Keeping up with a series is one habit we won’t break in the new year, with lots of additions to longstanding sagas hitting shelves. Young readers can venture across the ocean with a mermaid on a mission, visit a summer camp with eerie energy, jump back in time to see the rise of civil rights activists, and more in this month’s sequels and series entries.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Baby Ballers: Venus and Serena Williams by Bernadette Baillie, illus. by Marta Garatea (Silver Dolphin, Jan. 3 $7.99 board book; ISBN 978-1-6672-0241-9). The third book in the Baby Ballers series highlights these tennis superstars and sisters, their upbringing in Compton, Calif., and their training lessons with their father.
The Big Cheese by Janee Trasler (Simon Spotlight, Jan. 17 $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-665-91451-2). When Figgy and Boone find a wheel of cheese, they struggle to bring it back home until they discover the power of teamwork in the second book of the Figgy & Boone series.
Blue, Barry & Pancakes: Big Time Trouble by Dan & Jason (First Second, Jan. 3 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-250-81697-9). Blue, Barry, and Pancakes tackle Blue’s stage fright before a poetry reading in the fifth graphic novel of the series.
Bunnies in a Boat by Philip Ardagh, illus. by Ben Mantle (Candlewick, Jan. 31 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2833-5). In the follow-up to Bunnies on the Bus, the group of bunnies attempt to make a nautical trip ending with splashy results.
The Doggie Defendant by Milo Stone, illus. by Christopher Jordan (Simon Spotlight, Jan. 24 $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-665-91966-1). In the second book in the Judge Kim and the Kids’ Court series, Kim must determine who’s the perpetrator ruining another child’s birthday party celebration.
Emma on Thin Icing (Graphic Novel) by Coco Simon, illus. by Glass House Graphics (Simon Spotlight, Jan. 24 $11.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-665-91655-4). When Mia’s dream dress for her mother’s wedding it too expensive, she takes on more responsibilities than she can manage to pay for it in the third entry in The Cupcake Diaries: The Graphic Novel series.
Happy Easter, Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton (Little Simon/Boynton Bookworks, Jan. 31 $6.99; ISBN 978-1-665-92838-0). The 10th addition to the Little Pookie series follows Pookie celebrating Easter with a bunny-themed playdate.
History Comics: Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin by Tracey Baptiste; illus. by Shauna J. Grant (First Second, Jan. 3 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-17421-5; $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-17422-2). In the ninth book in the History Comics series, readers meet the two women known for being the catalysts for the Montgomery Bus Boycotts.
How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Be Kind? by Jane Yolen, illus. by Mark Teague (Scholastic Press, Jan. 3 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-338-82720-0). The latest in Yolen and Tague’s 20-year How Do Dinosaurs series traces how the friendly reptilians gained their charming demeanor.
Iggy Is the Hero of Everything by Annie Barrows, illus. by Sam Ricks (Putnam, Jan. 10 $7.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-9848-1338-1). In the third book in the Iggy series, Iggy’s heroic actions don’t land well with another child, and he learns to see how his troublemaking can have consequences for others.
The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali, illus. by Hatem Aly (Little, Brown, Jan. 10 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-7595-5570-9). In the sequel to The Proudest Blue, sibling picture day has arrived, and although Faizah loves her red dress, she and her sister don’t match. Will their photos be ruined, or can the kindness of their classmates save the day?
Noni the Pony Counts to a Million by Alison Lester (S&S/Beach Lane Books, Jan. 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-66592-228-9). The fourth book in the Noni the Pony series has a day full of adventure, counting along as she goes.
Oona in the Arctic by Kelly DiPucchio, illus. by Raissa Figueroa (HarperCollins/Tegen, Jan. 24 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-322232-8). The third book in the Oona series follows Oona the mermaid’s journey to help return a lost baby beluga whale back to her family.
Pizza and Taco: Rock Out! by Stephen Shaskan (Random House, Jan. 3 $9.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48124-0). Pizza and Taco’s fifth graphic novel adventure finds the duo attempting to expand their passion for music by creating a band.
Rhinos at Recess by Mary Pope Osborne, illus. by AG Ford (Random House, Jan. 3 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48850-8). Osborne makes her 37th entry to the Magic Tree House series, sending Jack and Annie to South Africa to save a rhinoceros from poachers.
Uni the Unicorn: Let’s Clean Up the Forest!; Tooth Fairy Helper by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illus. by Brigette Barrager (Random House, Jan. 3 $5.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-48419-7). In the newest release in the Uni the Unicorn series, Uni helps an exhausted tooth fairy make her trip to collect her bounty and clean up a littered forest.
We Are Here by Tami Charles, illus. by Bryan Collier (Scholastic, Jan. 3 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-338-75204-5). In this follow-up to All Because You Matter, the Black diaspora is celebrated through time, space, and history.
Novels
Camp Creepy by Kiersten White (Delacorte Press, Jan. 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-37912-7). The campers and counselors begin acting strange at the arrival of sibling duo Theo and Alex in the third book of the Sinister Summer series. Read our q&a with White about the middle grade series.
Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare (S&S/McElderry, Jan. 31 $24.99; ISBN 978-1-481-43193-4). In the third and final book of the Last Hours series, after running away to Paris, Cordelia Carstairs must return to London to fight the Prince of Hell with her allies and choose between the conflicting lovers in her life.
The Enchanted Bridge by Zetta Elliott, illus. by Cherise Harris (Random House, Jan. 17 $16.99; ISBN 978-0-593-42774-3). In the fourth Dragons in a Bag book, Jaxon’s determination to cross an enchanted bridge between realms to help magical creatures earn their freedom sets off a hidden enemy’s plans.
The Ever Storms by Amanda Foody (S&S/McElderry, Jan. 31 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-665-91075-0). The third book in the Wilderlore series finds Sea and Barclay traveling to the Desert to earn their licenses and partake in university traditions. But they must uncover the mystery behind sudden sandstorms that are putting everyone at the school at risk.
Manifest by Brittany Cavallaro. (HarperCollins/Tegen, Jan.17 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-284029-5). In the sequel to Muse, Claire struggles with her morals when she grows close to King Washington in order to survive, and fights to change the system that continues to keep men in control.
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson. (S&S/McElderry, Jan. 17 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-665-93561-6). In the sequel to Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and former rival Silas work together to stop Thorn Manor from trapping its residents of inside in time for a prestigious ball.
One Girl in All the World by Kendare Blake.(Disney-Hyperion, Jan. 31 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-368-07507-7). In the second in the In Every Generation series, slayer-witch Frankie Rosenberg faces off against a new enemy performing demon magic and creating portals between dimensions, while navigating the rocky relationships left after the slayer retreat implosion.
Return to Atlantis by Kate O’Hearn (Aladdin, Jan. 3 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-534-45694-5). In the sequel to Atlantis, thieves are homing in on Riley’s neighborhood and the Atlanteans who are living with her are growing increasingly ill, which leaves her with no choice but to return to Atlantis, even if it means confronting old foes.
Saving Cody by Brandon Wallace (Aladdin, Jan. 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-66591-662-2). Beloved canine member of the Wilder Boys Cody is under threat of being taken by animal control. To prevent that from happening, the Wilder Boys will have to track down their off-the-grid grandmother to find Cody a safe place to hide.
Team Meena by Karla Manternach, illus. by Mina Price (Simon & Schuster, Jan. 17 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-66590-392-9). In the fourth and final Meena Zee title, Meena navigates new and old friendships when her lifelong best friend moves away.
They Set the Fire by Daniel Kraus, illus. by Rovina Cai (Holt, Jan. 10 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-22444-6). In the finale of The Teddies Saga, Buddy and his allies must make their way to the court to finally uncover the reason teddies were discarded, from the founder of Furrington Industries himself.
