Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire genius criminal mastermind, but he doesn't know what he's getting himself into when he kidnaps a dangerous fairy. The movie adaptation of this fantasy adventure story was released this summer on Disney+. Ages 10-13.
Pair with: A subscription to Disney+ and chocolate coins & lollipops.
The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes #1) by Nancy Springer. When Enola Holmes, little sister to the famous detective Sherlock, discovers that her mother has gone missing, she sets out to find her in this girl-power Victorian mystery. The Enola Holmes movie was released on Netflix in September and stars Millie Bobby Brown (of Stranger Things fame). Ages 10-15.
Pair with: A Netflix subscription for the Enola Holmes movie and tea and cookies.
Mulan: Before the Sword by Grace Lin. Set before the events in the Mulan movie, this story of a strong girl who values family above all will appeal to readers who enjoy strong female characters. Gift this adventure story and then enjoy the new live-action Mulan movie, which will be released on Disney+ on December 4. In the meantime, you can enjoy the animated version. Ages 8-12.
Pair with: A Disney+ subscription for the new Mulan movie and Chinese take-out from your favorite place.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Ivan is a gorilla living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. He's gotten used to living around humans, but when a baby elephant arrives at the mall, Ivan must decide whether to try to make life better for her and maybe himself, too. This is a heartfelt animal story that was adapted into a movie on Disney+. A sequel to the book was just released this year, so consider grabbing The One and Only Bob, too. Ages 7-12.
Pair with: A subscription to Disney+ and bananas & peanuts.
PS: I Still Love You by Jenny Han. This sequel to To All the Boys I've Loved Before (which is also a Netflix movie) is perfect for lovers of romantic comedies. Lara Jean is back and she's with Peter, who she never really expected to fall for. But when a boy from her past comes back into the picture, Lara Jean is torn. Can you be in love with two boys at once? These romcoms are both super cute, so why not make it a double feature or pick up a box set of the entire trilogy and cross your fingers for a third movie sometime. Ages 10 and up.
Pair with: A Netflix subscription for the movies and ingredients to bake cookies or cupcakes together, just like Lara Jean would. Or Yakult (a Korean yogurt drink) and pocky.
The Witches by Roald Dahl or The Witches Graphic Novel by Roald Dahl and Penelope Bagieu. Witches are real and when a boy and his grandmother go on a trip, they find themselves staying at the same hotel as the world witch convention. As the witches plot to destroy all the children in the world, the boy must figure out a way to thwart their plan. The book was adapted into a movie in the 1990s, but this October a brand new movie adaptation was released on HBO Max starring Octavia Butler and Anne Hathaway. It's a little bit creepy and perfect for kids who like some shivers down their spines. Ages 9-12.
Pair with: An HBO Max subscription for the movie and all the chocolates (as long as you're sure the witches haven't tainted them with Formula 86 mouse potion!)
For the first 12 days of November, I'll be posting a list of children's books perfect for gift giving this holiday season. Check out the full list of lists here to see what's coming. All the lists link to IndieBound to make it easy for you to find an independent bookstore to buy from (and as an IndieBound affiliate, shopping through those links supports me, too!). Independent bookstores need our support more than ever this year, so please shop local if you can or if you don't have a local independent bookstore, please consider ordering online from my local indie Carmichael's Bookstore.