The Origami Yoda series is perfect for family read-alouds

This series of illustrated novels by the U.S. writer Tom Angleberger is so addictively enjoyable that your kid might just put down the video game console and devour them before the summer’s up

American author Tom Angleberger was inspired by the famous artist Fumiaki Kawahata’s origami Yoda when he wrote his charming series of books about a group of sixth graders who become better friends while making paper puppets in the likenesses of Star Wars characters.

Who could have imagined that such an esoteric beginning would spark a creative project that would spread so far and wide as Angleberger’s massively popular series?

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Catstronauts Mission Moon cover

Catstronauts is purrrrfect summer reading for kids of all ages and genders

This series is the literary equivalent of a PB&J sandwich. It’s two great tastes — cats and astronauts — smooshed together between two slices of bread … I mean covers

In each installment of this five-book series, a fuzzy group of feline CatStronauts, led by Major Meowser and Chief Science Officer Pom Pom, takes on an important space mission to save the world.

Reluctant readers and all genders will love these books by author and illustrator Drew Brockington.

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Olga and the Smelly Thing cover

Olga and the Smelly Thing From Nowhere challenges gender stereotypes

Elise Gravel’s absurd graphic novel about a girl who loves animals and science — but not people — is an ode to friendship that will charm readers of all ages

Olga is a budding scientist who keeps an observation notebook like some kids keep a diary, and this book provides a peek into her quirky point of view. She professes to like animals more than people and is delighted when she finds a mysterious and smelly animal in the shed behind her house. Naming the being Meh, she attempts to learn more about this pink, furry, football-shaped species.

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