Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a middle grade series installment about the return of an enemy, a picture book about the joys of dance, a middle grade novel centering a tween’s magical bracelet that can make anyone her BFF, and more.
The Ambush at Sorato by John Flanagan. Viking; $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-46387-1. In the seventh installment of the Ranger’s Apprentice series, Will and Maddie are forced to split up after discovering another group of the Temujai have returned.
Bella Ballerina by Sharon M. Draper, illus. by Ebony Glenn. Atheneum/Dlouhy, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-6396-7. A cast of children portrayed with various skin tones takes the stage in this kindness-centered collaboration set in a dance class, where “tippy-toe tutu,/ tippy toe twirl,/ Bella Ballerina/ loves to spin and whirl.”
The Best Friend Bracelet by Nicole D. Collier. HarperCollins, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-332616-3. Black middle schooler Zariah garners attention for her bracelet-making skills, but after a classmate touches the bracelet and suddenly insists that Zariah is her bestie, Zariah wonders if the accessory can magically turn people into her BFF. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Boy Here, Boy There by Chuck Groenink. Tundra, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-77488-106-4. Groenink creates a story about a connective moment in human prehistory: contact between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine by Seth Fishman, illus. by Mark Fearing. Penguin Workshop, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-6228-1. After young Brandon creates a time machine, things go awry quickly when he decides to fox his way out of studying and chores by creating a much-put-upon future Brandon to do his work.
Busy Betty & the Perfect Christmas Present by Reese Witherspoon, illus. by Xindi Yan. Flamingo, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52515-9. In the third picture book of the Busy Betty series, the titular star is determined to earn enough money to buy perfect gifts for her family but struggles to find customers for her Christmas cookies during the cold season.
Christmas at Hogwarts by J.K. Rowling, illus. by Ziyi Gao. Scholastic, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-546-12995-0. The newest picture book addition to the Harry Potter series features the titular star’s first Christmas at Hogwarts with his Gryffindor family.
Cows and Holly by Sandra Boynton. Boynton Bookworks, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96092-2. This Christmas picture book and album from Boynton features stars such as Zooey Deschanel, Patti LuPone, Viktor Krauss and more as they celebrate the many genres and sounds of the holiday.
Elmore the Christmas Moose by Dev Petty, illus. by Mike Boldt. Doubleday, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48716-7. Santa’s management skills are put to the test in this chuckle-inducing tale he recounts for the elves about his one-time search for a temporary Christmas Eve reindeer replacement.
Find Her by Ginger Reno. Holiday House, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-82-345480-8. Debut author Reno, who is Cherokee, dives into issues regarding the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis through the lens of 12-year-old Wren who was left to wonder where her loved one has gone. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Girlmode by Magdalene Visaggio, illus. by Paulina Ganucheau. HarperCollins, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-306066-1; $18.99 paper ISBN 978-0-06306-065-4. Phoebe Zito, a geeky white transgender girl with no friends, has moved to Los Angeles for a fresh start. When a new friend encourages her to make some big changes, Phoebe must figure out who she is in a world that seems against her. The YA graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
How to Pee Your Pants: The Right Way by Rachel Michelle Wilson. Feiwel and Friends, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-2509-1017-2. For debut creator Wilson, handling the potentially mortifying action of the title isn’t so much about honing biological mechanics as it is about striking the right attitude. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
The Judgment of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum. Philomel, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52585-2. After she meets the daughter of the town’s Reform rabbi, Yoyo starts to question her own community’s rules and interpretation of Judaism.
The Kelce Brothers: A Little Golden Book Biography by Apple Jordan, illus. by Macky Pamintuan. Golden, $5.99; ISBN 978-0-593-90428-2. The latest in the Little Golden Book series highlights the childhood and careers of brothers and football players Travis and Jason Kelce.
Knight Owl & Early Bird by Christopher Denise. Little, Brown/Ottaviano, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-56452-6. In the sequel to The Knight Owl, the titular heroic Owl must learn to work through his differences with his new ally Early Bird in order to keep the kingdom safe.
Letters from the North Pole: With Five Letters from Santa Claus to Pull Out and Read by Annie Atkins, illus. by Fia Tobing. Magic Cat, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-915569-91-2. With 12 days left till Christmas, five kids from various countries each send a note to the North Pole and Santa shockingly sends a letter back.
Murtagh: Deluxe Edition by Christopher Paolini. Knopf, $35.99; ISBN 978-0-593-89800-0. This deluxe edition features exclusive content such as a new scene with Eragon and Murtagh and original artwork from the author.
Sixteen Minutes by K.J. Reilly. Penguin/Paulsen, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-2005-2. When mysterious new girl Charlotte promises she’s a time traveler who can rescue a loved one from a terrible fate, teens Nell, Cole, and Stevie B must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice.
Under the Heron’s Light by Randi Pink. Feiwel and Friends, $21.99; ISBN 978-1-250-82037-2. Alternating between Black 19-year-old Atlas in the present and her ancestor’s perspective in the 1770s, Pink offers an expansive intergenerational portrait that uses a fantastical lens to highlight the importance of family and knowing one’s history. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord by Garth Nix. Scholastic Press, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-339-01220-9. Siblings Kim and Elia discover a strange glowing sphere that grants Elia a wealth of power she wields over her community.
When Love Is More Than Words by Jocelyn Chung, illus. by Julia Kuo. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5935-3357-4. The caring acts of loved ones are the focus of this first-person work that models how affection can be relayed by actions. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
You Are Not Sleepy! by Mark Teague. Beach Lane, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-4074-0. When an anthropomorphized, brown-spotted pink piglet struggles to fall asleep, the would-be snoozer takes matters into its own hooves. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of October, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
