website at www.dieselbookstore.com or call them at (415) 785-8177 for more information.