As you're weaving through the aisles, keep your eyes peeled for these offerings from children's book publishers.
Check Out These Debuts
Hero by Perry Moore (Hyperion, booth 3957), about a superhero coming to terms with his superpowers and his sexuality.
Spud by John van de Ruit (Penguin/Razorbill, 2757), a bestseller in South Africa, about a boy in boarding school.
Derby Girl by Shauna Cross (Holt, 3648). Bliss's mother wants her to compete for the Miss Blue Bonnet crown, but Bliss takes up roller derby.
The Seems: The Glitch in Sleep by John Hulme and Michael Wexler (Bloomsbury, 3621). A seventh grader is sent to fix some damage in the world of sleep. Will he fix it, or will this be his first and last assignment?
The Truancy by Isamu Fukui (Tor Teen, 3638). A group of former students try to take down the system by any means possible.
Alex and the Ironic Gentleman by Adrienne Kress (Miramax/Weinstein, 3770), about an orphan who goes on a quest to rescue her teacher, who's been kidnapped by pirates.
Long-awaited Sequels
Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (Knopf, 4238), the sequel to the 2000 hit Stargirl.
Fell by David Clements-Davies (Abrams/Amulet, 4374), sequel to the 2002 The Sight.
The Land of Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer (Atheneum/Jackson, 3938). The children from The Sea of Trolls brave their worst nightmare.
Extras by Scott Westerfeld (Simon Pulse, 3938), the fourth book in the Uglies series.
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (Delacorte, 4238), the conclusion to the trilogy that began with A Great and Terrible Beauty.
New from Popular Authors
The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles (Harcourt, 3420), a novel of family, friendship, poetry and baseball.
The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech (Harper/Cotler, 3339), a tale about spoiled royals and the peasant children who transform their lives.
Deadline by Chris Crutcher (Greenwillow, 3339). When a senior in high school learns he has a fatal disease, he decides to go for all the things he's dreamed of.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic Press, 302), follows the story of 11-year-old Elijah, a first-generation freeborn child in 1860.
Guyaholic by Carolyn Mackler (Candlewick, 403), V, from Vegan Virgin Valentine, is back, and this time she heads out on a solo cross-country trip.
The Garden of Eve by K.L. Going (Harcourt, 3420), a tale about a girl grieving for her mother, a town with a curse and a mysterious apple seed.
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex (Hyperion, 3957) a 12-year-old is pitted against an entire race of aliens, with photos, drawings and comic sequences.
The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L. Konigsburg (Atheneum/Seo, 3938). While cleaning out a neighbor's house, two boys become unlikely friends.
Boy Toy by Barry Lyga (Houghton, 3756), about a teen coming to terms with his involvement with his teacher.
New Graphic Stories
The Arrival by Shaun Tan (Scholastic/Levine, 302). An immigrant's experience as he travels across the ocean to build a better future for his family.
Pitch Black by Youme Landowne and Anthony Horton (Cinco Puntos, 2453).
A biography of Anthony Horton's life as an artist who lives in the tunnels underneath NYC's subway.
In the Sports Arena
Beanball by Gene Fehler (Clarion, 3756). A pro baseball prospect gets hit in the face and loses sight in one eye.
Slam Dunk by Donna King (Kingfisher, 3756), a novel about basketball written especially for girls.
Gym Candy by Carl Deuker (Houghton, 3756), an exploration of fair play versus the determination to win.
Adult Authors Delve into the Children's Market
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Little, Brown, 3747), about an Indian boy who leaves his reservation in order to break away from the life he was destined to live.
Frannie in Pieces by Delia Ephron (Harper/Geringer, 3339), about a mysterious jigsaw puzzle that helps a girl come to terms with her father's death.
Don't Forget Nonfiction
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Junior Edition by David Borgenicht and Robin Epstein (Chronicle, 2639), a guide to outwitting siblings, surviving a school dance and other practical advice.
Do Not Open (DK, 2657), a reference guide to lost worlds and secret codes.
