Although it may be the season for tricks, young readers can enjoy new sequels and series additions as a treat. A busy bee plans a birthday party, a family takes a trip to Florida, a town’s ghost population mysteriously dwindles, and more in the big sequels out this month.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Baby Unicorns by Anne Marie Ryan, illus. by Olga Baumert and Kristina Kister (Michael O’Mara, Oct. 17 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-78929-481-1). Readers discover how younglings create connections with babies of different species in the latest of The Magical Unicorn Society series.
Busy Betty & the Circus Surprise by Reese Witherspoon, illus. by Xindi Yan (Flamingo, Oct. 3 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52512-8). The second picture book in the Busy Betty series follows Betty as she plans a circus-themed birthday party for her mother, only to learn that she’s planned it for the wrong weekend.
The Far-Out Fort by Mike Petrik (Astra/Hippo Park, Oct. 3 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-66264-025-4; $8.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-66264-026-1). When Duck and his friends decide to build a new fort in the trees, they must navigate others’ perceptions about them in the second graphic novel in the One Cool Duck series.
Finn’s Little Fibs by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury, Oct. 3 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-547-61293-2). A little lie about breaking his grandmother’s vase turns into a mountain of mistruths for Finn in the latest Big Bright Feelings entry.
Grumpy Monkey Yuck! by Suzanne Lang, illus. by Max Lang (Random House Studio, Oct. 10 $8.99 board book; ISBN 978-0-593-30612-3). Jim Panzee isn’t a fan of trying new foods but discovers that experiencing new things can lead to surprising results in the latest book in the Grumpy Monkey series.
Huda F Cares? by Huda Fahmy (Dial, Oct. 10 $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-53280-5). In the National Book Award-nominated sequel to the graphic novel Huda F Are You?, Huda and her family take a trip to Florida, where her family’s traditions draw attention, and Huda navigates her feelings around other people’s perceptions about her religious practices.
It’s Not Easy Being Santa Claus by Marilyn Sadler, illus. by Stephanie Laberis (Random House, Oct. 3 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-593-70287-1). The newest addition to the It’s Not Easy Being series finds Santa frustrated with all of his holiday responsibilities and leaving the North Pole to try out new jobs.
Littlest Yak and the New Arrival by Lu Fraser, illus. by Kate Hindley (Peachtree, Oct. 3 $17.99 ISBN 978-1-68263-589-6). Gertie prepares to welcome a new addition to the family and learns about her big sister duties in the sequel to The Littlest Yak.
The Night Before Kwanzaa by Natasha Wing and Kirsti Jewel, illus. by Amy Wummer (Grosset & Dunlap, Oct. 17 $5.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-51975-2). In the latest installment to the Night Before series, a boy learns about the history of Kwanzaa while celebrating the holiday with his family.
Out Cold: A Little Bruce Book by Ryan Higgins (Disney Hyperion, Oct. 3 $9.99; ISBN 978-1-3680-9022-3). In the latest addition to the Mother Bruce series, Bruce is trapped inside with a cold while his friends enjoy winter activities, until they find a way to bring the fun to him.
Priya Puts Herself First by Nathan Fairbairn (Razorbill, Oct. 17 $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-35197-0). Priya’s move proves to be a challenge for the group of dog-walking pals in the third graphic novel in the PAWS series.
Novels
Ada Lace Gets Famous by Emily Calandrelli with Tamson Weston, illus. by Renée Kurilla (Simon & Schuster, Oct. 10 $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-665-93116-8). In the sixth novel of the An Ada Lace Adventure series, Ada’s attempt to help her school fundraise by posting informational videos online takes a turn when social media fame begins to interfere with her friendships.
The Bigfoot Queen by Jennifer Weiner (Aladdin, Oct. 24 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-481-47080-3). Alice, Millie, Jessica, and Jeremy attempt to keep the hidden world full of Yares a secret as someone goes to extreme lengths to reveal them in the third book in The Littlest Bigfoot series.
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber (Flatiron, Oct. 24 $20.99 ISBN 978-1-250-85120-8). In the third and final book of the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy, Evangeline Fox’s happily ever after with her prince and castle came at a deadly price, and the prince will do anything to keep Evangeline in the dark about the cost.
Dawn of the Jaguar by J.C. Cervantes (Disney/Rick Riordan Presents, Oct. 10 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-3680-6702-7). In the finale to the Shadow Bruja duology, Ren Santiago wants her life among the living back and strikes a dangerous deal with a queen to regain it.
Ellis Johnson Might Be Famous by Shawn Amos (Little, Brown, Oct. 3 $16.99; ISBN 978-0-7595-5683-6). In the second book in the Cookies & Milk series, the rise of Ellis Johnson’s family into fame has consequences after Ellis has an embarrassing moment on television, leaving his self-confidence shattered.
Flying Up the Mountain by Elizabeth-Irene Baitie (Norton, Oct. 3 $18.95; ISBN 978-1-324-05267-8). In the companion to Crossing the Stream, Ato and his friends Dzifa and Leslie are selected to visit the bird sanctuary to compete for a place as defenders of the Earth but soon suspect a conspiracy as the competition begins.
Green by Alex Gino (Scholastic, Oct. 3 $17.99 ISBN 978-1-338-77614-0). In this companion novel to Melissa and Rick, nonbinary middle grade student Green faces off against the administration to fight for a gender-free production of their school’s play.
A Guide to the Dragon World by Tui Sutherland (Scholastic Press, Oct. 3 $24.99; ISBN 978-1-338-63482-2). The latest addition to the Wings of Fire series is a collection of 10 new stories exploring the history and lore behind the dragon world.
The Mummy’s Curse by Laura Suárez (Flying Eye, Oct. 3 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-838-74132-7). Anatit the Pharoah is forced to finally adhere to the god’s advice about heading to the afterlife after her tomb is taken in the second book in the Monster Support Group series.
The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora Senf (Atheneum, Oct. 17 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-665-93463-3). When ghosts in town suddenly start vanishing, it’s up to Evie to face off against the mysterious force behind their disappearances in the second Blight Harbor book.
Nightspark by Michael Mann (Peachtree, Oct. 10 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-68263-660-2). In the sequel to Ghostcloud, Luke must overcome his guilt over his fallen allies when his best friend Ravi is kidnapped by an old foe.
Omega Morales and the Curse of El Cucuy by Laekan Zea Kemp (Little, Brown, Oct. 10 $16.99 ISBN 978-0-316-50887-2). In the second installment of the Omega Morales series, Omega must harness her new powers to stop El Cucuy from kidnapping children from her community.
Pine Island Visitors by Polly Horvath (Holiday House/Ferguson, Oct. 10 $18.99 ISBN 978-0-8234-5295-8). After getting adopted and adjusting to their new home, Fiona, Marlin, Natasha, and Charlie receive a visit from old acquaintances who disapprove of their new life in the sequel to Pine Island Home.
Sea Garden by Michelle A. Barry (Pixel + Ink, Oct. 3 $18.99 ISBN 978-1-64595-129-2). During her second year at the elite Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic, Myra Hodger plans to use an exchange program at another magical school to investigate the missing Botans and rescue her friends from the Rep implants that are slowly taking over, in the second Plotting the Stars book.
Secret of the Reaping by Kalynn Bayron (Bloomsbury, Oct. 10 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-547-61157-7). In the second book of The Vanquishers series, Boog and the Squad must prove they’re ready to fight vampires alongside the skilled Vanquishers when the Department of Vampire Affairs starts keeping secrets.
Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs (Simon & Schuster, Oct. 3 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-93474-9). The 11th book in the Spy School series follows Ben Ripley as he attempts to rescue his friend from an old foe while uncovering secrets about US-Russian relations.
Time Chasers by James S. Murray and Carsen Smith (Penguin Workshop, Oct. 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-22616-2. Viv, Elijah, Charlotte, and Ray travel back in time to rescue a loved one but struggle to find the right timeline in the third book in the Area 51 Interns series.
Trapped by Skye Melki-Wegner (Holt, Oct. 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-82770-8). A group of exiled dinosaurs fight to prove that the ongoing war between dinosaur kingdoms was a set up in the second Deadlands book.
Untraceable by Aya de Leon (Candlewick Oct. 10 $18.99 ISBN 978-1-5362-2375-0). In the companion novel to Undercover Latina, Amani’s arrival at a new school unravels family secrets and a conspiracy behind the academy’s lack of funding.
Ways to Build Dreams by Renée Watson (Bloomsbury, Oct. 17 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-547-61018-1). Ryan Hart gains inspiration from her ancestors and notable Black figures in history to find her own path as she heads into middle school in the fourth and final book in the A Ryan Hart Story series.
