Holiday Spotlight: Random House Children’s Books 2023

Here at Penguin Random House Canada, we’re lucky to work with so many different publisher lists. This holiday season, we’ll be highlighting each one with a dedicated post to help you find the perfect gift (or your next read). Today’s post is all about Random House Children’s Books.

15 Secrets to Survival
By Natalie D. Richards
384 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593644126 | Delacorte Press
When classmates Baxter, Abigail, Turner and Emerson break a school rule, they’re forced to travel to the middle of nowhere for an extra credit project. They think things can’t get much worse. After all, how will learning to survive in the wilderness help them stay out of trouble in school? What starts off as a weekend of team building takes a scary turn when their instructor goes missing and they are given nothing but pages of a survival guide to complete a series of challenges. They soon learn the woods around them have unexpected surprises. Will they discover a way to work together to find their teacher and overcome the dangers of winter in the mountains?

Eight Dates and Nights
By Betsy Aldredge
384 Pages | Ages 12+ | Paperback
ISBN 9780593710333 | Underlined
Two teens with two very different ideas of how to spend Hanukkah learn to work together to save the last Jewish remnant in small town Texas in this cozy holiday romance! New Yorker Hannah Levin is allergic to exactly two things, horses and tinsel. Unfortunately, she’s surrounded by both when she’s snowed in at her grandmother’s home in a small Texas town. Super lonely, missing latkes and reliable Wi-Fi, Hannah wanders into an old deli where she meets the only other Jewish teen around, Noah, who happens to be equal parts adorable and full of annoying, over the top festival of lights spirit that he’s determined to share with Hannah one itchy Hanukkah sweater at a time. As the days pass – and a spectacularly memorable kiss following Noah’s made up game of truth or dare dreidel takes place – Hannah begins to wonder if maybe there’s more to Hanukkah than she thought . . .

Her Radiant Curse
By Elizabeth Lim
432 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593300992 | Knopf BFYR
One sister must fall for the other to rise. Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna – the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts. Now at seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath – launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point. Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Lost Christmas!
By Alastair Heim
Illustrated by Aristides Ruiz
40 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593563168 | Random House BFYR
The Grinch had been patiently waiting all year,
To celebrate Christmas and bring the Whos cheer,
And to show every Who he was DIFFERENT now.                         
“I’ve changed!” thought the Grinch,                                           
“And I’ll prove it! But HOW?” 
A year has passed since the Grinch stole Christmas from Who-ville. Now eager to prove to the Whos that his heart has grown to LOVE the holiday, the Grinch devises a plan to win Who-ville’s Christmas Crown by making the largest, most spectacular Christmas tree the Whos have ever seen! But when things don’t go as planned, the Grinch’s heart turns ice cold, and he threatens to leave Who-ville for good . . . until one small, special Who reminds him that Christmas is NOT about winning. Grow your heart three sizes MORE with this sequel to the timeless picture book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Featuring a foil-enhanced jacket and full-color illustrations rendered in the iconic style of the original, this new story makes a splendid gift and a must-have addition to the libraries of Grinch fans of all ages!

It’s Not Easy Being Santa Claus
By Marilyn Sadler
Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593702871 | Random House BFYR
Santa is feeling grumpy! He has too many letters to read. His reindeer are quarreling. Someone’s taken his slippers. And Mrs. Claus wants him to eat more vegetables. When Santa decides to try something new (working in a department store, bakery, toy store, and delivering mail), he discovers that nothing is as rewarding as just being himself. Featuring a comical cast of animal characters – plus a small mouse with BIG attitude for readers to find hidden on every page – this hardcover picture book about self-acceptance and overcoming obstacles makes a great holiday gift for kids 3-7!

Like a Charm
By Elle McNicoll
320 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593649138 | Random House BFYR
After the death of her grandfather, neurodivergent tween Ramya uncovers a world of mystery and magic – and she’s the only one who can see it! From the award-winning author of A Kind of Spark. “Ramya, you have something this city needs. And it’s something that’s going to change everything.” Ramya Knox always knew she was different. Her dyspraxia makes her clumsy and prone to attracting the disapproval of her teachers. Ramya didn’t know she can see magic! But when a dog statue comes to life, Ramya follows the pup and discovers a world she thought existed only in fairy tales. Trolls, witches, kelpies, vampires, and more lurk in the shadows of Edinburgh, hiding from the most dangerous creature of all: sirens. These beautiful monsters use their persuasive voice to convince those around them to do their bidding – for better or worse. As the sirens rise in power, it’s up to Ramya to save the day – or the Hidden and mortal worlds might both be at risk.

Project F
By Jeanne DuPrau
224 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593643808 | Random House BFYR
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE. There are no cars, planes, television, or smart phones. Climate change wreaked havoc on Earth hundreds of years ago, and now people live a simpler life.
Then thirteen-year-old Keith uncovers a secret. It’s a mysterious mission known only as Project F. It’s advanced, it’s scientific, and it’s going to change the world. It’s exactly the kind of adventure Keith has always longed to be a part of. And what is adventure without a little danger, right? But how much danger is Keith willing to risk? For himself? For his family? For his community? For the entire world . . . ? Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember was an instant hit when it arrived on bookshelves. It has become a modern classic beloved by readers selling hundreds of thousands of copies a year! In her latest novel, she explores timely questions about the Earth and our use of its resources. A bold novel, Project F asks how much you are willing to risk to save the future.

Sinner’s Isle
By Angela Montoya
384 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593643334 | Joy Revolution
Rosalinda is trapped on Sinner’s Isle, an island filled with young women like her – Majestics, beautiful witches loathed by society for their dangerous magic yet revered by powerful men who want to use them. For years, she has been kept under the watchful, calculating eye of Doña Lucia. Now eighteen, Rosa will be the prized commodity at this year’s Offering, a fiesta for the wealthy to engage in drink, damsels, and debauchery. That is why she must flee – before someone forces the vicious phantoms within her to destroy everything she touches. Handsome, swashbuckling Mariano has long sailed the high seas as the Prince of Pirates. Then the king’s fleet attacks his father’s infamous ship, leaving him marooned on Sinner’s Isle with only an enchanted chain meant to lead him to his heart’s desire. Instead, he falls into the hands of a brazen (although) bewitching headache – Rosa.

The Revenge Game
By Jordyn Taylor
320 Pages | Ages 14+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593563649 | Delacorte Press
Alyson is a romantic, and sometimes it gets her into trouble. Like last summer, she thought her co-worker was into her, when in reality he found her flirting pathetic. Then she meets Brenton Riggs Jr., and right away she knows that their connection isn’t just in her head. When he swoops in to save her one night from a less than savory party encounter, she falls head-over-heels. Finally, someone Alyson likes who likes her back! But when she finds out about the King’s Cup – a competition the guys at their boarding school started to see who has the most sexual prowess – she’s put on edge. Does Brenton really want to be with her, or is he just trying to win? Then Alyson and the other girls at the school start a competition of their own: The Queen’s Cup. It’s all about reclaiming their power. But as the competition heats up, Alyson’s relationship begins to fall apart – and it isn’t long before the cracks in her perfect love story start to show through.

Wonderful Seasons
By Emily Winfield Martin
26 Pages | Ages 0 – 3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780593376355 | Random House BFYR
Celebrate the seasons with this original board book by Emily Winfield Martin – perfect for baby showers and fans of the New York Times Bestseller, The Wonderful Things You Will Be! From Springtime fun to cozy Winter, this book captures the adorableness of a diverse cast of babies in the beauty of all four seaons. With simple text and irresistable art, this lighthearted book will bring a smile to parents and the youngest readers alike.

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