In Barry Lyga’s I Hunt Killers, 17-year-old Jasper “Jazz” Dent just wants to lead a normal life—difficult if your father happens to be the most notorious serial killer in the country. With a body count in the triple digits, it’s no surprise that Jazz’s “Dear Old Dad” was not your typical loving father. Jazz struggles with his past and with his conscience, desperate to prove to himself that he’s not destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, when things suddenly get even more complicated when it becomes clear that there’s a new serial killer on the loose. And Jazz can’t seem to stay away from the scene of the crime. This tightly-plotted novel will draw you through its pages at a breathless pace, both horrified and fascinated by the mystery of this new killer. But perhaps the biggest achievement of I Hunt Killers is the complexity of Jazz Dent—despite all of his dark tendencies, you’ll never stop rooting for this irresistibly flawed character.

In Barry Lyga’s I Hunt Killers, 17-year-old Jasper “Jazz” Dent just wants to lead a normal life—difficult if your father happens to be the most notorious serial killer in the country. With a body count in the triple digits, it’s no surprise that Jazz’s “Dear Old Dad” was not your typical loving father. Jazz struggles with his past and with his conscience, desperate to prove to himself that he’s not destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, when things suddenly get even more complicated when it becomes clear that there’s a new serial killer on the loose. And Jazz can’t seem to stay away from the scene of the crime. This tightly-plotted novel will draw you through its pages at a breathless pace, both horrified and fascinated by the mystery of this new killer. But perhaps the biggest achievement of I Hunt Killers is the complexity of Jazz Dent—despite all of his dark tendencies, you’ll never stop rooting for this irresistibly flawed character.

Ah, the plight of the everypup! When his owner leaves him to his own devices in the house for a day, George confidently avows that he will be “very good”. Moments later, his earnest inner struggle is revealed by a subtle shift in the lines of his eyes and an anxious tilt to his ears. “I hope I’ll be good, George thinks.” An encounter with a cake, a cat, and a bed of flowers turn his best intentions into one big mess. What will George do to redeem himself? Chris Haughton’s bright, selective palette, mastery of artistic depth through simplicity à la Leo Lionni, and keen humor make the book hand-clappingly great. A tremendous follow-up to Haughton’s picture book debut, Little Owl Lost.

Ah, the plight of the everypup! When his owner leaves him to his own devices in the house for a day, George confidently avows that he will be “very good”. Moments later, his earnest inner struggle is revealed by a subtle shift in the lines of his eyes and an anxious tilt to his ears. “I hope I’ll be good, George thinks.” An encounter with a cake, a cat, and a bed of flowers turn his best intentions into one big mess. What will George do to redeem himself? Chris Haughton’s bright, selective palette, mastery of artistic depth through simplicity à la Leo Lionni, and keen humor make the book hand-clappingly great. A tremendous follow-up to Haughton’s picture book debut, Little Owl Lost.

Annabelle lives in a dreary, snowy town until one day she finds a magical box of colorful yarn that never runs out. Anabelle does what anyone would do in this situation, she knits sweaters for everyone and everything she encounters. And sweaters for pickup trucks, by the way, use up a lot of yarn. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett is a lovely story of community, connectivity, and the transformative power of generosity. Jon Klassen’s spare, elegant illustrations capture personality and atmosphere in a beautiful and evocative way. I love the wink to Jon Klassen’s award-winning I Want My Hat Back, too!

Annabelle lives in a dreary, snowy town until one day she finds a magical box of colorful yarn that never runs out. Anabelle does what anyone would do in this situation, she knits sweaters for everyone and everything she encounters. And sweaters for pickup trucks, by the way, use up a lot of yarn. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett is a lovely story of community, connectivity, and the transformative power of generosity. Jon Klassen’s spare, elegant illustrations capture personality and atmosphere in a beautiful and evocative way. I love the wink to Jon Klassen’s award-winning I Want My Hat Back, too!