Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a speculative YA novel following a teen who has died but can still interact with her family, a picture book about a fox in the yard, a YA thriller about a teen assassin on the run with her babysitting pupil, and more.
January 7
After Life by Gayle Forman. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-334614-7. High school senior Amber learns that she’s been dead for seven years, but for some reason her family can still see, hear, and touch her, even if they aren’t as she remembers them. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
And, Too, the Fox by Ada Limón, illus. by Gaby D’Alessandro. Carolrhoda, $18.99; ISBN 979-8-7657-3925-2. Limón considers a fox seen in a fenced backyard in this refreshing picture book encounter.
The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting by Natalie C. Parker. Candlewick, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-536230-09-3; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-1-5362-4791-6. Tru Stallard comes into her own as a superpowered teen when she goes on the run. But when the arrival of unknown killers turns a babysitting job upside down, Tru escapes with infant Thea, who appears to have the same abilities as Tru.
Cinderella and the Beast (Or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) by Kim Bussing. Random House, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-70803-3. Tweens Ella and Belle find themselves swapping fairy tale lore in this series launch. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Drive by Cynthia L. Copeland, colors by Ronda Pattison. Algonquin, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-64375-194-8; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-1-5235-2725-0. In this time-jumping graphic novel, Copeland weaves together the true story of race car driver Janet Guthrie with fictional 12-year-old Alexandra as she restores a ’56 Jaguar XK 140 formerly owned by Guthrie.
Fresh Start by Gale Galligan. Graphix, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-338-04586-4; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-3380-4584-0. Globetrotter Ollie learns after moving and staying in Virginia means having to resolve conflict rather than fleeing for a fresh start.
The House on the Canal: The Story of the House That Hid Anne Frank by Thomas Harding, illus. by Britta Teckentrup. Candlewick Studio, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-4070-2. Collaborators Harding and Teckentrup convey that the famed house in Amsterdam, known for sheltering Anna Frank, is also part of a “remarkable history” that spans four centuries and myriad reasons for seeking shelter. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-335384-8. Vivien Featherswallow, a teen linguist who specializes in dragon and human languages, is presented the opportunity to earn her family’s freedom by joining a secret government project to crack certain draconic secrets.
The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold. Delacorte, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-89948-9. Braun-Arnold’s poignant sapphic dystopian debut turns a suburban New Jersey bookstore into a haven for survival and romance in a world of “death, and rot, and memories.” The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Mama Hug by Emma Straub, illus. by Stevie Lewis. Rocky Pond, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-1859-2. The arc of a mother and child’s day unfolds in concise rockabye rhymes and warm-hued, colorblock-like art in this cozy work for youngest readers.
Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins by Traci N. Todd, illus. by Eleanor Davis. Chronicle, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4521-7064-0. Todd and Davis’s melodic paean to performer Ella Jenkins follows a figure who “wants/ to make/ a pretty sound.” The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia. Disney Hyperion, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-368-09908-0. Mullory Prudence accepts an invitation to take part in the Mystery Royale, an illusion-infused game in which participants must deduce the culprit of billionaire recluse Xavier Stoutmire’s death by unraveling the details of his murder to inherit his magic and wealth. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally. Sourcebooks Fire, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-7282-7014-2. Class president Brooke, the daughter of a powerful family, is almost guaranteed acceptance into Yale—she is a legacy, after all. The only potential snag is her involvement in an “incident” involving former friend Claire.
One Day: A True Story of Survival in the Holocaust by Michael Rosen, illus. by Benjamin Phillips. Candlewick Studio, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3894-5. After two Hungarian Jewish resistance fighters are arrested in 1942 Nazi-occupied Paris, they survive with a singular focus: “Get through one day and then on to the next. One day at a time. One day after another.” The picture book received a starred review from PW.
On Our Way! What a Day! by JaNay Brown-Wood, illus. by Tamisha Anthony. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-11075-1. Six children set out with energy and excitement, crossing a city on foot and by bus to celebrate their grandmother’s birthday, in this musical telling.
Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Dutton, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-85578-2. Cooper grapples with the pressures of entering a new grade with a tough teacher while life-changing historical events—including the JFK assassination, the church bombing in Birmingham, and the increased presence of the KKK–happen around her.
Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga. Little, Brown/Ottaviano, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-316-57869-1; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-0-316-57866-0. Teens Emmeline, Titus, and Alaric discover they are heirs to the King of Ashland and are admitted to Almus Terra Academy, a school for the international global elite.
Ruby Bridges: A Talk with My Teacher by Ruby Bridges, illus. by Trudy Tran. Orchard, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-338-75394-3. A year after becoming the first Black child to integrate William Frantz Elementary School, a young Ruby Bridges approaches second grade with anticipation.
Sharing the Dream by Shelia P. Moses, illus. by Keith Mallett. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-61729-8. Young narrator Agnes, plus Mama and Daddy, travel by bus from Birmingham, Ala., to Washington, D.C., in this dream-centered picture book tracing one family’s experience of the March on Washington.
This Is the Year by Gloria Muñoz. Holiday House, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5836-3. Julieta enrolls in an aerospace company program which seeks to send immigrants to establish new colonies in space.
To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell. Random House Studio, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-64989-3. Young narrator Janie has long been fascinated by owls and determines to see a one in real life. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illus. by London Ladd. Holiday House, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5380-1. Willis Hudson movingly exalts the power of African American spirituals in a showcase that pairs existing verses with feelings they can evoke. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
January 14
Bianca and the Butterfly by Sergio Ruzzier. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-0632-9588-9. Polar bear cub Bianca discovers an extravagantly patterned butterfly perched on an ice floe and follows the butterfly to investigate.
Biology Lessons by Melissa Kantor. Feiwel and Friends, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-33404-6. Kantor reflects on the ramifications of abortion bans in this timely Texas-set novel.
Brewed with Love by Shelly Page. Joy Revolution, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-89762-1. When Black plant witch Sage has her tonic stolen from her family shop and when it is used to wipe the memory of a council member’s child, she and her new coworker Ximena launch an investigation while falling for each other.
Build a Girlfriend by Elba Luz. Simon & Schuster, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-94251-5. Amelia Hernandez determines to break her family’s curse of relationships ending in heartbreak by tracking down her exes to figure out what went wrong and use the information to make herself the perfect girlfriend.
Chickenpox by Remy Lai. Holt, $22.99; ISBN 978-1-250-86330-0; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-86329-4. Set in Indonesia, this semi-autobiographical narrative by Lai follows the creator’s eldest sister Abby, who’s forced into quarantine with her four younger siblings after they all contract chickenpox.
Dream a Dress, Dream a Poem: Dressmaker and Poet, Myra Viola Wilds by Nancy Johnson James, illus. by Diana Ejaita. Abrams, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-951836-53-5. Mellifluous verse from Johnson James chronicles the life of dressmaker and poet Myra Viola Wilds from her Kentucky hometown through her blossoming career. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Dreamover by Dani Diaz. Top Shelf, $19.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-60309-546-4. New couples Amber and Nico enter a jointly created dreamscape and must confront how their new relationship has led to self-isolating behavior. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough. Dutton, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-5938-5587-4. Sixteen-year-old Carmela dreams of becoming an apprentice in her mother’s apothecary but must reconcile her own desires with her mother’s personal decisions and how they affect the women who rely on the shop as a last refuge. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez. Roaring Brook, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-90137-8; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-90136-1. Nine-year-old Gabby Torres seeks to impress her fellow Sea Musketeers by running a zine that garners a lot of online success but causes tension for Gabby.
How Sweet the Sound by Kwame Alexander, illus. by Charly Palmer. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-44249-7. Black musical greats populate Alexander and Palmer’s entrancing history of Black music. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
I Love You, Little Horse by Gianna Marino. Philomel, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5935-2880-8. Marino takes readers to a sunny, rolling meadow ringed by mountains and shady trees, where horses run free, in this affectionate picture book.
Interabled: True Stories About Love and Relationships from Squirmy and Grubs and Other Interabled Couples by Shane and Hannah Burcaw. Roaring Brook, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-62071-2. Married collaborators and disability advocates Shane Burcaw and Hannah Burcaw present a collection of 22 interviews interspersed with the couples’ own personal narratives to showcase interabled romantic relationships across a spectrum of cultures, sexualities, ethnicities, and disability experiences.
Night: A Children's Fable by Katherine Jumbe, illus. by Shana Dixon. Levine Querido, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-64614-463-1. In Jumbe’s thought-provoking debut, animals enjoy a gorgeous savanna day while young Alekachawo sets her baby sister, Mwana Wamkazi, in the sun to play.
No Purchase Necessary by Maria Marianayagam. HarperCollins, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-063-36092-1. Marianayagam meditates on powerful messages surrounding family, identity, and finding friends in unlikely places in this bittersweet debut.
Old School by Gordon Korman. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-323814-5. In classic Korman fashion, an otherwise ordinary school is thrown into upheaval by the arrival of an unexpectedly chaotic element in this endearing story. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
The Queen's Spade by Sarah Raughley. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-334438-9. A Yoruba princess targets her British “saviors” in this searing 1862-set duology opener.
Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between by L.M. Elliott. Algonquin, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-64375-282-2. Elliott spotlights the tumultuous political and social conflicts in Washington, D.C., during Nixon’s presidency.
Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Little, Brown, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-29933-6. Black 12-year-old Will sets out with his mule Belle and his sharecropper father to claim land in this riveting historical saga. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of January, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
