Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a middle grade novel about twins, a classroom-ready book on storytelling, a YA novel set in a well-known universe, and an illustrated biography of an important dancer.
Twinchantment, Book 1 Twinchantment by Elise Allen. Disney-Hyperion, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-368-00862-4. This tale explores personal growth and difference among even those purported to be similar. Allen (the Gabby Duran series) brings the magic of Kaloon and its royal family to life in this series opener.
Flights of Fancy: Creative Inspiration from Ten Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators by Quentin Blake et al. Walker Books US, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-0536-7. Structured primarily as a resource for educators, this assortment of storytelling and illustration prompts and practices from celebrated British Children’s Laureates is classroom-ready.
The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu. McElderry, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-4814-9508-0. Clare (the Mortal Instruments books) collaborates with Chu (the Tao series) on this swashbuckling launch to the Eldest Curses series, set in Clare’s ever-expanding Shadowhunter universe.
The Great Nijinsky: God of Dance by Lynn Curlee. Charlesbridge Teen, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-58089-800-3. Riveting, richly saturated acrylic-on-canvas paintings highlight the latest from Curlee (Mythological Creatures: A Classical Bestiary), about the celebrated early-20th-century dancer Vaslav Nijinsky and his times.
Lawrence in the Fall by Matthew Farina, illus. by Doug Salati. Disney-Hyperion, $16.99; ISBN 978-148478058-9. “When Lawrence saw the chalkboard, he froze,” writes debut picture book author Farina, an opening line that ushers readers into a subtly powerful picture book about agency and independence. The book earned a starred review from PW.
Trees: A Rooted History by Wojciech Grajkowski, illus. by Piotr Socha. Abrams, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-3723-7. This expansive picture book takes a holistic approach to the topic of trees in nature, history, and the imagination, moving from strictly botanical content into tangential topics. The title earned a starred review from PW.
Good Dad Diego by Brenna Maloney. Viking, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-451-48126-9. In adorable photographs, Maloney shows Diego the pug sporting hats and other duds that demonstrate many of the jobs that fathers might do.
Helen Oxenbury: A Life in Illustration by Leonard S. Marcus, illus. by Helen Oxenbury. Candlewick, $40; ISBN 978-0-7636-9258-2. Children’s literature historian Marcus presents an eloquent illustrated account of the life and work of versatile, prolific British illustrator Helen Oxenbury.
You’re Missing It! by Brady Smith with Tiffani Thiessen, illus. by Brady Smith. Penguin/Paulsen, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-525-51442-8. Married actors Smith and Thiessen take playful aim at cellphone-addicted caregivers in this picture book debut.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of April, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
