Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles including an introduction to a new character in a series, a picture book exploring a child’s artistic ability, a Cold War–set middle grade novel, a picture book featuring a music teacher using his resources to encourage musical interest, and more.
Aaron Slater’s Big Project Book for Astonishing Artists by Andrea Beaty, illus. by David Roberts. Abrams, $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-5397-8. The latest to join the Questioneers series is Aaron Slater, who is on a journey to help readers find inspiration in the art all around them.
Bad Drawer by Seth Fishman, illus. by Jessixa Bagley et al. Penguin Workshop, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5933-8578-4. An unnamed narrator has a great idea for a story but struggles when their drawing abilities hinder them from bringing the story to life.
Berliners by Vesper Stamper. Knopf, $21.99; ISBN 978-0-59342-836-8. Fraternal twins Peter and Rudi struggle to maintain their relationship while navigating opposing ideals during the Cold War.
Building an Orchestra of Hope by Carmen Oliver, illus. by Luisa Uribe. Eerdmans, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8028-5467-4. In this picture book based on a true story, music teacher Favio Chavez helps bring more music to his community by creating a recyclable orchestra.
Digestion! The Musical by Adam Rex, illus. by Laura Park. Chronicle, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-4521-8386-2. When bright pink ingenue Li’l Candy finally fulfills her dream of being eaten, the digestive system makes a theatrical decision on her nutritional value. The picture book earned a starred review from PW.
Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds. Razorbill, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-34975-5. Jewish high school junior Shira conspires to win over her crush by gaining flirting lessons from her charming neighbor.
Good Dream Dragon by Jacky Davis, illus. by Courtney Dawson. Little, Brown/Ottaviano, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-34945-1. Struggling to fall asleep after bedtime, a child calls on the help of the Good Dream Dragon to provide sweet dreams.
Go, Sled! Go! By James Yang. Viking, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-40479-9. A speedy sled picks up many new visitors as it races down the hill in this ode to the adventurous wintery pastime.
Into the Glades by Laura Sebastian. Delacorte, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-5934-2958-7. Best friends Larkin and Cordelia make a dangerous journey to find a witch with the ability to bring Cordelia’s father back from the dead to save their ailing town.
Middle School Bites: Night of the Vam-Wolf-Zom by Steven Banks, illus. by Mark Fearing Holiday House, $13.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5217-0. Bitten by a vampire, zombie, and werewolf, sixth grader Tom must navigate the rules of being a supernatural and the hardships of middle school.
Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll. Crown, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-593-56299-4. Twelve-year-old Cora explores the ethical dilemmas around digital immortality when she becomes the subject for an experimental project attempting to create interactive holograms to preserve loved ones. The middle grade book earned a starred review from PW.
Sparrows in the Wind by Gail Carson Levine. Quill Tree, $17.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-06-303907-0. When Trojan princess Cassandra prophesies a damning war but her subjects don’t believe her, she teams up with Rin, an Amazon princess, to avoid the terrible future she has foretold. The middle grade book earned a starred review from PW.
Spirit Week by Ira Marcks. Little, Brown, $24.99; ISBN 978-0-316-27806-5. Thirteen-year-old engineer Suzy partners with new friends to save a historic hotel from demolition.
Strike the Zither by Joan He. Roaring Brook, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-25858-8. Zephyr, a skilled strategist loyal to a warlord, infiltrates an enemy camp and must keep her agenda hidden from everyone around her amid shifting political agendas.
Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code by Rebecca E.F. Barone. Holt, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-81420-3. In order to decipher Nazi messages sent over radio during WWII, a group of spies must work together to crack the code.
We Are All We Have by Marina Budhos. Penguin/Lamb, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-12020-0. When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detains her mother, Pakistani teen Rania Hasan struggles to navigate the aftermath.
The Witch’s Throne: Volume 1 by Cedric Caballes. Andrews McMeel, $15.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5248-7650-0. In hopes of joining a team of legendary heroes, human Agni Arvelle sets out to test her skills in the yearly witch hunt.
You Can’t Kill Snow White by Beatrice Alemagna, trans. from the French by Karin Snelson and Emilie Robert Wong. Unruly, $24.95; ISBN 978-1-59270-381-4. The classic fairy tale gets an adaptation showing the story through the perspective of the stepmother queen.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of October, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
