March has a reputation for being unpredictable; cold one day, almost spring the next. But one thing it definitely has going for it? A great lineup of unofficial holidays. Some of them are silly. Some are surprisingly fun. And a few of them are the kind your kid will actually...
There's a specific kind of exhaustion that settles in around this time of year. It's not the tired that comes from a busy holiday season or the jolt of going back in January. It's quieter than that. The school year is just … long. The excitement of fall is a...
There's a specific kind of sickness that hits hardest in February. Not sick enough to sleep all day, but definitely too sick for school. Your middle grader is home on the couch, alternating between complaining about being bored and insisting they feel fine enough to get back to their video...
February brings Valentine's Day, but for middle graders, the holiday can feel a little confusing. It's not quite about romance yet, but it's also not just about candy hearts and classroom parties anymore. So what is it about? At its best, February is a good reminder to show the people...
If you have a middle-grade reader who likes knowing what’s coming next, 2026 is already shaping up to be a strong year. Publishers have announced a range of middle-grade releases that span fantasy, mystery, contemporary stories, and graphic novels, giving families plenty of options for different reading styles and moods....
Snow days feel magical until about 10:17 a.m., when someone announces there is absolutely nothing to do, and the vibe shifts fast. If you’re staring down a day of snow or dangerously cold temperatures, here are a few ideas that work especially well for middle-grade kids. They burn energy, spark...
January is not the month for books that feel like homework. It is cold. It gets dark early. Kids are tired from being back in school. This is the season when many middle-grade readers naturally gravitate toward stories that feel familiar, steady, and comforting. Not boring. Just safe enough to...
The start of a new year can feel like a fresh page. New calendars, new routines, earlier mornings. For kids, especially middle-grade kids, January is less about big changes and more about getting back into familiar rhythms. After a few weeks of later nights and looser schedules, it’s normal for...
The holidays are here, and we hope this season brings a little rest, fun, and time together. To help keep kids entertained over the break, we’ve created a NB Holiday Activity Book you can download below. It’s full of fun activities to keep your child busy during this festive season....
From the outside, this time of year looks magical. Holiday parties. Special events at school. A break on the calendar everyone is counting down to. But for a lot of middle grade kids, December also brings a kind of quiet anxiety that’s easy to miss. School feels louder and less...
We’re back with another installment in our holiday story series. Over the last couple of years, we’ve looked at the history behind classics like Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch, The Night Before Christmas, and more. This week, we’re adding two stories that families return to every December. Both are simple...
We’re back for another season, digging into the history behind some of our most beloved holiday stories. If you missed parts one and two from last year, be sure to check them out! This week, we’re exploring two familiar holiday tales with origins that might surprise your kids. Both come...
As we head into Thanksgiving week, we hope your home gets a few quiet moments tucked between the cooking, travel, and family chaos. If you need something to keep your middle-grade readers busy (or just want a little Night Buddies fun), we put together a Thanksgiving Activity Book you can...
If you have a kid who tears through books, you already know the holiday scramble. You want to give them something they’ll actually use, but another stack of books doesn’t always land. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that make reading easier, cozier, or more fun. They support the...
As the year winds down and the holidays start to take shape, families naturally slip into familiar rhythms. There are school breaks on the horizon, cooler evenings, and a general sense of gathering in. It’s a good moment to look at the traditions—small, everyday ones and the bigger, once-a-year ones—that...
As the days shorten and we head into the heart of November, it’s a good moment to pause and reflect, not just on what we’re thankful for, but on how we show up for others. In the world of the Night Buddies series, Crosley, John, and the rest of the...