Do! Judge A Book By Its Cover–Issue Thirty-Nine: Middle Grade (Part 5)

“Do! Judge A Book By Its Cover” is a regular feature on Pop! Goes The Reader in which I pay tribute to some of the best and brightest the publishing world has to offer in the way of book cover design. This feature is inspired by Katie’s feature Cover Love on her blog One Page At A Time. The idea is being used with her gracious permission.

I think we’re all familiar with the age-old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. And you know what I have to say about that? Rubbish! Covers are an invaluable part of a book’s package. A truly great cover can tell you a lot about the novel contained within its pages. Book covers can also catch your attention and attract you to a novel you might otherwise ignore. So go ahead, judge a book by its cover – We all do it!

Pop! Goes The Reader is back and I could think of no better way to begin a new year in blogging than by resurrecting one of my favourite features, Do! Judge A Book By Its Cover. Given the finite number of books and truly lovely covers that are created each year, it isn’t a series that I’m typically able to sustain for fifty-two weeks of the year, but there are few posts that bring me more joy to create and share. The importance of book cover design cannot be overstated. A book’s cover provides a glimpse, however brief, into the world bound between its pages and can leave a lasting and powerful impression on a prospective reader. It is my privilege and honour to be able to celebrate even a small selection of what I consider to be some of the best and brightest in book cover design. Without further ado, some of my favourite covers this week include Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin, The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, Hook’s Daughter by Heidi Schulz, Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks, The Water And The Wild by K.E. Ormsbee, The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold, The Forget-Me-Not Summer by Leila Howland and Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson.

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste ● Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin ● Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly ● Hook’s Daughter by Heidi Schulz ● The Doublecross (And Other Skills I Learned As A Superspy) by Jackson Pearce

Story Thieves by James Riley ● The Great Cat Nap by A.M. Bostwick ● Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks

Girl With A White Dog by Anne Booth ● Murder Is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens ● The Box and the Dragonfly by Ted Sanders

The Girl With The Glass Bird by Esme Kerr ● Wonder At The Edge Of The World by Nicole Helget ● The Water And The Wild by K.E. Ormsbee

The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Barnhill ● The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold ● Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire

The Runaway’s Gold by Emilie Christie Burack ● The Forget-Me-Not Summer by Leila Howland ● Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson

Nightmares! by Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller ● Winterfrost by Michelle Houts ● Moonpenny Island by Tricia Springstubb

Now it’s your turn! What are some of your favourite Middle Grade covers? Did I list one of your favourites here or is there one I forgot that just has to be included? Let me know in the comments!