ABRAMS
Abrams lights a Bunsen burner for Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beatty, illus. by David Roberts, about a girl who embarks on fact-finding missions and conducts experiments in the name of discovery; Ferocious Fluffity: Might Bite-y Class Pet by Erica S. Perl, illus. by Henry Cole, featuring a seemingly sweet hamster who terrorizes a second-grade class; The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh, the Romeo and Juliet-inspired origin story of two volcanoes; Ada’s Ideas: The Story of Ada Lovelace, the World’s First Computer Programmer by Fiona Robinson, a picture-book biography; and Charles Darwin’s Around-the-World Adventure by Jennifer Thermes, which focuses on Darwin’s explorations of South America.
ABRAMS/AMULET
Amulet jumps into fall with Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters by Kara LaReau, in which two sisters are kidnapped by a band of female pirates; Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger and Paul Dellinger, about a girl and robot who team up to save their school; The Mighty Odds by Amy Ignatow, featuring a group of kids with limited superpowers; The Boy with Seventeen Senses by Sheila Graw, a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk with aliens, wormholes, and synesthesia; and Every Falling Star by Sungiu Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland, the true story of a boy who survived and escaped the harsh society of North Korea.
ABRAMS/APPLESEED
Appleseed checks the blueprints for Tinyville Town Builds a Bridge by Brian Biggs, in which citizens work together on a construction project; What’s a Banana? and What’s an Apple?, both by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Greg Pizzoli, volumes launching a series that showcases everyday objects; Monster Go Night-Night by Aaron Zenz, featuring a monster bedtime routine; and ONE Very Big Bear by Alice Brière-Haquet, illus. by Olivier Philipponneau and Raphaële Enjary, a concept book narrated by a bear and emphasizing counting and sizes.
ALGONQUIN YOUNG READERS
Algonquin Young Readers wets its whistle with The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, in which a girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon must unlock the magic inside her to save her loved ones; The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable F.I.B.: Over the Underworld by Adam Shaughnessy finds friends ABE and Pru in the land of Norse mythology on another assignment for the Fantasy Investigation Bureau; Brightwood by Tania Unsworth, about a girl fighting to save herself and her home from a mysterious intruder; Ghostly Echoes: A Jackaby Novel by William Ritter, a new murder case for Sherlockian detective of the supernatural Jackaby; and Wrecked by Maria Padian, offering a he-said she-said narrative of a college freshman’s sexual assault.
AMICUS
Amicus is on its mark to get set and go with The Race by Rachel Bach, a beginning reader title featuring a BMX race; I’ll Be a Chef by Connie Colwell Miller, illus. by Silvia Baroncelli, about a boy who pretends to be a master chef while cooking in the kitchen with his dad; Henry’s Track and Field Day: The Tortoise and the Hare Remixed by Connie Colwell Miller, illus. by Victoria Assanelli, presenting a modern retelling of the Aesop fable; Do You Really Want to Yell in a Cave?: A Book About Sound by Daniel Maurer, illus. by Teresa Alberini, in which two kids learn about echoes, sound waves and properties of sound; and Follow the Tap Water! A Journey Down the Drain by Bridget Heos, illus. by Alex Westgate, chronicling the journey of water drops traveling through the city sewer system, treatment plant, and back again.
ANDERSEN PRESS USA
Andersen Press grabs a seat for All Aboard for the Bobo Road by Stephen Davies, illus. by Christopher Corr, in which Big Ali the bus driver and his family take a counting journey through part of West Africa; Black Beauty by Ruth Brown and Anna Sewell, a picture book retelling of Sewell’s classic horse story; Elmer and the Race by David McKee, featuring the patchwork elephant in a contest with other young elephants; I Want a Bedtime Story! by Tony Ross, the latest request from the demanding Little Princess; and Nara and the Island by Dan Ungureanu, describing the adventures of a girl on a mysterious island.
ANDREWS MCMEEL
Andrews McMeel takes aim with Laser Moose and Rabbitboy by Doug Savage, adventure stories of a moose who can shoot lasers from his eyes, and his sidekick Rabbitboy; Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong by A.J. Low, launching a mystery series set in Singapore; Pinkaboos: Bitterly and the Giant Problem by Jake and Laura Gosselin, in which students at Fright School learn how to enter the dreams of human girls and teach them to overcome their nightmares; Scribble Squad in the Weird Weird West by Donald Ross, following four friends who fall into the world of their own painting; and Adventures of Kung Fu Robot by Jason Bays, featuring the arch-nemesis of Kung Pow Chicken.
ARBORDALE
Arbordale forms a fall bond with Magnetic Magic by Terry Catasus, illus. by Andrea Gabriel, in which two friends use the “magic” of magnetism to find the hidden treasure plotted on a map; Animal Legs by Mary Holland, an addition to the Animal Anatomy nonfiction series; A Case of Sense by Songju Ma Daemicke, illus. by Shennen Bersani, the tale of one person’s attempt to charge a fee for the wonderful smell of food wafting from his house; Saving Kate’s Flowers by Cindy Sommer, illus. by Laurie Allen Klein, describing Kate’s attempts to keep the summer’s garden flowers alive in the house during the winter; and Tuktuk Tundra Tale by Robin Currie, illus. by Phyllis Saroff, about a furry kamik boot that flies off a passing dog sled and becomes a home to a series of animals.
BLOOMSBURY
Bloomsbury cracks the case with The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg, first in a Sherlock Holmes-inspired series featuring Shelby Holmes and her sleuthing sidekick John Watson; Throne of Glass #5 by Sarah J. Maas, the penultimate book of the fantasy series starring assassin queen Aelin; Stealing Snow by Danielle Page, a twist on The Snow Queen; The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles, kicking off a star-crossed romance series in which soul mates struggle to be together; and Life in a Fishbowl by Len Vlahos, a tragicomedy about a family whose dying father has auctioned off his life on eBay.
BOYDS MILLS
Boyds Mills Press counts more than sheep with A Number Slumber by Suzanne Bloom, in which sleepy animals prepare for bed; This Book Is Not About Dragons by Shelley Moore Thomas, illus. by Fred Koehler, spotlighting a clueless mouse who travels through a book he insists has no dragons, oblivious to the dragons on every page; This Orq. (He #1!) by David Elliott, illus. by Lori Nichols, about the race pitting cave boy Orq and his woolly mammoth Woma against new neighbor Torq and his pet sloth Slomo; You Are Not a Cat! by Sharon G. Flake, illus. by Anna Raff, the exploits of a duck who insists on pretending to be various animals despite Cat’s exasperated protests; and Good Night, Bat! Good Morning, Squirrel! by Paul Miesel, chronicling the notes exchanged between Bat and Squirrel when Bat unexpectedly moves into Squirrel’s home.
BOYDS MILLS/CALKINS CREEK
Calkins Creek strikes up the band with The Music in George’s Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue by Suzanne Slade, illus. by Stacy Innerst, offering a glimpse at some of the styles and sounds that inspired Gershwin’s famous composition; Aim by Joyce Moyer Hostetter, the prequel to Blue and Comfort, in which a teen struggles with anger and identity after his father’s sudden death as WWII looms large; Blood Brother: Jonathan Daniels and His Sacrifice for Civil Rights by Rich and Sandra Wallace, the story of Jonathan Davis, a white civil rights activist killed while saving the life of a black teenager near Selma, Ala.; The Lost Ones by Michaela MacColl, about a Lipan Apache girl desperate to hold onto her heritage when she is forced to assimilate to white culture at the Carlisle Indian School; and Answering the Cry for Freedom: African Americans and the American Revolution by Gretchen Woelfle, illus. by R. Gregory Christie, showcasing the stories of 13 African-Americans who played significant roles on both sides of the American Revolution.
BOYDS MILLS/WORDSONG
WordSong reels in a fall list with Catching a Story Fish by Janice Harrington, about a young storyteller who loses her desire to share tales when classmates make fun of her accent; Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes, a novel in verse featuring an overweight boy who discovers his talent for singing, and the courage to explore new possibilities in his life; and Grumbles from the Town: Mother-Goose Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illus. by Angela Matteson, which braids together the voices of a range of characters from the world of Mother Goose.
CANDLEWICK
Candlewick moves head-first into the season with We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen, featuring two turtles and one hat that looks good on both of them; A Child of Books by Sam Winston and Oliver Jeffers, featuring a boy and girl who wind their way through typographical landscapes comprised of snippets of children’s classics and lullabies; Return by Aaron Becker, the third wordless book about a girl’s adventures in a fantastic world following Journey and Quest; Juana and Lucas by J. Medina, in which young Juana, who lives in Colombia, struggles to learn English for a special outing; and It Looks Like This by Rafi Mittlefehldt, about Mike’s blossoming – but guarded – relationship with Sean, a first love that Mike keeps hidden from his father and from other kids school.
CANDLEWICK/BIG PICTURE
Big Picture Press has its eyes peeled for Where Did They Go?, illus. by Emily Bornoff, a seek-and-find book featuring endangered animals; Animalium Activity Book, illus. by Kate Scott, a companion to the animal-centric picture book; Under Water, Under Earth by Aleksandra Mizielinski and Daniel Mizielinski, presenting illustrations, intricate design and facts about these habitats; and Walk This World at Christmastime, illus. by Debbie Powell, celebrating the differences and similarities in the ways people from many cultures observe Christmas.
CANDLEWICK/CANDLEWICK ENTERTAINMENT
Candlewick Entertainment ushers in fall with the following media tie-in titles: Peekaboo Wild by Night & Day Studios, illus. by Corey Lunn, a lift-the-flap board book inspired by the app; Peppa Pig and the Little Train, and Peg + Cat: The Penguin Problem by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson, adapted from the animated shows; and Once Upon a Gorjuss: Six Classic Tales to Dream By by Santoro, featuring the whimsical girl characters by artist Suzanne Woolcott.
CANDLEWICK/NOSY CROW
Nosy Crow is on top of the world with Poles Apart by Jeanne Willis, illus. by Jarvis, in which a family of penguins find themselves lost at the wrong pole and a polar bear offers to guide them home; There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins, about Mouse’s valiant attempts to dislodge Bear from his chair; Christmas for Greta and Gracie by Yasmeen Ismail, featuring two very different sisters’ experience of Christmas; and Hubble Bubble: Super Spooky Fright Night by Tracey Corderoy, illus. by Joe Berger, an adventure with Pandora’s granny, who is a witch.
CANDLEWICK/TEMPLAR
Templar walks the red carpet with William Heads to Hollywood by Helen Hancocks, featuring a feline detective; The Red Prince by Charlie Rosco, illus. by Tom Clohosy Cole, in which red pajamas play a role in the young prince’s escape from invaders; Poppy Pickle by Emma Yarlett, showcasing the exploits from a girl’s vivid imagination; and The Jolley-Rogers and the Cave of Doom and The Jolley-Rogers and the Ghostly Galleon, two early chapter books starring the family from Dull-on-Sea.
CAPSTONE
Capstone Young Readers takes off its utility belt for Bedtime for Batman by Michael Dahl, illus. by Ethan Beavers, a look at a young superhero’s nightly routine; Be Light Like a Bird by Monika Schröder, about a girl who works to build a new life with her mother after her father dies; Lazy Crafternoon by Mari Bolte, a collection of craft projects; Origami Chic: A Guide to Foldable Fashion by Sok Song, offering instructions for creating one-of-a-kind paper clothing and accessories; and When Penny Met POTUS by Rachel Ruiz, about a girl whose mother works for the president of the United States, and who wonders what the oft-repeated word “POTUS” means.
CAPSTONE/SWITCH PRESS
Switch Press flies high with Children of Icarus by Caighlan Smith, a fantasy in which two closely bonded girls are torn apart to different fates when they enter the labyrinth; and Nice Girls Endure by Chris Struyk-Bonn, in which an overweight teen struggles with anxiety, depression, and bullies as she discovers the courage to declare her own beauty and self-worth.
CHARLESBRIDGE
Charlesbridge tunes up with Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist by Susan Wood, illus. by Duncan Tonatiuh, a picture book biography of musical innovator Juan García Esquivel; Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering by Ruth Spiro, illus. by Irene Chan, the launch title of a board book series spotlighting highly intellectual science concepts; Groundhog’s Shadow by David Biedrzycki, in which Phil, a hardworking, boring groundhog, has a rebellious shadow that runs away to see the world; Sydney & Simon: To the Moon! by Paul Reynolds, illus. by Peter Reynolds, third in the series about twins using the STEAM approach to be creative and solve problems; and A Long Pitch Home by Natalie Dias Lorenzi, spotlighting a 10-year-old Pakistani immigrant’s struggles and triumphs during his first year in America.
CHRONICLE
Chronicle Books does a second take for They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel, in which readers take a walk along side a curious cat; The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear, illus. by Chris Turnham, about a boy’s search for a “wishing tree;” How to Be a Hero by Florence Parry Heide, illus. by Chuck Groenink, an exploration of fairytales that has the reader to decide the true nature of heroism; Hundred Percent by Karen Romano Young, which follows a girl’s efforts to reinvent and rediscover herself as sixth grade begins, and Loving vs Virginia by Patricia Hruby-Powell, illus. by Shadra Strickland, which tells the the story, in verse, of the couple at the heart of a landmark Supreme Court case legalizing marriage between the races.
CORNELL LAB PUBLISHING GROUP
Cornell Lab Publishing Group heads into fall with Am I Like You? by Laura Erickson and Brian Sockin, illus. by Anna Rettberg, in which a mother and son on a nature walk play a game where they consider the characteristics of birds they observe and imagine which bird they feel most like that day.
COTTAGE DOOR PRESS
Cottage Door Press takes a bite out of the season with Little Vampire’s Big Smile by Rosa Von Feder, in which Little Vampire loses his first tooth; Little Witch by Rosa Von Feder, about a witch’s maiden voyage on her broom; Babies Love Christmas by Holly Berry-Byrd, introducing first words about Christmas; Babies Love Halloween by Ros Von Feder, a lift-the-flap book about this holiday; and Oh! Christmas Tree by Holly Berry-Byrd, a peek at the many types of Christmas trees Santa sees on his travels around the world.
CREATIVE EDITIONS
Creative Editions saddles up with The Riddle Horse by Mark Summers, in which a riddling horse recounts its adventures and shares fond memories of its various riders; The Navajo Code Talkers by J. Patrick Lewis, illus. by Gary Kelley, the collaborators’ third chapter of WWII history, relating the story of Navajo Marines who used their unwritten language as a code; The Great North Woods by Brian Heinz, illus. by Michael Rothman, a look at the flora and fauna of this vast boreal forest habitat; The Million Stories of Marco Polo by Michael J. Rosen, illus. by Maria Cristina Pritelli, about a fictitious scribe who relates episodes of Marco Polo’s travels to a curious young visitor; and Fuzzy, Furry Hat by Etienne Delessert, the tale of a lonely bear whose hat helps him meet other animals and serves as refuge during a storm.
CRESTON
Creston preps its canvas for The Other Michelangelo by Marissa Moss, a YA novel inspired by 16th-century painter Michelangelo Caravaggio; The Big Adventures of Mr. Small by JoAnn Adinolfi, a graphic novel in which a hamster searches for adventure in the kitchen and beyond; Jack Death by Margaret Windsor, a middle-grade debut featuring a boy whose father is the grim reaper and set in a world of magical creatures, and Lola Goes to School by Marcia Goldman, chronicling Lola the therapy dog’s first visit to doggy day care.
DISNEY/DISNEY PRESS
Disney Press lets it go with Frozen Pop-Up by Matthew Reinhart, Star Darlings: Good Wish Gone Bad by Shana Muldoon Zappa and Ahmet Zappa, Elena of Avalor: Feliz Navidad, A Twisted Tale: As Old As Time by Liz Brazwell, and Beauty and the Beauty: Belle’s Library.
DISNEY-HYPERION
Disney-Hyperion checks in with Hotel Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins; The Very Fluffy Kitt, Papillon by A.N. Kang; Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan; and launching the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series are The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat and We Are Growing by Laurie Keller.
DISNEY/HYPERION
Hyperion Books is on watch with Hunter Book 2: Elite by Mercedes Lackey, The Amateurs by Sara Shepherd, Spindle by E.K. Johnston, Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken, and A List of Cages by Robin Roe.
DISNEY/MARVEL
Marvel Press goes nuts with Squirrel Girl by Shannon and Dean Hale, Black Widow Book 2: Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl, and Iron Man: The Gauntlet by Eoin Colfer.
DK
DK builds a list with Lego 365, a title that allows readers to use a random-number generator embedded in the cover to choose a project; Children Just Like Me, in which more than 40 children from around the globe introduce aspects of their lives, including their families, favorite foods, and activities; Find Out! Volcanoes, one of six 64-page volumes launching of a visual reference series; Super Cool Tech, a guide to new technologies like 3-D printed cars and smart appliances; and My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things, which includes chapters on the human body, transportation and space.
DOUBLEDAY CANADA YOUNG READERS
Doubleday Canada Young Readers looks up for The Fiery Sky by John Wilson, the tale of a teenage spy in Belgium who gathers information to send to the British to help in ending the war; and We All Fall Down by Eric Walters, in which Will plans to accompany his father to his office in New York City’s World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 for a school project.
EERDMANS
Eerdmans ponders the season with Why Am I Here? by Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen, illus. by Akin Duzakin, in which a boy wonders what life would be like if he lived somewhere else; The Golden Key by George MacDonald, illus. by Ruth Sanderson, starring Mossy, who is determined to find a legendary golden key at the end of a rainbow; A Young Wolf with Manners by Jean Leroy, illus. by Matthieu Maudet, about a wolf who honors his prey’s final wishes before devouring them; Father’s Road by Ji-yun Jang, illus. by Tan Jun, starring a boy who joins his father’s caravan on a journey along the dangers of the Silk Road; and Sam Showed Up by Edward van de Vendel, illus. by Philip Hopman, the story of a stray dog who is adopted by a family when his original owner comes looking for him.
FLASHLIGHT PRESS
Flashlight Press flags down fall with I Need My Monster Too by Amanda Noll, illus. by Howard McWilliam, the story of how Ethan’s monster moves from under his bed to help someone else – probably Ethan’s sister, Emma – who needs him more.
FREE SPIRIT
Free Spirit unplugs with Ollie Outside: Screen-Free Fun by Michael Oberschneider, illus. by Guy Wolek, about a boy’s attempts to get his family members to turn off their electronic gadgets and help him build a fort outside; and Zach Makes Mistakes by William Mulcahy, illus. by Darren McKee, in which Zach learns from his teacher a three-step method for dealing with his mistakes.
GRAPHIC ARTS
Graphic Arts Books stays afloat for Chasing at the Surface by Sharon Mentyka, a debut middle-grade novel featuring a girl who saves a pod of whales; Sojo by Pam Flowers, illus. by Bill Farnsworth, spotlighting a shy sled dog who earns the respect of her teammates; and Cassie and Jasper: High Stakes Cattle Drive by Bryn Fleming, the third adventure about savvy ranch kids who save animals.
GROUNDWOOD
Groundwood preens with The King of the Birds by Acree Macam, illus. by Natalie K. Nelson, in which a girl buys a peacock to be the king of her bird collection; The Moon Inside by Sandra Feder, illus. by Aimée Sicuro, a tale of how the beauty of the natural world helps soothe a child’s fear of the dark; A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary, illus. by Qin Leng, featuring children’s answers to their teacher’s question about what makes their family special; A Boy Named Queen by Sara Cassidy, a chapter book about unlikely friends and a dog named Patti Smith; and The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk by Jan Thornhill, an exploration of the disappearance of the Great Auk, a flightless seabird extinct since 1844.
HARPERCOLLINS
HarperCollins knows the play’s the thing with Shakespeare Retold by E. Nesbit, illus. by Antonio Javier Caparo, a collection of prose retellings of favorite comedies and tragedies with an introduction by actor John Lithgow; Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O’Donnell, illus. by Tim Miller, the comical adventures of a class pet that undergoes a freaky transformation; Going Wild by Lisa McMann, first in a series about a 12-year-old girl who finds a bracelet that grants her animal powers; One Half from the East by Nadia Hashimi, a novel set in modern-day Afghanistan about two girls’ experiences as bacha posh (pre-teen girls dressed as boys); and Moo by Sharon Creech, the tale, told in poetry and prose, of 12-year-old Reena’s move to Maine with her family and the ornery cow she meets there.
HARPERCOLLINS/BALZER + BRAY
Balzer + Bray dives deep for I Used to Be a Fish by Tom Sullivan, a debut picture book introducing the science of evolution and celebrating imagination; Fox and the Jumping Contest by Corey Tabor, a modern-day trickster tale featuring an irrepressible fox; The Magic Word by Mac Barnett, illus. by Elise Parsley, which puts a new spin on the meaning of “magic word”; Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrey Vernick, about two tween girls, one black, one white, both named Naomi, whose divorced parents start dating; and Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch, the concluding volume of the Snow Like Ashes fantasy series.
HARPERCOLLINS/GREENWILLOW
Greenwillow Books rolls out the welcome mat for Home at Last by Vera B. Williams, illus. by Williams and Chris Raschka, a collaboration that was the late Williams’s final project, about two daddies, Daddy Rich and Daddy Albert, who adopt a little boy; Mervin the Sloth Is About to Do the Best Thing in the World by Colleen AF Venable, illus. by Ruth Chan, a tale of friendship; Wonderfall by Michael Hall, which introduces readers to autumn traditions, colors, and activities; Words by Christoph Niemann, featuring an illustrated collection of the 300 most used words in the English language; and Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Griffin, a debut novel in which a young woman with a mechanical heart aims to create a fellow being who may understand and accept her.
HARPERTEEN
HarperTeen is seeing double with Replica by Lauren Oliver, a novel containing two closely related stories that explore issues of individuality, identity, and humanity; Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, featuring triplets, each with her own magic, who were separated at birth and meet again on their 16th birthday to fight for the throne; Aerie by Maria Dahvana Headley, sequel to the fantasy novel Magonia; Girls in the Moon by Janet McNally, a YA debut about the daughter of ex-rock stars finding her own voice during a summer in New York; and A Million Worlds with You by Claudia Gray, which closes out the Firebird trilogy.
HARPERCOLLINS/TEGEN
Katherine Tegen Books hops into fall with How to Be a Bigger Bunny by Florence Minor, illus. by Wendall Minor, a peek at how the smallest bunny can be bigger than everyone in the family by channeling the right kind of spirit; Nothing but Trouble by Jacqueline Davies, the launch title of a four-book series about two girls who generate excitement in their small town by planning pranks; Timeless by Armand Baltazar, the first book in an illustrated fantasy series where past, present and future collide; Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis, a contemporary novel about three teens connected by a life-changed violent incident; and Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard, in a girl is faced with old-world parents, bad guy friends, and feelings for other girls.
HARPERCOLLINS/WALDEN POND
Walden Pond Press holds the key to The Dragon’s Gate by Barry Wolverton, continuing the adventures of Bren and Mouse who explore ancient Chinese ruins in search of Mouse’s true identity; and A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold, which kicks off a chapter book series featuring Bixby Alexander Tam, otherwise known as Bat.
HOLIDAY HOUSE
Holiday House dresses for success with Polka Dots for Poppy by Amy Schwartz, about sisters who help their toddler sibling with a fashion crisis; Pete Likes Bunny by Emily Arnold McCully, a picture book celebrating first love; Vietnam by Russell Freedman, offering a concise history of the war in Indochina and its effect on American society; Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West, a debut fantasy weaved together from familiar fairy tale themes and characters; and The Devil’s Banshee by Donna Hosie, next up in the YA series of titles about teenagers in hell.
HMH BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
HMH follows the blueprint with The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay, an update of the classic The Way Things Work; Before Morning by Joyce Sidman, illus. by Beth Krommes, which sees a child’s wish for snow come true; These Mighty Forces by Estelle Laure, in which a teen reassesses her priorities and embarks on a romance after waking up from a month-long coma; Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet, an authorized illustrated biography of the author of Charlotte’s Web; and Gutless by Carl Dueker, about a football star who becomes the target of bullies.
HMH/CLARION
Clarion Books keeps the beat with I Am Drums by Mike Grosso, a debut novel chronicling a girl’s obstacle-filled journey to follow her dream of being a drummer; Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall, in which a girl struggles against her OCD and agoraphophia when a new neighbor moves in; Revenge of the Green Banana by Jim Murphy, an autobiographical tale about growing up Catholic and mischievous; It’s Not Time for Sleeping by Lisa Graff and Lauren Castillo, a bedtime tale; and Rabbit Magic by Meg McClaren, in which a magician’s rabbit steals the show.
KANE MILLER
Kane Miller shows its work with This Is Not a Math Book by Anna Weltman, a drawing book featuring patterns with a mathematical design; the Impossible Quest series by Kate Forsyth simultaneously releases five fantasy novels about four children trying to save their families and their kingdom; Kooky Crumbs by J. Patrick Lewis, illus. by Mary Uhles, a collection of silly poems; Colors by Angela Muss, a concept book in the Learn with Little Red Penguin series; and Secrets of Animal Camouflage: A Shine-a-Light Book by Carron Brown, illus. by Wesley Robbins, following animals disguised in their habitats.
KIDS CAN
Kids Can Press takes wing with The Day I Became a Bird by Ingrid Chabbert, illus. by Raúl Nieto Guridi, in which a boy dresses in a bird costume to get the attention of his crush; The Branch by Mireille Messier, illus. by Pierre Pratt, featuring a girl who mourns the loss of her favorite branch from the tree in her yard; A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen, illus. by Mike Lowery, the story that unfolds from the first letter that a boy writes; Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive) in the Real World? by Helaine Becker, illus. by Phil McAndrew, a primer on whether popular monster types like zombies really exist; and On Our Way to Oyster Bay: Mother Jones and Her March for Children’s Rights by Monica Kulling, illus. by Felicita Sala, spotlighting a 1903 march of striking millworkers organized by labor reformer Mother Jones.
LERNER/CAROLHODA
Carolrhoda swings into fall with Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Maniac Muffins by Chris Monroe, which finds Chico Bon Bon chasing monstrous runaway muffins; Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story by Caren Stelson, the true story of six-year-old Sachiko’s survival of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki; The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O’Reilly, a novel set in an old and possibly haunted mansion; A Spy Called James by Ann Rockwell, illus. by Floyd Cooper, a look at the life of James Armistead Lafayette, a slave who spied for George Washington’s army during the Revolutionary War; and The Thief’s Apprentice by Bryan Methods, first in a debut trilogy in which shy Oliver Diplexito discovers that his family’s butler is Edwardian England’s most notorious thief.
LERNER/CAROLRHODA LAB
Carolrhoda Lab lets it all hang out with Naked ’76 by Kevin Brooks, about a girl playing bass for a wild band in 1976 England, as punk rock is getting its foothold; The Stand-In by Steve Bloom, in which Brooks realizes he can make money as a rent-a-date for socially awkward classmates; The Immortal Throne by Bree Despain, which wraps up the Into the Dark fantasy trilogy; and The Giant by Lex Thomas, the final book in the Quarantine series set in a ravaged America.
LERNER/DARBY CREEK
Darby Creek solves the season with The Secret of the Puzzle Box by Penny Warner, which closes out the Code Busters series featuring a crew of intrepid sixth-graders; A Twist of Fate by Penny Warner, which finds April Sinclair and her family spending quality time together on a ski trip after her grandmother’s cancer diagnosis; Breakdown by Kathryn J. Behern, one of six simultaneously released volumes in the Atlas of Cursed Places series about trapped students; At the Center by Patrick Jones, launching the four-volume Bounce series about high-school basketball players and their challenges on and off the court; and Fire and Ice: Stories of Winter from Around the World by Lari Don, illus. by Francesca Greenwood, launching a series showcasing legends, fables, and folklore.
LERNER/GRAPHIC UNIVERSE
Graphic Universe gallops into the season with Grand Theft Horse by G. Neri, illus. by Corbin Wilkin, a graphic novel relating the true story of trainer Gail Ruffu’s lifelong love of horses and her legal battles to protect a prized horse; Truth in Sight by Cori Doerrfeld, illus. by Doerrfeld and Tyler Page, which joins the Cici: A Fairy’s Tale early reader series; His Royal Majesty of the Mushrooms by Katherine Ferrier and Florian Ferrier, illus. by Kathereine Ferrier, trans. by Carol Klio Burrell, the latest entry in the Hotel Strange series; and Stone Cold by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple, illus. by Orion Zangara, which launches a series about a demon bound in the form of a gargoyle who solves murders in 1930s Scotland.
LERNER/HUNGRY TOMATO
Hungry Tomato steps into others’ shoes for How to Live Like a Caribbean Pirate by John Farndon, illus. by Tatio Viana, new to the How to Live Like… nonfiction series; Jungle Puzzles by Gareth Moore, illus. by Ed Meyer, one of four Brain Game Treasure Hunts titles; Amazing Land Animals and Brilliant Birds by John Farndon, new Smart Animals books; and Make Your Own Catapults by Rob Ives, illus. by John Paul de Quay, part of the Tabletop Wars series of how-to/activity books.
LERNER/MILLBROOK
Millbrook calculates its fall list with Mind-Boggling Numbers: Math for the Curious by Michael J. Rosen, illus. by Julia Patton, which answers such questions as how many glasses of lemonade would fit in an Olympic-sized swimming pool; The Alligator’s Smile: And Other Poems by Jane Yolen, photos by Jason Stemple, a collection showcasing alligators; Like a Bird: The Art of the American Slave Song by Cynthia Grady, illus. by Michele Wood which pairs iconic spirituals with paintings; and Plants Can’t Sit Still by Rebecca Hirsch, illus. by Mia Posada, a look at the many ways plants and their seeds move.
LITTLE BEE BOOKS
Little Bee stays inside the lines with The Black and White Factory by Eric Telchin, illus. by Diego Funck, an interactive picture book that invites readers to help prevent color from seeping into the strict Black and White Factory; Eddie the Bully by Henry Cole, a look at how kindness can defuse bullies; The Nutcracker by Grace Maccarone, illus. by Célia Chauffrey, an interpretation of E.T.A. Hoffman’s holiday-themed tale; and Love You Too by Alastair Heim, illus. by Alisa Coburn, which depicts a father’s and daughter’s day of activities as they express their love for each other in a call-and-response format.
LITTLE, BROWN
Little, Brown keeps things under wraps for Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart, following the exploits of a boy who finds a watch with a secret power; TEK: The Modern Cave Boy by Patrick McDonnell, a tale about how technology can take us backward in many ways; Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, a fantasy adventure set in the aftermath of a war between gods and men; The Sound of Silence by Katrina Goldsaito, illus. by Julia Kuo, in which a young boy wanders the streets of Tokyo seeking silence; and When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin, a companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon which finds Pinmei facing obstacles found only in legends to rescue her kidnapped grandmother.
LITTLE, BROWN/POPPY
Poppy welcomes fall with Cloudwish by Fiona Wood, in which the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants juggles her two identities: at home and at her posh Melbourne school; and A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom, an exploration of life with mental illness, featuring a teen girl who fears the worst when the truth comes out about her bipolar disorder.
MACMILLAN/FARRAR, STRAUS & GIROUX
FSG jumps into fall with Gertie’s Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley, illus. by Jillian Tamaki, a debut novel featuring a girl’s mission to be the best fifth grader ever; Hug It Out by Louis Thomas, in which two boys are forced to make up after one fight pushes their mother to the brink; Wish by Barbara O’Connor, about a girl who discovers that family are simply people who love you for who you are; Cracking Up by Samantha Bee, a middle-grade comedy debut about friendship and dealing with parents; and The Monster on the Road Is Me by JP Romney, set in modern Japan, the tale of a boy who must take down a demon with a murderous vendetta.
MACMILLAN/FSG/FERGUSON
Margaret Ferguson Books is up, up, and away with A Voyage in the Clouds: The (Mostly) True Story of the First International Flight by Balloon in 1785 by Matthew Olshan, illus. by Sophie Blackall, a fictional retelling of this pioneering experiment by Englishman John Jeffries and his pilot Jean-Pierre Blanchard; Write This Down by Claudia Mills, introducing a 12-year-old aspiring author; Cinnamon Moon by Tess Hilmo, about siblings on a mission to save their friend and find a new home in the aftermath of the Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871 in Wisconsin; If I Could Drive, Mama by Cari Best, illus. by Simone Shin, the adventures of a boy imagining driving his mother around town in this cardboard box car; and Balcony on the Moon by Ibtisam Barakat, a companion to Tasting the Sky that further explores the author’s childhood in Palestine.
MACMILLAN/FEIWEL AND FRIENDS
Feiwel and Friends shares glad tidings with This First Christmas Night by Laura Godwin, illus. by William Low, presenting the miracle and meaning of Christmas; You and Me and the Wishing Tree by Nancy Tillman, about a special tree that helps parents and children share their wishes; Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure by Ann M. Martin with Annie Parnell, illus. by Ben Hatke, a new take on the classic series in which Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle leaves her niece, Missy, in charge; Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig, a YA debut thriller featuring a boy whose girlfriend’s mysterious disappearance threatens to reveal his deepest secret; and Heartless by Marissa Meyer, presenting the backstory of the infamous Queen of Hearts.
MACMILLAN/HENRY HOLT
Henry Holt joins forces for Together from Day One by Rosemary Wells, celebrating all that parents lovingly do for their children; Little Elliot, Big Fun by Mike Curato, chronicling elephant Little Elliot’s and his friend Mouse’s trip to the amusement park; Calpurnia Tate, Junior Veterinarian: Travis and Stinky by Jacqueline Kelly, the launch of a chapter book spin-off from the novels staring Callie Vee; The Beauty of Darkness by Mary Pearson, which concludes the Remnant Chronicles fantasy series; and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, the sequel to Six of Crows featuring a new con for criminal Kaz Brekker and his crew.
MACMILLAN/HENRY HOLT/OTTAVIANO
Christy Ottaviano Books offers a taste of fall with Mac and Cheese by James Proimos, collecting three friendship stories starring opposites Mac and Cheese; Night of the Living Shadows by Dave Coverly, continuing the adventures of Speed Bump and Slingshot from Night of the Living Worms; Build It Bigger by Sean Kenney, a behind-the-scenes look at Kenney’s body of Lego-building work; Sticker Girl by Janet Tashjian, kicking off a chapter book series about a girl whose sticker collection comes to life; and The Zookeeper’s Daughter by Elise Broach in which zoo-dwelling Lizzie and her friend get swept up in a covert investigation and a high-stakes historical puzzle when they notice something strange about the zoo’s wolves.
MACMILLAN/IMPRINT
Imprint packs its bags for Tomo Explores the World by Trevor Lai, starring a clever boy who sets out from his fishing village on a quest with the help of his friend, his dog, and his own unique inventions; The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia, a romance between perfect girl Frankie and street racer Marco; The Ones by Daniel Sweren-Becker, a debut thriller set in the near future where genetically engineered teens must fight for their rights; Disaster Diaries: Brainwashed by R. McGeddon, illus. by Jamie Littler, in which a mad scientist attempts to brainwash everyone in the quirky town of Sitting Duck; and The Super Happy Party Bears: Gnawing Around by Marcie Colleen, beginning a chapter book series about the exploits of relentlessly cheerful bears.
MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK
Roaring Brook Press is on the hunt for The Bear Who Wasn’t There by LeUyen Pham, about a bear who doesn’t show up in the book he’s supposed to star in; Leave Me Alone by Vera Brosgol, about a grumpy grandmother’s bold efforts to find peace and quiet an finish her knitting in a small house full of family; Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu, in which a girl befriends a boy who went through a similar experience to her brother who was kidnapped and later rescued; Little Bot and Sparrow by Jake Parker, featuring a bird who cares for a robot; and Rebel Genius by Michael Dante DeMartino, beginning a mystery-adventure series about magic and art set in a Renaissance-inspired fantasy world.
MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK/PORTER
Neal Porter Books see all with In Plain Sight by Richard Jackson, illus. by Jerry Pinkney, in which a girl and her ailing grandfather play a game of hide and seek that leads them both through memories and family history; Giant Squid by Candace Fleming, illus. by Eric Rohmann, exploring the life of this sea creature; Old Dog Baby Baby by Julie Fogliano, illus. by Chris Raschka, starring a playful baby and a lazy old dog; Samson in the Snow by Philip C. Stead, about the friendship between a giant mammoth and a little red bird; and Rudas: Niño and His Horrendous Hermanitas by Yuyi Morales, a companion to Niño Wrestles the World in which Niño’s little sisters get in on the wrestling action.
MACMILLAN/SWOON READS
Swoon Reads puts on a fresh coat of lip gloss for Kiss Cam by Kiara London, about a trio of vloggers who honor fan requests for this pucker-up feature; How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo, in which a wheelchair-bound rugby player shows a former cyber-bully that everyone deserves a second chance; Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall, about a confused gay boy falling for his best friend, who is bi and dating the most popular girl in school; You Don’t Know My Name by Kristen Orlando, a debut YA adventure featuring a girl raised to be an elite spy who is torn between honoring her family’s legacy and living a normal life with the guy she loves; and No Holding Back by Kate Evangelista, the second Dodge Cove novel, which finds Nathan hoping that a romantic European vacation offers the opportunity to confess his love to his best friend Preston.
MIGHTY MEDIA
Mighty Media loads up its backpack for Monster Needs to Go to School by Paul Czajak, illus. by Wendy Grieb, in which Monster is nervous about the first day of school; and The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee by Erin Petti, illus. by Kris Aro McLeod, a debut fantasy-adventure-mystery starring an 11-year-old girl who tries to get her father back after he is kidnapped by a ghost.
MONTH 9
Month 9 slays the season with In the Shadow of the Dragon King by J. Keller Ford, a YA fantasy novel about two boys’ attempts to destroy a dangerous dragon; The Missing by J.R. Lenk, the exploits of a girl who is pursuing her supernatural gifts; Un/Fair by Seven Pizkis, featuring a boy with autism who can see the future; Hair in All the Wrong Places by Andrew Buckley, about a teen boy who tries to solve a murder mystery while battling to keep his werewolf tendencies at bay; and Genesis Girl by Jennifer Bardsley, a debut novel in which a teen girl is sold to a family with nefarious plans.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
National Geographic summons a genie with Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love, and Betrayal by Donna Jo Napoli, illus. by Christina Balit, a retelling of the tales from 1,001 Arabian Nights; How Things Work by T.J. Resler, which reveals how ordinary and not-so-ordinary objects function and are constructed; Rise of the Lioness: Restoring a Habitat and Its Pride on the Liuwa Plains by Bradley Hague, the true tale of the last lioness of Liuwa Plains in Zambia and her role in the rebirth of the area’s ecosystem; The Book of Heroes: Tales of History’s Most Daring Guys by Crispin Boyer, featuring men from different walks of life who demonstrate that heroism doesn’t lie solely in brute strength; and The Book of Heroines: Tales of History’s Gutsiest Girls by Stephanie Drimmer, profiles of women who represent a new take on what it means to be strong.
NORTHSOUTH
NorthSouth Books sharpens its scissors for Matissse and His Cut-Outs by Annemarie van Haeringen, a look at how artist Henri Matisse embraced his cut-paper technique after being confined to a wheelchair; Armstrong: A Mouse on the Moon by Torben Kuhlmann, about a mouse named Armstrong whose journey parallels that of the U.S. sending its first astronauts to the moon; Pug Man’s 3 Wishes by Sebastian Meschenmoser, in which a fairy offers Mr. Pug three wishes; and The Green Umbrella by Jackie Azua Kramer, illus. by Maral Sassouni, introducing a parade of animals who each claim that Elephant’s green umbrella is really their boat, tent, flying machine, etc.
OWLKIDS
OwlKids marks a milestone with You Are Two by Sara O’Leary, illus. by Karen Klassen, celebrating all the special things about a child turning two years old; Clara Humble and the Not-So-Super Powers by Anna Humphrey, illus. by Lisa Cinar, first in a series of middle-grade novels starring an overconfident fourth grader who becomes convinced she has superpowers; Dojo Surprise by Chris Tougas, in which the ninjas plan a surprise birthday party for their master; West Meadows Detectives: The Case of Maker Mischief by Liam O’Donnell, illus. by Aurélie Gran, about a third-grade detective on the autism spectrum who helps his classmates crack the case of a missing robot; and I Am Josephine (And I Am a Living Thing) by Jan Thornhill, illus. by Jaqui Lee, a picture book about the interconnectedness of all living things.
PENGUIN/PENGUIN YOUNG READERS
Penguin Young Readers prepares for takeoff with Daring Amelia by Barbara Lowell, illus. by Jez Tuya, profiling the famous female pilot; Kate’s Wish by Lana Jacobs, a tie-in to the animated TV show Kate & Mim-Mim; No Bones! by Karen Romano Young, which explores marine invertebrates in a leveled reader; and Ham-Ham-Hamsters by Bonnie Bader, all about these rodents and how to care for them.
PENGUIN/CARTOON NETWORK
Cartoon Network Books flits into fall with these tie-ins to TV programming: We’ve Got the Power: A Powfactor Handbook by Christa Roberts; Card Wars Official Guide by Lloyd Cordill; The Clarence Uh-Oh-Eek-Oops-Yikes Book by Brian Elling, illus. by Ryan Matias; Gumball’s Guide to Science by Kiel Phegley; and The Powerpuff Girls: The Supersecret Saving-the-Day Notebook by Orli Zuravicky.
PENGUIN/DAWSON
Kathy Dawson Books is on the lookout for Trouble Makes a Comeback by Stephanie Tromly, a sequel to Trouble is a Friend of Mine, about high school student Zoe’s continued involvement in her friend Digby’s investigation of his sister’s disappearance.
PENGUIN/DIAL
Dial lets down its hair for Hamster Princess: Ratpunzel by Ursula Vernon, featuring the daring tower rescue of a stolen hydra egg; Life of Zarf: Troll Overboard by Rob Harrell, chronicling an adventure on the high seas; Thornghost by Tone Almhjell, in which a boy and his lynx travel to an alternate realm; The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas, illus. by Erin E. Stead, a story about friendship and taking the first step; and The Christmas Boot by Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Jerry Pinkney, an original holiday fairy tale that spotlights wishes and Santa’s magic.
PENGUIN/DUTTON
Dutton chases the storm for Still Life with Tornado by A.S. King, about a 16-year-old artist who encounters past and future versions of herself; The Smaller Evil by Stephanie Kuehn, in which a teen falls under the sway of a charismatic cult leader; Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi, featuring Alice’s quest to find her missing father in the magical land of Furthermore; Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer, focused on the members of a small-town senior class who start spontaneously combusting; and The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz, a fantasy-adventure set in medieval France.
PENGUIN/GROSSET & DUNLAP
Grosset & Dunlap holds up the mirror to Pretty by Justin Sayre, about a biracial girl obsessed with fashion who is secretly dealing with her mother’s alcoholism; North Pole Ninjas: Mission: Christmas! by Tyler Knott Gregson and Sarah Linden, illus. by Piper Thibodeau, a book-and-plush set focused on ninjas saving the spirit of the holiday; Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, illus. by Brooke Boynton Hughes, the classic country song in picture-book form; The Kat Sinclair Files #2: Graveyard Slot by Michelle Schusterman, second in the series starring a teen girl whose father hosts a ghost-hunting TV program; and Clangers: Looking for a Lullaby by Janet Lawler, read by William Shatner, packaged with a CD and spotlighting a cuddly alien’s search for a lullaby.
PENGUIN/PAULSEN
Nancy Paulsen Books packs the pews for Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim, illus. by E.B. Lewis, a glimpse into the boyhood of Civil Rights leader John Lewis, whose first congregation was the flock of chickens on the family farm; Maxi’s Secrets (or What You Can Learn from a Dog) by Lynn Plourde, about the bond between a deaf dog and a loudmouth boy; Maple and Willow’s Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols, in which love helps save the day when Maple turns out to be allergic to the family Christmas tree; and Plenty of Love to Go Around by Emma Chichester Clark, featuring a dog who isn’t thrilled to compete with a new cat for the family’s attention.
PENGUIN/PHILOMEL
Philomel plans a “purrfect” fall with Bill the Cat: A Story from Bloom County by Berkeley Breathed, spotlighting one of the cartoonist’s favorite characters; The Cat from Hunger Mountain by Ed Young, a tale of humility and appreciating life’s gifts; Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas by Jonathan Stokes, a series debut inspired by Indiana Jones and The Goonies; Last Man Out by Mike Lupica, in which a young football player must deal with the fear and pain of being a firefighter’s son; and Wild Ones: The Moonlight Brigade by C. Alexander London, continuing the adventures in the animal fantasy series.
PENGUIN/PRICE STERN SLOAN
Price Stern Sloan spells it out with ABC: The Alphabet from the Sky by Benedikt Gross and Joseph Lee, which encourages readers to find letters in photos taken from a bird’s-eye-view; Mega Huge Cartoon Network Mad Libs, collecting five previously published Mad Lib tie-ins to CN programming; My First Sticker by Numbers Book, illus. by Alice Griffiths, an activity title; and Who Was? Mad Libs by Paula Manzanero, featuring 21 original stories inspired by the Who Was…? biography series.
PENGUIN/PUFFIN
Puffin has the golden ticket with the Broadway tie-on version of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Dracula by Bram Stoker, two classic novels joining the Puffin Pixels collection.
PENGUIN/PUTNAM
Putnam turns the page with The Reader by Traci Chee, set in a world where reading is yet unknown, and a book is the strange object that holds the truth to a murder; Journey’s End by Rachel Hawkins, in which two girls become fast friends and take on an ancient cure in a contemporary Scottish town; Gingerbread Christmas by Jan Brett, a companion to Gingerbread Baby, featuring a Gingerbread band in a Swiss village; Young Elites Book 3 by Marie Lu, the conclusion to the trilogy; and Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland, a debut novel focused on first love, and broken – and mended – hearts.
PENGUIN/RAZORBILL
Razorbill raises the curtain on You in Five Acts by Una LaMarche, showcasing a group of friends at an elite performing arts school whose lives are shaken by tragedy; Iceling by Sasha Stephenson, a sci-fi outing in which Lorna discovers the shocking truth about her adoptive sister; A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir, a sequel to the fantasy An Ember in the Ashes, set in a world inspired by ancient Rome; Black Moon by Romina Russell, book three of the fantasy/sci-fi Zodiac series; and Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes, the fifth Fall Kingdoms book, featuring an epic battle between gods and mortals.
PENGUIN/VIKING
Viking mounts a search party for The Lost House by Brian Cronin, a search-and-find book that leads two children through the rooms of their grandfather’s overstuffed house; Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade by Max Brallier, illus. by Doug Holgate, challenging Jack and his monster friends to figure out why the zombies are disappearing; Kids of Appetite by David Arnold, about two kids who found a coded message and got wrapped up in a grisly murder; Caveboy Dave: More Scrawny Than Brawny by Aaron Reynolds, illus. by Phil McAndrew, in which a prehistoric boy must prove himself as an inventor to avoid a dangerous life as a hunter; and Ugly by Robert Hoge, the author’s memoir about growing up with a severely distorted face and legs, and ultimately embracing his “ugly” appearance.
PENGUIN/WARNE
Warne passes out the noisemakers for Happy New Year, Spot! by Eric Hill, in which the pup celebrates New Year’s Eve with family; I Love You, Spot by Eric Hill, a heart-shaped board-book Valentine’s Day title; and A Celebration of Beatrix Potter, inspired by Beatrix Potter, featuring 30 well-known children’s illustrators’ reimaginings of Potter’s work in honor of what would have been her 150th birthday.
PERSNICKETY PRESS
Persnickety Press sizes up the season with A Teeny Tiny Halloween by Lauren L. Wohl, illus. by Henry Cole, in which a teeny tiny woman makes the best of things when her teeny tiny house is buried under leaves; Little Frog and the Scary Autumn Thing by Jane Yolen, illus. by Ellen Shi, about a frog setting out into the world; Does a Fiddler Crab Fiddle? by Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehrig, illus. by John Sandford, a Q&A book focused on this particular type of crab; and The Island of Grump by Kenny Lam, illus. by John Buckner, a rhyming cautionary tale.
PETER PAUPER PRESS
Peter Pauper Press piles it on with The Highest Mountain of Books in the World by Rocio Bonilla, starring a boy who discovers the many ways that books can take him to the greatest heights.
POLIS
Polis greets the season with The Misshapes: Doolittle Rises by Alex Flynn, the concluding volume in a fantasy trilogy featuring semi-super-powered heroes fighting evil.
PUFFIN CANADA
Puffin Canada takes center ice with Great by Lauri Holomis and Glen Gretzky, foreword by Wayne Gretzky, illus. by Kevin Sylvester, a picture book about hockey great Wayne Gretzky’s boyhood years; Sometimes We Think You Are a Monkey by Johanna Skibsrud and Sarah Blacker, illus. by Julie Morstad, a look at parents who can’t stop marveling at their baby; Hurry Up, Henry by Jennifer Lanthier, illus. by Isabelle Malenfant, in which a boy who likes to take his time often sees things that others miss in the rush; and Once Upon a Golden Apple: 25th Anniversary Edition by Jean Little and Maggie de Vries, illus. by Phoebe Gilman, the fractured fairy tale in which everything seems to wrong.
QUARTO/QEB
QEB Publishing blows into fall with What on Earth? Wind by Isabel Thomas, illus. by Paulina Morgan, an exploration of wind through experiments and hands-on activities; 50 Things You Should Know About the Environment by Jen Green, which collects facts, diagrams, infographics, and photos showcasing Earth’s environment; and Topsy Turvy Animals by Wes Magee, illus. by Tracey Tucker, the antics of animals acting out of character.
QUARTO/FRANCES LINCOLN
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books tunes up for The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons in One Day by Katie Cotton, illus. by Jessica Courtney-Tickle, a press-button sound book featuring Vivaldi’s music; Little People, Big Dreams: Maya Angelou by Lisbeth Kaiser, illus. by Leire Salaberria, chronicling the childhood and life of this author; Little People, Big Dreams: Amelia Earhart by Isabel Sánchez Vergara, illus. by Maria Diamantes, profiling the childhood and life of the pioneering aviatrix; Stories from the Bible by Kathleen Bostrom, illus. by Dinara Mirtalipova, containing 14 stories from the Old and New Testaments; and Calendar of Stories by Angela McAllister, illus. by Christopher Corr, which collects tales from around the globe.
QUARTO/MOONDANCE PRESS
MoonDance Press kicks off its Sunday shoes for Footloose by Kenny Loggins, illus. by Tim Bowers, a picture book version of the 1984 Grammy-winning song that depicts an all-night animal dance party at the zoo; Alice in Wonderland: The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party—A Modern Retelling by Lewis Carroll, adapted by Joe Rhatigan and Charles Nurnberg, illus. by Eric Puybaret, which introduces some of Carroll’s beloved characters to younger readers; and Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson, edited by Susan Sniveley, illus. by Christine Davenier, featuring commentary alongside the poet’s works.
QUARTO/SEAGRASS PRESS
Seagrass Press brushes and flosses for Open Wide: The Ultimate Guide to Your Teeth by Susan Grigsby, featuring history, lore, and hygiene tips about teeth; 180 Nonfiction Minutes by InkThinkTank, which collects 180 short essays on a variety of topics; The Snow Angels Nativity by M.J. Michaels, illus. by Kathy Nausley, in which a host of snow angels is on call to assist the holy family; and Just for You by Bernette Ford, a collection of four family stories featuring African-American children.
QUARTO/WALTER FOSTER JR.
Walter Foster Jr. Books poses with Our ABC of Yoga by Christiane Engel, pairing simplified yoga poses with alphabetized animals and objects; Ancient Earth Journal: The Late Jurassic by Juan Carlos Alonso and Gregory S. Paul, offering a look at this period, in the format of a naturalist’s notebook; 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up by Bianca Schulze, an interactive journal; Adventures in Lettering by Dawn Warnaar, a hand-lettering workbook; and Jurassic Classics: The Prehistoric Masters of Art by Saskia Lacey, an introduction to art history with a silly “prehistoric” emphasis.
QUARTO/WIDE EYED EDITIONS
Wide Eyed Editions blasts off for Destination: Space by Christoph Englert, illus. by Tom Clohosy Cole, providing an introduction to space and the history of the universe; Illuminature by Rachel Williams, illus. by Carnovsky, featuring the routines of animals in 10 different environments and packaged with a magic viewing lens; Atlas of Animal Adventures by Rachel Williams, illus. by Lucy Letherland, a compendium of extraordinary animal behaviors; The Hello Atlas by Ben Handicott, illus. by Kenard Pak, offering a peek into the lives of children from around the world, featuring a QR code scan to access greetings in 133 languages; and Day of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte, illus. by Daniel Chester, a dinosaur fact book.
QUINDARO PRESS
Quindaro lights the fuse on Gunpowder Girls by Tanya Anderson, about young women who assembled ordnance in the Civil War with sometimes deadly results; and The Road That Divided America, chronicling the U.S. Government’s efforts in the 1830s to build a 1,000-mile military road between relocated American Indians and white settlers who wanted their land.
RANDOM HOUSE
Random House waddles into fall with Penguin Problems by Jory John, illus. by Lane Smith, revealing to humans just how tough penguins have it; Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes by Jennifer L. Holm, illus. by Matthew Holm, the picture book debut of Babymouse, in which she accidentally eats all of Santa’s Christmas cookies and has to come up with a substitution; Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm, a companion and a prequel to Turtle in Paradise, set during the Great Depression in Key West; The Library: Mysterious Messenger by D.J. McHale, launching a spooky thriller series; and Welcome to Wonderland: Home, Sweet Motel by Chris Grabenstein, first in a series about the wacky things that happen when you live in a Florida beach motel.
RANDOM HOUSE/CROWN
Crown reveals a fall lineup with The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke, a psychological thriller about a girl whose older sister is found 13 years after she was abducted; Everything Is Awkward by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack, a look at childhood from the creators of Awkward Family Photos; Lucy and Andy Neanderthal by Jeffrey Brown, featuring the adventures of two normal Neanderthal siblings; The Uncommoners: The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell, kicking off a magical fantasy series; and Stories for You, Me, and the Kid Over There, edited by Ellen Oh, co-founder of We Need Diverse Books, collecting short stories that celebrate uniqueness from such authors as Kwame Alexander and Sherman Alexie.
RANDOM HOUSE/DELACORTE
Delacorte sees the light with The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, in which two teens cross paths on an eventful day in each of their lives; Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow, a debut novel about a teen girl on the verge of losing herself; The Fever Code by James Dashner, a prequel to the Maze Runner series; The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd, the story of a girl and the winged horses she sees in the mirrors of the children’s hospital where she is living during WWII; and Antisocial by Jillian Blake, featuring a girl’s efforts to expose a hacker who has revealed the private texts and emails of the most popular students at school.
RANDOM HOUSE/DOUBLEDAY
Doubleday gets swept up in 10 Busy Brooms by Carole Gerber, illus. by Michael Fleming, a Halloween counting book; I Don’t Want to Be Big by Dev Petty, illus. by Mike Boldt, in which a frog declares he’s never going to grow up; Imagine a City by Elise Hurst, offering a visual ride through an imaginary land; The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup, which interprets the holiday song via die-cut pages; and When You’re Feeling Sick by Coy Bowles, featuring a rhyming text designed to cheer young readers who are feeling ill.
RANDOM HOUSE/KNOPF
Alfred A. Knopf Books tops the “nice” list with A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig, illus. by Chris Mould, featuring 11-year-old Nikolas, who is destined to grow up to be Santa Claus; Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, the sequel to Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares, in which Dash and friends help Lily recapture her love of Christmas in the midst of her grandfather’s declining health; Gemina: The Illuminae Files 02 by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, which continues the sci-fi adventure on the space station Heimdall; Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven, about the unlikely romance between a boy who has face blindness and the girl he sees as she truly is; and 88 Instruments by Chris Barton, illus. by Louis Thomas, in which a boy who loves to make noise gets to pick only one instrument (at his parents’ urging) in a music store.
RANDOM HOUSE/LAMB
Wendy Lamb Books keeps tabs on fall with Watched by Marina Budhos, a glimpse at the life of a teenage Muslim American who has grown up under surveillance; Beautiful Blue World by Suzanne LaFleur, in which children who pass a certain skills test become the key to winning a war; More Than Magic by Kathryn Lasky, about the daughter of animators who magically teams up with the TV cartoon character her parents have created for real-life and animated adventure; Jubilee by Patricia Reilly Giff, featuring a girl who stopped talking years ago when her mother left; and Perigee and Me by Ross Montgomery, the story of a girl who meets and befriends a tiny alien during a family beach vacation.
RANDOM HOUSE/SCHWARTZ & WADE
Schwartz & Wade Books celebrates the season with Let’s Clap, Jump, Sing, and Shout; Dance, Spin, and Turn It Out! by Patricia McKissack, illus. by Brian Pinkney, a collection of African-American hand claps, jump rope rhymes, games, songs, and stories from the author’s childhood; Who’s the Grossest of Them All? by Susan McElroy Montanari, illus. by Jake Parker, in which an ogre and troll argue about who is more revolting; Time Traveling with a Hamster by Ross Welford, a debut middle-grade novel featuring a boy who travels back to 1984 with his pet hamster to prevent an accident and save his father’s life; Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Christian Robinson, the antics of five penguins who bundle up to play in the season’s first snow; and A Greyhound, A Groundhog by Emily Jenkins, illus. by Chris Appelhans, introducing an original tongue twister showcasing a little round greyhound and a little round groundhog.
RIPPLE GROVE PRESS
Ripple Grove stretches the clothesline for Monday Is Washday by MaryAnn Sundby, illus. by Tessa Blackham, the tale of a family working together at the familiar chore of laundering clothes, set in 1948.
RUNNING PRESS KIDS
Running Press Kids moves forward with Look Past by Eric Devine, a murder mystery involving a transgender teen and a fundamentalist religious sect; What a Beautiful Morning by Arthur Levine and Katie Kath, in which a grandma’s support helps a boy accept his grandfather’s gradual memory loss; Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty, illus. by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, a picture book that redefines the meaning of beauty for young girls, and what they should aspire to be; Race Car Dreams by Sharon Chriscoe, illus. by Dave Mottram, in which a a race car snuggles up and dreams about winning the race; and the Tiny Blessings series continues with For Mealtime and For A Merry Christmas by Amy Parker, illus. by Sarah Walsh, which aims to encourage young children to count their blessings for the food they eat and the joys of this holiday season.
ST MARTIN’S GRIFFIN
Griffin looks to the night sky with Moon Chosen by P.C. Cast, the debut title in a YA fantasy series featuring Mari, an Earth Walker coming to know her powers and her attraction to her mortal enemy; When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore, about four beautiful, dangerous sisters rumored to be witches who cross paths with two best friends that people say are as strange as they are inseparable; The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner, in which a teen boy takes home the terrified girl he comes across on the Brooklyn Bridge when he fled his lower Manhattan high school following the September 11, 2001 attacks; We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen, a tale of two friends who ponder becoming something more during their first year after high school; and Freeks by Amanda Hocking, focused on the mysterious goings-on when a traveling carnival visits a small town in Louisiana.
SCHOLASTIC/BLUE SKY
Blue Sky Press lets out the clutch for Duck on a Tractor by David Shannon, a companion to Duck on a Bike, in which all the barnyard animals hop aboard Farmer O’Dell’s red tractor for a ride into town; Penguins Love Colors by Sarah Aspinall, a concept book; and How Do Dinosaurs Go to Sleep? by Jane Yolen; illus. by Mark Teague, a board-book companion to How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
SCHOLASTIC/CARTWHEEL
Cartwheel Books puckers up for I Love Hugs and Kisses by Sandra Magsamen, the latest in the author’s Heart-Felt series; You Are My Merry Little Christmas by Joyce Wan, introducing images of the holiday; I Will Love You Forever by Caroline Jayne Church, about the unconditional love for one’s child through the years; My Snow Globe by Megan E. Bryant, illus. by Melissa Iwai, showcasing a layered die-cut design with glitter and an acetate window; and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey! by Lucille Colandro, illus. by Jared Lee, a new adventure for the old lady..
SCHOLASTIC/CHICKEN HOUSE
Chicken House is on diaper duty with The Baby by Lisa Drakeford, exploring issues of teen pregnancy and the various relationships between four friends; The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet by Natasha Farrant, a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice spotlighting the youngest and wildest of the Bennet sisters; and The Black Lotus by Kieran Fanning, in which three kids with extraordinary powers train as ninjas to save the world from an evil Samurai Empire.
SCHOLASTIC/FICKLING
David Fickling Books sets the pace with Running Girl by Simon Mason, a twisty thriller introducing a genius teen slacker investigator; and The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín, about a group of teens training to survive their Call, which sends them for 24 hours to a land of terrors unleashed by a fairy race.
SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX
Graphix wags its tail for Dog Man by Dav Pilkey, presenting a part-dog, part-man crime fighting superhero; Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier, in which 11-year-old Catrina realizes there is something spooky about the new home her family has moved into; and The King of Kazoo by Norm Feuti, about a king and his resourceful daughter trying to prevent an alchemist from destroying the kingdom.
SCHOLASTIC/KLUTZ
Klutz gets crafty with these activity book kits containing instructions and materials for a variety of creative projects: Make Your Own Mini Erasers, Nail Charms, Decorate Your Dream Room, Paper Lantern Animals, and Grow Your Own Crystal Jewelry.
SCHOLASTIC/LEVINE
Arthur A. Levine Books crowns a fall list with King Baby by Kate Beaton, about welcoming a baby; The Singing Bones by Shaun Tan, featuring images of sculptures inspired by Grimm’s fairytales; Cleonardo, the Little Inventor by Mary GrandPré, in which a girl works hard to find her place in a family of inventors; Interference by Kay Honeyman, a contemporary story blending football and politics, focused on a congressman’s teenage daughter in Texas; and Kyle Finds Her Way by Susie Salom, a debut novel introducing a girl navigating middle school with some help from her lucky blue fedora.
SCHOLASTIC/ORCHARD
Orchard Books gets ready for the season with The Ninjabread Man by C.J. Leigh, illus. by Chris Gall, putting a spin on the traditional tale of a runaway cookie; Groovy Joe: Ice Cream and Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld, starring a guitar-strummin’, ice-cream-eatin’ dog who wrangles three hungry dinosaurs; No Fair! No Fair! And Other Jolly Poems of Childhood by Calvin Trillin, illus. by Roz Chast, the author’s first collection for children; Still a Gorilla! by Kim Norman, illus. by Chad Geran, in which a gorilla tries to be other zoo animals, but likes being himself best; and Kai to the Rescue! by Audrey Penn, illus. by Mike Yamada, about the new green-and-white fire trucks at Firehouse #10.
SCHOLASTIC/POINT
Point drops a truth bomb with It’s Not Me, It’s You by Stephanie Kate Strohm, which finds post-breakup Avery interviewing exes, classmates, and family to learn why none of her relationships have worked thus far.
SCHOLASTIC NONFICTION
Scholastic Nonfiction lowers a lifeboat for Lost in the Pacific: Not a Drop to Drink (Lost #1) by Tod Olson, the kick-off to a narrative nonfiction series about a real band of WWII soldiers who had to fight for survival when they were stranded at sea; Terrible But True: Awful Events in American History by Dinah Williams, compiling strange and shocking stories of vampire-like diseases, haunted ghost ships and other oddities of the past; and The Holocaust: The Origins, Events, and Remarkable Tales of Survival by Philip Steele, a detailed introduction to this topic.
SCHOLASTIC PAPERBACKS
Scholastic Paperbacks slithers into the season with Battle Bugs #8: The Snake Fight by Jack Patton, illus. by Brett Bean, presenting a prehistoric snake battling a prehistoric snail; Dr. KittyCat #3: Daisy the Kitten by Jane Clarke, a fresh case for the feline vet; Key Hunters #3: The Haunted Howl by Eric Luper, about two children who vanish into a ghost story; Geronimo Stilton Micekings #2: The Famouse Fjord Race by Geronimo Stilton, featuring the Viking version of the intrepid mouse journalist facing off against evil dragons in the ancient far north; and Magic Animal Friends Special Edition: Amelia Sparklepaw’s Problem by Daisy Meadows, in which Jess and Lily try to keep Grizelda the witch from spoiling a birthday party.
SCHOLASTIC PRESS
Scholastic Press causes a flap with Hungry Bird by Jeremy Tankard, featuring a melodramatic bird with a case of the hangries; I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony, a meditation on the value of patience and the importance of saying ‘thank you”; The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron, set in a walled city where the people undergo a collective Forgetting every 12 years, losing all sense of themselves and their lives; The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen, in which Ani is brought to the Scourge quarantine camp, the Colony, where she struggles to learn what’s going on; and Unbound by Ann E. Burg, about a girl who escapes slavery and seeks refuge in the inhospitable woods of a dismal swamp.
SIMON & SCHUSTER
S&S slices through the season with Scythe by Neal Shusterman, in which Cita and Rowan become apprentices to a professional killer; Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix, about two siblings – and other children in town – who are returned to their birth parents after having been raised by adults called “Freds”; Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid, about a senator’s daughter who discovers she is the galaxy’s most dangerous weapon in disguise; Lost Property Office by James Hannibal, the story of 13-year-old Jack who discovers his inheritance is membership in the same secret society of detectives serving the crown that his father belonged to; and Naughty Mabel Sees it All by Nathan Lane and Devlin Elliott, illus. by Dan Krall, spotlighting the pampered French bulldog’s sleepover with pals Scaredy Cat and Smarty Cat.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ALADDIN
Aladdin reports a sighting with The Littlest Bigfoot by Jennifer Weiner, a tale of friendship and furry creatures; Dork Diaries 11 by Rachel Renée Russell, the next installment of Nikki Maxwell’s adventures; Take Heart, My Child by Ainsley Earhardt, words of advice, encouragement and love from the author-journalist; Keeper of the Lost Cities #5 by Shannon Messenger, in which Sophie and her friends consider the raised stakes in the battles within the Lost Cities; and the as-yet untitled sequel to The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands, following apprentice apothecary Christopher Rowe and his friend Thomas during the Black Death in London.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ATHENEUM
Atheneum roars into fall with Lion Island: Cuba’s Warrior of Words by Margarita Engel, the story of a young man of African, Chinese, and Cuban descent who becomes a champion of civil rights for others who cannot speak for themselves; Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin, featuring three sisters navigating high school, first loves, and their mother’s illness in the face of a tragic betrayal; Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring: The Accidental Invention of the Toy that Swept the Nation by Gilbert Ford, a history of the Slinky, accompanied by dioramic illustrations; and Be the Change: A Grandfather Gandhi Story by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus, illus. by Evan Turk, in which young Arun tries to understand his grandfather’s words: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ATHENEUM/DLOUHY
Caitlin Dlouhy Books cheers on the season with Click, Clack, Hooray! by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Betsy Lewin, showcasing the preparations for Little Duck’s first birthday party; Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson, the conclusion to the Seeds of America series that finds runaway slaves Isabel and Curzon searching the South for Isabel’s little sister; Cyclone by Doreen Cronin, a middle-grade novel about a girl who believes she may have caused her cousin’s coma; Lift Your Light a Little Higher by Heather Henson, illus. by Bryan Collier, a sampling of wisdom from world-famous Mammoth Cave explorer and slave Stephen Bishop; and Ghost by Jason Reynolds, in which a boy wants to be the fastest sprinter on the middle-school track team.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/BEACH LANE
Beach Lane Books reserves the conference room for The Even Bossier Baby by Marla Frazee, signaling the arrival of a new CEO: Boss Baby’s little sister; Creation by Cynthia Rylant, an illustrated version of the creation story; The Pea Series: Hap-Pea All Year by Keith Baker, in which the peas use rhyming text to introduce the months, seasons, and holidays; 5 Little Ducks by Denise Fleming, an adaptation of the nursery rhyme emphasizing numbers and the days of the week; and Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre, an exploration of the winter white stuff as it sparkles, drifts, warms, and melts.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/LITTLE SIMON
Little Simon pirouettes into fall with George Ballanchine’s The Nutcracker by the New York City Ballet, illus. by Valerie Docampo, featuring favorite stories from the holiday ballet; Once Upon a World: Snow White by Chloe Perkins, a Japanese spin on the fairy tale; Colors by John Reiss, introducing a rainbow of colors to young readers; and My Sweet Little Megabyte, a board book introduction to HTML code.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/MCELDERRY
Margaret K. McElderry Books blends right in with Chameleons by Ellen Hopkins, in which Arielle learns that her mother didn’t abandon her – her father kidnapped her; Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, a short story collection chronicling the life of Mortal Instruments protagonist Simon Lewis making its first appearance in print; Swan Riders by Erin Bow, about a girl who discovers the price of ruling the world is quite dear; Last True Love Story by Brendan Kiely, following Corinna and Hendrix as they break Hendrix’s grandfather out of an assisted living facility; and Irena’s Children – Young Reader’s Edition by Tilar Mazzeo, the story of a woman who built a network of resistance to save over 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/SIMON PULSE
Simon Pulse cracks the coding with Boy Robot by Simon Curtis, spotlighting Isaak’s discovery of his nefarious techno-genetic origins; Strange Truth: We Know It Was You by Maggie Thrash, chronicling Benny and Virginia’s attempts to learn more about their classmate’s mysterious death; Zeroes #2: Swarm by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, and Deborah Biancotti, which finds the Zeroes facing the Swarm, who uses a crowd’s rage to kill; All in Pieces by Suzanne Young, about Savvy’s struggles to take care of her special needs younger brother while dealing with her own issues; and The Effigies: Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley, the story of four girls with unique powers who try to destroy monsters made from nightmares and darkness.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/SAGA
Saga Press battens down the hatches for Wall of Storms by Ken Liu, sequel to The Grace of Kings in the Dandelion Dynasty fantasy series; Found and the Lost by Ursula K. Le Guin, a collection of the author’s novellas published in a single volume for the first time; Cold Eye by Laura Anne Gilman, second in The Devil’s West series about a girl doing the devil’s bidding in a fantastic version of the American West; and Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley, featuring twin sisters who try to save the worlds caught in a long-running galactic war.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/SPOTLIGHT
Simon Spotlight sets a fall table (with popcorn, toast, and jellybeans) for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles M. Schulz, adapted by Daphne Pendergrass, illus. by Scott Jeralds; Batman: Animal Instincts by Steve Korte, about Batman’s efforts to stop evil robotic cyber animals in Gotham; You Should Meet…Women Who Launched the Computer Age and You Should Meet…Mae Jamison by Laure Calkhoven, profiles of computer pioneers, and NASA’s first African-American female astronaut, respectively.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/WISEMAN
Paula Wiseman Books marks the calendar for Because of Thursday by Patricia Polacco, about the good fortune that Annie Fetlock enjoys throughout her life on Thursdays; Pond by Jim LaMarche, following a boy’s efforts to clean out and repair damage to an abandoned dam and create a beautiful pond; I Will Not Eat You by Adam Lehrhaupt, in which Theodore thinks everything and everyone that passes by his cave is a potential meal; Bitty Bot by Tim McCanna, the tale of a boy who foregoes bedtime to build a rocket and go on a space adventure; and The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel by Natasha Lowe, featuring a girl who was found abandoned in a flowerpot as a baby and discovers she has magical abilities.
SIMPLY READ BOOKS
Simply Read Books sails the seven seas for Polly’s Pirate Poems by Tiffany Stone, illus. by Dianna Bonder, collecting poems from the perspective of Polly, a pet store parrot who dreams of life aboard a pirate ship; Today by Julie Morstad, an exploration of some imaginative possibilities that arise from asking children questions like “Where do you want to go today?”; Shooting Star by Nayoung Jin, illus. by Geneviève Côté, about a shooting star who decides to stop listening to people’s wishes; and Searching for Sleep by Pierrette Dubé, illus. by Geneviève Godbout, in which a wide-awake bear cub whose family is hibernating is certain that sleep is hiding from him and he just has to find it.
SLEEPING BEAR PRESS
Sleeping Bear Press does a sound check for Tig Ripley, Rock ‘n’ Roll Rebel by Ginger Rue, launching a middle-grade series about a girl who wants to start an all-girl rock band; Santa’s Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley, illus. by Marty Kelley, chronicling Santa’s search for his special wooly undies; Schnitzel by Stephanie Shaw, illus. by Kevin Barry, a retelling of Goethe’s poem, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”; Tick-Tock Banneker’s Clock by Shana Selway, illus. by David Gardner, the story of Benjamin Banneker, a free African-American man who built America’s first striking clock in 1753; and Norbert’s Big Dream by Lori Degman, illus. by Marco Bucci, about a pig who pursues his dream of swimming the English Channel.
SOURCEBOOKS FIRE
Sourcebooks Fire wears night-vision goggles for The Moonlighters by Chelsea Sedoti, in which Hawthorn searches the woods for her missing friend who may or may not be a werewolf; Straightling by Cyndy Etler, a memoir offering a glimpse of life inside the notorious “tough love” program Straight, Inc.; and Unnatural Deeds by Cyn Balog, chronicling a teen’s journey through secrets, obsession, and murder.
SOURCEBOOKS JABBERWOCKY
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky dons a coat of armor for The Storybook Knight by Helen Docherty, illus. by Thomas Docherty, about a boy who would rather read books than become a famous knight; Max at Night by Ed Vere, in which Max goes to great lengths to say goodnight to the moon; and Cara’s Kindness by Kristi Yamaguchi, illus. by John Lee, featuring an ice-skating cat who is quick to help others in need.
STARSCAPE
Starscape is on deck with Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies by David Lubar, a collection of short stories for middle-graders; and The Wishing World by Todd Fahnestock, about a girl who enters the fantastic Wishing World to retrieve her family that has been taken by monsters.
STERLING
Sterling gets ready to snap a selfie with Mary Had a Little Glam by Tammi Sauer, illus. by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, in which fashion-forward Mary gives makeovers to other Mother Goose characters; Your Alien Returns by Tammi Sauer, illus. by Goro Fujita, sequel to Your Alien, featuring a play date that’s out of this world; Even Superheroes Have Bad Days by Shelly Becker, illus. by Eda Kaban, a rhyming picture book about how superheroes cope when they’re mad, sad, lonely, or afraid; Zack Delacruz: Off the Rails by Jeff Anderson, about Zack’s attempts to approach the girl he has a crush on; and Howard Wallance, P.I. by Casey Lyall, which finds 12-year-old investigator Howard taking on a case of student-council blackmail.
TOR TEEN
Tor Teen checks the forecast with The Rains by Gregg Hurwitz, set in a peaceful community that becomes a warzone when a parasite turns everyone over the age of 18 into ferocious, inhuman beings; The Last Harvest by Kim Liggett, in which high school quarterback Clay wonders if he’s going crazy after he witnesses something terrible; Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter, a dark retelling of “Vassilisa the Beautiful” set in a fantastical modern-day Brooklyn; Metaltown by Kristen Simmons, which follows young factory workers who dream of a better life away from their disease- and war-ravaged city; and Seriously Shifted by Tina Connolly, in which a teen witch makes a bet with her wicked witch mother.
TUNDRA
Tundra Books wiggles its toes for Counting with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White, in which a cast of animal characters explores numbers and counting; Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems by Carey Sookocheff, a collection of practical and humorous answers to the everyday little problems in one girl’s life; Once, In a Town Called Moth by Trilby Kent, featuring the experiences of a girl newly arrived in Toronto after she and her family have fled the Mennonite colony in Bolivia where they had lived for years; Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton, first in a graphic novel series starring waffle-loving Narwhal and his jellyfish sidekick; and The Liszts by Kyo Maclear, illus. by Júlia Sardà, about a family that makes lists all day long.
ZONDERKIDZ
Zonderkidz sets the table for The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook by Mike Berenstain, a collection of Bear family recipes for special occasions; Time for Bed, Sleepyhead by Daniel Amen, featuring animal friends who return from a day at the beach to go through their bedtime routine; and Night of Great Joy by Mary Englebreit, which tells the Nativity story through the performance of a children’s Christmas pageant.
ZONDERVAN/BLINK
Blink pledges allegiance with Forever Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon, the conclusion to the Doon series that has pitted best friends Veronica and MacKenna against a vengeful witch to save a magical Scottish kingdom; Gilt Hollow by Lorie Langdon, in which Willow must deal with her feelings and all the small-town chatter as her best friend is released from juvenile prison; and Unfolding by Jonathan Friesen, about Jonah’s efforts to move beyond the friend zone with his beautiful next-door neighbor.
