ABRAMS
Abrams puckers up for Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews, illus. by Bryan Collier, a biography of jazz legend Andrews’ early life; Grandma in Blue with Red Hat by Scott Menchin, illus. by Harry Bliss, in which a boy’s grandmother is his muse for his personal art exhibition; The Thing About Spring by Daniel Kirk, about rabbit’s worries that he won’t enjoy spring as much as he did winter; Lovey Bunny by Kristine Lombardi, first in a picture-book series about a rabbit who loves arts and crafts; and Under a Pig Tree by Margie Palatini, illus. by Chuck Groenink, a wordplay picture book.
ABRAMS/APPLESEED
Appleseed welcomes spring with Hi! by Ethan Long, featuring animals’ greetings to one another; Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman, showcasing collage-style vegetables wearing undergarments; Mini Myths: Brush Your Hair, Medusa! by Joan Holub, illus. by Leslie Patricelli, new to the series of myths reimagined as contemporary tales for toddlers; In by Nikki McClure, about a boy and his toy giraffe spending time indoors; and Whose Tools? by Toni Buzzeo, illus. by Jim Datz, a nonfiction ode to building a house from the ground up.
ABRAMS/AMULET
Amulet calls out with Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge, a YA changeling tale; Frank Einstein, Book Two by Jon Scieszka, ilus. by Brian Biggs, starring the titular kid science genius; Dr. Critchlore’s School for Minions by Sheila Grau, illus. by Joe Sutphin, a series starter set at the premier academy for supplying minions to evil overlords; Rutabaga the Adventure Chef by Eric Colossal, kicking off a graphic novel series that combines fantasy and cooking; and Believing in David Bowie by Mary Jane Beaufrand, a YA novel about teens in 1983 competing in a battle of the bands while solving a mystery.
ALBERT WHITMAN
Albert Whitman passes out noisemakers for Party Croc! by Margaret Read MacDonald, illus. by Derek Sullivan, an African folktale about a party-loving crocodile; Welcome to Bermooda! Book 3 by Mike Litwin, another adventure rife with cow puns-filled; I Will Fight Monsters for You by Santi Balmes, illus. by Lyona, in which a girl and a monster realize they aren’t so different; Curious Cat Spy Club by Linda Joy Singleton, the debut of a middle-grade series about three friends who form a secret club to help animals; and Rain, Shine, Springtime: A Season of Opposites by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky, illus. by Susan Swan, a concept book focused on a field trip to a farm.
ALBERT WHITMAN TEEN
Albert Whitman Teen sizes up spring with Biggie by Derek Sullivan, in which a girl’s attention helps an overweight boy decide to get into shape; Disappear Home by Laura Hurwitz, featuring a girl who escapes to a hippie commune with her mother and sister to avoid the abuse of her father; Painless by S.A. Harazin, about a teen with a rare condition that makes him unable to feel pain; and Down from the Mountain by Elizabeth Fixmer, in which Eva sees her religious compound in a different light after getting a glimpse of life on the outside.
ALGONQUIN
Algonquin circles the mulberry bush with Three-Ring Rascals #4: Pop Goes the Circus by Kate Klise, illus. by M. Sarah Klise, featuring two characters attempting to run from their troubles; Catch You Later, Traitor by Avi, about a seventh grader in 1950s New York who is labeled a communist by his teacher; Hit Count by Chris Lynch, starring a teen who loves to be at the heart of the action on the football field; The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma a ghostly story of suspense intertwining the lives of three teen girls; and The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste, a spooky tale inspired by Caribbean folklore.
ANDERSEN PRESS USA
Andersen passes out invitations for The Dinosaurs Are Having a Party by Gareth P. Jones, illus. by Gary Parsons, in which a boy may just be the special dish planned for the dinosaurs’ bash; Elephants Can’t Jump by Jeanne Willis, illus. by Adrian Reynolds, about a young pachyderm discovering his talents; Elmer and Butterfly by David McKee, depicting Elmer’s rescue of a butterfly trapped by a tree branch; Moon Dragons by Dyan Sheldon, illus. by Gary Blythe, focused on a king’s desire for an elusive singing, dancing dragon; and Rita’s Rhino by Tony Ross, introducing a girl who takes matters into her own hands when her mother refuses to get her a pet.
ANDREWS MCMEEL/AMP!
AMP! Comics for Kids flits into spring with Woodstock: Master of Disguise: A Peanuts Collection by Charles M. Schulz, the fourth collection of Peanuts strips aimed at middle graders; Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue by Page Braddock, in which Cecil the toad rallies his pals to save their pond from a freeway construction project; The Alien Invasion in My Backyard: An EMU Club Adventure by Ruben Bolling, featuring two friends and one pesky little sister whose mystery-solving club investigates strange goings-on with the family dog; Big Nate: Say Good-bye to Dork City by Lincoln Peirce, the latest installment of the comic strip starring 11-year-old Nate; and The G-man Super Journal: Awesome Origins by Chris Giarrusso, set in a world where superpowers are real and former regular-kid Michael G wrestles with how to use his new abilities.
ARBORDALE
Arbordale pricks up its ears for Sounds of the Savanna by Terry Catasús Jennings, showcasing a habitat alive with noise; Achoo!: Why Pollen Counts by Shennen Bersani, featuring an allergic baby bear; Fibonacci Zoo by Tom Robinson, illus. by Christina Wald, in which a boy discovers a pattern at an unusual zoo; Wandering Wooly by Andrea Gabriel, focusing on how Little Wooly uses her senses to find her way back to her family; and Tornado Tamer by Terri Fields, illus. by Laura Jacques, an adaptation of The Emperor’s New Clothes in which a weasel promises to build a special cover to protect the town from tornadoes.
BLOOMSBURY
Bloomsbury hangs 10 with Pig Kahuna Meet Tallulah by Jennifer Sattler, introducing a new friend for beach-loving piglets Fergus and Dink; A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, first in a romantic older YA/New Adult series set in the world of faerie; The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, centering on Paige’s efforts to start over the year after her boyfriend drowned; Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters by Shannon Hale, in which now-proper princess Miri is ordered to a distant swamp to start an academy for three sisters; and The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold, illus. by Emily Gravett, about a girl whose imaginary friend is being hunted by an evil man.
BOYDS MILLS
Boyds Mills launches into spring with Space Boy by Dian Curtis Regan, illus. by Robert Neubecker, featuring an adventure to the moon; You Nest Here with Me by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple, illus. by Melissa Sweet, a lullaby in which a mother shares the many ways that birds nest; Leaflets Three, Let It Be!: The Story of Poison Ivy by Anita Sanchez, illus. by Robin Brickman, an introduction to this plant; Kitten Wants a Puppy by Shelley Thomas Moore, illus. by Lori Nichols, starring a kitten with big dreams – like getting a puppy and traveling to Jupiter; and Bedtime at Bessie and Lil’s by Julie Sternberg, illus. by Adam Gudeon, about two bunnies nowhere near ready for bed.
BOYDS MILLS/CALKINS CREEK
Calkins Creek scores a prime table with The Waitress: Adventures of a Harvey Girl by Carolyn Meyer, spotlighting the experiences of three Harvey Girl waitresses working out West in the 1920s; Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary by Gail Jarrow, the true story of the woman who unwittingly carried the deadly bacteria that caused an outbreak in the early 1900s; and Like a River by Kathy Cannon Wiechman, about a girl who poses as a boy to become a Union soldier.
CANDLEWICK
Candlewick begins nesting for The New Small Person by Lauren Child, a take on the arrival of a sibling; Home by Carson Ellis, a meditation on the concept of home; Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman, illus. by Laura Cornell, a relaunch featuring all-new illustrations and a refreshed story; Eden West by Pete Hautman, which explores a boy’s unraveling allegiance to an insular cult; and Welcome to the Neighborwood by Shawn Sheehy, a pop-up introducing seven animal builders and their unique skills.
CANDLEWICK/BIG PICTURE
Big Picture Press charts a course with Information Graphics: Space by Simon Rogers, illus. by Jennifer Daniel, in which complex space facts are reinterpreted as infographics; Maps Activity Book by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski, a companion to Maps; and Where’s the Pair by Britta Teckentrup, a search-and-find book featuring rhyming riddles.
CANDLEWICK ENTERTAINMENT
Candlewick Entertainment marks the spot with Peppa Pig and the Treasure Hunt, focusing on a pirate-themed day with Granny and Grandpa Pig; Fizzy’s Lunch Lab: Nelly Nitpick, Food Critic, about Professor Fizzy’s efforts to cook up something healthy for a veggie-hating food reviewer; Shaun the Sheep: Tales from Mossy Bottom Farm: The Beast of Soggy Moor by Martin Howard, illus. by Andy Janes, in which Bitzer the sheepdog tries to find a howling beast; and Fetch! With Ruffman: Ruff’s 44 Favorite Science Activities, a tie-in to the PBS science show.
CANDLEWICK/NOSY CROW
Nosy Crow stays up late for Mouse’s First Night at Moonlight School by Simon Puttock, illus. by Ali Pye, featuring animals attending a nocturnal school; Funny Face, Sunny Face by Sally Symes, illus. by Rosalind Beardshaw, a celebration of being a toddler; Nuts in Space by Elys Dolan, a picture-book send-up of classic space adventures; A Lullaby for a Little One by Dawn Casey, illus. by Charles Fuge, a bedtime book; and Flip-Flap Safari by Axel Scheffler, a lift-the-flap animal adventure.
CANDLEWICK/TEMPLAR
Templar is on the case with William and the Missing Masterpiece by Helen Hancocks, starring a debonair cat-detective tracking down the stolen “Mona Cheesa”; Elephantom by Ross Collins, in which a girl’s grandmother helps her deal with spectral pachyderm; Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlett, about Orion’s fear of the dark; and Monty’s Magnificent Mane by Gemma O’Neill, which features a vain lion cheered by the flattery of a new, big, green friend at the waterhole.
CAPSTONE
Capstone ties on its apron for Original Recipe by Jessica Young, in which Finley and her pal Henry compete in their school’s cook-off; Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper, about a girl’s introduction to the history of this day through a story about her grandfather, and Secrets Beneath the Sea by Janet Gurtler, illus. by Katie Wood, spotlighting the daily dramas of growing up as a mermaid.
CAPSTONE/SWITCH
Switch salutes the sun with Yoga for Your Mind and Body by Rebecca Rissman, which introduces the benefits of yoga and instructions for achieving poses; Love & Profanity: Forty Writers and Their True, Tortured, Wild, and Hilarious Stories of Life as American Teenagers by Pete Hautman, Geoff Herbach, Adam Rex, and others; Portraits of Celina by Sue Whiting, in which Bayley hears the voice of a girl who disappeared almost 40 years ago; and The Ruby Airship by Sharon Gosling, the sequel to The Diamond Thief, starring former jewel thief Remy Brunel.
CHARLESBRIDGE
Charlesbridge pages through the season with The Boy & the Book by David Michael Slater, illus. by Bob Kolar, the tale of a boy who loves a particular library book a little too much; The Crown Affair by Jeanie Franz Ransom, illus. by Stephen Axelsen, in which detective Joe Dumpty takes the case of who took the golden crown when Jack and Jill fell down; A Crow of His Own by Megan Dowd Lambert, illus. by David Hyde Costello, starring Clyde, the new rooster on the farm, who arrives in the shadow of his much-loved predecessor; Trapped! by Robert Burleigh, illus. by Wendell Minor, about a humpback whale trapped in abandoned fishing nets; and Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins, featuring a boy’s mission to rescue a preserve’s runaway Bengal tiger cub before poachers find her.
CHARLESBRIDGE/IMAGINE
Imagine packs its bags for Migration Nation!: Animals on the Go from Coast to Coast by Joanne O’Sullivan, a photographic essay on migration pattern of nine North American animals; Historical Animals by Julia Moberg, offering stories about animals that helped shape historic events; and Alice in Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole by Lewis Carroll, retold by Charles Nurnberg, illus. by Eric Puybaret, a picture book edition.
CHICAGO REVIEW PRESS
Chicago Review Press ushers in spring with The Many Faces of Josephine Baker: Dancer, Singer, Activist, Spy by Peggy Caravantes, a biography of the multitalented entertainer; Texas History for Kids: Lone Star Lives and Legends with 21 Activities by Karen Bush Gibson, and Zoology for Kids: Understanding and Working with Animals, with 21 Activities by Josh Hestermann, Bethanie Hestermann, and the Kratt Brothers, new entries to this series; and Women Heroes of the American Revolution: 20 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Defiance and Rescue by Susan Casey, profiling brave women who played roles in this war.
CHRONICLE
Chronicle channels the Force for Star Wars Short and Sweet: A New Hope by Jack and Holman Wang, a 12-word retelling; I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld, celebrating everyday moments of abundance; The Water and the Wild by Kathryn Elise Ormsbee, a fantasy debut featuring a portal in a bejeweled tree; One Thing Stolen by Beth Kephart, about a girl who develops strange behaviors when she moves with her professor father to Italy for six months; and Vanishing Girl by Elena Dunkle and Clare B. Dunkle, a mother-daughter memoir featuring daughter Elena’s struggle with anorexia.
CHRONICLE/TWIRL
Twirl greets the season with Safari Animals and Farm Animals by Xavier Deneux, puzzle-book introductions to these creatures; The Little Zebra Lift-the-Flap Colors by Emiri Hayashi, a concept board book; JoJo’s House by Xavier Deneux, which includes six mini board books in a house-shaped box; and Non-Non Is Very Hungry by Magali Le Huche, about a platypus’s search for food.
COTEAU
Coteau punches the clock for 250 Hours by Colleen Nelson, in which Sara meets Jess when he is sent to do community service helping her grandmother; Between Shadows by Kathleen Cook Waldron, featuring a boy who inherits a family lakeside cabin that his aunt insists on selling; Ghost Most Foul by Patti Grayson, about a girl who receives messages from the ghost of her high school basketball coach; and The Lake in the Clouds and The Reunited Blade by Edward Willett, the third and fourth volumes in the Shards of Excalibur series, offering a modern spin on Arthurian legend.
DISNEY-HYPERION
Disney-Hyperion grabs a blanket for I Will Take a Nap! by Mo Willems, an Elephant and Piggie book; Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein, a novel inspired by the second Italo-Ethiopian War; Wish by Matthew Cordell, offering a look at the voyage to parenthood, told by a family of elephants; Watch the Sky by Kirsten Hubbard, in which Jory has doubts about his stepfather’s warnings of impending disaster; and Conviction by Kelly Gilbert, about a small-town boy shaken to his core when his father is accused of murder.
DISNEY/LUCASFILM
Lucasfilm blasts off into spring with Star Wars: A New Hope Illustrated Novel by R.J. Palacio, first in a series featuring art by Star Wars concept artist Iain McCaig.
DISNEY/MARVEL PRESS
Marvel Press adds three Avengers titles: Falcon: Fight or Flight, a chapter book; Ready, Set, Assemble by Calliope Glass, illus. by Ron Lim, an interactive picture book; The Avengers: Beginnings, featuring the team’s backstory; and Ant-Man: Beginnings, an introduction to the size-shifting superhero.
DISNEY PRESS
Disney Press turns on the timer for 5-Minute Frozen Stories and 5-Minute Disney Junior Adventure Stories; Sofia the First: A Royal Mouse in the House by Bill Scollon, illus. by Grace Lee, spotlighting a mystery at the Enchancia pet show; Tales from the Haunted Mansion, a chapter-book series launch; and Disney Tails: Figaro Saves Halloween, starring the black cat from Pinocchio.
DK CHILDREN
DK Children dives into spring with Super Sharks and Other Creatures of the Deep, highlighting the adaptations that allow sea creatures to survive; Careers, a look at more than 300 professions; When on Earth, an illustrated world history volume; Animal Colors, third in series of concept board books; and Are You What You Eat?, a guide to which foods to eat and why.
EERDMANS
Eerdmans colors the season with Red by Jan De Kinder, a tale of taking a stand against bullying; Mister H. by Daniel Nesquens, illus. by Luciano Lozano, starring a talking hippopotamus freed from the zoo; The Yes by Sara Bee, illus. by Satoshi Kitamura, in which the Yes’s journey is interrupted by a swarm of Nos; Roger Is Reading a Book by Koen Van Biesen, about a boy enjoying a quiet pursuit; and The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton, illus. by Don Tate, a picture book biography of one of the first African-American congressmen.
EGMONT USA
Egmont USA turns its telescope on Why Space Matters to Me by Colin Stewart, a science writer’s reflections on how human life is connected with space; The Pyramid of the Magician by J & P Voelkel, concluding the Jaguar Stones fantasy series; Seaborne #1: The Lost Prince by Matt Myklusch, in which Dean fights to prove he is the long-lost prince of a mythical island; See Thru: Frogs by Thea Feldman, launching a nonfiction series featuring acetate overlays; and Valiant by Sarah McGuire, a reimagining of “The Brave Little Tailor,” about a girl posing as a boy to save her kingdom.
ENCHANTED LION
Enchanted Lion wags its tail for Americanine: A Dog in New York by Yann Kebbi, focusing on a French dog who visits New York City; There’s a Beast in My Belly by Grzegorz Kasdepke, illus. by Tomasz Kozlowski, an early reader about a girl exploring her fears; The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond, a nonfiction picture book, and Enormous Smallness: E.E. Cummings, A Life by Matthew Burgess, illus. by Kris Di Giacomo, an account of the poet’s childhood.
GRAPHIC ARTS/ALASKA NORTHWEST
Alaska Northwest swoops into spring with Little Puffin’s First Flight by Jonathan London, illus. by Jon Van Zyle, chronicling a puffin’s maiden voyage; and A Is for Alaska, a photo showcase of the state, written by children participating in Boys & Girls Clubs – Alaska.
GRAPHIC ARTS/WESTWINDS PRESS
Westwinds Press takes a hike with Desolation Canyon by Jonathan London, illus. by Sean London, an adventure centering on children and their fathers learning about the natural world; and Tino the Tortoise: Adventures in the Grand Canyon by Carolyn Ahern, illus. by Erik Brooks, first in a natural history series.
GROUNDWOOD
Groundwood grabs the watering can for Rosario’s Fig Tree by Charis Wahl, illus. by Luc Melanson, about a gardener who worries his tree might not survive the winter; Avis Dolphin by Frieda Wishinsky, illus. by Willow Dawson, a tale of suspense inspired by the accounts of passengers on the Lusitania; Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson, illus. by Sydney Smith, a wordless picture book featuring a girl who collects wildflowers while her distracted dad pays her little attention; Bright Sky, Starry City by Uma Krishnaswami, illus. by Aimée Sicuro, focused on a power outage; and The Traveling Circus by Marie-Louise Gay and David Homel, fourth in the Travels with My Family series, in which Charlie and his family go to Croatia.
HARLEQUIN TEEN
Harlequin Teen shifts into gear with Thunder Road by Katie McGarry, the kick-off of a series featuring teens being raised in the world of motorcycle clubs; The Forgotten Crown by Julie Kagawa, the conclusion of the Iron Fey series; Rogue by Julie Kagawa, continuing the Talon series about dragons living among us in human form; The Notorious Pagan Jones by Nina Berry, focused on a disgraced Hollywood starlet rescued from juvie by a mysterious man in 1961; and Never, Always, Sometimes by Adi Alsaid, in which two best friends, a boy and girl, make a list of the cliché things they will never do their senior year.
HARPERCOLLINS
HarperCollins slathers on the sunscreen for Chu’s Day at the Beach by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Adam Rex, focused on the sneezing bear’s seaside outing; Rappy the Raptor by Dan Gutman, illus. by Tim Bowers, starring a rapping velociraptor; Goose by Laura Wall, showcasing the friendship between a girl and a bird; Twintuition: Double Vision by Tia and Tamera Mowry, launching a series by the identical twin actresses; and Seven Wonders Book 4: The Curse of the King by Peter Lerangis, in which the kids search for the long-lost statues of Zeus.
HARPERCOLLINS/BALZER + BRAY
Balzer + Bray marks the calendar for 99 Days by Katie Cotugno, focusing on a girl forced to spend the summer in her hometown after she cheated on her boyfriend and her novelist mother used it as fodder for a book; Meet the Dullards by Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Dan Salmieri, a deadpan tale of the most boring family ever; Masterminds, first in a middle-grade series about a group of kids who discover they have a secret connection to some criminal masterminds; The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman, a first novel that weaves past and present through the points of view of four friends in the wake of a tragic accident; and My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga, a YA debut in which a teen is obsessed with planning her own death.
HARPERFESTIVAL
HarperFestival purrs along with three Pete the Cat titles by James Dean: Cavecat Pete, a trip back to dinosaur times; Construction Destruction, about building a new playground, and Rock On, Mom and Dad!, in which Pete thanks his parents; and Splat the Cat: The Big Helper by Rob Scotton, featuring Splat’s new responsibilities at home.
HARPERCOLLINS/GREENWILLOW
Greenwillow reaches out for Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson, an interactive picture book showcasing the beauty of nighttime; Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall, in which a blue crayon is mistakenly labeled red; Gwendolyn Grace by Katherine Hannigan, introducing a rambunctious picture-book alligator; Anyone by Ivy Pocket by Caleb Krisp, an illustrated tween adventure novel that begins a trilogy; and Made You Up by Francesca Zappia, a debut in which the unreliable narrator is just trying to stay sane long enough to graduate from high school.
HARPERTEEN
HarperTeen holds court with Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, a fantasy debut featuring a common girl whose hidden magical power draws her into the royal elite; Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman, a novel of mental illness; Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver, following two sisters in the aftermath of a horrific car accident; Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer, in which four friends at a camp reunion are transported to a pivotal summer in their past; and Magonia by Maria Headley, a romantic fantasy spotlighting a girl caught between two worlds.
HARPERCOLLINS/TEGEN
Katherine Tegen Books gets Guinness on the line for Teddy Mars: Almost a World Record Breaker by Molly B. Burnham, about a boy trying to set himself apart from his siblings by breaking a world record; Freddy & Frito and the Clubhouse Rules by Alison Friend, focusing a fox and a rat who build a clubhouse in the park; Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu, in which Montana embarks on the most important summer of her life; City Love by Susane Colasanti, following three very different girls living together in New York City; and Etherworld by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Clam, the sequel to Elusion, about three teens battling the dangers of a giant virtual reality program.
HARPERCOLLINS/WALDEN POND
Walden Pond Press straps in for spring with Countdown Zero by Chris Rylander, chronicling the exploits of middle-school classified secret agent Carson Fender; The Dungeoneers by John David Anderson, in which a young cutpurse finds himself in high demand among the warriors, mages, and rogues who snatch riches from goblins and ogres; and Platypus Police Squad: Last Panda Standing by Jarret J. Krosoczka, third in this illustrated series for middle-graders.
HOLIDAY HOUSE
Holiday House dons its shades for Fun in the Sun by David Catrow, starring a beach-loving dog; The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons, a picture book focused on horticulture and nutrition; End of the Rainbow by Liza Donnelly, an I Like to Read title in which a girl and her animal pals search for a rainbow’s storied treasure; Market Maze by Roxie Munro, featuring trucks finding their way to the farmer’s market by winding through complicated mazes; and Seven Second Delay by Tom Easton, a YA novel about a girl implanted with a tracking device that allows seven seconds before her movements are reported to the agents who are pursuing her.
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT
HMH goes with the flow with Undertow by Michael Buckley, in which a society of undersea warriors march out of the ocean into modern-day Coney Island; Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld, featuring friends who look out for each other; Milo in Ogregon, a lighthearted fantasy about a boy who is transported from Oregon to Ogregon, a land of magic; Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel, focusing on two girls who find out they’ve been dating the same boy when they both show up at his funeral; and Typhoid Mary by Susan Bartoletti, exploring the story behind the woman who caused a scandal as an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever.
HMH/CLARION
Clarion tries spring on for size with Whose Shoe? by Eve Bunting, illus. by Sergio Ruzzier, a rhyming picture book about the search for the owner of a lost shoe; Mustache Baby Meets His Match by Bridget Heos and Joy Ang, centering on a play date gone wrong; Tallulah’s Tap Shoes by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Alexendra Boiger, featuring a new pursuit for ballerina Tallulah; and Ask the Dark, Henry Turner’s YA novel about a semi-delinquent teen in a deadly back-and-forth with a killer.
KANE PRESS
Kane goes to the head of the class with Albert Starts School and Lost in the Museum, which join the Mouse Math series by Eleanor May, illus. by Deborah Melmon, which introduces math concepts via stories; and Let’s Celebrate Earth Day by Barbara Derubertis, a look at the environmentally minded holiday.
KENSINGTON/KTEEN
KTeen shuffles into spring with Zombified by Brigid Adam J. Gallardo, new to the teens-vs.-zombies series Zombie Apocalypse; Haunted by Lynn Carthage, a YA fiction debut and series launcher featuring an American girl who faces evil in a haunted English mansion; and the yet-to-be titled follow up to Beau, Lee, the Bomb, & Me.
KENSINGTON/KTEEN/DAFINA
Dafina hogs the spotlight with Diva Rules by Amir Abrams, in which self-described diva Fiona goes on a date with one of her school’s star athletes and finds he’s more than she bargained for; Hold Me Down by Calvin Slater, an addition to the Coleman High series following kids in a Detroit high school; and Eye Candy by Reshonda Tate Billingsley, a Rumor Central book about a girl who realizes that looks can be deceiving.
LERNER/CAROLRHODA
Carolrhoda blows out the candles for Birthday Rules by Laure Friedman, illus. by Teresa Murfin, showing how to make the most of a birthday celebration; Feeding the Flying Fanellis by Kate Hosford, illus. by Cosei Kawa, collecting humorous poems about circus life, and Trash Mountain by Jane Yolen, illus. by Chris Monroe, starring an orphaned young squirrel.
LERNER/CAROLRHODA LAB
Carolrhoda Lab hunkers down for Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks, about a boy trapped in an underground bunker with five other people and no possibility of escape; The Conformity by John Hornor Jacobs, the final book in the Twelve-Fingered-Boy fantasy trilogy; Infandous by Elana K. Arnold, focused on a teen girl living in the shadow of her beautiful mother; Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez, a historical YA novel based on a school explosion that took place in Texas in 1937; and Prairie Fire by E.K. Johnston, sequel to The Story of Owen.
LERNER/DARBY CREEK
Darby Creek takes the wheel with Jack at the Helm by Lisa Doan, illus. by Ivica Stevanovic, showcasing the latest get-rich-quick plan in the Berenson Schemes series; Love or Something Like It by Laurie Friedman, chronicling April’s summer love drama in The Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair series; five books in the Locked Out urban fiction series by Patrick Jones, set in cities around the country; eight titles in The Nightmare Club series by Annie Graves, featuring illustrated stories; and the five-book Swoop List series by Stephanie Perry Moore, in which girls victimized by a list naming those with bad reputations.
LERNER/MILLBROOK
Millbrook holds its nose for Something Sure Smells Around Here: Limericks by Brian P. Cleary, illus. by Andy Rowland, a Poetry Adventures title; Chips and Cheese and Nana’s Knees: What Is Alliteration? by Brian P. Cleary, illus. by Martin Goneau, in which the CATegorical cats demonstrate this literary device; One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia by Miranda Paul, illus. by Elizabeth Zunon, the true story of one woman’s transforming idea about recycling; A Rock Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas, illus. by Violeta Dabija, a look at how rocks decorate and strengthen the world around them; and six books in the new Alike and Different series by Lisa Bullard, which explores similarities and differences among people and cultures.
LERNER/GRAPHIC UNIVERSE
Graphic Universe scales the season with The Other Side of the Wall by Simon Schwartz, trans. by Laura Watkinson, a graphic novel memoir chronicling one family’s difficult journey to get to the other side of the Berlin Wall in the 1980s; and SheHeWe, new to the Three-Story Books series of wordless comics.
LITTLE, BROWN
Little, Brown hops into spring with Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman, illus. by Zachariah Ohora, about a family of rabbits that adopts a baby wolf; Rory the Dinosaur: Me and My Dad by Liz Climo, the tale of a dino who wants to go on a solo adventure, based on characters from the Tumblr “Hi, I’m Liz”; The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other) by Geoff Rodkey, an oral history of a prank war between a brother and sister; Public School Superhero by James Patterson with Chris Tebbetts, illus. by Corey Thomas, featuring a boy in a troubled inner-city middle school who daydreams of being a superhero; and The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker, set in an alternate 16th-century England where a witch hunter is framed for being a witch herself.
LITTLE, BROWN/LB KIDS
LB Kids snuggles up with I Love You, Blankie by Sheryl Haft, illus. by Jane Massey, depicting a child’s bedtime adventure with a beloved blanket; Boo Boo, I Love You by Sandra Magsamen, introducing five Halloween characters, and My Little Pony: The Castles of Equestria: An Enchanted My Little Pony Pop-Up Book by Matthew Reinhart, featuring five pop-up castles and a removable princess and pony.
LITTLE, BROWN/POPPY
Poppy reapplies its lip gloss for Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys) by Amy Spalding, about two best friends pursuing their crushes; Kiss and Tell by Jacqueline Green, the final book in the Truth or Dare trilogy in which three girls follow clues to figure out who’s behind a twisted game that threatens their lives; Reign: Hysteria by Lily Blake, a look into the world of Mary Queen of Scots, inspired by the TV series Reign; Jessica Darling’s It List 3 by Megan McCafferty; continuing the Jessica Darling middle-school reboot; and Those Girls by Lauren Saft, a debut novel about three high school friends who are growing apart as they grow up.
LITTLE PICKLE PRESS
Little Pickle Press casts a wide net with Grown-Ups, the World, and Me! by Judith Lazar, illus. by Richard Pare, a collection of boys’ thoughts on tough subjects.
LLEWELLYN/FLUX
Flux takes a swing at spring with Zeroboxer by Fonda Lee, an SF title showcasing a rising star in the sport of zero-gravity boxing; The Oathbreaker’s Shadow by Amy McCulloch, set in a fantasy world where promise breakers are scarred and exiled; Dating Down by Stefanie Lyons, in which Samantha stays with the boy that everyone warns her against; Secret of the Sevens by Lynn Lindquist, which lays bare the activities of a secret society at a boarding school for underprivileged students; and Where You End by Anna Pellicioli, about a girl reeling from a heartbreak who gets tangled in a mystery.
MACMILLAN/FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX
FSG makes a splash with The Whale in My Swimming Pool by Joyce Wan, a picture book debut about a boy who makes the best of an unusual situation; The Lucky One by Leslie Margolis, a body-switch tale in which two friends get to redo the summer as each other; Fort by Cynthia DeFelice, featuring two boys discovering the joys of building and defending an outdoor fort; Tractor Mac: New Friend by Billy Steers, first in a six-book launch of a previously self-published series about a tractor and his friends on the farm; and The Churchill Club: Knud Pedersen and the Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose, the true account of seven Danish teens fought against Nazi invaders.
MACMILLAN/FSG/FOSTER
Frances Foster Books goes in for the group hug with One Family by George Shannon, illus. by Blanca Gomez, a concept book depicting how a family can be many things; Boy’s Best Friend by Kate Banks and Rupert Sheldrake, a novel inspired by biologist Sheldrake’s research, about two boys who perform an experiment to see if their dogs know when they are coming home; and The Fun Book of Scary Stuff by Emily Jenkins, illus. by Hyewon Yum, in which a boy tells his two dogs about all the things that frighten him.
MACMILLAN/FSG/FERGUSON
Margaret Ferguson Books takes the mound with Queen of the Diamond: The Lizzie Murphy Story by Emily Arnold McCully, showcasing a groundbreaking female baseball player; Rebel Mechanics by Shana Swendson, set in an alternate U.S. where a teenage girl becomes a spy as colonists fight for independence by developing technologies to defeat a magical ruling class; Izzy Barr, Running Star by Claudia Mills, illus. by Ron Shepperson, a Franklin School Friends title about a girl who loves to run races; Troto and the Trucks by Uri Shulevitz, starring a little car who challenges the big trucks who tease him to a race; and Out of the Woods by Rebecca Bond, the tale of how animals and people came together to survive a forest fire, inspired by a true story told by the author’s grandfather.
MACMILLAN/FEIWEL AND FRIENDS
Feiwel and Friends wings it with Little Bird’s Bad Word by Jacob Grant, focusing on Little Bird’s eagerness to share a new—not-so-nice—word with friends; From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot, launching a spinoff series starring the long-lost half sister of Princess Mia Thermopolis of the Princess Diaries; Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein, in which a girl’s powers as a genie, or Jinn, come alive on her 16th birthday; and Summoner by Taran Matharu, the first print version of a Wattpad title featuring a blacksmith’s apprentice who can summon demons from another world.
MACMILLAN/HOLT
Henry Holt gets flashy with Good Night, Firefly by Gabriel Alborozo, about a girl who captures a firefly to be her nightlight; The Battle of the Bulge by Rick Atkinson, a historical exploration of this WWII battle, adapted from the author’s adult bestseller The Guns at Last Light; The Education of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, the follow-up to The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate; Power Down, Little Robot by Anna Staniszewki, illus. by Tim Zeltner, in which Mom Unit knows just how to get Little Robot to power down before bed; and The Heart of Betrayal by Mary Pearson, the sequel to The Kiss of Deception.
MACMILLAN/HENRY HOLT/OTTAVIANO
Christy Ottaviano Books aims to mesmerize with To Hypnotize a Lion: Poems About Just About Everything by Calef Brown, an illustrated collection of nonsense poetry; Dear Hank Williams by Kimberly Willis Holt, about a boy in 1948 who uses letter-writing as an escape from a difficult time at home; Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, a middle-grade debut featuring a girl whose love of reading and puzzle-solving turns into a real-life mystery; Witherwood by Obert Skye, first in a series that follows two siblings trapped in a creepy reform school and entangled in its dark secrets; and My Life as a Gamer by Janet Tashjian, illus. by Jake Tashjian, the fifth volume in the My Life series, which finds Derek Fallon becoming a video game tester.
MACMILLAN/PRIDDY
Priddy Books offers novelty/early-concept books, including Alphaprints: Colors, Playtown: Airport, Sneak a Peek: Colors, and Little Friends: Barnyard Fun!, all by Roger Priddy; and Schoolies: Happy Birthday by Ellen Crimi Trent, illus. by Roger Priddy.
MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK
Roaring Brook bows its head for Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu, what happens when a girl raised in a fundamentalist Christian community begins to grow disillusioned with the lifestyle; Skunk by Mac Barnett, illus. by Patrick McDonnell, the tale of a man followed by a skunk throughout his day; Return to Augie Hobble by Lane Smith, the author’s middle-grade debut, starring a boy who struggles with onrushing adolescence, paranormal mysteries, and heartbreaking loss; Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! (And Lives to Tell About It) by Tommy Greenwald, illus. by J.P. Coovert, in which Katie from the Charlie Joe Jackson series swears off texting and tries to get her classmates to do the same; and Tommy by Karen Blumenthal, a history of the Thompson Machine Gun, the first commercially available automatic weapon.
MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK/PORTER
Neal Porter Books revs its engines with Supertruck by Stephen Savage, in which a garbage truck becomes a hero when a blizzard hits the city; Special Delivery by Philip C. Stead, illus. by Matthew Cordell, spotlighting a girl’s efforts to deliver an elephant to her great aunt, who could use the company; Wait by Antoinette Portis, celebrating the joys of slowing down and taking in your surroundings; How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz by Jonah Winter, illus. by Keith Mallett, a jazz-infused spin on the life of the famed musician; and A Wonderful Year by Nick Bruel, which offers a romp through the four seasons.
MACMILLAN/SQUARE FISH
Square Fish has a sweet tooth for Kitty Does Not Like Candy by Nick Bruel, a Bad Kitty paperback with stickers; Carl and the Lost Kitten: Slide and Find by Alexandra Day, an activity book featuring Carl the Rottweiler’s search for a lost cat; and Fierce Reads Anthology, a collection of stories from a range of YA authors.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS
National Geographic Kids goes wild for Untamed by Anita Silvey, a biography of Jane Goodall; Just Joking: Animal Riddles by J. Patrick Lewis, a collection of 150 animal riddles, rhymes, and jokes; Why’d They Wear That? by Sarah Albee, a humorous history of fashion throughout the world; With a Friend by Your Side by Barbara Kerley, introducing the importance of friendship to young children; and Dirtmeister’s Nitty Gritty Planet Earth by Steve Tomecek, illus. by Fred Harper, in which Dirtmeister and sidekick Diggie explain the geological processes that shaped Earth.
NORTHSOUTH
NorthSouth sneaks into spring with My Grandma’s a Ninja by Todd Tarpley, illus. by Danny Chatzikonstantinou, in which Ethan’s grandma suggests zip-lining into kindergarten; 999 Frogs and a Little Brother by Ken Kimura, illus. by Yasunari Murakami, a tale that finds Little Brother becoming a big brother to a crayfish; Poop-de-doop! by Stephanie Blake, starring an irreverent bunny; and Mr. Squirrel and the Moon by Sebastian Meschenmoser, about Mr. Squirrel’s concern that he’ll be thrown in jail for robbery when he finds the moon on his tree.
ORCA
Orca grabs a pail for More Blueberries! by Susan Musgrave, illus. by Esperança Melo, starring young twins who can’t get enough of this fruit; Tank & Fizz: The Case of the Slime Stampede by Liam O’Donnell, illus. by Mike Deas, a chapter book–graphic novel hybrid featuring a technology-tinkering troll and a goblin detective solving mysteries; Button Hill by Michael Bradford, in which a boy travels between the parallel worlds of Dayside and Nightside in search of his missing sister; Tru Detective by Norah McClintock, illus. by Steven Hughes, a dark graphic novel about a boy investigating his girlfriend’s murder; and The World Without Us by Robin Stevenson, which finds Mel wondering what part she may have played in her best friend’s decision to jump off a bridge.
OWLKIDS
Owlkids packs its bags for A Ticket Around the World by Natalia Diaz and Melissa Owens, an informational picture book showcasing 13 countries; Wild Ideas by Elin Kelsey, illus. by Soyeon Kim, exploring how animals solve problems and can inspire humans to do the same; Look! by Édouard Manceau, an oversized board book with a cutout through the middle of the spine that invites readers to peek through it; The Potato King by Christoph Neimann, the tale of a Prussian king who introduces a new crop to his resistant people; and And What If I Won’t? by Maureen Fergus, illus. by Qin Leng, a push-and-pull conversation between a mother and son.
PAJAMA PRESS
Pajama Press sets up an easel for A Brush Full of Color by Margriet Ruurs and Katherine Gibson, a look at the boyhood of British artist Ted Harrison; Dance of the Banished by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, a novel based on true events, featuring two Anatolian teenagers engaged to be married but torn apart by WWI; and Princess Pistachio by Marie-Louise Gay, trans. by Jacob Homel, about a girl who learns she is an abducted princess when she receives a mysterious crown for her birthday.
PEACHTREE
Peachtree saddles up for Rodeo Red by Maripat Perkins, illus. by Molly Idle, a sibling story with a cowboy theme; P. Zonka Lays an Egg by Julie Paschkis, starring a daydreaming chicken; Stanley the Farmer by William Bee, the latest adventure of Stanley the hamster; Toad Weather by Sandra Markle, illus. by Thomas Gonzalez, featuring the city toads’ dangerous journey to the pond during rainy weather; and Watch Out for Flying Kids by Cynthia Levinson, an exploration of social circus, a movement to bring together children from different worlds to perform acts and overcome obstacles.
PENGUIN YOUNG READERS
Penguin takes a leap with Froggy Is the Best by Jonathan London, illus. by Frank Remkiewicz, a Level 2 reader that finds Froggy determining what he’s “best” at; Don’t Throw It to Mo! by David A. Adler, illus. by Sam Ricks, the inaugural title in the Mo Jackson series of Level 2 readers about a boy who loves sports; Hi-Ho Tiny! by Cari Meister, illus. by Rich Davis, new to the Level 1 readers series starring Tiny the big dog; Annie by Thomas Meehan, adapted by Bonnie Bader, illus. by Katie Kath, a Level 3 reader adaptation of the story of Little Orphan Annie; and Pig and Pug by Laura Marchesani and Zenaides A. Medina Jr., illus. by Jarvis, a Level 2 reader featuring two pals who have similar traits, but are very different.
PENGUIN/DIAL
Dial schedules a manicure for Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon, starring a wannabe wicked witch trying to prove she’s worthy to be the castle’s master; Ms. Rapscott’s Girls by Elise Primavera, an account of he important training that goes on at Great Rapscott School for the Daughters of Busy Parents; It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee, featuring a dog who is more clever than his owners; Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat by Deborah Underwood, illus. by Claudia Rueda, the return of the kitty last seen in Here Comes the Easter Cat; and Appleblossom the Possum by Holly Goldberg Sloan, a lighthearted animal tale.
PENGUIN/DUTTON
Dutton soars into spring with The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith, the confluence of three stories including that of a Middle Eastern refugee now living in the U.S., a schizophrenic bomber and a failed arctic explorer from the 19th century; and The Life of Ty: Book 3 by Lauren Myracle, illus. by Jed Henry, offering more mischievous adventures for the title character.
PENGUIN/GROSSET & DUNLAP
Grosset & Dunlap raises the curtain on the season with Jack and Louisa: Act 1 by Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead, the launch of a middle-grade series about a 12-year-old Broadway veteran named Jack who moves to suburban Ohio; Splish Splash with Llama Llama by Anna Dewdney, capturing Llama Llama’s first trip to the beach; The Night Before the Fourth of July by Natasha Wing, illus. by Amy Wummer, a continuation of this series; for titles in the Smithsonian Books series, a new partnership with the Smithsonian Institution; and Where Is Mount Rushmore? by True Kelley, illus. by John Hinderliter, which joins the Where Is…? nonfiction series.
PENGUIN/DAWSON
Kathy Dawson Books sets the GPS for Nearly Lost by Elle Cosimano, a gritty murder mystery with science-based clues; Catalyst by Lydia Kang, the sequel to Control, set in a world where the genetically modified have been declared illegal; The Mad Apprentice, sequel to The Forbidden Library, in which Alice must enter a labyrinth to track down an apprentice who murdered his master; and In the Time of Dragon Moon by Janet Lee Carey, the third Wilde Island title, featuring a medieval fantasy romance.
PENGUIN/PAULSEN
Nancy Paulsen Books looks to the night sky with Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed, featuring a Pakistani-American teen whose parents force her into marriage; Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, in which a dyslexic sixth-grader gains confidence with support from a caring teacher; Otto the Owl Who Loved Poetry by Vern Kousky, focusing on Otto’s passion for verse; Tad & Dad by David Ezra Stein, about a tadpole who loves his dad so much that he doesn’t give him a moment’s peace; and Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr, illus. by Teagan White, a picture book debut about how mothers (human and animal) make their newborns feel at home in the world.
PENGUIN/PHILOMEL
Philomel gets deep with Still Waters by Ash Parsons, a noir thriller about an abused teen seeking a better life; Look! by Jeff Mack, the story of a comical friendship, told using only two words; Legend: The Best Players, Games & Teams in Baseball by Howard Bryant, kicking off a nonfiction sports series; Fell of Dark by Patrick Downes, the story of two mentally ill boys, one who performs miracles and one who is filled with violent compulsions; and Good Girl by Donna Freitas, a psychological thriller in which a teen begins to suspect that her new love is the one who held her at knife-point during a break-in the winter before.
PENGUIN/PRICE STERN SLOAN
Price Stern Sloan rolls out the blueprints for Build a Boyfriend by Karl Jones, a mix-and-match book of photos of boys; Monster Hunters #4: Winged Terrors and Gruesome Creatures by John Gatehouse, illus. by Dave Windett, fourth in a series of tongue-in-cheek survival guides; Uncle Grandpa, the four-book debut of a series tie-in to the Cartoon Network show; and Once Upon a Time in Elmore: When Gumball Met Penny by Wrigley Stuart, illus. by Shane L. Johnson, a tie-in to Cartoon Network’s The Amazing World of Gumball.
PENGUIN/PUFFIN/SPEAK
Puffin/Speak sends out an SOS for Stranded, Shadow Island: Part 2 by Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbets, second in the series, which finds the kids deserted on a new island; Roald Dahl Mischief and Mayhem by Roald Dahl, featuring snippets from Dahl’s novels, quizzes, jokes, and puzzles; and Follow Your Heart: Love on the Lifts by Jill Santopolo, a romance that allows readers to make choices that can result in 14 possible endings.
PENGUIN/PUTNAM
Putnam lays out the snacks for Lulu’s Party by Kit Chase, in which Lulu’s pals save the day when her party doesn’t go as planned; The Appearance of Annie Van Sinderen by Katherine Howe, a love story in which an aspiring young filmmaker falls for a mysterious girl; Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose, about two girls who form a strong bond in the 16th-century New World despite speaking different languages; The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, a retelling of the Arabian Nights; and Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins, second in the Rebel Belle fantasy series.
PENGUIN/RAZORBILL
Razorbill smolders with An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, a fantasy debut featuring an orphan fighting for her family, who meets a soldier desperate to break free from a totalitarian military; The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead, in which the life of someone that both Sydney and Adrian love is put on the line; and I Am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore, starring a girl who was raised for the sole purpose of exacting vengeance on the man who broke her mother’s heart two decades earlier.
PENGUIN/VIKING
Viking makes its presence known with I Was Here by Gayle Forman, in which a girl retraces her dead best friend’s footsteps trying to make sense of her suicide; Half Wild by Sally Green, the follow-up to Half Bad, in which Nathan grapples with the dangerous realities of his magical Gift; The Golden Specific by S.E. Grove, the sequel to The Glass Sentence, which finds Sophia joining a sea voyage that may hold the secret to her parents’ disappearance; When the Earth Shakes by Simon Winchester, an exploration of the science, technology, and societal impact of earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis; and Mosquitoland by David Arnold, chronicling a girl’s bus trip from Mississippi to Ohio to see her ailing mother.
PENGUIN/WARNE
Warne prepares for takeoff with My Father’s Flying Machine and A Present for Mom, two Peter Rabbit books adapted from the Nickelodeon TV series; and Spot’s Favorite Shapes and Spot’s Easter Surprise, two concept books by Eric Hill starring Spot the puppy.
POWERHOUSE/POW!
POW! Kids Books welcomes spring with This Owl, That Owl by Frann Preston-Gannon, which explores opposites through the antics of owls; Just Like Daddy by Ovi Nedelcu, a picture book showing how a day unfolds for a child vs. a parent; One Robot Lost His Head, a counting book by Marc Rosenthal in which a clumsy robot can’t keep track of his own noggin; A Line Can Be... by Laura Ljungkvist, featuring a single line wending its way across brightly colored and patterned pages; and The Night Our Parents Went Out by comedians Katie Goodman and Soren Kisiel, a tale about date night, resourceful parents, and a reassuring babysitter.
RANDOM HOUSE
Random House cuddles up with Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang, illus. by Max Lang, a collection of animals offering a celebration of family love; Freckleface Strawberry: Backpacks by Julianne Moore, a Step Into Reading Step 2 title starring the titular redhead; League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant, in which an orphaned girl plots her escape from her great aunts’ home, St. Agony’s Asylum for the Criminally Insane; and Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman, the sequel to Seraphina, featuring a half-dragon, half-girl protagonist.
RANDOM HOUSE/CROWN
Crown tells all with My Near-Death Adventures (99% True!) by Alison DeCamp, in which Stan chronicles his search for his long-lost father in the logging camps of Michigan; Breakout by Kevin Emerson, a YA novel about a boy whose angst-ridden rock song lyrics go viral, casting him as a school rebel; A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans by Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder, first in a series about a crusty dragon and her new pet human; and Even When You Lie to Me by Jessica Alcott, a tale of taboo love set in a suburban high school.
RANDOM HOUSE/DELACORTE
Delacorte sets the alarm for The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey, kicking off an urban fantasy trilogy; Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton, a YA debut featuring a girl who has trained all her life to be a Seeker, a protector of the weak and the wronged; The Third Twin by C.J. Omololu, a psychological thriller in which identical twins invent a third sister as cover for their dating schemes, and then are stalked by the sister who doesn’t exist; The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten, a novel exploring the struggles of teens with OCD; and Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr, a futuristic action-survival tale set in the dustbowl town of Blackwater.
RANDOM HOUSE/DOUBLEDAY
Doubleday does its homework for Mom School by Rebecca Van Slyke, illus. by Priscilla Burris, about a girl who wonders where her mom learned to be the best mom ever; I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty, illus. by Mike Boldt, featuring a frog who wishes he were anything else; and Home Tweet Home by Courtney Dicmas, in which Pippi and Burt leave their crowded nest and fly off to see the world.
RANDOM HOUSE/KNOPF
Knopf packs a picnic for The Cottage in the Woods by Katherine Coville, a novel that reimagines the tale of Goldilocks and features a she-bear hired as a governess; How to Surprise a Dad by Jean Reagan, illus. by Lee Wildish, a picture-book guide for catching Dad off guard; The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall, the fourth book about this family, which puts Batty front and center; Denton Little’s Deathdate by Lance Rubin, in a world where everyone knows when they will die, the date of Denton’s death falls on the day of his senior prom; and Monkey: Not Ready for Kindergarten by Marc Brown, focused on Monkey’s anxiety about starting school.
RANDOM HOUSE/LICENSED PUBLISHING
Licensed Publishing uses its noggin for Inside Out: The Junior Novelization, a tie-in to the June 2015 Disney/Pixar feature that offers a glimpse at the world inside the human mind.
RANDOM HOUSE/SCHWARTZ & WADE
Schwartz & Wade puts out the welcome mat with The House That’s Your Home by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illus. by Jane Dyer, an ode to a loving family; Rosie Goes to Preschool by Karen Katz, introducing a girl who knows all about preschool; Marble Boys by Tamara Ellis Smith, a middle grade novel in which two boys who have experienced loss come together in unexpected ways to find healing; Lillian’s Right to Vote by Jonah Winter, illus. by Shane Evans, the story of an elderly African-American woman who exercises her right to vote and remembers the past generations who fought hard for that right; and Steve Jobs: Insanely Great by Jessie Hartland, a graphic biography about Apple’s founder.
RANDOM HOUSE/LAMB
Wendy Lamb Books gets to the heart of the matter with We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen, in which brainiac Stewart’s father and “it girl” Ashley’s mom move in together; and Nightbird by Alice Hoffman, a tale of new friendships, true love, and a mysterious monster, set in the Berkshires.
RUNNING PRESS KIDS
Running Press Kids straps on its helmet for Daredevil Duck by Charlie Alder, about a duck who overcomes his fears to help a friend; Surviving Santiago by Lyn Miller-Lachman, in which a teen travels to her native Chile in 1989 and becomes entangled in a paramilitary gang’s mission to kill her father; When You Leave by Monica Ropal, featuring a girl whose secret boyfriend is killed; The Perfect Percival Priggs by Julie-Anne Graham, focusing on a boy whose carefree aunt helps him understand that he doesn’t always have to be perfect; and Butterfly Park by Elly MacKay, the story of how a girl brings her neighbors together so they can lure the butterflies back to the park.
SASQUATCH/LITTLE BIGFOOT
Little Bigfoot navigates the season with Through the Locks by Hanna Viano, spotlighting a boy’s journey to visit his grandfather on his houseboat in Alaska; My Wilderness by Claudia McGehee, a nonfiction book recounting the winter of 1918-1919 on Alaska’s Fox Island from a boy’s point of view; Elliott the Otter by Eric Ode, illus. by John Skewes, starring a bossy otter living in Elliott Bay on Puget Sound; Larry Gets Lost Under the Sea by Eric Ode, illus. by John Skewes, featuring a pup’s adventure when he’s swept out to the sea by a wave; and Little Kunoichi, the Ninja Girl by Sanae Ishida, the story of a hard-working young ninja in training.
SCARLETTA KIDS
Scarletta is caught up in the season with Seaver the Weaver by Paul Czajak, illus. by Benjamin Hilts, featuring the handiwork of a creative orb spider; Monster Needs a Party by Paul Czajak, illus. by Wendy Grieb, a celebration of Monster’s birthday; and The Shark Rider by Ellen Prager, illus. by Antonio Javier Caparo, a Caribbean environmental mystery-adventure for the crew in the Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians series.
SCHOLASTIC/LEVINE
Arthur A. Levine Books takes center stage with Playing a Part by Daria Wilke, trans. by Marian Schwartz, a novel set amid the homophobia of contemporary Russia, featuring a boy who joins the Moscow puppet theater and finds the strength to face bullies and forge his own identity; The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage by Selina Alko, illus. by Sean Qualls, the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple whose case was victorious in the Supreme Court; The Kidney Hypothetical: Or How to Ruin Your Life in Seven Days by Lisa Yee, chronicling the last week of high school for the seemingly together, Harvard-bound Higgs Boson Bing; The Best Friend Battle by Lindsay Eyre, illus. by Charles Santoso, about the shifting allegiances between best friends; and Divided We Fall: Book II: Burning Nation by Trent Reedy, in which Danny and his friends fight to defend Idaho against a federal takeover.
SCHOLASTIC/BLUE SKY
Blue Sky looks both ways for How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe? by Jane Yolen, illus. by Mark Teague, exploring many ways kids can be safe and have fun.
SCHOLASTIC/CARTWHEEL
Cartwheel grabs a brush for Piggy Paints by Jim Benton, one of four new board books; I Am a Big Brother by Caroline Jayne Church, which details what to expect when a new sibling comes along; Are You My Mommy? by Joyce Wan, in which a bunny learns about mother/baby animal pairs; Carry and Learn Colors by Sarah Ward, a multi-sensory interactive book with a carrying handle, and the first in a series of four concept books; and My Dinosaurs!: A Read and Play Book by Betty Ann Schwarz and Lynn Seresin, illus. by John Bendall-Brunello, a puzzle book that includes six chunky pieces attached with ribbons.
SCHOLASTIC/CHICKEN HOUSE
Chicken House hunts down spring with Big Game by Dan Smith, an adventure tale in which a 13-year-old boy is the only one who can help the president survive when Air Force One is shot down; Vendetta by Catherine Doyle, a modern-day Romeo and Juliet featuring a girl caught between two warring underworld families; and The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr, about an orphan sent to boarding school to spy on an unhappy aristocrat who is at the center of a sinister mystery.
SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX
Graphix slithers into spring with Nnewts Book #1: Escape from the Lizzarks by Doug TenNapel, starring a Nnewt named Herk who flees his village when it is destroyed and now must navigate a new mysterious, dangerous world.
SCHOLASTIC NONFICTION
Scholastic Nonfiction looks back with #Prehistoric by John Bailey Owen, a volume inspired by the digital age that gives prehistoric creatures comical user names and info pages; Really? Ocean by Penelope Arlon, launching a series that features experiments, interviews, and test results from experts; Sharks in a Box by Quinlan Lee, a package containing a fiction book, a nonfiction title, a parents’ guide, and an activity book; What If You Had Animal Feet? by Sandra Markle, illus. by Howard McWilliam, a collection of animal profiles and latest in the What If…? series; and The Magic School Bus Presents: Dinosaurs by Joanna Cole, illus. by Bruce Degen, containing updated content that expands upon a volume in the original Magic School Bus series.
SCHOLASTIC/ORCHARD
Orchard polishes its tiara for Sleeping Cinderella and Other Princess Mix-Ups by Stephanie Clarkson, illus. by Brigitte Barrager, in which princesses swap fairytales to see if the grass is really greener at someone else’s castle; Little Red’s Riding ’Hood by Peter Stein, illus. by Chris Gall, about a small red scooter’s efforts to outwit a big monster truck; Such a Little Mouse by Alice Schertle, illus. by Stephanie Yue, featuring a mouse who pops out to explore the world in each season of the year; and Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, Inspired by Historical Facts by Nikki Grimes, illus. by Michele Wood, presenting these two historical figures recounting their struggles and accomplishments.
SCHOLASTIC PAPERBACKS
Scholastic Paperbacks heats up the glue gun for Rainbow Magic: The Magical Crafts Fairies #1-7 by Daisy Meadows, a new series in which Rachel and Kirsty must stop Jack Frost from stealing arts and crafts magic; I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 by Lauren Tarshis, an addition to the series featuring a disaster chosen by readers; Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale, the story of how the wrongly accused Big Bad Wolf must turn detective to clear his name; Grimmtastic Girls #5: Sleeping Beauty Dreams Big by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams, focusing on the Grimm Academy girls’ new friend; and Little Rhino #1: My New Team by Ryan and Krystle Howard, about Little Rhino’s participation on his first real baseball team.
SCHOLASTIC/POINT
Point straps on its backpack for What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott, the tale of four teenagers on a camping trip who discover there is a killer on the loose; and We Can Work It Out by Elizabeth Eulberg, a sequel to The Lonely Hearts Club, which finds Penny Lane Bloom balancing friends, family, boyfriend, the club, and senior year.
SCHOLASTIC PRESS
Scholastic Press crosses its heart with The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart, the tale of a boy with cancer who runs away with his dog, determined to climb Mount Rainier; All Fall Down by Ally Carter, first in the Embassy Row series about a girl swept into international conspiracy when she’s sent to live with her ambassador grandfather after her mother’s mysterious death; Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan, a story that centers on the lives of four children and a mysterious harmonica; Glamourpuss by Sarah Weeks, illus. by David Small, featuring a stylish cat forced to share the spotlight with an unwelcome guest; and Monkey and Duck Quack Up! by Jennifer Hamburg, illus. by Edwin Fotheringham, an absurd comedy about two friends who enter a rhyming contest.
SIMON & SCHUSTER
Simon & Schuster is in the dugout with the kickoff of the Home Team Series, The Only Game by Mike Lupica, the story of a young baseball star trying to maintain the love of the game after the loss of his brother; Sick Simon by Dan Krall, offering tips on how to be health-conscious during cold and flu season; Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: Sweetest Heist in History by Octavia Spencer, presenting Randi with a New York City art-heist mystery; Evil Spy School by Stu Gibbs, an entry in the Spy School series, featuring Ben’s defection to the enemy after he’s kicked out of the CIA’s spy school; and P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, a follow-up to To All the Boys I’ve Loved, spotlighting more letters penned by Laura Jean.
S&S/ALADDIN
Aladdin takes a five-finger discount with Story Thieves by James Riley, debut volume in a comedic story-within-a-story series; Five Kingdoms #3 by Brandon Mull, continuing the quest of Cole, who is trapped in a world in which magic is powerful and dreams are real; and The Unwanteds #5: Island of Shipwrecks by Lisa McMann, in which a diabolical scheme endangers Artimé and Quill.
S&S/ATHENEUM
Atheneum taps out a spring list with Click, Clack, Peep! by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Betsy Lewin, about a loud duckling’s arrival on Farmer Brown’s farm; Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper, a Depression-era story focused on the battling prejudice in a segregated southern town; Boy in the Black Suit by Jayson Reynolds, in which a boy going through a rough time meets a girl who may help him learn to rise up when he gets knocked down; Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt, illus. by Rob Dunlavey, a concept book that asks readers to help crows avoid a feline foe; and Three More Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter, featuring the true story of the author’s struggles to make peace with her past in the foster care system.
S&S/BEACH LANE
Beach Lane coos with Baby Love by Angela DiTerlizzi, illus. by Brooke Boynton Hughes, a celebration of babies; and Gooseberry Park: Dog Days by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Arthur Howard, the sequel to Gooseberry Park.
S&S/LITTLE SIMON
Little Simon rounds the bases with Derek Jeter’s Ultimate Baseball Guide 2015 by Larry Dobrow, illus. by Damian Jones, a fact-filled collector’s guide; Adventures of Sophie Mouse: A New Friend by Poppy Green, illus. by Jennifer A. Bell, first in a series starring a mouse and her forest friends; and Tales from Maple Ridge: Logan Pryce Makes a Mess by Grace Gilmore, illus. by Petra Brown, the launch title in a series about a boy’s adventures in his caring small-town community.
S&S/MCELDERRY
Margaret K. McElderry Books rises up for spring with Mouseheart: Hopper’s Destiny by Lissa Fiedler, the second title in an animal adventure series starring a brave mouse attempting to rebuild an empire; and Fig by Sarah Elizabeth Schantz, a debut novel about a girl coping with her mother’s schizophrenia and her own mental illness.
S&S/SIMON PULSE
Simon Pulse comes to grips with The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson, the story of a boy who has lost everything and finds new hope sketching in the shadows of a hospital; Hit by Delilah S. Dawson, a dystopian thriller in which a teen becomes an indentured assassin to save her mother; Me Being Me Is Exactly as Insane as You Being You by Todd Hasak-Lowy, centered on a teen’s impulsive road trip after the shock of his lifetime, told entirely in lists; and The Remedy by Suzanne Young, a companion book to the The Treatment and The Program, about a girl who can take on different identities at will, but is at risk of losing her own.
S&S/SIMON PULSE/BEYOND WORDS
Simon Pulse/Beyond Words checks off the season with Doable: The Girls’ Guide to Accomplishing Almost Anything by Deborah Roeber, offering advice on how to tackle tasks with confidence and enthusiasm.
S&S/WISEMAN
Paula Wiseman Books keeps its eye on the stick with Fetch by Jorey Hurley, portraying the simple joy of a dog’s day at the beach; Earmuffs for Everyone!: Chester Greenwood’s Brilliant Invention of the Earmuff by Meghan McCarthy, about how a boy with cold ears grew up to be an inventor; The Incredible Space Raiders (from Space)! by Wesley King, a mystery-adventure set in outer space; and Footer Davis Probably Is Crazy by Susan Vaught, a southern-flavored novel in which a fifth-grader investigates the case of two kids who went missing after a house fire.
SLEEPING BEAR
Sleeping Bear gets the part with Stage Struck by Lisa Fiedler and Anya Wallach, a middle-grade series starter inspired by Wallach’s experiences opening a children’s theater as a girl; Legend of the Beaver’s Tail by Stephanie Shaw, illus. by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, a fable about pride and friendship based on Ojibwe legend; S Is for Sleeping Bear: A Dunes Alphabet by Kathy-jo Wargin, illus. by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, an A to Z exploration of Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes; and Lizzie’s Last Day of School by Trinka Hakes Noble, illus. by Kris Aro McLeod, about a girl who loves school so much that she’s sad to see the academic year end.
SOHO PRESS/SOHO TEEN
Soho Teen has the edge with Razorhurst by Justine Larbalestier, a ghostly tale set in 1930s Sydney Australia that finds two girls clashing with switchblade-wielding thugs and cunning madams; Mapmaker by Galaxy Craze and Mark Bomback, in which a girl and her crush are on the run after their internship at a geolocation company takes a terrifying turn; More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera, about a boy and his family reeling from the suicide of their father; Jillian Cade: (Fake) Paranormal Investigator by Jennifer Klein, featuring a cynical teen running a private investigation firm for people claiming to be plagued by paranormal entities; and From Where I Watch You by Shannon Grogan, focused on a Seattle girl who copes with her sister’s death by baking and dreaming of culinary school, until she discovers an apparent stalker.
SOURCEBOOKS/FIRE
Fire doesn’t miss a beat with Heartbreakers by Ali Novak, about a girl who devotes her life to doing things for her ill sister; Your Voice Is All I Hear by Leah Scheier, which finds April trying to decide how far she will go to protect her relationship with her mentally ill boyfriend; What You Left Behind, a novel looking at how a teen struggles with grief and guilt after his girlfriend dies leaving him to raise their daughter; Breaking Sky by Cori McCarthy, the adventures of a daredevil female military pilot in a dystopian near future; and Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone, featuring a boy recovering from an accident that left him in a coma, and his seemingly perfect tutor.
SOURCEBOOKS/JABBERWOCKY
Jabberwocky stomps into spring with Dinosaur Boy by Cory Putman Oakes, starring a boy with dinosaur genes who gets bullied when he grows spikes and a tail at the onset of puberty; Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked by Jen Calonita, featuring a school founded by Cinderella’s wicked stepmother that aims to turn the wicked into upstanding young citizens; Izzy and Oscar by Allison Estes, in which pretend pirate captain Izzy finds an adventurous octopus; The Littlest Bunny by Robert Dunn, inaugural title in a series spotlighting a rabbit who discovers he is the Easter bunny; and Ava and Taco Cat by Carol Weston, about an 11-year-old girl who gets more than she bargained for when she adopts a rescue cat.
STERLING
Sterling sets sail with Rufus Goes to Sea by Kim Griswell, illus. by Valeri Gorbachev, in which Rufus the pig encounters pirates on the high seas; Ally-saurus by Richard Torrey, how Ally gets through the first day of school by pretending she’s a dinosaur; A Dozen Cousins by Lori Houran, illus. by Sam Usher, focusing on a plucky girl and her 12 boisterous male cousins; How Penguin Says Please by Abigail Samoun, illus. by Sarah Watts, a Little Traveler series title that teaches readers how to say “please” in eight languages; and Rainbow Hedgehogs by Lisa McCue, about a hedgehog mother who unknowingly takes shelter in a gold pot during a storm and delivers seven babies, each one a different color of the rainbow.
ST. MARTIN’S GRIFFIN
Griffin takes charge with Don’t Stay Up Late by R.L. Stine, a horror tale in which Lisa begins to question exactly who—or what—she is babysitting; Dreamfire by Kit Alloway, featuring a girl who can enter other people’s dreams; Duplicity by N.K. Traver about a computer hacker whose past crimes catch up with him; The Tragic Age by Stephen Metcalfe, the story of the young heir to a lottery fortune who is an insomniac and a closeted rock drummer; and Hello, I Love You by Katie-Marie Stout, which follows a teenage girl descended from country music royalty, who falls for a K-pop star when she attends boarding school abroad.
TOR/STARSCAPE
Starscape lights the way with The Dragon Lantern by Alan Gratz, second in the League of Seven fantasy trilogy set in 1870s America; and A Dog’s Purpose: Ellie’s Story by W. Bruce Cameron, illus. by Richard Cowdrey, the tale of search-and-rescue dog Ellie, adapted for middle graders from the adult title A Dog’s Purpose.
TOR/TEEN
Tor Teen takes aim with The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons, set in a world in which females are scarce and men auction off breeding rights; and A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin, launching a YA series set in Regency England and featuring misfit girls who are trained for the dangerous world of spies, diplomacy, and war.
ZEST BOOKS
Zest shakes up the season with Rockin’ the Boat: 50 Revolutionaries—from Joan of Arc to Malcolm X by Jeff Fleischer, profiles notable people who changed the world; Sex: A Book for Teens (Revised and Expanded) by Nikol Hasler, which includes new information on navigating sexting, online dating, and sex-related bullying; The Young Ben Franklin: Future American by Daniel Harmon, a graphic novel recounting Franklin’s quest to live life through his 13 virtues and achieve moral perfection – with mixed results; and Speak Up! A Guide to Having Your Say and Speaking Your Mind by Halley Bondy, designed to help empower tween girls to challenge stereotypes and speak their minds confidently.
