ABRAMS
Abrams takes a closer look with Can You See It? by Susan Verde, illus. by Juliana Perdomo, in which readers learn to experience the world around them more deeply, using the five senses; My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom, illus. by Steph Littlebird, about a girl who can’t wait to grow her hair long to honor her connection to her Native American culture and the strength and resilience of those who came before her; Party Hearty Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham, in which a newcomer horns in and Unicorn assures Kitty that nothing will ever threaten their strong friendship; The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story by Dezh Azaad, illus. by Nan Cao, following a day in the life of an Afghan refugee child, which revolves around family and the carpet that connects them to home; and Naming Ceremony by Seina Wedlick, illus. by Jenin Mohammed, which finds Big Sister Amira excited about Baby Sister’s naming ceremony.
ABRAMS/AMULET
Amulet hangs 10 with Beyond the Board: The Untold Story of the World’s Most Daring Big Wave Surfer by Maya Gabeira, a memoir about how champion surfer Gabeira recovered from a broken back to reach record-breaking heights in her sport; Grounded by Aisha Saeed, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Huda Al-Marashi, and S.K. Ali, about four unlikely kids who meet at the airport when their flight is grounded by weather following a Muslim convention; Dear Mothman by Robin Gow, in which, after the death of his best friend and the only other trans boy at school, Noah starts writing letters about his feelings to Mothman; and That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams, a fantasy series starter featuring a teen craftswoman with a magical ability to control metal who creates the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company.
ABRAMS/APPLESEED
Appleseed kicks off its flip-flops for Sandy Toes: A Summer Adventure by Shauntay Grant, illus. by Candice Bradley, about a boy celebrating wonders big and small during a beach day with his family; Go Green! Energy: My First Pull-the-Tab Eco Book by Pintachan, explaining how we make green energy from sunshine, wind, and water; Día de los Muertos: Números: A Day of the Dead Counting Book by Duncan Tonatiuh, a bilingual counting book focusing on the Día de los Muertos ofrenda, an altar constructed annually to honor the memory and welcome the spirit of a loved one; Baby Rube’s Opposites (A Rube Goldberg Book) by Jennifer George, illus. by Vin Vogel, presenting the concept of opposites; and We Might See by Charlie Mylie, in which readers can find and identify things they might see in their own backyards.
ABRAMS/MAGIC HAT
Magic Hat heads to the launch pad for The Book of Blast Off by Timothy Knapman, illus. by Nik Henderson, introducing key space crafts and missions; Though the Fairy Door by Lars van de Goor and Gabby Dawnay, illus. by Giulia Tomai, in which fairies in the magical Wild Wood show Willow the joy of living in harmony with nature; Old Enough to Make a Difference by Rebecca Hui, illus. by Anneli Bray, profiling real-life children who are building businesses for a more sustainable future; In the Pond by Will Millard, illus. by Rachel Qiuqi, an interactive nature story; and Scientists Are Saving the World! by Saskia Gwinn, illus. by Ana Albero, offering a look at the careers of today’s scientists.
ADVENTURE KEEN
Adventure Keen sets up the telescope for Up Where the Stars Are by Ryan Jacobson, illus. by Michelle Hazelwood Hyde, first in the Andrew’s Adventures in Nature starring 10-year-old Andrew who uses a wheelchair and has the genetic disorder known as Angelman syndrome.
ALBATROS
Albatros Media inches toward spring with Henry the Snail by Katarina Macurova, about a snail learning to celebrate his differences as gifts rather than obstacles; Atlas of Rome by Oldrich Ruzicka, illus. by Tomas Tuma, detailing information about this ancient city; Our Tom’s Day by Radek Maly, illus. by Iku Dekune, following pet cat Tom on his daily adventures; and Rocks from Space by Pavel Gabzdyl, illus. by Jakub Cenkl, which takes a look at meteorites, how they are formed, how they move through space, and how to identify them.
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION/MAGINATION PRESS
Magination Press makes room for Dad and Daddy’s Big Big Family by Seamus Krist, about the celebration of love and culture that happens whenever Dad and Daddy’s families get together; Stress Less by Michael A. Tompkins, teaching readers concrete skills for managing common stresses and anxieties to maintain balance and calm; How to Handle Stress for Middle School Success by Silvi Guerra, illus. by DeAndra Hodge, an entry in the Kid Confident series which defines stress and anxiety and offers readers tools for coping with both by focusing on the mind-body connection; Spacemanatee by Katie Gilstrap, illus. by Alice Samuel, featuring a sweet-natured manatee who hatches a plan to reach outer space; and Something Happened to Our Planet by Marianne Celano and Marietta Collins, illus. by Bhagya Madanasinghe, designed to help parents begin conversations with their children about pollution and recycling.
ANDERSEN PRESS USA
Andersen Press USA wraps up spring with a bow for Elmer and the Gift by David McKee, in which Aunt Zelda has a gift to give to Elmer from his Grandpa Eldo, but she can’t remember what it is or where it is; The Day Fin Flooded the World by Adam Stower, focused on forgetful Fin who leaves the tap running and floods the world; Hedge Lion by Robyn Wilson-Owen, starring Hedge Lion, who wants everyone to think he’s a hedge so they won’t be scared of him; and The Pipsqueak by Ben Manley, illus. by Andrew Gardner, the story of Pip, who shows everyone in Hero’s gang that you just need guts to be a true hero.
ANDREWS MCMEEL
Andrews McMeel gets a lemon with World’s Worst Time Machine by Dustin Brady, about a glitchy $3 garage-sale time machine that summons the wrong Thomas Edison to help Liam and Elsa with a school project; Gamer Girls: Gnat vs. Spyder by Andrea Towers, illus. by Alexis Jauregui, the first book in a series spotlighting 13-year-old Natalie, who is an average seventh grader by day and a secret video-game streamer by night; Meems & Feefs: Ferrets from Planet Ferretonia! by Liza Cooper, the story of two alien ferrets that crash-land on Earth and must place their trust in a shy teenager named Liza; Peculiar Woods by Andrés Colmenares, the launch of a series about lonely nine-year-old Iggy who teams up with a chair and a blanket to help other inanimate objects with their problems and save the town of Peculiar Woods; and Happy Monstah: An Action-Adventure Multicultural Graphic Novel by Tiana Scott, illus. by Nina Scott, following sisters Happy and Monstah as they search the globe for other extraordinary teenagers who may hold the secret to saving Earth from corrupted gods.
ASTRA YOUNG READERS
Astra Young Readers calculates a fall list with Arithmechicks Explore More: A Math Story and Arithmechicks Find Their Place by Ann Marie Stephens, illus. by Jia Liu, following 10 math-loving chicks on two mathematical adventures; and The Secret Life of the Flying Squirrel by Laurence Pringle, illus. by Kate Garchinsky, chronicling a year in the life of Volans, a flying squirrel, as she prepares for the coming winter.
ASTRA/CALKINS CREEK
Calkins Creek avoids dishpan hands with Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine: Josephine Cochrane’s Bright Invention Makes a Splash by Kate Hannigan, illus. by Sarah Green, celebrating this inventor; The Brilliant Calculator: How Mathematician Edith Clarke Helped Electrify America by Jan Lower, illus. by Susan Reagan, introducing Clarke, who solved an electrical mystery and built the first graphing calculator—from paper; Pitch Perfect and Persistent!: The Musical Debut of Amy Cheney Beach by Caitlin DeLems, illus. by Allison Jay, presenting the story of the first successful woman composer in America; and A Take-Charge Girl Blazes a Trail to Congress: The Story of Jeanette Rankin by Gretchen Woelfe, illus. by Rebecca Gibbon, a biography of the first U.S. congresswoman.
ASTRA/HIPPO PARK
Hippo Park gathers ’round for A Story by Barney Saltzberg, in which two mouse friends grapple with a missing story and the creative process; One Cool Duck by Mike Petrik, focusing on Duck, who realizes that being kind is the best way to be cool; and Paper Stories and Complete Your Adventures, two activity books by Aunyarat Watanabe.
ASTRA/KANE PRESS
Kane Press takes a slice out of spring with Cheese Fest! by Lisa Harkrader, illus. by Deborah Melmon, which finds Albert the mouse learning how to build a booth with triangles; and Eureka! Guitar by Lori Haskins Houran, illus. by Kaly Quarles, and Eureka! Wind Power by Laura Driscol, illus. by Marco Guadalupi, offering “biographies” of these two topics.
ASTRA/MINEDITION US
Minedition US feathers its nest with How Birds Sleep by David Obuchowski, illus. by Sarah Pedry, revealing the sleeping habits of more than 20 bird species throughout the world; Jesús and the Water-Jug-Clock by Jesus Trejo, illus.by Eliza Kinkz, in which Jesús spends time with his gardener Papá and learns how a good laugh can make work fun; Luna Rachera by Rodrigo Morlesin, illus. by Mariana Ruiz Johnson, spotlighting a doggy mother-daughter singing act in the Nuevo Wild West; Some Do, Some Don’t by Dipacho, about the many ways we live with other people (or at times apart from them) and featuring illustrations of the jabiru, the largest member of the stork family of birds; and Little Lessons by Seymour Chwast, collecting popular sayings from around the world.
ASTRA/WORDSONG
Wordsong gathers momentum with Push-Pull Morning: Dog-Powered Poems About Matter and Energy by Lisa Westberg Peters, illus. by Serge Bloch, introducing physics through play, poetry, and a puppy; and Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel by Nikki Grimes, a new rendition of the novel-in-verse about choosing to be true to yourself.
BAREFOOT
Barefoot Books is ready to roll with The Perfect Sushi by Emily Satoko Seo, illus. by Mique Moriuchi, in which Miko sets out to make the perfect sushi for her grandmother Babi’s birthday.
BEHRMAN HOUSE/APPLES & HONEY
Apples & Honey Press is on deck with Hank on First! How Hank Greenberg Became a Star on and off the Field, by Steven Krensky, illus. by Alette Straathof, a biography of baseball legend Greenberg and his quietly strong approach to facing antisemitism; Purr-im Time! by Jenna Waldman, illus. by Erica Chen, featuring a kindle of kittens celebrating Purim; Under the Sea Seder by Ann D. Koffsky, the story of a girl who can’t sit still during the Passover seder who goes under the table and imagines her own sea-creature-filled experience; The Unexpected Adventures of C.A.T. by Johanna Hurwitz, illus. by Sam Loman, about a feline-loving girl who magically turns into a cat and pursues nocturnal adventures with her brother; and Big Wolf’s Yom Kippur by David Sherrin, illus. by Martin Moron, a fractured fairy tale in which the wolf learns a Yom Kippur lesson of kindness.
BERBAY
Berbay follows its whiskers for Tiger & Cat by Allira Tee, in which Cat has a joyous reunion with her friend Tiger and comes to like her stripes just the way they are; All in a Day by Chihiro Takeuchi, following the lives of people in a busy apartment building and through search-and-find challenges; and Bunnygirl: The First Adventure by Holly Jayne, starring a girl who helps injured friends, rescues a lost bunny, and wonders—do all superheroes need a costume?
BLACK DOG & LEVENTHAL
Black Dog & Leventhal unfurls its rainbow flag for A Child’s Introduction to Pride by Sarah Prager, illus. by Caitlin O’Dwyer, which presents a history of the LGBTQIA+ community, including an overview of movements for equality, and explores the evolution of pride in the U.S. and around the world.
BLOOMSBURY
Bloomsbury pulls out its bucket list for If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude, in which the world has only nine days left, and Avery has to confront her fears, face her depression, and admit her love for her best friend, Cass, to save herself and find hope again; She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran, about a Vietnamese American bisexual girl who visits her estranged father in Vietnam and learns that the house they share is haunted; When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn, the story of two siblings searching for the artist of a mysterious statue found in the marsh and discovering that the truth is not as simple as they expected; Camp Mirror Lake by Kalynn Bayron, which finds 17-year-old Charity and her girlfriend uncovering Camp Mirror Lake’s connection to a murderous cult and massacre decades ago; and Summer Is Here by Renée Watson, illus. by Brittany Jackson, chronicling one girl’s perfect summer day from sunrise to sunset.
BUSHEL & PECK
Bushel & Peck brings a tote bag for Market by Josep Sucarrats, foreword by Ferran Adrià, illus. by Miranda Sofroniou, a look at what has been the heart of civilization for thousands of years, the local marketplace; Hands-On Academy Space by Peter Hinckley, featuring wheels, tabs, flaps, and other interactive elements to teach STEM concepts; The Three Little Rigs, first in the Truck Tales series by David Miles, illus. by Sara Ugolotti, serving up fractured fairy tales with trucks as the main characters; Witness Trees by Ryan G. Van Cleave, an exploration of the real trees that have witnessed big historical events; and The Naughty Bench by A.H. Benjamin, in which Room 4 has such a terrible day that Miss Cross even puts herself in time out.
BRITANNICA
Britannica Books stampedes into spring with Animal FACTopia by Julie Beer, illus. by Andy Smith, collecting more than 400 interconnected animal facts; and How to Teach Grown-Ups About Saving the Planet by Patricia Daniels, illus. by Aaron Blecha, a guide to the latest climate science that empowers readers to educate the adults in their life about climate change.
CAMERON KIDS
Cameron Kids takes a leap with The Flying Horse (Once Upon a Horse #1) by Sarah Maslin Nir, illus. by Laylie Frazier, inspired by a true story of a stallion destined to fly, and following a horse-loving seventh grader who struggles to get her self-esteem off the ground; Manolo and the Unicorn by Jackie Azúa Kramer and Jonah Kramer, illus. by Zach Manbeck, about a boy who is taunted by his classmates for his love of unicorns and then meets the magical creature; Once There Was by Corinne Demas, illus. by Gemma Capdevilla, in which a girl’s dreams of being a princess turns into a fairy tale of a princess dreaming she is a horse and other magical transformations; Starflower: The Making of a Poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay by J.M. Farkas and Emily Vizzo, illus. by Jasmin Dwyer, showcasing the life of this unconventional poet; and I Dare! I Can! I Will!: The Day the Icelandic Women Walked Out and Inspired the World by Linda Ólafsdóttir, a story inspired by Women’s Day Off—October 24, 1975—when the women of Reykjavík, Iceland walked out of their homes and away from their jobs to demand equality and change.
CANDLEWICK
Candlewick says “namaste” to Boyogi by David Barclay Moore, illus. by Noa Denmon, in which a boy discovers that learning yoga with his father, who struggles with PTSD, can be a source of healing; The Skull by Jon Klassen, retelling a Tyrolean folktale focused on a brave girl who escapes from danger but finds herself in a big, lonely house with a skull who is afraid of something else in the night; Elf Dog and Owl Head by M.T. Anderson, illus. by Junyi Wu, about a boy and his dog—or a dog and her boy—and a forest of wonders hidden in plain sight; Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith, which finds Hughie volunteering at a rural attraction where eerie things seem to be happening; and Twenty Questions by Mac Barnett, illus. by Christian Robinson, delivering a mind-tickling ode to the open-ended.
CANDLEWICK ENTERTAINMENT
Candlewick Entertainment hits the floor for Dance with Oti by Oti Mabuse, illus. by Samara Hardy, British TV show dance champ Mabuse’s debut picture book, in which readers join Oti’s dance class and learn the steps to the Bird Jive.
CANDLEWICK STUDIO
Candlewick Studio pulls the sword from the stone for Arthur the Always King by Kevin Crossley Holland, illus. by Chris Riddell, a new retelling of the Camelot legend; and Whose Dinosaur Bones Are Those by Chihiro Takeuchi, which allows readers to identify dinosaurs by their bone structure.
CANDLEWICK/BIG PICTURE
Big Picture Press wings into spring with Birds Everywhere by Camilla de la Bedoyere, illus. by Britta Teckentrup, introducing unusual facts about birds, and the many places all over the world where birds can be found; Animal Life Spans: From the Mayfly to the Immortal Jellyfish by Lily Murray, illus. by Jesse Hodgson, exploring life spans across the animal kingdom, from shortest to longest; Talking History by Joan Haig and Joan Lennon, illus. by André Ducci, covering speeches from the last 150 years; and From Shore to Ocean Floor: The Human Journey to the Deep by Gill Arbuthnott, illus. by Christopher Nielsen, telling the story of how humans went from building the first boats to discovering the secrets of the deep.
CANDLEWICK/MIT KIDS PRESS
MIT Kids Press tests the water with Bath Time Physics and Highchair Chemistry, two science concept board books by Jill Esbaum and WonderLab Group; How to Spacewalk by Kathryn Sullivan and Michael J. Rosen, providing a guide to preparing for and doing a real spacewalk—featuring NASA photos from the author’s own space adventures; and Isabel and the Invisible World by Alan Lightman, illus. by Ramona Kaulitzki, in which Lightman unveils the hidden world of light waves—the ones you can see and the ones you can’t.
CANDLEWICK/MITEEN PRESS
MITeen Press logs on with Thinking Ecologically About Social Media by Whitney Phillips and Ryan Milner, offering a new take on how information pollution affects our online networks—and our well-being—and how to maximize a positive impact.
CANDLEWICK/NOSY CROW
Nosy Crow announces, “It’s a book!” with Special Delivery by Polly Faber, illus. by Klas Fahlén, spotlighting the process of making a book from printing to shipping to selling to reading.
CANDLEWICK/TEMPLAR
Templar is in the moment with Be Happy: A Little Book of Mindfulness by Maddy Bard, illus. by Emma Dodd, featuring two dogs who share some tips on how to stay present and positive.
CANDLEWICK/WALKER US
Walker US opens up The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade, illus. by Tor Freeman, in which a book shares its views on what it’s like to be a book; Different for Boys by Patrick Ness, illus. by Tea Bendix, centered on Anthony, who has lots of questions about friendship, masculinity, and sex and wonders if it’s different for boys who like boys; Talia’s Codebook by Marissa Moss, following math-loving Talia and her hope to crack the code of being cool in middle school; Never Trust a Gemini by Freja Nicole Wolf, a lesbian rom-com about Cat, whose romantic fantasies may ruin her shot at real-life love; and Welcome to Consent by Yumi Stynes and Melissa Kang, a guide to all aspects of consent.
CAPSTONE EDITIONS
Capstone Editions serves an ace with The Ashe Brothers: How Arthur and Johnnie Changed Tennis Forever by Judy Allen Dodson, illus. by David Wilkerson, a look at Black tennis icon Arthur Ashe’s close relationship with his younger brother, a key to his success; Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench by Lydia Lukidis, illus. by Juan Calle Velez, an imagined underwater voyage to Earth’s deepest point; Trucker Kid by Carol Gordon Ekster, illus. by Russ Cox, focusing on Athena, who is proud of her truck-driving father but misunderstood by her classmates for her love of all things trucking; Waiting on Mr. Sloth by Katy Hudson, in which Sasha tries to be patient while waiting for her best friend Mr. Sloth, who takes for-eh-ver to get ready for a day of swimming; and Yoshi’s Big Swim: One Turtle’s Epic Journey Home by Mary Wagley Copp, illus. by Kaja Kajfež, chronicling the true story of Yoshi, a loggerhead turtle who was rescued by fishermen, then rehabilitated and cared for by scientists for many years before swimming more than 22,000 miles back to her true home—the longest journey of any animal ever tracked.
CAPSTONE PRESS
Capstone Press steps into its gear for Wildfire, Inside the Inferno by Jaclyn Jaycox, exploring the science behind wildfires, recent ones around the world, and what’s being done to prevent them; and Bird Detectives: Science Sleuths and Their Feathered Friends by Kristine Rivers, introducing the work of forensic ornithologists who use science and technology to solve bird strikes and other bird mysteries.
CAPSTONE/PICTURE WINDOW
Picture Window roars into spring with Liam the Lion by Andrew Stark, illus. by Emily Faith Johnson, the kickoff to the Liam Kingbird’s Kingdom series featuring an Indigenous third-grade boy with a cleft lip who is worried about making friends in his new school; and Saving Snakes by Jessica Lee Anderson, illus. by Alejandra Barajas, a series starter in which Naomi Nash and her friends form a snake rescue club after Naomi’s mother brings home a houseguest from the exotic animal hospital.
CASSAVA REPUBLIC
Cassava Republic greets the season with Hassan and Hassana by Elnathan John, following the adventures and challenges of the titular eight-year-old identical twins.
CHARLESBRIDGE
Charlesbridge is the hit of the arts-and-crafts table with Glitter Everywhere: Where It Came From, Where It’s Found & Where It’s Going by Chris Barton, illus. by Chaaya Prabhat, investigating the origins of and science behind the shiny confetti; No World Too Big: Young People Fighting for Global Climate Change by Lindsay H. Metcalf, Jeanette Bradley, and Keila V. Dawson, profiling 14 youth activists on the frontlines of the climate crisis; All About Nothing by Elizabeth Rusch, illus. by Elizabeth Goss, considering a negative space—what might be hidden in the space around things, and how that space is important; Captain Skidmark Dances with Destiny by Jennifer A. Irwin, in which 13-year-old Will finds his passion when he stumbles into a dance school and must cope with his father, who forbids his dancing, as well as his hockey star cousin who moves in with the family; and Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest by Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau, illus. by Vanessa Jaramillo, the true story of how Gaulinga’s village in Ecuador stood up against the oil companies that began destroying the land to search for oil.
CHOOSECO
Chooseco saddles up for the following Choose Your Own Adventure titles: Glitterpony Farm by Tina Connolly, illus. by Norm Grock, an Easter adventure on a magical farm filled with extraordinary animals; Bigfoot’s Secret Vacation by Katherine Factor, illus. by Audrey Suau, in which readers travel to Hawaii and surf with Bigfoot; and The Silver Unicorn by Deborah Lerme Goodman, illus. by Suzanne Nugent and Marco Cannella, featuring the search for a silver unicorn in medieval Flanders in order to break a warlock’s curse.
CHOUETTE/CRACKBOOM!
CrackBoom! keeps its eyes peeled for Where Did Momo’s Hair Go? by Stephanie Boyer, illus. by Caroline Hamel, in which a clown loses his wig while running to catch a bus and readers follow the wig’s journey through the city.
CHRONICLE
Chronicle goes marching one-by-one with Oh No, the Aunts Are Here! by Adam Rex, illus. by Lian Cho, chronicling one girl’s all-too-recognizable experience with relatives during a staycation in a story that celebrates the universal and endearing strangeness of our families; Tiny T. Rex and the Grand Ta-Da! by Jonathan Stutzman, illus. by Jay Fleck, in which Tiny T. Rex and his friend Pointy try to become magicians and win their school’s talent show; Invisible Things by Sophie Miller, illus. by Andy J. Pizza, an exploration of feelings, ideas, and other invisible things that make up the human experience; Yenebi’s Drive to School by Sendy Santamaria, which tells the story of one girl’s commute as an American citizen living in Mexico; and Search for a Giant Squid by Amy Seto Forrester, illus. by Andy Chou Musser, a choose-your-path-style story blending fiction and nonfiction and allowing readers to take on the role of a teuthologist looking for a giant squid in its natural habitat.
CHRONICLE/HANDPRINT
Handprint limbers up for Tap! Tap! Tap! by Hervé Tullet, an interactive book inviting readers to a joyful dance where your hand is the star and the book your stage; and You Rule by Rilla Alexander, which offers a palette of words to describe and explore ideas and feelings.
CICADA
Cicada consults the map for Epic Animal Journeys: Navigation and Migration by Air, Land and Sea by Ed Brown, looking at why different animals migrate; Changing World: Cold Data for a Warming Planet by David Gibson, presenting facts on climate change; Nomads: Life on the Move by Kinchoi Lam, exploring alternative ways of being that are deeply connected to our ancestral roots; and Snail Trail by Ziggy Hanaor, illus. by Christos Kourtoglou, the tale of a snail who just wants some alone time from her friends and family.
ENCHANTED LION
Enchanted Lion tips its hat for Mr. Fiorello’s Head by Cecilia Ruiz, in which Mr. Fiorello expands his world when he stops worrying about losing his luxurious mane of hair; Bunny & Tree by Balint Zsako, a wordless book about the relationship between a rabbit and a tree; A Day at the Park by Robert Salmieri, offering a peek at a park bursting with life from sunrise to sunset; I Touched the Sun by Leah Hayes, following a boy who makes up his mind to fly up into the sky to meet the sun; and But There Are! by Bruce Handy, illus. by Ashleigh Corrin, imagining what would happen in a world without birds, night, or color.
EERDMANS
Eerdmans leaves Earth’s orbit with The Sky Is Not the Limit by Jeremie Decalf, focused on the groundbreaking mission of NASA’s Voyager 2 probe as it visits Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, then heads past the boundaries of our solar system; How the Sea Came to Be by Jennifer Berne, illus. by Amanda Hall, a rhyming book exploring the evolution of the sea and its inhabitants; The Miracle Seed by Martin Lemelman, the story, in graphic-novel format, of the extinction and rebirth of the Judean date palm, an ancient plant brought back to life through the efforts of two Jewish women biologists; 9 Kilometers by Claudio Aguilera, illus. by Gabriela Lyon, trans. by Lawrence Schimel, following a boy as he walks the long journey to his school, traveling through the lush rain forests and mountains of southern Chile; and We Are Human Animals by Rosie Haine, spotlighting the Paleolithic lives and customs of our human ancestors.
ENSLOW PUBLISHING/WEST 44
West 44 Books places its trust in Catch Me If I Fall by Claudia Recinos Seldeen, about a young Guatemalan trapeze artist who rebels against her mother’s pressure to train and takes up boxing instead; No Place for Fairy Tales by Edd Tello, in which Yuriel risks everything to play fairy godmother to Azul, his trans cousin who wishes for a quinceañera in their conservative, impoverished neighborhood in Monterrey, Mexico; Everything You Left Me by Paige Classey, which finds the police investigating Maybeth’s long-absent father as the lead suspect in a string of unsolved murders; and The Best Part Is at the End by Mel Mallory, following Anna, who finds relief from the stresses of her home life with her reserved parents in rural Pennsylvania and her pregnant sister when she meets an unlikely friend and joins his virtual film club; and Always June by Kate Karyus Quinn, the story of a girl whose newfound friendships with the kids on a bowling team help her cope with her eating disorder.
FAMILIUS
Familius steps up to the plate for The House That Ruth Built by Kelly Bennett, illus. by Susanna Covelli, retelling the events of 1923 opening day at Yankee Stadium with baseball facts and statistics on every page; G Is for Gardening by Ashley Marie Mireles, illus. by Volha Kaliaha, an A-Z introduction to gardening; A Tree for Me by Carole Gerber, illus. by Helena Perez Garcia, in which a boy and his father seek out the perfect tree to plant in their yard; Buttons by Kalli Dakos, illus. by Nichola Cowdery, an exploration of all the buttons in the world; and Hear Them Roar by June Smalls, illus. by Becky Thorns, an interactive sound book featuring 14 endangered animals from around the globe and providing facts about conservation.
FLORIS
Floris Mina Belongs Here by Sandra Niebuhr-Siebert, illus. by Lars Baus, in which Mina worries about starting kindergarten in her new country where she doesn’t speak the language; Our Incredible Library Book (and the wonderful journeys it took) by Caroline Crowe, illus. by John Joseph, following the path of one library book that is borrowed by many children; When Little Owl Met Little Rabbit by Przemysław Wechterowicz, illus. by Emilia Dziubak, which focuses on neighbors Little Rabbit and Little Mouse who share the same oak tree home but have never met.
FLYAWAY BOOKS
Flyaway sets the scene with Grandpa’s Window by Laura Gehl, illus. by Udayana Lugo, in which Daria and her grandfather can see the beach from his hospital room due to the windows she draws for him; and My Elephant Is Blue, by Melinda Szymanik, illus. by Vasanti Unka, the story of an elephant named Blue who visits a child as her family learns how to help with her depression.
FREE SPIRIT
Free Spirit wipes its eyes for Tears Are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick, illus. by Marieka Heinlen, introducing the idea that crying can get the hurt out and offering other ways to cope with strong feeling of sadness and disappointment; I Remember My Breath: Mindful Breathing for All My Feelings by Lynn Rummel, illus. by Karen Bunting, which guides readers through mindful breathing and visualization as a way to identify and manage their feelings; What Does Grief Feel Like? by Korie Leigh, providing children the language to describe and understand their grief when someone special dies; and I Grow by Cheri J. Meiners, illus. by Penny Weber, celebrating the physical, social, and emotional growth of toddlers, and encouraging them to develop healthy habits to grow strong.
GECKO PRESS
Gecko gives snaps to Kind Crocodile by Leo Timmers, in which a crocodile gives shelter to a series of animals on its long green back, scaring away their pursuers—until the tables turn; What’s That, Jack? by Cédric Ramadier, illus. by Vincent Bourgeau, following the adventures of two curious animals, Jack and George; The Moon Is a Ball by Ed Franck, illus. by Thé Tjong-Khing, offering tales starring best pals Panda and Squirrel; The Bear and the Wildcat by Kazumi Yumoto, illus. by Komako Sakai, in which a wildcat helps a bear mourn the death of a little bird; and Any Body by Katharina von der Gathen, illus. by Anke Kuhl, a comic reference for children and early teens who want to understand and feel at home with their own bodies.
GIBBS SMITH
Gibbs Smith grabs the binoculars for A Kid’s Guide to Backyard Birds, illus. by Nicole LaRue, an illustrated guide to birdwatching; Grow Your Own Way, illus. by Helen Dardik, depicting a garden in bloom; Some Dogs by Lydia Nichols, spotlighting the activity at a busy dog park; Countdown to Easter, illus. by Greg Paprocki, in which readers learn to count down from 10 to 1 by finding objects hidden throughout scenes of Easter fun; and O Is for Ocean, illus. by Greg Paprocki, an alphabet book featuring the plants and animals of our oceans.
GREYSTONE KIDS
Greystone sizes up the season with Super Small: Miniature Marvels of the Natural World by Tiffany Stone, illus. by Ashley Spires, a collection of poems that spotlight tiny flora and fauna and their secret superpowers; Patterns in Nature by Robin Mitchell Cranfield, focusing on various patterns found in nature; Mission: Arctic: A Scientific Adventure to a Changing North Pole by Katharina Weiss-Tuider, illus. by Christian Schneider, taking a closer look at the MOSAIC expedition—the largest-ever Arctic research expedition and the first to take place over the course of polar winter—studying the impacts of climate change; The Stars by Jacques Goldstyn, following a Jewish boy and a Muslim girl who share a love of astronomy despite their parents’ disapproval of them spending time together; and The Shade Tree by Suzy Lee, the tale of a young person who outwits a very rich man to obtain shade from a local tree for the villagers.
GROUNDWOOD
Groundwood makes a wish with Happy Birthday to Me written and illus. by Thao Lam, featuring a child who goes through a gamut of emotions on the best day of the year, their birthday; Afikomen by Tziporah Cohen, illus. by Yaara Eshet, a wordless time-travel adventure in which three children at a Passover seder visit ancient Egypt to help baby Moses find his way safely to Pharaoh’s daughter; The Last Two Crayons by Leah Freeman-Haskin, illus. by Shantala Robinson, following Sienna, who looks forward to drawing a picture for her school’s spring art show, until she ends up with the last two crayons—brown and light brown; Peaceful Me by Sandra V. Feder, illus. by Rahele Jomepour Bell, featuring a child who talks about the different times when he feels peaceful, as well as how he copes when he needs to find a calm state again; and We Are Lions! by Jens Mattsson, illus. by Jenny Lucander, the story of two brothers who play the best game in the world together—they are dangerous lions on the savanna!—until one of them gets sick.
HARPERCOLLINS
HarperCollins shines up an apple for A Smart, Smart School by Sharon Creech, a companion to A Fine, Fine School, where familiar characters return with a message about the importance of creativity in the classroom; Never Forget Eleanor by Jason June, illus. by Loren Long, about a young elephant who tells his grandmother their favorite stories when her memory starts to fade; Friends Beyond Measure by Lalena Fisher, in which charts and graphic illustrations tell the story of two friends as one of them learns she is moving far away; The House Swap by Yvette Clark, following two girls, one American and one British, who become friends and confidantes when their families swap houses for vacation; What Stays Buried by Suzanne Young, a debut ghost story about a 12-year-old medium facing the impending loss of her supernatural gift; Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf, which puts a Malaysian spin on “Little Red Riding Hood”; When Clouds Touch Us by Thanhhà Lai, the novel-in-verse sequel to Inside Out and Back Again; Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters by Ciannon Smart, delivering a debut fantasy-adventure that incudes Caribbean lore, magical and monstrous creatures, and a fearless boy; and Peril at Price Manor by Laura Parnum, focusing on an aspiring horror film actress who must put all her skills to the test when she pairs up with the twin children of her favorite director to defeat octopus-like creatures turning the people around them into zombies.
HARPERALLEY
HarperAlley plants a flag on Ember’s Island by Jason Pamment, which follows Ember, a tiny boy, as he attends school on the fantastical Puzzle Island; Firebird by Sunmi, telling the story of unexpected bonds at the crossroads of queerness and Asian immigrant experience and examining who we are when we’re alone and who we are when we’re with others.
HARPERCOLLINS/BALZER + BRAY
Balzer + Bray dives into spring with The Pearl Hunter by Miya Beck, a debut fantasy novel about pearl divers in pre-Shogun era Japan, in which one sister goes to the ends of the earth to rescue her twin, who’s been stolen by a ghost whale; America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History by Ariel Aberg-Riger, exploring the themes and the myths of our shared American identity; Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi, which explores issues of race and family dynamics via the story of a 17-year-old girl whose father is the leader of a Black liberation group; The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert, in which two teens in a Black Hollywood family reel from a secret that emerges when their famous great-grandmother dies; and Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen, which finds 13-year-old Isaiah forced to step up and support the older brother he idolizes after a devastating accident.
HARPERCOLLINS/CLARION
Clarion checks the weather forecast for The Umbrella by Beth Ferry, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld, a tale of persistence, kindness, and curiosity; Wow in the World: What in the WOW? by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, illus. by Dave Coleman, collecting 250 surprising science facts, photos, and illustrations; The Windeby Puzzle by Lois Lowry, which transports readers to an Iron Age world through the suspenseful dual narrative of a boy and girl both battling to survive; The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery, illus. by Matt Patterson, offering an ode to turtles; and The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies, following quirky, tool-wielding Alice’s efforts to repair the dilapidated mansion next door—and her discovery that the old house is home to ghosts.
HARPERCOLLINS/GREENWILLOW
Greenwillow grabs a shovel for A Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi, which reimagines The Secret Garden via the story of a disagreeable orphaned Pakistani girl sent to live with family friends in America; Just a Worm by Marie Boyd, about a worm’s campaign to show two children all it can do for the garden; Wombats Are Pretty Weird by Abi Cushman, focusing on the behaviors and habitats of wombats; Hello Mister Blue by Daria Peoples, in which a day in the park with Papa sparks an unlikely connection between a girl and a street musician without a home; and The Faint of Heart by Kerilynn, a debut teen graphic novel spotlighting a high school student who must figure out how to exist in a world where she is the only one left with a heart.
HARPERCOLLINS/HARPERTEEN
HarperTeen gasses up the boat for The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst, which finds three girls who must outwit and outlast a mysterious killer on an abandoned island; Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood, a sapphic reimagining of The Odyssey exploring the fate of Penelope’s hanged maids; The Unstoppable Bridget Bloom by Allison Bitz, starring a fat, queer teen destined for center stage who has to find a new way to shine when she doesn’t get into the music focus program at her dream boarding school; Transmogrify, ed. by g. haron davis, presenting a YA anthology of fantasy stories by and about trans and nonbinary people that celebrates the magic of being queer; and And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong, the author’s Korean-inspired YA fantasy debut following a crown princess’s journey to understand her dark powers and save her kingdom.
HARPERCOLLINS/HEARTDRUM
Heartdrum soaks in spring with Heroes of the Water Monster by Brian Young, about two Navajo stepbrothers living in Phoenix who must save the world from a Water Monster from the Third World—and face down the trauma in their people’s history; and We Still Belong by Christine Day, which finds Wesley celebrating Indigenous People’s Day surrounded by the love of her family and community at the intertribal powwow.
HARPERCOLLINS/QUILL TREE
Quill Tree signs a permission slip for School Trip by Jerry Craft, a companion to New Kid which finds Jordan, Drew, and a small group of students from Riverdale Academy on a school trip to Paris; Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca, serving up a novel in verse about identical twin girls who do everything together—until, due to one sister’s secret, they break apart; The Girl Next Door by Cecilia Vinesse, in which a girl and her former best friend decide to start fake-dating each other in order to make their exes—who recently dumped them for each other—jealous; The Queens of New York by E.L. Shen, following three inseparable best friends as they navigate first love, grief, racism, and Asian American consciousness during one life-changing summer apart; and This Town Is on Fire by Pamela N. Harris, about a Black girl who must reckon with her classmates and figure out how she wants to engage with her community after a video of her white best friend threatening Black teens with police violence goes viral online.
HARPERCOLLINS/TEGEN
Katherine Tegen Books marches along with Micah’s Rise by Antwan Eady, illus. by Ricardo Edwards, featuring a Black boy who chooses to join his first protest on his seventh birthday; Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston, a mystery rom-com which finds Kerry and her best friend on the trails of a menstrual murderer who’s been killing their classmates by moon cup and sanitary pad; All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley, a queer gothic romance in which a newly orphaned teen girl accepts a nanny position only to discover that the estate is drowning in history and rumors; The Dark Parts of the Universe by Samuel Miller, following a group of teenagers who discover a dead body while playing an app-based adventure game and unlock a much deeper mystery about their small town; and Falling Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the follow-up to Running Out of Time, in which Zola discovers that she’s related to Jessie Keyser and that her seemingly perfect utopian world is covering a dark reality.
HARPERCOLLINS/VERSIFY
Versify celebrates the season with Juneteenth by Van G. Garrett, illus. by Reginald C. Adams and Samson Bimbo Adenugba, chronicling the experiences of a Black boy witnessing his first Juneteenth parade in Galveston, Tex., the birthplace of the holiday; Moon’s Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi, capturing how various countries and cultures around the world celebrate the month of peace as seen through the eyes of the moon; Shining a Light: Celebrating 40 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Changed the World by Veeda Bybee, illus. by Victo Ngai, a collective biography that spotlights trailblazing Asians and AAPI people who changed American laws and society for the better; Epic Ellisons: Camp Cosmo by Lamar Giles, centered on twin sisters Wiki and Leen Ellison who head to a camp for young geniuses and must help locate the camp’s famous founder before his latest rocket launch goes horribly wrong; and Slime Shop by Karina Garcia and Kevin Panetta, illus. by Niki Smith, a graphic novel collaboration with YouTube sensation Garcia, which follows three friends with their own slime shop business and the slimes that secretly come alive and venture out into the world.
HARPERCOLLINS/WALDEN POND
Walden Pond cracks open a fresh notebook for Harriet Spies by Elana Arnold, illus. by Dung Ho, second in a series of middle grade mysteries; The Greatest Kid in the World by John David Anderson, in which a thoroughly average boy somehow finds himself entered into a competition for the World’s Greatest Kid; The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder, introducing Zipporah, who, as she prepares for her bat mitzvah, discovers she has magical abilities; and Conjure Island by Eden Royce, about a girl named Del who goes to spend the summer with her great-grandmother on a South Carolina island, only to discover she runs a school for magic rooted in West African traditions.
HIGHLIGHTS PRESS
Highlights packs up for The Highlights Book of Things to Do Outdoors, featuring outdoor activities for every season and region of the U.S.; and The Ultimate Book of Travel Activities, collecting Hidden Pictures puzzles, portable board games, travel bingo, word games, quizzes, trivia, and more.
HOLIDAY HOUSE
Holiday House hits all the right notes with The Story of the Saxophone by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illus. by James E. Ransome, which follows this musical instrument from its invention into the Jazz Age; This Is Tap: Savion Glover Finds His Funk by Selene Castrovilla, illus. by Laura Freeman, spotlighting the groundbreaking dancer and choreographer; The Forest in the Sea: Seaweed Solutions to Planetary Problems by Anita Sanchez, a middle-grade title launching the nonfiction collection Books for a Better Earth; The Carrefour Curse by Dianne K. Salerni, in which a family with magical powers is trapped in the ruins of their ancestral home; and Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome, set in 1940s Jackson, Miss., the story of an attempt at an interracial friendship that goes terribly wrong.
HOLIDAY HOUSE/FERGUSON
Margaret Ferguson Books keeps a flashlight handy for The Night Tent by Landis Blair, about Watson, who discovers a world of adventure under his covers one night when he can’t fall asleep; Hurry Kate, or You’ll Be Late! by Janice Harrington, illus. by Tiffany Rose, in which Kate is late for preschool because just before she goes into school, her father gives her a big, big hug; and Buffalo Flats by Martine Leavitt, inspired by true-life histories of the author’s pioneer ancestors, which follows 17-year-old Rebecca who vows to find a way to have her own land in the Northwest Territories even though it is nearly impossible for a single woman to do so.
HOLIDAY HOUSE/PORTER
Neal Porter Books sprouts a spring list with My Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott, illus.by Sydney Smith, focusing on a child gardening with a beloved grandmother; In the Night Garden by Carin Berger, exploring the often mysterious and always beautiful experiences to be found in nighttime spaces; Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone by Amy Hest, illus. by Philip C. Stead, about how being alone can be even nicer when an imaginary friend stops by; The Hospital Book by Lisa Brown, providing a comforting and humorous look at the workings of the hospital; and With Dad by Richard Jackson, illus. by Brian Floca, in which a boy recounts a cherished memory of a fishing trip shared before his father travels abroad to serve in the military.
IDW
IDW colors spring with Codex Black by Camilo Moncada Lozano, kicking off a YA graphic novel series set in 15th-century Mesoamerica where Zapotec girl Donají goes on a harrowing journey to find her father with the help of winged Mexica warrior and the god that lives in her poncho.
IDW/TOP SHELF
Top Shelf Productions makes contact with Cosmoknights: Book Two by Hannah Templar, continuing the queer sci-fi series about Pan and friends trying to overthrow the medieval neo-patriarchy ruling their universe; Cosmic Cadets by Ben Crane, illus. by Mimi Alves, launching a middle grade sci-fi series about a group of spacefaring tweens who explore the galaxy when they meet an alien race on another planet; Glork Patrol and the Magic Robot by James Kochalka, which introduces a new robotic friend to the mix; Skull Cat and the Curious Castle by Norman Shurtliff, a debut series starter in which Skully the Cat’s first day as the garden-keeper at a castle goes awry; and Shelley Frankenstein: CowPiggy! by Colleen Madden, the first volume in a series starring the great-great-great-granddaughter of a famous mad scientist.
INHABIT
Inhabit peels into spring with Benny the Bananasaurus Rex by Sarabeth Holden, illus. by Emma Pedersen, which finds Benny secretly dreaming that he’ll one day turn into a banana; My Ittu by Laura Deal, illus. by Thamires Paredes, celebrating the love between grandfather and grandchild; Ahiahia the Orphan by Levi Illuitok, illus. by Nate Wells, in which Ahiahia is attacked and must use his agility, hunting skills, and the protection imparted by his grandmother to stay alive; To My Panik: To My Daughter by Nadia Sammurtok, illus. by Pelin Turgut, featuring a mother recounting for her daughter all the things she loves about her, connecting each attribute to an element of the Arctic landscape or Inuit traditional life; and The Other Ones by Jamesie Fournier, illus. by Toma Feizo Gas, delivering two chilling stories that blend Inuit mythology with the modern horror genre.
INKYARD PRESS
Inkyard promises a solid list with The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa, the final book of the Iron Fey Evenfall series, in which Queen Meghan, Prince Ash, and Puck the Summer Prankster must make the ultimate sacrifices to save Faery from the wrath of the Nightmare King; Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros, the start of a middle-grade fantasy series in which a queer Jewish boy and his family draw on Jewish mythology to try to halt the chaotic effects of a mysterious ring and its monsters; I Like Me Better by Robby Weber, which follows a gay boy who’s spending the summer competing for the title of captain of his soccer team and completing community service to pay for a recent mistake—and finding himself drawn to a cute volunteer in the process; Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson, featuring a boy and a girl who are getting to know each other again after years apart, during which time he cared for his drug-addicted mother and she became a wheelchair user and lost her father; and Kismat Connection by Ananya Devarajan, a YA debut about a girl who’s determined to prove her star chart wrong, so she ropes her longtime best friend into a relationship experiment—not knowing that he has been in love with her for years.
KALANIOT
Kalaniot proudly presents Ella KVELLephant and the Search for Bubbe’s Yiddish Treasure by Jen Kostman, following Ella the elephant explorer as she searches for her grandmother’s beloved Yiddish language on a family beach day; and An Invitation to Passover by Rabbi Kerry Olitzky and Deborah Bodin Cohen, illus. by Maria Kolker, in which Hannah’s extended family isn’t able to join her for their traditional Passover seder, so Hannah invites her diverse friends to experience the holiday with her.
KANE MILLER
Kane Miller turns heads with Hat’s Off! by Bernd Penner, illus. by Henning Löhlein, containing five reusable hat stickers that can be interchangeably affixed to the animal characters; Poppy Pickle by Emma Yarlett, spotlighting young Poppy’s creative imagination; Everything Changes by Clare Helen Welsh, illus. by Åsa Gilland, exploring some of the emotions a child may feel when parents break up; Animal Journeys by Carron Brown, illus. by Paul Boston, taking a look at the where and why of animal migration via a see-through-page format; and Moving by Brown, illus. by Manuela Lopez, which aims to help children experiencing the excitement and tumult of moving for the first time.
KAR-BEN
Kar-Ben wears kid gloves for The Blue Glass Heart by Yona Zeldis McDonough, illus. Chiara Fedele, in which Sarah accidentally breaks Bubbe’s blue glass bowl and sets a heart-shaped piece of blue glass on an adventure, touching the lives of children around the world, until it finally finds its way back home; Luis de Torres Sails to Freedom by Tami Lehman-Wilzig, illus. by Oliver Averill, centering on secret Jew de Torres who joins a sailing expedition during the Inquisition to explore new worlds with only his faith, his wits, and a silver hamsa for protection; Not So Shy by Noa Nimrodi, featuring 12-year-old Shai who hates having to move to America and is determined to find a way back home to Israel―until she starts opening up to new experiences and friendships; Nothing Could Stop Her by Rona Arato, illus. Isabel Muñoz, showcasing Jewish American Ruth Gruber whose career as a renowned journalist spanned seven decades, reporting on places like Nazi Germany and remote Arctic regions of the Soviet Union; and The Rabbi and His Donkey by Susan Tarcov, illus. Diana Renjina, in which Hamor the donkey, who proudly carries Rabbi Moses Maimonides to the sultan’s palace every day, is temporarily replaced by a faster horse.
KIDS CAN
Kids Can Press rolls out the welcome mat for Burt the Beetle Lives Here! by Ashley Spires, in which Burt learns about different insect habitats while searching for the perfect home for himself; Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship by Heather Smith, illus. by Ashley Barron, which finds a child describing unique, intangible gifts from their departed grandmother that unlock cherished memories; This Is Not My Story by Ryan Uytdewilligen, illus. by David Huyck, providing an adventure-filled introduction to 10 literary genres, with the same hero appearing in each one; ThunderBoom by Jack Briglio, illus. by Claudia Dávila, the story of a nonverbal 11-year-old boy who goes where he’s the best version of himself—his imagination—and transforms into superhero Thunderboom; and The Van Buren Sisters vs. the Pants Police by J.F. Fox, illus. by Anna Kwan, another entry in the Head-to-Head History series spotlighting two sisters who crossed the U.S. on motorcycles in 1916 on a journey for women’s rights.
LANTANA
Lantana makes a sign for My Mommy Marches by Samantha Hawkins, illus. by Cory Reid, about a mother’s campaign for social change, as seen through the eyes of her daughter; Watch Me Bloom: A Bouquet of Haiku Poems for Budding Naturalists by Krina Patel-Sage, a collection of 24 mindful haiku poems exploring various types of flowers; My Mommies Built a Treehouse by Gareth Peter, illus. by Izzy Evans, following a boy who builds his dream treehouse with the help of his two mothers; Melody Queen by Puneet Bhandal, the second volume in the Bollywood Academy series, featuring 12 year-old Simi whose heart is set on becoming a Bollywood music producer despite it being a profession dominated by men; and Odwar vs. the Shadow Queen by Shiko Nguru, next in the Intasimi Warriors fantasy series, following 12-year-old Odwar whose fears of disappointing his father make him the target of the Shadow Queen.
LEE & LOW
Lee & Low walks the runway with Miles of Style: The Story of Eunice W. Johnson and the Ebony Fashion Fair by Lisa Braithwaite, illus. by Lynn Gaines, telling the story of Johnson, who set new standards for Black fashion with the creation of the Ebony Fashion Fair; I Can Be... Me! by Lesléa Newman, illus. by Maya Christina Gonzalez, in which six children explore their gender identities through a variety of activities in a non-judgmental environment; Fresh Juice by Robert Liu-Trujillo, following a boy and his father connecting with their community as they gather the ingredients to make a healthy juice; and Tenacious by Patty Cisneros Prevo, illus. by Dion MBD, containing illustrated profiles of 15 athletes with disabilities whose passions drove them to great achievements using adaptive equipment.
LEE & LOW/TU BOOKS
Tu Books climbs the trellis with The Moonlit Vine by Elizabeth Santiago, illus. by McKenzie Mayle, in which Ty wonders if connecting to her Taíno ancestors will bring healing and justice to her community; Méo and Bé by DoanPhuong Nguyen in which Bé and her kitten Méo find compassion, kindness, and light amid the tragic events of the Vietnam War; Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key by Tracy Occomy Crowder, which finds Monty having the best summer vacation ever, until he discovers a mysterious golden key in his neighbor’s flower garden; and Speculation by Nisi Shawl, in which a pair of magical spectacles enables Winna to see the ghosts of her ancestors—and solve a mystery that threatens her mother’s life.
LERNER
Lerner focuses a new lens on The Real History of Angel Island by Carol Kim, The Real History of Juneteenth by Elliott Smith, The Real History of Thanksgiving by Cayla Bellanger DeGroat, and The Real History of the Gold Rush by Anitra Butler-Ngugi, four volumes in the Left Out of History series exploring the misunderstood and underexamined past; and How Are You Feeling?: Naming Your Emotions with Sesame Street by Marie-Therese Miller, which teaches readers how to solve conflicts with help from their friends on Sesame Street.
LERNER/CAROLRHODA
Carolrhoda puts one big foot in front of the other with Sasquatch and Squirrel by Chris Monroe, which finds content loner Strawberry the Sasquatch forging a friendship with an extremely enthusiastic squirrel named Nutty; Enly and the Buskin' Blues by Jennie Liu, about a 12-year-old boy who starts busking to earn his band camp tuition; Indigo and Ida by Heather Murphy Capps, following Indigo, an eighth-grade investigative reporter who is torn between fighting a racist school policy and keeping her friends―until she discovers a series of letters written by Black journalist and activist Ida B. Wells; My First Dino-Racing by Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Barry Gott, featuring dinosaurs in stock cars cruising to the finish line; and Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport by Caren Stelson, illus. by Selina Alko, the true story of the Czech Kindertransport, which rescued 669 children from Nazi persecution on the eve of World War II.
LERNER/CAROLRHODA LAB
Carolrhoda Lab bundles up for The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent by Ann Jacobus, in which 18-year-old Del is forced to confront the demons she’s been keeping at bay since her suicide attempt last year when her aunt receives a terminal cancer diagnosis; and The Weight of Everything by Marcia Argueta Mickelson, following Sarah, who must balance her new role as the family caretaker with her own needs after her mother dies in an accident.
LERNER/GRAPHIC UNIVERSE
Graphic Universe dumpster dives for Another Band’s Treasure by Hua Lin Xie, inspired by the true story of teacher Diego and carpenter Nicolas who build musical instruments from items in a Paraguay landfill and give music lessons to local children; Felix and Calcite: The Search for the Slimy Stone: Book 2 by Artur Laperla, which finds Felix and Calcite searching the muddy swamp in the faraway Land of the Ogres for the Slimy Stone; The Green Girls by Loïc Nicoloff, illus. by Antoine Losty, about a trio of young climate activists who take to social media and launch a series of bold protests; Seekers of Aweto: Strange Alliances: Book 2 by Nie Jun, following Xinyue, guardian to a baby deity, and Qiliu, his estranged brother, carefully choosing allies as powerful forces emerge in medieval China; and Super Potato: Super Potato's Middle Ages Adventure: Book 10 by Laperla, the latest adventure for Super Potato, who’s on a time-travel mission searching the Middle Ages for a scientist trapped in the past.
LERNER/MILLBROOK
Millbrook flocks together for Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons by Laura Purdie Salas, illus. by Alexandria Neonakis, presenting the true tale of an orphaned mallard duckling being raised by a pair of loons; Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine by Debbie Dadey, illus. by Juliana Oakley, introducing Hungarian American biochemist Katalin Kariko, who played a critical role in developing the mRNA vaccine for COVID-19; Poop for Breakfast: Why Some Animals Eat It by Sara Levine, illus. by Florence Weiser, exploring the surprisingly good reasons animals such as elephants, butterflies, rabbits, robins, and dogs devour disgusting doo-doo; and Rise to the Sky: How the World’s Tallest Trees Grow Up by Rebecca E. Hirsch, illus. by Mia Posada, offering a closer look at the life cycle of a tree.
LERNER/ZEST
Zest stands at attention for Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War by Talia Aikens-Nuñez, spotlighting the honorable Borinqueneers, the 65th Regiment and pride of Puerto Rico, who refused to fight in the Korean War; The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities and Expressions by Lee Wind, which examines gender identity and representation throughout history; and Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge, telling the story of writer and abolitionist Equiano—his childhood in Africa, enslavement, liberation, and life as a free man—through “found verse,” a creative approach to primary source analysis.
LEVINE QUERIDO/LEVINE
Arthur A. Levine runs down the gangway for Last Flight by Kristen Mai Giang, illus. by Dow Phumiruk, the true story of author Giang’s family’s escape from Saigon on the last commercial flight out of the capital city on April 24, 1975; The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri, illus. by Daniel Miyares, a middle grade adventure through the Silk Road narrated by Monkey, a boy whose only protector, Samir the Seller of Dreams, has many mortal enemies; You’re Breaking My Heart by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, about a teenage girl who is grieving her brother’s death when she discovers a portal to another dimension underneath New York City; The Secret Summer Promise by Keah Brown, a queer YA romance that follows a Black girl with cerebral palsy trying to navigate her feelings for her best friend; and The Making of Yolanda La Bruja by Lorraine Avila, focused on an Afro-Dominican teenager growing up in the Bronx, coming of age in her family’s traditional religion, and her efforts to make sense of cryptic visions she receives that the new kid at her school is planning a shooting.
LEVINE QUERIDO/EM QUERIDO
Em Querido sees sparks fly with Fire from the Sky by Moa Backe Åstot, trans. by Eva Apelqvist, following the budding love between two reindeer-herding Sami boys; and Wild Poppies by Haya Saleh, trans. by Marcia Lynx Qualey, which tells the story of two brothers who are Syrian refugees, Sufyan, who is kidnapped and made into a child soldier, and the bookish Oscar, who must rescue his brother and reunite his family.
LIL’ LIBROS
Lil’ Libros stands on one leg for My Pet Flamingo/Mi amigo el flamingo by Mariana Galvez, about a list of rules that a girl and her pet flamingo follow before going on a string of adventures; Medias naranjas: Diego & Frida by Javier Peñalosa, illus. by Ellia Ana Hill, spotlighting the lives of Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo; Wepa by J. de laVega, about an energetic girl who has too much wepa, or spirit, and must discover a space where her wepa isn’t misunderstood but rather celebrated and embraced; The Stars of Din/Las estrellas de Din, featuring Din, a star collector, who is soon challenged when she learns that her stars aren’t the answer for one lonely bear; and Luz Lucero, niña astronauta by Zaida Hernandez, illus. by Karla Monterrosa, following Luz Lucero as she attempts to break barriers and become the first kid in space.
LITTLE BEE BOOKS
Little Bee Books rolls up its sleeve for A Vaccine Is Like a Memory by Rajani LaRocca, explaining how vaccines work, the history behind them, and why they’re important; The Queen of Chess: How Judit Polgár Changed the Game by Laurie Wallmark, illus. by Stevie Lewis, following Polgár’s incredible journey as she strives to become the youngest chess grandmaster in history; Peaceful Protestor: Bayard Rustin and the March on Washington by Michael G. Long, illus. by Bea Jackson, telling the story of openly gay civil rights activist Rustin and the largest march for civil rights in the history of the nation; Molly’s Tuxedo by Vicki Johnson, illus. by Gillian Reid, in which Molly has big plans to wear a dashing tuxedo for her school picture day—but Mom has picked out a dress; Black Beach by Shaunna and John Smith, illus. by Maribel LeChuga, the fictionalized true story of the oil spill that sparked change and inspired the creation of Earth Day.
LITTLE BEE/YELLOW JACKET
Yellow Jacket looks to the night sky for Fae and Moon by Franco Aureliani, illus. by Catherine and Sarah Saturn, in which Fae discovers that she can pluck the moon from the sky, but this one innocent act causes the world to fall into darkness; and Always Human Vol. 2 by Ari North, concluding Sunati and Austen’s love story, which celebrates the complexity and beauty of what makes us human.
LITTLE BEE/BUZZPOP
BuzzPop sees the checkered flag with Hot Wheels City: Dino Damage! by Ross R. Shuman, featuring Chase and Elliot, the racing brothers from the Hot Wheels City YouTube show.
LITTLE, BROWN
Little, Brown stands tall with Big by Vashti Harrison, about a girl who stops internalizing the negative messages from those around her and embarks on a journey of self-acceptance and strength; I Am the Walrus by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman, a series-starter introducing 14-year-old Noah, who can express traits from seemingly every animal he can think of and when he and his friends try to figure out why, they become caught up in a global conflict that could decide not just Noah’s fate, but the fate of the world; Stateless by Elizabeth Wein, which finds Stella trying to prove herself when she represents Britain as the only participating female pilot in Europe’s first air race; ¡Ay, Mija! by Christine Suggs, following 15-year-old Christine who struggles to reconcile with their mother during a trip to Mexico; and Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin, in which Alice’s favorite book flaps its pages and invites her in, sweeping her away to a world of wonder and adventure.
LITTLE, BROWN/OTTAVIANO
Christy Ottaviano Books lowers a lifeboat for Abandon Ship! by Michael J. Tougias and Alison O’Leary, which tells the true WWII story of German submariners’ effort—thwarted by an American bomber—to rescue all survivors of their attack on a British War ship, which was harboring nearly 1,8000 Italian prisoners of war; Girl Forgotten by April Henry, in which true-crime fan Piper is determined to reopen and solve a 17-year-old cold murder case; My Little Thief by Augusten Burroughs, illus. by Bonnie Lui, about the blossoming friendship between Chloe and the crow to whom she offers a bit of her lunch; Miracle by Karen Chow, about how Amie finds strength and healing in the wake of her Ba-ba/father’s death; and A Good Deed Can Grow by Chambliss Bertman, depicting a loving community as they work to create a better world.
LITTLE, BROWN/PATTERSON
Jimmy Patterson signals spring with three new titles by James Patterson: Dog Diaries: Big Top Bonanza, in which Junior the dog goes to the circus; Jacky Ha-Ha Gets the Last Laugh, following Jacky’s all-expenses-paid trip to theater camp; and Elephant Goes Potty, featuring Ellie the elephant, who will use the potty when she’s ready, not just because her family cheers her on and plies her with special treats.
LITTLE, BROWN/POPPY
Poppy is all in for Promposal by RaeChell Garett, in which high school senior Autumn plans to move to the top of the waitlist at her dream college by developing her brilliant new business idea—Promposal Queen.
LITTLE ISLAND
Little Island Books shows brotherly love with The Very Dangerous Sisters of Indigo McCloud by John Hearne, a dark adventure about a boy’s mission to stop his evil sisters terrorizing the town; and The Horse, the Stars, and the Road by Lucy Kelly Desmond, in which a boy learns to appreciate his family’s Irish Traveller identity and cannot wait to share their rich and distinctive cultural history and traditions with his classmates during show-and-tell.
MACMILLAN/FSG
Farrar, Straus and Giroux is in the driver’s seat with Ode to My First Car by Robin Gow, a contemporary YA sapphic romance, told in verse, about a bisexual teen girl who wrestles with feelings for her childhood best friend, as well as a new girl who comes into her life; Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins, which touches on the 1980s Silicon Valley housing crisis; Forever Is Now by Mariama Lockington, focused on a girl who overcomes agoraphobia with the help of her family, friends, and therapist; Tegan & Sara: Junior High by Tegan and Sara Quin, illus. by Tillie Walden, first in a middle-grade graphic novel duology following the lives of ndie-pop and twin-sister duo Tegan & Sara; and Nothing’s Wrong by Jory John, about a rabbit who insists that nothing’s wrong, until a good friend helps him open up.
MACMILLAN/GODWIN
Godwin Books knows who’s a good dog with The Corgi and the Queen by Caroline L. Perry, illus. by Lydia Corry, centered on Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and the unbreakable bond she had with her dog Susan; A Song of Sun and Sky by Jason Cockcroft, which finds Lula and her father on a road trip where Lula encounters a mysterious painter who shows her the beauty of the desert; Freedom on the Sea by Michael Boulware Moore, illus. by Bryan Collier, spotlighting Robert Smalls, who took command of a Confederate ship and liberated himself and his family from enslavement; The Mermaid of Black Rock by Tanya Byrne, in which two girls set out to unravel a mystery of disappearances tied to the sea—and fall in love along the way; and The Sixth Extinction (young readers edition) by Elizabeth Kolbert, an investigation of why and how human beings have altered life on the planet in a way no species has before.
MACMILLAN/FEIWEL AND FRIENDS
Feiwel and Friends dons its armor for Dog Knight by Jeremy Whitley, illus. by Bre Indigo, first in a series about a nonbinary middle schooler who saves a dog from bullies and is offered a chance to become the protector of a magical pact between dogs and humans; I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know by Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson, illus. by Joy Hwang Ruiz, a refrain about the bonds we form with the children to whom we are closest in our lives; The Brilliant Ms. Bangle by Cara Devins, illus. by K-Fai Steele, about a new teacher who lets students decide for themselves that they want to give her a chance; Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller, a fantasy adventure set in the world of Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King duology; and Venom and Vow by Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore, which finds two kingdoms pitted against each other in a tale featuring a transgender prince and a bigender dama/assassin.
MACMILLAN/FIRST SECOND
First Second takes on a new case with InvestiGators: Agents of S.U.I.T. 1, by John Patrick Green and Christopher Hastings, illus. by Pat Lewis, an InvestiGators spinoff series shining a light on some of Mango and Brash’s colorful coworkers; Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! by Wes Molebash, launching a series about a boy who dodges bullies, forges new friendships, and perfects his science fair project all while trying to fulfill his magical destiny; What Happens Next? by Jess Smart Smiley, the first interactive graphic novel in the What Happens Next series in which readers can decide if Megan will run the Sunbright Middle School’s talent show smoothly or right into the ground; Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying, which takes a look at eating disorders, family dynamics, and ultimately, a journey to self-love; and Eerie Tales from the School of Screams by Graham Annable, presenting five tales that will make kids shudder.
MACMILLAN/HENRY HOLT
Henry Holt flips for From My Head to My Toes by Aly Raisman, illus. by Brittany Jackson, offering a joyful ode to the human body and a gentle primer on consent; The Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner, the inaugural title in a middle-grade adventure series about five outcasts—and former enemies—who are the only hope to save their warring kingdoms from impending doom; Ghost Book by Remy Lai, following 12-year-old July Chen, who can see ghosts and finds a friend in the wandering soul of a boy who is stuck between life and death; Hidden Gem by Linda Liu, the story of an unassuming pebble’s journey to self-confidence in a world filled with glittering gemstones; and A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui, a debut horror YA about the ghosts we carry with us.
MACMILLAN/ODD DOT
Odd Dot casts a spring spell with Apprentice Academy: Sorcerers by Hal Johnson, illus. by Cathrin Peterslun, a faux handbook from the world’s most exclusive school for magic that covers everything from prophecy and familiars to summoning, lairs, mind reading, and more; and Keepsake Crafts for Grandpa and Me by Megan Hewes Butler, illus. by Francesca De Luca, serving up 42 crafts for grandfathers and grandchildren to do together.
MACMILLAN/PRIDDY
Priddy celebrates spring with the following novelty and early concept titles created by Roger Priddy: Night Night Dinosaur, A Word a Week, and See Touch Feel: Tummy Time.
MACMILLAN/NEON SQUID
Neon Squid comes in for a landing with The Airport: The Inside Story by Jean Claude, which introduces readers to pilots and baggage handlers, how to fly in an airplane, and the science behind how everything works; We Need to Talk About Vaginas by Allison Rodgers, illus. by Annika Le Large, an illustrated guide to vaginas and vulvas from TikTok star Dr. Allison Rodgers; A Day in the Life: Birds by Alex Bond, illus. by Henry Rancourt, following various types of birds and what they get up to in the course of one day; The Mind-Blowing World of Extraordinary Competitions by Anna Goldfield, illus. by Hannah Riordan, highlighting competitions from around the world and through history, including cheese-rolling races and baby-crying contests; and Young Zoologist: Green Sea Turtle by Carlee Jackson, illus. by Daniel Rieley, a first field guide exploring coral reefs with green sea turtles.
MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK
Roaring Brook strikes a pose for Becoming a Queen by Dan Clay, a debut novel about a boy who turns toward love, self-acceptance, and drag performance when the unthinkable happens; The Headmaster’s List by Melissa de la Cruz, the tale of a fatal car crash and the dangerous lengths one teen will go to uncover the truth about what really happened; Paper Girl by Susie Yi, following a girl grappling with the death of her grandmother as her body turns to paper during a family trip back to Korea; Cape by Kevin Johnson, illus. by Kitt Thomas, featuring a child who dons a cape in superhero fashion to help him heal after the death of a loved one; and Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom, illus. by Bridget George, spotlighting Indigenous water warriors Autumn Peltier and Josephine Mandamin, and including a foreword from Peltier.
MACMILLAN/KINGFISHER
Kingfisher expands its palette with The Stories and Secrets of Color by Susie Brooks, illus. by Chaaya Prabhat, exploring the concept of color, its many uses, and the meanings behind how and why it’s used in certain places; and two new Basher Science Mini titles by Simon Basher, Extreme Weather and Forensics, which take a close look at these subjects.
MACMILLAN/TOR TEEN
Tor Teen sends out a collection notice for Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker, centering on powerful magical families, intergenerational curses, and deadly drama in New Orleans; Into the Light by Mark Oshiro, delivering a ripped-from-the-headlines story of a young man wrestling with the pain that he’s inherited, and hoping to build a better future; Promises Greater Than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders, concluding the Unstoppables series in which Tina is on the run with a group of ragtag rebels, including her beloved ex-space-princess-in-training Elza; and Find Him Where You Left Him by Kristen Simmons, about estranged friends playing a deadly game in an eerie folkloric hellscape.
MACMILLAN/TOR TEEN/STARSCAPE
Starscape wags its tale with Working Dog by W. Bruce Cameron, first in a series that introduces readers to different canine careers with loveable dog protagonists to lead the way; Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of Danu by Erika Lewis, the next adventure in the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts fantasy series; and Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark, delivering an African and Diaspora-inspired epic adventure about a reluctant magic apprentice and the town she saves.
MACMILLAN/WEDNESDAY BOOKS
Wednesday Books has skin in the game with Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, the first installment of a World War I-inspired fantasy duology, in which two teenage journalists find love through a magical connection; Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood, incorporating the Jamaican jungle and its lore in a story where characters grapple with souleaters, duppies, and more; Always the Almost by Edward Underhill, in which a trans classical pianist resolves to spend his junior year winning back his ex-boyfriend and defeating his arch-nemesis at the biggest piano competition of the year; Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones, following a pair of amateur sleuths who start a true crime podcast to investigate an unsolved murder in their hometown; and Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa, about a non-binary teen muralist who falls for a waiter at their family’s taquería, sparking a romance made complicated when ICE shows up at the taquería and the love interest is a potential target.
MAD CAVE/MAVERICK
Maverick rises into spring with Children of the Phoenix: The Eye of the Storm by Oskar Källner, illus. by Karl Johnsson, the first book in a sci-fi series following Alice and Elias’s journey into a colorful universe teeming with intelligent species, culture, biology, and technology.
THOMAS NELSON/TOMMY NELSON
Tommy Nelson stuffs some extra-large treat bags for A Very Dinosaur Birthday by Adam Wallace, illus. by Christopher Nielsen, imagining what would happen if dinosaurs showed up at your birthday party; Good Night, Body by Britney Winn Lee, illus. by Borghild Fallberg, a mind-body connection guide for helping children move and relax each body part before they go to sleep; and Indescribable Activity Book for Kids by Louie Giglio, illus. by Lynsey Wilson and Nicola Anderson, a hands-on activity book tying in to the Indescribable Kids series about God and science.
NORTHSOUTH
NorthSouth will rock you with Jitterbug by Kai Lüftner, illus. by Wiebke Rauers, as a spirited ladybug follows the beat of her rock ‘n’ roll aspirations; The Forest Keeper–The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Rina Singh, illus. by Ishita Jain, where a young man single-handedly grows a forest the size of Central Park; Lily and May Build a Dam by Daniel Fehr, illus. by Mariachiara Di Giorgio, in which three children build a dam that takes on an epic life of its own; Don’t Be a Bully, Little Tiger by Carol Roth, illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh, where Little Tiger learns that a little kindness goes a long way; and Adam and His Tuba by Ziga X. Gombac, illus. by Maja Kastelic, about a boy born into a family of circus performers who discovers his own dream.
NORTON YOUNG READERS
Norton casts a line for Fishing in Fire (McCall Mountain #3) by Trent Reedy, in which a wildfire threatens to turn a fishing trip deadly for a group of friends; Heroes by a Hair (Link and Hud #1) by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey, first in a series about brotherly mischief and mayhem which finds brothers Link and Hud conspiring to get their formidable babysitter fired through an array of pranks; Making More: How Life Begins by Katherine Roy, which explains and demystifies how everything from fish to mammals and plants to insects reproduce; Michi Challenges History by Ken Mochizuki, a middle grade biography of Japanese American fashion designer Michi Nishiura Weglyn, whose activism fueled a movement for recognition of and reparations for America’s WWII concentration camps; and Flower Girl by Amy Bloom, illus. by Jameela Wahlgren, the story of Nicki’s search for her voice and her own style of expression so she can be herself in the outfit she chooses to wear as the Flower Girl in her favorite aunt’s wedding.
NUBEOCHO
NubeOcho has a long night with There’s a Cow in My Bed by Daniel Fehr, illus. by Jorge Martín, in which a girl repeatedly wakes up her father with her nighttime fears; Squirrel Has Trouble Saying No by Susanna Isern, illus. by Leire Salaberria, which finds Squirrel struggling to find time for all her commitments; The Magic Box by María José Ballesteros, centering on River and Jan, who imagine all kinds of things that could possibly be inside the box that has arrived for their father; The Flock by Margarita del Mazo, illus. by Guridi, about Mike’s experience counting sheep to fall asleep; and Little One by Luis Amavisca, illus. by Anna Font, presenting a journey through the childhood of a boy, what he knows and what he learns, with his family always by his side.
ORCA
Orca blows into spring with Like a Hurricane by Jonathan Bécotte, trans. by Jonathan Kaplansky, a story in verse in which a teen is anxious about telling his friends and family that he is gay; We Belong to the Drum by Sandra Lamouche, illus. by Azby Whitecalf, in which a child who’s away from his family for the first time at daycare finds belonging through the music of the powwow drum; No Horses in the House!: The Audacious Life of Artist Rosa Bonheur by Mireille Messier, illus. by Anna Bron, based on the true story of Bonheur, the 19-century French artist who defied gender expectations and changed the art world with her realistic animal paintings; Waking Ben Doldrums by Heather Smith, illus. by Byron Eggenschwiler, which finds neighbors coming together to support a university student experiencing depression; and The Unlovable Alina Butt by Ambreen Butt-Hussain, focused on an 11-year-old Pakistani girl determined to reinvent herself at yet another new school.
OWLKIDS
Owlkids makes a spring checklist for What to Bring by Lorna Schultz Nicholson, illus. by Ellen Rooney, in which five-year-old Malia must choose which items to bring with her as she and her family get ready to evacuate their home during a forest fire; Otis & Peanut by Naseem Hrab, illus. by Kelly Collier, the kickoff to a graphic novel series about the friendship between a long-haired guinea pig and a naked mole rat; A Star Explodes: The Story of Supernova 1054 by James Gladstone, illus. by Yaara Eshet, centered on a supernova blast from the year 1054 that created remnants still visible today known as the Crab Nebula; Bee & Flea and the Puddle Problem by Anna Humphrey, illus. by Mike Deas, following crime-solving bug buddies Bee and Flea teaming up to explore a puddle ecosystem; and The Weird Sisters: A Robin, a Rope, and a Lawn Mower by Mark David Smith, illus. by Kari Rust, about three sleuthing sisters who find unanticipated self-acceptance while solving the mystery of a missing robin and a rope swing vandal.
PAGE STREET
Page Street shines a spring spotlight on Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden, about a shy queer gamer who joins a community theater production for a chance at finally meeting his online crush; Last Sunrise in Eterna by Amparo Ortiz, following a goth elf hunter on her mission to search the elves’ magical home for a prince in peril; and Don’t Ask If I’m Okay by Jessica Kara, centering a teen grappling with grief after recently losing his best friend in a car accident.
PAGE STREET KIDS
Page Street Kids spins a web with Along Came a Radioactive Spider: Strange Steve Ditko and the Creation of Spider-Man by Annie Hunter Eriksen, illus. by Lee Gatlin, revealing the unique life of a lesser-known artist behind a favorite Marvel character; Courage in Her Cleats: The Story of Soccer Star Abby Wambach by Kim Chaffee, illus. by Alexandra Badiu, a biography of the U.S. women’s national soccer team athlete; Watch Out for the Lion! by Brooke Hartman, illus. by Anna Süßbauer, a playful reminder that things aren’t always as scary as they seem; A Dollar’s Grand Dream by Kimberly Wilson, illus. by Mark Hoffman, in which a dollar’s dream to be a ten-thousand-dollar bill brings fresh, pun-filled voice to the “be careful what you wish for” refrain; and Pirate & Penguin by Mike Allegra, illus. by Jenn Harney, a humorous high seas tale of unlikely friendship, following Pirate and his mistaken-for-a-parrot shipmate, Penguin.
PAPERCUTZ
Papercutz programs the GPS for Magical History Tour Volume 12 by Fabrice Erre and Sylvain Savoia, following modern-day kids Annie and Nico as they travel through time to learn about the proud Japanese warriors known as the Samurai; Fuzzy Baseball Volume 5 by John Steven Gurney, next up in the baseball comedy series; Ralph Azham Volume 3 by Lewis Trondheim, offering a humorous action-adventure tale of fathers and their sons, magic, mysticism; The Casagrandes Volume 5 by The Loud House and Casagrandes Creative Team, a tie-in to the Nickelodeon show about Ronnie Anne’s multigenerational Latino family in the big city.
PEACHTREE
Peachtree shows its independent streak with All by Myself by Stephanie Shaw, illus. by Emilie Gill, which finds Hen worrying her friends when she insists on doing everything alone—even when Fox comes calling; Behold the Octopus! by Suzanne Slade, illus. by Thomas Gonzalez, an undersea exploration of the mysterious octopus and its astonishing abilities; Line Up! Animals in Remarkable Rows by Susan Stockdale, offering a closer look at animals that instinctively form lines for safety, care, navigation, and other reasons; Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week by Sarah L. Thomson, the story of straight-laced fifth grader Emily whose world is turned upside down when new neighbor and free spirit Rani moves in with her dog Otto.
PEACHTREE/QUINLIN
Margaret Quinlin Books hatches Three Hens, a Peacock, and the Enormous Egg by Lester L. Laminack, illus. by Henry Cole, which finds the farm animals figuring out how to care for the enormous egg they’ve rescued.
PEACHTREE TEEN
Peachtree Teen floats into spring with Dance of the Starlit Sea by Kiana Krystle, following ballet dancer Lila who has been sent away by her parents to Luna Island, where every seven years a girl is sacrificed as a bride to the Devil; The Immeasurable Depth of You by Maria Ingrande Mora, in which 15-year-old Brynn, who experiences severe anxiety, spends the summer on her father’s houseboat and meets sultry and confident Skylar; and Junkyard Dogs by Katherine Higgs-Coulthard, which finds Josh and his younger brother stuck living with Gran, who threatens to call social services unless Josh can find his missing father.
PENGUIN/DIAL
Dial heads for the hive with You Are a Honey Bee! by Laurie Ann Thompson, illus. by Jay Fleck, the debut volume in the Meet Your World STEM picture-book series that encourages readers to learn about the everyday animals who share our neighborhoods; 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle, illus. by Lian Cho, in which quantities of dragons come and go on various absurd adventures, inviting readers to keep track of their numbers along the way; The Book of Radical Answers by Sonya Renee Taylor, illus. by Shannon Wright, answering questions from kids about health, sex, gender, race, and justice; Dear Yesteryear by Kimberly Annece Henderson, with handlettering by Ciara LeRoy, an open letter from the present to the past that uses archival photographs of Black Americans at the turn of the 19th century; and Fantastic Bureau of Imagination by Brad Montague and Kristi Montague, following special figment agent Sparky who must find a way to get people to share their big ideas before the Fantastic Bureau of Imagination topples from the weight of untold stories.
PENGUIN/DUTTON
Dutton does a ride-along with Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers? by Junauda Petrus, illus. by Kristen Uroda, a picture-book version of Petrus’s viral poem about fearless public safety and wellbeing; Enter the Body by Joy McCullough, reimagining the stories of Shakespeare’s iconic tragic teenage girls; Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby, following a teen who travels light years away from Earth to discover that her destination spaceship has crash-landed on an uninhabited planet; and The Swifts by Beth Lincoln, in which a murder mystery unfolds at a linguistically unusual family reunion.
PENGUIN/FLAMINGO
Flamingo has its hands full with How to Get Your Octopus to School by Becky Scharnhorst, illus. by Jaclyn Sinquett, in which a child tries to get their octopus ready for school; A Book for Bear by Ellen Ramsey, illus. by Mackenzie Haley, about a bear who disguises himself to find a book at the library, at school, and a bookstore; How to Talk Like a Bear by Charlie Grandy, illus. by Alex G. Griffiths, which finds a bear teaching readers how to speak fluent bear by growling, grunting, and roaring; I Am NOT the Easter Bunny by T.L. McBeth, featuring a bunny who, despite his white fur, colorful bowtie, and basket filled with eggs, insists he is not the Easter Bunny; and When I Talk to God I Talk About You by Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collins, illus. by Lisa Fields, which finds animals describing the many things they pray to God for as their little ones grow.
PENGUIN/GROSSET & DUNLAP
Grosset & Dunlap spotlights the Golden Rule with Little Bible Stories: The Good Samaritan: A Parable of Kindness to Strangers by Pia Imperial, illus. by Carly Gledhill, retelling the tale of the Good Samaritan; How to Be Confident in Kindergarten by D.J. Steinberg, illus. by Ruth Hammond, showing readers that there are many ways to learn and express confidence as they enter kindergarten; and the following titles in Spanish: La pequeña locomotora que sí pudo/The Little Engine That Could (bilingual edition) by Watty Piper Kindergarten, ¡Alla voy! (Kindergarten Here I Come!) by D.J. Steinberg, illus. by Mark Chambers; and Las tres pequeñas locomotoras (The Three Little Engines) by Bob McKinnon, illus. by Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson.
PENGUIN/KOKILA
Kokila tells it like it is with Not Everyone Is Going to Like You: Thoughts from a Former People Pleaser by Rinny Perkins, in which comedian and owner of online shop @BrowniePointsforYou shares her experiences as a Black, queer woman navigating identity, dating and sex, work, and relationships with family and friends; Joy Takes Root by Gwendolyn Wallace, illus. by Ashleigh Corrin, in which a Black girl learns about the sacred practices of plant work and herbal medicine in her grandmother’s garden; Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez, a graphic novel memoir in which artist, fashionista, Bronx kid, and eighth grader Steph is hiding a big school secret; Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman by Diana López, launching a series which finds the 12-year-old daughter of La Llorona vowing to free her mother and reverse the curses that have plagued the magical town of Tres Leches; and City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon, illus. by Ricardo Edwards, about Black boys from New York and Mississippi who come together during a transformative summer trip down South to visit family.
PENGUIN/PAULSEN
Nancy Paulsen Books reflects on the season with A Boy and His Mirror by Keturah A. Bobo, illus. by Marchánt Davis, in which a boy’s mirror gives him a newfound pride and a whole new way of seeing himself; Wants vs. Needs vs. Robots by Michael Rex, about robots who learn the difference between wants and needs when they trade away things they need to get things they want; Opinions and Opossums by Ann Braden, which finds Agnes questioning the patriarchal nature of religion as her confirmation approaches; What Does Brown Mean to You? by Ron Grady, following a boy throughout his day as he plays, paints, and bakes, making positive associations with the color of his skin; and Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong, set in a world where the magic of women is outlawed, and four girls with unusual powers have the ability to change it all.
PENGUIN/PHILOMEL
Philomel considers the big blue marble with The Planet We Call Home by Aimee Isaac, illus. by Jaime Kim, an ode to planet Earth and the ways in which its many features are interconnected, told in the cumulative style of “This Is the House That Jack Built;” Little Black Hole by Molly Webster, illus. by Alex Willmore, in which a little black hole who is sad that her friends keep disappearing and leaving her alone discovers that everything she loves has been inside her all along; Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess by Luvvie Ajayi Jones, illus. by Joey Spiotto, featuring a spunky girl whose big heart and desire to help sometimes get her into a mountain of trouble; and Welcome to the Time Hop by Lisa Graff, about a middle schooler who goes back in time and discovers that to change her future, she has to change herself.
PENGUIN/PUTNAM
Putnam sharpens its pencils for How to Draw a Best Friend by Sara Shepard, the author’s humorous middle-grade debut and kickoff to an illustrated series featuring an artistic and anxious fifth grader; The Human Kaboom by Adam Rubin, the follow-up to The Ice Cream Machine, another middle-grade collection of six different stories with the same exact title—but this time, with explosions; Escape from Grimstone Manor by debut author Matt McMann, the first book in the creepy middle grade series Monsterious, about three friends who are accidentally trapped inside a haunted house amusement park ride overnight; The Ruined by Renée Ahdieh, concluding the Beautiful quartet, in which Celine searches for a time-traveling mirror to change her and Bastien’s fate; and When Impossible Happens by Jane De Suza, introducing Swara, a quirky almost-nine-year-old in India who deals with the pandemic lockdown in her city while coming to terms with the death of her grandmother and solving a neighborhood mystery with her friends.
PENGUIN/RAZORBILL
Razorbill sews up the season with Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou, in which a descendant of the Greek Fates is working as a private investigator when she witnesses a murder committed by a woman who should be dead, leading her to uncover a dangerous conspiracy; The Severed Thread by Leslie Vedder, the sequel to The Bone Spindle, which finds a ragtag group of protagonists in the fight of their lives, with Witch Hunters hot on their tails and the threat of the Spindle Witch looming; Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland, the first book in a YA fantasy duology which features ancient magic, warring factions, and a romance between the two people in the world with the most cause to hate one another; and The Memory Eater by Rebecca Mahoney, centered on a teen girl who has to face her own painful forgotten past to save her coastal Maine town after she accidentally frees a monster that devours memories.
PENGUIN/RISE X PENGUIN WORKSHOP
Rise X Penguin Workshop serves up Eat Your Superpowers! by Toni Buzzeo, illus. by Serge Bloch, exploring 25 popular foods and the benefits they offer our minds and bodies; Every Body: A First Conversation About Bodies by Jessica Ralli and Megan Madison, illus. by Tequitia Andrews, introducing young readers to the concept of body positivity through simple, supportive, and conversational text, with additional resources for extending the discussion; My Community: We Learn Together by Dan Saks, illus. by Brooke Smart, celebrating school communities and the vital role they play in children’s lives; The Seasons Within Me by Bianca Pozzi, about a girl whose gloomy feelings are transformed by friendship and meaningful connection; and Who Is Barack Obama? by Lisbeth Kaiser, illus. by Geraldine Sy, telling the story behind the former president, created for the preschool audience.
PENGUIN/ROCKY POND
Rocky Pond Books times things out with Before, Now by Daniel Salmieri, a story of continuity through the generations using opposites to depict commonality; Ever Since by Alena Bruzas, in which a teenage girl comes to grips with childhood trauma after discovering that her love interest’s younger sister is about to become her abuser’s newest victim; The Bright Side by Chad Otis, about an unhoused boy who uses his positive thinking to get through a difficult first day at school; A Little Angry by Christopher Eliopoulos, focusing on a boy whose emotions come to life as he navigates a stressful situation and discovers the healing power of kindness; and It’s OK to Be a Work in Progress by Mental Health America, illus. by Gemma Correll, an introductory guide to mental illness and self-care for teens.
PENGUIN/VIKING
Viking sits in the rocking chair with This Is the First Book I Will Read You by Francesco Sedita, illus. by Magenta Fox, following a new father preparing to share the love of reading with his baby for the first time; Shark Princess 2 by Nidhi Chanani, in which Kitana is invited to a shark party, but feels anxious about attending until a new friend helps her decide; Made of Stars by Jenna Voris, the tale of two outlaws who take on a corrupt government, one explosive heist at a time, while a young military recruit chases after them; Skyriders by Polly Holyoke, in which a girl is the only one in the empire who knows how to defeat the fearsome chimerae, but convincing the emperor’s army to let her train them is her biggest challenge; and Llama Llama’s Little Lie by Anna Dewdney, in which Llama Llama breaks his mother’s favorite picture frame and tries to lie about what happened.
PENGUIN WORKSHOP
Penguin Workshop fluffs its pillows for Good Night, Sister by Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, illus. by Lucy Fleming, a bedtime read celebrating the power and comfort of sisterhood; Who Is Tibet’s Exiled Leader?: The 14th Dalai Lama: A Who HQ Graphic Novel by Teresa Robeson, illus. by Angela Poon, providing the story behind the Dalai Lama’s journey from Tibet to permanent exile in India; Clementine by Ann Hood, the story of Clementine, Jude Banks’s best friend from Jude Banks, Superhero; Who Will U Be? by Jessica Hische, about an inquisitive little letter “U” as she goes on a class field trip to find out all the ways letters are seen and used in the world; and Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea, a middle-grade fantasy about a half-Hawaiian girl who accidentally destroys Pele’s sacred flower and must now rescue her best friend from the fire goddess’s wrath and prevent lava from destroying the island.
PENGUIN/WORLD OF ERIC CARLE
World of Eric Carle welcomes the following novelty and concept books by Eric Carle: Eric Loves Animals; The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Garden Friend; I Love Grandma with the Very Hungry Caterpillar and I Love Grandpa with the Very Hungry Caterpillar; and A Day at School with the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
PENGUIN YOUNG READERS
Penguin takes a dip with Swim, Mo, Swim! by David A. Adler, illus. by Sam Ricks, which finds Mo Jackson, star of his early reader series, going swimming.
PENGUIN YOUNG READERS LICENSES
Penguin Young Readers Licenses grows with the following media tie-ins: Bluey: All About Bingo; Strawberry Shortcake: Meet the Berries! by Charlie Moon; PUNcilmation: A Pencilmation Joke Book; and Mighty Express: Robot on the Run by Charlie Moon.
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL/PI KIDS
PI Kids visits the Magic Kingdom with Moana and Cinderella, two new Disney Baby My First Princess Stories volumes.
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL/SUNBIRD
Sunbird Books ushers in the season with It’s Her Story: Irena Sendler by Margaret Littman, illus. by Sara Luna, a graphic novel about the heroic efforts of Sendler, who worked with the Polish resistance during WWII to smuggle Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto to safety.
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL/SEQUOIA KIDS MEDIA
Sequoia Kids Media sparks a spring list with The Brave Little Fire Dragon by Bing Bo, trans. by Helen Wang, about a dragon who accepts the challenge of relighting the sun, which has grown dim; Active Minds: Kids Ask About Volcanoes, providing an inside look at volcanoes; and Kid Character Series: Friendliness, identifying the many ways children can show friendliness.
PIXEL+INK
Pixel + Ink holds court at the jungle gym with The Recess Genius by Janet Sumner Johnson, illus. by Stacy Ebert, introducing Regina, a student who finds new problem-solving purpose when she helps classmates out of various jams; Make a Splash, Vincent! by Liz Goulet Dubois, in which a toad struggles with what do when his friends want to swim and he doesn’t; Missy and Mason 1: Missy Wants a Mammoth by Pam Vaughan, which finds Missy kicking off a debate about a new pet after visiting the natural history museum; Clara Poole and the Long Way Round by Taylor Tyng, showcasing a daring around-the-world balloon race; and The Sinister Secrets of Singe 1 by Sean Ferrell, an adventure featuring monstrous mechanical marvels and a message from a lost father.
PJ PUBLISHING
PJ Publishing fires up the oven for Yummy Hamantaschen, illus. by Elaine Resko, an interactive board book encouraging young readers to roll the dough, scoop the filling, and pinch the corners of their own hamantaschen — traditional treats for the Jewish holiday of Purim.
PRESTEL
Prestel energizes its spring with People Power: Peaceful Protests That Changed the World by Rebecca June, illus. by Ximo Abadia, a look at peaceful revolutions from all over the world that emphasizes uniting with others and working towards a common cause as the most powerful tools for change; I’m Not Afraid: A Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Adventure by Britta Teckentrup, which finds Little Hedgehog facing some of his fears when he wakes up in the morning and Big Hedgehog isn’t there; Art and Joy: Best Friends Forever by Danielle Krysa, the story of pals Art and Joy, who continue to build, create, and imagine together even when the dreaded Art Bully’s rude words temporarily separate them; and The Swing by Teckentrup, in which a narrator measures the passage of time by witnessing a beloved swing set grow creaky with age as seasons and lives change over the years.
QUARTO/WALTER FOSTER JR.
Walter Foster Jr. starts at the beginning with ABC Black History & Me by Queenbe Monyei, presenting 26 key historical concepts, events, and people in Black American history.
QUARTO/HAPPY YAK
Happy Yak colors in its spring list with The Blue Bagoo by Karl Newson, illus. by Andrea Stegmaier, following a young detective on the search for a mythical beast.
QUARTO/IVY KIDS
Ivy Kids hits the trail for 21 Things to Do with a Tree by Jane Wilsher, which introduces 21 outdoor games and activities that incorporate trees.
QUARTO/FRANCES LINCOLN
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books embarks on a spring quest with Here Be Dragons by Susannah Lloyd, about a very hapless knight and the not-so-invisible dragon he is trying to find; and Adnan by Mark Arrigo, the story of a refugee boy’s attempts to heal his mother’s mental health issues with the power of his creativity as they rebuild their lives in their new home.
QUARTO/QEB
QEB Publishing plows the fields for The World That Feeds Us by Nancy Castaldo, taking a closer look at how farmers around the world grow fresh food in a sustainable and natural way.
QUARTO/QUARRY
Quarry Books cooks up a spring list with Kitchen Pantry Scientist: Ecology for Kids by Liz Lee Heinecke, offering biographies of 25 leading ecologists, past and present, accompanied by experiments and activities to bring the history and principles of ecology alive; and Nature School by Stephanie Hathaway, Laura Stroup, and Lauren Giordano, presenting lessons and activities designed to inform and inspire a child’s love for the natural world.
QUARTO/WIDE-EYED EDITIONS
Wide-Eyed Editions circles the season with Round and Round Goes Mother Nature: 48 Stories of Life Cycles by Gabby Dawnay, collecting mindful stories that tell the tales of the life cycles of everything under the sun, happening all around us, at every moment; and Art Makes People Powerful by Bob and Roberta Smith, an art activity book.
RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Random House gets squishable with Marshmallow Martians: Show and Smell by Deanna Kent, illus. by Neil Hooson, following sweet, squashy buddies from planet Moop who journey through their backyard Earth portal in search of adventures; Invisible Son by Kim Johnson, in which Andre, just released from juvie for a crime he didn’t commit, is determined to find out what happened to his missing friend and neighbor, Eric, and the secrets his family might be keeping; Lo and Behold by Wendy Mass, illus. by Gabi Mendez, the story of how a new friend and a virtual reality headset help 12-year-old Addie recover after a bike accident; Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles, which finds recently expelled student Lawrence spending his days at the community center, where he begins to learn about chess and how it feels to truly belong; and A to Z Animal Mysteries #1: The Absent Alpacas by Ron Roy and Kayla Whaley, a spinoff of Roy’s A to Z Mysteries in which Abbi and her friends and trusty dog Barkley are on the case.
RANDOM HOUSE GRAPHIC
Random House Graphic checks the captain’s log for Jurassic Jeff: Warp Drive by Royden Lepp, in which alien Jeff is on a mission to take over Earth when he crash-lands and is surrounded by helpful dinosaurs; The Moth-Keeper by K. O’Neill, following Kit in her role as a Moth-Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower—crucial to her village—to bloom once a year; Hidden Systems by Dan Nott, providing a guided tour through the science of the past, and a look at how the decisions people made while inventing and constructing early technology still affect the way people use it today; Grace Needs Space by Benjamin A. Wilgus and Rii Abrego, about Grace’s adventures with her two mothers—one who lives on the space station and one who flies freighters from moon to moon; and Tiger Trouble (Tig & Lily Book 1) by Dan Thompson, the first volume in a series featuring a girl who lives at the Bronx Zoo and a housecat who declares he’s a tiger.
RANDOM HOUSE STUDIO
Random House Studio ties a string around its finger for Remember by Joy Harjo, illus. by Michaela Goade, a picture book rendition of U.S. Poet Laureate Harjo’s poem encouraging young readers to reflect on family, nature, and their heritage; Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illus. by Hatem Aly, about a Muslim boy who receives a salat (prayer) rug on his seventh birthday, and needs to find a place to pray at school; Harmony and Echo by Brigette Barrager, in which mermaid best friends are preparing for their debut performance in The Mermaid Ballet; The Noise Inside Boys by Pete Oswald, a social-emotional learning title about boys’ feelings; and Jackie Ormes Draws the Future by Liz Montague, spotlighting Ormes, the first nationally syndicated Black cartoonist in the U.S., who dealt with issues of racism and social injustice through her comic strips.
RANDOM HOUSE/BRIGHT MATTER BOOKS
Bright Matter Books is on the hot seat for Totally Random Questions Volume 5 and Volume 6 by Melina Gerosa Bellows, containing 101q&as.
RANDOM HOUSE/CROWN
Crown can’t get to sleep for The Night Before Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth by Glenda Armand, illus. by Corey Barksdale, focused on eight-year-old David and his family as they gather at Grandma’s house to hear her annual retelling of the story of Juneteenth; Happy Día de los Muertos! by Diane de Anda, illus. by Gloria Felix, spotlighting the traditions of this day to honor loved ones; Chaos Theory by Nic Stone, following the budding romance between Shelbi, a certified genius living with bipolar disorder, and Andy, the prominent son of a politician who struggles with an alcohol addiction; Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park, about a multicultural teen with a súper Spanish name and súper Korean face, struggling with where she belongs; and Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist, which finds Ebony and DeKari seeing their families—and each other—with fresh eyes after they’re forced to serve a 10-day school suspension together.
RANDOM HOUSE/DELACORTE
Delacorte drops anchor with The Island by Natasha Preston, in which a visit to a private amusement park is the trip of a lifetime for a group of influencers until they learn that getting off the island alive isn’t part of the plan; Royal Blood by Aimée Carter, the launch of a series following 17-year-old Evangeline, who is exposed as the King of England’s illegitimate American daughter—and the primary suspect in a murder investigation; Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz, a YA fantasy debut with a time loop twist, a handsome prince, and royal family intrigue; This Is Not a Cookbook by Flynn McGarry, illus. by Adil Dara, exploring McGarry’s
artful approach to cooking and encouraging readers to use their own curiosity and creativity to explore their passion; and A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson, the story of a teenage girl on a quest to a long-forgotten place to find her missing best friend, set in a world where magic is patented by corporations and potions are produced in factories and sweatshops.
RANDOM HOUSE/DR. SEUSS
Dr. Seuss Publishing snorkels into the season with What Humming-Fish Wish: How YOU Can Help Protect Sea Creatures by Michelle Meadows, illus. by Aristides Ruiz, an easy-reader narrated by the Lorax introducing nine endangered sea creatures; Dr. Seuss Discovers: Dogs by Bonnie Worth, illus. by Ron Cohee, providing basic facts about dogs for babies and toddlers; We Are Thing One and Thing Two by Astrid Holm, illus. by Tom Brannon, which profiles Thing One and Thing Two; How to Love a Pony by Michelle Meadows, illus. by Sawyer Cloud, which follows a girl and her pony throughout the changing seasons of the year on her family’s horse farm; and Horton Hears a BOO! by Wade Bradford, illus. by Brannon, featuring Horton the elephant overcoming his fear to investigate the source of a frightening sound deep in the Jungle of Nool.
RANDOM HOUSE/DOUBLEDAY
Doubleday stays aloft with Catching Flight: Finding Our Way on the Wings of Birds by Rebekah Lowell, a picture book about hope, depicted through the metaphor of birds and their flight; Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar: The Musical Story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, introducing pioneering guitarist Tharpe, and imagining her childhood as a musical prodigy from Cotton Plant, Ark.; The Teachers I Loved Best by Taylor Mali, illus. by Erica Root, celebrating the extra-special teachers we remember all those years later; Under the Blanket Sky by Tim Fischer, focused on a boy and his unlikely friend—a majestic owl—as they grow close over the course of one long yet fleeting summer before the owl must fly south for the winter; and The Artist by Ed Vere, in which a brave young artist goes on an epic adventure to share her creativity with the world.
RANDOM HOUSE/GOLDEN BOOKS
Golden Books scales Mount Olympus for My Little Golden Book About Greek Gods and Goddesses by John Sazaklis, illus. by Elsa Chang, compiling the larger-than-life tales of Athena, Zeus, and many more; and four new Golden Book Biographies: Iris Apfel by Deborah Blumenthal, illus. by Ellen Surrey, spotlighting the businesswoman and designer; Tony Bennett by Deborah Hopkinson, illus. by Barbara Bongini, about the iconic singer; Colin Powell by Frank Berrios, illus. by Amanda Quartey, focused on this four-star general and the U.S.’s first Black secretary of state; and Taylor Swift by Wendy Loggia, illus. by Elisa Chavarri, profiling the singer/songwriter/superstar.
RANDOM HOUSE/JOY REVOLUTION
Joy Revolution turns up the music for House Party by Angeline Boulley, Jerry Craft, Natasha Diaz, and others, a multi-authored, interconnected YA rom-com that follows 10 teens over the course of one night at the last house party before high school graduation; Queen Bee by Amalie Howard, following a teen who enters London high society under a fake identity to exact revenge on her childhood best friend and charm the season’s most eligible bachelor, the handsome marquess at the center of the girls’ falling-out; and You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker, about a star student who competes in a series of bets against her childhood best friend turned academic rival for their school’s valedictorian title.
RANDOM HOUSE/KNOPF
Knopf says “cheese” for Picture Day (Brinkley Yearbook, #1) by Sarah Sax, following a middle school girl who decides to take matters into her own hands (literally) and reinvent herself on picture day; A Garden in My Hands by Meera Sriram, illus. by Sandhya Prabhat, introducing the custom of applying henna as a mother and daughter prepare for a celebration; Turtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald, which finds two girls teaming up to save the turtles—and each other—when poachers threaten the island they love; Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen, in which a kid named Wrecker comes across a speedboat that has run aground, and finds himself caught up in a net of smugglers, graverobbers, and pooping iguanas; and Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken, centering on a fabled ring from Arthurian legend that lures a teen into the myths of Avalon, pitting her against backstabbing mages, ghosts of the past, and a deadly curse.
RANDOM HOUSE/LABYRINTH ROAD
Labyrinth Road signs off on spring with Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole, a novel-in-verse following a 16-year-old girl coping with sexual abuse while being slut shamed by classmates; Momo Arashima and the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sugiura, which finds Momo on her 12th birthday learning about her half-goddess heritage and that she is uniquely qualified for an epic quest to save her mother and vanquish demons set on bringing chaos to our world; Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate by Deeba Zargarpur, in which 12-year-old Farrah discovers her absent father is a jinn king when she accidentally traps him inside a magical ring with a birthday wish gone wrong; Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One by Andrew Auseon, the story of a seventh grader who is mistaken for a long-awaited hero and sucked into a fantasy-world quest that turns out to be more complicated than he imagined; and The Rules of Us by Jennifer Nissley, featuring longtime couple and best friends Jillian and Henry, who come out to each other on prom night.
RANDOM HOUSE/MAKE ME A WORLD
Make Me a World follows the moon with Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Meija, about a bounty hunter who gains mysterious powers and embarks on a quest to rid her people of a lethal forgetting drug.
RANDOM HOUSE/RODALE KIDS
Rodale Kids finds focus with Breathe Like a Bear Goes to School by Kira Willey, illus. by Anni Betts, in which Owl has the perfect words for Bear and her friends to say to calm the jitters on the first day of school; Mrs. Peanuckle’s Earth Alphabet and Mrs. Peanuckle’s Ocean Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle, illus. by Jessie Ford, two titles encouraging awareness and appreciation for our planet; Pocket Full of Sads by Brad Davidson, illus. by Rachel Más Davidson, in which Bear’s friends try all sorts of remedies to help when he’s feeling low, like his pocket is full of sads that are weighing him down; and Our Classroom Rules! by Kallie George, illus. by Jay Fleck, explores how following a few simple rules of kindness can make school more fun for everyone.
RANDOM HOUSE/SCHWARTZ
Anne Schwartz Books tickles the ivories with The Green Piano by Roberta Flack with Tonya Bolden, illus. by Hayden Goodman, offering an intimate look at Grammy Award-winning singer Flack’s childhood growing up in a home surrounded by music, love, and a beat-up piano that her father found in a junkyard, repaired, and painted green; Cinderella and a Mouse Called Fred by Deborah Hopkinson, illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky, a tale narrated by the mouse that becomes Cinderella’s coach horse; Mine! by Candace Fleming, illus. by Eric Rohmann, in which a series of selfish forest animals all wait for an apple to fall from a tree, each thinking it will be theirs to eat; Sam with Ants in His Pants by April Reynolds, illus. by Katie Kordesh, about a can’t-settle-down boy who spends his naptime with the wild animals that leap off the pages of his favorite storybook; and If You Get Lost by Nikki Loftin, illus. by Deborah Marcero, the story of a stuffed bunny that falls from a car window at the start of a family’s camping trip and begins a magical adventure through the forest to find its way back.
RANDOM HOUSE/UNDERLINED
Underlined tests its Spidey sense with Stranger Danger by Maren Stoffels, in which three teens find themselves in the middle of nowhere, with no internet, and a killer hunting them down; and Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee, the story of an aspiring teen chef who enters a mooncake-making contest to bring publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese restaurant and the cute new customer who asks him to be his fake date for a posh wedding.
RED COMET
Red Comet hops into spring with Too Many Rabbits! by Davide Calì, illus. by Emanuele Benetti, the tale of two children who adopt a pair of rabbits—one male and one female—and the ensuing hijinks when they must give away all the baby rabbits that soon arrive; Roll Roll Little Pea by Cécile Bergame, illus. by Magali Attiogbé, following the adventurous journey of a pea that rolls off a girl’s plate; Walter Takes a While: The Story of a Shy Crocodile by Ann Kim Ha, about a shy crocodile who eventually finds the courage to stand up to bullies and defend his friend; Peng’s Vase by Paolo Proietti, a retelling of the Chinese folktale sometimes known as “The Empty Pot,” where a boy wins an Emperor’s challenge through his honesty and bravery; and Apple Pie Picnic by Alicia Duran, illus. by Brian Fitzgerald, which takes readers on a journey through the seasons on Rosa’s family farm and its apple orchard.
RUNNING PRESS
Running Press turns up the volume for Truck Tunes by Jim Gardner and Rob Gardner, a singalong book with 45 songs celebrating kids’ favorite trucks; The Numbers Store by Harold Green III, illus. by DeAnn Wiley, introducing numbers during a multigenerational Black family’s trip to their local grocery store; Nerdcrush by Alisha Emrich, centered on 16-year-old Ramona, who turns to cosplay to find the confidence she lacks in life; ABC-Deconstructing Gender by Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham, aiming to demystify gender stereotypes while introducing the alphabet; and Ari Arranges Everything by Katie Vernon, about a girl who organizes everything at home and tries to create the ultimate arrangement at the zoo.
SCHOLASTIC
Scholastic takes a spooky road trip with Exit 13: The Whispering Pines by James Preller, illus. by Kevin Keele, which finds siblings Ash and Willow trying to uncover the bizarre mysteries of the Exit 13 Motel.
SCHOLASTIC EN ESPAÑOL
Scholastic en español says “hola” to the following spring titles in Spanish: Diario de un Unicornio #4: La princesa de los duendes (The Goblin Princess) by Rebecca Elliott and El club de cómics de Supergatito: A propósito (Cat Kid Comic Club: On Purpose) by Dav Pilkey.
SCHOLASTIC FOCUS
Scholastic Focus breaks the limits with Boundless by Chaunté Lowe, spotlighting U.S. Olympic high jumper Lowe, who faced childhood homelessness, food insecurity, and domestic abuse, and was able to overcome these hurdles with the love and support of devoted family, coaches, and teachers as well as her grit and determination; and Race Against Death by Deborah Hopkinson, the true story of the American and Filipino soldiers, journalists, nurses, and civilians who were captured by the Japanese Royal Navy following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, forced on the Bataan Death March, imprisoned at P.O.W. camps, and eventually rescued in one of the most daring rescue missions of WWII.
Scholastic Licensing is on its way to where the air is sweet with Alma’s Way Storybook: My Neighborhood/Mi barrio by G.M. King, a bilingual book tying into the PBS show and introducing readers to Alma Rivera and her family and friends in the Bronx.
SCHOLASTIC PAPERBACKS
Scholastic Paperbacks goes back to the beginning with Starting from Scratch: A Wish Novel by Jazz Taylor, in which Janie has to figure out how to deal with a copycat stepsister and a stubbornly affectionate feline in their newly blended home; Scared Silly #1: My Clone Did It! by Elizabeth Eulberg, the launch of a series involving very strange (and funny) goings-on in a cursed town; Love Puppies #1: Best Friends Furever by JaNay Brown-Wood, featuring four special puppies who use a little bit of magic and lots of kindness to help a lonely girl make a new friend in a new series that tackles social emotional topics for young readers; and Dragon Girls #10 by Maddy Mara, about three girls who become Underwater Dragons and travel to the Magic Forest to help save the enchanted sea creatures who live there.
SCHOLASTIC PRESS
Scholastic Press sets sail for spring with Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen, the story of a girl who stows away on the Titanic; Lotus Island #2 by Christina Soontornvat, following Plum and her friends to Bokati Island where they must use their Guardian powers to save the forest from a mysterious attacker; Big Tree by Brian Selznick, a tale about siblings, growing up, finding home, and saving the world; This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang, in which Eliza’s essay about meeting the love of her life inadvertently goes viral, prompting her to hide the truth by entering into a fake relationship with the famous actor in her class at their international school in Beijing; and I Kick and I Fly by Ruchira Gupta, depicting the true events of a girl in Bihar, India who escapes being sold into the sex trade when a local hostel owner helps her understand the value of her body through kung fu; Stillwater and Koo Save the World by Jon J Muth, which finds beloved panda Stillwater showing young Koo how to help heal the world—with one kind act at a time; When a Friend Needs a Friend by Roozeboos, the story of two friends who learn, together, that big feelings are something to be felt rather than fixed; Make Way for Butterfly by Ross Burach, spotlighting Butterfly, who learns to embrace his own uniqueness as he discovers the wonders of pollination; and Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by Aida Salazar, illus. by Molly Mendoza, the life story of Jovita Valdovinos, Mexico’s Joan of Arc, told by her great niece.
SCHOLASTIC/ACORN
Acorn forms a search party for the following illustrated early readers: Lost Dog (The Adventure Friends #2) by Brandon Todd, illus. by Gloria Félix; The Gray Day (Rainbow Days #1) by Valerie Bolling, illus. by Kai Robinson; A New Friend (Mermaid Days #3) by Kyle Lukoff, illus. by Kat Uno; I Am Curious! (Princess Truly #7) by Kelly Greenawalt, illus. by Amariah Rauscher; and Poppleton in Summer by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Mark Teague.
SCHOLASTIC/BRANCHES
Branches is in for a surprise with the following illustrated early chapter books: Top-Secret Anniversary (The Party Diaries #3) and Starry Henna Night (The Party Diaries #2) by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, illus. by Aaliya Jaleel; Kittens Are Monsters (Pets Rule #3) by Susan Tan, illus. by Wendy Tan Shiau Wei; Curse of the Shadow Dragon (Dragon Masters #23) by Tracey West, illus. by Graham Howells; and The Nature Club (Owl Diaries #18) by Rebecca Elliott.
SCHOLASTIC/CARTWHEEL
Cartwheel puts on its costume for Little Boo’s Halloween Party by Lala Watkins, a holiday board book; Princess Truly Picks a Pumpkin by Kelly Greenawalt, illus. by Amariah Rauscher, taking readers on a trip to the pumpkin patch with Princess Truly and her magical, sparkling curly hair; and Let’s See: Farm Animals and Tic-Tac-Toe: I Love You So! by Sandra Magsamen, two offerings in Magsamen’s interactive, classic-game-inspired board book line.
SCHOLASTIC/CHICKEN HOUSE
Chicken House opens the door for Boy in a White Room by Karl Olsberg, a sci-fi thriller about a boy who wakes to find himself locked in a room with no memories and no idea how he got there.
SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX
Graphix makes room for Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter, in which 11-year-old Avery feels overwhelmed by her six siblings and is determined to get her own room; Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang, following three siblings who find themselves unexpectedly living on their own as undocumented new immigrants; The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones (graphic novel edition) by Rick Riordan and Ethan Young, an adaptation of the bestselling series; Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton and Aśka, which finds Maise and Ollie geeking out about seeing Maisie’s physical disability and Ollie’s nonbinary identity represented in their favorite characters at a fan convention; Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling, about first-generation Filipino American siblings J.J. and Althea who help run their family’s food truck, when witches, ogres, and other creatures arrive in their town—just like in the old-country folklore they grew up hearing; Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game by Colin Kaepernick and Eve L. Ewing, illus. by Orlando Caicedo, NFL star Kaepernick’s graphic memoir of being an uncompromising Black, teen baseball phenomenon; and Akim Aliu: Dreamer by Akim Aliu and Greg Anderson Elysée, illus. by Karen De La Vega, presenting Aliu’s story of growing up Black in the world of hockey.
SCHOLASTIC/ORCHARD
Orchard makes a splash with When You Can Swim by Jack Wong, following a diverse cast of characters who each experience the mysterious joys of the water in nature; Why Did the Monsters Cross the Road? by R.L. Stine, illus. by Marc Brown, starring Funny, a monster who loves to tell jokes as he tries to cheer up his monster best friend, Hunny; When Rubin Plays by Gracey Zhang, in which a boy who longs to play the violin learns that there more than one way to do something right; Awake, Asleep by Kyle Lukoff, illus. by Nadia Alam, about the extraordinary beauty found in babies’ and toddlers’ everyday moments; and Sometimes I Kaploom by Rachel Vail, illus. by Hyewon Yum, about dealing with big feelings and learning that bravery and fear are not mutually exclusive.
SCRIBE
Scribe flits into spring with The Great American Fairy Hoax by Josef Bastian, illus. by Patrick McEvoy, in which the Storied Trio is sent into an alternative version of their own town to help two girls who’ve gotten themselves into a big fairy mess.
SEVEN STORIES
Seven Stories Press owns the season with Mistakes by Seymour Chwast, a quirky puzzle book; Abolition Is Love by Syrus Marcus Ware, illus. by Allanah Fricker, offering a story about abolition and loving your community enough to dream different dreams for its future; George Sand: No to Prejudice by Ysabelle Lacamp, trans. by Emma Ramadan, and Aime Cesaire: No to Humiliation by Nimrod, trans. by Ramadan, two YA biographies from the They Said No series spotlighting women who fought for women’s rights in the 19th century and Black African and Caribbean independence, respectively; and Escape ’56 by Richard Panchyk, the fictionalized story of young Elizabeth Gellert (the author’s mother) and her family as they live through the harrowing days of the Hungarian Revolution.
SHADOW MOUNTAIN
Shadow Mountain steps right up for Carnival Quest by Brandon Mull, the finale to the Candy Shop War series, featuring magical candy that gives kids superpowers; Just Gus by McCall Hoyle, showcasing Gus, an independent working dog who is injured after defending his flock from a bear, and who must find a new life of purpose when he is unable to return to his important job; and Graysen Foxx and the Treasure of Principal Redbeard by J. Scott Savage, about a young treasure hunter who deciphers clues, solves puzzles, and searches for his school’s long-lost chest filled with decades of confiscated toys.
SHAMBHALA/BHALA KIDS
Bhala Kids stays in the lines with The Life of a Crayon: A Colorful Story of Never-Ending Beginnings by Christopher Willard and Tara Wosiski, illus. by Holly Clifton-Brown, in which Green arrives in a crayon box as a present to a girl and has no idea of the impact he will have on her life; Goodnight Love: A Bedtime Meditation Story by Sumi Loundon Kim, illus. by Laura Watkins, which helps children share love with themselves, their families and friends, and the world; and It’s OK: Being Kind to Yourself When Things Feel Hard by Wendy O’Leary, illus. by Sandra Eide, teaching the power of self-compassion through simple affirmations that can be repeated when things are hard.
SIMON & SCHUSTER
Simon & Schuster takes a running start for The Jump by Brittney Morris, featuring a group of working-class teens who join a dangerous scavenger hunt around Seattle to save their families and community; Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef, illus. by Jade Merien, about an Iranian American girl who, after her father is murdered, discovers that he was secretly a veterinarian to magical creatures out of the bedtime tales he told her as a child—and that she must take up his mantle; Weather Together by Jessie Sima, another companion to Not Quite Narwhal; Finally Seen by Kelly Yang, a middle grade novel about sisterhood, family, and the power of community to make you feel at home; and Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick, a romantic drama that explores falling in love, losing it, and being brave enough to find it all over again.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ALADDIN
Aladdin sashays into spring with Daddy Dressed Me by Ava Gardner and Michael Gardner, illus. by Nadia Fisher, celebrating the creative and empowering bond between a father and his daughter; Grip by Marcus Stroman, the launch of a semi-autobiographical series from MLB pitcher Stroman about a boy who learns that perfect games sometimes come after a lot of strikeouts; City of the Dead by James Ponti, in which the young secret agents must use all their skills to decipher an age-old code in Cairo, Egypt to make sure that everyone gets out alive; Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner, focused on a boy’s struggles with body image and his ultimate self-acceptance; and Thirteen Witches: The Museum of Imagined Things by Jodi Lyn Anderson, concluding the Thirteen Witches trilogy.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ATHENEUM
Atheneum cools off with Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins, in which children and their adults come from all over the city on a very hot day to enjoy a special place—the pool; Time to Roll by Jamie Sumner, the sequel to Roll with It, which finds Ellie thrown for a loop when she’s asked to enter a beauty pageant where the director wants to put Ellie and her wheelchair front and center; One True Wish by Lauren Kate, about three friends who confront their deepest wishes; A Bucket of Questions by Tim Fite, serving up a collection of curious questions and quirky answers; and Wizkit by Tanya J. Scott, a graphic novel centered on a magical cyclops cat, the sentient book it must return to the library, and the friends they make along the way.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ATHENEUM/DLOUHY
Caitlyn Dlouhy Books puffs into fall with Vape by Cynthia Kadohata, which examines the vaping culture in our country in the vein of works like Go Ask Alice or Tweak; Stuntboy #2 by Jason Reynolds, illus. by Raúl the Third, the return of Portico aka Stuntboy and his friends; Borderless by Jennifer De Leon, following Maya’s perilous journey from Guatemala City to the U.S. border, to escape her beloved homeland that no longer feels anything like home; Children of the Black Glass by Anthony Peckham, a middle-grade fantasy centered on a quintet of sorcerers vying for power, and the quartet of children determined to outsmart them all to save their father’s life; and Penny and Pip by Candace Fleming, illus. by Eric Rohmann, the story of a girl who finds a lost dinosaur baby roaming the halls of a museum and decide to give it a home.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/BEACH LANE
Beach Lane watches for a little rain with In Every Life by Marla Frazee, offering a meditation on the many wonders of life; This Is the Planet Where I Live by K.L. Going, illus. by Debra Frasier, spotlighting the connections between every inhabitant of Earth—from living creatures to the oceans and skies—in a celebration of sharing our beautiful planet; We Are Going to Be Pals! by Mark Teague, in which an egret and a rhinoceros navigate the ups and downs of their symbiotic relationship; Can You Hug a Forest? by Frances Gilbert, illus. by Amy Hevron, which encourages readers to appreciate all of the natural elements that make up a forest, from the air to the leaves to the trees; and Animal Superpowers by Amy Cherrix, illus. by Frann Preston-Gannon, explaining the amazing physical and behavioral adaptations different animals use as their natural superpowers to survive.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/LITTLE SIMON
Little Simon offers a spring example with Like So by Ruth Forman, honoring the love and bond between family and child; She Is Mama by Mackenzie Porter, illus. by Heather Brockman Lee, describing the many things a mother can be, from a captain of adventures to a shoulder when the world is tough; Happy Halloweenie by Katie Vernon, about a hot dog named Weenie who’s looking for the perfect Halloween costume; and Isla of Adventure: Deep in the Rainforest by Dela Costa, illus. by Ana Sebastián, focused on Isla’s efforts to find out what the strange, mysterious sound coming from deep in the rainforest is.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/MCELDERRY BOOKS
Margarent K. McElderry Books licks its lips for Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury, following Daisy, a reluctant medium, who must confront the ghosts—both literal and figurative—of her mother’s past when an inherited mansion in Northern Ontario is not as idyllic as it would seem; Wilderlore: Ever Storms by Amanda Foody, in which Barclay and his pals find new dangers and fresh adventure when they encounter mysterious sandstorms in the desert; Onyeka and the Legacy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu, a sequel to Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, where Onyeka and her friends must use their powers to rescue her parents and uncover a plot that threatens the future of all Solari; The Kingdom Over the Sea by Zohra Nabi, the story of a girl raised in our world discovering her true magical identity and her place in a land where magic has been banned; and Spell Binder by F.T. Lukens, which finds Rook teaming up with a rival apprentice to save their teachers and protect their own magic when Rook’s Sorceress mentor disappears.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/MILLNER
Denene Millner Books looks under its pillow for Stella and the Missing Tooth by Clothilde Ewing, illus. by Lynn Gaines, in which Stella is on the hunt to figure out who stole her friend Owen’s lost tooth.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/SALAAM READS
Salaam Reads plans a fresh start with Zara’s Rules for Living Your Best Life by Hena Khan, illus. by Wastana Haikal, which finds Zara and her brother Zayd looking to save their spring break from chores and naps when they’re sent to spend the week with their grandparents; The Masjid Kamal Loves by Ashley Franklin, illus. by Aaliya Jaleel, celebrating all the reasons he loves going to his local masjid; and The Together Tree by Aisha Saeed, illus. by LeUyen Pham, in which a boy and his classmates discover the power of kindness and inclusivity after being bullied in school.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/SIMON SPOTLIGHT
Simon Spotlight swoops into spring with Broommates and Other Disasters by Wanda Coven, illus. by Anna Abramskaya, following Heidi Hecklebeck who is now at the same boarding school for witches in training that her mother and grandmother attended; Adventures with Linus and Friends! by Charles M. Schulz, compiling favorite Peanuts stories, graphic novels, and an all-new original story; Star Trek: Holodeck Havoc! by Cassandra R. Clarke, featuring two original stories that tie in to the Star Trek: Prodigy animated show; Daniel Learns to Swim! by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz, about Daniel Tiger’s first swim lesson at the pool; and Alexis and the Perfect Recipe: The Graphic Novel by Coco Simon, in which Alexis, head of the Cupcake Club, develops a crush on her BFF’s brother.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/WISEMAN
Paula Wiseman Books knows the secret ingredient with Loves Make a Garden Grow by Taeeun Yoo, inspired by Yoo’s childhood and her relationship with her grandfather; All Kinds of Special by Tammi Sauer, illus. by Fernando Martin, the story of how a mango tree makes the new house where Mia and her mather move a home; Find Your Brave by Apryl Stott, which finds Coco and Bear excited to perform their special dance at the summer festival, until Coco loses her brave during dress rehearsal; Ethan and the Strays by John Sullivan, illus. by Hatem Aly, in which the author shares the joys of helping and caring for a stray cat; A Baxter Family Children Story: Being Baxters by Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell, illus. by Olivia Chin Mueller, the latest volume about the Baxters.
SOARING KITE
Soaring Kite Books stays up late for The Love of the Moonlight by Sarah Buckner, illus. by Paula Ortiz, which finds a child observing a moonlit city from his bedroom window and realizing that the world would be a better place if we acted with empathy and understanding; Rainbow Letters: A Book for Rainbow Babies by Ceece Kelley, illus. by Marina Halak, in which an angel sibling sews a well-wishing message into the hospital swaddle of their family’s newborn rainbow baby (a baby born after a child or infant loss); My Brain Is Magic: A Sensory-Seeking Celebration by Prasha Sooful, illus. by Geeta Ladi, the story of a child celebrating Sensory Processing Disorder by relating their daily sensory-seeking actions to their favorite action-packed animals; and Big Kids Don’t Get Butterflies by Kelley, illus. by Sawyer Cloud, following Buddy, who marks his growth and age by the new carnival rides that he qualifies for each year.
SOUNDS TRUE
Sounds True flows through spring with Today I Am a River by Kate Coombs, illus. by Anna Emilia Laitinen, asking readers to imagine they are different animals, plants, and elements in the natural world; Dinos Don’t Meditate by Catherine Bailey, illus. by Alex Willmore, following pals Rex, a dinosaur who likes to stomp and roar, and Sam, a dinosaur who knows the importance of slowing down and taking a breath; Forest Bath Right Down This Path by Lisa Robinson, illus. by Khoa Le, in which a child and her father experience forest bathing, inhaling the scents, listening to the sounds, and feeling the texture of moss with their fingers and cold water on their bare feet; and Sylvie and the Wolf by Andrea Debbink, illus. by Mercè López, about a girl who is able to confront and manage her fear of a wolf with encouragement from a loving aunt.
SOURCEBOOKS
Sourcebooks breezes into spring with A Breath of Mischief by MarcyKate Connolly, in which the Wind is kidnapped by a sinister alchemist and Aria must complete a series of trials to rescue it; and Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illus. by Giovanni Rigano, the story of two young people, Sami and Yuki, living on different continents, whose lives are impacted by the effects of climate change.
SOURCEBOOKS EXPLORE
Sourcebooks Explore sings a sweet song with Sugar Pie Lullaby by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Sawyer Cloud, introducing legendary music of the Motown era; I Am a Force by Maria Marianayagam, illus. by Skylar White, which calls on the author’s background as an engineer to describe the various forces at work in our world by personifying each one as a girl; The Girl Who Heard the Music by Mahani Teave and Marni Fogelson, illus. by Marta Álvarez Miguéns, the true story of award-winning pianist and environmental activist Teave, who as a young prodigy left her home on Rapa Nui to become an acclaimed classical musician, then returned to help build a more sustainable future for the island; The Glow Show by Susi Schaefer, in which a bioluminescent squid learns lessons of cooperation and humility while readers explore nonfiction information about sea creatures; and Butt or Face? by Kari Lavelle, which serves up facts about animals in a detailed guessing game format.
SOURCEBOOKS FIRE
Sourcebooks Fire dishes up some fava beans and a nice chianti alongside This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham, in which four best friends with a hunger for human flesh attend a music festival in the desert and discover a murderous plot to expose and vilify the girls and everyone like them; Tell Me What Really Happened by Chelsea Sedoti, about a camping trip that goes horribly wrong when one friend goes missing, as told through police interviews of the remaining four who are all under suspicion; Four Found Dead by Natalie Richards, following Jo and her co-workers on their last shift at Tempest Theaters before it closes its doors forever when one of the crew turns up murdered, and the killer among them has locked them all in; The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade, a speculative thriller rooted in Hoodoo tradition and folklore, about a biracial Black girl whose sister returns from her abduction changed in ways that trauma alone can’t explain; and Have You Seen My Sister? by Kirsty McKay, the story of beautiful and athletic Gaia Gill who disappears the night of her going-away party at a ski resort, and her younger sister Esme who will stop at nothing to find her.
SOURCEBOOKS JABBERWOCKY
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky works on a sales pitch for Cooler Than Lemonade by Harshita Jerath, illus. by Chloe Burgett, which finds budding entrepreneur Eva upping her game and hatching a plan to best her neighbor Jake, who has put up his own successful lemonade stand across the street; and When Daddy Tucks Me In by Sacha Cotter, illus. by Josh Morgan, about a daughter who loves to hear the imaginative bedtime stories Daddy tells about the keys on his key ring and what they unlock—including the special one he uses when he comes home to his girl.
SOURCEBOOKS WONDERLAND
Sourcebooks Wonderland tests its traps for How to Catch a Daddysaurus and How to Catch a Garden Fairy by Alice Walstead, illus. by Andy Elkerton, the two latest adventures for the Catch Club Kids; and Why We Need Teachers by Greg Lang, illus. by Lisa Alderson, offering a message of gratitude to the coaches, mentors, caregivers, and teachers in our lives.
STAR BRIGHT
Star Bright goes beachcombing with Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle by Lea Ashkenas, illus. by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu, in which Arletis discovers a message in a bottle washed ashore in Cuba and befriends the author of the note: an old tugboat captain from California.
STARRY FOREST BOOKS
Starry Forest wiggles its toes for Busy Feet by Marcia Berneger, illus. by Susanna Chapman, depicting just how busy little feet can be at playtime, bath time, and more; Not a Book About Bunnies by Amanda Henke, illus. by Anna Daviscourt, in which Porcupine bemoans a plethora of bunny books and longs to have just this one book to themself; The Midnight Panther by Poonam Mistry, a fable about identity, confidence, and self-acceptance; and The Way We Say Hello by Andrea Denish, illus. by BlueBean, in which a child searches for the best way to greet a new sibling, and explores different languages, gestures, and places.
STARRY FOREST/LITTLE HERO
Little Hero salutes spring with Colors/Colores and Places /Lugares by Mikala Carpenter, illus. by Gemma Román, two Little Languages vocabulary board books in English and Spanish.
TIGER TALES
Tiger Tales laces up spring with High Top by Tom Lacey, spotlighting an enthusiastic, happy sneaker whose irrepressible zest for life threatens to trample his friends; Can You Share, Little Whale? by Jonny Lambert, the story of Little Whale, who through her interactions with a number of other sea-life characters learns that there is plenty to go around when we all share; Dear Earth by Isabel Otter, illus. by Clara Anganuzzi, celebrating the wonders of our world and reminding readers to spread the message that Earth is special and worth saving; Mole’s Quiet Place by Jane Chapman, a tale of friendship and valuing each other’s needs; and Wake Up, Trucks! by Jodie Parachini, illus. by Teresa Ballon, following a group of trucks as they begin their day and carry out their specific jobs.
TUNDRA
Tundra in is in tune with Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline, the tale of an Indigenous teen who, after inadvertently starting rumors of a haunted cemetery, finds herself befriending a real ghost; The Song That Called Them Home by David A. Robertson, illus. by Maya McKibbin, in which Lauren and her little brother are thrown overboard during a fishing trip and come face to face with creatures called Memekwesewak; No, No Baby! by Anne Hunter, which finds exuberant Baby Squirrel hiding at home after Owl uses some harsh words; The Care and Keeping of Grandmas by Jennifer Mook-Sang, illus. by Yong Ling Kang, about a girl who shares her tips for how to take care of a grandparent when her grandmother moves into the family home; and The Big Sting by Rachelle Delaney, in which Leo’s visit to his grandparents’ farm turns upside down when his grandmother’s beehives are stolen.
UNION SQUARE & CO.
Union Square & Co. keeps checking its social media with Going Dark by Melissa de la Cruz, in which teenage influencer Amelia vanishes after going on vacation with her boyfriend, Josh—two years after her older sister disappeared, but with no media frenzy; and Tennessee Russo and the Sacred Band by L.C. Rosen, following 17-year-old Tennessee, who reunites with his estranged father, a renowned archeologist, to find the Rings of the Sacred Band of Thebes, an essential part of ancient queer history.
UNION SQUARE & CO.
Union Square Kids is gonna need a bigger boat for Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, illus. by Tom de Freston, which finds 10-year-old Julia moving to the remote Shetland islands for the summer while her father operates a lighthouse, and her scientist mother searches for the elusive Greenland shark; The Fall of the House of Tatterly by Shanna Miles, set in a magical modern-day Charleston, where 12-year-old medium Theo must dodge witchy Aunties, an occasionally possessed cousin, and some ghostly grandparents to save his family from a demon with a grudge; Graveyard Girls: Scream for the Camera by Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus, the second book in their series following five friends who meet to tell scary stories at the cemetery at night; I Cannot Draw a Bicycle by Charise Mericle Harper, the follow-up to I Cannot Draw a Horse, about making something out of nothing; and Dear Mr. G by Christine Evans, illus. by Gracey Zhang, featuring an intergenerational friendship story between a child and their neighbor, told through a series of letters.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRESS
University of Minnesota Press sets the table for Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight by Shannon Gibney, illus. by Charly Palmer, the story of a boy who tries to come to terms with the Liberian and African American sides of his family, through the food of each culture.
WEST MARGIN
West Margin breaches into spring with Otto and the Flying Orca by Nora Nickum, illus. by Bao Luu, in which a seaplane painted to look like an orca helps Otto the orca and his family find salmon to eat; and The Sea Hides a Seahorse by Sara Behrman, illus. by Melanie Mikecz, a nonfiction book about the often mysterious and camouflaged seahorse and other underwater life, such as eels, flounders, crabs, and octopi.
WEST MARGIN/ALASKA NORTHWEST
Alaska Northwest Books rides the rails with All Aboard the Alaska Train by Brooke Hartman, illus. by John Joseph, taking readers on a train ride from Seward to Fairbanks, with stops to see notable landmarks, native animals, and other sights along the way; Max and Ed Bike to Nome by Matthew Lasley, illus. by Jacob Souva, based on the real-life experiences of Ed Jesson, who biked along the frozen Yukon River to the Nome gold fields to beat the rush of other gold miners; and Where Giants Roamed by Deb Vanasse, illus. by Sara Lynn Cramb, telling the story of the big mammals of Alaska, the Yukon, and Beringia, including bison, elk, and caribou, but also the woolly mammoth, short-faced bear, and more.
WHAT ON EARTH BOOKS
What on Earth has something to squawk about with How to Chat Chicken by Nick Crumpton, exploring how and why members of the animal kingdom “talk” to each other.
ALBERT WHITMAN
Albert Whitman takes the reins with The Horseback Librarian by Jane Yolen, illus. by Alexandra Badiu, the story of how strong women delivered books by horseback in the 1930s; Fleet: How a Baseball-Loving Kid Broke the Color Barrier by Patricia Buckley, illus. by Stephen Davis, spotlighting Moses Fleetwood Walker, the first Black man to play ball in the major leagues, 60 years before Jackie Robinson; Cicada Symphony by Sue Fliess, illus. by Gareth Lucas, launching a nonfiction picture book series that takes a close look at this insect; The Alchemy of Letting Go by Amber Morrell, in which young scientist Juniper learns about emotions and the line between science and magic as she navigates how to cope with the death of her sister; and Climate: Our Changing World by Andy Sims, illus. by Jenny Miriam, a Science in Action book that explains big-picture views of important topics.
