In addition to a season of love, February brings new installments to continuing series. This month, young readers can follow a group of siblings navigating interpersonal struggles amid a storm; watch a fledgling detective crack their first case; meet new friends alongside hippos at the beach, and more.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Find Your Brave by Apryl Stott (S&S/Wiseman, Feb. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-534-49911-9). Coco struggles to overcome stage fright in preparation for a performance, but when Bear needs her help, Coco realizes she’s been brave all along in the sequel to Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light.
Fiona in the Sandbox by Rilla Alexander (Astra/Hippo Park, Feb. 7 $9.99; ISBN 978-166264-010-0). In the second book in the Hippo Park Pals series, Fiona and her brother Herbert make an unexpected reptilian friend while digging in the sandbox.
Gina and the Last City on Earth by Judd Winick (Random House, Feb. 28 $13.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48809-6). In the ninth book of the Hilo series, Gina takes the reins as leader in order to save the world.
The Human Kaboom by Adam Rubin (Putnam, Feb. 21 $18.99 ISBN 978-0-593-46239-3). In this companion to The Ice Cream Machine, six adventure stories spanning from a New York City hotel to a deserted island to the wilderness, share one thing in common: their title.
Milo’s Monster by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury, Feb. 7 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-54761-097-6). The sixth book in the Big Bright Feelings series finds Milo dealing with a green monster when he starts to feel left out by his best friend.
Nat for Nothing by Maria Scrivan (Graphix, Feb. 7 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-71542-2). Nat struggles with jealousy when her friends easily find new extracurriculars without her in the fourth graphic novel in the Nat Enough series.
Strong Baby by Robin Arzón, illus. by Addy Rivera Sonda (Little, Brown, Feb. 21 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-49382-6). In this follow-up picture book to Strong Mama, a family marks the major milestones of Pequeño, the new addition to their family.
Novels
Afterglow by Phil Stamper (Bloomsbury, Feb. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-54760-738-9). Stamper’s duology closer to Golden Boys follows Gabriel, Heath, Reese, and Sal navigating career pivots, mental health challenges, and relationship woes during their senior year of high school.
The Beauty Trials by Dhonielle Clayton (Disney-Hyperion, Feb. 14 $18.99 ISBN 978-1-368-04692-3). In Clayton’s third installment in the Belle series, the ancient tradition of the Trials is reinstated, forcing the Belles to compete in a deadly competition for the right to reign as Queen of Orléans.
Being Baxters by Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell (Simon & Schuster/Wiseman, Feb. 21 $17.99 ISBN 978-1-66590-805-4). In the fifth book of the Baxter series, the Baxter siblings attempt to handle a demanding new teacher, exclusion from peers, an impending blizzard, and more while remaining true to themselves.
Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials by Jamar J. Perry (Bloomsbury, Feb. 28 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-54760-725-9). Seventh grader Cameron Battle returns to Chidani with his crew of friends to fight the gods and save his parents in the second book of the Cameron Battle series.
City of the Dead by James Ponti (Aladdin, Feb. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-91157-3). When a cyberattack on the British Museum points to a larger mystery, Kat and her fellow spies travel across the world to crack the code in the fourth installment of the City of Spies series.
Haven’s Legacy by Melissa Benoist and Jessica Benoist (Amulet, Feb. 7 $18.99, ISBN 978-1-4197-5263-6). The second book of The Powers series follows Ellie and Parker as they join a secret underground society to learn more about their powers and uncover a fearsome creature preparing to strike their new home.
The Hidden Dragon by Melissa Marr (Penguin/Paulsen, Feb. 14 $17.99 ISBN 978-0-525-51855-6). The Hidden Knife universe expands with new characters Otter and London as they board Otter’s family ship, the Tempest, and sail across the magical land of Netherwhere to save the kids of their kingdom.
Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz (Wednesday, Feb. 28 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-86101-6). The second book in the Anatomy duology kicks off as Hazel Sinnett is rescued from prison by the British king to help heal his ailing daughter. Hazel must also put a stop to political warfare when she uncovers a secret society.
Kill Joy by Holly Jackson (Delacorte, Feb. 28 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-42621-0). In this novella series conclusion to the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, detective Pip is led to clues about a killer case during a murder mystery party hosted by a friend.
These Infinite Threads by Tahereh Mafi (HarperCollins, Feb. 7 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-297247-7). The This Woven Kingdom series continues as Alizah begins to fulfill a prophecy that will free the Jinn people from human rule. Meanwhile, human heir Kamran struggles with loyalty to the throne when he falls for Alizah.
Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong (McElderry, Feb. 28 $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-66593-451-0). The characters of These Violent Delights and Foul Lady Fortune go on new harrowing missions in Gong’s novella.
On Air with Zoe Washington by Janae Marks (HarperCollins/Tegen, Feb. 14 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-321231-2). In the sequel to From the Desk of Zoe Washington, after clearing her father’s name and getting him out of prison, Zoe tries to help him reacclimate to their community while hosting her podcast.
Pilar Ramirez and the Curse of San Zenon by Julian Randall (Holt, Feb. 28 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-250-77412-5). In the Pilar Ramirez duology closer, Pilar keeps a devastating secret from her family while traveling to the Dominican Republic and battling an escaped demon with her bruja powers.
The Secret Zoo: The Final Fight by Bryan Chick (Greenwillow, Feb. 28 $7.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-327927-8). In the sixth and final book in the Secret Zoo series, Noah and his friends attempt to close the portals before the Shadowist can arise, and face going to war if they fail.
The Severed Thread by Leslie Vedder (Razorbill, Feb. 7 $19.99; ISBN: 978-0-593-32585-8). This sequel to The Bone Spindle follows Fi, Shane, and Briar Rose as they crack the code of a mysterious book to save Andar from the Spindle Witch.
Stardust in Their Veins by Laura Sebastian (Delacorte, Feb. 7 $19.99 ISBN 978-0-593-11820-7). The second book of the Castles in Their Bones series finds sisters and princesses Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia diverging from their mother’s plans to take over their assigned kingdoms when they discover that their mother’s loyalties may lie elsewhere.
The Treasure Test by T.P Jagger (Random House, Feb. 14 $16.99 ISBN 978-0-593-37797-0). The second book of the Hide and Geek series finds the Geeks at the center of a media storm framing them as frauds for their last find. To prove their capabilities, the crew takes on a new case at an amusement park.
The Treehouse Library by Anna James (Philomel, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-32723-4). Milo Bolt and his new ally Alessia head on a journey to find a cure for Milo’s uncle in the fifth installment in the Pages & Co. series.
Unspoken Magic by Lloyd Jones (Greenwillow, Feb. 21 $16.99 ISBN 978-0-06-305803-3). In the sequel to Unseen Magic, Fin must keep a film crew from exploiting her magical town and return a lost baby bigfoot back to its pack.
Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs (Simon & Schuster, Feb. 21 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-534-49931-7). In the eighth book in the FunJungle series, Teddy attempts to uncover the cause behind the death of a whale while navigating a rocky relationship with his girlfriend, Summer.
