Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a graphic novel featuring a two-headed chicken’s zany adventures, a picture book showing how we are all connected, via a child’s experience with building blocks, a South Asian–inspired YA fantasy, a middle grade series opener about a magical Ghanian warrior, and more.
Two-Headed Chicken by Tom Angleberger. Walker US, $12.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2321-7. In this graphic novel, a two-headed chicken evades captors during adventures in several universes, and Angleberger offers readers an interactive experience including quizzes and puzzles.
All by Himself? by Elana K. Arnold, illus. by Giselle Potter. Beach Lane, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-8989-9. As a child attempts to build a structure made of blocks on his own, this picture book highlights the many unseen people who made this feat possible.
Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah. Sourcebooks Fire, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-728-24762-5. Sixteen-year-old Koral enters her island’s grueling chariot competition in order to win enough money to help her ailing sister, and must face off against ruthless competitors and risk upsetting the island’s political status quo.
Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne A. Brown. Disney/Rick Riordan Presents, $17.99 (400p) ISBN 978-1-368-06636-5. When magical Ghanian warrior Serwa Boateng is left with her grandparents while her parents embark on a daunting mission, Serwa discovers a dangerous society that she’ll have to take down with her new friends. The middle grade novel earned a starred review from PW.
Shot Clock by Caron Butler and Justin A. Reynolds. HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-06-306959-6. Following the death of his best friend at the hands of police officers and after not making the Sabres basketball team, Tony finds himself struggling with grief. When he’s offered a spot on the team as a statistician, Tony begins to find a path to healing.
I Have a Superpower by Stephen Curry. Penguin Workshop, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-38604-0. NBA star Curry makes his picture book debut with a tale depicting eight-year-old Hughes who channels his superpower of determination and hard work to and overcome everyone’s expectations.
The Crayons Trick or Treat by Drew Daywalt, illus. by Oliver Jeffers. Philomel, $9.99; ISBN 978-0-593-62102-8. A group of crayons out on Halloween night face humorous missteps as they begin trick-or-treating, in this new installment of the Crayons series.
Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune by Helen Docherty, illus. by Thomas Docherty. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, $14.99; ISBN 978-1-728-23890-6. Weather predicaments threaten Blue Baboon’s chance to make music with her friends until she finds unexpected help.
Will It Be Okay? by Crescent Dragonwagon, illus. by Jessica Love. Cameron Kids, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-951836-50-4. A parent offers a child comfort when they open up about situations that concern them in this reissue of I Love You Because I Love You.
Coven by Jennifer Dugan. Putnam, $17.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-11218-2. Emsy Covington’s life is uprooted when she and her family suddenly move to New York among her family’s former coven, and Emsy and her new friend Ben perform dangerous ancient magic during a looming witch war.
S’More Magic by Sophie Escabasse. Random House Graphic, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-11933-4. In the third installment of the Witches of Brooklyn series, Effie attends summer camp away from her friends at home and learns to be open to new friendships and new magical skills.
Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs. Simon & Schuster, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-7949-4. Gibbs makes a 10th addition to the Spy School series, which follows Ben Ripley on the run from assassins and conspiracy theorists after his rival Murray Hill sets him up.
The Sea in the Way by Sophie Gilmore. Greenwillow, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-302519-6. Growing lonely when their friend Bear moves away, Badger considers making an exchange with the sea in order to see their friend. The picture book earned a starred review from PW.
The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Knopf, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-37279-1. Under the rule of Castro in 1980s Cuba, Héctor struggles with the opportunity to leave the country and reunite with his father, which would mean leaving behind his home under politically dangerous conditions.
What We Saw by Mary Downing Hahn. Clarion, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-3584-1441-4. Best friends Abbi and Skyler’s secret nightly hang-outs take a dark turn when they discover a dead body and must investigate the murder without the oversight of adults.
Alte Zachen/Old Things by Ziggy Hanaor, illus. by Benjamin Phillips. Cicada, $22.99; ISBN 978-1-8006-6022-9. Benjy and his Bubbe Rosa face a generational disconnect and learn to overcome their difference through understanding and compassion. The graphic novel earned a starred review from PW.
1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War by Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus. Union Square Kids, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-4549-4454-6. As a small town ramps up for a celebration of local lore, four girls who enjoy sharing scary stories meet to tell a truly frightening tale.
Shades of Rust and Ruin by A.G. Howard. Bloomsbury, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-0808-9. Every Halloween has been met with tragedy for Nix, and this year when her uncle disappears, her investigation leads her into the magical sketches of her own making. But unraveling the roots of the curse may have damning consequences.
Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, illus. by Loveis Wise. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-309831-2. In this picture book adaptation of Hurston’s short story, a river reminisces about Magnolia Flowers, the daughter of two escapees of historical tragedies who grows up to journey across the river and return.
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson. HarperCollins/Tegen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06302914-9. In this novel with a nod to Stephen King’s Carrie, biracial Maddy is forced to keep her race a secret in her town, but when her peers find out and bully her, her rage culminates in deadly consequences. The YA book earned a starred review from PW.
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King. Scholastic Press, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-338-68052-2. Upon discovering 1black squares inside a book meant to censor its content, sixth grader Mac Delaney and his friends campaign for the right to read the book in its entirety.
My Poet by Patricia MacLachlan, illus. by Jen Hill. HarperCollins/Tegen, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06297-114-2. Aspiring poet Lucy is taken under the wing of her writer neighbor and explores where one finds inspiration for art.
Marina and the Kraken by Lauren Magaziner, illus. by Mirelle Ortega (HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-06-305888-0). When four girls don’t receive their animal familiars during the traditional ceremony, they learn that they are special beings called Mythics, who must seek out their mythological familiars on their own.
Jessi’s Secret Language by Ann M. Martin, illus. by Chan Chau. Scholastic/Graphix, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-61607-1. In the 12th installment in the Baby-sitters Club graphic novel series, Jessi shares a special language with Matt, the deaf child she babysits, and prepares a special performance for him for the school’s big show.
We Were the Fire: Birmingham 1963 by Shelia P. Moses. Penguin/Paulsen, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-40748-6. Rufus Jackson Jones Jr. and his family’s arrival to a new town incites rage due to their race. When historical figures step up to speak for justice, Rufus feels ready to join them. The middle grade book earned a starred review from PW.
Best Wishes by Sara Mlynowski. Scholastic Press, $15.99; ISBN 978-1-338-62825-8. In this series opener, Becca makes a wish on a magical bracelet for new friends and becomes overwhelmed with the sudden burst of attention.
Abuela, Don’t Forget Me by Rex Ogle. Norton Young Readers, $18.95; ISBN 978-1-3240-1995-4. Ogle traces his life from a joyous childhood through a tumultuous adolescence and remembers the calming presence of his abuela in this tribute. The middle grade book earned a starred review from PW.
Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel. Knopf, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48793-8. When Gabe Vasilaki accidentally awakens a murdered ghost named Rebecca, he discovers his town is full of specters and investigates to find Rebecca’s murderer.
Memories and Life Lessons from the Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne, illus. by Sal Murdocca. Random House, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48454-8. Pulling from her own experiences and the experiences of her iconic Magic Tree House characters, Osbourne offers readers advice for growing up.
Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen. Quill Tree, $13.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-299511-7. In the companion novel to Garlic and the Vampire, as Garlic prepares to take a journey to help their friend find a rare magical ingredient, they realize that they are becoming human and fear this potential change.
We Own the Sky by Rodman Philbrick. Scholastic Press, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-338-73629-8. Following the death of their mother in 1924, siblings Jo and Davy are taken in by their famous aviatrix cousin Ruthie and her community of daredevil pilots and crew at the circus. But the growing presence of the Ku Klux Klan in Maine jeopardizes the children’s lives.
No! Said Custard the Squirrel by Sergio Ruzzier. Abrams Appleseed, $15.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-5524-8. A rodent struggles to identify the species of Custard the Squirrel who answers each of the rodent’s questions with a simple “no.” The picture book earned a starred review from PW.
Little Blue Truck Makes a Friend by Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry. Clarion, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-35-872282-3. In the latest addition to the Little Blue Truck series, a new arrival on the farm elicits the excitement of all the animals, and Little Blue Truck makes them feel right at home with a welcoming drive.
Gold! by David Shannon. Viking, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5933-5227-4. In this story referencing the Greek tale of Midas, Maximilian Midas loves collecting gold and after sabotaging their neighbor’s lemonade stand to acquire more of it, he turns into a golden statue.
I Am Ruby Bridges by Ruby Bridges, illus. by Nikkolas Smith. Orchard, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-338-75388-2. Ruby Bridges, the first Black child to integrate an all-white school in 1960, recounts this historical moment of the Civil Rights era.
The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat, illus. by Joanna Cacao. Scholastic/Graphix, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-74126-1. Christina must face difficult training and the racist remarks of her peers when she and her best friend audition for cheerleader tryouts. The graphic novel memoir earned a starred review from PW.
Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer (Wednesday Books, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-84675-4. Enola Holmes, younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, begins an investigation into an Earl whose wives mysteriously keep dying, and will have to go undercover to reveal the truth.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas. Feiwel and Friends, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-82213-0. The Sunbearer Trials occur every decade to procure a champion who will relight the Sun Stones. Unexpected contenders 17-year-old Teo and 13-year-old Xio enter the trials and will have to rely on each other if they plan to win. The YA book earned a starred review from PW.
Even Robots Can Be Thankful! by Jan Thomas. Beach Lane, $17.99 USD ISBN978-1-66591-167-2. In a companion to Even Robots Aren’t Perfect!, Red Robot and Blue Robot learn to express appreciation for the friendship they share while navigating individual fears.
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! by Mo Willems. Union Square Kids, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-4549-4686-1. In the latest addition to the Pigeon series, Pigeon tackles the highs, lows, and everything in between while riding a roller coaster.
Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution by Sherri Winston. Bloomsbury, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-0846-1. Violinist Lotus Bloom has just transferred to a fancy new school, and when her classmates pull a prank targeting Lotus for her hair, Lotus learns to find her voice and advocate for herself.
Key Player by Kelly Yang. Scholastic Press, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-338-77625-6. In the fourth book in the Front Desk series, soccer player Mia Tang hopes to tackle a school assignment by interviewing athletes playing in the Women’s World Cup taking in place in her town, and must track them down while navigating new revelations about her own identity.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of September, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
