Children's Books: Spring 2011 Sneak Previews

ABRAMS

Abrams wears a lot of hats with Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of a Civil War Woman by Marissa Moss, illus. by John Hendrix, a picture book biography of Sarah Emma Edmonds who dressed as a man and fought in the Civil War; Chicken Butt’s Back by Erica Perl, illus. by Henry Cole, a humorous look at homonyms and homophones; The Jellybeans and the Big Match by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans, illus. by Lynn Munsinger, in which the animal pals make summer camp fun; To Market by Nikki McClure, about a mother and son’s informative trip to the farmers’ market; and Waddles by David McPhail, starring a raccoon who loves to eat so much that he waddles instead of walks.

ABRAMS/AMULET

Amulet puckers up for The Kissing Game by Aidan Chambers, a collection of YA short stories; By Curious by Lauren Myracle, in which a girl tries to discover who tortured her gay friend; Dark Energy by Adrian McKinty, a psychological thriller set in a very unusual school; Horton Halfpott by Tom Angleberger, a comedic mystery; and The Popularity Papers Book Two: A Record of the Continued Transatlantic Discoveries of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatow, in which one of the titular best friends moves to London.

ANDREWS MCMEEL/ACCORD

Accord Publishing looks for a pot of gold with The Rainbow Book, an interactive novelty title about feelings that has a kaleidoscope effect.

BENBELLA BOOKS/SMART POP

Smart Pop Books introduces The Girl Who Was on Fire: Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Trilogy, in which YA writers explore the world of the Hunger Games books.

Bloomsbury welcomes spring with Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper, a gothic novel about an orphan girl with a mysterious legacy; and Sean Griswold’s Head by Lindsey Leavitt, in which a girl deals with her father’s illness and her changing feelings for boy in her art class.

CANDLEWICK

Candlewick climbs higher with Ladder to the Moon by Maya Soetoro-Ng, illus. by Yuyi Morales, a picture book about the importance of family, empathy, and service, written by the sister of President Obama; Mitchell’s License, starring a car-obsessed toddler by Hallie Durand, illus. by Tony Fucile; Argus by Michelle Knudsen, illus. by Andrea Wesson, about a class egg-hatching project gone wildly—and humorously—wrong; Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones, in which two troubled teens bond over a blackmail scheme; and The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta, which returns to the characters from Saving Francesca.

CANDLEWICK/TEMPLAR

Templar Books shines with How the Weather Works: A Hands-On Guide to Our Changing Climate by Christine Dorian, illus. by Beverley Young, a pop-up, fold-out introduction to climate concepts; Good Night Little Bunny: A Changing-Picture Book by Emily Hawkins, illus. by John Butler, about facing your fears; I Like Toys: Petit Collage by Lorena Siminovich, an interactive story; StoryWorld: Fairy Magic by John and Caitlin Matthews, illus. by Wayne Anderson, Matilda Harrison, et al., a set of cards meant to inspire young storytellers; and Marco Polo: Geographer of Distant Lands by Clint Twist, which illuminates this explorer’s life and travels.

CHARLESBRIDGE

Charlesbridge tunes up with Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein by Susan Goldman Rubin, a biography of the American composer, pianist, and conductor; Camille’s Team and Percy Gets Upset by Stuart J. Murphy, new to the I See I Learn series; The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos, illus. by Rafael López, a cumulative verse featuring Spanish words; Raj, the Bookstore Tiger by Kathleen T. Pelley, illus. by Paige Keiser, in which a bookstore cat comes up against a feline bully; and A Call for a New Alphabet by Jef Czekaj, in which X discovers he’s overreacting about being underused.

CHICAGO REVIEW PRESS

dist. by Independent Publishers Group

Chicago Review Press shows some serious girl power with Woman Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue by Kathryn J. Atwood, a series of dramatic historical profiles.

CHRONICLE

Chronicle Books waits for spring with A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Aston, illus. by Sylvia Long, a follow-up to A Seed Is Sleepy; Dan Eldon: A Life on Safari by Jennifer New, a biography of a photojournalist and adventurer who lost his life at age 22 while on assignment in Somalia; The Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Quest: Everest! by David Borgenicht, an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure style book; His Shoes Were Far Too Tight, selected and introduction by Daniel Pinkwater, illus. by Calef Brown, an illustration collection of Edward Lear’s nonsense poems; and The Tao of Rudy by Corinne Humphrey, a guide to happiness from a dog’s-eye view.

Handprint puts a finger on it with Press Here by Herve Tullet, an interactive picture book featuring a big yellow button on the cover; and Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson, illus. by Pamela Dalton, a re-imagining of Frances of Assisi’s hymn of praise for all living things.

CINCO PUNTOS PRESS

Cinco Puntos moves forward with Walking Home to Rosie Lee by A. LaFaye, illus. by Keith Shepherd, in which a boy searches for his mother following the Civil War; and Which Side Are You On? The Story of a Song by George Ella Lyon, illus. by Christopher Cardinale, featuring the protest song written by Florence Reece.

DAWN PUBLICATIONS

Dawn travels Down Under for Over in Australia by Marianne Berkes, illus. by Jill Dubin, a picture book about the animals of that land; and The BLUES Go Extreme Birding by Carol L. Malnor and Sandy F. Fuller, illus. by Louise Schroeder, in which cartoon bluebirds go on a real bird-watching expedition.

DAWQUIN LLC

DawQuin lends a hand with Clover’s BIG Problem by B.L. Dawson, in which friends learn about the importance of fitness.

DISNEY-HYPERION

Hyperion cracks the bat with Hothead by Cal Ripken Jr. and Kevin Cowherd, first in a series of baseball novels by the former Baltimore Oriole; Clementine #5 by Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Marla Frazee, fifth in the humorous chapter book series; The Kane Chronicles, Book 2 by Rick Riordan, another volume in the Egyptian mythology adventure series; The Dead by Charlie Higson, second in the horror trilogy; and Demonglass: A Hex Hall Novel by Rachel Hawkins, which continues the series about a school for witches, shapeshifters, faeries, and vampires.

DISNEY-JUMP AT THE SUN

Jump at the Sun donsits tutu for Sugar Plum Ballerinas #5 by Whoopi Goldberg, illus. by Maryn Roos, new to the chapter book series about dancer pals; and What’s Special About Me, Mama? by Kristina Evans, illus. by Javaka Steptoe, a conversation between mother and son, celebrating individuality and family ties.

DISNEY PRESS

Disney Press makes landlubbers walk the plank for Pirates of the Caribbean: Six Sea Shanties: A Graphic Novel Anthology, starring characters from the movie franchise; The Ballad of Nessie, illus. by Andy Harkness, a gift book based on the Disney Studios short film of the same name; Disney Nature African Cats: The Kingdom of Courage: The Lion’s Share, featuring photographs from the feature film African Cats; Winnie the Pooh: Forever Friends, an early reader; and Phineas and Ferb Comic Reader: It’s About Time! by John Green, an early comic reader based on the animated TV show.

DK explores all creatures great and small with Animals Alive, which includes discussion of the extinction of various species; Secrets of the Jedi, a look at what it takes to be a Jedi knight; Expedition Earth, a journey to the world’s major biomes; and Digi Pop: Dinosaur and Digi Pop: Human, featuring augmented reality 3-D animations.

EDC/KANE MILLER

Kane Miller lassoes the season with Rope ’em by Stacy Nyikos, illus. by Bret Conover, an undersea cowboy adventure; Hush, Little Beachcomber by Dianne Mortiz, illus. by Holly McGee, a lullaby about ways to enjoy a day at the beach; Pelly and Mr. Harrison Visit the Moon by Lindsay Ward, in which a space explorer and her faithful dog befriend aliens; and What Does the President Look Like? by Jane Hampton Cook, illus. by Adam Ziskie, which offers stories and facts about U.S. presidents and technology, including paintings of Washington and YouTube videos of Obama.

EERDMANS

Eerdmans raises its sails with The Seven Seas by Ellen Jackson, illus. by Bill Slavin, in which a rabbit imagines a trip in search of all seven seas; Now It Is Summer by Eileen Spinelli, illus. by Mary Newell DePalma, about a mouse eager for autumn to arrive who learns to live in the now and appreciate summer; Images of God by Marie-Hélène Delval, illus. by Barbara Nascimbeni, a lyrical text that explores different ways to describe God throughout the Bible; Little Croc’s Purse by Lizzie Finlay, starring a young croc who returns a lost purse to its owner; and Good Night, Chicky by Émile Jadoul, a bedtime story.

EGMONT USA

Egmont sends out a search party for The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel by Bree Despain, in which a war among werewolves threatens Grace and Daniel’s love; Drought by Pam Bachorz, a haunting story of a girl who dreams of escaping the Congregation; The Jaguar Stones, Book Two: The End of the World Club by J&P Voelkel, in which Max and Lola are in Spain on the trail of the Conquistadors; The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal, a romantic fantasy in which a girl discovers her true identity; and Carmen by Walter Dean Myers, a YA take on the Bizet opera, set in Spanish Harlem.

FLASHLIGHT PRESS

Flashlight makes room for When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore, illus. by Howard McWilliam, about a dragon who moves into a boy’s perfect sandcastle.

GAUTHIER PUBLICATIONS/HUNGRY GOAT PRESS

Hungry Goat Press sizes up spring with The Fifth Codex by Robert Bresloff, the debut title in an adventure series about archaeology and Mayan culture; and Deadly Pride by Nicole Nicolodemos, in which two girls win a vacation to a resort where they discover the meaning behind a recurring nightmare.

GROUNDWOOD BOOKS

Groundwood is pickin’ and grinnin’ with Banjo of Destiny by Cary Fagan, about a boy whose heart’s desire is to play the banjo; Mother Number Zero by Marjolijn Hof, trans. by Johanna H. Prins and Johanna W. Prins, about an adopted boy in search of his birth mother; Migrant by Maxine Trottier, illus. by Isabelle Arsenault, an exploration of what it means to be the child of migrant workers; What Are You Doing? by Elisa Amado, illus. by Manuel Monroy, an illustrated celebration of reading; and High Riders, Saints and Death Cars: A Portrait of a Santero by Nicholas Herrera and Elisa Amado, illus. by John T. Denne, a biography of folk artist Herrera, focusing on his troubled early years and redemption through art.

HARLEQUIN TEEN

Harlequin Teen keeps the flame burning with One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen, in which a party game gone wrong unleashes angry spirits on Charlotte’s school; Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison, about a car crash victim who must face the people she wronged in life before she can say goodbye; My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent, latest in the author’s banshee series; Outside In by Maria V. Snyder, a follow-up to Inside Out; and The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa, which follows The Iron King and The Iron Daughter.

Amistad maps out spring with The Great Migration by Eloise Greenfield, illus. by Jan Spivey Gilchrist, a five-part poem told from multiple perspectives on the Great Migration of African-Americans who left the southern U.S. in search of better lives in the early 1900s.

HARPERCOLLINS/BALZER + BRAY

Balzer + Bray makes a flap with The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Kevin Cornell, a comic noir novel about a dog on the trail of two missing chicks; Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator! by Mo Willems, a picture book starring a girl and her best friend; How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen, a debut novel about 13-year-old Lamar, the best bowler in town; The Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker, in which two foster kids face an unexpected summer of survival and independence; and Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins, kicking off a series about the adventures of fourth-grader Hank and his invisible friend.

HARPERCOLLINS/COLLINS

Collins travels back in time with Where Did the Dinosaurs Come From? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, illus. by Lucia Washburn, a Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out-Science title that marks the 50th anniversary of the series;, and Bloody Crimes by James L. Swanson, a teen adaptation of his book Bloody Crimes: The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse.

HARPERCOLLINS/GERINGER

Laura Geringer Books greets the season with Lark by Tracey Porter, in which two of 16-year-old Lark’s estranged friends must come to terms with her murder, and the life she left behind.

HARPERCOLLINS/GREENWILLOW

Greenwillow covers all the angles with Perfect Square by Michael Hall, a look at the many ways a square can be transformed; Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes, a picture book about a bunny’s discovery of his world; Little Bea by Daniel Roode, a debut picture book in which a friendly bee explores her neighborhood; A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford, featuring a human teen who has not quite moved on from her mortal state despite her tragic death; and Entwined by Heather Dixon, a teen retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

HARPERCOLLINS/HARPER

Harper rustles up new titles with Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond, illus. by Diane deGroat, starring a hard-working, droopy-eyed dog with food on the brain; When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic, illus. by Wes Hargis, in which an eight-year-old catalogues his outlandish dream jobs for his classmates and teacher; Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr, which concludes the Wicked Lovely series; Silverlicious by Victoria Kann, in which Pinkalicious loses a tooth; and Big Nate 3 by Lincoln Peirce, more adventures of middle schooler Nate.

HARPERCOLLINS/HARPERFESTIVAL

HarperFestival celebrates pink with Pinkalicious: Pinkadoodles by Victoria Kann, an activity book based on the bestselling picture book.

HARPERCOLLINS/HARPERTEEN

HarperTeen cheers for Kick by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman, a debut novel about impulsive decisions, unlikely friends, and soccer that is a collaboration between the author and a teen; Kiss Me Again by Rachel Vail, in which Charlie must decide which guy she wants; The Lying Game by Sara Shepard, first in a new series about a murdered teen who enlists her twin to find her killer; Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, a tale of star-crossed lovers and modern day demigods; and Die for Me by Amy Plum, in which a teen girl falls for an undead boy.

HARPERCOLLINS/RAYO

Rayo is ready for a hug with Mama and Me by Arthur Dorros, illus. by Rudy Gutierrez, a picture book celebrating the bond between mother and daughter; and SkateFate by Juan Felipe Herrera, the story of Lucky Z, a former skateboarder living with new foster parents who learns to cope when things get tough.

HARPERCOLLINS/TEGEN

Katherine Tegen Books sheds some light on Darke by Angie Sage, the sixth entry in the Septimus Heap series; My Soul to Reap by Courtney Allison Moulton, a teen debut featuring angels, reapers, and romance; Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber, debut title in a werewolf romance series by the author of the Vampire Kisses books; Plague: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant, in which a flu-like plague causes more turmoil for Sam, Astrid, Cain, and Diana; and Divergent by Veronica Roth, a debut dystopian romance.

HARPERCOLLINS/WALDEN POND PRESS

Walden Pond Press is flush with spring titles with The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander, a humorous look at the seedy underbelly of middle school; The Emerald Casket by Richard Newsome, second in the Archer Legacy series; and Juniper Berry by Michael Kozlowsky, a contemporary fairy tale about a girl who descends into a frightening underworld to save her parents.

HOLIDAY HOUSE

Holiday House raises the curtain on All the World’s a Stage by Gretchen Woelfe, a middle-grade novel about a young apprentice at the Globe Theater; Spring Is Here by Will Hillenbrand, in which a mole tries to rouse a slumbering bear from his winter’s nap; New Red Bike! by James E. Ransome, in which a boy experiences the thrill of having his own wheels; In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer, illus. by Emily Arnold McCully, a celebration of the month of March; and Gorillas by Gail Gibbons, a nonfiction picture book exploring the habits and habitats of these primates.

HMH/CLARION

Clarion casts a spell on Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, a sequel to Once a Witch; First Garden: The White House Garden and How It Grew by Robbin Gourley, a historical view of the White House grounds spotlighting Michelle Obama’s new kitchen garden; Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door by Adam Rubin, illus. by Daniel Salmieri, in which the ingenious squirrels get the best of a new neighbor; Tallulah’s Tutu by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Alexandra Boiger, about a girl discovering ballet; and Jane Austen by Catherine Reef, a biography of the beloved author.

HMH/GRAPHIA

Graphia strikes a chord with My Misadventures as a Teen-Age Rock Star by Joyce Raskin, illus. by Carol Chu, starring a teen girl rock star; Dead Is Not an Option by Marlene Perez, the final installment of the Dead Is... series in which a werewolf-vampire war may be brewing; Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler, in which a teenage cutter becomes War, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse; The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder, about a girl learning the hierarchy of popularity; and The Ghost Huntress Book 5: The Discovery by Marley Gibson, in which Kendall unravels a 100-year-old mystery.

HMH/HARCOURT

Harcourt leads the way with Follow Me by Tricia Tusa, a poetic and colorful celebration of imagination; The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel, illus. by Stevens, about a wisecracking school supplies embarking on a rescue mission; Those That Wake by Jesse Karp, a debut YA novel set in the near future, against a backdrop of corporate greed; No Sleep for the Sheep! by Karen Beaumont, illus. by Jackie Urbanovic, a tale that blends animal sounds and insomnia; and Lost Voices by Sarah Porter, about what happens to the girls no one sees (they become mermaids).

HMH/HMH BOOKS

HMH Books speaks up with Martha and Skits Out West, a tie-in to the TV series starring Martha the talkative dog; The Little Red Hen, one of the paper-over-board titles in the Folk Tale Classics series, illustrated by Paul Galdone; Curious Baby: My First Book of Color, an accordion-style board book; Curious George Dinosaur Tracks, in which George looks for the perfect photo to enter in the Nature Week exhibit; and Curious George Parade Day, a tabbed board book about George’s exciting time at a parade.

HMH/HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

Houghton Mifflin grabs its rubber ducky for Time for a Bath by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, an exploration of how animals handle this activity; The Queen of Falls by Chris Van Allsburg, a picture book biography of Annie Taylor, the first woman to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel; The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood, illus. by Renata Liwska, a clanging companion to The Quiet Book; Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry, illus. by Eric Rohmann, a middle-grade novel starring a colony of church mice; and Jessica’s Guide to Ruling on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey, a follow-up to Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side .

HMH/SANDPIPER

Sandpiper climbs atop the podium with Yes She Can! by Glenn Stout, spotlighting women athletes who broke the mold, including Trudy Ederle and Danica Patrick; and a paperback reissue of As Ever Gordy by Mary Downing Hahn.

IMMEDIUM

Immedium hops into spring with The Year of the Rabbit by Oliver Chin, illus. by Justin Roth, new to the Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series; and Billie the Unicorn by Brianne Drouhard, about an adventure-seeking unicorn who gets distracted from what really matters.

Kane Press collects clues for The Case of the Missing Moose, a Milo & Jazz mysteryby Lewis B. Montgomery, illus. by Amy Wummer, in which the moose mascot for Milo’s team disappears; and eight additions to the Animal Antics A to Z series by Barbara deRubertis, illus. by R.W. Alley, including Kylie Kangaroo’s Karate Kickers and Lana Llama’s Little Lamb.

KAR-BEN

Kar-Ben starts out sweet with Yuvi’s Candy Tree by Lesley Simpson, illus. by Janice Lee Porter, in which a Ethiopian Jewish girl arrives in Israel; The Queen Who Saved Her People by Tilda Balsley, illus. by Ilene Richard, the story of Purim retold in verse; Afikomen Mambo by Joe Black, illus. by Linda Prater, a rhyme to enliven the afikomen hunt during a Passover seder; The Littlest Mountain by Barb Rosenstock, illus. by Melanie Hall, a new interpretation of how God chose Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments; and Jumping Jenny by Ellen Bari, illus. by Raquel García Marciá in which Jenny’s talent for jumping is put to use for a good cause.

KIDS CAN PRESS

Kids Can Press welcomes This Child, Every Child by David J. Smith, illus. by Shelagh Armstrong, which shows how the global distribution of resources affects children around the world.

KINGFISHER

Kingfisher counts its treasure with Inca Gold, latest in the Codequest series, which teaches readers to crack historical codes and solve pictograms; Basher Human Body, artist Basher’s look at anatomy; Go! Go! Bobo! Shapes and Go! Go! Bobo! Colors, two early concept books by Basher; and an updated and revised edition of The Kingfisher Children’s Illustrated Dictionary and Thesaurus.

LANGENSCHEIDT/HAMMOND

Hammond hits the campaign trail with Hammond’s Book of the Presidents: An Illustrated History of America’s Leaders, which includes Barack Obama; and Crazy Maze: The World’s Looniest Search-and-Find Adventure!, a puzzle book that unfolds into 24 color pages.

LEE & LOW

Lee & Low looks to the night sky with A Full Moon is Rising by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Julia Cairns, a collection of poems about full moon festivals and celebrations around the world; Hot Hot Roti for Dada-Ji by Farhana Zia, illus. by Ken Min, starring an Asian boy and his grandfather; It Jes’ Happened by Don Tate, illus. by R. Gregory Christie, a biography of outsider artist Bill Traylor; Love Twelve Miles Long by Glenda Armand, illus. by Colin Bootman, about Frederick Douglass’s relationship with his mother; and The Mangrove Tree by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, illus. by Roth, about the work of Dr. Gordon Sato, who made saltwater and desert land productive by planting mangrove trees.

LEMNISCAAT USA

Lemniscaat USA unveils The Umbrella, by Ingrid and Dieter Schubert, a wordless picture book about a terrier swept across the world; and Oliver by Christopher Franceschelli, a novelty board book that presents the day in the life of an egg.

LERNER/CAROLRHODA

Carolrhoda heads to the salon for Big Bouffant by Kate Hosford, illus. by Holly Clifton-Brown, in which Annabelle seeks the perfect hairstyle for the first day of school; Mudkin by Stephen Gammell, about a girl’s imaginative mud-puddle play; The Great Moon Hoax by Stephen Krensky, illus. by Josée Bisaillon, about the historical Moon Hoax of 1835 and how it affects a New York City newsboy; Sarah Emma Edmonds Was a Great Pretender: The True Story of a Civil War Spy by Carrie Jones, illus. by Mark Oldroyd, about how Edmonds posed as a man to serve as a Union spy; and Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Ša, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist by Q.L. Pearce and Gina Capaldi, illus. by Capaldi, a middle-grade biography.

LERNER/CAROLRHODA LAB

Carolrhoda Lab roughs it with Lost in the River of Grass by Ginny Rorby, about two teens lost in the Everglades; Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish, in which 15-year-old Savannah discovers she is developing special powers she’ll need to fight a monster; and What Can’t Wait by Ashley Hope Perez, about a girl whose dream of going to college are challenged by her immigrant family’s financial struggles.

LERNER/DARBY CREEK

Darby Creek blasts off with Alien Envoy by Pamela F. Service, illus. by Mike Gorman, sixth in the Alien Agent series; Mallory’s Guide to Boys, Brothers, Dads, and Dogs by Laurie Friedman, illus. by Jennifer Kalis, about all the things that conspire against Mallory’s plan to get a sixth-grade boy’s attention; and six titles in the Surviving Southside series of short novels focusing on contemporary teen experiences and realities.

LERNER/GRAPHIC UNIVERSE

Graphic Universe buttons up its lab coat for graphic novels including Detective Frankenstein by Alaya Johnson, illus. by Yuko Ota, new in the Twisted Journey series; What a Team! by Brigitte Luciani, illus. by Eve Tharlet, third in the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox series; The Ferret’s a Foot by Colleen AF Venable, illus. by Stephanie Yue, third in the Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye series; The Maltese Mummy by Trina Robbins, illus. by Tyler Page, another mystery case for the Chicagoland Detective Agency; and four additions to the My Boyfriend Is a Monster teen romance series.

LERNER/MILLBROOK

Millbrook throws out the first pitch for Play Ball, Jackie!by Stephen Krensky, illus. by Joe Morse, about Jackie Robinson’s first major league game; Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes: And Other Tricky Tongue Twisters by Brian P. Cleary, illus. by Steve Mack, a book of wordplay; Cool! Whoa! Ah and Oh!: What Is an Interjection? by Brian P. Cleary, illus. by Brian Gable, a humorous look at this part of speech; and A Land of Big Dreamers: Voices of Courage in America by Neil Waldman, an illustrated collection of quotations from some of America’s most courageous voices.

Little, Brown reduces, reuses, and recycles with Arthur Turns Green by Marc Brown, the first new aardvark family adventure in nearly 10 years; Chamelia by Ethan Long, a picture book about a chameleon that would rather stand out than blend in; Bird in a Box by Andrea Pinkney, about three children in the Great Depression who are inspired by legendary boxer Joe Louis; Forgotten by Cat Patrick, a debut novel about a girl who seems to have no memory function; and We All Fall Down: Living with Addiction by Nic Sheff, in which the author of Tweak offers his account of struggling with relapse and rehab.

LITTLE, BROWN/LB KIDS

LB Kids raises its shield for Captain America to the Rescue by Lucy Rosen, an early reader storybook starring the comic book hero; Hoppy Bunnies, a Hop Movie Tie-in by Kirsten Mayer, a board book including finger puppets inspired by the forthcoming Universal Studios feature film, Hop; You Are My Little Cupcake by Amy Sklansky, illus. by Talitha Shipman, a board book celebrating love; and Whooo Loves You? by Sandra Magsamen, a lift-the-flap book that launches the Made with Love line.

LITTLE, BROWN/POPPY

Poppy makes it work with The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky, in which a vintage evening dress magically transports the girl wearing it to the Titanic; The Daughters Take the Stage by Joanna Philbin, third in the series about three 14-year-old best friends with famous parents; A Tale of Two Pretties by Lisi Harrison, the final installment of the Clique series; The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch, in which an unlikely Southern debutante discovers voodoo secrets and scandal beneath Savannah society; and Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, about two half-sisters navigating high school in Beverly Hills and vying for their movie star father’s attention.

MACMILLAN/FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX

FSG is on the case with Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, first in a series in which a teenage Sherlock Holmes solves his first murder mystery; Desert Elephants by Helen Cowcher, a picture book following the 300-mile migration of elephants south of Timbuktu; Moomin’s Little Book of Numbers by Tove Jansson, an early concept book; Death Sentence by Alexander Gordon Smith, book three in the Escape from Furnace series; and My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody, about a teen who uses a blog to let others make decisions for her.

MACMILLAN/FSG/FOSTER

Frances Foster Books is all charged up for Energy Island by Allan Drummond, the true story of a small Danish island that harnessed wind power to become energy independent; This Baby by Kate Banks, illus. by Gabi Swiatkowska, in which a girl anticipates the arrival of a new sibling; The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum, about what happens when twins get too old to share their baby blanket; Lunch-Box Dream by Tony Abbott, in which two white brothers visiting Civil War battlefields in the 1950s cross paths with a black family looking for a lost child; and The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner, about a teen boy coping with the death of his best friend.

MACMILLAN/FEIWEL AND FRIENDS

Feiwel and Friends says yeah, yeah, yeah for The Girl Who Became the Beatles by Greg Taylor, in which a 16-year-old’s wish for her band to be as famous as the Beatles comes true; The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by Catherynne Valente, about an ordinary girl who is recruited to retrieve an enchanted talisman; Tumford the Terrible by Nancy Tillman, a picture book starring a mischievous cat; Princess Zelda and the Frog by Carol Gardner, photos by Shane Young, a re-envisioning of a fairy tale starring Zelda the bulldog; and Razorland by Ann Aguirre, a teen adventure set in postapocalyptic New York City.

MACMILLAN/HENRY HOLT

Henry Holt wags its tail for Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz, an introduction to the pups who star in Katz’s adult books about the farm; Shout! Shout It Out! by Denise Fleming, a concept book that encourages young readers to shout out what they know; Suryia And Roscoe by Bhagavan Antle with Thea Feldman, photos by Barry Bland, a true story of the friendship between a dog and an orangutan; The Inquisitor’s Apprentice by Chris Moriarty, illus. by Mark Geyer, a middle-grade fantasy set in turn-of-the-century New York; and Ruby Red by Kristen Gier, about a girl who discovers her family’s time-travel gene.

MACMILLAN/HOLT/OTTAVIANO

Christy Ottaviano Books pulls its punches for My Life as a Stuntboy by Janet Tashjian, a follow-up to My Life as a Book; Are You Awake? by Sophie Blackall, an anti-bedtime story; Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld, starring a small cloud determined to do something big and important; Fabulous: A Portrait of Andy Warhol by Bonnie Christensen, a picture-book biography of the Pop Art icon; and Josie and the Barker Boys: Missing on Superstition Mountain: Book 1 by Elise Broach, in which Henry and his brothers explore a mysterious mountain where many people have disappeared.

MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK

Roaring Brook gets ready for some sleuthing with Homefront, Book 1 by Kathryn Miller Haines, starring a teen girl whose father has been injured in WWII and now needs her help with his fledgling detective agency; Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tom Greenwald, about a boy who is determined to keep his record of never reading a book; White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick, a modern gothic thriller about a girl who discovers a small town’s dark past; and a board book edition of My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann.

MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK/FIRST SECOND

First Second commences countdown with Astronaut Academy by Dave Roman, about Hakata Soy’s wacky adventures at this special school; Zita the Space Girl by Ben Hatke, in which the disappearance of Zita’s best friend launches her into a galaxy-spanning adventure; Hera by George O’Connor, third in the Olympians series of graphic novels; and Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol, about Anya’s jealous ghost best friend.

MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK/FLASH POINT

Flash Point heads for the hills with Gold! Gold from the American River!: January 24, 1848: The Day the Gold Rush Began by Don Brown, new to the Actual Time series of early chapter books; and Stuff that Scares Your Pants Off! by Glenn Murphy, illus. by Mike Phillips, a lighthearted exploration of the things that keep kids awake at night.

MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK/PORTER

Neal Porter Books bats its eyelashes with Flirt Club by Cathleen Daly, a novel told entirely through notes, diary entries, and emails about two middle-school drama geeks who form a support group for those with romantic troubles; Bad Kitty and the Baby by Nick Bruel, a chapter book about Bad Kitty’s encounters with a newborn; 10 by Marion Bataille, an interactive book about numbers by the creator of ABC3D; Otto: The Boy Who Loved Cars by Kara LaReau, illus. by Scott Magoon, about a boy who loves cars so much he turns into one; and Tyrannosaurus Dad by Liz Rosenberg, illus. by Matt Myers, a picture book starring a boy whose dad is, in fact, a T rex.

MACMILLAN/SQUARE FISH

Square Fish follows the light with Shimmer by Alyson Noël, which follows the Immortals spinoff, Radiance.

Marshall Cavendish laces up its cleats for Soccer Hour by Carol Nevius, illus. by Bill Thomas, a look at all that happens in an hour of kids playing soccer; Memento Nora by Angie Smibert, about three teens who secretly create a comic book of their memories in a future dystopian world; Odd Ball by Timothy Tocher, illus. by Stacy Curtis, a collection of baseball moments told through comics; Octopus Soup by Mercer Mayer, a wordless picture book about an octopus who escapes the clutches of an eager cook; and Zitface by Emily Howse, in which a teenage actress’s world is turned upside down when she develops cystic acne.

NORTHSOUTH

NorthSouth Books lets Marcus Pfister ask Questions, Questions with a story about that ever-popular question, “Why?”; Seven Little Mice Go to School by Kazuo Iwamura, creator of the Hooray series; and Lila Prap’s Doggies, about kids’ best friend.

PAPERCUTZ

Papercutz laughs it up with Breaking Down, a parody of Twilight; The Smurfs #4: The Smurfette, in which the evil wizard Gargamel creates a female Smurf to cause trouble; Geronimo Stilton #7: Dinosaurs in Action, about an adventure in the Cretaceous period; Disney Fairies #5: Tinker Bell Against the Pirates, in which the fairies must steal bananas from Captain Hook’s ship; and The Hardy Boys the New Case Files #2: Break-Up! in which Frank and Joe become solo crime-fighters.

PELICAN

Pelican practices the Golden Rule with Share with Brother by Steven Layne, illus. by Ard Hoyt, in which a boy learns the rewards of sharing with his sibling; Amazon Alphabet by Johnette Downing, an alphabetical exploration of the rainforest; There’s a Dragon in the Library by Dianne de Las Casas, illus. by Marita Gentry, in which no one believes Max’s tale of a creature living in the library; Eclipse of the Jaguar by Richard Trout, another MacGregor Family Adventure; and Paradise Lost by Steven L. Layne, a YA novel in which golden boy Troy goes missing shortly after former wallflower Chase gains some popularity.

PENGUIN/DIAL

Dial takes its corner with Joe Louis: A Nation’s Hope by Matt de la Peña, illus. by Kadir Nelson, a picture book about the historic boxing match between Louis and Max Schmeling; Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad Playdate by Jacky Davis and David Soman, Lulu’s latest adventure; Dragonbreath: Lair of the Bat Monster by Ursula Vernon, in which Danny gets kidnapped King-Kong style by a giant bat monster; No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko, a reality-bending novel in which three children travel to their uncle’s house but find themselves in an unfamiliar place with no idea of how to get home; and Chime by Franny Billingsley, a supernatural romance set at the turn of the last century.

PENGUIN/DUTTON

Dutton covers its ears for Suki, the Very Loud Bunny by Carmel D’Amico, illus. by Steve D’Amico, starring a mischievous bunny; Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith, in which a teen learns there is life after first love; Leverage by Joshua Cohen, spotlighting the effects of steroid use and bullying on two different teen athletes; and Where She Went by Gayle Forman, in which Adam and Mia reunite three years after the accident that tore them apart in If I Stay.

PENGUIN/GROSSET & DUNLAP

Grosset & Dunlap fires up the curling iron for Hello, Gorgeous!: #1 Blowout by Taylor Morris, a new series set in a beauty salon; Ladybug Girl Sticker Stories, illus. by David Soman and Jacky Davis, an interactive book with sticker scenes; Tinga Tinga Tales: When It’s Time to Eat, a concept book tie-in to the animated preschool series; Archie Comics: Betty and Veronica, a chapter book introducing classic characters of Riverdale; and Sir John Hargrave’s Mischief Maker’s Manual by Sir John Hargrave, a book about pranking.

PENGUIN/PHILOMEL

Philomel pulls into spring with Red Wagon by Renata Liwska, in which a girl turns a trip to the market into an adventure with her new wagon; We Are Not Eaten by Yaks: An Accidental Adventure by C. Alexander London, illus. by Jonny Duddle, about twin siblings who have the most excellent adventures—all accidentally; Z. Raptor by Steve Cole, the companion to Z. Rex, about warring tribes of dinosaurs; Stickman Odyssey by Christopher Ford, in which Homer’s epic gets a humorous stick figure makeover; and Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, about a Lithuanian girl deported from her home in 1941 and forced to fight for her life under cruel conditions.

PENGUIN/PSS!

PSS! orders delivery with Pete and Penny’s Pizza Puzzles: #1 Case of the Secret Sauce by Aaron Rosenberg, illus. by David Harrington, an interactive, puzzle-filled mystery; A,B,C,D, Eat! by Ed Heck, an alphabet book featuring the antics of a hungry goat; Happiness Is... by Gerald Kelley, a pop-up about simple pleasures; Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom: The Novel, a tie-in to the 2011 DreamWorks animated film; and an 8x8 edition of Little Miss Sunshine, illus. by Roger Hargreaves.

PENGUIN/PUFFIN

Puffin slinks into spring with a picture book version of Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, illus. by Quentin Blake.

PENGUIN/PUTNAM

G.P. Putnam’s Sons has the season figured out with Ask Elizabeth by Elizabeth Berkley, an advice book for teen girls; Baby’s First Year by Rick Walton, illus. by Caroline Jayne Church, a celebration of baby milestones; Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise by Tomie dePaola, a picture book that honors God’s creation; Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln by Patricia Polacco, in which two boys travel back in time to meet President Lincoln; and Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider by Jean Fritz, a biography of this founding father.

PENGUIN/RAZORBILL

Razorbill goes the distance with Across the Universe by Beth Revis, about a cryogenically frozen teen passenger on a massive spaceship who is woken 50 years before the ship’s scheduled landing; Karma by Cathy Ostlere, a love story set in India and told in verse; Shark Wars by E.J. Altbacker, a new multi-platform series about an exiled reef shark who discovers his destiny as a leader of the ocean; Subject Seven by James Moore, in which a human experiment goes awry; and Department 19 by William Hill, in which a teen boy joins a secret agency of vampire hunters.

PENGUIN/SPEAK

Speak sets the alarm for Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach, a paranormal romance that includes some history of Italy’s Medici family; XVI by Julia Karr, a thriller set in a dystopian near-future; Exile by Anne Osterlund, a sequel to Aurelia; and Forgiven by Janet Fox, a companion novel to Faithful.

Viking makes all the right moves with Cut and Run by Sarah Dessen, about a girl adjusting to her new romance and friends; Madeline at the White House by John Bemelmans Marciano, in which Madeline accompanies the President’s lonely daughter on a magical nighttime tour of Washington, D.C.; Close to Famous by Joan Bauer, in which Foster tries to make the world better, one cupcake at a time; Eona by Allison Goodman, the sequel to Eon; and So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti, about a girl who follows her crush to New York City.

PENGUIN/WARNE

Warne hops into spring with Peekawho?; Happy Easter, Peter!; Peter Rabbit Finger Puppet Book; Munch! Crunch!: A Sound Book; and Where’s Peter, all novelty titles featuring characters created by Beatrix Potter.

RANDOM HOUSE

Random House stands its ground with The Resisters by Eric Nylund, a sci-fi novel for teens; Ollie & Moone by Diane Kredensor, photos by Sandra Kress, a debut picture book starring two feline friends in Paris; Pretty Penny Sets Up Shop by Devon Kinch, in which Penny informs readers on money basics; Squish #1: Super Amoeba by Matthew Holm and Jennifer L. Holm, starting a graphic novel series about a grade-school amoeba; and Welcome to Bordertown, compiled by Holly Black and Ellen Kushner, a YA anthology inspired by Terri Windling’s urban fantasy world.

RANDOM HOUSE/COREY

Robin Corey Books counts down to spring with One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Salina Yoon, a concept book about numbers; Grandma Calls Me Gigglepie by J.D. Lester, illus. by Hiroe Nakata, an exploration of animal behavior and the bond between grandparents and grandbabies; and Monkey and Crocodile by Luana Rinaldo, two new Clackers books.

RANDOM HOUSE/DELACORTE checks the forecast for The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges, which kicks off the Katerina Alexandrovna series starring a young necromancer in 1888 Russia; The Iron Thorn by Caitlyn Kittredge, first in the Iron Codex fantasy series; Rotters by Daniel Kraus, a coming-of-age novel; The Warlock by Michael Scott, fifth in the Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel series; and Passion by Lauren Kate, the latest in the Fallen series.

RANDOM HOUSE/FICKLING

David Fickling Books is purrfectly prepared for spring with Paw Power by Kitty Wells, illus. by Joanna Harrison, the kick-off title in the Pocket Cats series about a girl’s ceramic cats figurines that magically come to life; Johnny Swanson by Eleanor Updale, a middle-grade mystery set in 1929; Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne, illus. by Oliver Jeffers, in which a boy runs deep into the forest and meets an unusual toymaker; Mistress of the Storm by M.L. Welsh, a debut fantasy about an unlikely girl heroine; and Tall Story by Candy Gourlay, in which a girl gets to know her eight-foot tall half-brother.

RANDOM HOUSE/GOLDEN

Golden Books waits on the balcony for Gnomeo & Juliet: The Junior Novelization by Molly McGuire Woods, a tie in to the forthcoming animated film; SpongeBob SquarePants: Top of the Class! by James Killeen, in which SpongeBob heads off to school; Richard Scarry’s Egg in the Hole by Richard Scarry, a touch-and-feel title; Thomas & Friends: Slide and Seek!, a novelty book with sliding tabs; and Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown, one of several titles in a new Golden Baby line of padded board books.

RANDOM HOUSE/KNOPF

Knopf sails into spring with Three by the Sea by Mini Grey, in which some animal pals’ idyllic life by the sea is turned upside down by a mysterious stranger; Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt, illus. by Louise Yates, a novel following the adventures of a kitchen mouse; The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall, the third tale about the Penderwick sisters; The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens, first in a fantasy trilogy about children with unimaginable power; and Throat by R.A. Nelson, a supernatural thriller in which a vampire is on 17-year-old Emma’s trail.

Wendy Lamb Books turns spring on its head with Flip by Martyn Bedford, a debut novel and psychological thriller; Flying Feet by Patricia Reilly Giff, third in the series set at Zigzag Afterschool Center; Calvin Coconut: Hero of Hawaii by Graham Salisbury, in which Calvin rescues a friend from a wild storm; Calli Be Gold by Michele Hurwitz, starring Calli, the untalented member of a successful family, and A Million Miles from Boston by Karen Day, a summer story of change, set on the Maine coast.

RANDOM HOUSE/SCHWARTZ & WADE

Schwartz & Wade blows out the candles for The Best Birthday Party Ever by Jennifer LaRue Huget, illus. by LeUyen Pham, about a girl who leaves plenty of time to plan the perfect bash; Daisy’s Ball by Chris Raschka, a wordless picture book about a dog who loses her favorite toy; I’m Not by Pam Smallcomb, illus. by Robert Weinstock, a picture book starring two crocodiles; The Watcher by Jeanette Winter, a picture-book biography of Jane Goodall; and Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming, a biography of the aviatrix for middle graders.

RANDOM HOUSE/TRICYCLE

Tricycle Press hits all the right notes with For the Love of Music by Elizabeth Rusch, illus. by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, the story of Mozart’s sister, Maria, a fellow musical genius; Chicken, Chicken, Duck by Nadia Krilanovich, a humorous picture book; Big Bunny by Betseygail Rand and Colleen Rand, about a rabbit who finds an Easter job that suits her; Donovan’s Big Day by Lesléa Newman, illus. by Mike Dutton, about the wedding of a boy’s two mothers; and A Dazzling Display of Dogs by Betsy Franco, illus. by Michael Wertz, a collection of concrete poems spotlighting the antics of canines.

READER’S DIGEST

Reader’s Digest checks its engine with Tractor Trouble by Sarah Pitt, in which Farmer Brown’s unattended tractor proves irresistible to the animals; Good Night Sun, Hello Moon by Karen Viola, illus. by Chi Chung, a bedtime story starring a wide-awake bunny; Me Loves Cookie, featuring a hungry Cookie Monster; Fisher Price Farm Friends, a touch-and-feel book set on Farmer Jed’s farm; and Barbie Loves Lacey, a die-cut shaped book about Barbie and her pampered dog.

RUNNING PRESS

Running Press grabs a mop for Messy M’Cheany by Kathie Lee Gifford, a rhyming picture book about a messy kid who changes his ways; Colors of Love by Salina Yoon, a die-cut concept book; Picklicious by Andy Myer, in which a boy who loves pickles ends up in a pickle factory; The Wikkeling by Steve Arnston, a futuristic middle-grade novel; and Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan, a YA novel set in turbulent 1965 Los Angeles.

SCHOLASTIC INC.

Scholastic sways into spring with Dear America: Like a Willow Tree by Lois Lowry, about a girl who is orphaned during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 and sent to live in a Shaker community.

SCHOLASTIC/BLUE SKY PRESS

Blue Sky Press hits the road with LaRue Across America: Postcards from the Vacation by Mark Teague, in which dry-witted pup Ike LaRue sends postcards from the vacation he’s forced to take with two quarrelsome cats.

SCHOLASTIC/CARTWHEEL

Cartwheel is sweet on Benny’s Chocolate Bunny by Janee Trasler, about a special Easter treat; You Are My Sunshine by Jimmie Davis, illus. by Caroline Jayne Church, a board book edition of the classic song; How Do Dinosaurs Play All Day? by Jane Yolen, illus. by Mark Teague, a novelty book with stickers; Hippo & Rabbit in Three Short Tales by Jeff Mack, kicking off a new early reader series with graphic-novel elements, and Gus Gets Scared by Frank Remkiewicz, an early reader about Gus’s nighttime campout.

Chicken House has designs on Threads by Sophia Bennett, in which three trendy London girls meet a refugee girl who is a fabulous designer; Numbers: The Chaos by Rachel Ward, a sequel to Numbers; Flood & Fire by Emily Diamand, a companion to Raiders’ Ransom; Closer by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, fourth in the Tunnels series; and I’m Me! by Sara Sheridan, illus. by Margaret Chamberlain, a picture book about a girl’s game of dress-up.

SCHOLASTIC EN ESPAÑOL

Scholastic en Español plays ball with Clifford juega béisbol/Clifford Makes the Team by Norman Bridwell, in which Clifford attempts to find a bat his size; Cantaba la rana/The Frog Was Singing by Rita Rosa Ruesga, illus. by Soledad Sebastián, a collection of Latin American nursery rhymes; Las aventuras de Uuk y Gluk, cavernícolas del future y maestros de kung fu/The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey, the start of a saga involving two cavemen; and El Dr. Maníaco contra Robby Schwartz/Dr. Maniac vs Robby Schwartz by R.L. Stine, fifth in the Goosebumps HorrorLand series.

SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX

Graphix knows its mission with Missile Mouse: Rescue on Tankium3 by Jake Parker, in which Missile Mouse attempts to free a planet from evil King Bognarsh; Pilot & Huxley #1 by Dan McGuiness, about two best friends zapped to another dimension; and Bone: Quest for the Spark, Book One by Tom Sniegoski, illus. by Jeff Smith, a return to the world of BONE featuring a turnip farmer named Tom who must stop a dark force.

SCHOLASTIC/LEVINE

Arthur A. Levine Books is on the hunt with The Disappearing 7th Grader by Lisa Yee, in which a shy kid draws the attention of the school’s biggest bully; Lost & Found: Three by Shaun Tan, a volume collecting three of Tan’s stories: The Red Tree, The Lost Thing, and The Rabbits; The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone, in which Felicity decodes letters from her spy parents who are overseas; Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy, about the changes an Afghan girl experiences when American soldiers arrive in her village; and Season of Secrets by Sally Nicholls, in which a girl overcomes tragedy with the help of a friend.

SCHOLASTIC/LICENSED PUBLISHING

Scholastic Licensed Publishing rides the rails with The Chugger Championship; Welcome to Chuggington, and Braking Brewster, inaugural titles in the new Chuggington series starring three trains; Star Wars: Lightsabres: Weapons of the Force, a guide to these weapons, featuring four gatefolds; and Angel Cat Sugar: A Special Easter, a die-cut board book.

SCHOLASTIC/LITTLE SCHOLASTIC

Little Scholastic takes a guess with Who Am I? by Salina Yoon, an interactive concept book with pull-out tabs; and Uh Oh, I’m Sorry and Please & Thank You by Jill Ackerman, illus. by Michelle Berg, two oversize lift-the-flap books about manners.

SCHOLASTIC/ORCHARD

Orchard Books takes a bite out of Bulldog’s Big Day by Kate McMullan, illus. by Pascal Lemaître, in which Bulldog searches for the perfect job; Story County: Here We Come! by Derek Anderson, about animal friends down on the farm; and Last Dragon Chronicles: Fire World by Chris d’Lacey, which joins this fantasy series.

SCHOLASTIC PAPERBACKS

Scholastic Paperbacks is fresh as a daisy with Too Many Blooms by Catherine Daly, first in the middle-grade Petal Pushers series about drama at a florist’s shop; Goosebumps HorrorLand #20 by R.L. Stine, more adventure at the world’s scariest theme park; Okay, So Maybe I Don’t Have Superpowers by Jim Benton, which joins the Dear Dumb Diary series; Callie by Ellen Miles, adding to the Kitty Corner series; and The Missing Magic by Lexi Connor kicks off the B. Magical series starring 11-year-old budding witch Beatrix.

SCHOLASTIC/POINT

Point opens its eyes with Clarity by Kim Harrington, about a psychic teen who tries to solve a murder in which her brother is the prime suspect; Abandon by Meg Cabot, in which Maxine attempts to uncover the mystery surrounding a tragic death of someone close to her; Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen, in which enchantresses help grant Hazel’s wish to know her birth mother; Consumed by Kate Cann, a sequel to Possessed; and Party Girl by Sabrina James, featuring a “perfect” Sweet 16 bash.

SCHOLASTIC PRESS

Scholastic Press pins on a corsage for Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg, boarding school Austen with a twist; Shoe-la-la! by Karen Beaumont, illus. by LeUyen Pham, in which four friends shop for party shoes; Tony Baloney by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illus. by Edwin Fotheringham, starring a spunky penguin; Web of Air by Philip Reeve, a follow-up to Fever Crumb; and Strings Attached by Judy Blundell, a tale of murder and intrigue sent in 1950s New York City.

Simon & Schuster pulls up its bootstraps for Giant Steps by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, illus. by Sean Qualls, an inspirational book featuring people who have had the self-confidence to take “giant steps”; Say Hello to Zorro! by Carter Goodrich, a story of friendship between two dogs; The Lo-Down by Lauren “Lo” Bosworth, an advice book about dating and love from the reality TV personality; Choker by Elizabeth Woods, a YA thriller debut; and The Last Chemical Garden by Lauren DeStefano, first in a new trilogy set in a dystopian future.

S&S/ALADDIN

Aladdin turns on its flashlight for The Black by D.J. MacHale, second in the Morpheus Road trilogy; A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull, which kicks off an epic fantasy trilogy; a second Doctor Proctortitle by Jo Nesbo, illus. by Mike Lowery, trans. by Tara Chace; and Camo Girl by Kekla Magoon, the story of a biracial girl growing up in the Las Vegas suburbs.

S&S/ATHENEUM

Atheneum goes with the flow for The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, a picture book set during the Depression; I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen Rosenthal, illus. by Marc Rosenthal, in which a boy MUST have a favorite toy; Owly & Wormy, Friends All Aflutter! by Andy Runton, a wordless story of friendship starring Runton’s comic book characters; Kat, Incorrigible by Stephen Burgis, the debut title in a Regency-era fantasy trilogy, and Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O’Roark Dowell, a story of quirky characters who believe that “normal” is overrated.

S&S/BEACH LANE

Beach Lane Books is feeling lucky with Fortune Cookies by Albert Bitterman, illus. by Chris Raschka, a picture book in which a girl named Fortune receives a package containing seven fortune cookies, one for each day of the week; and Noodle & Lou by Liz Garton Scanlon, illus. by Arthur Howard, the tale of two unlikely—yet supportive—friends.

S&S/LITTLE SIMON

Little Simon whistles for Where Is Baby’s Puppy? by Karen Katz, a lift-the-flap board book; Love Is You & Me by Monica Sheehan, spotlighting simple acts that demonstrate love; and Color Play! by Romero Britto, an interactive format that allows readers to color in unfinished scenes.

S&S/LITTLE SIMON INSPIRATIONS

Little Simon Inspirations lends a hand with You Can Be a Friend! by Tony Dungy and Lauren Dungy, illus. by Ron Mazellan, first in a series of inspirational titles by the former NFL coach and his wife; Victoria Osteen’s Toddler Bible by Victoria Osteen, an adaptation that contains interpretation of key Bible verses for young children.

S&S/MCELDERRY

Margaret K. McElderry Books licks its lips for The Poison Eaters: And Other Stories by Holly Black, a collection of 12 fantasy short stories for teens; The Mortal Instruments: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare, fourth in this supernatural fantasy series; Mama, Why? by Karma Wilson, illus. by Simon Mendez, a tender bedtime picture book; and Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson, illus. by Matthew Cordell, about a little frog’s first leap out into the big, scary world.

S&S/SIMON PULSE

Simon Pulse plots a course for Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott, in which Abby must learn to trust herself; Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann, a sexy paranormal YA thriller; Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton, a teen romance about a descendant of Medusa, set in New Orleans; and Stay by Deb Caletti, a tale of obsessive love.

S&S/SIMON SPOTLIGHT

Simon Spotlight fires up the oven with Olivia Cooks Up a Surprise, adapted by Emily Sollinger, illus. by Jared Osterhold, in which Olivia the pig makes something special for her mother; Dora the Explorer: Dora and the Unicorn King by Ellie Seiss, a ready-to-read adventure; SpongeBob SquarePants: The Bikini Bottom Bike Race by Scott Sonneborn, illus. by Warner McGee, about SpongeBob and Patrick’s efforts to help Squidward win; and Ni Hao, Kai-lan: Kai-lan Loves YeYe!, adapted by Mickie Matheis, illus. by Kellee Riley, about Ka-lan’s beloved grandfather.

S&S/WISEMAN

Paula Wiseman Books quacks up with Mr. Duck Means Business by Tammi Sauer, illus. by Jeff Mack, a humorous picture book about friendship; Three Little Mermaids by Mara Van Fleet, a touch-and-feel novelty book; Louise the Big Cheese and the Ooh-la-la Charm School by Elise Primavera, illus. by Diane Goode, in which Louise tries to make the cut at a friend’s VIP charm school; Eliza’s Freedom Road: An Underground Railroad Diary by Jerdine Nolen, chronicling 12-year-old Eliza’s journey, and Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan, a coming-of-age tale set in England and India.

Simply Read is seeing double with Duet by Sleepless Kao, about a girl and her imaginative twin; Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illus. by Tove Jansson, a newly illustrated edition; How To by Julie Morstad, a guide for children about how to do everything from make a sandwich to acting brave; Pussycat, Pussycat by Dan Bar-el, illus. by Rae Mate, an expansion of the nursery rhyme in picture book format; and The Dragon of Orkney by Cindy Heinrichs, starring a Scottish boy thrust into the world of the Vikings.

SLEEPING BEAR PRESS

Sleeping Bear Press bundles up with Willow’s Snow Day by Denise Brennan-Nelson, illus. by Cyd Moore, in which Willow raises the spirits of a lonely neighbor; Lipman Pike: America’s First Home Run King by Richard Michelson, illus. by Zak Pullen, a picture book biography; Tugg and Teeny by J. Patrick Lewis, illus. by C. Denise, first in a beginning reader series about a gorilla and a monkey; and Pirate Captain’s Daughter by Eve Bunting, in which a teenage girl disguises herself so she can work on a pirate ship.

SOURCEBOOKS FIRE

Sourcebooks Fire reflects on the season with Eyes in the Mirror by Julia Mayer, a YA debut written by a teenage student at Brooklyn’s 826NYC writing program; Traveling Instructions by Kim Culbertson, in which a girl takes a tour of Italy to nurse a broken heart; Summer by Eden Maguire, latest in the Beautiful Dead paranormal mystery series; My Sister’s War by Amy S. Wilensky, in which two sisters disguise themselves as soldiers; and The Summer of Sneaking Out by Amanda Howells, a sequel to The Summer of Skinny Dipping.

SOURCEBOOKS JABBERWOCKY

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky turns up the amp for Rock God: The Legend of B.J. Levine by Barnabas Miller, about a middle-grade boy’s dreams of rock stardom; Bindi Wildlife Adventures: Camouflage by Bindi Irwin, first in a series of adventure tales for middle graders; The Quest of the Warrior Sheep by Christopher and Christine Russell, a humorous crime caper starring sheep; You Are a Gift to the World by Laura Duksta, a picture book celebration of children; and Dream Big, Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi, a picture book about pursuing one’s goals.

TAYLOR TRADE

Taylor Trade Publishing lauds spring with Mardy Murie Did!: Grandmother of Conservation by Jequita Potts McDaniel, illus. by Jon Van Zyle, a picture book introduction to the titular wilderness preservationist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

TUNDRA BOOKS

Tundra Books sums it up with From Then to Now by Christopher Moore, illus. by Andrej Krystoforski, an exploration of our past and present; Ones and Twos by Marthe and Nell Jocelyn, an introduction to counting; Stones for My Father by Trilby Kent, a story about war, loss, and redemption; and four titles by Patrice Racine, which launch the Adventures of Cosmo: Our Hero of the Environment series.

WALKER

Walker makes a wish with My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison, a companion to My Fair Godmother; Kennedy Through the Lens by Martin W. Sandler, a biography of President John F. Kennedy; and Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan, illus. by Mike Lowery, a picture book that celebrates friendship.