Two years, three books, and several novellas later, Barry Lyga brings his YA serial killer trilogy—which began with I Hunt Killers—to a close. If the words “serial killer trilogy” did not make it clear, this series has always been known for its dark subject matter and its willingness to push conventional YA limitations in protagonist Jasper Dent’s hunt for serial killers. Blood of My Blood, however, goes much further than previous entries, not only in the violence on display, but with the psychologically disturbing revelations; many of which were set up in the first book.

For the first time, Jasper Dent is on the wrong side of the law. In the fallout of the second book, Jasper is implicated in the murder of an FBI agent and doesn’t have time to explain himself as he chases bread crumbs in a mad trail left by his father, the most notorious serial killer in history. To explain any more of the story would be to spoil the many twists that stand between Jasper and the final showdown with his parent. As in previous books, Jaspers best friend Howie and girlfriend Connie both have their moments to shine and add a little light and normalcy to the otherwise dark proceedings. If you find yourself drawn to well-crafted villains and anti-heroes, to the Hannibal Lecters and Dexters of fiction, you owe it to yourself to get caught up on this series—possibly in a well lit room.

Hitty, Her First Hundred Years is told through the voice of a charming, resilient little doll named Hitty. Made from sturdy mountain-ash wood, she has survived all manner of dangers and has now decided to recall them in her memoirs.

She begins her life in the state of Maine, with the family of a whaling captain. Soon enough she finds herself on a whaling ship in the South Seas, then shipwrecked on a Caribbean island. But that’s only the beginning! As she shifts from owner to owner, Hitty finds herself with missionaries in India, Quakers in Philadelphia, the high society of New York City and the old world of the deep South. Eventually she is bought from an antique shop and returns, by extreme coincidence, to her original home in Maine. With each adventure neatly told within a chapter, Hitty makes for a perfect read-aloud. It’s also fun to catch the references to historical events, people and customs.

Unfortunately, this 1930 Newberry-award winning book is also full of casual racism and dated stereotypes. That’s not to say that Hitty cannot be enjoyed. But if giving this book to children, a few of her adventures should be tempered with a discussion of race, injustice, and a fuller picture of American history!

Little Elliot Big City is the start of a brand new series with old world charm.  

Elliot is a very little elephant living in a very big city. The hustle and bustle of New York can be a bit much for such a sweet little fellow. It’s hard for this polka-dotted elephant to hail a cab, take the subway, or even peer over the counter to buy a cupcake at the bakery. But when Elliot meets a mouse who is even smaller than he is, he finds that helping his new friend makes him feel like the tallest elephant in the world. And together, they’re able to secure a delicious cupcake treat!

Curato’s sparse text sets his gorgeous illustrations at center stage. It’s easy – and fun – to get lost, wandering the streets of 1940s New York with Elliot and his new friend as they pass such iconic landmarks as the Flatiron and Empire State buildings. Elliot himself is as sweet as the cupcakes he loves so much. This expressive little elephant has all the charm of a classic picture book character.

Every year, come September, I always get a little nostalgic for the good old days when I was in school, so I thought I’d revisit a classic from my childhood in the way of Clifford the Big Red Dog. He celebrated his 50th birthday last year, and to commemorate the occasion, Scholastic released this storybook collection of his first six stories, featuring the original artwork. Most of you probably grew up with a full-color Clifford, but as it turns out, the series—which has grown to include countless books, tons of merchandise, and its own TV show—started as a three-color book. With rough black lines and the obvious pops of red, the Clifford on these pages might not be the one you know today, but he and the overall look of the stories are incredibly delightful.

The collection features the stories: Clifford the Big Red Dog, Clifford at the Circus, Clifford Gets a Job, Clifford Takes a Trip, Clifford’s Good Deeds, and Clifford’s Tricks. Each story has the larger-than-life dog finding himself, and his human owner Emily Elizabeth, in troublesome situations — ultimately saving the day in a way only Clifford could manage. My personal favorite is when Clifford, failing to find a job he’s really good at, manages to help local police by playing fetch with a couple of robbers. For parents and curious kids wanting to delve more into the history of this iconic pooch, the book also includes a letter from Norman Bridwell, a look at his painting from 1962 — which first inspired the characters –and other fun tidbits about the creation of this beloved series. The Clifford Collection is a unique treasury that is sure to be cherished by kids, their parents…and perhaps even their grandparents.