What did young readers at the ORL love most this year? A mix of heartfelt adventures, big feels, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. From bestselling chapter books to favourite early readers, these titles flew off the shelves all year long. Whether you’re building a new reading list or helping a young reader discover their next story, here are the ORL’s top-circulating junior titles of 2025.
The Top Borrowed Books
The Wild Robot
Roz the robot discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of where she is from or why she is there, and her only hope of survival is to try to learn about her new environment from the island’s hostile inhabitants.
The Sour Grape
The Sour Grape is all about a grape who holds grudges over everything—until a friend stays upset at them without hearing the full story. Suddenly on the other side of a grudge, the Sour Grape learns how kindness, compassion, and forgiveness can turn things around.
Hard Luck
Greg Heffley is stuck in a serious losing streak, and with Rowley no longer by his side, making new friends feels impossible. Hoping to shake things up, he lets chance guide his choices—but a roll of the dice might not be enough to change his hard-luck fate.
The Thank You Book
Piggie tries to thank everyone – but Gerald worries she will forget someone VERY important!
Should I Share My Ice Cream?
Gerald the elephant has a big decision to make, but will he make it in time?
A Big Guy Took My Ball!
Piggie is upset because a whale took the ball she found, but Gerald finds a solution that pleases all of them.
The Ugly Truth
While trying to find a new best friend after feuding with Rowley, middle-school slacker Greg Heffley is warned by older family members that adolescence is a time to act more responsibly and to think seriously about his future.
Diper Överlöde
Tagging along with his brother Rodrick’s band, Löded Diper, Greg gets more than he bargained for when he gets a backstage pass to the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle and wonders if he can help them become the legends they think they are.
Let’s Go for a Drive!
Elephant Gerald and Piggie want to go for a drive, but as Gerald thinks of one thing after another that they will have to take along, they come to realize that they lack the most important thing of all.
Double Down
Greg Heffley is feeling the pressure: his mom wants him to swap video games for creativity, and Halloween is only adding to the stress. A bag of gummy worms sparks a movie-making scheme—but doubling down on his big idea might just double his troubles.
Why These Books Stood Out
Young readers returned again and again to stories with humour, heart, and memorable characters. The Wild Robot remained a standout for its blend of adventure and empathy, while Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie series continues to shine for new readers learning to navigate friendship and feelings. On the chapter book side, Diary of a Wimpy Kid titles—Hard Luck, The Ugly Truth, Diper Överlöde, and Double Down—were some of the most borrowed books of the year, offering fun, quick reads that keep kids laughing from cover to cover.
Find These Titles at the ORL
You can borrow all of these favourites—and discover even more read-alikes—at your local ORL branch or through our Digital Collection. Place a hold, browse more junior picks, or chat with library staff for personalized suggestions.
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