Publishers are positioning their lead fall children’s titles—and upcoming spring books—to take full advantage of the season’s regional gatherings. Several presses are bringing out new works by beloved picture book authors like Maurice Sendak, others are promoting historical fiction, such as Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack, Jr.’s story of African-American cowboy Nat Love, Best Shot in the West. Still others aspire to capture the lucrative YA market by building on the dark themes of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. And a number of books offer tales of first love set in futuristic worlds, in which reality inevitably collides with magic, oftentimes with disastrous results.
* Books and galleys will be at all nine shows unless otherwise indicated. Suggested ages are included as indicated by publishers.
Bloomsbury
Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker. $16.99, ISBN 978-1599905273; July.
The pastor’s daughter dreams of getting the lead role in her fundamentalist church’s Hell House production, Abortion Girl. But things change when Ty Davis comes to town. Ages 12 and up. Appearing at: NAIBA.
Candlewick
Franklin and Winston: A Christmas That Changed the World by Doug Wood, illus. by Barry Moser. $16.99, ISBN 978-0763633837; Sept.
This picture book from the author of Old Turtle, a 1993 American Booksellers Association ABBY award winner, features a holiday visit that sealed a friendship and steered the course of World War II. Ages 6 to 10. Appearing at: MBA.
Frost by Wendy Delsol. $15.99, ISBN 978-0763653866; Oct.
In the sequel to Stork, Katla Leblanc has to summon up her special gifts to rescue the boy she loves from the Snow Queen who holds him prisoner. Ages 12 and up. Appearing at: MBA.
The Sniffles for Bear by Bonny Becker, illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton. $16.99, ISBN 978-0763647568); Sept.
The relentlessly cheery Mouse pushes a cold-suffering Bear to new heights of melodrama. Ages 3 to 5. Appearing at: MBA.
Chanukah Lights by Michael J. Rosen, illus. by Robert Sabuda. $34.99, ISBN 978-0763655334; Sept.
A pop-up master and a poet celebrate the true spirit of Chanukah. Ages 5 and up. Appearing at: GLiBA.
Don’t Slam the Door by Dori Chaconas, illus. by Will Hillenbrand. $15.99; ISBN 978-0763637095; Aug.
Slamming the screen door sets off a comical chain of cause-and-effect. Ages 4 to 8. Hillenbrand appearing at: GLiBA.
Be Quiet, Mike! written and illus. by Leslie Patricelli. $14.99, ISBN 978-0763644772; Aug.
Digga-digga-digga-digga, zat, zoom, crash! Monkey Mike finds an ingenious way to create a sound all his own. Ages 3 to 6. Appearing at: MPIBA.
King Hugo’s Huge Ego written and illus. by Chris van Dusen. $16.99, ISBN 978-0763650049; July
The tale of a royal head swollen out of proportion—and a blowhard brought down to earth. Ages 3 to 6. Appearing at: NEIBA.
Tía Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina, illus. by Claudio Muñoz. $15.99, ISBN 978-0763664156; June
A girl pitches in to help her tía save for a big old car—and take the whole family to the beach. Ages 3 to 7. Appearing at: SIBA.
The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf. $21.99, ISBN 978-0763637033; Oct.
Offers a glimpse behind the Titanic disaster by evoking 24 voices from the tragedy, including the iceberg itself. Appearing at: SIBA.
I Want My Hat Back written and illus. by Jon Klassen. $15.99, ISBN 978-076365598-3; Sept.
The bear’s hat is gone in this cumulative tale told entirely in dialogue, with a mischievous twist. Ages 4 to 8. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Chronicle
A Zeal of Zebras by Woop Studios. $17.99, ISBN 978-1452104921; Sept.
An alphabet of collective nouns: a galaxy of fish; a shiver of sharks. Ages 5 and up.
Worst Cast Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Mars! by Hena Kahn et al. $12.99, ISBN 978-0811871242; Sept.
In this novel you decide how to survive. Your choices determine whether your mission on Mars is successful and you return to earth safely. Ages 10-13.
Ivy & Bean No News Is Good News (Book #8) by Annie Barrows. $14.99, ISBN 978-0811866939; Nov.
The girls are writing a newspaper about Pancake Court; all they need to do is snoop around the neighborhood. Ages 6-10.
E-mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld and Ezra Fields-Meyer. $16.99, ISBN 978-0811878982; Nov.
The Letter E took a tumble and the only way to get her back on her foot is for people to stop using her. O tries to save the day. Ages 5 and up.
The Orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves. $16.99, ISBN 978-0811878142; Nov.
Josephine moves to Awkward Falls and befriend the odd boy in the creepy house next door. Soon they are on the run from an escapee from the Asylum for the Dangerously Insane. Ages 9-12.
Best Shot in the West: The Life and Adventures of Nat Love by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack, Jr., illus. by Rand DuBurke. $19.99, ISBN 978-0811857499; Feb.
This graphic novel tells the real-life biography of Nat Love, aka Deadwood Dick, who was born into slavery and because the most famous African-American cowboy in the Old West.
One Love adapted by Cedella Marley, illus. by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. $16.99, ISBN 978-1452102245; Oct.
This picture book about a girl who enlists her friends, family, and community to transform her neighborhood is based on the Bob Marley song. Ages 3 to 6.
The Worst-Case Scenario: Survive-o-Pedia, Junior Edition by David Borgenicht et al., illus. by Chuck Gonzales. $16.99, ISBN 978-0811876902; Sept.
Contains more than 65 entries with survival tips. Ages 8 and up.
Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl. $16.99, ISBN 978-0811876254; Nov.
This historical novel explores the life of Beryl Markham, the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from England to North America. Ages 10 to 13. NAIBA and NEIBA. Appearing at: NAIBA and NEIBA
The Story of Christmas by Pamela Dalton. $17.99, ISBN 978-1452104706; Dec.
Uses intricate scissor-cut illustrations to illuminate the story of Christmas. Ages 3 and up. NEIBA. Appearing at: NEIBA.
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner. $16.99, ISBN 978-0811867849, Nov.
This nonfiction picture book explores the tunnels and caves that form beneath the snow but over the ground and the animals who live there. Ages 5 to 9. NEIBA. Appearing at: NEIBA.
A Dog Is a Dog by Stephen Shaskan. $14.99, ISBN 978-0811678968; Nov.
A dog is a dog, right? Except when he transforms into a cat, a squid, and a moose. Ages 3 to 6. MBA. Appearing at: MBA.
Girl Meets Boy: Because There Are Two Sides to Every Story ed. by Kelly Milner. Jan. '12
He said/she said stories told by YA authors, including Chris Crutcher, James Howe, and Ellen Wittlinger.
Earthling! by Mark Fearing. July '12
When 9-year-old Bud accidentally catches the wrong bus, he finds himself launched into deep space. New friends are the least of his problems.
Project Jackalope by Emily Ecton. Apr. '12
When I came home the other day, I found one of that weir science guy’s experiments stashed in my room. The worst part is that I had to go on the run . . . with Agatha. (Yes, that Agatha. Miss Know-It-All from the science fair.)
Creative Editions (dist. by Chronicle Books)
Lineup for Yesterday by Ogden Nash, ills. by C.F. Payne. $19.99, ISBN 978-1568462127; Sept.
Using an alphabetical approach, the famous wordsmith pays tribute to 24 baseball greats with four lines each.
Gryphon House (dist. by Consortium)
The Budding Chef, ed. by Kate Kuhn. $9.95 paper, ISBN 978-0876593721; Apr.
Offers 50 recipes for parents and children to make together. Ages 3 to 6.
The Budding Gardener, ed. by Mary B. Rein. $9.95 paper, ISBN 978-0876593738; Apr.
Contains 50 gardening activities for parents and children. Ages 3 to 6.
Disney-Hyperion
Starfish by James Crowley. $16.99, ISBN 978-14231258894; Nov. '10
Lionel barely remembers the old days, before he and his sister came to the boarding school on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in the early 1900s. But when the siblings are forced to flee they must search for their grandfather’s homestead. Winner of MPIBA’s Reading the West Book Award. Ages 9-13. MPIBA. Appearing at: MPIBA.
Bad Girls Don’t Die: From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender. $16.99, ISBN 978-1423134718; June.
Alexis is the last girl you’d expect to sell her soul. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
The Secret Message by Mina Javaherbin, illus. by Bruce Whatley. $16.99, ISBN 978-1423110446; Oct. '10
Based on a poem by Rumi, a parrot imprisoned in a golden cage far from home longs to escape. Ages 4 to 7. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
DK
The LEGO Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz. $24.99, ISBN 978-0756686062; Sept.
Dozens of templates and spreads divided into six themed chapters provide new projects for old kits. Ages 7-15. SIBA, PNBA, MPIBA, NAIBA, GLiBA, and NEIBA.
LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia by Hannah Dolan. $18.99, ISBN 978-0756686970; Sept.
Profiles never-before-seen elements of the LEGO Star Wars minifigures. Ages 7-17. PNBA, MBA, MPIBA, SCIBA, and NCIBA.
HarperCollins
Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein. $19.99, ISBN 978-0061998164; Sept.
A new poetry book full of unpublished poems and artwork by the author of Where the Sidewalk Ends.
Bumble-Ardy by Maurice Sendak. $17.95, ISBN 978-0062051981; Sept.
The Caldecott Medalist’s first picture book that he wrote and illustrated since Outside Over There in 1981.
Eve by Anna Carey. $17.99, ISBN 978-0062048509; Oct.
In the year 2032, following the wrath of a deadly virus, a young heroine witnesses the rise of the New America. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver, illus. by Kei Acedera. $16.99, ISBN 978-0062014511; Oct.
Bestseller Oliver moves from teen fiction (Before I Fall) into middle-grade with the story of a girl locked in an attic bedroom who meets a ghost. Ages 8 to 12. Appearing at: NAIBA.
Copies of Oliver’s YA trilogy will also be at the show, Delirium: Special Edition (Aug.), which includes an interview with Oliver, and the second volume, Pandemonium (Mar. '12).
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. $17.99, ISBN 978-0062072030; Feb. '12
Two teens from radically different societies in a future dystopia overcome their prejudices and fall in love.
Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin, illus. by James Dean. $16.99, ISBN 978-0061910241; July.
Pete the Cat is back—at school, where he discovers the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and other cool places. Ages 3 to 7. SIBA. Appearing at SIBA.
The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet. $16.99, ISBN 978-0061963131; Jan. '12
This fantasy about the price of immortality is set in contemporary Paris, where 13-year-old Maya is spending a year with her family. NCIBA. Appearing at: NCIBA.
Princess Super Kitty by Antoinette Portis. $14.99, ISBN 978-0061827259; Oct.
From the author of Not a Box comes this story about a little girl with a huge imagination. Ages 4 to 8. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas, Special Edition by Jane O’Connor, illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser. $17.99, ISBN 978-0061235900; Aug.
Celebrate Christmas with Fancy Nancy in a new edition that’s fancier than before. Ages 4 to 7. SCIBA. Glasser appearing at: SCIBA.
HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray
If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff, illus. by Felicia Bond. $16.99, ISBN 978-0060266837; Oct.
The ninth book in this bestselling picture book series stars the ebullient dog that readers first met in If You Give a Mouse a Cooki.
Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson. $19.99, ISBN 978-006173740, Sept.
The Caldecott Honor winner tells the story of our country through the lens of the African-American experience. Appearing at: GLiBA.
Wildwood by Colin Meloy, illus. by Carson Ellis. $16.99, ISBN 978-0062024688; Aug.
The lead singer from The Decemberists makes his children’s book debut with this middle-grade fantasy illustrated by his wife.
Everything Goes on Land by Brian Biggs. $14.99, ISBN 978-0061998164; Sept.
This interactive large-format picture book, the first in a new series, celebrates cars, trucks, bicycles, and other things that go on land. Ages 4 to 8. Appearing at: NAIBA.
HarperCollins/Greenwillow
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. $17.99, ISBN 978-0062026484; Sept.
Marked at birth with a symbol of power, an untried princess doesn’t see how she can fulfill the heroic destiny prophesied for her.
HarperCollins/Tegen
Plague by Michael Grant. $17.99, ISBN 978-0061449123; Apr.
In the fourth book of the Gone series, a flu-like plague and a plague of pestilence takes over Perdido Beach, causing more inner turmoil. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
HarperTeen
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. $17.99, ISBN 978-0062085481; Nov.
Twenty-three-year-old Mafi’s dystopian debut features a girl who has the ability to kill people just by touching them. Film rights to Fox. Appearing at NCIBA.
Dead Rules by Randy Russell. $16.99, ISBN 978-0061986703; June.
This debut novel combines paranormal romance and black humor. SIBA. Appearing at SIBA.
Dear Bully ed. by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones. $17.99, ISBN 978-0062060983; Sept.
Jon Scieszka, Mo Williams and dozens of other authors share stories about bullying. NEIBA. Appearing at: NEIBA.
Pink Smog by Francesca Lia Block. $17.99, ISBN 978-0061565984; Jan. '12
The long-awaited prequel to Weetzie Bat.
HMH/Houghton Mifflin
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales by Chris Van Allsburg. $24.99, ISBN 978-0547548104; Oct.
This collection of stories by Sherman Alexie, Stephen King, Lois Lowry, and 11 others is based on Van Allsburg’s illustrations in The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Intro. by Lemony Snicket. Ages 10 to 14.
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. $16.99, ISBN 978-0763637033; April '12
In the first book in the Fair Assassin trilogy, Ismae escapes from an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of an unconventional convent. If she stays, she will serve as a handmaiden to Death. MPIBA, NEIBA, PNBA, NCIBA, and GLiBA.
The Year of the Book by Andrea Chang, illus. by Abigail Halpin. $15.99, ISBN 978-0547684635; May '12
When Anna needs company, she turns to her books. Books, however, can’t tell Anna how to make friends. She’ll have to figure that out on her own. Ages 6 to 9. MPIBA, NEIBA, PNBA, NCIBA, and GLiBA.
The Bell Bandit by Jacqueline Davies. $16.99, ISBN 978-0547567372; May '12
In the third book in the Lemonade War series, siblings Evan and Jessie must find a missing family treasure while coming to terms with their grandmother’s unsettling behavior. Ages 9 to 12. NEIBA.
HMH/Harcourt
Illuminate: A Gilded Wings Novel, Book One by Aimee Agresti. $17.99, ISBN 978-0547626147; March ‘12
A teen’s hotel internship draws her into a den of evil where she discovers her true mission as an angel in training. MPIBA, NEIBA, PNBA, NCIBA, and GLiBA.
The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell. $16.99, ISBN 978-0547608426; Apr. '12
It’s a long way from Baltimore to Oklahoma Territory. But Zora Stewart will go any distance to put the tragic events of her 16th summer behind her. MPIBA, NEIBA, PNBA, NCIBA, and GLiBA.
The Wicked and the Just by Jillian Anderson Coats. $16.99, ISBN 978-0547688374; Apr. '12
Both Cecily, whose family is lured by cheap land and the duty of all Englishman to help keep down the “vicious” Welshmen, and Gwenhwyfar, a Welsh girl who must wait on her new English mistress, must find a way to survive. PNBA.
Kensington/Kteen
Awkward by Marni Bates. $9.95 paper, ISBN 978-0758269379; Jan. '12
This adventure combines pop culture references with timeless themes of becoming comfortable in your own skin. SIBA, NEIBA, PNBA, and NCIBA.
Laurence King (dist. by Chronicle)
Let’s Make Some Great Art by Marion Deuchars. $19.95, ISBN 978-185669786X; Aug.
An interactive coloring and activity book with information on how art can be made and what it has meant for people through the ages. Ages 3 and up.
Little, Brown
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. $18.99, ISBN 978-0316123525; Oct.
In the third book of the Beautiful Creatures series, Ethan Whale thinks he is getting used to the strange events in the small southern town of Gatlin. But when he and Lena return home, they take on new meanings. Appearing at: SIBA.
The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch. $17.99, ISBN 978-0316078498; May.
When her mother dies in a tragic accident, 16-year-old Alexandria Lee is forced to move in with a wealthy grandmother she’s never known in Savannah, Georgia. By birth Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah’s debutante society. SIBA. Appearing at SIBA.
You Will Be My Friend! written and illus. by Peter Brown. $16.99, ISBN 978-0316070300; Sept.
Today is the day Lucy is going to make a new friend. But she finds it harder than she had thought after she accidentally ruins the giraffe’s breakfast. Ages 3 to 6.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. $18.99, ISBN 978-0316134026; Sept.
Karou fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may be real; is prone to disappearing on “errands”; speaks many languages, not all of them human; and has blue hair that actually grows that way. Who is she? She’s about to find out.
Bunheads by Sophie Flack. $17.99, ISBN 978-0316126533; Oct.
As a dancer with the Manhattan Ballet Company, 19-year-old Hannah has devoted her life to ballet. In a crowd of talented dancers, how can one girl stand out?
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, illus. by Maira Kalman. $19.99, ISBN 978-0316127257; Dec.
Sixteen-year-old Min is writing a break-up letter to accompany a box that she is about to dump on the porch of her ex-boyfriend, Ed. The letter tells the story of each item in the box: how each got things started, and how each foretold the end.
Revived by Cat Patrick. May '12
From the author of Forgotten comes a thriller about the God Project, a hush-hush government program that is testing a drug to bring people back from the dead.
Macmillan/Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. $15.99, ISBN 978-0374379933; Sept.
This story about a boy named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is “grounded for life” by his parents, melds truth and fiction. Ages 10 to 14. NAIBA. Appearing at: NAIBA.
My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody. $16.99, ISBN 978-0374399054; June
Brooklyn has been making bad decisions since she fell down a mine shaft at age two. So she starts a blog asking others to make decisions for her. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. $17.99, ISBN 978-0312641894; Jan. '12.
The first book in the Lunar Chronicles quartet centers on Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, who is reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her step sister’s illness. When her life becomes intertwined with Prince Kai, she finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle.
Love of the Game by John Coy. $16.99, ISBN 978-0312373313, $16.99 Nov.
In the third book in the 4 for 4 series, middle school is full of new challenges for the four sports-loving buddies. Ages 9 to 12. MBA. Appearing at: MBA.
The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith. $17.99, ISBN 978-0312613426; Nov. '10
A stranger gives Jack a pair of sunglasses that are windows to a terrible world, in which Jack must save not only himself, but also his best friend. His next YA, Stick, is due out in Oct. A SCIBA Book Award finalist. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Macmillan/Holt
Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry by Lynne Jonell. $17.99, ISBN 978-0805091830; July
Emmy was not an ordinary girl. She could talk to rodents and shrink to the size of a rodent. When her parents ship her off to visit her elderly aunts in Schenectady, life turns out to be anything but boring. Ages 9 to 12. MBA. Appearing at: MBA.
The Fox Inheritance by Mary Pearson. $16.99, ISBN 978-0-8050-8829-8; Aug.
In the sequel to The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Kara and Locke are brought back to life after 260 years. But everyone they knew is long dead—except for Jenna Fox. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Macmillan/Square Fish
Dreamland by Alyson Noël. $7.99, ISBN 978-0312563752; Sept.
In the third book in the Riley Bloom series, Riley finds that the afterlife can be a lonely when all you do is focus on work. Ages 9 to 12. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Peachtree
The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright, illus. by Barry Moser. $16.95, ISBN 978-1561455959; Oct.
The story of an alley cat with a fondness for cheese, set in Victorian England. SIBA.
Penguin/Dial
The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill by Heather Brewer. $17.99, ISBN 978-0803737419; Sept.
In the debut novel in her spin-off to The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Brewer focuses on Joss, the Slayer who was Vlad’s good friend, and mortal enemy. Ages 12 and up. MBA. Appearing at: MBA.
Remarkable by Lizzie K. Foley. $16.99, ISBN 978-0803737068; Apr. '12
Everyone in the town of Remarkable is extraordinary, except 10-year-old Jane Doe. But that changes when the Gimlet twins enroll in Jane’s school and a pirate captain appears in town. Ages 8-12.
Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jessica Rothenberg. $17.99, ISBN 978-0803737204; Jan. '12
Brie’s life ends at 16: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn’t love her and the news breaks her heart, literally. Now she has to move on.
Penguin/Dutton
Crossed by Ally Condie. $17.99, ISBN 978-0525423652; Nov.
Cassia is back in this sequel to Condie’s bestselling and critically acclaimed dystopian novel, Matched. NEIBA. Appearing at NEIBA.
Penguin/Philomel
Otis and the Tornado by Loren Long. $17.99, ISBN 978-0399254772; Sept.
The companion to the New York Times bestselling picture book about the loveable tractor. Ages 3-7. MPIBA and NEIBA. Appearing at: MPIBA and NEIBA.
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers. $16.99, ISBN 978-0399257377; Nov.
When Floyd’s kite gets stuck in a tree, he tosses his favorite shoe to knock it down. But that gets stuck, too. Ages 3 to 7. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Penguin/Putnam
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy. $16.99, ISBN 978-0399256271; Oct.
Well-regarded adult author Meloy (Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It) makes her debut for young readers this fall, just like her younger brother, Colin (see HarperCollins, above). In it a girl moves to London and gets swept up in a race to save the world from nuclear war. GLiBA and SCIBA. Appearing at: GLiBA and SCIBA.
The Name of the Star: Shades of London by Maureen Johnson. $16.99, ISBN 978-0399256608; Sept.
Johnson brings together paranormal, history, and mystery in this tale about a Louisiana native who discovers that she may be uniquely equipped to catch a serial murderer. Ages 12 and up. NCIBA. Appearing at NCIBA.
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood. $17.99, ISBN 978-0399257452; Feb. '12
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric, pretty, and educated. But they’re also witches. And if their secret is discovered, it could mean an early grave.
Penguin/Razorbill
Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral. $19.99, ISBN 978-595144355; Jan. '12
Glory is a young piano prodigy; Frank, the boy who moves in next door. As their friendship blossoms into romance, Glory descends into a kind of madness. They both become fixated on the song Chopsticks.
Million Suns by Beth Revis. $18.99, ISBN 978-159514393; Jan. '12
Elder and Amy are sent on a race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle set in motion hundreds of years earlier, all the while dealing with the romance that’s growing between them.
St. Martin’s Press
Tempest by Julie Cross. $17.99, ISBN 978-031256889-4; Jan. '12
In the first book of a trilogy, a 19-year-old time traveler must jump from time to time to save his girlfriend’s life. Film rights pre-empted by Summit Entertainment; foreign rights sold in a dozen countries.
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan. $17.99, ISBN 978-0312590567; Sept.
A boy and girl en route to New Earth are attacked and separated. Now they must find a way back to each other to save themselves, their ship, and the human race in the first book in the Sky Chasers series.
Scholastic Press
Showoff by Gordon Korman. $16.99, ISBN 978-0545320597; Jan. '12
In the fourth book in the Swindle series, a dog show goes horribly awry. Ages 8 to 12. SIBA and MBA. Appearing at: SIBA and MBA.
Korman will also be promoting, The 39 Clues: Cahills Versus Vespers: The Medusa Plot ($12.99, ISBN 978-0545298391; Sept.), the first book in the brand-new story arc of the popular multimedia franchise.
Pie by Sarah Weeks. $16.99, ISBN 978-0545270113; Oct.
When Alice’s Aunt Polly passes away, she takes with her the secret to her world-famous pie-crust recipe. Or does she? Ages 8 to 12. SIBA, NAIBA, and PNBA. Appearing at: SIBA, NAIBA, and PNBA.
Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little. $17.99, ISBN 978-0545165617; Oct.
Shelby has to move back into her mamma's house, deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou. She finds a friend in Gwen, a mysterious girl who lives alone on the bayou. But Shelby can't help wondering if Gwen has something to do with the puzzling messages she finds hidden in the blue bottle tree behind her house. Ages 8 to 12. SIBA. Appearing at: SIBA.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. $17.99, ISBN 978-0545224901; Oct.
The popular author of the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy introduces a new world in this stand-alone novel. PNBA and SCIBA. Appearing at: PNBA and SCIBA.
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. $29.99, ISBN 978-05402789-2; Sept.
In the style of his Caldecott Medal–winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret (soon to be a motion picture), Selznick combines two children's narratives—one told in words, and the other in pictures. NEIBA, PNBA, SCIBA, and NCIBA. Appearing at: NEIBA, PNBA, SCIBA, and NCIBA.
Floors by Patrick Carman. $16.99, ISBN 978-0545255196; Sept.
Each floor at the Whippet Hotel near Central Park in New York City has its own quirks and secrets. Leo should know most of them—he is the maintenance man's son. But he a lot more mystery comes his way when a series of cryptic boxes are left for him. Ages 8 to 12. NAIBA. Appearing at: NAIBA.
Odetta, The Queen of Folk by Stephen Alcorn. $18.99, ISBN 978-0439928182; Dec. '10
In this picture-book biography Alcorn pays tribute to the folk singer who influenced many musicians, including Bob Dylan. Ages 7 to 10. NAIBA. Appearing at: NAIBA.
Happy Birthday, Hamster by Cynthia Lord, illus. by Derek Anderson. $16.99, ISBN 978-0545255226; Aug.
Hamster and Dog are back to celebrate Hamster’s favorite day, his birthday. Ages 3 to 5. MBA. Anderson appearing at: MBA.
Across the Great Barrier by Patricia Wrede. $16.99, ISBN 978-0545033435; Aug.
In the first book in the Frontier Magic series, Wrede continues the story of Eff, an unlucky 13th child, set in a magical and alternate history of North America. MBA. Appearing at: MBA.
What Boys Really Want by Pete Hautman. $17.99, ISBN 978-0545113151; Jan. '12
Lita is the writer. Adam is the entrepreneur. They are just friends. So Adam would never sell copies of a self-help book before he'd even written it. And Lita would never try to break up Adam's relationship with Blair. Never. MBA. Appearing at: MBA.
National Book Award-winner Hautman is also the author of The Big Crunch (Jan.).
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby. $17.99, ISBN 978-0545274241; Oct.
Trapped in a hidden fortress, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, awaits news of her father's victory at battle. But as winter stretches on, and the unending ice refuses to break, terrible acts of treachery soon make it clear that a traitor lurks in their midst. MPIBA and PNBA. Appearing at: MPIBA and PNBA.
Drawing from Memory by Allen Say. $17.99, ISBN 978-0545176866; Oct.
In this graphic novel Caldecott Medalist Say chronicles his journey to become an artist during WWII, when he apprenticed under Noro Shinpei, Japan’s leading cartoonist. PNBA. Appearing at: PNBA.
First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci. $17.99, ISBN 978-0545060820; Nov.
Mal lives on the fringes of high school. Angry. Misunderstood. Yet loving the world—or, at least, an idea of the world. Then he meets Hooper. Who says he's from another planet. And may be going home very soon. SCIBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Scholastic Inc.
Dear America: With the Might of Angels by Andrea Davis Pinkney. $12.99, ISBN 978-0545297059; Sept.
The author of more than 20 books for children and young adults, brings her talents to a brand-new diary about the Civil Rights movement. Ages 8 to 12. SIBA. Appearing at: SIBA.
Scholastic Paperbacks
Dear Dumb Diary #12: Me! (Just Like You, Only Better) by Jim Benton. $5.99, ISBN 978-0545116169; June
Bestselling author Jamie Kelly is back with an all-new diary, but she has no idea that anybody is reading it. Ages 8 to 12. GLiBA. Appearing at: GLiBA.
Butterflies (Scholastic Reader Level 2) by Nic Bishop. $3.99, ISBN 978-0545284349; Feb.
With full-page images, Bishop introduces young readers to butterflies and moths. Ages 4 to 8. GLiBA. Appearing at: GLiBA.
Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine
Cleopatra’s Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter. $18.99, ISBN 978-0545221306; Aug.
Brings the story of Cleopatra’s daughter, Cleopatra Selene, to life. SIBA. Appearing at: SIBA.
Liar’s Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce. $17.99, ISBN 978-0545136082; Nov.
Digger encounters old friends in danger when she’s put in prison for pick pocketing. When she goes free, she decides to investigate. But each new clue only opens up more mysteries. And she may be falling in love with a murderer. MBA and GLiBA. Appearing at: MBA and GLiBA.
Scholastic/di Capua
Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkert, illus. by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. $17.95, ISBN 978-0545101479; Oct.
This collaboration on the Aesop fable is Nancy Burkert’s first children’s books since Valentine & Orson (1989). Ages 4 to 8. SIBA and NEIBA. Nancy Burkert appearing at: SIBA.
My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee. $16.95, ISBN 978-0545294416; Sept.
If you should ever get a rhinoceros for a pet, you’re in for a surprise. It only does two things: pop balloons and poke holes in kites. But don’t get discouraged. Ages 4-8. PNBA and NCIBA. Appearing at: PNBA and NCIBA.
Scholastic/Orchard Books
Max Spaniel: Best in Show by David Catrow. $6.99, ISBN 978-0545122771; Oct.
Max competes in a diving contest, a barking contest, and a talent contest. Will he be best in show? Ages 4 to 8. GLiBA. Appearing at: GLiBA.
Simon & Schuster
Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry. $17.99, ISBN 978-1442402355; Aug.
After months of training with Benny’s zombie-hunter brother, Tom, Benn and Nix are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future. NAIBA.
Home-Field Advantage by Justin Tuck, illus. by Leonardo Rodriguez. $16.99, ISBN 978-1442403697; Aug.
Imagine the toughest, meanest-looking NFL player. Now imagine him growing up being bossed around by five older sisters. NAIBA.
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick. $18.99, ISBN 978-1442426641; Oct.
Patch and Nora have undergone tests of betrayal, loyalty, and trust. Now they must prevail against a villain who holds the power to destroy everything they’ve worked for. SCIBA and GLiBA. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby. $16.99, ISBN 978-1442416949; May
Investigating her mother’s past 10 years after her death leads to a painful discovery. Anna must reconcile her desire for solitude with accepting the love of her family and friends. Appearing at: SCIBA.
The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix. $16.99, ISBN 978-1416995265; Nov.
Tessa’s country has always been at war. Her quest to find her soldier friend Gideon rocks the foundation of everything she’s ever believed in. Appearing at: SIBA.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. $16.99, ISBN 978-1442421769; Sept.
Mara wakes up from a coma with no memory of the accident that caused the deaths of her best friend, her boyfriend, and her boyfriend’s sister. Appearing at: SIBA.
This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel. $17.99, ISBN 978-1442403154; Sept.
In this prequel to Mary Shelley’s classic, Frankenstein, 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein searches for the ingredients to the forbidden Elixir of Life. Appearing at: NAIBA.
The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams. $16.99; ISBN 978-1442443167; Jan. '12
Seraphina has been alive for centuries, since her boyfriend discovered how to swap bodies with any human being. Now she’s in the body of a girl who is about to die in a car accident. Ages 9 to 12.
Fever by Lauren DeStefano. $17.99, ISBN 978-1442409071; Feb. '12
The first book in the Chemical Garden trilogy reveals a world outside the mansion as captivating and bleak as the one Rhine left behind.
Utterly Otterly Night by Mary Casanova, illus. by Ard Hoyt. $16.99, ISBN 978-141675625; Nov.
Little Otter doesn’t want to nap. He’d rather have hair-raising adventures with Great Gray Owl, Lynx, and One-Eyed Monster (a freight train). Ages 3 to 6. GliBA. Casanova appearing at: GLiBA.
Death Watch by Ari Berk. $17.99, ISBN 978-1416991151; Nov.
In the launch of the Undertaken trilogy, Silas goes into the Shadowland to find his missing father. Appearing at: GLiBA.
SPHDZ Book #3 (SpaceHeadz) by Jon Scieszka. $15.99, ISBN 978-1416979555; Sept.
Michael K. and the gang only have 1,000 SPHDZ left to sign up. But something is about to go horribly wrong. Ages 7 to 10. MBA and MPIBA. Appearing at: MBA and MPIBA.
S&S/Aladdin
Unwanteds by Lisa McMann. $16.99, ISBN 978-1442407688; Sept.
The people of Quill divide 13-year-olds into three categories: the Wanteds, the Necessaries, and the Unwanteds, creatives who are to be eliminated. Ages 9 to 12. Appearances at GLiBA, MPIBA, and MBA.
Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull. $19.99, ISBN 978-1416997948; Mar. '12
Jason succeeds in finding his way back to Lyrian in the second book in the Beyonders series. But he’s in more danger than ever. Appearing at: SIBA.
S&S/Atheneum
The Man in the Moon by William Joyce. $17.99, ISBN 978-1442430419; Sept.
In the first picture book in the Guardians of Childhood series, Joyce reveals the true identity of the Man in the Moon. Ages 4 to 8.
M.O.M (Mom Operating Manual) by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Laura Cornell. $16.99, ISBN 978-1416961505; Oct.
A tongue-in-cheek picture book about how to deal effectively with mothers.
I’m Here by Peter Reynolds. $15.99, ISBN 978-1416996491; Aug.
This deceptively simple story reminds us that children, and the friendships they make, can bloom in unexpected ways. NEIBA.
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley. $16.99, ISBN 978-1442413337; May
Just when 17-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small, dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. SIBA and SCIBA. Appearing at: SIBA and SCIBA.
Addie on the Inside by James Howe. $16.99, ISBN 978-1416913849; July
Told in verse, Addie confronts the loss of a beloved pet, first heartbreak, teasing... but also, friendship, love, and a growing confidence in one’s self. Appearing at: SCIBA.
City of Orphans by Avi. $16.99, ISBN 978-1416971023; Sept.
The Newbery Medal winner is back with a historical novel set in New York City in 1893. Appearing at: MPIBA and SIBA.
Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio, illus. by Scott Campbell. $12.99; 978-1442402706; Sept.
Mortimer is looking everywhere for love. Ages 4 to 8. Appearing at: GLiBA.
S&S/Beach Lane
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray, illus. by Marla Frazee. $16.99, ISBN 978-1442422490; Oct.
An evocative exploration of stars both near and far. Ages 2 to 6. Appearing at: NCIBA.
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr., illus. by Lois Ehlert. $17.99, ISBN 978-1442433854; Aug.
“Martin’s caterpillar counting rhyme has been given new life with gorgeous and bold watercolor collages from his Chicka Chicka Boom Boom collaborator, Ehlert,” said PW in a starred review.
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas. $12.99, ISBN 978-1442423640; Sept.
Chicken has some unexpected cow visitors who want to jump, dance, and wiggle. Ages 3 to 5. Appearing at: SCIBA.
S&S/McElderry
Perfect by Ellen Hopkins. $18.99, ISBN 978-1416983248; Sept.
In this companion novel to Impulse, four high school seniors long to achieve personal perfection, despite the costs. Appearing at: SIBA.
Bear’s Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson. $16.99, ISBN 978-1416958550; Aug.
Bear’s friends ease his concerns about his wiggly, wobbly baby tooth. Ages 3 to 7. PNBA. Appearing at: PNBA.
S&S/Simon Pulse
Goliath by Scott Westerfield. $19.99, ISBN 978-1416971771; Sept.
In the conclusion to the steampunk trilogy, Alek and Dylan are on the last leg of their Round the World Adventure to end World War I and reclaim Alek’s throne. Appearing at: MBA.
Fury by Elizabeth Miles. $17.99, ISBN 978-1442422247; Aug.
It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks peaceful, but not all is as it seems. NEIBA.
Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez. $16.99, ISBN 978-1442420526; Oct.
Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is the wrong guy: infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in her way of winning the Guarneri violin competition. GLiBA.
Dark Vengeance, Vol. 1 by Jeff Mariotte. $9.99, ISBN 978-1442429758; Oct.
An injured stranger lands on Kerry Proffit’s doorstep, who says he’s on the run from a powerful witch. He pulls her into a generations-long feud. Appearing at: SCIBA.
Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler. $16.99, ISBN 978-1442423213; March '12
Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed without a single memory of the accident that landed her there.
Sourcebooks Fire
I’m Not Her by Jane Gurtler. $9.99, ISBN 978-1402256363; May
Brainy Tess is the younger sibling of the beautiful, popular Kristina. When Kristina is diagnosed with bone cancer, it changes both sisters’ lives. SIBA, NAIBA, MBA, MPIBA, NEIBA, PNBA, GLiBA, and NCIBA.
Gurtler’s new book, If I Tell, will be out in Oct.
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington. Mar. '12
Already a hit in Australia, this paranormal YA romance is about Violet Eden, who has to make a decision on her 17th birthday that could cost not only her life, but her eternity. SIBA, NAIBA, MBA, MPIBA, NEIBA, PNBA, GLiBA, and NCIBA.
Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach. $9.99, ISBN 978-1402256301; June
Fifteen-year-old Felton Reinstein has always been small. But in his sophomore year he starts growing and growing. As he juggles his newfound athletic prowess with his annoying little brother and his first love, Felton discovers a secret about his past. MBA. Appearing at: MBA.
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
I Believe in You by Marianne Richmond. $15.99, ISBN 978-1402263446; Aug.
The follow-up to If I Could Keep You Little showcases the spirit of a parent who is on a child’s team no matter what. MBA. Appearing at: MBA.
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein, illus. by Mark Pett. $14.99, ISBN 978-1402255441; Oct.
Nine-year-old Beatrice has never (not once!) made a mistake. Life is pretty smooth sailing, until she makes her first one, in a very public way. Ages 4 to 8. MPIBA. Appearing at: MPIBA.
UPNE
The Lighthouse Santa by Sara Hoagland Hunter, illus. by Julia Miner. $17.95, ISBN 978-161180065, Sept.
For as long as Kate can remember, the Lighthouse Santa has dropped presents from his airplane for all the lighthouse keepers’ children. But will his plane make it through hurricane winds and blinding snow? NEIBA. Appearing at: NEIBA.
Walker
Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth. $16.99, ISBN 978-0802723055; Oct.
Baxter can’t forget anything. He tries to hide his ability, but it becomes increasingly difficult when he reconnects with his childhood friend Hallie, who has lived on in his memory long after she has forgotten him. Ages 12 and up. Appearing at: MBA.
