Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a picture book about a nontraditional living experience, a picture book following a child’s levitation skills, a middle grade adventure set in a magical version of Colombia, a cozy graphic novel fairy tale, and more.
The Bright Side by Chad Otis. Rocky Pond, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-53062-7. A child living on an old school bus finds the silver lining in his family’s untraditional home.
Elbert in the Air by Monica Wesolowska, illus. by Jerome Pumphrey. Dial, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-32520-9. Elbert was born with the ability to levitate, and his entrance to school proves to be a challenge when others don’t understand his powers.
The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía by Alexandra Alessandri. Atheneum, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-665-91705-6. When their father gets injured during an expedition, Valentina and her brother travel through a cave into a magical version of Colombia and must find a portal back home.
Fae and the Moon by Franco Aureliani, illus. by Catherine Satrun and Sarah Satrun. Little Bee Books, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-4998-1327-2. Hoping to draw her allegedly deceased mother’s attention, Fae steals the moons from the sky, luring villainous creatures to her door in this graphic novel.
Hey Otter! Hey Beaver! by Brian Pinkney. Greenwillow, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-315982-2. Friends Otter and Beaver see different uses for materials they find under the sea and must find a way to compromise on how to use them.
The Human Kaboom by Adam Rubin (Putnam, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-46239-3). This illustrated collection of stories all sharing the same title combines the tales of stranded siblings surviving after an attack from rock monsters, two kids performing a prank at an anatomy museum, a New York hotel guest’s sudden combustion, and more.
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park. Crown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-59356-337-3. Alejandra Kim is unused to lots of attention, so when a school scandal involving a lecturer and microaggressions thrusts her into the spotlight, she struggles with newfound recognition and its effects on her relationships.
InvestiGators (Agents of S.U.I.T. #1) by John Patrick Green and Christopher Hastings, illus. by Pat Lewis (First Second, $10.99; ISBN 978-1-250-85256-4). In this spinoff of the InvestiGators series, Cilantro the Chameleon tackles her first mission and discovers a sheep worker revolution, an alien conspiracy, and a haunting at a former S.U.I.T outpost.
Izzy at the End of the World by K.A. Reynolds. Clarion, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-3584-6777-9. Following an invasion from an unknown entity, 14-year-old Izzy Wilder and her dog Akka brave the afterscape to search for family and battle the monsters that have descended.
Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O’Shaughnessy. Knopf, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-9848-9387-1. While awaiting foster placement, 11-year-old Mo Gallagher finds a book of family recipes that help her find connection through food. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson. Viking, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-59-35256-16. After getting dumped right before graduation, Leila turns to her school’s matchmaking system for a last chance at romance. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi. Clarion, $24.99; ISBN 978-0-3583-8169-3. Ren and Phoebe are students of corporate conglomerate Chronotech’s Time Travel Exchange Program. After uncovering a secret that points to the company’s ulterior motives for time travel, the pair investigate Chronotech’s true intentions.
The Rainbow Snail by Karin Åkesson. (Union Square & Co./Boxer, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-9149-1228-3). A snail with a colorful shell helps young readers learn their colors through association.
The Sum of Us (Adapted for Young Readers) by Heather McGhee. (Delacorte, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-56262-8). Heather McGhee adapts her adult nonfiction volume for young readers and offers tools to help them combat racism and economic inequality.
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah. Wednesday, $18.99; ISBN 978-1250842-62-6. After the disappearance of their mothers, teens Bo, Delilah, Jude, and Whitney work together to examine their town’s long history of missing women and supernatural events surrounding them.
You Are a Story by Bob Raczka, illus. by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-4914-9. Speaking directly to readers, Raczka explores human existence from multiple unifying angles.
Wallflowers by Mackenzie Joy. Clarion, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-358-72646-3. Joy affirms and offers empathy to children who “love watching and listening.”
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of February, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
