Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a picture book debut about neurodivergence, a YA novel about an autistic teen joining a football team, a middle grade book following an investigation at a retirement home, and more.
All About Brains: A Book About People by Lake Bell, illus. by Rachel Katstaller. Simon & Schuster, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-90675-3. In this picture book debut from actor, screenwriter, and director Bell, Nova showcases her medicine for her epilepsy for share day at school.
All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis. Atheneum, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95265-1. Black high school junior Aiden follows in his older brother’s footsteps by joining the football team, while navigating overstimulation connected with his autism diagnosis. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Benny on the Case by Wesley King, illus. by Maike Plenzke. S&S/Wiseman, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-3769-6. Titular detective Benny starts an investigation when valuable items have begun vanishing from people’s rooms at the retirement home that his mother owns. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Chaos King by Kacen Callender. Tor Teen, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-89028-3. In the closer to the Infinity Alchemist duology, Ash is captured by a radical group that is dead set on ridding the world of alchemists and questions if the Houses are willing to defend their rights.
A Cup of Quiet by Nikki Grimes, illus. by Cathy Ann Johnson. Bloomsbury, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-547-61073-0. In lieu of attending summer camp each June, the young Black narrator of this intergenerational story spends two weeks at her grandparents’ home where she learns the value of quiet.
Darkness at Dreamer Mountain by Ryan Wolf. West 44, $16.35 paper; ISBN 978-1-9785-9781-5. Thirteen-year-old Teddy tags along with his father and his crew to film at an abandoned theme park but struggles to escape when an entity begins hunting them. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
The Forgotten Summer of Seneca by Camryn Garrett. Amulet, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7333-4. A grieving tween uncovers an alternate version of Seneca Village, a Black community destroyed in 1857 for the creation of Central Park, in this gentle middle grade debut by Garrett.
I Need Pants! by Susan Sweet, illus. by Cailin Doherty. Owlkids, $18.95; ISBN 978-1-7714-7669-0. This picture book models how friends can learn to be attuned to each other, via a fish who hopes to don pants.
Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yang, illus. by Xindi Yan. Dial, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5934-0711-0. Laila, who often translates English for her Chinese-speaking parents, shares the joys and pressures of her responsibilities.
On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia. Amulet, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7563-5. Kelly and Mbalia tackle the ups, downs, and awkward in-betweens of young love in this wholesome rom-com collaboration following high schoolers Pacy Mercado and Cecil Holloway.
Otto and the Story Tree by Vivien Mildenberger. Random House Studio, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-71078-4. Otto, a cranky bird, gains an opportunity to relive his glory days by telling a seed all of his stories.
Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner. Atheneum, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-5607-9. In this sensorial verse novel by Sumner, a disabled eighth grader navigates trauma in the aftermath of a school shooting. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu. Quill Tree, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-332695-8. A Chinese American tween in rural Georgia discovers who he really is through drag in Chu’s unflinching debut.
Shell Song: Based on a True Family Story by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson. Beach Lane, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-3867-9. A set of tiny seashells anchors this personal telling of Japanese American incarceration during WWII that’s narrated by the protagonist’s grandchild.
Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi. Knopf, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-30907-0. National Book Award finalist Emezi’s new book follows Somadina, who struggles with the arrival of her powers and when her twin brother Jayaike vanishes, will do anything to find him.
Storm Singer by Sarwat Chadda, illus. by Virginia Allyn. Simon & Schuster, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-6244-5. Nargis, an exiled storm singer, encounters eagle garuda Mistral, and the pair must work together to overcome garuda warrior Shamshir, a new ruler who plans to enslave Earthbound peoples.
Warm and Fuzzy by Scott Rothman, illus. by Brian Won. Tundra, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-7748-8442-3. With Warm’s unflagging reassurance, a reluctant Fuzzy accompanies the gentle behemoth toa party, joining an array of animal guests.
Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi. HarperCollins, $21.99; ISBN 978-0-06-341900-1. In this spinoff from the Shatter Me series, assassin Rosabelle is charged with killing James Anderson, who has plans of ending the oppressive Reestablishment regime once and for all.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of April, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
