The End of Summer Book Reads Gift Guide
On the east coast there is still time to read these end of summer book reads. Although summer has ended in some parts of the United States, there is still time to fit in a few fun books after school. These also make great gifts for good grades. So check out these great reads for all ages.
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I hope you enjoy my collection of end of summer book reads!

My Little Pony: Lost Stories of Equestria
Writers: Christina Rice, Tee Franklin, megan, Brown, Stephanie Williams
Art: Abby Bulmer
August 5, 2025
How did Princess Cadance become an Alicorn? While at the School of Magic in Canterlot, a swarm of dragons attack. Watching Princess Celestia defend them, Cadance jumps in to help. But, what can a pony with no magic do? Then, when Violette Rainbow asks why Skye doesn’t visit her in Bridlewood it leads to an argument, but will they be able to learn how the strength of a good friend can help before it’s too late?
It’s New Years and Zipp and Pipp are having a party! But when Zipp ruins Pipp’s big surprise, can she make up for it while keeping her resolution? And, when a famous pegasus returns to Zephyr Heights for a tournament in their honor, they disappear during their flight! The Mane 5 each have a unique perspective on what they saw. Will they be able to put together the clues and find out what happened?
The Beauty of Horror: Ghouliana’s Sanctuary For Monsters
Alan Robert
August 5, 2025
In the latest edition of the bestselling Beauty of Horror coloring book series by famed creator Alan Robert, colorists are not only invited to unleash their creativity over 80 pages of intricate and macabre illustrations, but also to immerse themselves in Ghouliana’s world through her first ever illustrated storybook. The journey unfolds as Ghouliana arrives at a secret, underground “Sanctuary For Monsters,” and encounters Agatha, an 18th-century witch dedicated to protecting the world’s most feared, supernatural creatures from human malevolence.


The Land of Unfinished Dreams
Writer: Marco D. Ventura
Artist: Marco Ferraris
August 5, 2025
Once upon a time, there was a brave hero named…Grandpa?! What’s he doing in this story?
Ned is a retired literature teacher without much excitement in his life, but when his grandkids come to visit, he loves to tell them bedtime stories. Every evening, the clumsy knight tries to save the princess in new and different ways, but they never reach the end of the story. On one fateful night, Ned is shocked to wake up inside his fantasy world—full of the characters from his stories, plus many more new friends and foes. And when a terrifying darkness rises, Ned will have to look within himself to confront a threat beyond his imagination.
My Little Pony:
Friendship is Spooky
Purchase on Amazon
Writer: Thom Zahler
Artist: Tony Fleecs
August 12, 2025
As the weather cools and leaves start falling, it’s spooky season in Ponyville!
Something terrifying is happening at Sweet Apple Acres. Bad apples have come alive and are determined to take over all of Ponyville in “Night of the Apples!” Then, the Ponies go on an adventure to a newly erupted geyser and after some fun playing in the water, they begin to act a bit strange, perhaps even…sinister, in “Ponies of Dark Water!”


SPOOPS: The Little Spirits of Halloween
Author: AJ LoCascio
Artist: Laurie Conley
August 12, 2025
Discover the whimsical magic behind Halloween in this timeless new illustrated fable for the whole family!
In this story, young Holly Hollowell loves Halloween more than anything, but her dentist parents are totally against any event that promotes tooth-rotting sweets. While other kids trick-or-treat, Holly watches sadly from her window…until the Spoops arrive to turn things around! With their magical help, Holly can finally show her parents the true spirit of Halloween: not the candy, but the joy of expressing yourself, unleashing your imagination, and letting your spooky side soar!
Ionheart
Lukas Kummer
August 19, 2025
This head-spinning, time-bending graphic novel is a nuclear fusion of fantasy and science fiction whose every page glows with an eerie light. Will you survive the blast?
Pursued by a terrifying demon, a young knight flees across the radioactive ruins of a fairy-tale land. His only weapon is the same cursed power that once destroyed this world—what some would call magic, and others would call technology.
As his relentless enemy draws closer, the knight’s terrible secrets begin to unfold. How many lives has he lived? Is this the past, the present, or the future? Is he destined to bring love, or unimaginable destruction? And if he fails…will humanity get another chance?


Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Omnibus, Vol. 1
Writers: Mike Johnson, Kristen Beyer,
Ryan Parrot
Artists: Megan Levens, Angel Hernandez
August 19, 2025
First, in The Illyrian Enigma, set between seasons one and two, Una is accused of unlawful genetic modification by Starfleet and Captain Pike sets out in search of evidence that could prove her innocence. But when Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise get caught in the Pryllia colony, home to the elusive Illyrians, the mission objective quickly shifts from gathering evidence to exonerate Una to…breaking out.
Then, in The Scorpius Run, set course with Captain Pike and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise to the Scorpius Constellation as they become the first Federation vessel to explore this uncharted region of space! In this romp across the stars, the Enterprise crew learn what it truly means to explore the strange and unfamiliar when they lose contact with Starfleet and everything outside the region.
The Exorcism at 1600 Penn
Writer: Hannah Rose May
Artist: Vanesa Del Rey
August 19, 2025
The most famous address in the U.S. becomes the center of an epic struggle in this chilling supernatural-horror graphic novel!
Kelly Doyle has just been elected the first female president of the United States of America, and boiling political tension could spill over at any second. Having to balance being a mother to two teenagers and navigating the shifting media landscape, all while preventing World War III, has Kelly spread thin, but she could never predict that the nation’s hallowed halls would soon become a demonic battleground for good versus evil.


My Little Pony: Holiday Collection
Pre-order or Purchase on Amazon here.
Writers: Katie Cook, Bobby Curnow, Ted Anderson, James Asmus
Artists: Brenda Hickey, Agnes Garbowska, Andy Price, Tony Fleecs, Trish Forstnerm
August 26, 2025
It’s almost Hearth’s Warming Eve, and the Apple family is busy at work preparing an array of tasty apple treats for all of Ponyville. But when a mysterious creature starts ruining their crop, Applejack sets out to find out who’s behind this tomfoolery! Who, or what, is the SASS SQUASH? Then, when Twilight Sparkle and Spike get stuck in a snowstorm, Twilight reads some classic Equestrian holiday tales to pass the time, including The Flying Reindeer, The Toy and the Mouse, and ‘Twas the Night Before Hearth’s Warming Eve.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 7
Writers: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz
Artists: Michael Dialynas, Mateus Santolouco, Dave Wachter
August 26, 2025
Pre-order or Purchase on Amazon here.
Presenting the complete TMNT stories in recommended reading order, including one-shots, crossovers, and event series. Everything a beginner could need, everything a die-hard could want.
A new age begins for the Turtles as the epic events of the past have created new opportunities for the future, but new dangers as well. While they continue to get used to a world leading the Foot Clan post-Shredder, they return to the Technodrome to monitor the revival of the Utroms on Burnow Island and are surprised to meet a new mutant—Leatherhead! Will the mysterious mutant be friend or foe? Plus, Kitsune still poses a threat, and a new group, the Street Phantoms, enters the fray!

This concludes my end of summer book reads.
If you were to order from this list of books, what would be your pick(s)? Share with me in the comments below.

I love “My little pony” books for the kiddos!