Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a picture book series addition following the fallout ahead of performance, a YA fantasy closer about the pursuit of a second chance, a middle grade novel depicting gaming culture, and more.
Alphonse, You’re Ruining the Show! by Daisy Hirst. Candlewick, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3889-1. The latest in the Natalie and Alphonse series finds the titular stars at odds when Alphonse learns he cannot attend and star in the duo’s play.
The Blood Orchid by Kylie Lee Baker. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-33-509175-8. In the closer to the Scarlet Alchemist duology, Zilan journeys across China to find a hidden magical location that may hold the secret to bringing back her loved ones.
Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows. Holiday House, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5638-3. Virginia eighth grader Ingrid has a vibrant online life, where she’s built a supportive community via the MMORPG, but she must navigate hardships in her IRL friendships. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Everything Is Grape! by Alastair Heim, illus. by Michelle Tran. Holt, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-2508-9141-9. When two kids meet up at a park, all-dialogue text by Heim establishes almost immediately that one is on some kind of wordplay-fueled kick, insisting that everything they see is “grape.”
Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney. Amulet, $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-6695-4. In the latest installment of Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Greg navigates the tight quarters during a family trip and tries to uncover the secret behind his grandmother’s iconic meatballs.
The Little Chefs by Rosemary Wells. Hippo Park, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-66264-071-1. Hidden in every kitchen, Wells promises in this three-tale collection, is a wall-concealed telephone that can summon a team of “small and clever” toque-wearing human chefs, portrayed with various skin tones, to rescue cooks in need of help. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Love & Lattes by Beth Reekles. Delacorte Romance, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-80908-2. On the first day of her internship, Annalise runs into Lloyd, a former flame who turns out to be the CEO’s son.
A Map for Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search for Home by Maysa Odeh, illus. by Aliaa Betawi. Holt, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-89670-4. Falasteen knows her family is Palestinian, but after her teacher asks students to point out where they’re from on a map and she cannot locate Palestine, she returns home with questions for her family. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic by Candace Fleming, illus. by Deena So’oteh. Random House/Schwartz, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-37778-9. Fleming introduces the “shy,/ swift/ small (for a whale)” narwhal, weaving scientific observation into gripping storytelling. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
On the Block: Stories of Home by Edited by Ellen Oh. Crown, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-64844-5. In this anthology set in an N.Y.C. apartment building, a dozen authors—including Tracey Baptiste, Adam Gidwitz, Meg Medina, and Jasmine Warga—chronicle the exploits and misadventures of the building’s young residents, who come from myriad backgrounds. The YA anthology received a starred review from PW.
Santa’s First Christmas by Mac Barnett, illus. by Sydney Smith. Viking, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52497-8. The creative duo’s assembly of classic yuletide elements gives readers a chance to encounter an old holiday anew—freshly through the eyes of its most iconic figure. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Slouch by Christina Wyman. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39190-4; $9.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-29326-8. At almost 5’10”, seventh grader Stephanie grapples with her parents’ aspirations for her basketball career, and a fallout in friendship that leaves her vulnerable to unwarranted attention on the train. The middle grade novel received a starred review from PW.
Spectacular by Stephanie Garber, illus. by Rosie Fowinkle. Flatiron, $20.99; ISBN 978-1-250-89340-6. Garber returns to the Caraval universe with this novella that takes place on Great Holiday Eve Eve and finds each of the characters preparing for the massive celebration.
The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle. First Second, $25.99; ISBN 978-1-250-86319-5; $17.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-86318-8. Teens Perley, a human, and Amadine, a recently turned vampire, use Amadine’s new powers to help Perley, and their relationship blossoms into something more intimate. The YA graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
Thief of the Heights by Son M., illus. by Robin Yao. HarperAlley, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-306733-2; $18.99 paper ISBN 978-0-06-306732-5. Friends Basem, Mustafa, and Aarfah dream of bettering the lives of their community in the lower levels of Muqadas, and when their inventive devices draw the attention of the upper tiers, launching them into a world of opportunity and enchantment, the teens are forced to reckon with the darker side of Muqadas society. The YA graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
Tove and the Island with No Address by Lauren Soloy. Tundra, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-77488-315-0. Soloy references the life of Moomin creator Tove Jansson in this picture book following seven-year-old Tove and her family’s voyage to the island “with no address,” where Tove spends time with mischievous creatures. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Tumblebaby by Adam Rex, illus. by Audrey Helen Weber. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5717-5. Tumblebaby floats and tumbles out of the house and into the path of two scoundrels who plot a kidnapping, and accidentally becomes a hero for the world.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of October, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
