ABRAMS
Abrams takes a break with Recess! by Lane Smith, an interactive read-aloud (emphasis on loud) that invites readers to run wild with their imaginations, and join in on some school-sanctioned shenanigans; Holly Jolly Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham, which finds Kitty and Unicorn disagreeing on their favorite activity as they spend their first Christmas together; Body Beautiful by Susan Verde, illus. by Steph Littlebird, celebrating all of the beautiful things our bodies can be and do; A Lost Cause by Felicita Sala, peeking at the secret lives of the countless little things that go missing every day; and Never Give a Baby a Library Card by Erin Sandberg, illus. by Tom Booth, which imagines all the chaos babies would cause if we let them loose in the library.
ABRAMS/AMULET
Amulet feels seen with The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge, illus. by Emily Gravettan, following a girl’s journey through the ravenous, dangerous forest that has overtaken her world in order to save her community; Truth Is by Hannah V. Sawyerr, a YA novel in verse about teen pregnancy and the right to decide what happens to one’s own body; The Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch (Book One) by Laini Taylor, about a djinn-hunting fairy and her quest to save her world; Saber-Tooth by Robin Gow, focusing on a boy who digs up and loses control of a saber-tooth tiger; and The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy by Donna Barba Higuera, illus. by Juliana Perdomo, in which a young monster befriends the human child he’s been assigned to scare.
ABRAMS/APPLESEED
Appleseed checks off its chores with Little Bunny’s To-Do List by Helen Kemp Zax, illus. by Kiersten Eve Eagan, which gently teaches time management; Birdblock by Christopher Franceschelli, illus by Peski Studio, introducing an array of birds; Hanukkah 1-2-3!: A First Counting Book by Joy Nelkin Wieder, illus. by Aura Lewis, in which young readers learn to count as they are introduced to the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah; My First Disney Pal: Mickey Mouse!, which finds Mickey Mouse revisiting some of his most memorable moments; and Who’s Digging? by Katrina Moore, illus. by Benson Shum, focusing on the many vocations that involve digging.
ABRAMS/FANFARE
Fanfare keeps its head on a swivel with This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illus. by Nicole Goux, which finds Wilberton Academy thrown into chaos when the school’s beautiful and talented thespian is found dead the morning after opening night; Bones and Berserkers (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #13) by Nathan Hale, dishing out 13 creepy tales inspired by some of the scariest legends and true stories in American history; San Francisco Nightmare (Super Boba Café #2) by Nidhi Chanani, in which the aftershocks of finding the monster living under her nainai’s boba shop last summer follow Aria back home; Kindred Dragons (Book 1) by Sarah Mensinga, featuring a determined girl and the lonely dragon whose life depends on her; and Mermicorno Starfall—GAME ON! by Shea Fontana, illus. by Agnes Gabrowska, following the whole Mermi-crew on an adventure to save the Pearl Kingdom and thwart Ika Inkblot’s evil plan to steal all the magic from the ocean.
ABRAMS/MAGIC CAT
Magic Cat warms up at the barre for Anything Is Possible with Ballet by Steven McRae, illus. by Margaux Carpentier, a guide to mastering ballet from a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet; The Wizard’s Guide to Magical Experiments: 50 Science Tricks to Try at Home by Amanda Wood, illus. by Jo Rioux, presenting more than 50 chemistry experiments that, when performed, look like magic; The Stuff That Stuff Is Made of by Jonathan Drori, illus. by Raxenne Maniquiz, introducing readers to the knowledge of how the things we use every day are born from natural materials; The Night Creatures: Glow Worm by Robert Macfarlane, illus. by Luke Adam Hawker, first in a trilogy following a sun-seeking child who discovers a meadow illuminated by fireflies; and Things That Go in the 50 States by Kristen Lee, illus. by Martin Stanev, featuring more than 500 facts that showcase the vehicles, history, and pioneering spirit of the U.S.
APA/MAGINATION PRESS
Magination Press gathers ’round the campfire with S’More Is Enough by Brenda S. Miles, illus. by Monika Filipina, following Graham, a s’more who wonders if he should be something more or if he’s enough; Camilla and the Fall Festival by Julie Dillemuth, illus. by Laura Wood, in which a wild boar who loves maps must save the forest’s annual fall festival; Catching Kindness by Kara Mitchell, about a child who observes how his act of kindness grows, with one good deed leading to another and finally returning to him when he needs it most; Forest Bath by Jen Barton, illus. by Felishia Henditirto, centering the Japanese concept of forest bathing; and You Can Say Hi with Only a Smile by Merriam Sarcia Saunders, illus. by Tracy Bishop, an inclusive celebration of the many different ways that people might communicate.
AMICUS/AMICUS INK
Amicus Ink bundles up for Winter Is the Worst! by Dan Tavis, in which a penguin who hates winter discovers that there may be more to the season than just the weather; and Baby Pterosaur and Baby Spinosaurus by Julie Abery, illus. by Gavin Scott, two titles spotlighting baby dinosaurs finding the courage to explore their new surroundings.
ANDERSEN PRESS USA
Andersen Press USA plans a purrfect list with All the Cats by Nicola Kent, jam-packed with every kind of cat imaginable; A Bear Called Blue by Frances Stickley, illus. by Lucy Fleming, the tale of a lost teddy bear who never loses hope and years later makes his way back to his best friend Harriet; HELP! by Anna Brooke, illus. by Adam Ming, in which a hideous monster asks readers to help him reverse a spell and turn him back into his gorgeous self—or so he thinks; and The Box Full of Wonders by Emily Hamilton, illus. by Karl Newson, following a boy who uses his imagination to help him embrace his new siblings from a blended family.
ANDREWS MCMEEL
Andrews McMeel is seeing red with The Scarlet Ship by Claire Grimond, illus. by Léo Verrier, which finds Malo and his grandmother aboard the Scarlet Ship, a fantastical skyborne ship that’s overrun with art pirates; The Speed Reader by Matthew Cody, illus. by Zack Giallongo, in which Zander discovers an old book that gives him the power of super speed; T.S. Hullabaloo by Zack Rosenberg, illus. by Victor Fuste, telling the story of how a monster called T.S. Hullabaloo attaches itself to Jack, dramatically changing everything in his life; Legends in the Heights by Marguerite Dabaie, following Raia as she meets Bazzu the buraq, a legendary creature who offers to show her a world of folklore and magic in return for skateboarding lessons; and Finnik the Furious by Josh Ulrich, about 10-year-old Finnik who wants to be a monster hunter like his father, but is first tasked with watching over his baby sister.
ARTE PÚBLICO/PIÑATA
Piñata Books loads up on tissues for Cry by Alisa Lynn Valdés, in which 16-year-old goth filmmaker Grace Martínez is struck by lightning and suddenly able to communicate with ghosts, including a troubled Muslim teen named Mohammad whose death was ruled a suicide.
ASTRA/ASTRA YOUNG READERS
Astra Young Readers takes wing with Sparrow by Mary Tebo, illus. by E.B. Lewis, focused on a small bird nestled in a dusty crack in the Western Wall who feels a deep shift within, setting her on a path to overcoming her fear of change; Honor by Susan McClelland and Nataliia Mariichyn, recounting the true tale of two individuals—a Ukrainian teen in the early 2010s and a Jewish boy in hiding during WWII—whose lives are entwined through a box of letters; The Dangerous Alphabet Book by D.K. Ryland, following the playful antics of a dangerous yet feisty cast of characters; Curry Means More by Maria Marianayagam, illus. by Geeta Ladi, which finds a girl and her mother introducing a school friend to curry—and discovering all the things that curry means to them as they learn to make it together; and Look and Cook Sweet: A First Book of Recipes in Pictures by Valorie Fisher, featuring easy-to-follow visual recipes.
ASTRA/CALKINS CREEK
Calkins Creek makes its case with Tomatoes on Trial: The Fruit v. Vegetables Showdown by Lindsay H. Metcalf, illus. by Edwin Fotheringham, focused on the real-life battle between Team Fruit with produce king John Nix, and Team Vegetable—the U.S. government—in determining tomato classification; Pushing Hope: A Memoir of Survival by Raymond Santana, illus. by Keith Henry Brown, a YA graphic memoir from one of the five young men who were wrongly convicted of raping a woman in New York City’s Central Park in the late 1980s and were later exonerated; White House Secrets: Medical Lies and Cover-Ups by Gail Jarrow, which reveals shocking yet true stories of presidential medical cover-ups from the 19th and 20th centuries; Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder by Erin Frankel, illus. by Jasu Hu, spotlighting American poet Mary Oliver, showing how her love of nature and sense of wonder inspired her art; and What Louis Brandeis Knows: A Crusader For Social Justice Becomes a Supreme Court Justice by Richard Michelson, illus. by Stacy Innerst, centering Brandeis, a lawyer/activist turned Supreme Court Justice who drew on common sense and Jewish values to make a difference.
ASTRA/HIPPO PARK
Hippo Park opens the phone lines for On the Air with Dr. Doodlebug by Susan E. Goodman, illus. by Merrill Rainey, in which on-the-air bug expert Dr. Doodlebug answers questions from curious bugs; Itty Bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash by Constance Lombardo, illus. by Micah Player, which finds Betty tasked with choosing a school club; and Lucky New Year: Red, Blue, Green by Joyce Wan, introducing colors through the lens of the widely celebrated Chinese New Year.
ASTRA/TOON BOOKS
Toon Books quacks up with The Fire Breathing Duckling by Frank Cammuso, updating the story of an ugly duckling becoming a beautiful swan—but the odd duck out is a dragon; and Calamity Before Jane by Noah Van Scrivner, introducing Martha Jane Canary—the real-life survivor, orphan, and storyteller behind the Calamity Jane legend.
AUGSBURG FORTRESS/BEAMING BOOKS
Beaming Books takes shape with God’s Holy Body by Sharei Green and Rebeckah Selnick, illus. by Nicollette Faison, illustrating how we can see God in every body—queer, disabled, big and small, Black and brown, and more; Grandmother Moon by Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason, illus. by Trisha Waters, in which a Native grandmother tells her granddaughter stories about Grandmother Moon, her significance in their culture, and why they honor her; Gilbert and the Ghost by Heather Pierce Stigall, illus. by Jess Mason, the story of a boy who often feels invisible and leaves gifts for the ghost he believes lives at 632 Savannah Street, even though his family doesn’t believe the ghost is real; One Can Be by Pat Zietlow Miller, illus. by Annie Cron, a book about trusting yourself and your ideas, seeing a need, and connecting with others to meet it; and I Love My People by Kimberly Singleton, illus. by Kim Holt, a book-length poem that celebrates the legacy of Black people.
BAREFOOT
Barefoot Books shines on with Of the Sun by Xelena González, illus. by Emily Kewageshig, an anthem for Indigenous and First Nations youth celebrating their ancestral connection to the land and unshakable right to belong; The Remembering Candle by Alison Goldberg, illus. by Selina Alko, in which a child lights a yahrzeit candle on the anniversary of his grandfather’s death, in the Jewish tradition of remembrance; Some Days I’m the Wind by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, illus. by Dinara Mirtalipova, exploring a wide range of human emotions and modeling mindful acceptance of all feelings; and Every Body Move by Jenna Elyse Johnson, illus. by Ananya Rao-Middleton, which finds children of all abilities showing off the mobility aids and tools that help them navigate their world.
BEHRMAN HOUSE/APPLES & HONEY
Apples & Honey plans a sweet season with Lily’s Hong Kong Honey Cake by Erica Lyons, illus. by Bonnie Pang, about a Rosh Hashanah honey cake that reminds a girl and her family of Jewish traditions and home as they must leave Vienna for Shanghai and then Hong Kong during WWII; Hallelujah: The Story of Leonard Cohen, by Alicia Jo Rabins, illus. by Gene Pendon, focuses on musician Cohen’s struggle to complete the song “Hallelujah,” which was ultimately embraced worldwide as a masterpiece; A Place Called Galveston by Andrea Shapiro, illus. by Valerya Milovanova, chronicling the journey of thousands of Jews escaping antisemitism in early 20th-century Russia, traveling through Galveston, Tex.; Claudia Said Si! The Story of Claudia Scheinbaum by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, illus. by Velez Aguilera, spotlighting the life and career of social justice activist, Nobel-winning scientist, and first woman (and first Jewish) president of Mexico; My Body Can by Laura Gehl, illus. by Alexendra Colombo, which celebrates bodies of all shapes, sizes, and abilities.
BLOOMSBURY
Bloomsbury puckers up for Lemons and Lies by Alexis Castellanos, a YA rom-com about two teens who enter a fake dating arrangement to solve both of their problems; Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton, following Viola, who must fight for her life when it’s discovered that she’s a wielder of shadow magic but the Huntsman sent to assassinate her has other plans for her and her power; Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron, in which 17-year-old Meka uncovers a horrifying truth that defies everything she believed about life and death; Holding on for Dear Life by Dusti Bowling, the story of Canyon, a bull rider who pushes through emotional and physical pain to stay connected with his dad; and Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese! by Salina Yoon, featuring pals Kat, an adventurous eater, and Mouse, who eats cheese every day.
BLUE DOT
Blue Dot Kids Press waits for dark with Sky Luck by Erica Lee Schlaikjer, illus. by Dagmar Smith, in which a bunch of kids are on the lookout for shooting stars; Moon Sailors by Naomi Woodward, illus. by Rachel Gregg, following two siblings and a cat who embark on a magical bedtime adventure discovering the delights of the sea, sand, and stars; and Everything Is Music by Miran Park, focused on the sounds hidden in ordinary everyday life, from a crowded city to a calm forest.
BLUE STAR
Blue Star Press hones its bunny hop for Can You Do This? (Animals Edition) by Megan Roy, encouraging readers to try physical activities from slithering like a snake to quacking like a duck; and How Do You Roll Your R’s? by Mike Alfaro and Gerardo Guillén, an English-Spanish vocabulary book featuring 12 sound buttons to teach how to roll R’s.
BLUE STAR/PAIGE TATE & CO.
Paige Tate & Co puts on its thinking cap for My Memory Matching Book by Tabitha Paige, an activity book with interactive sliding panels to teach vocabulary and build cognitive skills; and Scribble Scrabble by Paige, which finds a little mouse going on an adventure through strategically chosen first words as he teaches essential letter sounds.
CANDLEWICK
Candlewick Press jetés into fall with Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker by David Ezra Stein, which finds excitable little Chicken, an inveterate interrupter, trying to resist helping the story along while attending her first ballet; Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Sophie Blackall, the story of a shoemaker’s wife who seizes an opportunity to rid herself of the tiny girl that her husband has taken in; Meet the Smushkins by Claudia Rueda, the first title in a concept board book series; The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz, in which Tiph feels immediate kinship with the little china Gretel doll she sees in the toy shop window, and the doll knows that she and Tiph are destined for each other, even if it makes Tiph a thief; and Dasher and the Polar Bear by Matt Tavares, about reindeer Dasher’s kindhearted effort to teach George the polar bear how to fly.
CANDLEWICK/CANDLEWICK STUDIO
Candlewick Studio powers up the broom for The Witch in the Tower by Júlia Sardà, in which a lonely girl stumbles upon a strange tower, meets a witch, and together, they embark on a mystical, empowering journey; and Quentin Blake’s Fantastic Journeys by Quentin Blake, a collection of drawings evoking journeys both real and imaginary, originally self-published in a series of slim titles dubbed the QB Papers.
CANDLEWICK/MIT KIDS PRESS
MIT Kids Press blasts off with Cassini’s Mission: A Spacecraft, a Tiny Moon, and the Search for Life Beyond Earth by Katie Venit, illus. by Julia Blattman, following real-life spacecraft Cassini as it makes surprising discoveries on her visit to one of Saturn’s moons; Maker Girl and Professor Smarts by Jasmine Florentine, the first installment in a graphic novel series featuring two kid superheroes who use the powers of science and engineering to save their city, plus hands-on maker activities for readers; Measuring Up: How Oliver Smoot Became a Standard Unit of Measurement by Jenny Lacika, illus. by Anna Bron, in which five-foot-seven-inch MIT student Smoot becomes a device to measure the length of a bridge; Spark: Jim West’s Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone by Ainissa Ramirez, illus. by Setor Fiadzigbey, launching the Black Innovators series; and Galaxy Mapper: The Luminous Discoveries of Astrophysicist Hélène Courtois by Allie Summers, illus. by Sian James, which charts astrophysicist Courtois’s discovery of a supercluster of galaxies she names Laniãkea, home to our own Milky Way.
CANDLWICK/MITEEN PRESS
MITeen Press zooms in on Phenomenal Moments: Revealing the Hidden Science Around Us by Felice Frankel, spotlighting Frankel’s photography, which captures the chemical, natural, or physical processes—from viscosity and venation to chlorophyll and capillary action—behind scientific phenomena.
CANDLEWICK/TEMPLAR
Templar draws up a fall season with The Boy, the Troll, and the Chalk by Anne Booth, illus. by David Litchfield, about a boy who entices a troll at the edge of the playground to draw with him until the troll disappears, replaced by another boy; and Christmas Is Caring by Emma Dodd, focused on a fox family embracing the joy of being together during the festive season.
CANDLEWICK/WALKER US
Walker Books US finds fun in the stacks with Donutella Hamachi and the Library Avengers by Kim Chi and Stephan Lee, illus. by Utomaru, first in a contemporary superhero series in which a community comes together, fabulously, to save a local library; Two-Headed Chicken: Chaos in the Cosmic Library by Tom Angleberger, which sees Two-Headed Chicken invading other books; I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery, following a dog who travels across a pseudo-Civil War Britain to bring his human home; and Incredibly Penelope by Lauren Myracle, a take on A Little Princess, in which people at Penelope’s boarding school start treating her differently when her mother and celebrity godmother—and her wealth—go missing.
CAPSTONE/CAPSTONE EDITIONS
Capstone Editions pulls out its parka for The Big Snowdown by Katy Hudson, in which confident Owl jumps into the annual winter games without having trained for them; Waiting for Winter by Stephen Gorman, chronicling the true story of a group of polar bears living in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; Good by Alexs Pate, illus. by Tequitia Andrews, reminding readers of the inner good found inside each of us; How to Teach Your Monster to Read by Christianne Jones, illus. by Katya Longhi, spotlighting a child’s efforts to teach her pet monster to read; and Scratching the Surface: Exploring Earth’s Layers by Kate Allen Fox, illus. by Erin Brown, an exploration of the geological discoveries under our feet.
CAPSTONE/CAPSTONE PRESS
Capstone Press sleeps upside down with Bats!: Mysterious and Misunderstood Mammals by Lydia Lukidis, shining a light on why the conservation of these misunderstood mammals is vitally important; and The Sandy Lake Tragedy: Following in the Footsteps of the Ojibwe by Emily Faith Johnson, a recounting of the injustices suffered by the Ojibwe people during the forced removal process in 1850 known as the Ojibwe Trail of Tears.
CAPSTONE/PICTURE WINDOW
Picture Window Books snaps on a helmet for The Bike Ride Guide by Kristin Smedley, illus. by Kim Crothers, in which Michael, a confident two-wheel speedster who is blind, shares tips and tricks to help teach his younger sister how to ride a bike.
CAPSTONE/STONE ARCH
Stone Arch Books adjusts its black belt for New Kid at the Dojang by Shawn Pryor, illus. by Alexandra Pulga, which finds Ezra and his pals focused on making a new kid named Julian feel welcome at the dojang.
CHARLESBRIDGE
Charlesbridge pays with sweat for Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame by Tami Charles, illus. by Meredith Lucius, showcasing the struggles and triumphs in the career of dancer and actor Allen; A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change
by Valerie Bolling, illus. by TeMika Grooms, chronicling how Edelman’s pushes for change and justice have made people feel uncomfortable; The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery by Mitali Perkins, following a 12-year-old Nepali girl who sets out to solve the disappearance of her Bangla friend’s missing jewelry; Charlotte’s New Moccasins by Jenn Moudahl, illus. by Rhael McGregor, in which young Charlotte learns from her mother and grandmother how to sew her own new mocs; and Napesni/Renegade by Marcie R. Rendon, illus. by Sam Zimmerman, the true story of Napesni, a wild bison, captured on the Cheyenne River Reservation and relocated to Minnesota.
CHARLESBRIDGE/CHARLESBRIDGE MOVES
Charlesbridge Moves manifests a big future with Dreamers by Alison James and Adreas F. Schneider, featuring Lenny, a bright, confident, young German shepherd who dreams of being an elite New York K9 police dog despite his lack of hind legs; and Growing Up Beth by Beth York, illus. by Treana Latese Newsome, following 10-year-old Beth, a no-nonsense truth-teller with five brothers as she and her family move out of public housing and into their first house.
CHRONICLE
Chronicle Books calls “all aboard!” for Steam Train, Dream Train: Next Stop, Christmas! by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illus. by AG Ford, which finds the dream train inviting readers to say goodnight to all their favorite animals before settling in for a winter night of sweet dreams; Stella & Marigold: Mermaids and Mix-Ups by Annie Barrows, illus. by Sophie Blackall, in which sisters Stella and Marigold receive a book where they can list all their friends—and discover they may need to make more friends; The Faraway Forest by Debbie Fong, following the adventures of raccoon mail carrier Wally on his rounds in a magical woodland village; an as-yet-untitled book by Hervé Tullet, an interactive volume featuring die-cuts, folds, and flaps; and Hugged by the Night by Harold Green, illus. by Karabo Poppy, about three animals who gaze up at the night sky and wonder how they, too, can be as confident, proud, and fearless as She is.
CHRONICLE/TWIRL
Twirl turns its head around for Hoot Hoot by Georgette, a bedtime book introducing animal sounds; Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book by Josef Anton, illus. by Stéphanie Babin, inviting readers to spot various animals in the backyard, forest, and other locales; Baby Basics: My Animals Sound Book by Xavier Deneux, featuring sound chips embedded on each page; The Agatha Case Files: Welcome to Kittyville by Paul Martin, illus. by Camille Roy, in which young readers join Agatha via gatefold flaps as she looks for clues, identifies suspects, and comes up with solutions; and The Ultimate Book of the Human Body by Anne-Sophie Baumann, illus. by Vannessa Robidou, an oversize volume with interactive elements and illustrations covering the stages of life from conception to adulthood.
CHRONICLE/PRINCETON ARCHITECTURAL PRESS
Princeton Architectural Press goes wild for ABC Zoo: Beastly Facts from A to Z by Oliver Weiss, an abecedary pairing collage illustrations with sometimes surprising animal facts.
COLLECTIVE BOOK STUDIO
Collective Book Studio wiggles into fall with Mazel Toes by Audrey Barbakoff, illus. by Anitta Soble, which prompts parents and caregivers to interact with a new baby by naming and touching different parts of the baby’s body and encouraging healthy bonding; Tali’s Tales: Tali and the Timeless Time by Mira Z. Amiras, illus. by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne, in which Tali begins her journey to identify when she is in the “Timeless Time,” where Nona weaves the past and present together in complicated and beautiful ways due to her memory loss; These ABCs Belong to Me! by Alicia McKenzie, illus. by Sarah Demonteverde, following main characters through a story that helps readers reclaim the words that describe them and help them understand others; A Time to Hide: A True Story of Survival in the Holocaust by Marion Seidemann Fredmon, illus. by Elisa Kleven, which finds the author chronicling the story of their experience through the horrors of World War II and how they survived by taking life into their own hands.
COMPENDIUM
Compendium has a ticket to ride The Storyteller’s Time Machine by Elise Hurst, a wordless picture book inspiring young writers and dreamers; and Favorite, Favorite by M.H. Clark, in which a parent expresses love for their child and how each moment together is their favorite.
CREATIVE COMPANY/CREATIVE EDITIONS
Creative Editions sniffs out a super season with Nosy by Seymour Chwast, a humorous die-cut profile of the many purposes and shapes a nose takes; Marie Curie by Irène Cohen-Janca, illus. by Claudia Palmarucci, exploring important moments in Curie’s life and the revolutionary mark she made on science; A Sense of Red by Kate Riggs, illus. by Eleonora Pace, offering an introduction to sensory processing and the ways that familiar red objects engage our senses; Baby, Let’s Go to the Orchestra by Janna Matthies, illus. by Monique Felix, which spotlights orchestral instruments and invites readers to practice music in imaginative ways; and The Land of Faraway by Beth Kephart, illus. by Olga Dugina, in which a series of “what if?” questions invite readers to a land of mythical creatures where anything could happen.
CRESTON
Creston Books blows out the candles for Happy Birthday to You! The Sisters Who Wrote the Most Famous Song in the World by Rachelle Burk, illus. by Abigail Lashbrook, tracing the origins of the celebratory tune; Fight for the Right to Read: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and the 1939 Sit-Down Strike for Reading Equality by Jeff Gottesfield, illus. by Kim Holt, telling the true story of a civil rights protest that led to the opening of libraries to people of all races; Lola Goes to the Hospital by Marcia Goldman, in which Lola the therapy dog shows what it feels like to be in the hospital; and Sawyer the Critter Lawyer: Trial & Error by Robin Newman, illus. by Deborah Zemke, which finds Sawyer the ant guiding readers through a zoo of courtroom cases about justice in the animal world.
CORMORANT
Cormorant Books hums along with The Love Song of Mr. Byrd by Philippa Dowding, illus. by Caroline Clarke, about the friendship between a bat and a bird; A Summer of Dragonflies by Natasha Deen, featuring Guppie, a girl whose family is moving from Calgary to New York City, as she and her family—along with her arch-enemy’s family—make the journey a road trip across North America; Red Flags and Butterflies by Sheryl Azzam, following a teenage girl who has dreams of going to art school, but is thwarted by her controlling father, who forces her to work for his company; and We Bury Nothing by Kate Blair, in which a high school girl is researching a historic murder during a summer program at a museum on the site of a World War II prisoner of war camp when a fellow student’s body is found.
DIFFERENCE ENGINE
Difference Engine saves room for dessert with Magical Sweet Gula by Johanes Park and Jessica Leman, centering Gula Gulali, a magical girl living in a non-magical world who has the power to turn the things around her into cakes and sweets; and Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma by Melanie Lee, illus. by Arif Rafhan, the final installment of the trilogy starring 12-year-old Ash, who discovered that she and her grandmother both have superpowers.
DEVORSS PUBLICATIONS
DeVorss puts on its thinking cap for The Very First Thought by Hayley Morales, illus. by Tim Kleyn, which takes readers on a journey to help them find the first thought they ever had; Lullaby Valley by Katherine Murray, in which a composer and a mother trying to calm her restless baby both find inspiration for a new song while looking at the night sky; and Bedtime Yoga by Mike and Victoria Downs, illus. by Manuela Adreani, about a family and their quiet time moving through a yoga and relaxation routine before bed.
DK
DK channels girl power with Rebel Girls Just Like Me by Rebel Girls, a collection of profiles offering a glimpse into the lives of real girls from around the world; XO Ballerina Big Sis by Tiler Peck, which brings readers backstage with Peck, a principal dancer at New York City Ballet, to learn about her life, her career, and the world of ballet; and You Are Younger Than a Star by Katherine Halligan, in which readers can compare themselves to nature’s wonders (e.g. are they bigger, smaller, louder).
EERDMANS
Eerdmans listens to the season with Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear by Olga Fadeeva, trans. By Lena Traer, exploring how we produce and hear sound, and ways sound affects our lives; The Curious Life of Ceclia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars by Laura Alary, illus. by Yas Imamura, spotlights the astronomer who finds community with the Harvard Computers and confidence in what she sees (even if others say it’s impossible); Consider the Birds by Jennifer Grant, illus. by Juliana Swaney, inviting children to ponder God’s love as they count the arrivals at a birdfeeder; The Tree That Was a World by Yorick Goldewijk, illus. by Jeska Verstegen, trans. By Laura Watkinson, a novel featuring the interconnected stories of a sloth, aphid, squirrel, ant, and other inhabitants of an old tree; and Journey of the Humpbacks by Juliana Muñoz Toro, illus. by Dipacho, which traces the migration of humpback whales from the Antarctic to the Colombian Pacific.
ENCHANTED LION
Enchanted Lion has open arms for Truman Toad and the Quest for the Perfect Hug by Oren Lavie, illus. by Anke Kuhl, following a self-important toad determined to find the missing piece to the perfect hug of his dreams; The Adventures of Cipollino by Gianni Rodari, illus. by Dasha Tolstikova, trans. By Antony Shugaar, the tale of a young onion in a world of fruits and vegetables who rallies his friends to fight against the out-of-touch ruling class with courage, solidarity, and mischief; The Loneliest Place on the Moon by Maria Popova, illus. by Sarah Jacoby, in which Re, feeling like the loneliest creature on Earth, decides to go live in the coziest place on the Moon—where she rediscovers solitude from a new and more life-affirming perspective; Belladonna: Don’t Eat Me! By Kate Finney, illus. by Esme Shapiro, about a tenacious belladonna plant who launches her descendants on a survival course via adaptation; and Before She Was My Grandmother by Giselle Potter, depicting a grandmother who unfolds her life for her granddaughter by sharing mementos, memories, and stories.
ENCHANTED LION/UNRULY
Unruly shines up an apple for The Forgotten Teachers by Brian Isett, illus. by Claudia Biçen, which examines six elements of nature—Ocean, Air, Theia, Sun, Plants, and Symbionts—that shaped the evolution of life on Earth.
ENSLOW/WEST 44
West 44 prepares for launch with It’s Like We Touched the Moon by Beth Gier, which finds Grace engineering a plan to bring her closer to her dream of attending a local space camp that has been designated “boys only”; Rulers of a Dead Planet by Ryan Wolf, in which the Noburan children have traveled light years to settle alongside their royal parents in a newly discovered world—a planet still recovering from the effects of nuclear war; The Final Diadem by Gume Laurel III, following Ariel who arrives at Camp Juniper for a calm break from household drama, but soon finds that four other campers have been searching for him—for hundreds of years; Growing Magic by D.E. Daly, featuring Amie, who must reconnect with long-lost family and hunt for clues in herb books when her mother, who believes the herbs she grows are magic—disappears; and The Way of the Wailing Women by Brentom Jackson, telling the tale of Araminta, who plans to join the secret religious sect known as the Wailing Women, to learn the mysteries of their sound, and use them to live out her dreams of punk-rock stardom.
FAMILIUS
Familius creates a new avatar for 100 First Words for Little Gamers by Carlos Mireles-Guerrero, showcasing words from video gaming pop-culture references created by a gamer for gamers (and their kids); What Will I Do If I Miss You? By Melissa T. Shultz, illus. by Lilia Miceli, about a boy who is worried about managing the first day of school without his mother by his side; Down with Lime Books by Jan Zauzmer, illus. by Blanca Millan, in which plucky student Paige springs into action to reverse course when an ill-informed school board member decides to remove all the lime-colored books from the library; 12 Little Elves Save Christmas by Stephanie Campisi, illus. by Susana Covelli, which finds the elves from various regional stories flying around the globe to sort out national holiday traditions and ensure the houses are ready for Santa’s visit; and Earth Rover by Taylor Woolley, following Rover the basset hound’s quest to become NASA’s next Lunar Rover.
FEEDING MINDS
Feeding Minds Press revs up the tractor for Our Christmas Tree Farm by Lisa Amstutz, illus. by Christina Forshay, depicting day in the life of a Christmas tree farming family.
FLORIS
Floris hears things that go bump in the night with The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs by Mamiko Shiotani, about a loner ghost who is annoyed when his peace is disturbed by a curious girl; The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole by Cecilia Heikkilä, following neighbors Fox and Mole as they try to get along while reading a spooky story together; My Home Is in My Backpack by Eugenia Perrella, illus. by Angela Salerno, focusing on the journey of Clara and her family, offering a child’s-eye view of forced migration and displacement inspired by real-life refugee stories from Venezuela; Sleep Here, Wake There by Caio Zero; which finds little César trying to solve the mystery of how he falls asleep every night in his own bed but every morning he wakes up at his aunt’s house; and 630 Maple Street: Explore Our Building Through the Year by Marta Kulesza, a wordless picture book about a friendly apartment building, with an introductory spread of the building’s inhabitants.
FREE SPIRIT
Free Spirit waits in the wings for Bravo for Backstage (Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School #1) by Mary Rand Hess and Randy Preston, illus. by Marilena Perilli, in which Oscar doesn’t land the lead role in the school play, but discovers that his new role as stage manager is important and fun—and he’s good at it; Tummies Flip, Hearts Skip by Kris Downing, illus. by Vivian Mineker, which invites children to explore a range of emotions and connect them to their physical sensations; and Sometimes Stormy by Amanda Davis, providing an empathetic look at living with a parent with alcohol use disorder and highlighting ways for children to cope with the challenges of a situation that is out of their control.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
Focus on the Family is on the case with Last Chance Detectives: Curse of Calamity Wells by Robert Vernon, in which a young man finds a message that will help him find his missing father; Imagination Station Books: Drought, Wind, and Fire by Marianne Hering and Marshal Younger, which finds cousins Patrick and Beth going back to Bible times to see the prophet Elijah’s showdown with the agents of a false god; Young Whit: Young Whit and the Shell Game by Dave Arnold, the story of Whit’s visit to relatives in Texas when a celebrity is kidnapped for ransom; and Super Simple Alphabet and Animals with Dr. Fizzlebop and Super Simple Weather Science with Dr. Fizzlebop, featuring God’s role in creation and in basic weather concepts.
GECKO
Gecko Press sharpens its pencils for How to Draw: The Definitive Guide by Enric Lax, which contains puns, stories, and useful techniques to encourage imagination and experiments; Is He Sleeping? by Olivier Tallec, in which Squirrel and his silent friend (a mushroom) discover the cycle of nature and of life when they pay respect to a friend who has died; The Omnibird: The Avian Investigator’s Handbook by Giselle Clarkson, a playful field guide to common international birds; and The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers, the story of Eric the duck who is nervous to swim in the lake for fear a monster might live there.
GLOBE PEQUOT/DOWN EAST BOOKS
Down East Books searches high and low with Evangeline’s Journey by Cathie Pelletier, illus. by Paige Smiley, an adaptation of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem Evangeline retold in novel form for readers of all ages.
GLOBE PEQUOT/MUDDY BOOTS
Muddy Boots grabs a notebook for City Safari: A Young Naturalist’s Guide to Discovering Nature in the City by Jenette Restivo, a volume that’s part natural history guide, part training manual, and part hands-on fieldwork guide, designed to teach readers lifelong naturalist skills.
GREYSTONE
Greystone ladles out Soup Time Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth, illus. by Chelsea O’Byrne, helping readers discover new cultures and friends through soup; All Around a Year by Mariana Ruiz Johnson, celebrating the many things to look forward to that happen each year; A Place Just for Me by Loredana Baldinucci, illus. by Melinda Berti, in which the youngest mouse in a big family tries to find a quiet spot all to himself; Brown Girl in the Snow by Yolanda Marshall, illus. by Marianne Ferrer, the story of how a trip to the library helps Amina, who has moved from the Caribbean to a new place, change her view of her new home; and The Gland Factory by Rachel Poliquin, illus. by Clayton Hanmer, delivering an up-close look at the endocrine and exocrine systems, where each stop on the tour introduces facts about how some key glands and hormones work.
GROUNDWOOD
Groundwood lands a blow with The Butterfly’s Sting by Abbie Harlow, following 17-year-old Bo, who is forced into an illegal boxing tournament by her abusive uncle; One Can by Lana Button and Eric Walters, illus. by Isabelle Malenfant, in which a school food drive hits close to home when a child discovers the can that they donated in their own groceries; A Single Dreadlock by Xaiver Campbell, illus. by Eugenie Fernandes, which finds Lovie distressed when his hair forms a single dreadlock, until his grandmother helps him find confidence in being himself — with a head full of dreads; Words Matter, by Anita Fitch Pazner, illus. by Sophie Casson, relating the story of Hans and Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Resistance, a student group that produced and covertly distributed anti-Nazi pamphlets during World War II; and Wavelength by Cale Plett, spotlighting Sasha, a nonbinary teenage pop star, who moves to a new city to escape the influence of “the Channel” but finds it impossible to stay away from the stage— and from Lillian, a local musician.
HARDIE GRANT/BRIGHT LIGHT
Bright Light makes some noise with Our Voices Together by Inda Ahmad Zahri, illus. by Syd Fini, which addresses the challenging realities of conflict and suggests tangible steps we can take to make an impact; The World We Can Build by Sally Rippon and Eliza Hull, illus. by Daniel Gray-Barnett, featuring two young friends who explore accessibility options and the social model of disability in their community; Train of Thought by Jess Horn, illus. by Hayley Wells, following a neurodivergent child who gets swept up in imagining all sorts of action-packed adventures; Crocodiles Do Not Like the Bathroom by Ali Rutstein, illus. by Niña Nill, encouraging even the most skeptical kids to take a toilet break; and Twig Friends Go Wild (Twig Friends #3) by Andrew McDonald, illus. by Ben Wood, continuing the exploits of four twiggy best friends.
HARPERCOLLINS
HarperCollins gets a whiff of fall with The Cave Downwind of the Café by Mikey Please, in which Glumfoot must save chef Rene from a hungry ogre; Cook with Clydeo by Jennifer Aniston, illus. by Invisible Universe, starring Aniston’s food-obsessed rescue dog and featuring kid-friendly, step-by-step recipes; The Day Leap Soared by Blair Braverman, spotlighting the dogsledding author’s real-life team of sled dogs; The Devouring Light by Kat Ellis, following a group of rivals stranded in an abandoned house that seems to know everything they want—and will provide it to them... at a cost; The Digger and the Christmas Tree by Joseph Kuefler, which finds Digger and the other big trucks craftily decorating a tree on Christmas Eve before Santa arrives; The Elf on the Shelf Santaverse: The Rise of Nicholas the Noble by Chanda A. Bell, illus. by Michael Austin, tracing the origins of young Saint Nick and the magical creatures of One True North; Fancy Nancy: Besties for Eternity, about the true meaning of friendship by Jane O’Connor, illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser; The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar by Sonora Reyes, the companion novel to The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, and an exploration of the ongoing mental health crisis through the lens of beloved character Cesar and his bipolar disorder; How Girls Are Made by Mindy McGinnis, the story of three girls whose lives intersect in tragedy; and A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid, the follow-up to A Study in Drowning and the finale to the dark academia fantasy duology featuring Effy and Preston’s haunting romance.
HARPERCOLLINS/HARPERALLEY
HarperAlley puts its best foot forward with Gumshoe by Brenna Thummler, which finds shy 11-year-old Willa on the run after she’s mistaken for the notorious “Two Gum Tilly,” a mail thief who’s been robbing birthday cards out of mailboxes for years; Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Club #3 by Molly Knox Ostertag, illus. by Xanthe Bouma, the final volume in the series following Tyler and his friends as they battle new monsters—real and imaginary; The First Cat in Space and the Baby Pirate’s Revenge by Mac Barnett, illus. by Shawn Harris, which finds First Cat, Loz 4000, and the Moon Queen taking on Captain Babybeard and his crew of swashbuckling pirates; Millie of the Manor by Karina Evans and Andrea Bell, in which Amy, a girl with social anxiety, must crack the case at a friend’s murder mystery-themed birthday party; and Silence Voices by Pablo Leon, exploring the horrors and aftermath of Guatemala’s civil war through the lens of two sisters desperate to survive after they’re separated during a military raid on their village.
HARPERCOLLINS/ALLIDA
Allida puts a bow on fall with Bud Finds Her Gift, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, illus. by Naoko Stoop, focusing on the generous reciprocity of nature as a girl discovers her place in the cycle of giving that encompasses all the creatures of the Earth; and The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser, presenting the dual narrative of two young people—one in 731 China, and one in 1931 Chinatown, N.Y.—on perilous epic journeys to save their families.
HARPERCOLLINS/CLARION
Clarion takes the pitch with Goalkeeper by Edward Bloor, a follow-up to Tangerine, centering an underdog kid from a troubled home navigating a tumultuous summer while finding friendship and confidence on the soccer field; If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone by Gideon Sterer and Emily Hughes, imagining new friends from unexpected places who might answer a banana phone call; Besties: Set Sail by Kayla Miller and Jeffrey Canino, illus. by Kristina Luu, in which Beth and Chanda take to the high seas and navigate the changing tides of friendship and sisterhood; and Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi by Angie Thomas, a new adventure for Nic, who must learn how to wield her Gift at a school for young Manifestors and deliver a mysterious and legendary artifact: the Book of Anansi.
HARPERCOLLINS/GREENWILLOW
Greenwillow curls up for Cat Nap by Brian Lies, in which Kitten notices a mouse and dives after it through a framed poster for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, resulting in an epic chase through time, art, and history; Come Catch a Dream by Brittany J. Thurman, illus. by Islenia Mil, about a Black boy who is determined to do what he’s never done before: take a spin on the ice; Blues Boy: The B.B. King Story by Alice Faye Duncan, illus. by Carl Joe Williams, telling the inspirational story of American music icon B.B. King from his childhood in the Jim Crow South to his triumphant reign as the King of Blues; Seven Ways Through the Woods by Jenn Reese, illus. by Devin Elle Kurtz, which invites young readers to meet griffins, giants, serpents, and sprites as they make their way through this magical landscape; and Wally Mammoth and the Sled Race by Corey R. Tabor, illus. by Dalton Webb, featuring three pals good-naturedly competing in a downhill sled race.
HARPERCOLLINS/HEARTDRUM
Heartdrum puts it in park with Legendary Frybread Driv3-in, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, an anthology of stories about teens and Native joy set at a classic drive-in restaurant; Aaniiin by Dawn Quigley, illus. by Nanibah Chacon, introducing readers to the Ojibwe Seven Grandfathers Teachings, offering ways to live a meaningful and ethical life; A Good Hide by Karina Iceberg, illus. by Natasha Donovan, focused on a Native Alaskan community coming together to tan a moose hide and express gratitude for nature; The Others by Cheryl Isaacs, in which a small-town athlete must rely on her Kanyen’kehá:ka family to break a deadly cycle, facing the darkest version of herself to save her community and first love; and Stronger Than by Nikki Grimes and Stacy Wells, illus. by E.B. Lewis, about a Black Choctaw boy who struggles with nightmares, but finds strength in the example and history of his ancestors.
HARPERCOLLINS/QUILL TREE
Quill Tree defies gravity with Moonleapers by Margaret Peterson Haddix, about a girl who learns she’s part of a secret network of time travelers who fight evil throughout history; For the Rest of Us, edited by Dahlia Adler, a YA anthology that decenters Christmas and features a full year of festive holiday stories from a variety of cultural and religious groups; Queso, Just in Time by Ernesto Cisneros, in which Queso, who is still reeling from his father’s death, finds himself thrown back to 1982, with a younger version of his dad; Scarlet Morning by N.D. Stevenson, following two orphans who leave the only home they’ve ever known to sail with an eccentric crew of pirates; and The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson, the story of a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate’s ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move.
HARPERCOLLINS/STORYTIDE
Storytide watches its step with Thorn Season by Kiera Azar, a teen romantasy about a girl in possession of an illegal magic who joins her kingdom’s harsh and glittering royal court only to find herself caught in a web of hidden intentions—and between two equally dangerous men; I Killed the King by Andrea Hannah and Rebecca Mix, a locked-room whodunnit YA fantasy that takes place over the 12 hours after a king is murdered, in which six suspects team up to find the truth and uncover the killer before the castle is buried at dawn; No Sam! and the Meow of Deception by Drew Daywalt, illus. by Mike Lowery, following the hopelessly misinformed pug Sam as he continues to try to protect his family—as well as pet cat Meow—from the forces of evil; A Matter of Murder by Tirzah Price, a Pride and Prejudice-inspired mystery in which Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy investigate a decades-old murder linked to a lost fortune, while trying to avoid an old enemy out for blood; and Everything About You by Robby Weber, starring Milo, who has won a prestigious apprenticeship at a Paris fashion house, but becomes fiercely competitive when he learns he must share the job with the son of a famous soccer star, whom he might be falling for.
HARPERCOLLINS/VERSIFY
Versify can see clearly now with Specs by Van G. Garrett, a love letter to glasses—the shiniest, flyest specs you can find—that let you see things in a whole new way; and Tough Times by Raúl the Third, in which the luchadores deal with a losing streak.
HARPERCOLLINS CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING/ZONDERKIDZ
Zonderkidz welcomes the season with The Wonders of the First Christmas by Andy McGuire, a retelling of the story of Jesus’s birth that includes historical and geographic facts; and The World’s Best Christmas Light by Chelsea Tornetto, illus. by Amanda Morrow, a board book with real twinkle lights in which a family searches for the best Christmas lights and finds the true meaning of Christmas in a humble nativity scene.
HELVETIQ
Helvetiq heats up the stovefor Spaghetti Science by Lucia Rush, zeroing in on all things pasta; 32 Teeth by Yoann Cantin, illus. by Maria Marega, which explores 32 various teeth—a polar bear’s tooth, a cave woman’s tooth, a “wisdom” tooth and many more; The Big Book of Pi: The Most Important Number You Can Never Learn by Anita Lehmann and J.B. Aubin, spotlighting the magic of one of the most important numbers in the world; and Why We Sleep by Jeffrey K. Butt, providing information about this crucial human function.
HOLIDAY HOUSE
Holiday House frames its fall offerings with The Picasso Curse by Dan Gutman, about what happens when a kid discovers an original Picasso drawing hidden within the frame of a Kobe Bryant poster he buys at a flea market; This Raging Sea by De Elizabeth, in which 18-year-old Briar must untangle the horrifying eldritch secrets of her picture-perfect coastal town in order to save her more-than-best-friend after he disappears from time itself; Where No Shadow Stays by Sara Hashem, the story of a homecoming queen and a bad-boy loner who team up to break a generational curse; First Kiss with Fangs by Marker Snyder, following cheerful, sunshine-loving 13-year-old Ivan, who tries to keep his emerging fangs a secret from his vampire family; and The Steps by Wendelin Van Draanen, in which chess whiz Ruby puzzles out a plan to save the day when her father remarries a gold digger with two teens who start scheming to inherit Ruby’s family’s fortune.
HOLIDAY HOUSE/FERGUSON
Margaret Ferguson Books collects permission slips for Field Trip to Dinosaur Valley by John Hare, a wordless picture book following a time-traveling yellow bus to the Jurassic period; Rodeo Hawkins & the Daughters of Mayhem by John Claude Bemis, illus. by Nicole Miles, the story of foster kid Sidney who discovers his destiny is not to save the multiverse, but instead to destroy it; and Yoli’s Favorite Things by Patricia Santana, which finds 12-year-old Yolanda determined to make a pact with God to protect her draft-eligible brother during the Vietnam War.
HOLIDAY HOUSE/PIXEL+INK
Pixel+Ink auditions for the season with Cast vs. Crew by Lindsay Champion, first in a trilogy about what happens backstage as a diverse group of junior high students prepares for and puts on a big show; Barker’s Doghouse #2: Leave It! by Maria Bea Alfano, illus. by Laura Catalán, which finds 10-year-old Gio trying to help a new foster puppy become acclimated to his mom’s doggy daycare; and Famous Anonymous by Morgan Baden, which launches a series about neighborhood friends who find sudden fame with a series of viral videos—only no one knows who they really are.
HOLIDAY HOUSE/PORTER
Neal Porter Books looks a gift partridge in the mouth with The Thirteenth Day of Christmas by Adam Rex, in which a man brings joy to the whole town as he tries to find out why his true love mystifyingly sends him the traditional holiday carol’s 12 days of gifts; Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story About Sharing by Matthew Diffee, following a sheep and a goat who are dismayed to find they share the sound “baa” and try to find a compromise; Before I Lived Here by Stacy S. Jensen, illus. by Victo Ngai, which takes a journey back in time as a boy peels away each layer of the history of the land his house sits on; Little Rebels by Yuyi Morales, featuring three young trailblazers inspired by Mexican folklore who come together to play in good times and work through trouble; and To Activate Space Portal, Lift Here by Antoinette Portis, an interactive book inviting readers to open the interstellar portal and meet Zrk and Blrg of the planet Xyl, who seek to learn more about them.
IMAGE COMICS/SKYBOUND
Skybound holds the pineapple with Pizza Witch by Sarah Graley and Stef Purenins, following Roxy’s quest to be the best Pizza Witch to ever live as she deals with unsupportive parents and an aloof boss; and Lego Ninjago: Strike of the Serpentine by Cameron Chittock, Will Morris, and Sara Antonellini, in which Wu and Garmadon are brought together by whispers of war with the Serpentine clans.
IVP KIDS
IVP Kids finds rest with The God Who Never Sleeps by Rachel Joy Welcher, illus. by Breezy Brookshire, focused on Benji, who is afraid to go to sleep at night until he learns that God never slumbers, making him feel safe.
KALANIOT
Kalaniot Books sews up the season with With a Needle and Thread: A Cuban-Jewish Folktale by Jennifer Stempel, illus. by Libi Axelrod, in which a Jewish family in Cuba finds ways to make do, as an outgrown dress becomes a blanket, a prayer tallis, a wedding chuppah, and ultimately a symbol at the center of their community’s celebrations; Slow Down, Shoshi: Shabbat in Uganda by Shoshana Nambi, illus. by Moran Yogev, highlighting the Abayudaya community of Uganda’s Shabbat celebration; Jewish Songs from Around the World by Moshe Dor, Yosef Hadar, Shalom Secunda, and Aaron Zaitlin, illus. by Lucille Ahrweiller, a musical board book presenting six songs originally from the Middle East and Europe, sung in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino with lyrics displayed in Hebrew, phonetic transliteration, and English translation; and Brave Like Esther: A Purim Story by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, illus. by Asya Aizenstein, a retelling of the Queen Esther story that imagines her as a contemporary girl with lots of big feelings.
KIDS CAN
Kids Can Press pitches a tent for Camping in the Wild by Nicholas Oldland, in which the Bear, the Moose, and the Beaver discover that you have to put in the work to reap the rewards; Adventures in Math by Carleigh Wu, illus. by Sean Simpson, serving up profiles of historical mathematicians alongside short stories and practical tips to build math skills; Call Me Gray by Bells Larsen and Andrew Larsen, illus. by Tallulah Fontaine, the story of a child who reveals to their father that they sometimes feel more like a girl than a boy and asks to be called “Gray”; Rez Kid by Andrea Landry, illus. by Isabella Fassler, in which a girl who has been bullied on the school bus accepts advice from the elders of her family on how to deal with it; and Dragon vs. Unicorn by P.J. Hoover, illus. by Lisa Wiley, a choose-your-own-outcome style early reader graphic novel offering multiple socio-emotional options for how the main characters might handle disagreements.
LAURENCE KING
Laurence King studies the fungus among us with All About Mushrooms by Alice Pattulo, illus. by Elin Manon, a look at the scientific, cultural, and fantastical properties of mushrooms; Art School (In a Book): A future artists’ guide to contemporary art by Russell Tovey and Robert Diament, an introduction to the world of contemporary art for budding artists; A Tree Is a Time Machine by Rob Sears, illus. by Tom Sears, presenting a travel through the ages with a 4000-year-old yew tree named Eunice; A Walk in the Dark by Alice Hemming, illus. by Elin Manon, offering a walk in nighttime nature to meet the mammals, birds, and insects that hunt, scavenge, play, dig, and build while most people are asleep; and The Secret Lives of Stones by Hettie Judah, illus. by Jennifer N.R. Smith, which explores the stories of 25 different rocks and gems.
LEE & LOW/BEBOP
Bebop Books holds steady with five titles in the Drumbeat Decodable Book early reader series created in collaboration with Indigenous Education Press, all by Sandra Samatte, illus. by Julian Grafenauer: Duck and Cub, Grandfather Rock, Jan at Camp, Rhett and Jett, and Tim and Robin.
LEE & LOW/CHILDREN’S BOOK PRESS
Children’s Book Press digs in with Rafi and Rosi Menu by Lulu Delacre, the fifth book in the dual language (English/Spanish) early chapter book series, this time about the two tree frog siblings cooking Puerto Rican arañitas, guava shells in syrup, and pasteles.
LEE & LOW/TU BOOKS
Tu Books is aglow with Fall of the Fireflies by Guadalupe García McCall, which finds 15-year-old twins investigating borderland mystical phenomenon who are thrust into a fantastical mission where they battle supernatural creatures, figure out the motivations of Aztec gods, and try to recapture their father’s stolen soul.
LERNER/CAROLRHODA
Carolrhoda heads to the garden for No More Gnomes by Beth Mills, which finds young, polite kid Herbert panicking when Ms. Goat, his neighbor and after-school babysitter, starts collecting creepy garden gnomes; Displaced by Patrick Ochieng, about 14-year-old Kim and his family who must stay in a camp for displaced persons after they were forced to flee their home in suburban Kenya; Returning the Sword: How a Japanese Sword of War Became a Symbol of Peace and Friendship by Caren Stelson, illus. by Amanda Yoshida, the story of an American soldier and a Japanese family, centered on the return of a Japanese sword more than 60 years after the end of World War II; Revolutions Are Made of Love: The Story of James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs by Mélina Mangal and Sun Yung Shin, illus. by Leslie Barlow, introducing young readers to the lives and ideas of the Boggs, revolutionary human rights activists who worked together to build a better future for all; and Zeyna Lost and Found by Shafaq Khan, which follows 12-year-old Zeyna as she searches for her parents, who are linked to a jewel heist and have gone missing during a family visit in 1970 Pakistan.
LERNER/CAROLRHODA LAB
Carolrhoda Lab wears noise-canceling headphones for The Writing Room by Marcia Argueta Mickelson, in which 18-year-old Maya is kicked out of her wealthy father’s New York City home, and finds her voice—and the courage to stand up to him—in a shared writers’ workspace; and Wild Song by Candy Gourlay, which finds 16-year-old Luki traveling from the U.S.-controlled Philippines to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, where she discovers a wider world, confronts dark secrets, and wrestles with difficult choices.
LERNER/GRAPHIC UNIVERSE
Graphic Universe sharpens its knives for Battle of the Chefs: Book 2 by Nicolas Wouters, illus. by Mathilde Van Gheluwe, trans. by Ann Marie Boulanger, following Magda, who has reached the second stage of the Intergalactic Cooking Tournament, where she’ll have to eliminate her friend and former teammate, Hector; Absolutely Everything by Damian Alexander, in which Marcella, a sixth grader who has ADHD, is overwhelmed by school, her BFF, and a potential move; Nafu Wants Food by Subi Bosa, following Nafu, Mongo Village’s resident monster and protector, as he greedily gobbles up the last of the villagers’ food and risks being a meal himself; Trumpets of Death by Simon Bournel-Bosson, trans. by Edward Gauvin, the story of how Antoine and his grandfather encounter mysterious natural forces as they forage in the woods one rainy night; and Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan for Rewilding Every City on Earth by Steve Mushin, showcasing mind-bending, scientifically plausible inventions to fight climate change, rewild cities, and save the planet.
LERNER/KAR-BEN
Kar-Ben heats the oil for The Mouse Who Loved Latkes by Joy Nelkin Wieder, in which C.J. the mouse joins the Katz family of cats for a celebratory Hanukkah dinner; Anyada Buena, Shanah Tovah by Sarah Aroeste, illus. by Maria Mola, centering a girl and her Sephardic family as they joyfully greet the Jewish New Year; Laila Tov, Grover! by Joni Kibort Sussman, illus. by Tom Leigh, in which Sesame Street monster Grover gets ready for bed by putting on his cozy pajamas, brushing his teeth, and saying the Shema; Rembrandt’s Blessing by Tami Lehman-Wilzig, illus. by Anita Barghigiani, inspired by the true story of Rembrandt’s friendship with Rabbi Menashe ben Israel, and the spark of an idea for a special paining; and Sammy Spider’s Big Book of Jewish Holidays by Sylvia A. Rouss, illus. by Katherine Janus Kahn, in which Sammy Spider watches the Shapiros hang the calendar that will show them all the Jewish holidays of the year.
LERNER
Lerner gets starry eyed with Are We Alone?: Searching for Life Beyond Earth with The Planetary Society and The Size of Space: Measuring Our Solar System with The Planetary Society, both by Bruce Betts, a look at how scientists explore faraway worlds for signs of life, and measure objects in our solar system; and Sign Your ABCs with Sesame Street by Nicole Gabor, introducing American Sign Language basics to young readers.
LERNER/MILLBROOK
Millbrook Press fills its list with The Big Empty: A Sagebrush Survival Story by Kirbi Fagan, introducing readers to big sagebrush, a vital plant in the American West that feeds and shelters many animals; I Truck: A Big Rig’s Epic Trip by Kelly Rice Schmitt, illus. by Jam Dong, following along as a semitruck travels cross-country with a load of toys; Liftoff!: How the Apollo Moon Missions Made Alma Thomas’s Art Soar by Nina Crews, the story of how the Apollo astronauts gave people a new way of looking at the world and inspired modern artist Alma Thomas; and Rewriting the Rules: How Kathleen Friel Created New Possibilities for Brain Research and Disability by Danna Zeiger, illus. by Josée Bisaillon, spotlighting Friel, who runs a lab to help others like her with cerebral palsy.
LERNER/ZEST
Zest marches into fall with Arm in Arm: The Grimké Sisters’ Fight for Abolition and Women’s Rights by Angelica Shirley Carpenter, shining a light on Sarah Grimké and Angelina Grimké Weld, some of the first women to speak out about abolition and women’s rights; All Power to the People: Poems to Address the Past, Present, and Future of Policing by Ari Tison and Ty Chapman, a poetry anthology centering voices from a diverse group of authors that holds space for those lost to over-policing, honors young activists, and looks forward to the future of public safety; Ban This!: A Handbook for Pushing Back on Book Bans by Christina Ellis et al., designed to equip readers to join the fight against banning books in schools and public libraries; and Lullabies for the Insomniacs: A Memoir by Ella Grace Foutz, in which a teen with bipolar disorder fights for survival and self-understanding.
LEVINE QUERIDO/ARTHUR A. LEVINE
Levine Querido/Arthur A. Levine puffs up with Shibu’s Tail by Tess Thomas, illus. by Kamwei Fong, featuring a cat who uses his very demonstrative tail to express his feelings; The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri, about a boy who valiantly tries to protect his sister from Nazi spies, soldiers, and hunger as Iran is squeezed between the forces of Great Britain and the Soviet Union; Firesnake: Cuentista Book III by Donna Barba Higuera, in which a mysterious message from Earth sends cuentista Petra Peña on a treacherous journey across the galaxy to author the ending of her own story by bringing Earth’s stories home; D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. by Abby White, a YA debut telling the story of a Jewish teenager who juggles prepping for her bat mitzvah with investigating her cousin’s death; and Worthy: The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce by Andrea Wang, illus. by Youa Vang, relating the true story of Joe Pierce, a Chinese boy who fought in the American Union Army at a time when anti-Chinese prejudice was rampant.
LEVINE QUERIDO/EM QUERIDO
Em Querido flutters into fall with Butterfly Heart by Moa Backe Åstot, trans. by Agnes Broomé, telling a story about love, grief, and the right to define who you are, from the perspective of Vilda, an indigenous Sami teenager fighting to assert her heritage and identity; I Want to Eat My Brother by Helene Gaudy, illus. by Simone Réa, trans. by Julia Grawemeyer, in which a boy who is exasperated by the dinner choices his parents are offering him, cuts a deal: he’ll eat his little brother instead; and Popcorn Bob Can’t Stop Exploding by Maranke Rinck, illus. by Martijn van der Linden, trans. by Nancy Forest-Flier, a Popcorn Bob early reader series entry which finds Popcorn Bob unable to stop exploding out of anger.
LIL’ LIBROS
Lil’ Libros rosins up the bow for Mariachi: Musical Instruments/Instrumentos musicales, illus. by Citlali Reyes, showcasing the many different musical instruments, including vocals, within a traditional mariachi band; My First 100 Plantitas & Florecitas Words in English & Spanish by Melanie Romero, illus. by Stefany Plaza Gomez, and My First 100 Sports Words in English & Spanish by Emma Garcia, two vocabulary-building titles; Dulces & Antojitos: A High Contrast Bilingual Board Book by Aaron Bowersock, featuring high-contrast images of Latino candy and sweets; and Tío Ricky Doesn’t Speak English by Maritere R. Bellas, illus. by Jayri Gómez, in which a boy translates for his uncle during a life-threatening emergency.
LITTLE BEE
Little Bee Books puts on the blindfold for Pepe and the Piñata by Tracey Kyle, illus. by Mirelle Ortega, presenting different traditions surrounding Christmas from an array of Hispanic cultures; A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke, illus. by Nikkolas Smith, adapting Cooke’s iconic protest song against racism and injustice; Street Puppy, Masjid Cat by Moniza Hossain, illus. by Wastana Haikal, in which a pampered house cat at a mosque and a street puppy meet and become unlikely friends; My Gender, My Rules by Andy Passchier, a picture book published in partnership with GLAAD explaining the basics of gender and how to advocate for yourself and respect others; and Brothers Are Not for Hitting by Ryan Allen, illus. by Zoe Persico, designed to help children recognize the signs that they are about to hit and offer them positive alternatives to stay safe and have fun.
LITTLE BEE/BUZZPOP
BuzzPop greets the season with Dora: ¡Hola, Soy Dora!, a book shaped like Dora the Explorer that takes readers through a rainforest where they meet her friends and learn bilingual vocabulary; and Crayola: 100 First Words of Creativity, illus. by Melanie Demmer, containing 12 scenes that introduce readers to 100 vocabulary words related to creativity.
LITTLE BEE/YELLOW JACKET
Yellow Jacket knows that X marks the spot with The Map That Led to You by Ella McLeod, a YA fantasy novel merging the past and the present of an old republic once ruled by pirates, as main the characters discover the magic that lies around them.
LITTLE, BROWN
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers makes no bones about it with If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall, exploring the challenges of first friendships through imaginative play; The Gift of Everything by Patrick McDonnell, a story about mindfulness and gratitude featuring characters from McDonnell’s The Gift of Nothing; Elsewhen by Wendy Mass and Nora R. Baskin, which finds 12-year-old Piper challenged with using a book full of strange equations to free her parents who have become trapped in their house by a mysterious forcefield; Never, Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan, a YA romantasy inspired by a Chinese fairy tale, in which a girl must defy fate and vanquish a villainous Prince Charming to save her realm from ruin; and Hekate by Nikita Gill, a retelling of the Greek myth of Hekate featuring witchcraft, magic, and a dash of necromancy.
LITTLE, BROWN/LB INK
LB Ink catches some rays with Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young, following Noah as he rallies a ragtag group of worried friends and family to save his boyfriend Alex, who has gone missing; To the Stars and Back by Peglo, adapted from the Peglo webtoon, about two neighbors who couldn’t be more different from one another but form an unlikely connection; Curlfriends: Back in Business by Sharee Miller, in which 12-year-old Nola Washington navigates the pressure of keeping her family’s financial troubles a secret; The Library of Memories by Barbara Perez, illus. by Lissa Marlin, the tale of a young wanderer destined to forget her past forever unless she can uncover the true secret behind the Library of Memories; and Ghost Boy: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Setor Fiadzigbey, the graphic novel adaptation of Rhodes’s novel of American gun violence.
LITTLE BROWN/OTTAVIANO
Christy Ottaviano Books knows whoooo’s flying in for the holidays with Knight Owl’s Little Christmas by Christopher Denise, which finds Knight Owl and friends celebrating the winter season as they gather for a special Christmas; Piccolo by Dan Yaccarino, introducing a scooter-riding, problem-solving shrew whose optimism and boundless enthusiasm inspire his community of animal friends; Ruby Maps Her World by Jane Yolen, illus. by Dow Phumiruk, following a curious child who is eager to map her world, making connections between her daily life and physical surroundings; Bringing Dreki Home by Mary Logue, in which a boy, his grandfather, and a baby dragon set off on an international adventure that takes them from Minnesota to Iceland; and Dream by the Shadows by Logan Karlie, about a deadly dream world and the shadow-cursed girl who must venture into its depths to save her family, all while she falls for the prince of darkness.
LITTLE ISLAND
Little Island Books twinkles with The Brightest Star by Meg Grehan, sequel to The Deepest Breath, which finds Andrew and his friends figuring things out as they start junior high.
MACMILLAN/FARRAR, STRAUS, AND GIROUX
FSG Books for Young Readers keeps its eye on the prize with Dream by Barbara O’Connor, following a small-town girl with big aspirations of becoming a songwriter; There’s Always Next Year by George M. Johnson and Leah Johnson, in which cousins Andy and Dominique accidentally blow up their lives on New Year’s Eve and race to put them back together before New Year’s Day is over; Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel by Natalie Babbitt, adapted and illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard, publishing in time to celebrate the original novel’s 50th anniversary; Loudmouth by Deborah Heiligman, spotlighting groundbreaking political activist Emma Goldman and her fight for workers’ rights, the promise of liberty and justice for all, and free love; and A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal, concluding the gritty fantasy duology about an orphan girl and her crew who get tangled in a heist with vampires.
MACMILLAN/FEIWEL AND FRIENDS
Feiwel and Friends takes a bite out of fall with Defanged by H.E. Edgmon, in which 12-year-old vampire Lux is forced to consider whether he wants to be human when a group discovers a cure for vampirism; Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate, following stuffed bear Pocket as he helps another stuffed toy find joy; The Experiment by Rebecca Stead, about an alien boy from another planet who appears to be a typical sixth-grader and who begins to question where he’s from and where he belongs; The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer, a romantasy and murder mystery based on the legend of Bluebeard; and The Demon and the Light by Axie Oh, the finale of a YA duology about an amnesiac sword-for-hire and a village girl with a strange magical power who become entangled in worlds-altering events.
MACMILLAN/FIRST SECOND
First Second hitches up the sleigh for North for the Winter by Bobby Podesta, the story of Virginia, a girl who must help one of Santa’s reindeer back to the North Pole before Christmas; InvestiGators: Case Files by John Patrick Green and Steve Behling, illus. by Chris Fenoglio, in which special agents Mango and Brash ask readers for help in cracking the gators’ latest case; Flip by Ngozi Ukazu, in which shy nerd and scholarship student Chi-Chi Ekeh switches bodies with the most popular kid at her rich white private school after he epically rejects her promposal; The Five Wolves by Peter McCarty, which follows the artistic life, death, and afterlife of a wolf; and Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow! by James Burks, first in a trio of how-to stories starring curious and spunky Beatrix and Box.
MACMILLAN/FLATIRON
Flatiron Books knows the secret password for The L.O.V.E. Club by Lio Min, the story of three estranged high schoolers who are pulled into a video game to pursue the disappearance of their friend.
MACMILLAN/HOLT
Henry Holt is on the lam with Busted! by Dan Gemeinhart, which finds 12-year-old Oscar going to great lengths—including trespassing and theft—to save the only home he’s ever known: the retirement home where he lives with his grandfather; Roar of the Lambs by Jamison Shea, in which Winnie, a clairvoyant 16-year-old, discovers a mysterious box among the ruins of her childhood home that triggers a vision of the apocalypse and a tangled connection to a powerful local family; and While We Wait by Bee Johnson, about a brother and sister who discover the unexpected delights of life’s in-between moments while running errands with their mother.
MACMILLAN/HOLT/GODWIN
Godwin Books floats along with I’m a Cloud by Tjitske Kamphuis, in which a friendly cloud shares all the different ways they change throughout the days and seasons; Hopeful Heroes by Margarita Engle, illus. by Juliet Menendez, spotlighting the accomplishments of a wide-ranging group of unsung heroes from all across Latin America; and Christiana Figueres, Friend of the Rainforest by Engle, illus. by Nazareth Hidalgo Lobo, showcasing this diplomat and activist whose fight to protect our planet isn’t over yet.
MACMILLAN/NEON SQUID
Neon Squid hoists the Jolly Roger for Tales of Pirates by Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson, illus. by George Ermos, focused on the most fearsome pirates the world has ever seen; A Compendium of Curious Contraptions by Anna Goldfield, illus. by Paula Zamudio, archaeologist Goldfield’s guide to some of the most bizarre objects from history; Dragons by Cait Stevenson, illus. by Cinthya Alvarez, in which medieval historian Stevenson takes a closer look at the history and mythology of dragons from around the world; and Secrets of the Stars by Alicia Klepeis, illus. by Jennifer Falkner, a collection of five-minute bedtime stories about nocturnal wildlife.
MACMILLAN/ODD DOT
Odd Dot shuffles the deck for The Children’s Illustrated Book of Tarot by Kristen Witte, illus. by Margarita Kukhtina; The Children’s Illustrated Book of Tarot, which brings to life the 22 archetype characters and symbols of the Tarot’s Major Arcana and includes backmatter with questions for parents to discuss with their children; Christmas Together with Polar Bear and Friends by Eric Carle and Odd Dot, in which readers join Polar Bear and a mix of old and new friends for festive gatherings, sweet treats, and holiday cheer; Build-a-Bear Workshop: Easter Egg Hunt, a lift-the-flap holiday title; 3,2,1 to the Moon! by Stacy McAnulty, illus. by Joey Chou, featuring a spinning wheel cover where readers can move the moon all around the Earth, showing its orbit and moon’s phases; and You Are Brotherly Love: A Book for the Littlest Kelce Brothers Fans by Emma Carlson-Berne, illus. by Laura Catrinella, chronicling NFL standouts Jason and Travis Kelce’s journey to stardom.
MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK
Roaring Brook Press waxes up the toboggan for A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illus. by Erin E. Stead, which finds the zookeeper and his animal pals playing in a winter wonderland; Dream On! by Shannon Hale, illus. by Marcela Cespesdes, a graphic novel about hope, friendship, and heartfelt wishes; The Resurrectionist by Kathleen S. Allen, a gothic tale of medical mystery and sinister suspense in which a young Victorian woman unwittingly unleashes a monster into being; and Gabby Torres Is the Best Winner Ever by Angela Dominguez, following nine-year-old Gabby as she enters a baking contest and discovers the true meaning of winning
MACMILLAN/TOR/STARSCAPE
Starscape rustles up a list with Stella: Ranch Patrol by W. Bruce Cameron, spotlighting a corgi puppy with natural herding instincts trying to prove she can handle jobs on the ranch.
MACMILLAN/TOR/TOR TEEN
Tor Teen feels the chill with A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman, centering the two most powerful magicians in Alderland, who are faced with the responsibility of discovering an apocalyptic cataclysm and thwarting it; Scorched Earth by Danielle L. Jensen, concluding the Dark Shores series, in which sacrifices must be made to turn the tide of battle against the Empire in order to save Reath; The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard, a paranormal murder mystery set in a small town where legends from long ago now haunt the present day; and Witchlight by Dennard, which wraps up the Witchland magical fantasy adventure series.
MACMILLAN/WEDNESDAY
Wednesday Books rattles around with Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina, a debut romantasy about a necromancer who tries to resurrect her sister and gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead; Rules for Fake Girlfriends by Raegan Revord, the tale of a rom-com fanatic who pretends to be a new friend’s fake girlfriend to make her ex jealous in exchange for help solving the scavenger hunt left by her deceased mother; Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis-Featherstone, following a girl who must navigate the cutthroat world of academia to uncover the truth behind her best friend’s death; Break Wide the Sea by Sara Holland featuring a cursed young woman in a race against time to find a cure and protect her family legacy; and The Heights: Balancing Act by Paula Chase, first in a trilogy about teens fighting for their dreams in a city that is determined to bring them down.
TOMMY NELSON
Tommy Nelson gets a tow for Buster and the Race Car Graveyard by Dale Earnhardt Jr., illus. by Ela Smietanka, in which Buster the Race Car is dared to visit a spooky car graveyard; The Best Kids Cookbook by Danielle Kartes, designed to get kids cooking delicious food, learning key skills, building confidence, and having fun; What God Says About You by Hosanna Wong, illus. by Liz Brizzi, revealing that you aren’t defined by what you’ve done or what others think—you’re defined by what God says about you; First Christmas by N.T. Wright, illus. by Helena Perez Garcia, a telling of the Nativity story from a Bible scholar; and Sunshine Queens by Sherri Shepherd, which invites readers to tag along with Chloe and her bubbly besties as they demonstrate the power of kindness and good friendships.
NOBROW/FLYING EYE
Flying Eye Books hops along with Froggy by Paige Waishe, which finds a small frog learning how to deal with feelings, magic, and big fish; Astral Panic by Katie Hicks, following Gale’s efforts to master his anxiety and be a buddy to bubbly Aiden; The Notted Island by Katherine Child, the story of how Tisky, a young islander with pockets full of cake, tasks herself with bringing Colour and unity back to Last Island; Rune: Tale of the Obsidian Maze by Carlos Sánchez, following Chiri and Dai, who are invited to the Obsidian Maze to fight the sinister MidKnight; and Hilda and Twig: Wake the Ice Man by Luke Pearson, in which Twig accidentally awakens the Ice Man, sending lots of snow straight toward Hilda.
NORTHSOUTH
NorthSouth Books rattles the docent with Mayhem at the Museum by Hanna Brückner, trans. by Laura Watkinson, in which Yuri knocks over a brachiosaurus skeleton at the museum and must ask for help fixing the colossal mess; Buzz! Boom! Bang!: The Book of Sounds by Benjamin Gottwald, which invites readers to provide sound effects for actions depicted on the pages; Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape by Marcus Pfister, trans. by David Henry Wilson, featuring the little blue fish who saves the day when the Rainbow Fish and his friends get caught in a net; 9 Little People by Regina Feldmann, illus. by Martina Stuhlberger, following nine little people—born on the same day—who experience the joys of life together and become best friends; and Me and the Magic Cube by Daniel Fehr, illus. by Golden Cosmos, trans. by Marshall Yarbrough, about three friends who discover the wonder and science behind the magic cube as they attempt to solve it.
NORTHSOUTH/EDICIONES NORTE SUR
Ediciones NorteSur says ¡hola! for Spanish editions El Pez Arcoíris se escapa de la red by Marcus Pfister, trans. by David Bowles; 9 pequeñas personas by Regina Feldmann, illus. by Martina Stuhlberger; trans. by Silke Kleemann and María José Ferrada; and Alboroto en el museo by Hanna Brückner, trans. by Kleemann and Ferrada.
NORTON YOUNG READERS
Norton Young Readers serves up A Spoonful of the Sea by Hyewon Yum, an ode to the bond between mothers and daughters—and the Korean tradition of serving miyeokguk (seaweed soup) on birthdays; Tiger Slayer by Ruby Lal, illus. by Molly Crabapple, presenting the life story of Nur Jahan, the only woman ruler of the Mughal Empire; The Old Sleigh by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey, a holiday companion to The Old Truck and The Old Boat; When the World Is Puddle Wonderful by E.E. Cummings, illus. by Blanca Gómez, featuring Cummings’s poetry in a collection that maps the seasons of the year; and White House Clubhouse: White House Confidential by Sean O’Brien, illus. by Karyn Lee, following First Daughters Marissa and Clara as they travel through time and solve a mystery at the heart of Depression-era Washington.
NOSY CROW
Nosy Crow is hot on the trail with How to Find a Yeti by Matt Hunt, about a boy determined to find the yeti he is certain lives in the forest; Secrets of the Snakestone by Piu DasGupta, in which Zélie and Jules face a deadly race to solve a family mystery and a vicious crime that stretches from the jungles of Calcutta to the sewers of Paris; University of Cambridge: There’s No Such Thing as a Silly Question by Mike Rampton and Guilherme Karten, which answers 213 of the most unusual and interesting questions you never thought to ask about the world, covering science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and more; and This Is Not a Small Voice by Traci N. Todd, illus. by Jade Orlando, an anthology showcasing the work of such Black poets asMaya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Joseph Coelho, Amanda Gorman, and Langston Hughes .
ONI
Oni Press scales the mountain for Goat Magic by Kate Wheeler, the story of a female goat herder who saves a princess cursed to appear as a goat during the day and develops feeling for her.
ORCA
Orca stands tall with Remember Who You Are by Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince, illus. by Sara General, which celebrates Indigenous heritage and promotes cultural pride; Sophie Shares the Stars by Heather Smith, illus. by Catherine Petit, the story of how Sophie and her adoptive father Michael, who are each other’s universe, adapt when Michael develops a chronic illness; Star Sailor, The Story of Words by Sara Cassidy, illus. by Julie McLaughlin, uncovering the mystery of words, how they make a language, and why humans need them to communicate; All the Things We Found by Joanne Levy, in which Ruthie, who is mourning the death of her baby brother who was stillborn, finds some comfort in the news that her mother is pregnant again; and Allyship as Action: 7 Ways to Stand with Others by Tanya Boteju, illus. by Bithi Sutradhar, a guide exploring definitions of allyship, privilege, marginalization and more, to help readers develop tools to be better allies.
PAGE STREET/PAGE STREET KIDS
Page Street Kids cashes in with Piggy Bank Saves the Day by Kimberly Wilson, illus. by Mark Hoffmann, about a piggy bank with a need for speed that learns the merits of patience and slow savings; Clovis Meets His Match by Katelyn Aronson, illus. by Benji Williams, which finds Clovis, the bull-not-bully, challenged by his feelings when a trendy new China show opens and strikes up a rivalry with his shop; and Help Me Find My Hamster by Brooke Hartman, illus. by Anna Süßbauer, in which the narrator spies fuzzy floofy ears, chubby cheeks, peanut-sized paws, and other features that seem to lead to their missing pet hamster, but actually belong to huge and more fearsome wild creatures.
PAGE STREET/PAGE STREET YA
Page Street YA trips the light fantastic for The Devil’s in the Dancers by Catherine Yu, in which Mars Chang uncovers an occult plot to sacrifice her annoyingly hot roommate at the cutthroat summer dance intensive; These Bodies Ain’t Broken, edited by Madeline Dyer, a horror anthology showcasing disabled teens fighting monsters, breaking curses, and surviving against all odds; These Stolen Words by Tori Bovalino, about a ghost and the girl who moves into a haunted house forming an unlikely alliance; Blood and Breath by Qurratulayn Muhammad, the Jazz Age fantasy tale of a Black girl who makes a deal with the devil in order to bring vengeance down upon the magical ruling class; and This Is How We Roll, edited by Rosiee Thor and Colby Wilkens, featuring stories inspired by popular tabletop role-playing games which explore gender, relationships, and queer existence.
PAW PRINTS
Paw Prints stays up late with Moon Cat by Casi Cole, illus. by Amanda Romanick, in which a grandfather recounts a folktale from his childhood about the Moon Cat, a physical manifestation of the moon, in feline form, that takes sleepy children on a sensory filled and mindful journey at bedtime; How Do You Like Your Latkes by Ronna Mandel; illus. by Madison Safer, following a grandmother and her homemade applesauce as they get massively delayed on the journey from to a family Hanukkah dinner; Daddy’s Promise by Ed Gordon, illus. by Sophia Green, which finds a father making a pledge to his daughter to always love, support, uplift, and protect her; Dream Warriors: Khi’s New Beginning by Jesse Byrd, illus. by Berto Santiago, kicking off a fantasy graphic novel series featuring 11-year-old Khi, a newly minted Dream Warrior who battles to keep his slumbering sister safe from a cohort of bad dreams; and Dedushka: Memories of My Grandpa and Ukraine by Katerina Spaeth, which pays homage to a Ukrainian girl’s childhood with her grandfather in the city of Kharkiv.
PEACHTREE
Peachtree wags its tail for Dog House 1 and Dog House 2 by Dori Hillestad Butler, launching a series following nine-year-old Hazel and her mother as they help Grandma run The Dog House, a kennel, dog daycare, and training school; Special Teams by Fred Bowen, in which Leo wants to be a wide receiver, but his coach sees a place for him on Special Teams; How the Ghost Army Hoodwinked Hitler: The Story of American Artistry and Deception in World War II by Rebecca Siegel, a narrative nonfiction work following the American army unit that fought with stagecraft, artistry, and deception, using “weapons” including inflatable rubber tanks and giant speakers broadcasting fake military maneuvers, to help secure Allied victory.
PEACHTREE/PEACHTREE TEEN
Peachtree Teen stands en garde for Lord of Blade and Bone by Erica Ivy Rodgers, the second installment in the Waking Hearts fantasy adventure duology inspired by The Three Musketeers; A Feast for the Eyes by Alex Crespo, a queer supernatural thriller in which four teens must track down a local cryptid that’s feeding off secrets before their own hidden truths are exposed; A Fate Unwoven by Rachael A. Edwards, about a heretical storyteller who partners with an ancient spirit to undo the magic that subjugates her to the crown; Hollow by Taylor Grothe, a queer YA cult horror focused on a recently diagnosed autistic teen who is rescued by a charming woodcarver and becomes enmeshed in his community of outcasts; and Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause, telling the tale of Princess Madalina who must complete her twin sister Inessa’s marriage-and-assassination mission to free Inessa from Bide, a terrifying place where souls get caught.
PEACHTREE/QUINLIN
Margaret Quinlin Books flocks together for The Blue Jays That Grew a Forest by Lynn Street, illus. by Anne Hunter, which celebrates the connection between blue jays and oak trees over the course of a year, as the blue jays bury thousands of acorns.
PENGUIN/DIAL
Dial puts the kettle on for Tea Is Love by Adib Khorram, illus. by Hanna Cha, an ode to the warmth, comfort, and traditions of tea drinking; Menudo Sunday by María Dolores Aguila, illus. by Erika Meza, a Spanish-English counting book set amid the love, laughter, and chaos found at a large family gathering; Dory Fantasmagory: Center of the Universe by Abby Hanlon, in which Dory has met her match in soccer rival Valentina; Lion in Bed by Darren Farrell, illus. by Maya Tatsukawa, focused on mental health and the power of a good cuddle; and Just Between Us by Adeline Kon, which finds Olympic hopeful Lydia trying to fall back in love with figure skating without falling for her competition.
PENGUIN/DUTTON
Dutton throws a hip check with Leave It on the Track by Margot Fisher, about healing, self-acceptance, and queer first love, set in the world of roller derby; You’ve Found Oliver by Dustin Thao, the companion to You’ve Reached Sam, in which two boys who are separated by time find a way to each other and themselves; No Man’s Land by John Hulme, a true crime YA horror debut about evil spirits, urban legends, and three teens who should have known better; This Way to Happy by Alison Green Myers, the story of a girl who seeks her own joy amid the enforced happiness of the amusement park where she lives with her family; and Sunderworld, Vol. 2: The Unfortunate Responsibilities of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs, which finds Leopold, Emmet, and Isabel unraveling the mystery of the ring and what has been going on with Leopold’s family.
PENGUIN/FLAMINGO
Flamingo puts its best foot forward with What Kind of Shoes Does a Hippopotamus Choose? by Kat Maconie, illus. by Sebastien Braun, spotlighting animals of all varieties trying on different pairs of shoes; Cupig Saves Christmas by Claire Tattersfield, illus. by Rob Sayegh Jr., which finds Cupig the Valentine’s Day Pig filling in for Santa on Christmas Eve; Sparkles for Sunny by Sylvia Chen, illus. by Thai My Phuong, in which Sunny, who is sick of wearing hand-me-downs to the Lunar New Year parade, decides to make her own super special qípáo to wear; Piggle the Pig: Party Problems by Dudolf, following Piggle, who eats all the food he has prepared for a dinner party for his friends; and Dude Be Nice by Sarah Scheerger, illus. by Alex MacNaughton, about a well-intentioned bear who wants to do nice things for his friends all day long, but fails to ask if they actually need help.
PENGUIN/PUTNAM
Putnam flips for Plenty of Pancakes by Carrie Finison, illus. by Brianne Farley, featuring a bear making pancakes—and a counting lesson; Deepwater Creek: A Graphic Novel by Michael Regina, about two brothers who must uncover what terrors may be lurking in the depths of their local creek; A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance, in which two teen girls must uncover the dark, occult secrets of their Cape Cod town to solve a series of murders—and save themselves from the same fate; The Chismosas Only Book Club by Laekan Zea Kemp, following four Latine girls in a book club in Nuevas Rosas, N.M., as they embark on their first year of high school; and Prodigal Tiger by Samantha Chong, a YA fantasy that brings vibrant Malaysian diaspora and folklore to life.
PENGUIN/GROSSET & DUNLAP
Grosset & Dunlap polishes its tiara for The Night Before the Quinceañera by Natasha Wing and Gloria García, illus. by Nathalie Beauvois, featuring a girl getting ready to celebrate her older sister’s quinceañera; Pumpkin Spice by Arie Kaplan, illus. by Monique Dong, in which Pumpkin Spice is preparing to paint the leaves red, yellow, and orange for fall; I Love You So Much! by Steph Stilwell, a heart-shaped board book filled with sweet puns; and Let’s Play Football!: A Touch-and-Feel Book by Jo Parker, illus. by Ahra Kwon, which engages kids’ sensory skills with the fun and excitement of football.
PENGUIN/KOKILA
Kokila yells, “action!” for I Can Make a Movie! by Morgan Cooper, illus. by Geneva Bowers, the story, written by the director and creator of Bel-Air, of a girl who decides to make her own movie set right in Kansas City; Sundust by Zeke Peña, in which two siblings explore the El Paso desert and all its wonders; Gwei the Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee, illus. by Basia Tran Fader, a picture book inspired by Buddhist, Daoist, and Chinese folklore about a ghost who eats but never feels full, until he finds fulfillment in a surprising way; Heartsick by Kristina Forest, following two high school seniors (and recent exes) who go on the run after overhearing the dark truth about a pill that cures heartbreak; and Dancing with Water by Gwendolyn Wallace, illus. by Tonya Engel, which finds a nonbinary child in the rural South learning the tradition of dowsing from their grandfather, as they dig wells to bring water to their community.
PENGUIN/PAULSEN
Nancy Paulsen Books powers up with The Bionic Boy by Lynn Plourde, featuring a superhero-loving boy born without arms who finds the hero inside himself; Bunheads, Act 2: The Dance of Courage by Misty Copeland, illus. by Setor Fiadzigbey, which follows Misty and her fellow band of bunheads as they learn the ballet Don Quixote and what it means to be a friend; A Place for Us by James E. Ransome, a wordless picture book that gives readers a glimpse into a day in the life of an unhoused boy and his mother making their place in the world; The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham by Ryan James Black, the story of a 12-year-old orphan who teams up with unlikely allies to hunt down the shadow monster he has accidentally released onto the streets of WW II London; and Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry, following 18-year-old death row inmate Eternity Price as she competes on a reality TV show in hopes of winning her freedom.
PENGUIN/PENGUIN WORKSHOP
Penguin Workshop launches out of the starting block with Wilma Rudolph: The Graphic Novel by Josh Bycel and Rich Korson, illus. by Brittney Williams, spotlighting the young Black woman who overcame childhood polio and became one of the greatest Olympic track stars of all time; Operation: Deliver the Bink by Jack R. Miller, illus. by Mike Yamada, the launch title of the Russell Brothers chapter book series starring four Jack Russell terriers who go to humorous lengths to protect their human family; Good Old-Fashioned Korean Spirit: A Graphic Novel by Kim Hyun Sook, illus. by Ryan Estrada, a slightly spooky YA graphic novel about first love and friendship; Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Dances His Heart Out by Dolly Parton, illus. by MacKenzie Haley, dishing up another adventure for French bulldog Billy the Kid; and The Dirt! by Lindsey Leigh, follow-up to The Deep! and The Dark!, focused on the often messy lives of animals that live underground.
PENGUIN/PHILOMEL
Philomel channels girl bosses for Mom’s Busy Work by Jacinda Ardern, illus. by Ruby Jones, offering a look at a young daughter’s week with her working mother, by the former prime minister of New Zealand; Love Stays Strong by Paula Schneider, illus. by Nicole Wong, a cancer survivor’s ode to the power of a family’s love, particularly during times of illness; I’m Very Busy by Oliver Jeffers, a humorous story about our busy lives and how we can fix our mistakes to show our friends how much we care; Devin’s Gift by Alana Tyson, illus. by Ebony Glenn, in which Devin struggles to find the perfect birthday gift for his best friend Luka; and The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller, which finds middle schooler Luna suddenly swept into the popular group when a zine she makes with her best friend Scott takes off.
PENGUIN/RISE X PENGUIN WORKSHOP
Rise X Penguin Workshop pricks up its ears for A Sound in the Night by María Coco, a wordless tale following a girl and her dog on a camping adventure; Making Art by Diana Ejaita, celebrating the many ways we create art, spanning mediums, geography, and resources; What Medicine Can Do by Gabrielle Balkan, illus. by Alberto Lot, providing an informative and humorous introduction to the power of medicine; It’s a Mitzvah! by Suzy Ultman, third in a series of books with Jewish themes, introducing everyday good deeds and inspiring kindness, connection, and peace; The Hard Work Day by Alan Arkin , illus. by Wesley Allsbrook, which finds a boy making his own work when his family excludes him from theirs.
PENGUIN/ROCKY POND
Rocky Pond lays out the blueprints with If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen, which finds Jack telling the mayor about all the amazing, fantastical things he would include if he built their town; You Are Not Alone by Ingrid Law, illus. by Li Xin, a bedtime book in which a parent reassures their child about all the people and things keeping them company as they sleep; What Makes YOU Happy? by Nedra Glover Tawwab, illus. by Candice Bradley, about Avery’s struggle to decide on a birthday party that will prioritize her own favorite things rather than those of her friends; Finding Lost by Holly Goldberg Sloan, the story of a stray dog that brings lots of change and joy to a girl who’s mourning the loss of her father; and Seeing Crocodiles Everywhere by Esteli Meza, featuring a girl whose sadness and anger arrive in the form of crocodiles after her best friend moves away.
PENGUIN/VIKING
Viking glides into the ring for Princess Battle Royale by Phaea Crede, illus. by Jen Hill, which finds fairy tale princesses competing in an MMA (mixed magical arts) tournament to be crowned victor and wear the Enchanted Championship Belt; The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes, a modern tall tale of a Black boy who is lauded for his football talent until a tragedy makes him question his true worth; Outside In and the Inside Out by Emmy Kastner, spotlighting the life and work of late author-illustrator Arnold Lobel; The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater and Stephanie Williams, illus. by Sas Milledge, the first in the graphic novel adaptations of the Raven Cycle series, following four private schoolboys, a psychic’s daughter, and their search for a Welsh king sleeping under the mountains of their sleepy Virginia town; and The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents: The Forbidden Room by Nicki Pau Preto, sequel to Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents, in which Vin and her friends attempt to thwart the attempts of school board inspectors who want to shut Last Hope down.
PENGUIN/WORLD OF ERIC CARLE
World of Eric Carle inches into fall with the following titles by Eric Carle: The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Christmas Colors; The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up Book; Can You Find It? Bedtime with the Very Hungry Caterpillar; and Lunar New Year with the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
PHAIDON
Phaidon shouts “timber!” for Fallen: The Second Life of Trees by Danio Miserocchi and Maciej Michno, illus. by Valentia Gottardi, taking a closer look at the new ecosystem that flourishes after a tree dies; A Home for Everything by Rebecca Donnelly, illus. by Joyce Cho Joyce, explaining how architects cleverly design everyday buildings, from schools to museums, and planetariums to supermarkets, to meet the needs of those who use them; Cook in a Book: Cake! by Lotta Nieminen, an interactive guide to following a real recipe and baking and decorating a cake; Exploring the Universe by Isabel Thomas, illus. by Sara Gillingham, offering a survey of the universe, depicted in bold graphics and bright Pantone colors.
PUSHKIN
Pushkin Children’s Books watches the tide roll out with The Ocean at Night by Isabelle Simler, depicting ocean creatures at nighttime; King Winter’s Birthday by Jonathan Freeland, illus. by Emily Sutton, in which the seasons are a jumble after King Winter throws a birthday party, inviting his estranged siblings Queen Spring, King Summer, and Queen Autumn; What Feelings Do at Night by Tina Oziewicz, illus. by Aleksandra Zając, which finds The Feelings, imagined as little furry creatures, going on individual nocturnal excursions that gently explore the way we feel; The Dandelion Riots by Kim Smejkal, the tale of a 16-year-old girl, cursed from birth, who escapes from home and flees to Oblison where she joins with others of her kind to break their curse; The Changeling Child by H.S. Norup, following Alfred and Saga as they return to the Faerie World to find a missing child and unravel a mystery.
QUARTO/BECKER & MAYER! KIDS
becker&mayer! Kids lights a candle for The Dia de los Muertos Story by Andrea Jáuregui De La Torre, illus. by Laura González, in which a girl explores her Mexican heritage and the history of the Day of the Dead.
QUARTO/HAPPY YAK
Happy Yak thinks pink with No, I’m a... FLAMINGO! by Catharine Robertson, illus. by Ana Gomez, which finds a father asking a child to get dressed but the child resisting, insisting they’re a flamingo; Little S Goes House Hunting by Bia Melo, following a snail as it tries to find a new house; The Big Monster Bake by Fiona Barker, illus. by Eve O’Brien, in which two shy monsters want to share their cake and meet their neighbors in the process; There’s Nothing Funny About Bums by Gareth P. Jones, illus. by Matt Robertson, featuring a classroom of children who try to keep a straight face while learning about bottoms; and I’m Going to Eat a Polar Bear by Karl Newson, the story of a little penguin who decides it wants to try a new food and sets off to find a polar bear to eat.
QUARTO/IVY KIDS ECO
Ivy Kids Eco sounds the alarm for Flamekraken and the Forest Fire by James Sellick, illus. by Patrick Corrigan, which finds a firetruck fighting the flames of a blaze in Evergreen Forest; A Christmas Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom by Angela Ferraro-Fanning, illus. by AnneliesDraws, dishing up a collection of crafts, recipes, and gardening projects with a Christmas theme; and All Together Now by Hannah Dove, illus. by Gemma Koomen, featuring a variety of family activities that range from five-to-30 minutes to complete.
QUARTO/LINCOLN
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books checks the mailbox with Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G. Griffiths, the tale of a lonely fox who receives a mysterious letter and goes on a journey to find out who sent it; Virginia Woolf by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illus. by Audrey Day, spotlighting the life of this author and feminist icon; and Mythology Land by Claire Cock-Starkey, featuring bedtime stories from mythology.
QUARTO/WIDE EYED EDITIONS
Wide Eyed Editions charges up an EMF meter for Haunted USA by Heather Alexander, illus. by Sam Kalda, a collection of scary stories from each of the 50 states; Only in Texas (Spanish Edition) by Alexander, illus. by Jen Taylor, offering a Spanish-language tour of the state; Comeback Creatures by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe, illus. by Zoe Keller, featuring stories about animals that have come back from the brink of extinction; and Joy to the Whole World! by Lucy Brownridge, illus. by Sang Miao, exploring the various ways that Christmas is celebrated around the globe.
QUARTO/WORDS & PICTURES
words & pictures scatters seeds for The Forest That Grows Around Me by Charlotte Guillain, illus. by Vuon Illustration, shining a light on Earth’s many types of forest ecosystems.
RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Random House scratches its head for Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein, focused on a family road trip that turns into a family showdown when two brothers race across the country to solve the million-dollar puzzle of an eccentric genius; Tuck Me In by Nathan Pyle, in which the moon must satisfy the oceans with plenty of cover so that everyone can get a good night’s rest; Not Like Every Day by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, illus. by Gabrielle Grimard, exploring the complex emotions surrounding school lockdown drills, and providing helpful resources; Gray Squirrel Loses It by Cassandra Federman, about a forest tour that is interrupted by a frantic squirrel searching for his misplaced nut; and Where There’s Smoke by Tae Keller, the story of three middle school students embarking on a quest to find a book that may save their lives as they try to come to terms with the uncertainties of the world.
RANDOM HOUSE GRAPHIC
Random House Graphic steps things up with Passé It On by Danielle Chuatico, about a talented young ballet dancer who has moved from the Philippines to New York but feels like she’s falling short; Cry Out Loud by Tara O’Connor, in which Nell is forced to go live with an aunt and uncle whom she’s never met and discovers that she’s been chosen as the latest victim in a perilous plot that spans centuries and has left countless bodies in its wake; Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen, following Angelica’s search to learn the identity of her local theater’s mascot, whose DM’s have helped her find solace; Harper Sharp: Kid Detective by Jarrett Williams, which finds fifth-grade mystery whiz Harper on a mission to figure out who’s behind the ominous fliers warning people away from their school’s Young Inventor’s Fair; and Night Chef by Mika Song, centering on Night Chef, who discovers a baby crow inside one of the eggs she cracks open for her dinner, and tries to reunite the bird with its family.
RANDOM HOUSE/KNOPF
Knopf preheats the oven for The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake by Devin Elle Kurtz, in which Ember learns to bake a cake with a sprinkle of fairy tale magic; I Am My Name by Na’kuset and Judith Henderson, illus. by Onedove, focused on Cree activist Na’kuset’s experience of being taken from her home as a girl in the 1960s, as thousands of Indigenous children were, and the journey of discovery that leads her to reclaim her life and culture; And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun, which finds Soojin dealing with the consequences of using her ancestral magic to bring her sister back from the dead; The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell, illus. by Ashley Mackenzie, the second entry in the Impossible Creatures series, featuring more than 60 illustrations including a map and a bestiary; and a sequel to The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers, illus. by Shawn Harris, follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel, following Johannes the dog’s adventures as he explores the wilds of a new land.
RANDOM HOUSE STUDIO
Random House Studio explores A World Without Summer by Nicholas Day, illus. by Yas Imamura, explaining how Mount Tambora’s catastrophic eruption plunged the world into darkness, altering the global climate and inspiring the likes of Mary Shelley; Bob the Vampire Snail by Andrea Zuill, which finds a vampire snail embracing his unique love of tomatoes, discovering new and peculiar sleeping talents, and forming an unexpected friendship; Archibald and the Furry Dinosaurs by Suzanne Lang, illus. by Max Lang, featuring a bald dinosaur on a quest in search of his hair; My Sister the Apple Tree by Jordan Scott and Jamal Saeed, illus. by Zahra Marwan, a refugee story inspired by the author’s own experience, following a boy whose profound love for his apple tree gives him the courage to move forward when his family flees their homeland; and Buffalo Fluffalo and Puffalo by Bess Kalb, illus. by Erin Kraan, in which Buffalo Fluffalo’s prairie life is disrupted by Puffalo, a yelly, smelly, and squigglish new addition to the family.
RANDOM HOUSE/SCHWARTZ
Anne Schwartz Books makes a move with When Auggie Learned to Play Chess by Meredith Rusu, illus. by Stephen Costanza, in which a shy kid’s father teaches him to play chess, which helps the child make a friend at his new school; How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares, based on the true story of the author’s father, about a 12-year-old’s coming of age during the Cuban Revolution and his family’s harrowing escape to America; and I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich, illus. by Chris Raschka, depicting a blind child’s experience of the four seasons and celebrating the beauty of the world beyond sight.
RANDOM HOUSE/BRIGHT MATTER
Bright Matter Books mounts a search party for The Lost Women of Science by Melina Gerosa Bellows and Katie Hafner, illus. by Karyn Lee, featuring 10 profiles from the popular Lost Women of Science podcast, which recognizes trailblazing female scientists whose lives and works have been lost to history...until now; Vanished: 7 Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared by Anna Hays, illus. by Mary Kate McDevitt, presenting the stories of seven women magicians who pulled off spectacular and death-defying illusions and acts, were world famous in their time, and then disappeared into obscurity; Coming Home (Adapted for Young Adults) by Brittney Griner and Michelle Burford, the WNBA star’s account of her arrest and confinement in a Russian prison and the heroic efforts to bring her home; and Real-Life Mysteries & Disasters by Susan Martineau, illus. by Vicky Barker, presenting the intel behind some of the world’s most enduring mysteries and catastrophes.
RANDOM HOUSE/CROWN
Crown puts on some stretchy pants for Family Feast! by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Frank Morrison, about an intergenerational African American family preparing a delicious feast; Abolition and the African American Story by Patricia Williams Dockery, the next title in the Race to the Truth series, telling the story of the Civil War and Reconstruction from the African American perspective; Let It Shine! by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Tequitia Andrews, written to the tune of This Little Light of Mine, celebrating life’s big and small moments, milestones, and accomplishments; Haircut Day with Dad by Monica Mikai, following a boy and his father as they spend the day in their special, happy place—the barbershop; and My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser by Jamie Jo Hoang, a companion book to My Father, the Panda Killer told in two voices: that of Paul, a teen on a family trip to Vietnam who is looking for a connection to his absent mother in 2008, and that of his mother, as she attempts to survive as a Vietnamese refugee and eventually build a new life in America in the 1970s.
RANDOM HOUSE/DELACORTE
Delacorte checks the guest list for The Uninvited by Nancy Banks, featuring vampires in the Paris underground, where a young woman’s bohemian dream turns into a chilling nightmare; We Fell Apart: a we were liars novel by E. Lockhart, the tale of a girl who arrives at her long-lost artist father’s isolated seaside compound to find him missing, a mansion in neglect, and three teenage boys whose dark secrets might hold the key to her own family saga; House of Quiet by Kiersten White, about one girl’s mission to rescue her sister by going undercover as a maid inside the House of Quiet, rumored to be where children whose Procedures have gone wrong are sent to quiet their terrible powers; Twin Tides by Hien Nguyen, in which long-lost twin sisters unravel the mystery behind their mother’s disappearance, discover a ghoul haunting the waters of her hometown, and face the family betrayal that ultimately separated them; and The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic, the first book in a fantasy duology set in a magical world of witches and the Weavers they must marry in order to control their magic.
RANDOM HOUSE/DELACORTE ROMANCE
Delacorte Romance squees for The Fangirl Project by Beth Reekles, focused on a girl who joins a book fantasy fandom to win over her crush, only to discover that love is just as complicated online; Reel Love by Addie Woolridge, in which two teens must keep their working—and romantic— relationship a secret from their grandmothers, who are longtime social media rivals; Trail Rides & Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel, a contemporary dual POV romance set in the American West in which a teen girl from Wyoming finds herself trying to teach a teen actor from Hollywood how to ride a horse like a cowboy in only a few weeks; and Everything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey, a sapphic romance featuring a local ray of sunshine who gets the grumpy new girl to help plan the town’s Halloween festivities, without realizing she’s recruited a real witch.
RANDOM HOUSE/DR. SEUSS
Dr. Seuss Publishing makes a wish with If It Were My Birthday Party by the Cat in the Hat by Alastair Heim, illus. by Tom Brannon, featuring the Cat in the Hat imagining how he would throw the best birthday party ever; Dr. Seuss Graphic Novel: Thing One and Thing Two Have Homework to Do by Art Baltazar, in which the Cat in the Hat sends Thing One and Thing Two... and Thing Three... and Thing Four to help Sally and her brother with their homework; Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! With 12 Silly Sounds by Dr. Seuss, an interactive board book adaptation of the classic; Merry Grinchmas, Baby! with Dr. Seuss Babies, illus. by Paul Roberts, which finds baby Grinch, Cindy-Lou Who, and Max learning the true meaning of Christmas; and Horton Hears a Hanukkah Party by Leslie Kimmelman, illus. by Tom Brannon, in which the Whos introduce Horton the elephant to the joys and traditions of Hanukkah.
RANDOM HOUSE/DOUBLEDAY
Doubleday pulls up some extra chairs for Happy Friendsgiving by Marcie Colleen, illus. by Laura Sandoval Herrera, celebrating the joy of friendship and community—at a table where all are welcome; Mr. Willowby’s Head Over Heels Christmas by Robert Barry, a sequel to the classic Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree created from a long-lost manuscript and sketches by the late author; Squash & Pumpkin: #squashgoals by G.G. McQueen, illus. by Michael Slack, in which Acorn Squash must prove there’s more to autumn than just pumpkin spice; Elmore and the Big Christmas Rescue by Dev Petty, illus. by Mike Boldt, the return of Elmore the Moose in a Christmas story about believing in yourself, even when under pressure; and Because of You, I’m a Sister by Jen Fier Jasinski, illus. by Lisa Chow, which finds an older sibling telling the new baby about all the wonderful ways her life changed and became more full once she became a sister.
RANDOM HOUSE/GOLDEN
Golden Books nails the choreography for BTS: A Little Golden Book Biography by Jan Ann, illus. by Hyesung Park, showcasing the South Korean pop group loved by millions of fans around the world.
RANDOM HOUSE/JOY REVOLUTION
Joy Revolution knows its lines for Marisol Acts the Part by Elle Gonzalez Rose, a sapphic rom-com featuring a teen actor who intentionally lands a role on the same high-profile show as her ex-boyfriend, and then falls for his co-star; Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page, about a teen mystic who agrees to fake date a popular girl in exchange for help finding the person behind a string of magical mishaps; Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya, a dual POV YA romantasy in which a thief pretending to be a fortune-teller competes for the starring role at a magical traveling circus; and An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew, set in a dystopian Miami, following a working-class girl who secretly enters a dating competition to win the heart of a wealthy water heir in the hopes that he will use his family’s fortune to save her water-starved community.
RANDOM HOUSE/LABYRINTH ROAD
Labyrinth Road laces up its skates for Blood City Rollers 2: Move It or Bruise It by V.P. Anderson, illus. by Tatiana Hill, in which ice-skater Mina reunites with the Blood City Rollers—an underground roller derby league full of vampires and supernatural creatures—who are attempting to make an abandoned asylum their new home and practice space; Sir Callie and the Final Tournament by Esme Symes-Smith, which finds Callie and their friends joining forces for the final battle in their fight to make Helston a better, safer place; Farrah Noorzad and the Realm of Nightmares by Deeba Zargarpur, the story of a half-human, half-jinn girl who tries to save both her worlds from destruction; and Alex Wise vs. the Gods of the Apocalypse by Terry J. Benton-Walker, in which Alex and his pals attempt to defeat Ezra and the remaining Horsemen of the Apocalypse to determine the fate of the multiverse.
RANDOM HOUSE/MAKE ME A WORLD
Make Me a World rises up with We Always Had Wings by Jess X. Snow, a work inspired by Chinese folklore and grounded by the immigrant experience, in which Little Snow learns about her extended family and finds her place among the stars.
RANDOM HOUSE/RODALE
Rodale Kids forages into fall with Mrs. Peanuckle’s Mushroom Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle, illus. by Jessie Ford, an early concept book filled with fun fungi facts.
RED COMET
Red Comet Press goes back to the beginning with Origin by Nat Cardozo, showcasing 22 visual and written portraits of Indigenous children, profiling their communities and highlighting their connection to nature and their environment; Alkrem by Marta Palazzesi, about a boy who discovers his true identity and embarks on a quest to save his father in a world where magic, politics, and intrigue collide; Emmie Builds Something New by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, in which a clever mouse with a flair for invention tries to rid herself of an unwelcome visiting cat; Giving Thanks with Halmoni: Celebrating Chuseok, the Korean Harvest Festival by Kathryn Choi and Sook Nyul Choi, illus. by Il Sung Na, which finds a grandmother sharing the traditions of the biggest Korean holiday of Chuseok with her granddaughter and friends; and Fortune Cookies for Everyone by Mia Wenjen, illus. by Colleen Kong-Savage, an investigative picture book that seeks to reveal the true origins of the fortune cookie.
RUNNING PRESS KIDS
Running Press Kids lays down its paddle with Goodnight, Pickleball by Chuck Sambuchino, illus. by Mike Deas, in which a girl helps cheer on her father’s pickleball team while learning about America’s fastest growing sport; Take Up Space Y’all: Your Bold & Bright Guide to Self-Love by Tess Holliday and Kelly Coon, a wellness and lifestyle guide from top plus-size model Holliday; Once Upon a Kwanzaa by Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall, illus. by Sawyer Cloud, introducing readers to the interwoven history and lived experiences connected to the Kwanzaa holiday; Persian Mythology by Ryan Bani Tahmaseb, illus. by Reza Dalvand, featuring 20 stories spotlighting the strongest heroes, legendary creatures, and vicious demons of Persian mythology; and Love and Video Games by Zachary Sergi, a queer YA novel following a video game player who discovers there isn’t a cheat code to life—or love.
SCHOLASTIC PRESS
Scholastic Press scores with Messi’s Magic: How Lionel Messi Became the Greatest Soccer Player of All Time by Caroline L. Perry, illus. by Luciano Lozano, the story of how the beloved footballer defied the odds to become a record-breaking legend; The Free Kingdom of Jax by Jennifer A. Nielsen, which finds Jaxon Averett, who is tired of being mistreated by his relatives, establishing his own micronation, which he must defend, as he also becomes entangled in a town mystery; Outside by Jennifer L. Holm, following a girl who lives an entirely indoor life, protected with other kids in a compound from the threats of the outside world... until, one day, the line between outside and inside is crossed; and Chris Makes a Friend by Alex Gino, in which Chris takes breaks from their little sister and grandparents by retreating to the woods, where they meet Mia, a girl with secrets of her own.
SCHOLASTIC EN ESPANOL
Scholastic en Español fetes fall with Hermanas by Raina Telgemeier and Spanish-language editions of: That’s Not Funny, David! by David Shannon; Fly Guy Presents: Firefighters by Tedd Arnold; Miss Camper by Kat Fajardo; and Read and Learn 5-Minute Bible Stories for Kids by Amy Parker.
SCHOLASTIC EARLY LEARNERS
Scholastic Early Learners jingles all the way with My Busiest Christmas Book Ever!, a Christmas-themed board book that teaches colors, shapes, and more early concepts with a handle, flaps, and touch and feels; and My Busy Write-and-Wipe: Sharks introducing letters, counting, and more in a shark-themed novelty format with wipe-clean pages and fabric touches.
SCHOLASTIC FOCUS
Scholastic Focus keeps shining a light on history with The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill (Young Reader’s Edition) by Brad Meltzer, about the Nazi assassination plot that could have changed the course of World War II; and World War II Close Up: They Battled in Blizzards by Deborah Hopkinson, featuring the stories of the men and women who fought and served during the long, deadly Battle of the Bulge.
SCHOLASTIC PAPERBACKS
Scholastic Paperbacks faces fall with Smiley by M.C. Ross, about a newly adopted young pit bull with an infectious smile; Terrible Trio #1 by Swapna Haddow and Minky Stapleton, in which café workers Zeb the zebra, Margarine the penguin, and Barry the lemur have the worst powers of all the animals and may never get their shot to be superheroes; Game Quest #1 by Ash Wu, set in a Minecraft-style video game world and the real world of elementary school where friendships will be tested, courage will be discovered, and teamwork will always win; Escape from the USS Indianapolis by Andy Marino, which finds Alfie and his stowaway brother fighting for their lives in open water after the USS Indianapolis is torpedoed by the enemy in WWII; and Outfoxed by Elise McMullen-Ciotti, which finds Skye teaming up with the grumpy new kid to find the poacher who caught a baby fox in a trap.
SCHOLASTIC/ACORN
Acorn stays under the covers with the following early reader titles: The Face in the Mirror and Other Scary Stories (Mister Shivers #5) by Max Brallier, illus. by Letizia Rubegni; and Ember the Fire Dragon (Dragon Hill #1) by Tracey West, illus. by Carolina Vazquez.
SCHOLASTIC/AFK
AFK needs a bigger monitor for the following books based on video game properties: Five Nights at Freddy’s Case Files; Poppy Playtime Original YA Novel #1 by Adrienne Kress; and Pet Simulator: Friendship Level-Up!.
SCHOLASTIC/BRANCHES
Branches lines up for the following early chapter books: Hut! Hut! Hike! (Sports Zone! #1) by Andrew Maraniss, illus. by Aishwarya Tandon; The Not-So-Super Villain (Super Villains in Training #1) by Kailei Pew, illus. by Carolina Coroa; Vortex of the Chaos Dragon (Dragon Masters #30) by Tracey West, illus. by Graham Howells; Claim the Emerald Crown (Coral Keepers #3) by Robin Yardi, illus. by Paul Kellam; and The Super Jump Between Worlds! (Press Start! #17) by Thomas Flintham.
SCHOLASTIC/CARTWHEEL
Cartwheel grabs a straw for My Little Boba, illus. by Liv Wan, a boba drink-shaped board book; I Love You, Little Moose! by Sandra Magsamen, delivering a message of love via a novelty book featuring soft moose antlers; It’s Christmas, David! by David Shannon, in which David can’t wait to celebrate Christmas; One Elephant/Un elefante by 123 Andrés, illus. by Eduardo Marticorena, which finds five little elephants hopping on a spiderweb in a bilingual twist on a beloved Spanish nursery rhyme; and You Are My Shiny Star by Lala Watkins, encouraging readers to dream big and reach for the stars.
SCHOLASTIC/CHICKEN HOUSE
Chicken House seeks out All the Hidden Monsters #2: All the Lost Souls by Amie Jordan, in which Sage and Oren investigate the rising tensions within the longstanding feud between witches and werewolves in the Jura Mountains.
SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX
Graphix cleans its binoculars for Diary of a Nature Nerd by Tiffany Everett, in which diehard nature-explorer Brooke feels upstaged when her BFF-turned-stepsister announces that she spotted a moose—Brooke’s ultimate goal—on a family trip; Coming Out Perfect by Richard Mercado, which finds Kevin on a quest to become “the perfect gay kid” to win acceptance from his family and the kids at school; Luna by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter, following Luna as she moves with her father across the country to the area where her late mother grew up, hoping to learn more about her; Refugee: The Graphic Novel by Alan Gratz and Syd Fini, adapting the novel that follows three different kids escaping peril during three different time periods in history—and how their stories intersect; Max, a Little Axolotl by Joey Spiotto, focused on an axolotl’s first day at Coral Elementary; and My Name Is Benny Vol. 1 by Sokomin, following gas mask-wearing preteen Benny and her neighborhood friends as they find increasingly creative ways to stave off boredom.
SCHOLASTIC/LITTLE SHEPHERD
Little Shepherd bows its head for Tiny Bear’s Christmas Prayer by Lorie Ann Grover, in which Tiny Bear thanks God for the special blessings that fill his heart during the most magical time of the year; Read and Learn: Bedtime Bible and My First Read and Learn: Cozy Christmas Prayers, two volumes centering Bible stories from Read and Learn Bible.
SCHOLASTIC/ORCHARD
Orchard embraces the season with Together, United by Tami Charles, illus. by Bryan Collier, the final installment of the inspirational All Because You Matter trilogy; The Gift of Words by Peter H. Reynolds, a holiday story celebrating the power of words; Braided Roots by Pasha Westbrook, illus. by Madelyn Goodnight, in which a father shares the story of the strength and resilience of their Freedmen ancestors as he braids his daughter’s hair; Forests by Nell Cross Beckerman, illus. by Kalen Chock, a companion to Caves which offers an exploration of the world’s most enchanting forests; and Through the Telescope by Charles R. Smith Jr., illus. by Evening Montiero, an ode to trailblazing astronaut Mae Jemison.
SHAMBHALA/BALA KIDS
Bala Kids pays it forward with Kind Karl by Jason Gruhl and Sharon Salzberg, illus. by Sébastien Mourrain, about a grumpy crocodile who learns what good can come when he chooses kindness; and My Friend Tara: And Her Rainbow of Compassion by Lasha Mutual and Ivan Bercholz, illus. by Mutual, which finds Druk the Dragon introducing kids to Tara, a Hindu and Buddhist goddess of compassion.
SIMON & SCHUSTER
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers takes a slapshot with Fake Skating by Lynn Painter, in which childhood sweethearts reunite in a hockey-loving town; Troubling Tonsils! by Aaron Reynolds, illus. by Peter Brown, kicking off a chapter book series of creepy tales;
Dear Jackie by Jessixa Bagley, illus. by Aaron Bagley, in which middle schooler Jackie writes herself a fake love letter in an attempt to take her new friends’ attention off her love life, and accidentally attracts the attention of the entire school; Sweet & Salty!: King Arthur Baking Company’s Cookbook for Young Chefs, providing baking tips and a collection of sweet and savory recipes; and Snow Kid by Jessie Sima, introducing Twig, a snow kid made from snowflakes, twigs, stones, a crisp orange carrot, and a very fine hat.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ALADDIN
Aladdin blows into fall with Hurricane Heist by James Ponti, a new case for the Sherlock Society; The Rise of Neptune by Scott Reintgen, the second volume in the Dragonships space adventure series; Press 1 for Invasion by Jeremy Dauber, the story of a kid who just wanted a cell phone but ends up being responsible for saving the world from an alien invasion; Bad Cheerleader by Alex Thayer, in which dyslexic bookworm Margaret is forced to join the cheerleading squad with her sister; and Vote for the G.O.A.T. by Ali Terese, following two classmates who come together to stand up against unfair school policies—and rescue their kidnapped school mascot, Babette the Goat.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ATHENEUM
Atheneum goes to the head of the class with Schooled by Jamie Sumner, following 11-year-old Lenny as he navigates a new experimental school, unexpected friendships, and a devastating loss; Black History Is Your History by Taylor Cassidy, illus. by Adriana Bellet, blending Black history and memoir in a joyful approach; All the Tomorrows After by Joanne Yi, about a Korean American teen experiencing grief and first love who agrees to meet with her estranged father in exchange for payment; King of the Neuro Verse by Idris Goodwin, sharing what it’s like to live with ADHD as a Black teenager; and The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang by Stan Yan, in which a girl born on a day considered unlucky in Chinese superstition receives visions of impending doom on her 13th birthday and may have to admit her mother is right about her bad luck.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/ATHENEUM/DLOUHY
Caitlyn Dlouhy Books lands on its feet with Glitter Kittens by William Joyce, delivering a much needed message: even if we don’t all glitter, we all shine; The eXpets 2: The Revenge of the Skunk and the Lizard by Mark Tatulli, which finds Ginormous Gerbil, Laser-Eye Kitty, Wonder Guppy, and Stanky Dog taking on the most fearsome feline in all the galaxy, KittyKahKah; Hairstory by Sope Martins, illus. by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, celebrating the rich centuries-old heritage of hair styling across different tribes and cultures in Africa; My Dog, Smudge by Sujean Rim, in which a girl asks other animals to help her identify the unusual sounds that her dog Smudge makes; and Nani and the Lion by Alicia D. Williams, illus. by Anna Cunha, following a girl who loves to drum, as she comes face to face with the King of the Lions who prefers quiet so much that he’s forbidden noise throughout the land.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/BEACH LANE
Beach Lane Books gets the joint jumpin’ with That Swingin’ Sound: The Musical Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong by Rekha S. Rajan, illus. by Ken Daley, spotlighting the lives and careers of these jazz legends and friends; I Hate Everything! by Sophy Henn, in which a ghost who is in a rotten mood has a pal who tries to turn his frown upside down; The Everything Trail by Meg Fleming, illus. by Chuck Groenink, about a group of young explorers in the forest ready to discover all that nature has to offer; Hap-Pea Holidays by Keith Baker, following the peas through the fun and festive traditions of the holiday season; Zooborns! When I’m Big by Andrew Bleiman, illus. by Chris Eastland, featuring the baby animals from the ZooBorns book series and blog and how much they’ve grown and changed; The Trouble with Giraffes by Lisa Mantchev, illus. by Taeeun Yoo, a Paula Wiseman book, in which a girl and a giraffe are friends despite their size difference; Speak Your Heart: A Coco and Bear Story by Apryl Stott, which finds pals Coco and Bear sorting out their first argument and having fun in the snow; Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe, a Paula Wiseman book, following Aggie as she lays down the house rules for the ghost haunting her new place; Can I Keep It, Please? by John Sullivan, illus. by Jessica Gibson, in which Evie realizes that all pets are special if you love them; and Dinky the Tinysaur by Maggie Edkins Willis, starring an over-sized dinosaur named Dinky who helps two siblings discover that a person’s heart matters more than their appearance.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/BOYNTON BOOKWORKS
Boynton Bookworks takes off with When Pigs Fly by Sandra Boynton, a board book about the power of hope and dreaming.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/LITTLE SIMON
Little Simon wears its heart on its sleeve with Chicka Chicka I Love You by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illus. by Julien Chung, a Chicka Chicka chant featuring various ways to say “I love you;” Do I Love You? Yes I Do! by Ruth Forman, illus. by Raissa Figueroa, which celebrates life, nature, and a mother and daughter while inviting one girl of color to see herself loved in this world; Count Pet by Matthew Van Fleet, illus. by Brian Stanton, introducing numbers and counting with three pull tabs, hands-on touch and feels, and a collection of critters; Candy Corn Christmas by Jonathan Fenske, which finds the most outcast of Halloween candies determined to celebrate Christmas with humor and holiday cheer; and You’re My Little Star by Eric Carle, a novelty bedtime book.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/MCELDERRY
Margaret K. McElderry Books brings a plus one for By Invitation Only by Alexandra Brown Chang, which finds polar opposites Piper and Chapin on a collision course when they both score invitations to the world’s most high-profile debutante ball in Paris; Coldwire by Chloe Gong, kicking off a dystopian series following a young soldier who is framed for a political assassination and must team up with her country’s most wanted terrorist to clear her name; Fade into You by Amber Smith and Sam Gellar, in which Jessa and Bird work together to break up their best friends’ toxic relationship and start to fall for each other instead; It’s Almost Time for… Christmas! by Maisha Oso, illus. by Tom Knight, which captures the excitement and traditions leading up to the holiday; and Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson, about a girl who must move from Manhattan to quaint Bramble Falls, Conn., forcing her to confront the truth of her future, all while rekindling an old flame during the town’s annual Falling Leaves Festival.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/MILLNER
Denene Millner Books is spot-on with Pecosita’s Freckly Freckle Face by Aliya King Neil, illus. by Eric Velasquez, which finds Pecasita standing firm in her love for the gorgeous freckles that adorn her face and make her special, even when kids at school say mean things; Carla and the Tin Can Cake Party by Carla Hall, illus. by Cherise Harris, in which Carla’s grandmother helps her turn things around when a fun game of dress up leads to a fancy tea party gone wrong; My Heart Speaks Kriolu by Stefanie Foster Brown, illus. by Keisha Morris, about a girl who connects with her Cabo Verdean heritage while learning about the true meaning of home on Saturday walks with her grandfather; and The Other Side of the Garden by Sili Recio and Elena Djome Lawrence, illus. by Brianna McCarthy, the story of a girl who learns to cope with her grandmother’s death when she discovers that memories can help keep our loved ones alive.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/SALAAM READS
Salaam Reads is in high spirits with How to Free a Jinn by Shah Raidah Idil, about a curious girl who discovers that she has the power to control an all-powerful jinn.
SIMON & SCHUSTER/SIMON SPOTLIGHT
Simon Spotlight spills the peanuts with Snoopy, the Story of My Life by Charles M. Schulz and Andrew Farago, everything you ever wanted to know about the World’s Most Beloved Beagle as told by Snoopy himself; Freakiest Trip Ever! by Wanda Coven, illus. by Anna Abramskaya, in which sparks fly when a new student competes with Heidi for “best witch-in-training;” Elvis & Romeo Go to Dog School: Ready-to-Read Level 1 by Jacky Davis, illus. by David Soman, following unlikely pup pals Elvis and Romeo to obedience training; CoComelon Look and Find! by Patty Michaels, challenging readers to locate hidden objects in a board book with six gatefold spreads; and Playing for Keeps by Lee Heart, a middle school rom-com filled with friendship, cafeteria chaos, gossip, and boy drama.
SLEEPING BEAR
Sleeping Bear Press takes a clean plate for Mouse Buffet by Della Ross Ferreri, illus. by Tim Bowers, in which some adventurous mice decide the human family holiday buffet is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas; We Want Leaves by Jamie A. Swenson, illus. by Emilie Boon, which finds a trio of youngsters imagining the autumnal delights they’ll enjoy once fall arrives; The Dog Who Saved the Bees by Stephanie Gibeault, illus. by David Hohn, following an overworked beehive inspector who adopts a lonely pup to be a detection dog that protects bees from a deadly disease; Dreams Take Flight: The Story of Deaf Pilot Nellie Zabel Willhite by Brittany Richman, illus. by Alisha Monnin, spotlighting the life story of America’s first deaf pilot; Night of the Deer by Mary Morel, illus. by Mira Miroslavova, an original American folktale featuring a pair of shapeshifting deer and a rural harvest festival.
SOHO PRESS/SOHO TEEN
Soho Teen dons a headlamp for The Yomigaeri Tunnel by Kelly Murashige, in which 18-year-old Monika decides to save her recently deceased childhood friend by entering a legendary local tunnel said to resurrect the dead; and The Weight of One Pomegranate by Brynne Rebele-Henry, telling the story of 17-year-old Isadora, who discovers secret letters in her late sister’s belongings and decides to travel to New York City to unravel the threads of her sister’s life.
SOURCEBOOKS/DUOPRESS
duopress goes round and round with Rolling Pals: Matt the Cat, illus. by Wendy Kendall, first in a series of animal shaped books with chunky wheels, in which Matt the Cat plays, naps, and purrs throughout the day; Hello Night, Hello Day, illus. by Jannie Ho, a high-contrast book in the TummyTime format that will introduce babies to simple black-and-white patterns and illustrations; and Pop Out Christmas, illus. by Ana Clark and Daniel Clark, a board book and playset with chunky press-out pieces that can be used to create up to 19 build-ups.
SOURCEBOOKS/CALLISTO KIDS
Callisto Kids roars in to fall with How to Make a Lion Laugh by Chris Cate, featuring lion-themed jokes; What to Do When You Feel Like Biting by Cara Goodwin, designed to help toddlers understand why biting is bad and ways to react that are safe and kind; The Bible in 52 Weeks for Teen Girls by Brittany Rust, a yearlong Bible study specifically for teen girls looking to strengthen their faith and apply God’s word to their daily lives; and Eyes, Knees, Boundaries, Please! by Krupa Bhojani Playforth, offering guidance to kids so they can talk about their bodies confidently and correctly and build healthy body awareness.
SOURCEBOOKS EXPLORE
Sourcebooks Explore dives into the season with What Fish Are Saying by Kirsten Pendreigh, illus. by Katie Melrose, about the cutting-edge science of how fish talk to each other in the ocean; Night Night Ladybug by Chris Ferrie, illus. by Melanie Mikecz, in which readers can bid goodnight to various creatures while learning the colors of the rainbow and animal facts; The Curiosity Chronicles: Time Machine Troubles by Ferrie, Byrne LaGinestra, and Wade David Fairclough, illus. by Allison Steinfeld, the launch title of a series that allows readers to determine how their story unfolds, testing hypotheses by choosing the actions they will take and proving their science knowledge; and Space Science Handbook by Cara Florance, taking a tour through the cosmos with scientific experiments, projects, and demonstrations.
SOURCEBOOKS FIRE
Sourcebooks Fire is red hot with The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis, an enemies-to-lovers romantasy set in the Scottish court where a fae guardian of the realm falls in love with a charming Elizabethan spy who could also be the key to her world’s undoing; The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin, in which the Starmaker, who is chosen to pull light across the sky each morning for eternity falls in love with the one girl who will take his magic and end his reign; Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald, serving up a fantasy re-imagining of “Persephone and Hades”; Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls by Rowana Miller, following a high school junior who becomes involved in a secret society dedicated to exposing the truth about her private Manhattan school; and We’re Not Safe Here by Rin Chupeco, taking place in the unsettling town of Wispy Falls, where children go missing in the woods and monsters roam the streets.
SOURCEBOOKS JABBERWOCKY
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky hits the season with its best shot, delivering My Grandma and Grandpa Rock! by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, illus. by Tiffany Everett, which celebrates all kinds of grandparents—from plumbers to yoga instructors to rock stars; The Giving Flower: The Story of the Poinsettia by Alda P. Dobbs, illus. by Emily Mendoza, a picture book history of the Poinsettia flower and the holiday traditions it has inspired; and Just Keep Going by Lynn Smith, illus. by Lauren Gallegos, about a lost mouse who faces his fears, finds friends who help, and remembers how strong he is.
SOURCEBOOKS WONDERLAND
Sourcebooks Wonderland has its list signed, sealed, and delivered with When Santa Wrote Back by Nathan Christopher, illus. by Pablo Pino, in which Jake writes a letter to Santa filled with outrageous gift requests, speedy shipping suggestions, and a reminder to confirm receipt, and Santa writes back with a valuable lesson; I Love You, My Huggy Buggy! by Rose Rossner, illus. by Sydney Hanson, showcasing punny rhymes of love and pride, and insects; Merry Little Mystery by Layla Sutton, illus. by Noël Clark, which follows Baby Sherlock and Watson as they collect holiday-themed clues under each flap and use reasoning skills to put the clues together to solve a mystery; How to Catch Bigfoot by Alice Walstead, illus. by Andy Elkerton, featuring the How to Catch kids as they learn Bigfoot is on the loose in the woods where they are camping, and they must find him; and Squeak-a-Boo! Animals by Elizabeth Golding, illus. by Sally Garland, which reveals five animals, each sporting a fuzzy squeaker stomach, hiding behind each flap.
SOURCEBOOKS YOUNG READERS
Sourcebooks Young Readers is locked in The House with No Keys by Lindsay Currie, in which the Deltas race to complete the most challenging escape room they’ve ever faced, and confront their fears in order to save their friendship; and Island of Forgotten Gods by Victor Piñeiro, the tale of a Puerto Rican boy who must confront ancient gods and legendary monsters, embarking on an adventure that delves into the importance of family, the weight of tradition, and seeing things for what they truly are.
STOREY
Storey Publishing hugs a tree with Forest Revealed: An Illustrated Year in the Great North Woods by Kateri Kosek, illus. by Jada Fitch, which takes a closer look at forest ecology; Cupcake Class: 50 Fun Themes & Totally Amazing Designs for Kids to Make & Share by Joy Howard and Deanna F. Cook, demonstrating techniques kids can use to create their own cupcake masterpieces; What Goes on Inside a Wolf Pack?: Follow the Adventures of a Wolf Family in Yellowstone National Park by Kathleen Yale, which explores wolf communication, pack dynamics, the dangers of the hunt, and more; and Backpack Explorer: Winter Walk: What Will You Find?, an activity book packaged with a magnifying glass, stickers, and a pull-out journal.
TIGER TALES
Tiger Tales is in on the move with Go Go Dodo! by Huw Lewis Jones, illus. by Fred Blunt, which follows a carefree dodo on a leisurely walk, unaware that she’s being chased by a very hungry tiger; Stop That Witch! and Stop That Santa! by Alastair Heim, illus. by Migy Blanco, in which Dog Detective Cluehound and Sergeant Squirrel are in hot pursuit of a thief whose identity, while hinted at through the artwork, is known to the reader but not the detective; Hank Meets Frank by Maudie Powell-Tuck, illus. by Duncan Beedie, which finds lovable antihero Hank matching wits with cousin Frank who is the perfect little angel, or so everyone thinks;
and The Bear Who Wanted to Dance by Stephanie Stansbie, illus. by Wendy Warrne, about Rita the bear, who worries she won’t win a prima ballerina spot because she doesn’t look anything like the other dancers in her class.
TILBURY HOUSE
Tilbury House heads to the garden with The Cabbage That Could by Karen Greenwald, illus. by Alejandra Ruiz, about a child who nurtures a cabbage seed into a 40-pound vegetable—and then dreams what changes she might spark with the bounty; My Backyard Used to Be by Lynn Baldwin, illus. by Megan Elizabeth Baratta, in which a child imagines the history of their backyard, from their own family’s story all the way back to prehistoric times; and A Place to Call Home: Sustainable Houses Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illus. by Mary Atwood, offering a glimpse at some of the world’s most fascinating sustainable homes, from yurts to luxury ecolodges and homes made from water bottles to homes dug into the earth.
TUNDRA
Tundra Books gets cozy with The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise by Riel Nason and Byron Eggenschwiler, in which a ghost who’s a quilt wants to share the magic of the season with his chilly sheet friends; Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell, set in a world where everyone is a Head and introducing two buddies who have fun together, support one another’s ideas (like digging for treasure without a map) and help one another overcome challenges; Broken by X. Fang, the story of how Mei Mei struggles with guilt after she accidentally breaks her Ama’s favorite cup, and someone else gets blamed; A Waffle Lot of Love! (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #10) by Ben Clanton, which finds Narwhal and Jelly celebrating Palentine’s Day; and The Newest Gnome by Lauren Soloy, the story of Grolly Maru, the Pocket’s newest inhabitant who is learning all about their new home and all the things the gnomes do to care for it.
TYNDALE HOUSE/TYNDALE KIDS
Tyndale Kids fills out a name tag with Hello! My Name Is Emmanuel by Emmanuel Jean Russell, illus. by Martina Stuhlberger, in which the author shares the special meaning of his name as told by his grandmother; God’s Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible by Esau McCaulley, illus. by Rogerio Coélho, containing 31 Bible stories—some familiar and others often overlooked; You Are Beloved by Rev. Chris Lee and Jenny Lee, illus. by Carlo Molinari, based on a St. Francis poem, promising readers that God provides for them because he loves them; Hunger Winter: Time for Courage by Rob Currie, continuing the story of 13-year-old Dirk and his family as they live through the Nazi assault on the Netherlands during WWII; and A Christmas Wish for Little Dala Horse by Sonya Anderson, illus. by Agnieszka Potocka, in which a newly carved, unpainted Dala horse (a Swedish wooden figurine) encounters the festivities of St. Lucia’s Day for the first time.
UNION SQUARE & CO.
Union Square & Co. plays to the camera with Seyoon Shin Needs a Reality Check by Sujin Witherspoon, in which a teenager competes in a reality show where she must fake a relationship with her former best friend in order to win the prize money her mother was cheated out of decades ago; and Winter White by Annie Cardi, a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale that provides a portrait of the effects of the opioid epidemic and familial kidnapping on communities.
UNION SQUARE/BOXER BOOKS
Boxer Books goes big with Lionel by Lo Cole, about a huge rhinoceros who loves to join in with his friends despite his size, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
UNION SQUARE & CO./UNION SQUARE KIDS
Union Square Kids ushers in the season with The Puppy Knights: Quest for the Golden Bones by Michael Sweater and Josue Cruz, telling the story of two treasure-hunting dog adventurers who may not be all that qualified; and Harmless by Samantha San Miguel, the finale of the Spineless trilogy, in which a steamboat cruise on the riverways of Florida becomes an adventure of a lifetime.
WALKER BOOKS AUSTRALIA
Walker Books Australia fills the bill with Ducky the Spy: Expect the Unexpected by Sean E. Avery, spotlighting Ducky and his donkey sidekick, Donny, who must solve the mystery of Mr. Pig’s food disappearing from the trough; Mini and Milo: The Last Plum by Venita Dimos, illus. by Natasha Curtin, which finds Mini trying to convince her best friend Milo to give her his last plum so she can win the annual cooking competition; My Dad Thinks He’s a Scream by Katrina Germein, illus. by Tom Jellett, which finds Dad acting ghoul, calm, and collected as he takes scare of that trick-or-treating business with his jokes; and The Hidden Girl by Louise Bassett, in which Melati discovers a hidden diary that reveals an Indonesian girl is being held by traffickers, and races against time to save the girl’s life.
WATTPAD WEBTOON BOOK GROUP/WATTPAD
Wattpad Books sets a calendar reminder for Two Weeks to Fall in Love by Kat Featherly, which finds Sklyar determined to expose Noah’s secret to how he dates girls for two weeks then drops them, but the girls don’t seem to mind; The Omen Girl by Yueh Yang, set in a fantasy world where there are two kinds of people: respectable citizens and Omens who can change into gruesome monsters at any time; and Changes (Belle Morte #4) by Bella Higgin, the conclusion of the Belle Morte series, in which the vampire community faces threats within and outside of their house
WATTPAD/WEBTOON UNSCROLLED
Webtoon Unscrolled sees the light with Daybreak Vol. 1 by Moosopp, following two students from different friend groups who hang out and start to see one another with new eyes; and Death of a Pop Star Vol. 1 by Violet Karim, which finds pop icon Sophie falling from the charts, literally, when she tumbles down the stairs to her death, and tries to resurrect her career from six feet under with help from her number one fan, the Grim Reaper.
WHAT ON EARTH
What on Earth stages a photo shoot for Marvelous Animal Homes by Jane Wilsher, illus. by Laurie Avon, which provides readers with a magic lens to see inside termite mounds and squirrel dreys, bat tents, and bee hives—a world of ingenious animal dwellings; Harriet Tubman by Caroline Brewer, a biography composed in hip-hop rhymes and rhythms; Britannica All New Kids’ Encyclopedia: Updated Edition, edited by Christopher Lloyd, illus. by Mark Ruffle and Jake Tite, an updated edition with up-to-the-minute facts, figures, and images, featuring everything from Moon landings to Taylor Swift, and from climate change to artificial intelligence; This Book Is Too Quiet by Cristina Cubelis, illus. by Joana Casals, an interactive story inviting readers to add their own sound effects to each scene; and The Palace of Facts by Kate Olesin, illus. by Andy Smith, constructed as a memory palace, leading readers from room to room: the observatory for space facts, the treasure room for information about jewels, and the menagerie to discover things about animals.
ALBERT WHITMAN
Albert Whitman gets into the swing of things with The Right to Play: How Jane Addams Fought for America’s Playgrounds by Elizabeth Brown, illus. by Jennifer Amaris, detailing this activist efforts to build public playgrounds and end child labor; After: A Survivor’s Story by Hallee Adelman, illus. by Patrick Corrigan, which finds a girl dealing with complicated feelings after surviving a mass shooting at school; It Started with a Book Ban by Linda Ravin Lodding, illus. by Carlianne Tipsey, the story of a small town turned upside down after a book ban leads to escalating limits on what people can do and say; The Moon Lantern by Hà Đinh, illus. by Tiffany Chen, in which a Vietnamese American boy prepares for the annual Moon Festival celebration by constructing a special lantern; and How Not to Lose a Million Dollars by Sheila Bair, in which former FDIC chair Bair offers common-sense financial lessons.
WORKMAN KIDS
Workman Kids buttons its lab coat for Scientists Like Me, providing a diverse collection of profiles of historic and contemporary scientists; Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide to Inventing the World by Jennifer Swanson and Dylan Thuras, a STEM-oriented examination of the planet’s 94 most interesting inventions and scientific discoveries; A World Without Birds by Nick Lund, which envisions what our ecosystems would look like without birds; Did You Hear What Happened in Salem?: The Witch Trials of 1692 by Katie Kennedy, a look at how the Salem Witch Trials impacted American history; and Zenguin by Danna Smith, about a penguin who learns different ways to practice mindfulness and find Zen while living within the noise and chaos of his colony.
ZANDO/ZANDO YOUNG READERS
Zando Young Readers creeps into the season with The Doomsday Archives: Shadowglass by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos, a new adventure for Emrys, Hazel and Serena, who bring back an old occult relic with a new twist—it has evolved to hunt its victims via online spaces.
ZANDO/GET LIFTED
Zando/Get Lifted Books makes a daisy chain for You Belong in the Wild by Rae Wynn-Grant, a middle grade adaptation of Rae Wynn-Grant’s memoir Wild Life.
