2026 DCL Kids Reading Challenge: Book That Is a Mood BoosterLike this list

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• 2026 DCL Kids Reading Challenge

  View on dcl.org

  Win a Denver Zoo Annual Family Pass in this year's random prize drawing of the kids challenge finishers! Read any of the titles on this list, or choose your own, for your chance to win.

• Pocket Bear

  Applegate, Katherine

  Add Pocket Bear to your for later shelf

  A tiny, century-old teddy bear, once a lucky charm for a soldier, now lives quietly among discarded toys. When a scrappy cat drags in another old bear from the trash, Pocket must decide: can an abandoned toy find a new life, and can friendship and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Impossible Creatures

  Rundell, Katherine

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  A boy who loves animals, a girl who can fly when the wind picks up, and a world packed with dragons, unicorns and griffins. When creatures begin to die and magic fades, Christopher and Mal race to uncover the cause. This is big, bold adventure for…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Minecraft

  the Manga. 1

  Seto, Kazuyoshi

  Add Minecraft to your for later shelf

  Restless builder Nico is desperate for adventure beyond his perfectly crafted town. When zombies attack, he invents a clever mod to stop them, earning the chance to explore the wider world. But his journey takes a wild turn when he meets a talking…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Vanya and The Wild Hunt

  Mandanna, Sangu

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  Vanya, who can talk to books, is whisked away to Auramere, a magical school and library, after a monster attacks her family. As she uncovers her parents’ secrets and learns to use her own abilities, she must face the powerful Wild Hunt before it…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Penderwicks

  a Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

  Birdsall, Jeanne

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  Four lively sisters spend a summer at a charming estate, where new friendships, small adventures, and plenty of surprises make it a season they’ll never forget.

• Wish

  O'Connor, Barbara

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  Charlie wants one thing: a real home. Living with her kind aunt and uncle feels temporary, and making friends with Howard, the boy with the up-down walk, feels risky. When a stray dog steals her heart, Charlie begins to learn what hope looks like. A…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Night Chef

  Song, Mika

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  A raccoon who secretly cooks in a human restaurant cracks an egg one night and a baby crow pops out. Determined to reunite the bird with its family, she ventures into the woods, using her cooking skills and new friendships to guide the way.

• Candle Island

  Wolk, Lauren, 1956-

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  Kids can do anything! When disasters strike her remote island home, young Ellis uncovers long-kept secrets, unexpected allies, and the courage she didn’t know she had on a journey that’s equal parts mystery, danger and heart.

• J Vs. K

  Alexander, Kwame

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  Two feuding cousins are forced to work together on a school project, and their nonstop banter, epic one-upmanship, and hilarious mishaps turn rivalry into something a lot more like family.

• The Cartoonists Club

  Telgemeier, Raina

  Add The Cartoonists Club to your for later shelf

  A group of middle schoolers forms a cartoon-making club, where friendships grow, creative ideas fly, and everyday challenges spark funny and heartfelt moments.