Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a chapter book series starter about adventure, a picture book fable about a persuasive pup, a YA dark academia murder mystery about a teen’s relationship with the boys she suspects of her cousin’s murder, and more.
Adventures Unlimited: The Land of Lost Things by Andy Griffiths, illus. by Bill Hope. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-36735-8. This chapter book series starter traces an array of wild adventures that the protagonists have been on.
Almost True by Clarice Lispector, trans. from the Portuguese by Benjamin Moser, illus. by Carla Irusta. New York Review Books, $19.95; ISBN 978-1-68137-897-8. In a rollicking translated fable about a fig tree that endeavors to outsmart a flock of hens, Brazilian novelist Lispector casts as narrator dog Ulisses, who can “bark out a story that seems almost like make-believe and almost true.”
Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell. Roaring Brook, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-33459-6. High school senior Marin transfers into an elite Academy to investigate the murder of her cousin and becomes embroiled in her suspects’ dangerous, thrill-seeking ways.
Carousel Summer by Kathleen Gros. Quill Tree, $24.99 hardcover; $15.99 paper ISBN 978-0-06-305769-2; ISBN 978-0-0630-5768-5. Over the course of the summer, Lucy navigates how her budding romance with bisexual visitor Anaïs impacts her relationship with her father, who is suffering with alienation from the local community.
Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illus. by Dan Santat. Dial, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-61667-3. Caldecott Medalist Santat fires up the comedy with goggle-eyed vignettes of crafty fish, spying fish, disguised fish, and more.
Fart Boy and Reeky Dog by Joan Holub, illus. by Rafael Rosado. Random House, $14.99; ISBN 978-0-5934-3430-7. In this spoof of classic superhero comics, Phartolomew embraces the identity of Fart Boy and aims to defeat evil Professor Groovypants.
Fearless by Lauren Roberts. Simon & Schuster, $21.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95546-1. In the conclusion to the Powerless Trilogy, Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya to make the ultimate choice.
It Started with A P by Brittany Pomales, illus. by Andrew Joyner. Flamingo, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-9083-3. When Liam dreams that his birthday party will be ruined by something starting with P—but can’t recall exactly what—he goes full-on royal fiat, declaring that “everything that starts with the letter P must go.”
Midnight Motorbike by Maureen Shay Tajsar, illus. by Ishita Jain. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5662-8. A child narrates the scenery and sensations on their midnight ride through India with their mother.
The Mystery of the Thinking Rabbit by Clarice Lispector, trans. from the Portuguese by Benjamin Moser, illus. by Kammal João. New York Review Books, $19.95; ISBN 978-1-68137-898-5. This surrealist picture book in translation describes the enigma posed by white rabbit Joãozinho, who escapes from a close-barred, heavy-lidded hutch again and again without others discovering how.
Old Blue Is My Home by Lita Judge. Abrams, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7152-1. Drawing, per an author’s note, on childhood experiences, Judge narrates this picture book via the voice of a child whose family lives in a van called Old Blue.
The Peddler of Puddles by Beth Ferry, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld. Clarion, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-0633-1834-2. Tackling a significant life transition, prior collaborators Ferry and Lichtenheld imagine a much-beloved turtle entrepreneur, the peddler of puddles, who realizes that he’s tired of the itinerant life but not sure where to go.
Survive This Safari by Natalie D. Richards. Delacorte, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-4416-4. Middle schooler Lucy Spagnola gets a second chance to participate in the Wildlands Safari Escape Challenge, after a panic attack forced her out of the last one.
When I Talk to God, I Talk About Feelings by Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collinsm illus. by Lisa Fields. Flamingo, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-69136-6. This picture book highlights the many feelings young readers can experience during their own prayer time.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of April, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
