Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a picture book biography about a legendary creative, a middle grade novel following a tween soccer player, a meta picture book about separated best friends, and more.
As Edward Imagined: A Story of Edward Gorey in Three Acts by Matthew Burgess, illus. by Marc Majewski. Knopf, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-9848-9380-2. The creators divide the life of their subject, author and artist Edward Gorey, into three “acts”— a nod to Gorey’s love of ballet and theater in this picture book biography. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez. Algonquin, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-6437-5398-0. The start of her first period—mid-game in white shorts—marks the beginning of a transformative summer for incoming eighth grade soccer player Valeria.
Bookie and Cookie by Blanca Gómez. Rocky Pond, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-9680-4. Once best friends, the picture book’s titular stars now find themselves stewing on opposing sides of the book’s pages.
Chester Barkingham Saves the Country by Julie Falatko, illus. by Eva Byrne. Simon & Schuster, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-9466-4. Told through presidential memos appended with sticky notes from first dog Chester Barkingham, this picture book follows the hijinks of a canine White House “staff member” in this energetic epistolary tale.
That Curious Thing by Chris Raschka. HarperCollins/di Capua, $21.99; ISBN 978-0-0628-5827-6. Cleopatra Stein and her cat muffin aim to stop the evil global society KLAW, which plans to send all dogs into space. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW. See our conversation between the author and editor here.
Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries/Desi, mami y las infinitas preocupaciones by Eva Mendes. illus. by Abbey Bryant. Feiwel and Friends, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-86743-8. Each night Desi fear the monsters under her bed will come to get her but with her Mami’s help, she learns to control her fears.
Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison—And How We Stayed Connected by Jay Jay Patton with Kiara Valdez, illus. by Markia Jenai. Graphix, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-5461-2837-3; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-3388-9320-5. Without sacrificing her personal portrayal of the difficulties of having an incarcerated parent and how that can negatively affect parent-child relationships, the author highlights solutions that helped facilitate bonding during her father’s imprisonment.
Gracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park. Allida, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-0633-4629-1. Tween Gracie determines to learn all she can about reef conservation during her family trip to Honduras.
The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning. Tor, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-84106-3. Sisters Ruby and Wren find themselves magically trapped at a secret witch society meeting, following the sudden murder of a powerful witch. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Mouse and His Dog by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-34500-4. In the second installment of the Dogtown Book series, Mouse and his friends attempt to help Buster find his forever home by teaching him new behavior.
Nose to Nose by Thyra Heder. Abrams, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-5751-8. A new dog named Toby “introduces” himself to the neighborhood by lifting a leg against a brick wall, a light pole, and a mailbox.
On a Wing and a Tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith. Heartdrum, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-287000-1. Elderly Cherokee and Seminole friend Charlie Halfmoon, along with his grandson Ray, Ray’s friend Mel, and their neighbor Gray Squirrel agree to chauffeur a bat to a rematch of an ancient battle. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
PictureFace Lizzy by Josh Gad, illus. by Marta Kissi. Putnam, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-46312-3. From actor Gad comes a picture book about Eve, a girl who is desperate for the hottest new toy on the market.
Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better by Mylisa Larsen. Clarion, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-332466-4. Fourteen-year-old Quagmire Tiarello is thrown off-kilter when his mother’s mental health takes a turn, and he struggles as he tries to care for her. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Ruin Road by Lamar Giles. Scholastic Press, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-338-89413-4. Black high school senior and football star Cade Webster wishes that people wouldn’t fear him, but when people start doing dangerous things, Cade must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice to save his loved ones.
The Soldier’s Friend: Walt Whitman’s Extraordinary Service in the American Civil War by Gary Golio, illus. by E.B. Lewis. Calkins Creek, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-63592-587-6. This picture book biography explores the work that poet Whitman (1819–1892) took on during the U.S. Civil War. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Spells to Forget Us by Aislinn Brophy. Putnam, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-35455-1. The lives of Boston teens Luna, a witch, and nonmagical mortal Aoife are turned upside down following their meeting and subsequent decision to date in this second-chance romance.
The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extroverts by Ann Patchett, illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-0630-6455-3. Siblings Estie and Ivan have different outlooks on life, and their parents encourage them both to pursue activities that make them feel best.
We Are Hunted by Tomi Oyemakinde. Feiwel and Friends, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-25086-816-9. When Femi Fatona is dragged on a family vacation to a mysterious island resort and gets pulled into a scheme that results in the park’s unique wildlife attacking guests, his vacation quickly becomes a struggle to endure his fractured family and survive the island.
Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr., illus. by Jes and Cin Wibowo. First Second, $22.99; ISBN 978-1-250-77286-2; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-2507-7287-9. A Black 11-year-old faces a gauntlet of obstacles in debut author Weaver’s uplifting graphic novel memoir, which examines issues surrounding the pressures of fitting in, mental health, and suicide.
Westfallen by Ann and Ben Brashares. Simon & Schuster, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-66595-081-7. Twelve-year-old former best friends Henry, Frances, and Lukas communicate across time with unforeseen consequences in this series launch from siblings Ann and Ben Brashares. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary by Alice Hoffman. Scholastic Press, $19.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-338-85694-1. In collaboration with the Anne Frank House, Hoffman crafts a sympathetic three-dimensional rendering that showcases new facets of a figure whom readers may only know one side of. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray, illus. by Felicita Sala. Chronicle, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-79721-458-0. Lines of free verse alternate between playful and philosophical as Ray praises the charms of rocks. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of September, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
