Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including the latest middle grade venture from a Newbery Medalist, a picture book highlighting the importance of love, a supernatural YA horror novel following a teen’s journey to rescue her family from evil forces, and more.
Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera, illus. by David Álvarez. Levine Querido, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-64614-263-7. Orphaned pickpocket Leandro and his sister Gabi only steal to survive in Pocatel, a walled city with a harsh climate and scant resources. When Gabi gets caught, Leandro offers himself in her place, and his mission to attain freedom hinges on finding a missing person beyond the city’s borders. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
All We Need Is Love and a Really Soft Pillow! by Peter H. Reynolds and Henry Rocket Reynolds. Orchard, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-3385-7233-9. When Poppy and Little One embark on a journey through a barren landscape, the two recognize that even though they’ve lost a great deal, the love they share is more than enough.
Before the Devil Knows You're Here by Autumn Krause. Peachtree Teen, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-68263-647-3. When a monster from her childhood fairy tales turns out to be real, and the reason behind her father’s death and her brother’s disappearance, 17-year-old Mexican American Catalina must fight physical and psychological demons to preserve what’s left of her family. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Beholder by Ryan La Sala. Push, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-3387-4534-4. Greek American teen Athan fears that his Sight, which allows him to rewind images in mirrors, is the reason a dark force within mirrors is after him, and the cause of his grandmother’s sudden disappearance. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Be That Way by Hope Larson. Holiday House/Ferguson, $22.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-4761-9. In this story told via a teen’s private journal that includes comics and drawings, 11th grader Christine wants to be more like her best friend Landry, and begins to emulate her. As Christine’s social life takes off, she considers if this new persona is worth hiding her true self.
Begin Again by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-593-62155-4). Jeffers reflects on the evolution of the human being from the beginning of time until now and presents considerations about how our past can affect our future.
The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-309159-7. The death of film star Blossom Blackwood brings her grandchildren Hollis and Ardith into the spotlight, as the two grapple with family secrets, a media frenzy, and the grief of losing a loved one. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Busy Betty & the Circus Surprise by Reese Witherspoon, illus. by Xindi Yan (Flamingo, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52512-8). Busy Betty is excited to plan her mother’s surprise birthday party but realizes after all of her arrangements that she may have gotten the date wrong, in the second picture book in the Busy Betty series.
Curious Tide by Pascale Lacelle. McElderry, $21.99; ISBN 978-1-66593-927-0. Emory is the sole survivor of a group of Aldryn College for Lunar Magics students who went out one night and accidentally drowned. Emory knows there’s more to the story and enlists the help of Baz, a brother of one of the victims, to investigate the tragedy. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-4262-1. A parent and child reminisce over shared memories in an effort to connect and feel closer to one another. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Dragging Mason County by Curtis Campbell. Annick, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-77321-787-1; $15.99 paper ISBN 978-1-77321-788-8. In hopes of resuscitating his online reputation after a video of him disparaging someone goes viral, gay high schooler Peter Thompkins plans a drag show in his rural hometown. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Eli Over Easy by Phil Stamper. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-311883-6. After the sudden loss of his mother, Eli discovers the YouTube channel where she provided instructional cooking videos. By replicating her mom’s recipes, Eli begins to feel closer to her as he tries to accept her death.
The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-326079-5. At an ultra-exclusive boarding school, students are disappearing along with everyone’s memories of them. As the only one who seems to remember the disappearing students, 17-year-old Douglas Jones begins an investigation that leads him to magic and deadly creatures looming in the nearby forest.
Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow. Candlewick, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3111-3. Ever since 10th grader Ian Gray and his mother were abandoned by Ian’s father, Ian has had to learn how to be responsible for himself and his mom. Ian’s finds solace in a friendship with a stray dog named Gather, as he looks toward a hopeful future with his family.
Gone Wolf by Amber McBride. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-85049-2. In the year 2111, a blue-skinned girl called Inmate Eleven discovers that the society run by pale-skinned Clones is not what she’s been taught to believe. Meanwhile, in 2022, a Black girl named Imogen struggles to communicate with her therapist about a traumatic incident. The middle grade novel received a starred review from PW.
Green by Alex Gino (Scholastic $27.99 ISBN ISBN978-1-338-77614-0). This companion to Melissa and Rick follows nonbinary student Green who steps into the spotlight at school when they begin advocating for a gender-free casting for their school’s play.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (MinaLima Edition) by J.K. Rowling, illus. by MinaLima Design (Scholastic, $39.99; ISBN 978-1-338-81528-3). This special edition of the third book in the Harry Potter series features illustrations by MinaLima, Rowling’s unabridged text, exclusive interactive elements, and more.
Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks. First Second, $25.99; ISBN 978-1-250-83873-5; $17.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-83872-8. When Canadian teenage hockey player Alix enlists the help of queer classmate Ezra to learn how to better control her emotions, their friendship-turned-romance allows them both to vent about their pent-up frustrations. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
If I Was a Horse by Sophie Blackall. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-51098-1. A young narrator imagines being free of the rules of childhood and family life—by dint of becoming a horse.
The Knight Snacker by Valeria Wicker. Little, Brown/Patterson, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-3164-5634-0. In the middle of the night, Sir Julian awakes and realizes he is hungry, and must put on a brave face to venture into the kitchen for a snack.
Mole Is Not Alone by Maya Tatsukawa. Holt, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-86964-7. When Mole receives an invitation to a party at Rabbit’s, it sets off an agony of indecision for Mole, who learns the best ways to soothe their social anxiety. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis. Sourcebooks Fire, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-7282-7216-0. After Fritzi has her community of fellow witches destroyed by hexenjagers, she heads to the hexenjager base to seek revenge. When she meets hexenjager Kaptain Otto, who similarly disagrees with the organization’s violent ways, the pair work together to take the hexenjagers down. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Plan A by Deb Caletti. Labyrinth Road, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48554-5. High school junior Ivy is pregnant and she cannot get an abortion in her home state of Texas. With plans to drive across the country to receive care elsewhere, Ivy deals with unsolicited opinions about her decision and must hold true to what she feels is the best choice for her. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Salt the Water by Candice Iloh. Dutton, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-529317. Nonbinary teen Cerulean struggles with the lack of empathy in their school and worries about a future that seems already chosen for them. They and their friends have a plan to escape, but when tragedy strikes Cerulean’s family, the choice to leave becomes more challenging.
Saving H’Non: Chang and the Elephant by Trang Nguyên, illus. by Jeet Zdung. Dial, $23.99; ISBN 978-0-5934-0673-1. Chang, a young Vietnamese wildlife conservationist, encounters H’non, a 60-year-old captive elephant that suffers from multiple injuries, and endeavors to rescue H’non and deliver her to a kind mahout who can help rehabilitate elephants that have endured lifelong captivity. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker. Inkyard, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-335-45801-8. Seventeen-year-old Fan Zilan supplements her family’s meager income by resurrecting the dead through life alchemy. When she’s invited to a competition to become a royal court alchemist, Zilan finds herself trying to keep her necromancy a secret, while becoming embroiled in a royal conspiracy with the Empress. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Seagarden by Michelle A. Barry. (Pixel+Ink $18.99 ISBN 978-1-64595-129-2). The second book in the Plotting the Stars series follows Myra Hodger during her second year at the elite Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic as she searches to know more about what really happened to the banished Botans, and if there is a chance to bring her closest ally Bernie back.
The Stinky Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith. (Scholastic, $7.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-339-01510-1). In this sequel to The Wonky Donkey, the titular character asks his daughter what her favorite animal is to make her laugh.
The Spells We Cast by Jason June. Melissa de la Cruz Studio, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-368-08923-4. As the descendant of the first human granted magic, Texan cowboy Nigel is expected to keep his abilities at this year’s Culling, a tournament that allows only a fraction of gifted teens to retain their power. During a mission, a horde of monsters forces Nigel to enlist the help of Ori, a charming competitor, for help.
Splash Goes the Whale by Matthew Van Fleet. (S&S/Wiseman, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-665-93556-2). A whale becomes so hungry, he’s able to name a food he’s craving for every letter of the alphabet.
There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, illus. by Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey. Atheneum/Dlouhy, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-3944-3. This picture book highlights the cultural influence and long-lasting legacy of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
The Voice Upstairs by Laura E. Weymouth. McElderry, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-2683-6. Wilhelmina Price uses her ability to sense imminent death and communicate with spirits to uncover the dark history of the row house she resides in.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of October, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
