Spring 2022 Children's Sneak Previews

ABRAMS

Abrams serves up The Sweetest Scoop: Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Revolution by Lisa Robinson, illus. by Stacy Innerst, a biography of the two business partners and activists behind the famous ice cream brand; I Love You Like Yellow by Andrea Beaty, illus. by Vashti Harrison, following an array of children and their families and listing the many ways a child is adored; Pretty Perfect Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham, which finds Unicorn wondering if Kitty will want to be his friend anymore after he makes a mistake; and Francis Discovers Possible by Ashlee Latimer, illus. by Shahrzad Maydani, about a girl whose outlook changes when she learns the word “possible” after she’s teased and called “fat” at school.

ABRAMS/AMULET

Amulet grows into spring with Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas, the first in a series about Hasani, a teen girl from a non-witch family who discovers her magical ability and earns a scholarship to a fancy, literal charm school; Karthik Delivers by Sheela Chari, in which Karthik tries to get a girl’s attention by landing the lead in the school play—and keeps the pursuit a secret from his parents; Unraveller by Frances Hardinge, about a 14-year-old boy who is the only person who can unravel the curses placed by the townspeople, until he becomes cursed himself; and My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by S.A. Patel, chronicling the adventures of gifted violinist Zurika, who must sneak away from her sister’s wedding to secretly audition for some college scouts.

ABRAMS/APPLESEED

Appleseed blasts off with Spaceblock by Christopher Franceschelli, illus. by Peski Studio, featuring die-cut pages and eight gatefolds presenting key information about astronauts, planets and space travel; My Grandma Is Great! and My Grandpa Is Grand! by Sabrina Moyle, illus. by Eunice Moyle, humorous board books celebrating these family members; Shapes by Matthew Reinhart, illus. by Ekaterina Trukhan, a pop-up connecting basic concepts to interactive elements; and All Better, Baby! by Sara Gillingham, offering basic, gentle tips on how to care for and soothe a baby.

ABRAMS/MAGIC CAT

Magic Cat shows its green thumb with Grow: A Family Guide to Plants—And How to Grow Them by Rizaniño Reyes, illus. by Sara Boccaccini Meadows, offering information on plant “heroes” and how to grow them; We Have a Dream: 30 Young Campaigners of Color by Maya-Rose Craig, illus. by Sabrena Khadija, profiling 30 young BIPOC environmental activists on the frontlines of global climate change; The Secret Signs of Nature: How to Find Your Way, Forecast the Weather and Read Water Using Outdoor Clues by Craig Caudhill, illus. by Carrie Shryock, in which two young adventurers discover the joy of finding their way using nature’s clues; Life Savers: Spend a Day with 12 Real-Life Emergency Service Heroes by Eryl Nash, illus. by Ana Albero, providing a snapshot of the work of first responders from across the world; and Being Baby: One Day, Six Ways by Frann Preston-Gannon, peeking into the routines of six contemporary families with babies.

AKASHIC/BLACK SHEEP

Black Sheep welcomes spring with Kemosha of the Caribbean by Alex Wheatle, in which a 15-year-old girl in 1688 Jamaica learns to be an expert swordswoman for notorious Captain Morgan.

ALGONQUIN

Algonquin studies the season with The Science of Being Angry by Nicole Melleby, an LGBTQ+ novel following preteen Joey on her search for the answers about why she feels so angry; The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill, following up the Newbery-winning fantasy The Girl Who Drank the Moon; The Tiltersmith by Amy Herrick, which finds four friends fending off the threat of endless Winter and climate change in a contemporary Brooklyn-set fantasy; Slip by Marika McCoola, illus. by Aatmaja Pandya, an LGBTQ+ graphic novel about a young pottery student finding her voice—and first love—at art camp; and A Pretty Implausible Premise by Karen Rivers, focusing on the budding romance between two teen elite athletes who have given up their sports and Olympic dreams because they are haunted by the ghosts of their pasts.

AMICUS INK

Amicus Ink flits into spring with Butterflies Soar and Wildflowers Grow by Amber Hendricks, illus. by Gavin Scott, entries in the Little Nature Explorers series; One Blue Gnu by Ana Zurita, depicting a counting-to-10 party that ensues when a box of cell phones is accidentally delivered to the zoo; and Sun & Son by Linda Joy Singleton, illus. by Richard Smythe, presenting the parallel stories of a father nurturing a son during a camping trip and the sun nurturing our planet.

ANDERSEN PRESS USA

Andersen snaps its suspenders with Pantemonium! by Peter Bently, illus. by Becka Moor, the story of Fred the Giant’s pants, which get tangled up all over town; Elmer and the Bedtime Story by David McKee, in which Elmer searches for how to get two baby elephants to sleep; Happy Times by Michael Foreman, celebrating every moment of a day spent together as a family; and Hom by Jeanne Willis, illus. by Paddy Donnelly, the tale of a boy who washes up on a desert island and finds a peace-loving creature named Hom living there.

ANNICK PRESS

Annick hops along with Rabbit Chase by Elizabeth LaPensée and K.C. Oster, in which a nonbinary 11-year-old stumbles into a portal that takes them to another dimension encountering figures from traditional Anishinaabe stories; Reaching for the Stars by Nicole Martillaro, spotlighting seven women at the forefront of space science; Abuelita and Me by Leonarda Carranza, illus. by Rafael Mayani, following a girl and her grandmother as they lean on each for strength in the face of the racism they encounter while running errands in their city; Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes by Mahak Jain, illus. by Anu Chouhan; a picture book inspired by the collaboration between Bharatanatyam (Indian classical) dancer Rukmini Devi and ballerina Anna Pavlova; and The Queen of Junk Island by Alexandra Mae Jones, a queer tale featuring a girl navigating some big revelations about her identity.

APA/MAGINATION

Magination Press shifts gears with Moody Moody Cars by Eileen Kennedy-Moore and Michael Furman, featuring classic cars expressing a range of feelings via various facial expressions; A Perfectionist’s Guide to Not Being Perfect by Bonnie Zucker, which encourages teens to maintain their desire to achieve without striving to always be perfect, and to appreciate and love who they are; Home by Tonya Lippert, illus. by Andrea Stegmaier, following two children who are thrust into homelessness and uncertain housing situations; A Teen’s Guide to Less Stress by Michael A. Tompkins, presenting concrete skills for managing stress and anxiety in different “stress domains” of a teen’s life; and You Can’t Hug a Quokka by Daniel Errico, a lighthearted introduction to the concept of consent, starring a cute marsupial who doesn’t want a hug.

BERBAY

Berbay stops to smell the cherry blossoms with When the Sakura Bloom by Narisa Togo, exploring the significance of, and providing information about, the annual Sakura bloom festival in Japan.

BLOOMSBURY

Bloomsbury corrals two turners for Jump In! by Shadra Strickland, in which members of a neighborhood all jump in on a game of Double Dutch; Tilda Tries Again by Tom Percival, following a girl learning to cope with change; A Taste of Magic by J. Elle, kicking off the Park Row Magic Academy series starring Kyana, who learns she has magical abilities; The Loophole by Naz Kutub, which finds a gay Muslim boy traveling the world for a second chance at love after a—possibly supernatural—heiress grants him three wishes; and Golden Boys by Phil Stamper, chronicling the summer adventures that test the relationships of four best friends.

BOYDS MILLS & KANE/BOYDS MILLS PRESS

Boyds Mills adds it all up with Arithmechicks Take a Calculation Vacation by Ann Marie Stephens, illus. by Jia Liu, the newest romp through key concepts by 10 math-loving chicks; The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya MacGregor, following nonbinary teen Sam who must solve a 30-year-old mystery while conquering their inner demons from the past; Mermaid Kenzie by Charlotte Watson Sherman, illus. by Geneva Bowers, which finds a girl turning her love for the ocean into activism as she cleans up the beach as Mermaid Kenzie, Protector of the Deep; Once Upon a Family by Amanda Rawson Hill, in which a 12-year-old girl makes wishes on a magical tree in hopes of fixing her family problems and must remedy the outcome when the wishes come true in unexpected ways; and Zack and Ike Are Exactly Alike by Suzanne Bloom, about two BFFs who discover there’s much more to friendship than being alike.

BOYDS MILLS & KANE/CALKINS CREEK

Calkins Creek sets the table for Born Hungry: The Appetites, Lessons, and Loves of Julia Child, “The French Chef” by Alex Prud’homme, illus. by Sarah Green, a picture book biography of one of America’s most celebrated chefs written by her great-nephew; Evicted!: The Struggle for the Right to Vote by Alice F. Duncan, illus. by Charly Palmer, examining the little-known Tennessee Fayette County Tent City Movement and revealing what is possible when people unite and fight for the right to vote; Jack Knight’s Brave Flight: How One Gutsy Pilot Saved the U.S. Air Mail Service by Jill Esbaum, illus. by Stacy Innerst, about the daring flight of pilot Jack Knight through a blizzard in 1921; Nellie vs. Elizabeth: Two Daredevil Journalists’ Breakneck Race Around the World by Kate Hannigan, illus. by Rebecca Gibbon, the story of journalists Nellie Bly and competitor Elisabeth Bisland racing to circle the globe and beat the fictional record set in Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in 80 Days; and Seeking Freedom: The Untold Story of Fortress Monroe and the Ending of Slavery in America by Selene Castrovilla, illus. by E.B. Lewis, in which an enslaved fugitive helps a Union general save a Union fort from Confederates and triggers the end of slavery in the U.S.

BOYDS MILLS & KANE/KANE PRESS

Kane Press plays it right down the middle with The Perfect Split and Super Zero by Lori Haskins Houran, illus. by Deborah Melmon, two titles featuring playful mice presenting basic math concepts.

BOYDS MILLS & KANE/WORDSONG

Wordsong feathers its nest with If This Bird Had Pockets by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, illus. by Emma J. Virán, spotlighting playful poems about 19 creatures.

BUSHEL & PECK

Bushel & Peck knows that X marks the spot for Treasure by David Miles and Olga Zakharova, in which a hapless pirate digs for buried treasure with his dog; Kind Like Fred by Nick Esposito, illus. by Ricardo Tokumoto, a tale inspired by Fred Rogers, one of four titles launching the Good Guys Agency graphic novel series; Car Tales by David Miles, illus. by Ekaterina Ladatko, retelling three classic fairy tales starring anthropomorphized car characters; Too Many Hugs by Yvonne Pearson, about a child who sets rules for hugging, introducing the concept of consent; and Touch the World: Food, first in a series of touch-and-feel concept books.

CAMERON BOOKS

Cameron Books skitters sideways into spring with The Crab Ballet by Renée LaTulippe, illus. by Cécile Metzger, depicting sea creatures in an underwater dance performance and introducing French ballet terms; Beautiful Useful Things: What William Morris Made by Beth Kephart, illus. by Melodie Stacey, spotlighting British artist Morris; Black: The Many Wonders of My World by Nancy Johnson James, illus. by Constance Moore, celebrating the color black and the various ways it appears in one girl’s life; Keeper of the Light: Juliet Fights the Fog by Caroline Arnold, illus. by Rachell Sumpter, the story of Juliet Fish Nichols, lightkeeper on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay in the early 1900s; and Wave by Diana Farid, illus. by Kris Goto, a coming-of-age novel in verse set in 1980s Southern California, about a Persian American girl who rides life’s waves as she copes with grief, loss, and recovery.

CANDLEWICK

Candlewick zips up its backpack for This Is a School by John Schu, illus. by Veronica Miller Jamison, an ode to school and all that it may signify; ’Twas the Night Before Pride by Joanna McClintick, illus. by Juana Medina, celebrating queer families and honoring those in the LGBTQ+ community who fought against injustice and inequality; Hope Is an Arrow: The Story of Lebanese American Poet Khalil Gibran by Cory McCarthy, illus. by Ekua Holmes, shining a light on this influential artist; I’ll Go and Come Back by Rajani LaRocca, illus. by Sara Palacios, about a girl in America and her grandmother in India whose love stretches between languages and cultures, and across the world; and Carrimebac: The Town That Walked by David Barclay Moore, illus. by John Holyfield, in which Julius and Rootila work wonders to protect Walkerton and its people from a hooded mob who threatens to burn it down.

CANDLEWICK STUDIO

Candlewick Studio goes spelunking with The Queen in the Cave by Júlia Sardà, a modern fairy tale following Franca and her sisters who are drawn into the forest after having a dream about a marvelous queen who lives in a dark cave.

CANDLEWICK/MIT KIDS PRESS

MIT Kids Press takes matters into its own hands with I’m a Neutrino: Tiny Particles in a Big Universe by Eve M. Vavagiakis, illus. by Ilze Lemesis, offering an accessible look at the smallest known and most mysterious particle of matter.

CANDLEWICK/MITeen PRESS

MITeen Press limbers up its thumbs for The Hanmoji Handbook by Jason Li, An Xiao Mina and Jennifer 8. Lee, which introduces and explains Chinese characters through the language of emoji.

CAPSTONE

Capstone drifts into spring on My Pet Cloud by Amanda Rawson Hill, illus. by Laia Arriols, in which a boy adopts a pet balloon; Soaring in Style by Jennifer Lane Wilson, illus. by Lissy Marlin, the story of how aviator Amelia Earhart defied expectations in the air and on the ground to become America’s first celebrity fashion designer; and It’s Owl Good by Renée Treml, the inaugural title in the Ollie and Bea series starring an owl who wears glasses and a bunny with very big feet.

CHARLESBRIDGE

Charlesbridge follows the directions for How to Build a Human: In Seven Evolutionary Steps by Pamela S. Turner, illus. by John Gurche, which breaks down human evolution into the seven most important steps leading to Homo sapiens; The Way I Say It by Nancy Tandon, the story of Rory, a sixth-grader with a speech impediment who struggles when his best buddy makes friends with the lacrosse team and grows apart from him; Powwow Day by Traci Sorrell, illus. by Madelyn Goodnight, following eight-year-old River’s journey from feeling isolated after an illness to learning the healing power of community; Planting a Garden in Room 6: From Seeds to Salad by Caroline Arnold, which documents a classroom of real kindergarteners who grow a garden full of healthy vegetables; and Mia Takes a Shot by JaNay Brown-Wood, illus. by Lorian Tu, a Chicken Soup for the Soul KIDS title in which new girl Amelia shows up to play basketball but Mia sticks with the team she knows.

CHOUETTE/CRACKBOOM

Crackboom Books heads outdoors for A Starlight Trip to the Library by Andrew Katz and Juliana Léveillé-Trudel, illus. by Joseph Sherman, in which Bertrand, the bear who loves to read, happens along with a book for friends gathering for storytime at their forest camp site.

CHRONICLE

Chronicle straps on a helmet for Together We Ride by Valerie Bolling, illus. by Kaylani Juanita, following a girl’s journey as she accomplishes a major milestone: learning how to ride a bike; Endlessly Ever After: Choose Your Way to Endless Fairy Tale Endings! by Laurel Snyder, illus. by Dan Santat, which transforms classic tales into a decide-your-own-next-step adventure; You Are Here by Zach Manbeck, reminding readers that they are exactly where they are meant to be; Shine On, Luz Véliz! by Rebecca Balcárcel, about a soccer star who finds a new way to excel after she suffers a serious knee injury; and Does a Bulldozer Have a Butt? by Derick Wilder, illus. by K-Fai Steele, which demonstrates that every butt, from a bullfrog’s to a zombie’s, has its own distinctive quality.

CHRONICLE/HANDPRINT

Handprint trumpets spring with Elefantastic: A Story of Magic in Five Acts by Jane Yolen, illus. by Brett Helquist, following the unlikely friendship that develops between Flora, an elephant calf stolen from her African home, and David, the circus impresario and magician who adopts, trains, and ultimately liberates her.

CICADA

Cicada stretches a new canvas for Pippin Paints a Portrait by Ziggy Hanaor, illus. by Charlotte Mei, in which Pippin paints a self-portrait, but his friends think he has a lot to learn about art; Map of You by Sophie Williams, an activity book designed to help young readers work through their anxieties and inspire a sense of acceptance; Alex and Alex by Hanaor, illus. by Ben Javens, an agendered story introducing ideas of tolerance and acceptance; and Cat Eyes and Dog Whistles by Robin Jacobs, illus. by Becky Thorns, which takes readers through the biology of each of the senses.

DISNEY HYPERION

Disney Hyperion pays it forward with Kingdom Keepers: Inheritance by Ridley Pearson, following the children of the original Kingdom Keepers who discover that they have unusual powers; Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa, kicking off a fantasy series about a smart-alecky orphan kid who is used as a conduit to awaken the power of a magical guardian; Solimar: The Sword of Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan, the story of a soon-to-be princess who encounters monarch butterfly magic and a greedy king desperate to overtake her kingdom; Dig Two Graves by Gretchen McNeil, which finds two girls at camp each making a promise to murder someone, though one of them thought it was a joke; Alone Out Here by Riley Redgate, featuring Leigh, who finds herself with 42 other teens on the only ship escaping a dying Earth; and The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra, in which a rumor that spirals out of control sows chaos in a posh private school.

DISNEY/RICK RIORDAN PRESENTS

Rick Riordan Presents sharpens its list with Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older, beginning the YA urban fantasy Outlaw Saints series about a teen boy in Brooklyn who discovers he has healing abilities after his piano playing summons gods and magical creatures to appear during the annual San Madrigal Grand Fete; Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel by Kwame Mbalia and Robert Venditti, illus. by Olivia Stephens, an adaptation of the novel in which Tristan accidentally opens a portal to another world filled with characters from Black American folktales; Aru Shah and the End of Time: The Graphic Novel by Roshana Chokshi, illus. by Anu Chouhan, a new version of the story following an Indian American girl who discovers she is a reincarnated Pandava warrior; and Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Chokshi, the fourth and final book in the series.

DISNEY/MARVEL

Marvel Press slings a web into spring with Miles Morales: Spider-Man: The People Around Us by Denene Millner, illus. by Ronnie Garcia, in which Miles learns about art and his Puerto Rican culture and realizes his calling to make the world a better place.

DOTTIR

Dottir Press navigates the season with You Ruined It: A Book About Boundaries by Anastasia Higginbotham, about an 11-year-old girl whose loved ones help her piece her life back together after she discloses that a favorite cousin sexually assaulted her.

EERDMANS

Eerdmans keeps its eyes peeled with A Perfect Spot by Isabelle Simler, in which a ladybug searching for a safe place to lay her eggs keeps getting shooed away by other insects; I’ll Always Come Back to You by Carmen Tafolla, illus. by Grace Zong, featuring a mother reassuring her anxious daughter that no matter what, their separation will only be temporary; I Hate Borsch by Yevgenia Nayberg, the story of a Ukrainian girl who finds a new way to appreciate her home country’s national dish after she immigrates to the U.S.; I’ll Say Goodbye by Pam Zollman, illus. by Frances Ives, about a pet hermit crab who helps a child cope with illness and loss; and The Gift by Alain Serge Dzotap, illus. by Delphine Renon, in which the other animals help Leo discover that the pen he got for his birthday can create many wonders.

ELSEWHERE

Elsewhere Editions follows a spring recipe for Blaze and the Castle Cake for Bertha Daye by Claude Ponti, trans. by Alyson Waters and Margot Kerlidou, following a flock of “chicklets” as they rush to build a larger-than-life castle cake in time for their best friend’s birthday party.

ENDLESS MOUNTAIN/KALANOIT

Kalanoit pricks up its ears for The Melody by Oded Burla, illus. by Assaf Benharroch, trans. by Ilana Kurshan, in which a mother and her baby are the only ones interested in hearing a melody’s beautiful tune; and A Persian Passover by Etan Bessari, illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh, following siblings Ezra and Roza as they prepare for their family’s seder in Iran.

ENTANGLED TEEN

Entangled Teen loses track of time with Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel, featuring a girl at an academy for time-traveling teens who becomes the target for a sinister organization hell-bent on rewriting history.

FAMILIUS

Familius tunes up for Thundermaestro by Annemarie Riley Guertin, which finds a girl with a baton in hand conducting the symphony of sounds during a summer rainstorm; Dissecting Middle School by Jessica Speer, a choose-your-own-adventure style guidebook to help middle schoolers deal with drama and define themselves; Emotions by Larissa Honsek, following a cast of clay characters who teach toddlers about having big feelings; My Name Is Cool by Antonio Sacre, celebrating biracial heritage and cultural identity; and Stacks of Axolotls by Stephanie Campisi, illus. by Susanna Covelli, depicting a fantastical day in the life of an axolotl, a type of amphibian salamander.

FLASHLIGHT

Flashlight says fee-fi-fo-fum with Giant Island by Jane Yolen, illus. by Doug Keith, the tale of two adventurous children who discover that the island they have been exploring is actually a submerged giant.

FLORIS/KELPIES

Kelpies holds court with The Amazing Life of Mary, Queen of Scots: Fact-Tastic Stories from Scotland’s History by Gil Arbuthnott, illus. by Mike Phillips, which presents a narrative from the perspective of Mary’s young servant; and The Fairy Song by Janis MacKay, illus. by Ruchi Mhasane, in which Rose is swept into an enchanted secret world when she follows the beautiful music coming from the forest.

FLYAWAY

Flyaway branches out with Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl, illus. by Patricia Metola, about the friendly bond between two trees; The Good for Nothing Tree by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, illus. by Annie Bowler, focused on a late-blooming tree that reminds readers that patience and care can change everything; and I Love You, Blue by Barroux a story about the impact of plastic waste on the ocean told through a lighthouse keeper’s friendship with a whale named Blue.

FREE SPIRIT

Free Spirit gets its hands dirty with Messy Time by Elizabeth Verdick, illus. by Marieka Heinlen, about the joys of unstructured play and sensory play; I Love You All the Time by Deborah Farmer Kris, illus. by Jennifer Zivoin, which reassures young readers that they are loved no matter the ups and downs of the day; Who Loves Malik? by Marit Woods, illus. by Joelle Avelino, focusing on the bond between Mama and her son Malik; We Ask Permission by Lydia Bowers, illus. by Isabel Muñoz, next in the We Say What’s OK series, teaching children to ask before hugging friends and touching others; and How to Take the GROAN Out of Grown-Ups (and Get Along) by Eric Braun, illus. by Steve Mark, designed to help kids learn the skills to better communicate with the adults in their lives.

GECKO

Gecko peruses the classifieds for Free Kid to Good Home by Hiroshi Ito, in which a girl who decides she needs a new family writes “Free Kid” on a box and waits in the street for some better parents to choose her; Friends on the Steps by Barbro Lindgren, illus. by Eva Eriksson, about a little man who makes friends with a big happy dog; Elephant’s Island by Leo Timmers, featuring a shipwrecked elephant who gets more and more company as small animals keep smashing their boats in attempts to rescue him; Lisette’s Day Out by Catharina Valckx, which finds Lisette and her friends being creative on an adventurous day of play; and Grumblebee by David Elliot, following animals who get up to toddler-style mischief in a story build on wordplay.

GROUNDWOOD BOOKS

Groundwood burns brightly with Time to Shine by Karen Jameson, illus. Dave Murray, a nonfiction celebration of the world’s iridescent animals; I’m Not Sydney! by Marie-Louise Gay, about a group of friends who imagine themselves transforming into animals in the jungle; Last Week by Bill Richardson, illus. Emilie Leduc, a sensitive portrayal of medical assistance in dying, told from a child’s perspective; Step by Deborah Ellis, the follow-up short story collection to Sit (2017), in which 11-year-olds around the world take a step into their futures; and These Are Not the Words by Amanda West Lewis, a gritty, semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story set in New York City in the 1960s.

HARPERCOLLINS

HarperCollins wags its tail for Being a Dog by Maria Gianferrari, illus. by Pete Oswald, which introduces readers to mindfulness by encouraging them to be like a canine; Girl Dad by Sean Williams, illus. by Jay Davis, celebrating the strong men who raise, love, and uplift strong girls; Lou by Breanna Carzoo, about a fire hydrant who has grown weary of his role as neighborhood dog toilet and then gets an opportunity to be more useful; Hundred Years of Happiness by Thanhhà Lại, illus. by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien, in which a grandchild and grandfather devise ways to preserve happy memories for a grandmother with Alzheimer’s; The Last Beekeeper by Pablo Cartaya, the story of a 12-year-old girl fighting to save the world’s last known beehive from extinction; The Civil War of Amos Abernathy by Michael Leali, an epistolary debut about one boy’s attempts to find himself in history; Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper, focused on 13-year-old Jake’s coming out and his efforts to throw his town’s very first Pride parade; Alias Anna by Susan Hood and Greg Dawson, the true tale of a Ukrainian Jewish girl whose piano-playing skills saved her and her sister’s lives during the Holocaust; and Rain Rising by Courtne Comrie, a debut novel in verse following 13-year-old Rain as she struggles with depression when her brother is the victim of a hate crime.

HARPERALLEY

HarperAlley is on the starting block with Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas, examining the racial inequality of the public pool system through the eyes of a girl who discovers her love of swimming while finding her place in a new community; Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo, about a witch-in-training who unintentionally unravels a decades-old mystery when she searches for her missing classmate; Swan Lake by Rei Terciero and Megan Kearny, a reimagining of the classic starring two princesses who must come together to break a curse and stop a war; Unhappy Camper by Lily LaMotte, in which two sisters rebuild their bond and learn more about their culture after going to a Taiwanese American summer camp; and Crab & Snail: The Invisible Whale by Beth Ferry, illus. by Jared Chapman, the first in a graphic early reader series about buddies Crab and Snail, whose activities are curtailed by rain.

HARPERFESTIVAL

HarperFestival stays in the moment with Om Child: I Am Well by Lisa Edwards, illus. by Sandhya Prabhat, introducing the seven habits of being healthy; Wonderful You! by Eric Carle, championing self-expression and self-love; Little Bakers: B Is for Brownies by Caroline Wright, illus. by Alison Oliver, a brownie-themed alphabet book; Capybara Is Friends with Everybody by Maddie Frost, in which a new friend shows Capybara that he doesn’t have to go overboard for his friends to be appreciated and loved; and Punky Aloha by Shar Tuiasoa, about a Polynesian girl who uses the power of saying Aloha to make new friends and experience new adventures.

HARPERTEEN

HarperTeen plays the odds with A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar, following four girls who are determined to execute a daring heist on the Titanic; Milo and Marcus at the End of the World by Kevin Christopher Snipes, the love story of Milo and Marcos who must overcome their parents’ disapproval, among other things; Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer, presenting alternate timelines of how a couple fell in love, were torn apart, and might come back together; Only a Monster by Vanessa Len, in which Joan discovers she is half monster before she must embark on a dangerous quest to avenge her family; Tomorrow y Mañana by Monica Gomez-Hira, which finds Ariana feeling liberated by playing the lead in her school’s gender-blind production of Hamlet; A Year to the Day by Robin Benway, the story told in chronological order, of two sisters torn apart by a tragic accident that ends one of their lives; Out of the Blue by Jason June, a LGBTQ reimagining of Splash, featuring a mer teen who comes on land for the first time and meets a human lifeguard; The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho, in which Asian American May struggles with her brother’s suicide; and The Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi, a story inspired by Persian myths and stories spotlighting forbidden romance and a long-forgotten queen who must save her people.

HARPERCOLLINS/BALZER +BRAY

Balzer + Bray digs deep with Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese-American by Laura Gao, which finds Gao exploring her intersecting identities as a queer Chinese American and a child of immigrants; The Real Riley Mayes by Rachel Elliott, following fifth-grader Riley as she works out her identity through homemade comics; Lulu & Milagro’s Search for Clarity by Angela Velez, about two sisters who discover new things about themselves and each other when they are begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip; The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes, in which 17-year-old Yami is determined not to make waves at her new Catholic school after being outed by her ex-best friend and crush at her old one; The Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian, the story of estranged sisters forced to reunite in their small Midwestern town for a summer when their family becomes the victim of an anti-Asian hate crime.

HARPERCOLLINS/CLARION

Clarion knows where it stands with Loyalty by Avi, the story of a young Loyalist turned British spy navigating patriotism and personal responsibility during the lead-up to the War of Independence; Wow in the World: Wow In the Wild: The Amazing World of Animals by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, a humorous, fact-filled, and highly illustrated journey through the animal kingdom from the hosts of the mega-popular kids’ podcast; A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser, in which two biracial sixth-graders living in a homeless shelter bond over a love of classical music and confront a housing policy that puts homeless families in danger; Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester, in which Peruvian American teenager Verónica deals with her painful hip dysplasia and her overprotective immigrant parents while chasing an impossible dream to become a professional mermaid; and The Shelterlings by Sarah Beth Durst, in which a group of magical misfit animals learns to appreciate their seemingly useless powers—and themselves—when they work together to thwart a villain’s attempt to steal their magic.

HARPERCOLLINS/ETCH

Etch takes its time with Sloth Sleuth by Cyndi Marko, a graphic novel mystery set on an island crawling with crime where resident sloth Paz is always one step ahead of the bad guys; Took by Mary Downing Hahn, adapted by Scott Peterson, illus. by Jen Vaughn, a graphic novel retelling of Hahn’s ghost story in which 13-year-old Devin doesn’t believe tales of a local ghost witch until his sister disappears; The Sparkle Dragons by Emma Carlson Berne, illus. by Luke Flowers, featuring dragons who blast their glitter fire and work together to stop a threat to their queendom; Stick and Stone Explore and More by Beth Ferry, illus. by Kristen Cella, a graphic novel for beginning readers adapted from Ferry’s picture book series with Tom Lichtenheld; and Squad Up by Sam Nisson, illus. by Darnell Johnson, the sequel to Power Up, which finds sixth-graders Rhys and Miles overcoming challenges in friendship and gaming.

HARPERCOLLINS/GREENWILLOW

Greenwillow serves up A Spoonful of Frogs by Casey Lyall, illus. by Vera Brosgol, featuring a witch and a very slippery recipe ingredient; I’m Not Small by Nina Crews, introducing the concepts of size and comparisons; The Sheep, The Rooster, and the Duck by Matt Phelan, presenting reimagined historical events that involve the titular critters and Benjamin Franklin; Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly, about Orchid Mason, who shakes things up when she arrives on Fawn Creek, La.; and Gallant by Victoria Schwab, the eerie tale of a young woman who is beckoned by both life and death when she stumbles upon a decrepit garden wall at a haunted manor.

HARPERCOLLINS/HEARTDRUM

Heartdrum dives into spring with Heroes of the Water Monster by Brian Young, in which Edward’s stepbrother enlists him to be the next guardian of a young water monster; Jo Jo Makoons: Fancy Pants by Dawn Quigley, illus. by Tara Audibert, following Jo Jo as she figures out how to put her fanciest foot forward in preparation for a family member’s wedding; and The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson, which finds Metis teen Lou thrown for a loop when she receives a letter from her biological father who just got out of prison and wants to have a relationship with her.

HARPERCOLLINS/QUILL TREE

Quill Tree polishes its armor for Squire by Nadia Shammas, illus. by Sara Alfageeh, in which knight-in-training Aiza is forced to choose between loyalty to her heritage or her empire; Inheritance by Elizabeth Acevedo, illus. by Andrea Pippins, spotlighting the author’s popular spoken-word poem about the power and meaning of natural Black hair; Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros, which finds athletic Isaac and studious Marco helping each other turn their lives around during sixth grade; Wingbearer by Marjorie Liu, illus. by Teny Issakhanian, a graphic novel about a girl who leaves her home in a magical bird haven to stop a sinister presence from threatening her world; and Café con Lychee by Emery Lee, following the sons of two competing family businesses who end up working together and falling for each other when a new café threatens their families’ livelihoods.

HARPERCOLLINS/TEGEN

Katherine Tegen Books orders extra cheese with The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett, illus. by Shawn Harris, the exploits of a bionic cat, toenail-clipping robot, and moon queen saving the moon from hungry rats, based on their YouTube series of the same name; Anybody Seen Frenchie? by Leslie Connor, in which a town bands together to locate a non-verbal autistic boy who has gone missing; The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix, about a boy who investigates whatnots—humanoid robots who are designed as classmates for rich children—as he searches for his missing friend; Queer Ducks (And Other Animals): The Natural World of Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer, recounting the gamut of queer behavior observed by scientists in animals; and Nigel and Moon by Antwan Eady, illus. by Gracey Zhang, featuring a Black schoolboy who moves past his fear of judgment to share his big dreams with his class during Career Week.

HARPERCOLLINS/VERSIFY

Versify is walking on air with Kicks by Van G. Garrett, illus. by Reggie Brown, a love letter to sneakers; A Library by Nikki Giovanni, illus. by Erin Robinson, celebrating the magic of a library as a place for knowledge, imagination, and more; Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk, following the intense and tumultuous relationship between two queer girls; The Antiracist Kid: A Book About Identity, Justice, and Activism by Tiffany Jewell, an illustrated chapter-book guide to antiracism from the author of This Book Is Anti-Racist; and Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier, in which a fifth-grader prone to blending in must learn to speak up and break out of her shell.

HARPERCOLLINS/WALDEN POND

Walden Pond Press steps up to the plate for The Hurricanes of Weakerville by Chris Rylander, featuring baseball-obsessed 13-year-old Alex who gets more than he bargained for when he’s made manager of his hometown’s independent league team; The Drifters by Kevin Emerson, a sci-fi mystery in which Jovie and Sylvan uncover dark secrets of their small town as they search for a missing girl; and Just Harriet by Elana K. Arnold, illus. by Dung Ho, launching a series that stars a girl named Harriet, a dog named Moneypenny, and a cat named Matzoh Ball.

HIGHLIGHTS PRESS

Highlights Press works up an appetite for Maggie and Pie and the Cookie Contest by Carolyn Cory Scoppettone, illus. by Paula J. Becker; and Bear and Friends: Pup Is Lost by Jody Jensen Schaffer, illus. by Clair Rossiter, two entries in the Highlights Puzzle Reader beginning reader line.

HOLIDAY HOUSE
Holiday House grabs a trowel for Uncle John’s City Garden by Bernette Ford, illus. by Frank Morrison, an autobiographical picture book about a suburban family who comes to the city housing projects to farm in an uncle’s impressive garden; After the Buzz Comes the Bee: Lift-the-Flap Animal Sounds by Robie Rogge, illus. by Rachel Isadora, challenging young readers to guess animals and sounds; Hoggy Went a-Courtin’ by Ethan Long, an easy reader graphic novel featuring a pig who can’t stop hogging the basketball; No Filter and Oher Lies by Crystal Maldonado, following the terrifying unraveling of 16-year-old Kat when her popular Instagram account is exposed as a fraud; and Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper, a supernatural YA romance featuring a teenage mind-reader in 1928 Chicago who hides a dark secret.

HOLIDAY HOUSE/FERGUSON

Margaret Ferguson Books gathers permission slips for Field Trip to Volcano Island by John Hare, about a student left behind on a class trip to a volcano who meets a friendly lava monster; One Million Trees: A True Story by Kristen Balouch, relating the author’s childhood experience of planting trees with her family in Canada to replace ones that had been logged; Taking Off: Airborne with Mary Wilkins Ellis by Emily Arnold McCully, introducing one of Britain’s WWII Spitfire pilots; Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case, a futuristic graphic novel in which 10-year-old Elvie and her caretaker devise a way to use the scales from butterfly wings to enable humans to live above ground in the brutal conditions caused by a sunshift; and Worser by Jennifer Ziegler, following a bullied wordsmith who uses the lexicon he’s created to meet new friends as he copes with his mother’s stroke and subsequent loss of speech.

HOLIDAY HOUSE/PORTER

Neal Porter Books puts the kettle on for Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang, illus. by Hyewon Yum, in which kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea-drinking; A History of Me by Adrea Theodore, illus. by Erin Robinson, in which one mother’s account of her experience as the only Black child in school serves as an empowering message to her daughter and other children of color; The Adventures of Robo-Kid by Diane deGroat, following a comic-book superhero who climbs off the page and into the real world where he soon needs a rescue from his biggest fan; and This New Morning by Sydney Smith, which takes a look at memory as filtered through the mind of a child and his mother.

INHABIT

Inhabit Media splashes into spring with Ringed Seal by William Flaherty, illus. by Otterstätter, a new Animals Illustrated title delivering facts about this creature; and Putuguq and Kublu: Attack of the Amautalik by Roselynn Akulukjuk and Danny Christoper, illus. by Astrid Arijanto, in which siblings Putuguq and Kublu wonder if an amautalik (an ogress from their grandmother’s traditional Inuit stories) might be stalking them during a game of hide-and-seek at their grandparents’ house.

INKYARD

Inkyard Press joins the club with The Supernatural Society by Rex Ogle, kicking off a new series about a group of kids who must unravel centuries of secrets to save their monster-filled town; A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan, in which Mina convinces indie film star Emmitt—who has enrolled in her high school under a secret identity—to star in her short film; If You Change Your Mind by Robby Weber, the story of aspiring screenwriter Harry who finds life imitating art when his ex shows up to win him back just as a charming new guy arrives in town; You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen, following three Black Muslim teens who discover that the blog they have created as a safe haven after a terrorist attack is threatened by anonymous posters; and A Tale of Two Princes by Eric Geron, a queer romance which finds a royal suddenly dealing with his long-lost twin who is heir to the newly established Canadian throne.

KANE MILLER

Kane Miller adds it all up for The Book of Math by Anna Weltman, illus. by Paul Boston, exploring math in nature, art, architecture, sports, and more; Never Teach a Stegosaurus to Do Sums by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illus. by Diane Ewen, imagining what a stegosaurus might achieve if she learned to do math; 1,2,3, Do the Shark by Michelle Robinson, illus. by Rosalind Beardshaw, following Bess and her fishy friends on an underwater adventure; How to Make a Book by Becky Davies, illus. by Patricia Hu, detailing a book’s creation from the author’s idea through the publishing process, to readers’ hands; and Oceans: A Shine-a-Light Book by Carron Brown, illus. by Becky Thorns, revealing a world beneath the waves via a flashlight and see-through pages.

KARADI TALES

Karadi lines up pen and paper for Letters to Krisha by Parinita Shetty, illus. by Sahita Rani, in which Krisha’s classmates write her funny updates from school when she hospitalized for an appendectomy; The Homework by Ashwin Guha, illus. by Vaibhav Kumaresh, about a homework assignment created with an overactive imagination; and The Magic in My Fingers by Nandita da Cunha, illus. by Nayantara Surendranath and Kanimozhi A., the story of a girl who stuns her father with her talent for playing the sitar.

KAR-BEN

Kar-Ben rolls out its spring blueprints with Frank, Who Liked to Build: The Architecture of Frank Gehry by Deborah Blumenthal, illus. by Maria Brzozowska, spotlighting the life of this groundbreaking architect; José and the Pirate Captain Toledano by Arnon Z. Shorr, illus. by Joshua M. Edelglass, a graphic novel focusing on the bond between young refugee José Alfaro and Pirate Captain Toledano during the Spanish Inquisition; Mrs. Noah’s Doves by Jane Yolen, illus. by Alida Massari, featuring the special mission chosen for the many doves Mrs. Noah brings onto the ark when the flood arrives; Rena Glickman, Queen of Judo by Eve Nadel Catarevas, illus. by Martina Peluso, the story of a poor Jewish girl who grew up to be the pre-eminent female judo master of her time; and The Button Box by Fawzia Gilani-Williams and Bridget Hodder, illus. by Harshad Marathe, in which Jewish fifth-grader Ava and her Muslim best friend Nadeem find a magic button in Granny’s button box that transports them to ancient Morocco, where Nadeem’s ancestor is running for his life.

KIDS CAN

Kids Can Press excavates a spring list with Fossil Whisperer by Helaine Becker, illus. by Sandra Dumais, the true story of Wendy Sloboda’s discovery of the Wendiceratops dinosaur; Squiggly Too: A Story of Me by Me by Andrew Larsen, illus. by Mike Lowery, about a boy’s creative approach to his autobiography assignment; Clementine and the Lion by Zoey Abbott, in which an unexpected visitor helps loner Clementine appreciate the company of others; The Global Ocean by Rochelle Strauss, illus. by Natasha Donovan, explaining how Earth’s five great oceans are part of one global ocean working like the planet’s heart; and Up and Adam by Debbie Zapata, illus. by Yong Ling Kang, following Adam, a child with Down syndrome, and his dog, Up, as they help clean up their town after a storm.

LANTANA

Lantana signs “xoxo” for Dearest One by Arielle Dance, illus. by Jenny Duke, offering 12 inspirational lessons to live by; My Must-Have Mom by Maudie Smith, illus. by Jen Khatun, in which Jake worries that he’s the only thing left to change when his mother upcycles their apartment; Through the Forest by Yijing Li, following a boy who enters the forest and must confront his best and worst memories in order to continue on his way; and Rainbow Hands by Mamta Nainy, illus. by Jo Loring-Fisher, the story of a boy who finds a nail polish color to match every mood and feeling among his mother’s magical bottles.

LEE & LOW

Lee & Low cracks one open with Bottle Tops by Alison Goldberg, illus. by Elizabeth Zunon, spotlighting contemporary Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, who creates works of art from recycled materials.

LEE & LOW/TU BOOKS

Tu Books lets les bon temps rouler with That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street by Chris Clarkson, a contemporary YA novel exploring economic disparity, gender, and mental health through the eyes of an ensemble cast in the magical city of New Orleans; and Echoes of Grace by Guadalupe García McCall, the story of two sisters in a fractured family on the Texas-Mexico border who deal with dark secrets in their present and past.

LERNER

Lerner is on its way to where the air is sweet with Five-Minute Friendship Starters: Make a Buddy with Sesame Street by Marie-Therese Miller, introducing young readers to ways to approach and have fun with new friends; and the six-volume American Slavery and the Fight for Freedom series in the Read Woke Books line, including Abolitionism: The Movement to End Slavery and Slavery and the Civil War: Rooted in Racism, both by Elliott Smith.

LERNER/CAROLRHODA

Carolrhoda stomps into spring with Dino-Easter by Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Barry Gott, which finds the dinos marking the holiday with a grand Easter egg hunt and other fun activities; The Art of Magic: A Novel by Hannah Voskuil, featuring kids who discover a set of enchanted art supplies that allow them to create magical creatures; This Last Adventure by Ryan Dalton, the story of how Archie tries to slow the progression of his grandfather’s Alzheimer’s disease by sharing role-playing fantasies; Today Is Different by Doua Moua, in which Mai learns how to be an ally and stand with her best friend Kiara who is protesting with the Black Lives Matter movement; and We Belong by Laura Purdie Salas, illus. by Carlos Vélez Aguilera, celebrates differences and encourages the exploration of self.

LERNER/CAROLRHODA LAB

Carolrhoda Lab grabs a pickaxe for Gold Mountain by Betty Yee, in which Ling Fan disguises herself as a boy and travels from China to America in the 1860s to take a dangerous job as a laborer on the Transcontinental Railroad; and The Deep Blue Between by Ayesha Harruna Attah, the story set in 1890s West Africa of twin sisters Hassana and Husseina, who are torn apart by violence and must rebuild their lives an ocean apart.

LERNER/GRAPHIC UNIVERSE

Graphic Universe is all eyes with Super Potato and the Soaring Terror of Pterosaur by Artur Laperla, which finds Super Potato trying to capture an escaped prehistoric winged lizard; Amazona by Canizales, in which a 19-year-old Indigenous Colombian woman returns to her home country to mourn her lost child and document evidence of the illegal mining that displaced her family; A House Divided by Haiko Hörnig, illus. by Marius Pawlitza, a new Lost Daughter volume, in which Henrietta uses the last of her house’s magic to protect her friends against stone warriors; and Felix and Calcite by Laperla, launching the Land of the Trolls series about a boy who finds a tunnel inside his toy chest that leads to a land of trolls and a new best friend.

LERNER/MILLBROOK

Millbrook Press goes beachcombing with Washed Ashore: Making Art from Ocean Plastic by Kelly Crull, showcasing sculpture artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi and information about the impact of plastic waste on sea life; Rumble and Roar: Sound Around the World by Sue Fliess, illus. by Khoa Le, following children as they experience many forms of sound; Call Me Miss Hamilton: One Woman’s Case for Equality and Respect by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Jeffery Boston Weatherford, introducing the African American civil rights activist who fought for respect, all the way to the Supreme Court; and Make Way for Animals!: The Wonderful World of Wildlife Crossings by Meeg Pincus, illus. by Bao Luu, revealing the efforts of engineers to build wildlife bridges and reduce the number of animal casualties on the highway.

LERNER/ZEST

Zest Books dons its safety glasses for Glowing Bunnies!: Why We’re Making Hybrids, Chimeras, and Clones by Jeff Campbell, exploring modern genetic technology; Attention Hijacked: Using Mindfulness to Reclaim Your Brain from Tech by Erica B. Marcus, offering readers techniques for dealing with technology and its impact; I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker by Sara Latta, profiling Civil War surgeon and spy Walker, the only woman to have been awarded the Medal of Honor; and Teen Innovators: Engineering a Better World with Creative Inventions by Fred Estes, introducing 10 young people who created unique methods to overcome real world problems.

LEVINE QUERIDO/LEVINE

Arthur A. Levine spells it out with A Is for Bee by Ellen Heck, an alphabet book debut highlighting how language is similar and different across the world; The Dove in the Belly by Jim Grimsley, following two young gay men navigating a complex romance in late 1970s North Carolina; The Lost Ryū by Emi Watanabe Cohen, a debut fantasy set in post-WWII Japan which finds 10-year-old Kohei searching for the truth about his family history and the disappearance of the giant ryū (dragons) that fought in the war; Aviva vs. the Dybbuk by debut author Mari Lowe, about a Jewish girl who lives with her mother above their Orthodox synagogue’s mikvah and is coping with her father’s tragic death and the appearance of a dybbuk that only she can see; and High Spirits by Camille Gomera-Tavarez, a debut collection of interweaving stories exploring machismo, family, and identity in the Dominican diaspora.

LEVINE QUERIDO/EM QUERIDO

Em Querido rosins up the fiddle bow for The Days of Bluegrass Love by Edward van de Vendel, trans. by Emma Rault, about two European boys falling in love in America in the summer of 1999; Ironhead, or Once a Young Lady by Jean-Claude van Rijkeghem, a historical YA novel set during the Napoleonic wars, featuring 18-year-old Constance who robs her husband and runs off to join the army impersonating a soldier; You Are the Loveliest by Hans and Monique Hagen, illus. by Marit Törnqvist, serving up poems about love, dreams, and more; and Geographics by Regina Gimenéz, presenting infographics spotlighting our world and universe.

LIL’ LIBROS

Lil’ Libros greets spring with Milo + Niko by D Guzman, in which young Milo finds adventure at her abuelita’s plant shop with a stray cat named Niko; Sana Sana Colita de Rana by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, illus. by Citlali Reyes, in which the classic titular song assures aspiring wrestler Tina that no matter how bad things are today, things will be better tomorrow; ABC de las Telenovelas by Michelle and Cris Winters, an alphabet book celebrating beloved telenovela characters and iconic stars; and bilingual biographies The Life of/La vida de Chico Mendes and The Life of/La vida de Pura Belpré, both by Rodrigues and Stein, illus. by Reyes.

LITTLE BEE

Little Bee signs, seals, and delivers a spring list with Dear Reader: A Love Letter to Libraries by Tiffany Rose, in which a girl writes a letter paying tribute to libraries and books while expressing the need for diversity and the importance of representation in stories; Feasts and Festivals Around the World by Alice B. McGinty, illus. by Tomoko Suzuki, spotlighting the celebrations and feasts of 12 countries and cultures throughout the year; I Want My Book Back by Viviane Elbee, illus. by Nicole Miles, in which Daryl is unhappy about returning his favorite book to the library and will do anything to get it back; and Pauli Murray: The Life of a Pioneering Feminist and Civil Rights Activist by Terry Catasús Jennings and Rosita Stevens-Holsey, a nonfiction portrait of Murray written in verse.

LITTLE, BROWN

Little, Brown loads its quiver with An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X. R. Pan, blending Romeo and Juliet with Chinese mythology in a contemporary YA novel; Roto and Roy: Helicopter Heroes by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illus. by Don Tate, chronicling a forest fire rescue mission for helicopter Roto and pilot Roy; Berry Song by debut author-illustrator Michaela Goade, featuring a Tlingit girl who sings with her grandmother as they collect wild berries over the seasons; Anne of West Philly by Ivy N. Weir, illus. by Myisha Haynes, a Classic Graphic Remix title which reimagines Anne of Green Gables in modern-day West Philadelphia; and Save the People! by Stacy McAnulty, serving up facts alongside humor in a nonfiction book about avoiding human extinction.

LITTLE, BROWN/POPPY

Poppy heats things up with Sometime in Summer by Katrina Leno, a love letter to books and summertime, with a touch of magic; The Edge of Summer by Erica George, about a girl on Cape Cod navigating first love and the loss of her best friend as she tries to save the humpback whales from entanglement; Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke, in which high school junior Michie grapples with big questions of love and purpose as her estranged mother reappears in her life; and It’s All in How You Fall by Sarah Henning, the story of a former competitive gymnast who develops a crush on her older brother’s best friend as he helps her find a new sport and she scores him a date with her teammate.

LITTLE, BROWN/OTTAVIANO

Christy Ottaviano Books hits the right notes with Duet by Elise Broach, in which a musically gifted bird and a talented young pianist search for a long-lost Chopin piano; Dolly! The Story of Dolly Parton by Robyn McGrath, illus. by Ellen Surrey, spotlighting this country music icon and philanthropist; Two Truths and a Lie by April Henry, in which a group of teens involved in a theater competition get stranded during a blizzard in a creepy motel with a potential murderer; Wake Me Up in 20 Coconuts by Laurie Keller, humorously assuring readers that it’s okay to admit you don’t know something; and Knight Owl by Christopher Denise, a medieval picture book tale in which an owl builds strength and confidence.

LITTLE, BROWN/PATTERSON

Jimmy Patterson Books will never forget spring with The Elephant Girl by James Patterson, Ellen Banda-Aaku, and Sophia Krevoy, a novel based on a true story about a Masai girl who rescues a baby elephant from poachers; Elephant Goes Potty by James Patterson, illus. by Sydney Hanson, in which everyone in Ellie’s family, including the dog, believes it’s time for her to use her potty, but she insists they’re wrong; and The Runaway Diary by James Patterson and Emily Raymond, illus. by Valeria Wicker, the story of two sisters—one who runs away from home and the other who follows her to save them both—depicted in a YA graphic novel.

MACMILLAN/FARRAR, STRAUS, & GIROUX

FSG turns down the bed for This Book Will Get You to Sleep by Jory John, illus. by Olivier Talec, which walks readers through various methods of falling asleep; In the Key of Us by Mariama Lockington, in which two girls, both grappling with grief and questions of identity, meet at a summer music camp and begin a gentle romance; A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal, about a girl who gets tangled in a heist with vampires and must face the consequences; The Lost Dreamer by debut author Lizz Huerta, kicking off a YA fantasy duology introducing a fantastical version of an ancient Mesoamerican world and a lineage of women seers resisting the patriarchal state; and The Silent Unseen by Amanda McCrina, a historical novel about a teenager girl who risks everything to save her missing brother.

MACMILLAN/FEIWEL AND FRIENDS

Feiwel and Friends plays fetch with Daniel the Golden Retriever by Tammy Tomlinson, illus. by Kiersten Eagan, based on the true story of this dog’s pursuit of a coveted Best In Show blue ribbon; Broadway Bird by Alex Timbers, illus. by Alisa Coburn, Broadway director Timbers’s tale about a bird who dreams of making it big onstage; Old Friends by Margaret Aitken, illus. by Lenny Wen, a debut picture book in which a girl’s search for friends after the loss of her grandmother inspires her to go undercover and join the local senior citizens group; Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q Sutanto, in which a Chinese American boy must learn to embrace his heritage to solve the mystery of his brother’s death after he inherits a grieving fox spirit; and Twice As Perfect by Louisa Onome, following Ada as she deals with an estranged older brother, pressure from her parents about her future, and helping her cousin plan a huge Nigerian wedding.

MACMILLAN/FIRST SECOND

First Second tells it like it is with Goldie’s Guide to Grandchilding by Clint McElroy, illus. by Eliza Kinkz, in which a girl shares expert tips for enjoying the very special creatures known as grandparents; and The InvestiGators: Braver and Boulder by John Patrick Green, which finds the gator detectives struggling to keep a low profile when their new headquarters is a giant robot towering over the city.

MACMILLAN/FLATIRON

Flatiron Books gets a spring rhythm going with Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min, telling a best friends to enemies to lovers story in two movements, set against the Los Angeles music scene; Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean, the sequel to Tokyo Ever After, focusing on Princess Izumi’s return to her newfound royal family (and love) in Tokyo; and Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert, about a 17-year-old whose summer vacation begins with an accident, a punishment, a mystery, and a reckoning with dark forces awoken by her mother.

MACMILLAN/GODWIN

Godwin Books wraps its arms around spring with Consider the Octopus by Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner, a realistic environmental comedy in which two 12-year-olds become friends and unexpected allies on board a scientific research ship at the edge of the Great Pacific Garbage Pile; Reach for the Stars by Emily Candrelli, illus. by Honee Jang, celebrating the relationship between parent and child as well as shared discovery and exploration; We Are Better Together by Bill McKibben, illus. by Stevie Lewis, reminding readers of the power of human cooperation when it comes to protecting our beautiful, fragile planet; Seed by Caryl Lewis, about a boy, his grandfather, and a pumpkin that feeds on wishes; and Yours ’Til Niagara Falls by Brenda Z. Guiberson, illus. by William Low, serving up a fact-filled history of Niagara Falls, following their evolution from the age of the dinosaurs to their future disintegration.

MACMILLAN/HENRY HOLT

Henry Holt raises its voice with A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the March by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders, illus. by Byron McCray, revealing the story of the gay Black man behind the 1963 March on Washington; Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa by Julian Randall, following a girl who sets off to find her missing cousin and gets transported to an island world filled with Dominican myths and legends; The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton, kicking off a series about a magic school that celebrates cultural traditions from around the world; Surviving the Wild: Star the Elephant by Remy Lai, launching a series of suspenseful early reader graphic novels featuring animals surviving in nature despite the perils of climate change; and When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw, focusing on two gay teenagers in 1990s New York City who must navigate their sexuality, the grief of losing a first love to AIDS, and the need for a safety net.

MACMILLAN/NEON SQUID

Neon Squid follows doctor’s orders with The Hospital: The Inside Story by Christle Nwora, offering a STEM-rich look at what happens at a hospital all day; Animal Sidekicks: Amazing Stories of Symbiosis in Animals and Plants by Macken Murphy, illus. by Dragan Kordić, featuring unusual and humorous relationships between animal and plant species; A Day in the Life: Big Cats: What Do Lions, Tigers, and Panthers Get Up to All Day? by Tyus D. Williams, illus. by Chaaya Prabhat, following a selection of these creatures over the course of one day; The Book of Sisters: Biographies of Incredible Siblings Throughout History by Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson, in which podcasting sisters Meikle and Nelson spotlight other sister duos from world history; and Young Zoologist: Humpback Whale: A First Field Guide to the Singing Giant of the Ocean by Ahsa de Vos, an introduction to this mammal from acclaimed marine biologist de Vos.

MACMILLAN/PRIDDY

Priddy ushers in the season with these novelty and early concept titles created by Roger Priddy: Rainbow Bob, My First Encyclopedia, and Helpful Heroes: Rescue.

MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK

Roaring Brook Press throws a tantrum with My Parents Won’t Stop Talking! by Emma Hunsinger and Tillie Walden, in which a child’s plans to play in the park are spoiled when her mothers keep stopping to talk to neighbors along the way; Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis, a debut graphic novel focused on body image, confidence, and the everlasting bond of sisterhood; Cold by Mariko Tamaki, spotlighting a shocking murder in a quiet town; We Deserve Monuments by debut author Jas Hammonds, which follows a biracial teen living in small-town Georgia with her estranged grandmother who becomes entangled in a family mystery, a new romance, explorating how racial violence can ripple down through generations; and How to Money: Your Ultimate Visual Guide to the Basics of Finance by Jean Chatzky, Kathryn Tuggle, and the HerMoney team, offering financial advice for teens in an illustrated format.

MACMILLAN/TOR/STARSCAPE

Starscape finds its spring list is just right with Lily to the Rescue: The Three Bears by W. Bruce Cameron, in which former stray dog Lily is on a mission to rescue two bear cubs lost in the woods without their mother; and Kelcie Murphy and the Academy of Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis, a debut fantasy in which an orphaned girl in the human world is accepted to the Academy of Unbreakable Arts, where she trains as a warrior and learns that she is descended from one of the most ancient beings in the Otherworld and has elemental powers.

MACMILLAN/TOR/TOR TEEN

Tor Teen embraces the season with Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak by Charlie Jane Anders, the sequel to Victories Greater Than Death, continuing the Unstoppable series set against the backdrop of an intergalactic war; and The Extraordinaries #3 by TJ Klune, closing out the trilogy that features Nick, a queer, popular fan fiction writer with ADHD, and the heroes he loves.

MACMILLAN/WEDNESDAY

Wednesday Books casts a wide net with The One That Got Away by Sophie Gonzales, which finds 18-year-old Maya participating in a reality show where she falls for one of her now famous ex-boyfriend’s other former flames; Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez, about a talented flamenco dancer and a disgraced dragon hunter in a world inspired by medieval Spain; Coming Out Alive by David Olshanetsky, a coming out of the closet manual for the digital generation by podcast host Olshanetsky; This Vicious Grace by debut author Emily Thiede, the first volume of the Last Finestra duology about a divine savior “blessed” with the power to magnify a partner’s magic, who kills every suitor she touches; and The Charmed List by Julie Abe, a contemporary romance set in a magical Palo Alto, Calif.

MAD CAVE/MAVERICK

Maverick heads to the football pitch for World Class by Jay Sandlin, illus. by Patrick Mulholland, following a Colombian teen dealing with bullies and anxiety as he steps into the world of international football when he earns a scholarship to play for the team at an elite London prep school; and Good Game Well Played by Rachael Smith, illus. by Katherine Lobo, in which five best friends working in a video game store in 1999 band together to save the store from being torn down by a greedy landlord.

MEHTA

Mehta roars into spring with I Am a Woman and I Made a Difference by Shrutikantha Kandali, illus. by Maja Poljanc, the first in a two-book series introducing 25 famous women whose lives and work continue to make an impact; and Ganesha by Ruchi Vaderha, illus. by Aparajitha Vaasudev, the story of Indian elephant god Ganesha, launching a series exploring Indian gods, mythology, and festivals.

MERRIAM-WEBSTER

Merriam-Webster blasts off with Follow the Stars! What Happened to Mars? and Please Don’t Laugh, We Lost a Giraffe, both by Tish Rabe, kicking off a series of Activity Mysteries in which Merriam and Webster complete word- and vocabulary-based activities to solve a mystery; and Merriam Webster’s Big Kid Words by Hannah S. Campbell, an illustrated volume focused on improving vocabulary for pre-K and Kindergarten students.

MINEDITION

Minedition plans a purrfect spring with Where’s My Cat? by Seymour Chwast, a visual guessing game and puzzle; Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers: A Story Inspired by Loujain al-Hathloul by Lina al-Hathloul and Uma Mishra-Newbery, illus. by Rebecca Green, introducing a courageous girl who follows her dream of learning to fly even though only boys can do so in her country of Saudi Arabia; The Path by Bob Staake, delivering a timely message about making choices; and My Indigo World by Rosa Chang, offering a tribute to all things blue that includes instructions on growing indigo plants and making dye.

NORTHSOUTH

NorthSouth heeds the trail markers with Climb On! by Baptiste Paul, illus. by Jacqueline Alcántara, centered on a father and daughter who bond over a hike they take together; The Garden We Share by Zoë Tucker, illus. by Julianna Swaney, a story of gardening, seasons, and treasured memories; Violet and the Crumbs—A Gluten-Free Adventure! by Abigail Rayner, illus. by Molly Ruttan, spreading awareness about celiac disease; In the Garden with Flori by Sonja Danowski, reminding readers that love, patience, and a good sense of humor help any garden to flower; and Mr. Gray and Frieda Frolic by Binette Schroeder, in which opposites attract and two very different neighbors become an unlikely couple.

NORTON

Norton Young Readers paddles into spring with Somewhere in the Bayou by Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey, following four swamp critters who discover that the log they were going to use to cross the river isn’t really a log; Deep Dive into Deep Sea by Tim Flannery, offering bizarre facts about the incredible creatures hiding in the deep sea; Todo sobre mi abuela by Rex Ogle, a YA memoir in verse centered on the author’s memories of his grandmother; Packing for Mars for Kids by Mary Roach, adapting the bestselling book for adults that guides readers through space travel and life without gravity; and How to Bake a Universe by Alec Carvlin, illus. by Brian Biggs, which breaks down the Big Bang into the bite-size steps of a recipe.

NUBEOCHO

NubeOcho checks the weather forecast for Zebra’s Umbrella by David Hernández Sevillano, illus. by Anuska Allepuz, in which Zebra hopes everyone will fit when he offers space under his umbrella to all his friends during a rain shower; Pumpkin and Me by Alicia Acosta, illus. by Mercé Galí, about a child learning to cope with the pain of losing a pet and to celebrate the good memories left behind when a loved one dies; Where Are You, Little Pig? by Margarita del Mazo, illus. by Laure du Faÿ, featuring Wolf’s thorough search for Little Pig; and Fox Tells a Lie by Susanna Isern, illus. by Leire Salaberria, which finds Fox trying to impress his friends by lying about knowing a superhero, Superturtle. All of these titles are also available in Spanish.

ORCA

Orca steals into spring with Kunoichi Bunny by Sara Cassidy, illus. by Brayden Sato, a wordless picture book in which a toddler uses her stuffed bunny to perform a number of daring acts; Sitting Shiva by Erin Silver, illus. by Michelle Theodore, introducing the Jewish practice of sitting shiva after a family member dies; Who’s Looking: How Animals See the World by Carol Matas, illus. by Cornelia Li, which finds a girl and her baby sister exploring the land around them as various animals and insects look on; Journey of the Midnight Sun by Shazia Afzal, illus. by Aliya Ghare, a wordless picture book inspired by the true story of the Midnight Sun Mosque that was moved 4,000 kilometers across Canada to become one of the northernmost mosques in the Arctic Circle; and Better Connected: How Girls Are Using Social Media for Good by Tanya Lloyd and Julia Kyi, illus. by Vivian Rosas, offering a look at the positive and creative ways girls are harnessing social media.

OWLKIDS

Owlkids sees the light at the end of The Tunnel by Sarah Howden, illus. by Erika Rodriguez Medina, offering a look at processing feelings and moving through tough times; For the Record by Monique Polak, in which Justine struggles to find her own truth amid the fallout from her parents’ divorce; Same Here by Susan Hughes, illus. by Sophie Casson, a nonfiction exploration of the different ways children around the world live; Bee and Flea and the Compost Caper by Anna Humphrey, illus. by Mike Deas, launching a series that follows a pair of bug buddies who form the Fenced-in-area Law Enforcement Agency and inspect trouble in the compost heap; and The Weird Sisters: A Note, a Goat, and a Casserole by Mark David Smith, illus. by Kari Rust, the inaugural book in a series about three sisters who overcome their neighbors’ wariness when they open a pet store in their new town and solve mysteries.

PAGE STREET

Page Street hones its set for The Comedienne’s Guide to Pride by Hayli Thomson, about a young lesbian striving to win a spot in the Saturday Night Live cast; Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino, which finds Lou, a skeptic of magic and superstitions, searching for her teenage aunt who was kidnapped to the goblin market; and A Beautiful Faux Paw by Jessica Cara, featuring a teen furry setting boundaries at home and finding community in fandom.

PAGE STREET KIDS

Page Street Kids stocks up on bug spray for Pega Sisters Go to Camp by Brooke Hartman, illus. by MacKenzie Haley, following a pegasus whose little sister is ruining her experience at camp; and Hello, Opportunity by Shaelyn McDaniel, illus. by Cornelia Li, the true STEM success story of the Mars rover.

PAPERCUTZ

Papercutz has seen it all before with The Night Brigade: The Case of the Girl from Déjà Vu by Franck Thilliez, illus. by Yomgui Dumont, kicking off a series following Professor Angus and his two teen sidekicks as they help people get rid of their worst nightmares; and Ralph Azham: Black Are the Stars by Lewis Trondheim, the first volume featuring the adventures of a duck named Ralph Azham in an anthropomorphic medieval world.

PAVILION

Pavilion charges up its batteries with Cool Technology by Jenny Jacoby, illus. by Jem Venn, a collection of facts, timelines, and experiments that show a variety of technological advancements, from the printing press to 5G.

PEACHTREE

Peachtree keeps its balance with A Unicorn on a Unicycle by Lynda Graham-Barber, illus. by Jordan Wray, in which a unicorn leads a cast of critters and vehicles in a counting parade; Miguel’s Community Garden by JaNay Brown-Wood, illus. by Samara Hardy, which finds Miguel and his two fathers exploring the spring wonders of a community garden; The Boy who Met a Whale by Nizrana Farook, focused on local fisherboy Razi who finds himself in danger when he helps hide a young shipwreck survivor on the run from villains; A Darkening of Dragons by S.A. Patrick, the inaugural title of a fantasy trilogy about three accidental heroes encountering a legendary villain in a land of dragons, song-spells, and battles; and The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grakkle by Shawn K. Stout, about an orphan girl living in poverty who learns from a magical group of ravens that her family has suffered from a deadly curse for years, and it’s her destiny to break it.

PEACHTREE TEEN

Peachtree Teen goes a-haunting with The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero, in which a biracial Jewish girl who dreams of becoming a violinist meets the ghost of a kindhearted boy when she is sent to Prague for the summer to stay with an aunt and witness the humble life of an artist; Boys I Know by Anna Gracia, the story of a Taiwanese American high school senior in Iowa determined to live life on her own terms as she balances academic and parental expectations and a fraught love life; and Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White, following 17-year-old trans boy Benji in a post-apocalyptic world as he teams up with an LGBTQ+ youth center to take down the fundamentalist cult that turned him into a monster to be used as a bioweapon.

PENGUIN/DIAL

Dial sets a spring table with Just Try One Bite by Adam Mansbach and Camila Alves McConaughey, illus. by Mike Boldt, in which three kids confront their picky parents and try to get them to eat healthy foods; Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram, which finds Hunter, the only gay member of his boy band, dating another boy band star and trying to figure out how to be queer in the public eye; Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon, about Sunny and Mindii, who meet at prom and head off on an accidental—and romantic—all-night adventure; The Book of Radical Answers (That I Know You Already Know) by Sonya Renee Taylor, offering answers for young readers to questions about life, health, sex, gender, race, and justice; and Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, illus. by Tonya Engel, spotlighting Claudette Colvin, whose refusal, at age 15, to give up her seat on a segregated bus led to her meeting Rosa Parks and launching the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott.

PENGUIN/DUTTON

Dutton trains its telescope on Star Child: A Constellation of Octavia E. Butler by Ibi Zoboi, spotlighting the childhood of science fiction legend Butler in poetry and prose; Diamond Park by Phillipe Diedrich, about four Mexican American teenagers from Houston, a vintage Chevy Impala, and the murder that changes all their lives; Into the Winds by Carrie Ryan, telling the story of eight teens in 1995 who hiked into an adventure course in the Windy River Range in the Rocky Mountains and only one returned alive; and Children of the Flying City by Jason Sheehan, following orphan Milo as he survives one daredevil grift at a time in the flying city of Highgate.

PENGUIN/FLAMINGO

Flamingo uses mind over matter with Somewhere, Right Now by Kerry Docherty, illus. by Suzie Mason, in which Alma’s mother teaches her a trick to calm her fears during a storm; and Princess Charming by Zibby Owens, illus. by Holly Hatam, introducing Princess Charming, who finds a special way to shine when the castle hosts a superstar for a special event.

PENGUIN/GROSSET & DUNLAP

Grosset & Dunlap finds a golden ticket with Willy Wonka’s Everlasting Book of Fun, illus. by Quentin Blake, featuring activities, recipes, and jokes for fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Mr. DeMaio Presents!: The Biggest Stuff in the Universe by Mike DeMaio, illus. by Saxton Moore, in which the YouTuber and educator and his comical crew travel across the galaxy seeking the biggest stuff in the universe; But Why: Are Llamas Ticklish? by Jane Lindholdm and Melody Bodette, illus. by Neil Swaab, which finds the hosts of podcast But Why answering real questions from curious kids; My Teacher Is the Best! by D.J. Steinberg, illus. by Ruth Hammond, featuring joyful poems that praise teachers and all that they do; and Welcome to Illinois: A Little Engine That Could Road Trip by Watty Piper, illus. by Jill Howarth, about the Little Engine’s stop in Illinois on her road trip around the U.S.

PENGUIN/KOKILA

Kokila puts on a swim cap for Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera, in which a 12-year-old girl channels her rage into following her synchronized swimming dreams; A Blue Kind of Day by Rachel Tomlinson, illus. by Tori Jay Mordey, about a boy learning to cope with his depression using sensory awareness skills; and Sam’s Super Seats by Keah Brown, illus. by Sharee Miller, following a girl with cerebral palsy who goes back-to-school shopping with her best friends in an ode to her favorite places to sit and the things she loves most about herself.

PENGUIN/LADYBIRD

Ladybird waves at spring with Hello, Mommy!: A Touch-and-Feel Playbook and Animals: A Touch-and-Feel Playbook, two interactive board books in the Baby Touch series.

PENGUIN/PAULSEN

Nancy Paulsen Books gets the scoop for Ice Cream Face by Heidi Sheffield, capturing all the anxiety and elation involved in waiting in line to get ice cream; Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed, a companion title to Amal Unbound, focusing on Omar, who sets out to change systemic inequalities at his elite boarding school where he faces prejudice for being a low-income scholarship student; Thirst by Varsha Bajaj, in which a courageous girl fights water inequity in Mumbai, risking her family’s safety; The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illus. by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, chronicling a confident Black girl’s fantastic first day of school; and The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson, illus. by Leo Espinosa, celebrating the joy and freedom of summer in the city.

PENGUIN/PHILOMEL

Philomel peels out with Counting to Bananas by Carrie Tillotson, illus. by Estrela Lourenço, featuring a banana and a narrator who can’t quite agree on what their book is about; Cramm This Book by Olivia Seltzer, aimed at giving Gen Z readers context for what they’re hearing about and information to make a difference, from the founder of The Cramm newsletter; I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys, a YA historical thriller set in communist Romania and focused on the citizen spy network that devastated a nation; Show the World by Angela Dalton, illus. by Daria Peoples-Riley, centering Black children and the many ways they show the world who they are through creativity; and And We Rise by Erica Martin, spotlighting poetry that explores the civil rights movement in the U.S. during the 1950s and ’60s.

PENGUIN/PUTNAM

Putnam screams for The Ice Cream Machine by Adam Rubin, a collection of six stories, each with the same title, set in six different worlds, illustrated by six different illustrators; Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz, a “Cinderella” retelling set in 17th-century Versailles; Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero, about a bunny who hides away his feelings in glass jars; League of Liars by Astrid Scholte, following four teens charged with murder and the illegal use of magic who band together to devise the ultimate jail break; and Map of Flames by Lisa McMann, about the children of supernatural criminals on a quest for hidden treasure—and their parents.

PENGUIN/RAZORBILL

Razorbill requests a late check-out with Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor, a YA fantasy that follows 17-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique; All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, the story of two teens in a small California town who struggle with racism, bullying, financial hardship, and young love; The Counselors by Jessica Goodman, a dark YA thriller involving a mysterious death at a summer camp; and Flirting with Fate by J.C. Cervantes, introducing Ava and her two sisters, the ghost of their dearly departed grandmother, and a fifth-century saint charged with aiding them in setting their fate right.

PENGUIN/RISE X PENGUIN WORKSHOP

Rise x Penguin Workshop gets down to earth with How to Say Hello to a Worm by Kari Percival, offering a gentle guide to enjoying the garden; Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illus. by Isabel Roxas, and Every Body: A First Conversation About Bodies by Madison and Ralli, illus. by Anne/Andy Passchier, serving to support and guide adults as they navigate these important conversations with young children; How You Came to Be by Carole Gerber, illus. by Sawsan Chalabi, which describes a baby’s month-by-month development in the womb; and Who Is Greta Thunberg by Lisbeth Kaiser, illus. by Stanley Chow, a board book biography of the young climate change activist.

PENGUIN/VIKING

Viking unpacks its picnic basket with Parks for the People by Elizabeth Partridge, illus. by Becca Stadtlander, spotlighting the life and work of Frederick Law Olmstead, landscape architect of Central Park and the grounds at the U.S. Capitol, among other famous projects; Everything Will Be OK by Anna Dewdney, illus. by Judy Schachner, delivering a story with a comforting message; Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters, a geeky, queer best-friends-to-lovers romance; Zia Erases the World by Bree Barton, in which Zia copes with her depression by turning to a magical dictionary where she can erase words that scare her the most, creating chaos; and With and Without You by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, about falling out of love and back in again during a long-distance relationship.

PENGUIN/WARNE

Frederick Warne follows the rainbow for Spot’s Lucky Day by Eric Hill, a shamrock-shaped St. Patrick’s Day board book.

PENGUIN WORKSHOP

Penguin Workshop gets security clearance for Area 51 Interns by James S. Murray and Carsen Smith, the launch title in a series about four kids whose parents work at the highly classified military base, and who team up to save the day when they get drawn into a hidden world of aliens, gadgets, and secrets; Abby in Between by Megan E. Bryan, in which nine-year-old Abby deals with her best friend moving away, her mother going back to work, and her body changing during the onset of puberty; Mi Ciudad Sings by Cynthia Harmony, illus. by Teresa Martinez, following a Mexican girl and her caring neighbors as they work together to rebuild their city after a traumatic earthquake; Pride: An Inspirational History of the LGBTQ+ Movement by Stella Caldwell, spotlighting the brave people and pivotal events that made history for the LGBTQ+ community; and Chasing After Knight by Heather Buchta, which finds a high school senior trying to remake the image of her former-potential-boyfriend, now-Hollywood-bad-boy by doing good deeds in his name, in order to make amends for how their relationship ended.

PENGUIN/WORLD OF ERIC CARLE

World of Eric Carle offers the following novelty and concept books by Eric Carle: How Does a Seed Sprout?, How Does a Tadpole Grow?: Life Cycles with the Very Hungry Caterpillar; The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Spring; The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Summer; and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Lunch: A Colors Book.

PENGUIN YOUNG READER LICENSES

Penguin Young Reader Licenses grows with licensed tie-ins Bluey: Camping; Mighty Express: Meet the Trains and Mighty Express: Donutty Day, both by Tallulah May; and Mighty Express: Oink-a-Palooza by Gabriella DeGennaro.

PENGUIN TEEN CANADA

Penguin Teen Canada makes a fast break with Wrong Side of the Court by H.N. Khan, following Fawad, growing up in a low-income neighborhood after his father’s death where he finds solace in basketball and Pakistani food but struggles to keep his friends safe from a local gang.

PETER PAUPER PRESS

Peter Pauper Press keeps it 100 with My First 101 Words, Bilingual Edition (English and Spanish) and 100 Questions About Birds: And All the Answers Too!, two informational titles by Simon Abbott.

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL/PI KIDS

PI Kids raises the curtain on Melody Takes the Stage: A Story About Confidence, a Disney Growing Up Story; Quinn the Quokka by Rachel Halpern, illus. by Eric Scales, in which happy marsupial Quinn B. Quokka enters a surfing contest at the beach; Marvel Avengers Actions Sound Comic Book, pairing Avengers stories with sound buttons; Disney Mickey & Friends Read-Along Classics: Pride and Prejudice, a soundbook retelling that stars Disney characters; and Mickey and the Dinosaur, part of the Disney My First Stories padded board book line.

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL/SUNBIRD

Sunbird Books is abuzz with Home Is Where the Hive Is by Claire Winslow, illus. by Vivian Mineker, following Beatrice the honeybee as she sets out to find a new home for her family’s hive when her hollow-tree home is overtaken by human development; Save the Animals!: Endangered Species World Tour by Chip Poakeart, illus. by Cat Andrenleau, which takes readers on tour with country singer/actual rooster Rooster Flatts as he travels the world singing about the endangered animals on each continent; and Who Jumped into Bed Last Night? by Joe Rhatigan, illus. by Julia Seal, about the children and animals who, one by one, jump into the bed of two sleeping parents, until Dad gets up and makes breakfast for them.

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL/SEQUOIA CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING

Sequoia Children’s Publishing goes to bed early with My Tooth Is Loose!, telling the story of what happens when a tooth becomes loose, and introducing the tooth fairy; Fruits and Veggies A-Z, featuring a rainbow of food items; and Shapes and Colors and First Words, two Active Minds Graphic Novels reinforcing concepts and vocabulary.

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL/SEQUOIA KIDS MEDIA

Sequoia Kids Media counts down to spring with 12 titles in the Active Minds: Zoom into Space! hardcover nonfiction series, including The Sun, Mercury, Earth, Venus, and Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids.

PIXEL + INK

Pixel + Ink cuts the ribbon for Grand Opening, the debut title in the Star and Strip series by M.J. Offen, illus. by Ruth Bennett, in which a brother and sister lock horns over starting their own food truck; Mystery Goo by Sue Fliess, illus. by Beth Mills, a sticky new case in the Beatrice Bly’s Rules for Spies series; The Swallowtail Legacy by Michael D. Beil, the story of a 12-year-old caught up in a decades-old mystery when she inherits a vacation house on an island in the Great Lakes; and The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing, the latest entry in the Great Peach Pit Experiment series, about how a family comes together to turn a crumbling money pit into a successful bed-and-breakfast.

PJ PUBLISHING

PJ Publishing checks the calendar for Until the Blueberries Grow by Jennifer Kam, illus. by Sally Walker, which finds Ben trying to convince his great-grandfather to stay in his house just a bit longer as they celebrate a yearly cycle of Jewish holidays together.

PRESTEL/PRESTEL JUNIOR

Prestel Junior peruses the menu with What’s Cooking in Flowerville? by Felicita Sala, a cookbook based on easy-to-grow fruits and vegetables; Olaf Hajek’s Fantastic Fruits by Annette Roeder, illus. by Olaf Hajek, which explains where and how fruits grow and offers information on how to prepare them for eating; The Wild Garden by Cynthia Cliff, following a group of children who find a neglected garden at the edge of their school yard and work together to make it usable again; The National Menagerie of Art by Thaïs Vanderheyden, which reimagines famous works of art starring animals instead of humans; and Wait, Little Hedgehog! by Britta Teckentrup, which finds Little Hedgehog continually stopping to look at the world around him on the walk home, until he falls asleep and Big Hedgehog needs to carry him.

PRINCETON ARCHITECTURAL PRESS

Princeton Architectural Press cleans its snorkel for At the Sea by Emma Giuliani, a lift-the-flap exploration of the ocean; The You Kind of Kind by Nina West, illus. by Leon Joosen, in which the star of RuPaul’s Drag Race celebrates the importance of being kind to others and the gift of being comfortable in one’s own skin; The Atlas of Animal and Plant Migration by Matt Sewell, a detailed look at our planet’s most extreme journeys, and how animals of all kinds battle through Earth’s toughest conditions to survive; The Bear and the Whisper of the Wind by Marianne Dubuc, following Bear, who meets some fellow forest creatures when he feels it’s time to explore somewhere new; and The Lady and the Unicorn by Béatrice Fontanel, illus. by Vanessa Hié, combining fantasy and classic art, beginning with the adventure of a unicorn who finds shelter in a secret garden, followed by the story of the Renaissance masterpiece “Unicorn Tapestries.”

PUFFIN CANADA

Puffin Canada arms itself for The Final Trial by Kelley Armstrong, which concludes the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series following Rowan’s efforts to prove herself as a Hunter; Me Three by Susan Juby, in which Rodney struggles with keeping family secrets to himself as allegations swirl about his successful professional-poker-playing father; and The Grave Thief by Dee Hahn, following a young grave thief who sets off with the queen’s niece to find the master of the Woegon, a deadly creature who stalks their kingdom.

QUARTO/FOSTER

Walter Foster, Jr. puts its list in order with ABC Bedtime by Erica Harrison and ABC the World and Me by Christiane Engel, two entries in the ABC for Me series, featuring a calming nighttime routine and 26 wonders of the world, respectively.

QUARTO/HAPPY YAK

Happy Yak spritzes some air freshener for What a Stink! by Mike Henson, illus. by Eugene & Louise, an interactive board book about a bunch of animals in an elevator when one of them breaks wind; and The Secret Life of Birds by Moira Butterfield, illus. by Vivian Mineker, exploring the world of birds including nest-building, bird calls and identification and bird folktales from around the world; Meet the National Animals by Catherine Veitch, illus. by Shiori Saito, showcasing more than 35 animals who represent their country; and Never Brush a Bear by Sam Hearn, in which a determined young pet stylist makes it his mission to brush a bear.

QUARTO/LINCOLN

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books pals around with Animal BFFs by Sophie Corrigan, spotlighting some unlikely symbiotic relationships from the animal world; Adnan by Mark Arrigo, illus. by Diala Brisly, the story of a refugee boy’s attempts to heal his mother’s mental health issues with his creativity as they rebuild their lives in their new home; Here and Queer by Rowan Ellis, a guidebook on LGBTQ+ identities written for a female audience; Amanda Gorman by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, joining the Little People, Big Dreams biography series; and Love Grows Everywhere by Barry Timms, illus. by Trisha Lee, in which a family who grows plants and sells them at their local market discovers the many loving relationships in their diverse community.

QUARTO/QEB

QEB heads to the hive for It Starts with a Bee by Jennie Webber, taking readers on a journey through the seasons as they follow a busy bee as it pollinate a wild garden.

QUARTO/WIDE-EYED

Wide-Eyed Editions renews its passport for A Whole World of Art by Sarah Phillips, illus. by Dion Mehaga Bangun Djayasaputra, offering the true story of art by looking at key works from different times and places around the globe; Make This Book Wild by Fiona Danks, illus. by Jo Schofield, in which readers collect wild materials and follow prompts to create a scrapbook of memories of special outdoor adventures; Built by Animals: Meet the Animals Who Inspire Our Architecture by Christiane Dorion, illus. by Yeji Yun, taking a humorous look at how plants and animals have inspired architecture and continue to help us make cities more sustainable; Kaleidoscope of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life by Greer Strothers, which uses scientific clues and theories to present a technicolor world of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures as they may have looked; and My Own Way by Joana Estrela and Jay Hulme, introducing very young children to gender identity.

RANDOM HOUSE

Random House spoons up Little Chef’s First 100 Words by Tenisha Bernal, introducing babies and toddlers to 100 kitchen items; Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee, in which Maizy comes back to Last Chance, Minn., to help her grandfather with the family restaurant and is compelled to learn more about her Chinese American family when someone leaves them a racist note; Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee, illus. by Molly Brooks, a graphic novel memoir about an anxious girl who wonders if there is something wrong with her and whether anyone will want to be friends with her if they find out; Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller, exploring identity, belonging, and redemption through the alienation of a girl who believes in aliens; and Most Perfect You by debut author Jazmyn Simon, illus. by Tamisha Anthony, a love letter to children struggling to accept their hair, their skin, and themselves, just as they are.

RANDOM HOUSE GRAPHIC

Random House Graphic marches to its own drum with Scout Is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong, in which Scout devises a plan to join the school band so she can go on their annual trip to a city where her favorite author is going to appear; Mapmakers and the Lost Magic by Cameron Chittock, illus. by Amanda Castillo, a fantasy adventure in which Alidade stumbles upon a magic hideaway when she’s on the run from the Night Coats; Across a Field of Starlight by Blue Delliquanti, following Lu and Fassen, who finally have a chance to be together—when their separate solar systems clash in war; Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley, which finds Jen adjusting to more change in her life on Peapod Farm as she navigates new friends and challenges at her new school; and Twin Cities by Jose Pimienta, about twins who have the chance to do their own thing when one attends middle school in Mexicali, Mexico and the other crosses the border every day to go to a private school in Calexico, Calif.

RANDOM HOUSE STUDIO

Random House dunks into the season with Donut by Laura Gehl, illus. by Andrea Zuill, about a persistent unicorn named Donut pursuing her dream to fly; A Gift for Nana by Lane Smith, featuring a rabbit on a quest to find the perfect present for his nana; I Forgive Alex by Kerascoët, the story of Alex, an energetic kid who inadvertently upsets one of his classmates and must take responsibility and seek his forgiveness; Rosa’s Song by Helena Ku Rhee, illus. by Pascal Campion, about how all the kids who live in an apartment building full of other new immigrants reach out to each other; and This Story Is Not About a Kitten by Randall de Sève, illus. by Carson Ellis, in which a community comes together when a kitten in the neighborhood needs help finding a forever home.

RANDOM HOUSE/CROWN

Crown has pick of the litter with Double Puppy Trouble by Danica McKellar, illus. by Josée Masse, in which puppy-fueled chaos illustrates the power of the math concept of doubling; Marcus Makes It Big by Kevin Hart with Geoff Rodkey, illus. by David Cooper, continuing the tale of Marcus’s hustle to make his Hollywood dreams come true; Steve L. McEvil by Lucas Turnbloom, a debut graphic novel about a super villain in training who may be reconsidering being bad; Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee, which finds freshman Savannah setting out to expose the person who vandalized a statue on her Ivy League campus with blackface—and the university’s racist past; and Ready for Launch by Scott Kelly, chronicling the author’s journey from distracted, unmotivated student to record-breaking astronaut.

RANDOM HOUSE/DELACORTE

Delacorte tries spring on for size with Glass Slippers by Leah Cypess, the latest Sisters Ever After series of retellings introducing Tirza, Cinderella’s third “evil” stepsister; Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian, beginning a YA fantasy series about three princesses trained from birth to overthrow monarchies; Dear Student by Elly Swartz, in which Autumn becomes the secret voice of the advice column in her school newspaper and finds herself in the middle of a problem between her two friends; Fathoms of Fear by Kiersten White, launching a series introducing the Sinister-Winterbottom twins who solve mysteries at increasingly bizarre summer vacation destinations while searching for their parents; and Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen, the first in a debut duology featuring a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their intertwined destinies.

RANDOM HOUSE/DOUBLEDAY

Doubleday Marie Kondo-izes its list with Everything in Its Place by Pauline David-Sax, illus. by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, in which a shy girl who feels at home at the school library gains the courage to come out of her shell when she meets a diverse group of women at the diner where her mother works; Don’t Eat Bees: Life Lessons from Hank the Dog by Dev Petty, illus. by Mike Boldt, following a dog who knows the best things to eat around the humans’ house; A Grandma’s Magic by Charlotte Offsay, illus. by Ȧsa Gilland, celebrating the many things that make grandmothers “magic;” I’d Like to Be a Window for a Wise Old Dog by Philip Stead, offering a meditation on the imagination from the point of view of a wise old dog; and Forever Twins by Dorothia Rohner, a celebration of twins, suggesting the magical idea that twins are made of stardust floating in the heavens until they find each other and are called to Earth to meet their family.

RANDOM HOUSE/GOLDEN

Golden Books flips for I’m a Gymnast! by Sue Fleiss, illus. by Daniela Sosa, introducing the sport of gymnastics; I’m a Mermaid by Mallory Loehr, illus. by Joey Chou, following the underwater adventures of a mermaid and her mer friends; and I’m Going to Kindergarten! by Andrea Posner-Sanchez, illus. by Joanie Stone, starring a very excited five-year-old girl on her first day of kindergarten.

RANDOM HOUSE/KNOPF

Knopf does a second take with The Blur by Minh Lê; illus. by Dan Santat, featuring a baby with superhero-like abilities whose parents are racing to keep up with her; Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, illus. by Daniel Minter, exploring the color blue’s journey through time and across the world; Does My Body Offend You? by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt, in which two girls face their own securities, biases, and privileges in the wake of a rebellion against their school’s dress code; The Dragon’s Pearl by Elizabeth Lim, a YA fantasy about a deadly conspiracy, star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl in the kingdom of the dragons; and The Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke, the story of a girl who must decide if she believes in the promise and complex magic of her deeply flawed country after WWII.

RANDOM HOUSE/MAKE ME A WORLD

Make Me a World makes memories with Time Capsule by Lauren Redniss, in which a girl gathers items for a time capsule, wondering who will one day find it; and Emile and the Field by Kevin Young, illus. by Chioma Ebinama, about a boy who experiences the natural wonders of the field in his neighborhood through the four seasons.

RANDOM HOUSE/RODALE KIDS

Rodale Kids swings into spring with Our Playground Rules by Jordan Reid and Erin Williams, about how being considerate and kind can help everyone have more fun; The Everybody Gets Anxious Activity Book for Kids by Reid and Williams, featuring techniques to help kids identify and manage their feelings of anxiety; The New Kid Welcome by Suzanne Slade, a flip-it book that explores different approaches for extending kindness to a new student; and Mrs. Peanuckle’s Kitchen Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle, illus. by Jessie Ford, an ABC book spotlighting cooking-themed words.

RANDOM HOUSE/SCHWARTZ

Anne Schwartz Books enters a hard hat zone with Build! by Red Nose Studio, in which the construction of a huge building appears to be the work of trucks galore but is revealed to be a child’s creation built with blocks and toys; The Boy Who Loved Maps by Kari Allen, illus. by G. Brian Karas, which finds a map-making boy stumped when a girl asks him for a map of the “perfect place;” Alone Like Me by Rebecca Evans, about a lonely girl from a small Chinese village who is shunned when she moves to the city, until she meets another lonely girl like herself; Pink, Blue, and You!: Questions for Kids About Gender Stereotypes by Else Gravel and Mykaell Blais, a tool designed to help in conversations about gender stereotypes and everyone’s right to be their true selves; and Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime by Candace Fleming, the true crime story of Leopold and Loeb’s plot to murder a 14-year-old boy, their conviction, and how their defense attorney Clarence Darrow saved them from the death penalty.

RANDOM HOUSE/LAMB

Wendy Lamb Books puts the pieces together with Chester Keene Cracks the Code by Kekla Magoon, in which a boy with a flair for solving puzzles wishes he could use his skills to find his father, who he’s never met, but who sends him secret spy messages.

SCHOLASTIC

Scholastic has all the right answers with Perfect Score by Angelica Monai, first in the Hunt a Killer series in which aspiring PI Jolene witnesses her guidance counselor fall in front of a train and doesn’t believe it was an accident after she discovers a college admissions scandal; Karma Picture Book by Halcyon Person and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, which finds Karma trying to create the perfect rap for her father’s birthday; Shuri and T’Challa: Into the Heartlands, by Roseanne A. Brown and Dika Araújo, a Black Panther graphic novel featuring the young prince of Wakanda and his sister; The Tyrell Show: Season One by Miles Grose, launching a chapter book series following 11-year-old Tyrell who copes with the stresses of everyday life by hosting an imaginary, real-time podcast in his head; and That Girl Lay Lay: Chapter Book #1 by Jevon Bolden, beginning a series of original books inspired by the Nickelodeon show spotlighting music sensation That Girl Lay Lay and her Slay Gang.

SCHOLASTIC EN ESPAÑOL

Scholastic en Español says “hola” to this spring title in Spanish: Srta. Quinces (Miss Quinces) by Kat Fajardo.

SCHOLASTIC FOCUS

Scholastic Focus laces up its running shoes for The Race of the Century: The Battle to Break the Four-Minute Mile by Neal Bascomb, which finds three world-class amateur runners trying to achieve the impossible—the perfect four-minute mile; The Deadliest Hurricanes Then and Now and The Deadliest Fires Then and Now, both by Deborah Hopkinson, telling the stories of the most deadly of these disasters in American history; and Days of Infamy: How a Century of Bigotry Led to Japanese American Internment by Lawrence Goldstone, examining the history of racism against Japanese Americans and the internment of American citizens of Japanese descent during WWII.

SCHOLASTIC PAPERBACKS

Scholastic Paperbacks gallops into spring with Can’t Be Tamed by Yamile Saied Méndez, the first book in the Horse Country series, following two Latina girls with a passion for making the healing power of horses available to every kid; Flamingo Blows Up by Beth Garrod and Jess Hitchman, illus. by Chris Danger, beginning the Inflatables series starring waterpark floats that have been forgotten in the lost and found; Squad Goals by Lisa Papademetriou, kicking off the Hearts & Crafts series, which follows seventh-grader Mackenzie’s big plans to craft a perfect school year; Must Love Pets #1 by Saadia Faruqi, in which dog-enthusiast Imaan starts a pet-sitting business to prove to her mother that she’s ready for a puppy of her of her own; and Home for Meow #1 by Reese Eschmann, featuring Kira’s efforts to find forever homes for the cats at The Purrfect Cup, the cat café owned and run by her family.

SCHOLASTIC PRESS

Scholastic Press needs some sweatpants for It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds, in which Eddie is caught in his swim trunks when a power outage signals the end of the world and all his dirty clothes are in the laundry; Join the Club Maggie Diaz by Nina Moreno, illus. by Courtney Lovett, which finds Maggie signing up for every after-school club that’s offered, hoping to find her passion; Coming Up Cuban by Sonia Manzano, exploring the impact of the 1959 Cuban Revolution on four kids from different walks of life whose lives intersect as they seek solace amidst the uncertainty; Lines of Courage by Jennifer A. Nielsen, following five children who face the horrors and hardships of WWI from different sides of the battlefield; Caprice by Coe Booth, featuring a girl who realizes she must face the abuse in her past before she can sort out her future; Because of You, John Lewis by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illus. by Keith Henry Brown, revealing the friendship between the late Congressman Lewis and a 10-year-old fellow activist; Goodnight, Butterfly by Ross Burach, a comical tale about a restless butterfly who eventually settles down to sleep after modeling some mindfulness techniques; Leo + Lea by Monica Wesolowska, illus. by Kenard Pak, a friendship story inspired by the Fibonacci sequence, melding math and art to celebrate neurodiversity and different ways of seeing the world; and To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat, illus. by Rahele Jomepour Bell, depicting how small acts can endanger life on Earth and how our collective actions can change the world for the better.

SCHOLASTIC/ACORN

Acorn revs its engines with the following illustrated early readers: Drive It! Fix It! (Racing Ace #1) by Larry Dane Brimner, illus. by Kaylani Juanita; The Sunken Ship (Mermaid Days #1) by Kyle Lukoff, illus. by Kat Uno; Can I Have a Turn? (Hello, Hedgehog! #5) by Norm Feuti; School’s In, Crabby! (A Crabby Book #5) by Jonathan Fenske; and Together (Unicorn and Yeti #6) by Heather Ayris Burnell, illus. by Hazel Quintanilla.

SCHOLASTIC/BRANCHES

Branches stays up all night with the following illustrated early chapter books: Pug’s Sleepover (Diary of a Pug #6) by Kyla May; My Kingdom of Darkness (Pets Rule #1) by Susan Tan, illus. by Wendy Tan Shiau Wei; Making Waves (Layla and the Bots #4) by Vicky Fang, illus. by Christine Nishiyama; Get Well, Eva (Owl Diaries #16) by Rebecca Elliott; and The Angry Elf (Pixie Tricks #5) by Tracy West, illus. by Xavier Bonet.

SCHOLASTIC/CARTWHEEL

Cartwheel puckers up for Kiss Kiss, Little Fish by Sandra Magsamen, featuring shimmery cloth fabric tails on each page; You Are My Special Narwhal by Joyce Wan, showcasing unique real-life creatures including narwhals, seahorses, and babies; Peek-a-You! by Andrea Pinkney, illus. by Brian Pinkney, a peek-a-book game in the Bright Brown Baby Board Book line, including rhymes that inspire joy and play and celebrate Black and Brown families; I Love My Beautiful Hair by Elissa Wentt, spotlighting the beauty and versatility of Black hair as a girl makes her first trip to the salon; and My Moms Love Me by Anna Membrino, illus. by Joy Hwang Ruizin, in which two mothers share a perfect day with their child.

SCHOLASTIC/CHICKEN HOUSE

Chicken House takes a spring journey with Tamarind and the Star of Ishta by Jasbinder Bilan, which finds Tamarind arriving at her late mother’s ancestral home in India only to discover family secrets and mystery—and a girl named Ishta who helps her unravel clues in the mansion’s luxuriant gardens.

SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX

Graphix wears shades for Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, the follow-up to Hey, Kiddo, focusing on the power of hope Jarrett discovers while counseling at a camp for seriously ill kids and their parents; The Aquanaut by Dan Santat, about a band of goofy sea creatures in an aquanaut suit who partner with a girl to save the captive marine life at Aqualand; Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicolas, kicking off a trilogy featuring Leon, who discovers that he can still be a hero in a land of superheroes and supervillains just by being himself; Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo, in which Sue’s visit with relatives in Honduras for the summer takes a turn for the worse when her mother announces they’ll be holding a surprise quinceañera for her; and Realm of the Blue Mist by Amy Kim Kibuishi, the launch title in the Rema Chronicles series featuring a girl who enters a magical world and is aided by a handsome boy while investigating the mysterious mist that killed her father.

SCHOLASTIC/ORCHARD

Orchard calls for action with Stand Up! Ten Mighty Women Who Made a Change by Brittney Cooper, illus. by Cathy Ann Johnson, introducing 10 revolutionary Black women who transformed the world for the better; Emi Isn’t Scared of Monsters by Alina Tysoe, chronicling a girl’s bedtime mission to catch a monster and prove once and for all that she is definitely not scared; My Bindi by Gita Varadarajan, illus. by Archana Sreenivasan, in which young, hesitant Divya finds the perfect bindi to put on and learns to embrace who she is; and The Ocean Is Kind of a Big Deal by Nick Seluk, a nonfiction exploration of the world’s biggest ecosystem.

SCHOLASTIC/PUSH

Chicken House has a stomach full of butterflies with The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver, in which Neil enlists his prep school roommate to pose as his boyfriend at his mother’s wedding and finds their temporary arrangement turning into something much more; and Meet Me in Mumbai, the story of an 18-year-old girl who discovers a box of letters from her biological mother and sets off on a journey halfway across the world to meet her.

SCHOOL OF LIFE

School of Life dusts off its hiking boots for Nature and Me: A Guide to the Joys and Excitements of the Outdoors, illus. by Tyla Mason, encouraging children to explore, enjoy, and benefit from the natural world around them.

SCRIBE/SCRIBBLE KIDS

Scribble Kids turns the page with Tomorrow Is a Brand-New Day by Davina Bell, illus. by Allison Colpoys, delivering a hopeful and reassuring message that we all have bad days, but they do pass.

SHAMBALA/BALA KIDS

Bala Kids lines up The Monster Parade: A Book About Feeling All Your Feelings and Then Watching Them Go by Wendy O’Leary, illus. by Noémie Gionet Landry, reminding readers that emotions come and go like monsters in a parade; I Am Thinking My Life by Allysun Atwater, illus. by Stevie Lewis, about a girl’s discovery of the relationship between her thoughts, actions, and place in the world; The Warrior's Code: And How I Live It Every Day by Kate Hobbs, illus. by Savannah Allen, in which a girl introduces the warrior’s code: be peaceful, be kind of heart, and respect all living things; Sophie Learns to Be Brave by Joan Halifax, illus. by Kiersten Eagan, following Sophie and the lost dog she encounters during a scary thunderstorm as they help each other through their fears; and I Am Quiet: A Story for the Introvert in All of Us by Andie Powers, illus. by Betsy Petersen, centered on Emile, who shows readers that the mind of a quiet child can be as rich, expansive, and bold as that of any child.

SIMON & SCHUSTER

Simon & Schuster cuts through the static with Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle, in which a self-professed teen love doctor known for his radio segment on a hip-hop radio show believes he can get a bookish, anti-romance girl to fall in love with him in three dates; Creepy Crayon! by Aaron Reynolds, illus. by Peter Brown, following Jasper Rabbit from Creepy Pair of Underwear! on a new silly-spooky encounter with a crayon; Perfectly Pegasus by Jessie Sima, the story of a lonely pegasus looking for the perfect friend; She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick, an LGBTQ+ romance following two college freshman who set out to help each other get the girls of their dreams, and then begin to wonder if they’re falling for each other; and New From Here by Kelly Yang, featuring Knox, a Chinese American boy striving to keep his family together as they move from Hong Kong back to California during the initial Covid-19 outbreak.

SIMON SPOTLIGHT

Simon Spotlight waves the checkered flag with Ready-to-Read titles Race for First Place by Candice Ransom, When Whales Fly by Erica A. Perl, and Captain Cat Goes to Mars by Emma J. Virjan; and Ready-to-Read Graphics volumes A Cool Day at the Pool by Lola M. Schaefer, illus. by Savannah Allen; and Geraldine Pu and Her Lucky Pencil, Too! by Maggie P. Chang.

S&S/ALADDIN

Aladdin takes a different route for Lost in the Mushroom Maze by Ben Costa and James Park, illus. by Costa, a series-starter introducing Coop Cooperson, the only human kid at Dungeoneer Academy, a school for future explorers in the land of Eem; Athena the Brain by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams, adapted by David Campiti], joining the Goddess Girls Graphic Novels series based on the long-running series about four goddess girls at Mount Olympus Academy; Sort of Super by Eric Gapstur, the inaugural volume in a graphic novel series that asks, “What good are superpowers if you can’t tell anyone you have them?”; The Sea of Always by Jodi Lynn Anderson, the second Thirteen Witches book, in which Rosie hunts the remaining witches; and The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe, a follow-up to The Islanders which finds 11-year-old Jake adjusting to a new normal with his family on Dewees Island.

S&S/ATHENEUM

Atheneum dreams big with I Want to Be a Vase by Julio Torres, illus. by Julian Glander, taking readers on a journey through the lives and intimate dramas of some of the unsung shapes of our time, as inspired by the HBO special My Favorite Shapes; Summer of June by Jamie Sumner, in which 12-year-old June is determined that this will be the summer she finds a way to cope with her anxiety, with the help of a secret library garden and a new friend; Sylvie by Jean Reidy, illus. by Lucy Ruth Cummins, which finds a small spider taking a big risk to bring together the people she watches over in her apartment building; The Mirrorwood by Deva Fagan, a fantasy featuring a girl cursed with no face of her own who steals faces to survive and flees her village for a dangerous, enchanted forest; and Something Beautiful by Lita Judge, about a cast of animals who discover the beauty of making new friends.

S&S/ATHENEUM/DLOUHY

Caitlyn Dlouhy Books is off like a shot with Trigger by N. Griffin, about a girl whose abusive father teaches her the finer points of chess and hunting so he can hunt her; Vape by Cynthia Kadohata, focusing on the vaping culture in our country; Maya by Jennifer De Leon, in which Maya and her mother decide that risking the perilous journey to the Mexico/U.S. border is less terrible than staying in their homeland of Guatemala where they face deadly gang violence; an as-yet-untitled novel by Desmond Hall, the story of two teens in difficult circumstances who are connected by a mysterious death and a race against time with $500K on the line; and Baby Be by Alison McGhee, illus. by Sean Qualls, exploring how babies and their fathers connect through the freedom and joy of dance and play.

S&S/BEACH LANE

Beach Lane puts one foot in front of the other with Take a Step by Bethanie Deeney Murguia, encouraging readers to take a walk, let their mind wander, and see what they can discover; Wondering Around by Meg Fleming, illus. by Richard Jones, celebrates how wondering about one small thing in nature can lead to infinite discovery; The Great Zapfino by Mac Barnett, illus. by Marla Frazee, the tale of a runaway circus performer who must face the fear that made him flee; Happy Sloth Day by April Pulley Sayre, providing a photographic look at sloths in their tropical rainforest homes; and Would You Come Too? by Liz Garton Scanlon, illus. by Diana Sudyka, inviting readers to grab some friends and head outside to immerse themselves in nature.

S&S/LITTLE SIMON

Little Simon plants a spring list with Little Seed by Benson Shum, about a little seed learning to spread love; Look After Us by Rod Campbell, a lift-the-flap board book introducing animal conservation; You’re My Little Unicorn by Laura Gehl, illus. by Summer Macon, suggesting all the ways that unicorns and babies are alike; Simon Says, I Spy… a Shark! by Cora Reef, illus. by Liam Darcy, beginning the Not-So-Tiny Adventures of Simon Seahorse chapter book series starring a tiny seahorse with a big imagination; and Dino Trouble by Nate Bitt, launching the Arcade World graphic novel series in which video games try to take over the world.

S&S/MCELDERRY

Margaret K. McElderry Books sets the alarm for Wakers by Orson Scott Card, kicking off a series following a teen who wakes up on an abandoned Earth to discover he’s a clone; Weeping Tide by Amanda Foody, the second entry in the Wilderlore series, in which Barclay must save an island city from the Legendary Beast of the Sea; Very Bad People by Kit Frick, which finds Calliope in a dangerous game of revenge after her search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school; and Gone Dark by Amanda Panitch, featuring a girl who must lead her friends across the country to the safety of her estranged father’s survivalist campground when a terrorist attack takes out all the power grids in the U.S.

S&S/MILLNER

Denene Millner Books looks to the night sky with Impossible Moon by Breanna McDaniel, illus. by Tonya Engel, about a girl who undertakes an impossible trip to the moon and brings back something far more valuable than the stars themselves; Stella Keeps the Sun Up by Clothilde Ewing, illus. by Lynn Gaines, featuring a girl who schemes to keep the sun up in the sky; and Turning by Joy L. Smith, a debut novel that follows a former aspiring ballerina who must confront her past in order to move forward after a devastating fall leaves her without the use of her legs.

S&S/SALAAM READS

Salaam Reads scores triple word points with Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf, in which 16-year-old Najwa is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend, the former unbeatable queen of competitive Scrabble, one year after the friend’s Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts; Katha Chest by Radhiah Chowdhury, illus. by Lavanya Naidu, about a girl who uncovers the rich histories of the women in her family when she goes through her mother’s katha chest; Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun by Hena Khan, illus. by Poppy Rahayu, the debut title in a chapter book spin-off starring Zara, a character from the Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream series; and Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illus. by Rose Tiffany, following a boy who loves storytelling but struggles with writing and learns it’s okay to make mistakes.

S&S/WISEMAN

Paula Wiseman Books sets sail with The Seagull and the Sea Captain by Sy Montgomery, illus. by Amy Schimler-Safford, the true story of a wild seagull and New England sea captain who become friends over four summers; My Very First 100 Words by Rosemary Wells, an introduction to early vocabulary; The Little Bear by Nicola Killen, in which Ollie has a dream about a magical schoolhouse in the woods the night before her first day of school; and Grand Day by Jean Reidy, illus. by Samantha Cotterill, celebrating the special bond between grandparents and their grandchildren.

SLEEPING BEAR

Sleeping Bear Press digs into the season with There Was a Hole by Adam Lehrhaupt, illus. by Carrie O’Neill, in which grief leaves a hole in a girl's chest that nothing will fill, but then a friend shows her how to make patches, like Love, Home, and Friends to repair the hole; Hello, Baby, I’m Your Mom by Eve Bunting, illus. by Jui Ishida, a gentle, rhyming text that shows human and animal mothers telling their little ones why they love them; Jackie and the Mona Lisa by Deborah Rovin Murphy, illus. by Jen Bricking, the true story of First Lady Jackie Kennedy bringing the Mona Lisa to America—and kickstarting America's appreciation for the arts; So Much More to Helen by Meeg Pincus, illus. by Caroline Bonne Muller, which celebrates all the things Helen Keller was—a dog-lover, a jokester, a traveler, a friend—reminding readers that people are more than their disabilities; and F Is for Feathers: A Bird Alphabet by Helen L. Wilbur, illus. by Andy Atkins, an exploration of all aspects of bird life, from species identification to migration patterns to the history of birdwatching.

SOHO TEEN

Soho Teen hails spring with The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart by Chesil, trans. by Takami Nieda, a story set in 2003 Oregon, about 17-year-old Ginny who reflects on her childhood growing up zainichi—an ethnic Korean living in Japan—and the incident that forced her to flee Japan; and What’s Coming to Me by debut author Francesca Padilla, introducing 17-year-old Minerva, who reckons with a troubled past as she plots revenge on her predatory boss after the ice cream stand where she works is robbed.

SOUNDS TRUE

Sounds True looks tough with The Rhino Suit by Colter Jackson, about a girl who learns that hiding from the world and her emotions makes it difficult to experience the good in life and to help others; and Little Cat Hide-and-Seek Emotions: A Playful Primer About Your Feelings by Audrey Bouquet, illus. by Lambert Fabien Öckto, introducing readers to a wide range of emotions and helping them learn how to engage with their own feelings.

SOURCEBOOKS

Sourcebooks is on the case with The Haunted Studio by Hayley LeBlanc, the launch title in The Mysterious Adventures of Hayley LeBlanc series, inspired by the YouTube star’s real life and features LeBlanc being cast in a kids’ TV mystery series, and when she’s not on camera, also solving actual crimes occurring around the studio.

SOURCEBOOKS EXPLORE

Sourcebooks Explore has spring on the tip of its tongue with My First Learn to Talk Book by Stephanie Cohen, designed to help babies and toddlers master the building blocks of speech by using rhythmic rhyming text and simple exclamatory words and sounds; and It Starts with a Question by Lisa Novick and Manu Montoya, in which two girls discover that letting their curiosity guide them can lead to problem solving and taking action to better the world.

SOURCEBOOKS FIRE

Sourcebooks Fire keeps it all in the family with The Holloway Girls by Susan Crispell, in which Remy kisses someone who belongs to another and dooms the boy to bad luck that almost kills him; Four Came Back by Chelsea Sedoti, the story of how five friends went camping, but only four came back; Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah, which finds 16-year-old Koral cheating her way into the famed Glory Race whose gold prize will rescue her family of sea-monster trainers from financial ruin; and My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham, about two girls who are inexplicably linked to one another and must learn to work together to stop the ancient, horrific creature rising from the dark that they have accidentally unleashed.

SOURCEBOOKS JABBERWOCKY

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky blooms with Sunflower Sisters by Monika Singh, illus. by Michaela Dias-Hayes, following two girls—one South Asian, one Nigerian—experiencing each other’s cultural traditions while learning to embrace the color of their dark brown skin; What Makes Us Strong by Charles R. Smith Jr., illus. by Shane Evans, exploring the traits that make us strong by featuring the historical and modern famous figures who embody them; and Our World Is a Family by Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson, illus. by Nomar Perez, offering an affirming look at the complicated topic of human migration, inspiring children to welcome their new neighbors into their community with love.

SOURCEBOOKS WONDERLAND

Sourcebooks Wonderland takes a cleansing breath with The ABCs of Calm by Rose Rossner, introducing readers to mindfulness concepts from A to Z; and You Make My Heart Go Vroom! by Rossner, which uses puns and images of transportation vehicles to share the message of love.

STARRY FOREST

Starry Forest offers Animals/Animales and Good Morning, Good Night/Buenos días, buenas noches by Mikala Carpenter, illus. by Gemma Román, two bilingual English/Spanish concept books in the Little Linguist series; and My Very First Activities by Elizabeth Golding, illus. by Jennifer Bartlett et al., introducing first words alongside activities.

TILBURY

Tilbury gets to the bottom of things with Good Eating: The Life of Krill by Matt Lilley, illus. by Dan Tavis, an informative look at the critical little animals at the base of the ocean food chain; Not a Cat by Winter Miller, illus. by Danica Novgorodoff, following Gato the cat, who provides evidence that he is many things besides a feline; Keepers of the Reef by Sharon Wismer, illus. by Alice Wong, in which two children snorkeling near the reef learn about the fish who help keep it healthy; Truth Be Told by Mark Kurlansky, illus. by Eric Zelz, providing kids with tools to discern when they’re being lied to on social media and IRL; and Big Problems, Little Problems by Ben Feller, illus. by Mercè López, focusing on a single father and his wise-beyond-his-years son.

TINY OWL

Tiny Owl gets heavy with Rock and Roll by Hazel Terry, which finds two boulders sitting side-by-side in harmony as friends until visitors arrive and unknowingly change everything.

TUNDRA

Tundra feels the rhythm of the music getting stronger with Esme’s Birthday Conga Line by Lourdes Heuer, illus. by Marissa Valdez, the kick-off to a series featuring Esme who takes matters into her own hands when her grandparents, with whom she lives, don’t throw her a birthday party; A Garden of Creatures by Sheila Heti, illus. by Esmé Shapiro, in which a bunny and a cat come to terms with their grief when another bunny friend dies; In the Clouds by Elly MacKay, which finds a girl and a bird on an adventure in the sky as they ask questions both scientific and philosophical about clouds; Baby Squeaks by Anne Hunter, the tale of how Mama follows the squeaks to find Baby mouse; and My Lala by Thomas King, illus. by Charlene Chua, about a girl who thinks she owns the world and goes around the house putting stickers on everything that belongs to her.

VAULT COMICS/WONDERBOUND

Wonderbound is ready to roll with Poiko: Quests and Stuff by Brian Middleton, following the kingdom’s most reliable courier on various deliveries; Wrassle Castle Vol. 2 by Colleen Coover and Paul Tobin, illus. by Galaad, in which a girl faces new challenges as she fights for her brother’s freedom and wrassling glory; Kenzie’s Kingdom by Shea Fontana, illus. by Agnes Garbowska, the story of Kenzie’s efforts to help the time-traveling squire she meets in her family’s medieval-themed resort get back home; Ghoster Heights by Kelly Mellings and Corey Lansdell, illus. by Lisa LaRose, in which a girl befriends a ghost after a tragic event and comes face to face with her own trauma and grief; and The Iron Gate by Sam Beck, the second volume in the Verse series featuring Neitya and Fife who, in the wake of disaster, must part ways in order to discover their own destinies.

WATTPAD

Wattpad rides along for How to Be the Best Third Wheel by Loridee De Villa, following 16-year-old Lara as she tries to navigate life, love, and high school with her three best friends—and their new boyfriends; Belle Morte by Bella Higgin, the first volume in a series of paranormal romance novels, putting a dark spin on The Count of Monte Cristo; Yesterworld by Rebecca Phelps, the sequel to Down World, which finds Marina lured back into Down World by a mysterious man guiding the way; Float by Kate Marchant, centering on Waverly, who after her parents’ messy divorce is yanked from her comfortable life in Alaska to spend the summer in her aunt’s beach town; and Gaslight by Rachel Rose, in which Maddie learns to stand up for herself and her family against her abusive father, finding strength in body and mind with the help of a local bad boy and MMA trainer.

WELBECK

Welbeck spreads positive vibes with BeYOUtiful: Celebrating Diversity in Beauty by Shelina Janmohamed, illus. by Chanté Timothy, looking at beauty across time and around the world and giving readers the tools to build their own confidence; The Secret Garden and The Wizard of Oz, two entries in the STEAM Tales series; and Interview with a Kangaroo: And Other Marsupials Too by Andy Seed, illus. by Nick East, providing an introduction to 10 marsupials in a Q&A format.

WELBECK EDITIONS

Welbeck Editions slips on some Wellies for Let’s Go Outside by Ben Lerwill, encouraging free play outdoors in all weather; and Islands: The World’s Most Captivating Islands by Lerwill, illus. by Li Zhang, exploring 18 unique islands from around the globe.

WELBECK FLAME

Welbeck Flame is fired up for Luma and the Pet Dragon by Leah Mohammed, the first in an early reader series featuring Luma and her unusual pet, who looks like a puppy when adults are around, but turns into a dragon in front of Luma.

WEST MARGIN

West Margin rises and shines with Wake, Sleepy One by debut author Lisa Kerr, illus. by Lisa Powell Braun, providing a nonfiction look at the California wildflower super bloom that occurs every spring; and The Path Across Anaconda Swamp, the second Challenge Island title, in which three kids use teamwork and STEAM skills to navigate a perilous island adventure.

WEST MARGIN/ALASKA NORTHWEST

Alaska Northwest Books wings into spring with Alaska Is for the Birds by Susan Spring, illus. by Evon Zerbetz, serving up nature poems and woodcut art showcasing 14 birds found across this state; and The Littlest Airplane by Brooke Hartman, illus. by John Joseph, in which a storm necessitates calling a mighty little bush plane to rescue people stuck on a mountain in the snow.

WEST MARGIN/GRAPHIC ARTS

Graphic Arts prepares for zero gravity with Space Story by Fiona Otsby, in which three interwoven stories follow Hannah and Leah’s romance and how their family is separated when Earth becomes unlivable; and The Visit by Rafael Grossman and Anna Olswanger, illus. by Yevgenia Nayberg, a graphic novel depicting a story from 1965 when an American rabbi visited the Soviet Union and discovered a heartrending example of family love, fear, and protection.

ALBERT WHITMAN

Albert Whitman hands down a spring decision with The Supreme Court and Us by Christy Mihaly, illus. by Neely Daggett, providing a look at the highest court in the land; HeroRat! by Jodie Parachini, illus. by Keiron Ward and Jason Dewhirst, an entry in the Animalographies series narrated by a medal-winning, land-mine sniffing rat; Way Past Afraid by Hallee Adelman, illus. by Karen Wall, joining the Great Big Feelings series; Shark Scam by Sheila Bair, a Money Tales title in which a giant tortoise discovers what a Ponzi scheme is; and Marine Biologists on a Dive by Sue Fliess, illus. by Mia Powell, launching the Kid Scientist series in which kids replace adults on projects in the field.

YEEHOO PRESS
Yeehoo Press takes a bite out of spring with Masha Munching by Amalia Hoffman, following Masha the goat who leaves the farm on a culinary adventure only to discover everything is tastier when shared with good friends at home; The School of Failure: A Story About Success by Rosie J. Pova, illus. by Monika Filipina, a tale reminding readers that the road to success is paved with flops; Dodos Aren’t Extinct by Paddy Donnelly, in which a Dodo reveals that its kind is not extinct, but has been hiding in plain sight all along; Piper and Purpa Forever! by Susan Lendroth, illus. by Oliver Feng, revealing a girl’s creative solution to moving forward without leaving an old friend behind; and Cedric’s Tail by Amani Uduman, illus. by Agnès Ernoult, which finds Cedric coming to terms with the tail he wished for on his birthday.

ZONDERKIDZ

Zonderkidz mucks the stalls for This Farm Is a Family by Dan McKernan, illus. by Denise Hughes, following a group of rescued farm animals who are living their best lives at Barn Sanctuary, inspired by the Animal Planet program Saved by the Barn; and How High Is Heaven? by Linsey Davis, illus. by Lucy Fleming, in which a boy imagines all the ways he might get to heaven to see his grandmother and discovers that heaven isn’t about how far you travel, but about God’s grace and enjoying moments of heaven on Earth.