2019 Trends in Children’s Books and Middle Grade Books

Let’s talk about the 2019 trends in children’s books and middle grade books. I love seeing how each year brings something new and different to the world of children’s books. It’s fascinating seeing the rise and fall of different genre trends within the children’s book industry.

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Of course, some “trends” are actually mainstays of the children’s book and middle grade categories. Humorous picture books and middle grade fantasy novels are two examples of genres that never fall out of favor with children.

Diversity in children’s books and middle grade books is more of a movement than a trend, and diversity in children’s literature is here to stay. We’ll continue to see an increase in diverse books featuring characters from various backgrounds, religions, and ethnicity as well as books that challenge gender stereotypes.

Because I love watching trends in children’s books and middle grade books, I’ve collected my observations here in this blog post.

If you are making a reading, writing, or blogging plan, you’ll find this list of 2019 trends in children’s publishing helpful. And be sure to leave me a comment with any children’s book trends that you’ve noticed recently. I’d love to hear about them and I’m sure everyone else would, too!

*This blog post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my link, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you.

2019 Trends in Children’s Picture Books

I watched the New York Times bestseller list faithfully in 2018. Most books on the list were older favorites and backlist titles like Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin.

I predict that we’ll see more of the same in 2019. The children’s book market is tough to break into and people tend to love the same children’s books for years—and sometimes generations on end.

Additionally, the 2019 edition of the Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market has dropped articles about picture book publishing. Now, the articles at the beginning of the book are geared toward authors that write for older children and young adults.

In the meantime, here are the 2019 trends in children’s picture books I’ve noticed so far.

Kindness and Love

One of the trends in children’s books I’ve noticed over the past couple of years is picture books on the topics of kindness and love. With the 2018 success of Pat Zietlow Miller’s story Be Kind, Carole Boston Weatherford’s Be a King, and Matt de la Peña’s Love, we’ll see more of this children’s book trend in 2019.

Lessons, Morals, and Manners

Books that serve up some sort of life lesson for young children are being published in huge numbers right now.

For example, if you look at some of the picture books being published in 2019, you’ll find titles like Mine. Yours. by Marsha Diane Arnold that teaches children about sharing. Diana Dances by Luciano Lozano teaches kids about inclusiveness and body positivity. And How Rude! by Clare Helen Welsh teaches a lesson in manners.

New Spins on Bedtime Stories

I had several fantastic bedtime books for kids cross my desk in 2018 and I expect to see several more in 2019. Books like Sleepy the Goodnight Buddy by Drew Daywalt, Stop That Yawn! by Caron Levis, and Duck on a Disco Ball by Jeff Mack turn the traditional bedtime story on its head and offer kids (and parents) something new and refreshing.

Whether they’re funny, imaginative, or comforting, bedtime books are a staple of children’s literature and are always in demand.

Culture and Diversity

A lot of picture books about world culture and diversity landed on my desk in 2018 and this is a trend I expect to continue. As the United States becomes more diverse, it only makes sense that our children’s literature will too.

I’m an Immigrant Too by Mem Fox and Diwali by Hannah Eliot are just two examples of these 2019 trends in children’s books.

Simple Illustrations and Bright Colors

Children’s books are usually colorful, but I’ve noticed a distinct shift towards simple shapes and brighter colors. Read this article on the Shutterstock blog, to learn what illustration trends artists predict for 2019. We’ll see lots of simple illustrations, strong design, and vibrant colors.

For examples of these 2019 trends in children’s books, check out Hello, World: Ocean Life by Jill McDonald, Everything is Mama by Jimmy Fallon, and Say Something by Peter Reynolds.

Ebooks

Physical paper books are the preferred format for children’s picture books. However, new ebook options are starting to emerge for picture books and middle grade books.

For example, the Epic digital library touts itself to be the Netflix of kid’s books. Readers subscribe for a monthly fee and get access to thousands of ebooks for kids ages 0-12. And up until late 2018, they were the only major competition for Amazon in the world of children’s ebooks.

Penguin Random House is entering the children’s ebook arena with Bookful, an app that combines books with augmented reality (AR) to provide kids with an immersive and interactive experience. With another major player in the world of children’s ebooks, this is one of the 2019 trends in children’s books to watch. We’re going to see a lot of development in this area over the next few years.

For more information on Bookful, see this article on Brightly.

2019 Trends in Middle Grade Books

There hasn’t been a huge blockbuster hit in middle grade literature in a while. Maybe kids are anxiously waiting for the next big thing to come along and just haven’t found it yet. Or, the days of a nationwide obsession are over.

Either way, several trends have emerged that are worth mentioning and have the potential to become the next tween craze in middle grade books.

Mysteries and Whodunnits

Mysteries and whodunnits have taken off recently. While they’ve always been popular, 2019 is shaping up to be an incredible year for the genre. This year we’ll see goofy spy novels, plucky mysteries, and thrilling whodunnits that will keep kids on the edge of their seats.

Books like It Wasn’t Me by Dana Alison Levy, Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers by Shauna Holyoak, Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett and Mike Lowery, and The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Novel are just the beginning!

Gaming

Books about technology and gaming are doing very well for this age group. The Popular MMOs books are a big hit with kids in the 9-12 age range. Additionally, multiple Minecraft books sat on the New York Times Bestseller list in 2018.

The funny thing about this genre is that both nonfiction and fiction are popular. You’ll find how-to guidebooks for favorite games as well as novels set in game worlds like Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste and Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior by Cube Kid.

Choose Your Own Adventure

They’re back! With books like Midnight Arcade by Gabe Soria and the Dungeons and Dragons: Endless Quest series gaining popularity, it’s only a matter of time before we see more of these books. Moving into 2019 and beyond, we’ll see an increased demand for interactive stories and books with unique formats. Choose-your-own-adventure stories are just the start.

Read this Publisher’s Weekly article for more information about the recent rise of choose-your-own-adventure stories.

Mythology and Legends

Percy Jackson fans are screaming joyfully into their pillows over this trend in upper-middle grade literature. 2018 saw several amazing new titles in this genre pop up — with many more to come in 2019. With the success of books like Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi and The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes, this is a middle grade book trend that is only gaining momentum.

Keep your eyes peeled for The Camelot Code: The Once and Future Geek by Mari Mancusi, Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee, and Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo.

To find more books about mythology and legends from various world cultures, check out this reading list.

Fantasy

Fantasy is always a popular genre for middle grade readers. Kids love fantasy and they always will. Equally appealing to both boys and girls, it’s no wonder that kids often turn to this genre when looking for an alternate world to escape into.

While this isn’t a genre I can ever imagine dwindling in popularity, there are trends within it. Right now, magical realism and darker stories are taking front and center.

For example, take a look at The Revenge of Magic by James Riley, the Potion Masters series by Frank L. Cole, and The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle.

Find more fantastic fantasy series for kids in this reading list.

Humor

Humor is a staple for kids this age, who delight in anything gross or goofy. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney is still outrageously popular as evidenced by the bestselling status of the newest book in the series, The Meltdown.  Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series is also a favorite with kids and is celebrating the bestselling release of Brawl of the Wild.

Most books in the humor genre tend to be geared mostly to boys (but not always) and include titles like the EngiNerds series by Jarrett Lerner, How to Properly Dispose of Planet Earth by Paul Noth, the Spy Toys series by Mark Powers, and the Julius Zebra series by Gary Northfield.

STEAM Books and Puzzle Stories

The past couple of years saw a surge in the number of STEAM books and puzzle stories published for middle grade readers. Many feature girls as the main characters, such as Sanity and Tallulah by Molly Brooks, a graphic novel about two girls, an out-of-control science experiment, and the space station they live on.

We’ve also recently been introduced to The Questioneers series starring beloved picture book personalities Ada Twist and Rosie Revere.

Other STEAM chapter books and puzzle stories to watch for are The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten by Krista Van Dolzer, One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko, and Samantha Spinner and the Spectacular Specs by Russell Gins. We’ll continue to see more of these types of middle grade books going into 2019.

Related post: Super Sleuth! 13 Marvelous Middle Grade Mystery Books for Kids Ages 8-12

Time Travel

If we’re talking about trends in middle grade books for 2019, we have to discuss time travel stories. I’ve seen so many of these pop up recently and many more slated for publication in 2019. Whether they’re goofy, suspenseful, or educational, time travel introduces kids to historical themes in an entertaining and relevant way.

Make sure to check out The Camelot Code by Mari Mancusi (also mentioned in the mythology and legends section), Time Sight by Lynne Jonell, Time Tracers by Annabeth Bondor-Stone, and The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander.

Have you noticed any 2019 trends in children’s books and middle grade books? Tell me about them in the comments!