This month’s offerings include a picture book from a beloved librarian, a middle grade novel in verse about a tween’s appreciation for her local library, a YA novel grappling with the aftereffects of trauma, and more.
Picture Books
Because of a Shoe
Julie Fogliano, illus. by Marla Frazee. Knopf, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5937-0740-1. Ages 4–8. As a red-haired child’s feelings get bigger and bigger—“because of a shoe/ (a too-tight shoe/ a too-loose shoe)”—rhythmic verse from Fogliano traces the ordeal’s escalation in this compassionate picture book. The book received a starred review from PW.
Bread Is Love
Pooja Makhijani, illus. by Lavanya Naidu. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-2509-0688-5. Ages 4–8. A mother and two young children bake a loaf of bread from scratch in this satisfying picture book portrait of a family ritual that feeds bellies, minds, and spirits, from PW contributor Makhijani. The book received a starred review from PW.
Change Is in the Air: The Hidden Discoveries of Eunice Newton Foote, the First Climate Scientist
Rebecca Donnelly, illus. by Mercè López. Holt, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-250-82853-8. Ages 4–8. Donnelly and López celebrate the acumen of American scientist and suffragist Eunice Newton Foote in this engaging account of the subject’s work. See our In Conversation with Donnelly and other authors of new children’s books about Foote. The book received a starred review from PW.
The Dream
Gideon Sterer, illus. by Nik Henderson. Clarion, $19.99 (88p) ISBN 978-0-0633-5799-0. Ages 4–8. In this haunting wordless picture book, the natural world leads a stand for itself. The book received a starred review from PW.
Here Come the Aunties!
Cynthia Leitich Smith, illus. by Aphelandra. Heartdrum, $19.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-0633-7469-0. Ages 4–8. A wealth of aunties contribute to an Indigenous child’s day-to-day in this lovingly communal picture book. The book received a starred review from PW.
Houdini’s Library: How Books Created the World’s Greatest Magician
Barb Rosenstock, illus. by Mar Delmar. Knopf, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-593-57013-5. Ages 4–8. Rosenstock and Delmar tie the magical prowess of Harry Houdini to his fondness for books in this mesmerizing account of the escape artist’s accomplishments. The book received a starred review from PW.
Hummingbird’s Big Trip
G. Brian Karas. Random House Studio, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-90260-8. Ages 4–8. On the cusp of winter migration, a hummingbird works through worries about its looming journey to “the warm south” in a candidly told first-person narrative. The book received a starred review from PW.
If This Were the World
Stephen Barr, illus. by AG Ford. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5719-9. Ages 4–8. After Ms. Lee’s class runs out of imagined games on the 138th day of school, the class comes together to create a new game. The book received a starred review from PW.
I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy
Mychal Threets, illus. by Lorraine Nam. Random House, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 979-8-2170-2602-9. Ages 4–8. A librarian who looks very much like debut author and PW Notable Threets—the viral literacy advocate and host of a rebooted Reading Rainbow—kicks off a day of “library joy” in this affectionate picture book.
Is It Spring?
Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow, $21.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-346925-9. Ages 4–8. Variable vernal weather spurs this high-spirited seasonal offering in which the titular question turns refrain as answers centered around the natural world. The book received a starred review from PW.
Jeong Is Jeong
Jessica Yoon, illus. by Michelle Lee. Make Me a World, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 979-8-2170-2726-2. Ages 4–8. A child of Korean descent learns the meaning of a word considered untranslatable in this lovingly intergenerational picture book. The book received a starred review from PW.
Junko’s Climb: The First Woman to Stand on Top of the World
Elyssa Gavin, illus. by HifuMiyo. Union Square, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4549-4683-0. Ages 5 and up. Gavin applauds the heights reached by Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mt. Everest, in an invigorating story that opens with a formative childhood experience. The book received a starred review from PW.
Marie’s Magic Eggs: How Marie Procai Kept the Ukrainian Art of Pysanky Alive
Sandra Neil Wallace, illus. by Evan Turk. Calkins Creek, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-662-68069-4. Ages 7–10. In this moving picture book, Wallace and Turk limn the life story of artist and entrepreneur Marie Procai, focusing on her devotion to her culture’s credo that “as long as pysanky are decorated, there will be good in the world.” The book received a starred review from PW.
Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery
Jane Kurtz, illus. by Giselle Potter. Beach Lane, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-66595-554-6. Ages 4–8. Wry interrogative narration energizes this engaging portrait of scientist and illustrator Morland, emphasizing the figure’s enthusiastic embrace of the world’s wonders. The book received a starred review from PW.
Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume
Selina Alko. Little, Brown/Ottaviano, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-316-57063-3. Ages 6–10. Alko’s detail-rich biographical poems and charismatic acrylic and collage illustrations result in an exuberant homage to this children’s book icon.
Poems for Every Season
Bette Westera, trans. from the Dutch by David Colmer, illus. by Henriette Boerendans. Eerdmans, $18.99 (56p) ISBN 978-0-8028-5652-4. Ages 5–9. Varied verse types evoke nature’s seasonal milestones in this splendid month-by-month collection. The book received a starred review from PW.
Rise, Girl, Rise: Our Sister-Friend Journey. Together for All.
Gloria Steinem and Leymah Gbowee, illus. by Kah Yangni. Orchard, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-338-88894-2. Ages 4–8. Highlighting the twinned stories of their egalitarian awakenings, the prominent activists emphasize the importance of sisterhood in this persuasively rallying work.
Rumpelstiltskin
Mac Barnett, illus. by Carson Ellis. Orchard, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-338-67385-2. Ages 4–8. Following his reimagining of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” Barnett retells “Rumpelstiltskin,” his wisecracking lines joined by the medieval elegance of gouache spreads by Caldecott Honoree Ellis. The book received a starred review from PW.
Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory’s Run for the Hungry
Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory, illus. by Frank Morrison. Amistad, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-335752-5. Ages 4–8. This stirring account from the life of activist and comedian Dick Gregory traces his 1976 run from Los Angeles to New York City while abstaining from nearly all nourishment to raise awareness about food insecurity. The book received a starred review from PW.
The Sweater
Larissa Theule, illus. by Teagan White. Viking, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-5935-2894-5. Ages 3–7. Offering community care alongside space to heal is the gentle model animating this compassionate woodland tale. The book received a starred review from PW.
When Cherry Blossoms Fall
Katrina Goldsaito, illus. by Yas Imamura. Little, Brown, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-3162-8112-6. Ages 6–8. Learning to appreciate impermanence is the delicate takeaway of Goldsaito and Imamura’s conceptual intergenerational tale. The book received a starred review from PW.
Yulu’s Linen
Cao Wenxuan, trans. from the Chinese by Helen Wang, illus. by Suzy Lee. Atheneum/Dlouhy, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-6659-3119-9. Ages 4–8. In this finely wrought picture book about the artistic process, a canvas of “yu-lu-ma—rain-dew linen” seems destined for young Yulu’s brushes, so her father, a frustrated artist who’s nurtured her talent, buys it for her first self-portrait. The book received a starred review from PW.
Chapter Books
Marty Moose: First Class Mischief
Claire Powell. Candlewick, $16.99 hardcover (160p) ISBN 978-1-5362-4780-0; $6.99 paper ISBN 978-1-5362-5021-3. Ages 6–9. Making a solo debut with this cozy chapter book series opener, Powell presents a lively adventure helmed by an optimistic mouse protagonist. The book received a starred review from PW.
Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can
Seema Yasmin, illus. by Noha Habaieb. Salaam Reads, $17.99 hardcover (80p) ISBN 978-1-6659-5342-9; $6.99 paper ISBN 978-1-6659-5341-2. Ages 6–10. This nonfiction chapter book, a series starter, follows a Palestinian, Muslim and disabled entertainer, American actor and comedian Maysoon Zayid, as she confronts obstacles on her way to stardom. See our story for more about the Muslim Mavericks series.
The Mighty Macy
Kwame Alexander, illus. by Kitt Thomas. Little, Brown, $16.99 (144p) ISBN 978-0-316-44216-9. Ages 6–9. In this effervescent chapter book by the Newbery Medalist, 80 snappy poems recount a bookish third grader’s love for her library. The book received a starred review from PW.
Middle Grade
Camp Monster
Kate Messner, illus. by Falynn Koch. Bloomsbury, $14.99 (224p) ISBN 978-1-5476-0941-3. Ages 8–12. Previous collaborators Messner and Koch reunite in this upbeat graphic novel featuring friendship and fun-in-the-sun hijinks of monstrous proportions.
Each and Every Spark
Claire Swinarski. Quill Tree, $19.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-0633-2178-6. Ages 8–12. Parallel plots set 80 years apart follow two 13-year-old girls as they navigate war and its aftermath in this stellar historical novel. The book received a starred review from PW.
The Lions’ Run
Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Jon Klassen. Macmillan/Balzer + Bray, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-25039-281-7. Ages 8–12. This immersive WWII novel by Pennypacker, set in 1944 occupied France, centers orphaned 13-year-old Lucas, who surprises himself with his own small courageous actions, which lead to some enormously dangerous ones. See our q&a with Pennypacker on the history that informed her story. The book received a starred review from PW.
The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane
Erin Stewart. Aladdin, $17.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-6659-5228-6. Ages 8–12. Luminous first-person narration relays an introspective slice-of-life tale that forefronts connection and the lessons to be learned about friendship, family, and oneself when approaching relationships with an open heart and mind. The book received a starred review from PW.
Mythspeaker
Christopher Roubique. Viking, $18.99 (304p) ISBN 979-8-2170-3904-3. Ages 8–12. Cajun and Indigenous debut author Roubique draws inspiration from Indigenous American tales to craft a rousing action-adventure. The book received a starred review from PW.
Pinkie’s Turnabout
Sue Lloyd-Davies. Fitzroy, $15.95 paper (184p) ISBN 978-1-64603-689-9. Ages 9–12. Drawing on personal experience, Lloyd-Davies confronts the hardships of caring for a loved one with dementia in this brutally tender debut. The book received a starred review from PW.
A Scar Like a River
Lisa Graff. Little, Brown/Ottaviano, $17.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-316570-80-0. Ages 12 and up. Graff infuses the visceral realities of lingering trauma with moments of lightheartedness to deliver a work about a girl who refuses to be defined by her past. The book received a starred review from PW.
Young Adult
Call of the Dragon
Natasha Bowen. Random House, $19.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-593-89815-4. Ages 14 and up. Herbalist Moremi is the teenage daughter of the principal priestess to Yida, the dragon goddess, in this engrossing fantasy series opener that demonstrates the burden of being a chosen one. The book received a starred review from PW.
Few Blue Skies
Carolina Ixta. Quill Tree, $19.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-0632-8791-4. Ages 14 and up. Ixta examines young love, environmental justice, and the cost of integrity in her timely and engaging sophomore novel. The book received a starred review from PW.
Love Me Tomorrow
Emiko Jean. S&S/Barley, $19.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-66597-437-0. Ages 12 and up. In this perceptive speculative rom-com, a Japanese American teen seeks to uncover the identity of her secret admirer via letters sent from the future. Read more about the making of the book here.
Love, Sivvy: A Novel Inspired by the Life, Letters, and Diaries of Young Sylvia Plath
R.L. Toalson. Little, Brown, $19.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-3165-8713-6. Ages 14 and up. Toalson centers the formative teen and college years of poet Sylvia Plath in a fictionalized telling inspired by her letters and diaries. The book received a starred review from PW.
Queen of Faces
Petra Lord. Holt, $22.99 (432p) ISBN 978-1-250-36297-1. Ages 14 and up. Debut author Lord sensitively explores identity and self-actualization throughout this mind-bending series opener, which follows teen Anabelle in pursuit of both an elite education and a new body. See our Writers to Watch profile. The book received a starred review from PW.
Sibylline
Melissa de la Cruz. Putnam, $20.99 (304p) ISBN 979-8-217002-61-0. Ages 14 and up. Friendships and romances are tested against the backdrop of a magical Ivy League school in this energetic dark academia fantasy.
The Sun and the Starmaker
Rachel Griffin. Sourcebooks Fire, $19.99 (448p) ISBN 978-1-7282-5618-4. Ages 14 and up. Eighteen-year-old Aurora Finch learns that she is to take on the mantle of becoming the town’s next Starmaker and is whisked away to learn under the current Starmaker, who will die upon her ascension. The book received a starred review from PW.
To the Death
Andrea Tang. Putnam, $19.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-593-85821-9. Ages 14 and up. Tang explores cycles of corruption, emotional abuse, and grief in this complex, high-stakes sapphic romantasy. The book received a starred review from PW.
Wake Now in the Fire
Jarrett Dapier, illus. by AJ Dungo. Ten Speed Graphic, $38 hardcover (464p) ISBN 978-0-5938-3804-4; $24.99 paper ISBN 978-0-5938-3803-7. Ages 14 and up. A large cast of intersectionally diverse characters model ways to push back against book banning in a timely graphic novel that fictionalizes the story of Chicago Public Schools’ 2013 removal of Persepolis from student libraries. The book received a starred review from PW.
