A briskly paced adventure in a gritty metropolitan setting follows a pair of orphaned cat sisters finding their way and learning to control their newfound magical abilities in this highly anticipated fantasy novel from Hunter (the Warriors series). Following a devastating fire at the diner where they live, kitty siblings Luna and Willow are forced to scavenge for food and shelter. They soon encounter a rat and dog who introduce the felines to a mystical network of covens composed of creatures who can perform magic. Because of the animals’ abilities, they are desirable as familiars by human witches, who seek to bind the creatures’ magic to their own. When Luna and Willow uncover a prophecy that dictates their divergent paths, they separate for the first time to embark on parallel journeys throughout a city that’s full of danger and intrigue as well as plagued by witches. Hunter crafts an intriguing social structure for the expansive cast, which includes wise old toads and a surprisingly kind young witch-in-training. Warriors fans and cat fanciers alike will find much to pounce on amid the suspenseful action and mysterious milieu that permeate a simultaneously dramatic and heartwarming series launch in which family ties and personal loyalties are put to the test. Ages 8–12. (May)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

A forbidden trek to a secret village takes a young wanderer on the adventure of a lifetime in this whimsical novel from Liang. Little Yu mourns the end of her summer visit with her grandparents in the countryside, since it means she must start school again in the city. On a walk during her last day of vacation, she alone spots pink petals floating along the river. Reaching into the water, she is transported to the edge of Peach Blossom Paradise, a winding forest guarded by a stone tablet that reads “ENTRANCE HERE IS FORBIDDEN!” But courageous Little Yu is undeterred. She enters the wilderness with curiosity, not fear, and soon befriends the unique forest dwellers guarding their home. Embarking on a fantastical journey that recalls elements of Lewis Carroll and Hayao Miyazaki, Little Yu must rely on instinct—and help from her mystical new friends—to overcome obstacles and return home. Ink-wash drawings emphasize vivid, imagery-rich prose depicting the vast expanse of the forest and the impish nature of its memorable inhabitants. It’s a propulsive fantasy series starter that presents Chinese culture and mythology in a gorgeously rendered package. Ages 8–12. (May)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

After she is accidentally added to her classmates’ private group chat, an enterprising seventh grader plots her way into their crew in this frothy comedy from Greenwald (The Summer of the Fortune Tellers). Sadie and Olive have been best friends since birth. As middle school begins, Sadie yearns to expand their social circle, aspiring to join the ranks of the queen of their grade, also named Sadie. While Olive admits that she isn’t sure that she wants more friends, Sadie privately believes that Olive won’t fit in with the in crowd. When Sadie ends up in a group chat with popular Sadie and her friends, the protagonist resolves to keep her presence hidden, intending to use knowledge gleaned from the texts to study the other girls from the inside. Suddenly, she knows exactly what to wear to school and is at the forefront of the new matcha fad, much to Olive’s consternation. Via Sadie’s humorously self-centered narration, peppered with perceptive text conversations, Greenwald showcases an expert command for tween parlance and respect for tween preoccupations, coalescing into a meandering, slice-of-life offering. Characters cue as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Birch Path Literary. (May)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

Mother-son collaborators Wolitzer (To Night Owl from Dogfish) and Panek, making his debut, craft a charming summer romp with a brisk educational component, featuring two tweens who embark on a sound-inspired scavenger hunt. Every July, 11-year-old Felix Frank’s family travel from their cramped New York City apartment to a house in Blissfield, Mass., where Felix attends camp. But when a septic tank mishap cancels camp the summer after his older brother Dylan leaves home, Felix dreads having nothing to do and no one to spend time with. Relief arrives in the form of neighbor Marigold Tanizaki-Weathers, whose combat boots and multicolored hair match her devil-may-care personality. When the pair unearth a mysterious box in Felix’s bedroom containing a field recorder and the first of several sound-based clues, they set out to uncover the truth behind the cryptic message. Both an affectionate ode to the textures of everyday sound and a sensorial adventure, this freewheeling novel seamlessly integrates lessons in recording, remixing, and engineering, lending the mystery an accessible STEAM sheen. Beneath the action lies a tender emotional thread as Felix attempts to reconnect with Dylan and Marigold struggles with her own social challenges. Felix is described as having pale skin. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–11. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

A child literally flips convention on its head in this tightly paced picture book from Negley (The Running Machine). Leaping right to the heart of the premise, early pages reveal a pale-skinned, red-haired protagonist climbing into a tree, then hanging upside down by her knees from a branch. Despite mounting pressure from a chorus of townsfolk—who, one by one, deem the pose unprofitable, unladylike, unproductive, and unsafe—the heroine remains inverted with no explanation. Then, in a spread that breaks from the more theatrically stylized, onlooker-focused compositions, readers are clued in: a marvelous worm’s-eye view shows the youth in a state of deep-breathing bliss, surrounded by a fireworks-like display of multicolored foliage (“Her upside down ears listened to the leaves rustling in the wind. She felt the warm sun on her upside down skin”). Bold colors, simplified shapes, and subtle textures lend a retro feel, while the message—delivered via a surprising punch line—feels thoroughly of the moment: in an optimization-obsessed culture, finding balance may mean opting for the topsy-turvy. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (May)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

Two siblings make sense of a fragile world in an insightful picture book debut from Palazzola that’s set around a clutch of frogspawn. When Kit’s little brother Peedie pokes at a bunch of frog eggs, Kit (who “knew about science” and “about little brothers”) explains that they take the form of a blob to “keep them safe from kids with sticks.” To soothe Peedie, who subsequently worries about the eggs, Kit invents the eponymous amphibian—a huge, sky-dwelling, deity who “looks after the little ones” and rides a magnificent steed called Tarnation. Over four chapter-like sections—each with inset drawings chronicling the eggs’ development—the Great Frog’s mythology deepens, as does Peedie’s understanding of collective care: “There should be a looker-after for everything little,” he says. And when Kit finally admits there the Great Frog “was a story,” Peedie responds with unexpected profundity, noting “Lots of true things are stories.” Mixed-media artwork imbues the Great Frog’s domain with rich texture and romanticism, while the children’s world remains simplified in thin-lined cartoons. Via smart vignettes, the children’s frank discussion captures something essential about protecting vulnerability that’s worth dwelling on. Characters are portrayed with pale skin and dark hair. “Kit’s Science Notes” and an author’s note conclude. Ages 4–8. Agent: Liz Nealon, Great Dog Literary. (May)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

A child narrates her experience riding in her first Black Cowboy Parade across a step-by-step picture book from Owens (A Song So Black, So Proud!) and Pinkney Barlow (Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar). Awakening from a dream of a cowgirl jumping over the moon, the protagonist details her nervousness about taking part in the upcoming parade. But the familiar presence of her palomino pony, Garbo—who is just as anxious—gives the rider an opportunity to soothe them both (“Breathe in, breathe out, it’s cool”). Mama, too, offers steady reassurance while reflecting on their family’s long line of Black equestrians. And the parade takes on further meaning as the duo travel past candles set out for the protagonist’s much-missed brother and the riders raise banners calling for an end to gun violence. While the late-emerging activist emphasis feels abrupt, sensate prose, paired with colored pencil and digital collage illustrations, ground the day, making for a sincere homage to cultural legacy and community strength. Creators’ notes conclude. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (May)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

Jours examines a young rabbit’s first steps toward independence in a tender solo debut. Just like the Mexican street candy with which they share their name, the Muégano family is “never apart. They are so close, that they are stuck as one.” Earth-toned illustrations show a line of five rabbits connected physically at the torso, while interiors of the family’s home playfully include a bathroom with as many toilets. And though everyone additionally gets their own chair and pillow, young Julia finds the whole arrangement “a little boring.” Text suggests “she wouldn’t have it any other way,” but it’s also true that the young rabbit is “never ever alone.” During a museum outing in a locale that reads as Mexico City, Julia’s longing to wander away causes a physical rift between her and the other rabbits, an inevitability that, though briefly painful, offers Julia the space to be more present. It’s a humorous picture book that offers gentle insight into close bonds and needed change. An author’s note concludes. A Spanish-language edition publishes simultaneously. Ages 3–8. (May)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

In an antic barnyard comedy from Canterbury (the My Life Is Weird series) and Frost (Cats on Cats on Cats), the sudden arrival of an enormous shark tests the limits of a farm’s hospitality—and the reader’s ability to keep a straight face. The other animals have no sooner identified the upright-standing behemoth as a Farm Shark than he begins eating them—starting with Sheep, who has just declared “How fun! He looks so friendly.” Eventually, nearly the whole farm gang ends up in the perpetually salivating fish’s stomach, as do a passel of visiting chickens. But nobody’s gone for good—the creatures, more piqued than panicked, simply take up residence in “Stomachville” (Sheep tries to organize bingo). And when brown-skinned Farmer Jolene arrives, her solution is absurdly simple: a belly tickle sends the entire population flying back out, and Shark promises to knock off nomming Jolene’s animals. Crisp lines, flat colors, and lots of googly eyes amplify a rules-don’t-apply energy, making for an entertaining romp that’s best swallowed whole. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: James McGowan, BookEnds Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (June)

Reviewed on 02/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

Combining superhero antics with adolescent triumphs and tribulations, Cody (the Cat Ninja series) and Giallongo (Seeker Society) deliver a spirited graphic novel series launch about a tween uncovering his family’s fantastical legacy. Despite his last name, Zander Fast isn’t a particularly speedy runner; that, combined with his family’s reputation for publicly insisting that they’re descended from superpowered ancestors, is a source of shame for Zander as he endures schoolyard ridicule about his lack of athleticism and his relatives. But when he’s struck by lightning while holding a mysterious crystal, Zander gains superspeed, just like his missing grandfather, the legendary Felix Fast, whom Zander’s uncle Merv claims once protected Cape City from villainy. As Zander uses his powers to excel on the school track team and in classroom reading challenges, he also embarks on a fledgling vigilante career that unearths secrets from his grandfather’s past. Flashback sequences inspired by traditional superhero comics alternate with animated present-day events rendered in bold, saturated color. Readers will revel in the narrative’s breezy, comedic tone, which relays high-octane adventure with aplomb and emphasizes reading as a tool for knowledge and power. Characters are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Kate Testerman, KT Literary. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 02/20/2026 | Details & Permalink