45+ Kids Books Coming Out This Spring

There are a lot more interesting children's books coming out this season than the last one. There are a few series continuations that I am very excited for like City of Wishes, Biggest Secret Ever!, and Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas. There are also a few new to me authors whose books I am dying to read like The Witch in the Woods, Clairboyance, and Summer Vamp. I do need to pair down this list for summer because I use this as a reference of books I want to eventually get to but I read slowly!

Middle Grade

City of Wishes (Legends of Lotus Island #3) by Christina Soontornvat

Release Date: March 5th, 2024

During the New Year break, Plum and her friends travel to fancy, fashionable Nakhon City. There they'll stay with Sam and his mother, the powerful Lady Ubon.

At first, Plum is dazzled by how big and exciting Nakhon City is. She's never experienced anything like it! But under the glittering surface, secrets lurk. A storm is brewing, and Plum will have to harness all of her growing powers to survive it.

Biggest Secret Ever! (Middle School and Other Disasters #3) by Wanda Coven

Release Date: March 5th, 2024

In this hilarious third book in the Middle School and Other Disasters series, witch-in-training Heidi Heckelbeck struggles to keep a secret. Featuring black-and-white illustrations and doodles throughout and sparkly foil on the cover!

Heidi is making new friends at Broomsfield Academy—in particular, a popular girl named Isabelle. But it turns out Isabelle has a big secret that Heidi discovers by accident! Heidi promises to keep the secret, but as more time goes by, it becomes more and more difficult…especially with nosy Melanie Maplethorpe snooping around. This secret is huge . Will Heidi be able to keep her promise?

Gut Reaction by Kirby Larson; Quinn Wyatt

Release Date: March 5th, 2024

Tess Medina is still dealing with the loss of her father when she starts at a new school. One way she is still able to feel close to him is by doing what she does -- baking. He taught her everything she knows. But when tasting her creations causes a deep stabbing pain in her abdomen, she tries to power through and be strong in the same way she powers through her emotional pain. She doesn’t mind too much--she’s okay with sharing her baked goods at school in the hopes of making new friends.

Lucky for Tess, her baking skills attract the right kind of attention, and she assembles a ragtag team to help her taste her new and classic creations in preparation for the Jubilee Flour Junior Baker West Coast competition. This is a chance to redeem herself and prove that she's a star baker. Above all, Tess is desperate to win first place and make her dad proud.

But leading up to the competition, Tess's pain gets worse and worse, and, soon, she finds that she's avoiding so many foods that she's barely eating. When the physical pain becomes too great, Tess will be forced to confront everything she has been trying so desperately to hide.

Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd by Lyla Lee

Release Date: March 5th, 2024

Jiyoung “Gigi” Shin loves to create, from her zany outfits to self-executed haircuts. She dreams of becoming an artist and doodles every chance she gets—at school instead of taking notes, in choir instead of singing, and at home instead of homework. Art is her way of escaping her boring life in suburban Middle of Nowhere, Texas. Unfortunately, her working class, immigrant parents want her to focus on her studies and pursue something more “practical.” Gigi only really feels like herself in art class and at lunch with her best friends, Carolina and Zeina.

When Gigi learns about an elite art camp on the east coast, she’s determined to go. But she knows her parents won’t let her, much less pay for it. After overhearing her little brother Tommy complain about how hard math is and how his teacher goes too fast for him, Gigi has a brilliant forming a tutoring club with her friends to make enough money for the art camp.

With Carolina, Zeina, and Carolina’s friend, Emma, the girls go all in, each with a reason for wanting the business to succeed. But the first few sessions with their classmates are a little chaotic, and Gigi wonders if she will end up sacrificing more than she bargained for to achieve her dreams.

The Witch in the Woods by Michaelbrent Collings

Release Date: March 5th, 2024

Strange and terrifying things are happening in New Marburg: people are disappearing and changing into characters from the Grimm fairy tales.

When twins Willow and Jake Grimm move to the isolated town where their parents work for a top-secret Think Tank, they are amazed to discover a place where people jetpack to work, robots direct traffic, and senior citizens battle with lightning-swords.

But after a freak lightning storm, which transforms the twins’ school into a medieval castle—complete with a moat, drawbridge, and a giant who looks strangely like the school’s overly aggressive hall monitor—the twins discover the truth: just like their ancestors, the original Brothers Grimm, Willow ad Jake are Grimmwalkers. And just like their ancestors, they have been transported to the place where all fairy tales are born. The most dangerous place in existence: Grimmworld.

But before the twins can figure out how to get home, they learn their best friends have been transformed into the fairy tale characters Hansel and Gretel and have been imprisoned by a candy-obsessed wicked witch.

Now, aided only by their wits, their courage, and their love for each other, the twins must venture deep into the Cursed Forest to save themselves and their friends. And maybe—just maybe—save the universe from falling into the clutches of the witch in the woods.

Uprising by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Release Date: March 5th, 2024

Twelve-year-old Lidia is outside her grandfather's house when planes fly overhead, bearing the Nazi cross on each wing. Before the bombs hit the ground, Lidia realizes her life is about to change forever. Poland has fallen under German occupation, and her father makes the brave decision to join the Polish army to fight against the Nazis. Lidia wants to follow him into war, but she's far too young, and she's needed by her mother and brother.

After her family returns to Warsaw, where life has changed irrevocably, Lidia continues to play the piano, finding comfort in Chopin, Bach, and Beethoven. But she also wants to aid the Jewish people held captive in the Warsaw Ghetto. With the help of a friend, Lidia begins to smuggle wheat and food into the ghetto. Still, she feels like she could be doing so much more. She wants to fight. After her brother joins the resistance, Lidia wants only to follow in his footsteps. Soon, she begins to work as a courier, smuggling weapons and messages for the resistance throughout the city.

When the Warsaw city uprising begins―one year after the more well-known Warsaw Ghetto uprising by Polish Jews―with gunfire and bombs echoing throughout the streets, Lidia joins the Polish nationalists’ fight, too, and she and her peers fight with everything they’ve got. Life will continue to surprise Lidia, as she and the resistance fighters do their best to defeat the German soldiers. No matter the consequences, they’re willing to defend their freedom and their homes from the Nazi invaders―even with their lives.

Drawing on the extraordinary real-life story of Polish teenager Lidia Zakrzewski, bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen presents an inspiring and dramatic account of the Polish resistance fighters who struggled to force out their Nazi occupiers and reclaim their nation's freedom from tyranny.

The Hoop Con by Amar Shah 

Release Date: March 5th, 2024

YOU CAN'T WIN IF YOU DON'T PLAY

Raam Patel is eager to prove himself ever since he didn’t make the middle school’s basketball team. So, when Hoop Con comes to town he is determined to be there and take his shot. His big moment proves to be unforgettable… but not in the way he’d hoped. Raam gets schooled by the camp’s golden boy right in front of his NBA idol. To make matters even worse, this fail goes viral.

Raam is used to being the underdog, but becoming the newest meme might be something even he can’t overcome alone. He skips town in an effort to lay low and take a break from basketball. However, he’s met with new courts, fresh kicks, and tough new competition, changing his whole outlook on the game. Raam has the skills, but now it’s time to unlock the mental game.

Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas (Cece Rios #3) by Kaela Rivera

Release Date: March 12th, 2024

Cece Rios and her friends have escaped Devil’s Alley, but the fight to save their world is just beginning.

Despite her growing comfort with her curandera abilities, Cece is worried that she won’t be strong enough to stop her most dangerous enemy her tía, Catrina. Desperate for power and revenge, Catrina has seized the throne of Devil’s Alley and set her sights on the living world.

Catrina’s first move is a brutal attack on the Sun Sanctuary that leaves Tierra del Sol reeling. And no matter how hard they try, Cece and her friends are always one step behind the bruja queen as she seeks to attain the powers of the gods and take control of the four elements.

Cece Rios saved her sister. She rebuilt her familia. But can she take down her vicious tía before Catrina destroys everything Cece has fought so hard to protect?

The Underdogs of Upson Downs by Craig Silvey

Release Date: March 12th, 2024

A heartwarming and hilarious story about a girl and her dog, and of kindness, friendship, hurdles, tunnels, see-saws, and—most importantly—bringing out the best in yourself and others.

Annie Shearer lives in the country town of Upson Downs with her best friend, an adopted stray dog called Runt. The two share a very special bond.

After years evading capture, Runt is remarkably fast and agile, perfect for herding runaway sheep. But when a greedy local landowner puts her family's home at risk, Annie directs Runt's extraordinary talents toward a different pursuit--winning the Agility Course Grand Championship at the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London.

However, there is a curious Runt will only obey Annie's commands if nobody else is watching.

With all eyes on them, Annie and Runt must beat the odds--and the fastest dogs in the world--to save her farm.

Sing It Like Celia by Mónica Mancillas

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Twelve-year-old Salva Sanchez has always been a fan of Celia Cruz, also known as “the queen of salsa.” Her love of Celia stems from her mother, who leaves Salva without explanation one awful day. Now Salva is stuck with her investigative journalist father in an RV campground. In the middle of nowhere .

As Salva acclimates to her new environment and desperately tries to figure out why her mother left, she befriends a posse of campground kids who have started a band. When the kids discover that Salva has an amazing singing voice, they convince her to join their group. Soon, Salva learns how to find her voice—and herself—with the help of her newfound friends, her dad, and the one and only Celia Cruz.

Sister Sabotage by Colleen Oakes

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Santana Barnes is tired of playing second fiddle to her ballet protégé, honor student older sister Victoria. Casey Hammond is sick of her cute-as-a-button, adventurous little sister Sage, who steals all of their dad’s attention.

When the girls meet in their middle school library, they learn they have a lot in common: they both love reading, hate after-school activities, and most important, are clearly their parents’ second-favorite children.

Together, they create the Second Favorite Daughters Club. The members? Just the two of them. The mission? To become their parents' favorite children by undermining their love-hoarding siblings. But is it possible to cheat your way to becoming your parents’ favorite kid?

 

Cruzita and the Mariacheros by Ashley Granillo

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Cruzita is going to be a pop star. All she has to do is win a singing contest at her favorite theme park and get famous. 

But she can’t go to the theme park this summer. Instead, she has to help out at her family’s bakery, which has been struggling ever since Tío Chuy died. Cruzita’s great-uncle poured his heart into the bakery—the family legacy—and now that he’s gone, nothing is the same.

When Cruzita’s not rolling uneven tortillas or trying to salvage rock-hard conchas, she has to take mariachi lessons, even though she doesn’t know how to play her great-grandpa’s violin and she’s not fluent in Spanish. At first, she’s convinced her whole summer will be a disaster. But as she discovers the heart and soul of mariachi music, she realizes that there’s more than one way to be a star―and more than one way to carry on a legacy.

The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Twelve-year-old Sarah Greene wants nothing more from her seventh-grade year than to beat the hardest escape room left in her town with her best friends, West, and Hannah. But when a foreclosure notice shows up on Sarah's front door, everything changes. Since her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but not lose your house bad...until now. 

Sarah feels helpless until the day Hannah mentions a treasure rumored to be hidden in the walls of an abandoned funhouse. According to legend, Hans, Stefan, and Karl Stein were orphaned at eight years old and lived with different families until they were able to reunite as adults. Their dream was to build the most epic funhouse in existence. They wanted their experience to be more than mirror mazes and optical illusions, so they not only created elaborate riddles and secret passages, but they also claimed to have hidden a treasure inside the funhouse. 

Once in, Sarah, West, and Hannah realize the house is unlike any escape room they've attempted. There are challenges, yes, but they feel personal. Like the triplets knew who would get in. It seems impossible, but so does everything about the house. As soon as they're in she immediately worries that attempting the funhouse is a bad idea but Sarah has no choice but to continue, since her future is at stake.

Painting the Game by Patricia MacLachlan

Release Date: April 16th, 2024

In this final middle grade novel by Newbery Award-winning author Patricia MacLachlan, a young girl tries to untangle her love of baseball from complicated relationship with her professional pitcher father.

Lucy’s father is a minor league baseball player, a professional pitcher hoping to get called up to the majors, and Lucy inherited his passion for the game. But she’s never played pitcher. She worries her skills would be compared to her dad’s and she’d never measure up. And his pitching may mean big things for his career and their family, but it’s also what keeps him away from home so much of the year. Sometimes, Lucy isn’t sure what would be being bad at pitching or being great.

Still, this summer, Lucy wants to learn to throw the perfect knuckleball. She wakes up at the crack of dawn to practice in secret, without her friends Tex and Robin—or even the goats who watch them play. Even as she trains relentlessly, Lucy wonders if she’ll ever feel brave enough to share her progress with her mom or dad. Can she prove to them, and herself, that she has what it takes?

Explorer Academy Vela: The Sailor Cipher by Trudi Trueit

Release Date: April 23rd, 2024

Sailor York and the daring recruits of Explorer Academy uncover an elusive animal-smuggling ring in the first electrifying book in this new companion series.

Soon after Cruz, Sailor, Emmett, and Lani return for their second year at Explorer Academy, their sense of calm is shattered when Sailor’s older sister goes missing. Amidst incredible expeditions to far-flung destinations and competitive classes, Sailor bravely steps into the lead to discover how her sister’s sudden disappearance may be linked to an illegal and deadly animal-trafficking ring.

Despite winning the prestigious North Star Award and being surrounded by close friends and teachers who she has traveled the world with, Sailor’s never felt less sure of herself. As the recruits face puzzling obstacles and try to follow complex clues, Sailor realizes there’s only one thing that could save her sister: revealing her own deepest secret.

The Last Rhee Witch by Jenna Lee-Yun

Release Date: May 14th, 2024

You couldn’t hold onto everything and everyone. You had to choose. And Ronnie only had two hands.

Since her mother died when she was five years old, it’s always just been Ronnie Miller and her dad. Two Korean Americans who, thanks to Ronnie’s dad’s adoption by white parents, have never felt all that Korean. But Ronnie is okay with that—as long as she has her dad and her best friend Jack, Ronnie is 99% certain she can get through anything.

But as much as she wants everything to stay the same, the world—and her dad—has other plans. Now, Ronnie and Jack are headed away to sleepaway camp for the first time ever. Camp Foster promises all of the outdoorsy activities that Ronnie has so far managed to avoid: ropes courses, scavenger hunts, kayaking on the lake. Ugh. But she can do this. As long as she has Jack.

As it turns out, an old manor in the woods is the kind of place that’s crawling with secrets. Secrets like a mysterious gwishin haunting the grounds, a blood-red scarf wrapped too tightly around her ghostly neck. And a witch-hunting dokkaebi intent on finding and silencing the last Rhee witch. And the strange habit all the counselors have of rhyming when they speak . . . just like Ronnie has begun to do lately.

For a girl who wants everything to stay the same, nothing is scarier than all the changes Camp Foster brings. New friends. New foes. Souls with unfinished business. And, possibly worst of all, revelations that disprove everything Ronnie knew to be true.

Clairboyance by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Release Date: May 14th, 2024

After accidentally wishing on a family heirloom to hear what boys are thinking, Clara wakes up the next day able to do just that. Every idea, every worry, every generous or petty thought crossing their minds—somehow, they now form a chorus of voices in hers.

But why couldn’t her newfound powers have arrived sooner? Then, maybe, she could have stopped her ex–best friend Leo from betraying her and ditching her for the more popular kids. At least her dad is open to the idea of moving her off O‘ahu and out to Arizona to be with him.

If Clara can use what she hears to solve her problems, then her powers might just be able to make up for lost time—but instead, she ends up making a bigger mess of everything! While scrambling to fix her mistakes, Clara must question old friendships, enter into new ones, and try to figure out what makes a home, and if she is willing to leave hers behind.

The Magic Paintbrush by Kat Zhang; Eric Darnell

Release Date: May 21st, 2024

Amy has always loved art, but lately her drawings have been less than impressive. There's no passion, nopersonality, no...magic. Until Amy visits her Lao Lao, her grandmother, and finds an ancient paintbrush that brings anything Amy creates to life!

Now her creation Luna has taken over her bedroom and is running through the streets of Flushing, Queens. What an international adventure filled with an ancient Chinese legend, a greedy adversary and ghastly beasts!

Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios, to create a captivating highly-illustrated middle grade series debut about finding your own path, the power of imagination, and the strength of family.

Agent Stitch: The Menace at the Mall (Agent Stitch #3) by Steve Behling

Release Date: May 21st, 2024

Intergalactic agent Stitch and his friends have protected Earth from aliens before using teamwork, gadgets, and their individual quirks--but their beloved planet is in danger once again!

In the latest entry in this highly illustrated, globe-trotting middle-grade series, Stitch, Lilo, Jumba, Pleakley, and Cobra Bubbles head to Seoul, South Korea, to confront another devious cohort of aliens. Along the way, they may just find allies in one of Seoul’s top K-Pop girl groups… Can Stitch combine the spy skills he’s learned with his love of music to stop the aliens before it’s too late?

Lia Park and the Heavenly Heirlooms (Lia Park #2) by Jenna Yoon 

Release Date: May 30th, 2024

Twelve-year-old Lia Park and her best friend, Joon, are now full-time students at International Magic Academy after defeating corrupt diviner Gaya, and their first assignment is an ambitious one. The evil nine-headed monster and King of Darkness, Jihaedaegukjeok, wants to destroy the three Heavenly Heirlooms that create fire and light to plunge the world into darkness and destroy humanity.

The heirlooms can only be destroyed if they are all together, so over time, they have been hidden carefully with magic. Except now, one of them is missing. Lia, Joon, and their classmates have been tasked with recovering the lost heirloom and bringing it to IMA for safekeeping. They expected the task to be difficult, but the number of obstacles the magic trainees run into makes Lia start to wonder if the sabotage could be coming from someone inside the school.

Early Chapter Books

Bunny and Clyde By Megan McDonald

Release Date: March 12th, 2024

Get ready for a wild ride with Bunny and Clyde! These by-the-rules buddies, a rabbit and a chipmunk, are sick and tired of being good. For once, they want to know what it’s like to be baddies—rotten to the core! They want thrills and excitement! But to get really good at being bad, they’re going to need some experience. What if the dastardly duo started returning library books late on purpose? Or borrowing markers without asking? Everyone knows it’s a swift downhill slide from there—as long as there’s an unprotected piggy bank in town! Unless, of course, their best attempts at mastering bad deeds are strangely misconstrued . . . Author Megan McDonald brings her quick wit and ear for dialogue, matched by Scott Nash’s deft animal characterizations, to a hilarious caper of criminal intentions gone awry.

Marya Khan and the Awesome Adventure Park (Marya Khan #4) by Saadia Faruqi

Release Date: March 26th, 2024

Spring break is finally here, and Marya could not be more excited. Because this spring break, she, Hanna, and Alexa are going to Skye Adventure Park—the coolest theme park around! Skye Adventure Park is huge and has so many things to see, so Marya and her friends need to plan how they’ll spend their weekend there. They have to go to the water park (obviously) and avoid boring rides like the Ferris wheel.

But the thing that Marya wants to do most of all is the obstacle course. When she learns that they have a leader board that displays the fastest people’s names, Marya knows that she has to win and make it on that board! She just needs to practice and practice and beat out the very-athletic Alexa. But when the time comes, will Marya win the obstacle course? Or is there more to this park than winning after all?

The Orange Wall (Rainbow Days #3) by Valerie Bolling

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Zoya and her puppy Coco are excited for a glittery bedroom makeover in this full-color book perfect for beginning readers! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow! Zoya can't wait to paint her bedroom a new glittery color. But Zoya can’t decide on just one color! So she decides she wants a fun, multi-colored room! Will Zoya -- with her puppy Coco's help -- be able to give her bedroom the perfect makeover?

Mission: Moon by Andrea J. Loney

Release Date: April 4th, 2024

Abby is taking a giant leap onto the lunar surface. On a field trip to the moon, Abby is excited to try low-gravity bouncing and lunar rover rides. Unfortunately, her friend Gracie's older sister Claire is seriously spoiling the mood with her constant criticism of Abby. When Abby accidentally gets her friends trapped in an abandoned lab, she starts to wonder if Claire is right after all. Can Abby prove her wrong, escape the lab, and do something extra interstellar on the moon?

Victoria Stitch: Dark and Sparkling by Harriet Muncaster 

Release Date: April 4th, 2024

The third entry in a glittering, gothic middle-grade series from the bestselling author of Isadora Moon books. Victoria Stitch will stop at nothing in her quest for power . . . It had been so long since Victoria Stitch had done anything dangerous . . . And she would need dangerous and forbidden magic for an adventure like this . . .' Victoria Stitch is finally Queen of Wiskling Wood, along with her sister Celestine. She is also proud aunt to Princess Minnie Stitch-diamond baby and next in line to the throne. When old enemies resurface and kidnap Minnie, Victoria Stitch is intent on revenge. It's time for her to ride again and remind these Wisklings that Victoria Stitch is undeniable, incredible, and almost certainly unstoppable.

Victoria Stitch is a glamorous, glittering, wiskling - a miniature-sized fairy-like creature - and the series is perfect for fans of Tim Burton, Disney's Descendants , and The School for Good and Evil.

Wrath of the Rain God by Karla Arenas Valenti

Release Date: April 16th, 2024

Twins coping with moving to a new city get swept back in time by a magical book in this first book in the Legendarios chapter book series that’s Magic Tree House meets Heroes in Training!

Nine-year-old twins, Emma and Martín, couldn’t be more different in their personalities, interests, and even their looks. But one thing they absolutely agree on is that moving from Cuernavaca, Mexico, to Illinois is a terrible idea. Unfortunately, they’re not given a choice when their dad lands his dream job as a middle school principal in Chicago. To help the twins stay connected to their Mexican heritage, their abuela gifts them a book of Mexican legends. The book turns out to be more than a going away present…it’s a magical item that transports them directly into the legends!

In the first legend, Emma and Martín encounter Tlaloc, the god of rain. Tlaloc is angry because his lightning bolt has been stolen, and his rage is manifesting as a torrential downpour over the ancient city of Texcoco. The rain won’t stop until the lightning bolt has been returned, so Emma and Martín set out to recover it.

Will they find Tlaloc’s bolt in time to help the people of Texcoco save their home? Or will the wrath of the rain god mark the end of this legendary city?

Rica Baptista: A Week of Shenanigans by Janet Costa Bates

Release Date: April 30th, 2024

Rica can’t wait for Adventure Week with her grandfather! But when Grampy arrives with a sprained ankle, can they make their own fun at home instead?

Rica Baptista is living the good life. Grampy, the best Grampy of all Grampies, is coming to visit, and Adventure Week, the best week of all weeks, is finally here. Rica doesn’t yet know if they will bounce on trampolines, go horseback riding, or even tour Fenway Park and watch the Red Sox play, but she knows they will have the best time ever. When Grampy hobbles into the house on crutches, however, Rica worries that this year’s Adventure Week will be adventure-less. So she pulls out all the stops with the help of her best friend, Laini (who surely has eaten enough cachupa to be at least part Cape Verdean like Rica), from organizing a family talent show to secretly planning a whole day of playing cards and eating candy. Will it be enough to keep this year’s Adventure Week from being a total flop? A sweet story of making memories during an unexpected stay-venture, sprinkled with funny and cute family moments.

Libby Loves Science: States of Matter by Kimberly Derting

Release Date: April 30th, 2024

Libby and her friends learn about solids, liquids, and gases. A great choice for aspiring scientists, new readers, and fans of Andrea Beaty’s Ada Twist, Scientist . Includes activities, a glossary, and a fun science experiment to do at home. Libby loves science—and experimenting! In this Level 3 I Can Read! title, Libby and her classmates are excited to welcome a new student into their classroom. When the ice cream for the welcome party melts, Libby is curious to see how the three states of matter can save the celebration. 

Puggleton Park by Deanna Kizis

Release Date: April 30th, 2024

Meet Penelope the pug in the first book of this delightful series set in Regency-era London!

Penelope is a pleasant little pug who has quite the All she can remember is that she lost her Lady in the park while chasing the most dreadful squirrel. Now she dreams of one day finding a new Lady and a permanent place to stay. So when she finds herself taken in by the kind Lady Diggleton, she can't believe her luck!

But Penelope soon discovers that Lady Diggleton is searching for her previous owner and worries she will have to leave the Lady she's come to love. To make matters worse, that dreadful squirrel keeps poking its nose in wherever Penelope happens to be. However shall she keep herself from chasing it again and ruining all hopes of tea parties, elegant balls, and a forever home?

Reina Ramos: Tour Guide by Emma Otheguy

Release Date: April 30th, 2024

Reina can’t wait for her cousin’s visit. At first, it’s not as much fun as she’d imagined. Andrés is always talking to Abuela about people and places Reina doesn't know. But their friendship soon blossoms when Reina shares her city with Andrés. Reina Tour Guide is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

Seashell Key by Lourdes Heuer

Release Date: April 30th, 2024

A new young chapter book series, perfect for fans of Princess in Black and Mercy Watson, about a diverse community of kids living in a beautiful seaside town!

Welcome to Seashell Key! Summer is here, and the children of this cozy coastal town are ready to welcome visitors to their little oasis. There’s Mateo, who runs his little kite-making business, Sail and Soar, alongside his dad’s Sky and Sea store; Sasha and Sophia, who comb the seashore next to their mother’s One Stop Shore Shop; and Eli, Ezra, and Elana, who live in the cozy-but-cramped lighthouse and entertain passing tourists with tall tales.

Emily's Cupcake Magic! by Coco Simon

Release Date: May 7th, 2024

Katie Brown’s stepsister starts at a new school and discovers her own way to bake in this first book in the Cupcake The New Batch chapter book series, the little sister series to the bestselling Cupcake Diaries. Includes black and white illustrations throughout and eye-catching glitter on the cover!

Emily Green has to switch to a new school while her old one is being renovated, and she’s devastated when her friends get assigned somewhere else, leaving her totally alone. When she recognizes a girl from her old school, she at least has someone to sit with at lunchtime. But just as Emily is getting comfortable, her school announces a baking contest. Emily has baked before with her stepsister, Katie Brown, who’s well-known for starting the Cupcake Club—but does Emily really want to live in Katie’s shadow?

She’s feeling nervous until Katie advises her to bake cupcakes “The Emily Way,” and Emily starts to realize there’s room for two star bakers in their family!

Graphic Novels

Together Forever (Making Friends #4) by Kristen Gudsnuk

Release Date: March 5th, 2024

No magic. No sketchbook. No friends. Again?!

Dany's magical sketchbook has steered most of her middle-school life so far -- it even helped create her best friend, Madison. But now that the sketchbook is gone, and Madison with it, Dany's back to being a loner. Then one day, Dany tunes in to the new hit TV show My Magical Best Friend, and it's starring her magical best friend, Madison! The show is clearly based on Dany's life, and she watches it regularly with a mix of horror and fascination. But lately there's something else about the show that's captured her attention: Madison seems to be dropping hints for Dany to come rescue her. With no magical sketchbook at her fingertips, can Dany find a way to save her best friend?

Unicorn Boy by Dave Roman

Release Date: March 12th, 2024

The first few years of Brian Reyes’ life were unremarkable―nothing weird about this kid, no sir. Then, one day, a bump appeared on his head, and it grew…and grew…and grew until it was a full-blown, sparkling, SINGING unicorn horn. That’s absolutely the last thing a shy kid like Brian wants, but destiny waits for no unicorn boy.

Luckily, Brian has his reassuring pal Avery to keep him grounded as weird occurrences start stacking up, like Brian’s breakfast muffin talking to him, or a bizarre black cat offering him a business card. But when shadowy creatures from another realm kidnap Avery, Brian has to embrace his fate to rescue his best friend.

Next Stop by Debbie Fong

Release Date: March 19th, 2024

Pia is a soft-spoken middle schooler whose life is turned upside down after the loss of her younger brother, followed by her parents’ decision to move to a new town. In an effort to get her mind off of the troubles at home, Pia goes on a bus tour with a family friend, stopping at weird and wacky roadside attractions. The final a mysterious underground lake. The locals say it has magical powers; Pia won’t admit she believes in it, but she’s holding on to hope that the waters may hold the answer to mending her broken family.

The trip is much more than the final stop. The friendships that Pia makes along the way are just as valuable as the destination itself. Next Stop explores grief, resilience, and learning how to laugh again. Debbie Fong weaves together an incredibly strong debut filled with humor and heart, with a splash of mystery and magic.

Meet Me on Mercer Street by Booki Vivat

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Aspiring artist Kacie spends most of her time on Mercer Street with her best friend, Nisha, people-watching and doodling whatever is happening in their neighborhood. But when she comes back from a summer away, the local corner store is boarded up, the adults in town are all on edge, and Nisha is nowhere to be found! Everything is changing, and Kacie’s not sure what to do about it. Especially without Nisha to help her.

But Kacie has a knack for noticing things, and with her sketchbooks and observational skills, she just might have what it takes to figure out what’s really happening on Mercer Street.

Continental Drifter by Kathy MacLeod

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

With a Thai mother and an American father, Kathy lives in two different worlds. She spends most of the year in Bangkok, where she’s secretly counting the days till summer vacation. That’s when her family travels for twenty-four hours straight to finally arrive in a tiny seaside town in Maine.

Kathy loves Maine’s idyllic beauty and all the exotic delicacies she can’t get back home, like clam chowder and blueberry pie. But no matter how hard she tries, she struggles to fit in. She doesn’t look like the other kids in this rural New England town. Kathy just wants to find a place where she truly belongs, but she’s not sure if it’s in America, Thailand . . . or anywhere.

Fairest of All (Whatever After Graphic Novel #1) by Sarah Mlynowski

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Fractured fairy tales have never been this fun. Once upon a time, Abby and her little brother, Jonah, were ordinary kids. The next minute? The mirror in their basement slurped them up and magically transported them into the fairy tale of Snow White . Yes, really! When Abby and Jonah stop Snow from eating the poison apple, they think they're heroes. But wait! If Snow doesn't die, she won't meet her prince and get her happy ending. Oops. Now it's up to Abby and Jonah-- with some help from Snow and the seven dwarfs--to outwit the witch and save the famous fairy tale in time. But what if Snow's REAL happy ending is something else entirely?

Timid by Jonathan Todd

Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Cecil Hall and his family have just moved from Florida to Massachusetts, near Boston. Cecil is anxious about making friends because he doesn't know where he'll fit in. His older sister, Leah, thinks he should find and befriend the other Black kids at his new school, but Cecil isn't sure how he’d go about doing that. He wants to be known for his comics-making talent, anyway. But the few kids who are impressed by Cecil's art aren’t always nice to him. When one of his drawings is misused and gets him into serious trouble, can Cecil stand up for himself and figure out who his real friends are?

 

Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson 

Release Date: April 9th, 2024

Skates on. Fangs out. Let’s roll. This perfectly paranormal graphic novel about a 13-year-old ice skater who embraces the dark side and finds her light when she joins a vampire roller derby team is to die for.

Ice-skater Mina is on a one-track path to Olympic gold and glory—that is, until she totally wipes out at her biggest competition, and is kinda-sorta-kidnapped by undead kids on roller skates. Sucked into the high stakes world of Paranormal Roller Derby, she finds herself "recruited" by a squad of vampires who need a human player to complete their team—just in time to save the league from losing it all.

Between learning to play derby well enough to kick butt on the track, crushing hard on the dreamy team captain, and navigating the spooky rules of the supernatural, how can Mina go from striving to be a ten alone, to becoming one of nine chaotic bodies forming a perfectly-imperfect team? Forget being the best. Will she be enough to help her new friends survive the season?

Unhappy Camper by Lily LaMotte

Release Date: April 23rd, 2024

Would you rather blend in or stand out? Claire and Michelle used to be best friends, but now the two sisters couldn’t be more different. Michelle will do anything to fit in, even if it means denying her Taiwanese culture, whereas Claire is proud of who she is. So much so that she decides to become a junior counselor at a Taiwanese American summer camp.  

Sensing a rift between the two, their parents decide to send them both off to camp, much to Michelle’s dismay. As summer continues, both sisters learn more about their culture and each other. But Michelle must eventually decide to either embrace her culture and family or assimilate into the popular group at school. Which will she choose? 

Wires Crossed by Beth Fantaskey

Release Date: April 30th, 2024

Is this what middle school is all about? Being stuck in the middle? Twelve-year-old Mia feels like everything and everyone is changing—and she is caught in the middle. Stuck between old friends and new friends...between feeling like a kid and growing up...

Just as her longtime bff Addy is gravitating towards the popular crowd and starting to care more about school dances than treehouse playdates, Mia finds out that her favorite science camp friend, Tariq, is moving to town and will be going to school with her. She's super excited and can't wait to show him around and help him make friends.

But when Tariq arrives in town, he seems like he's grown up a lot, too. No more braces or glasses. A new hair cut. And who knew he was also a soccer star, immediately making the team mid-season?? He's welcomed to Buttonwood Bay Middle School with open arms in a way that Mia can't even recognize, and now she's feeling more lost than ever.

Then her science teacher announces the school's science olympics and she and Tariq are teaming up again to crush the competition—just like at camp. Only this time they're joined by a couple of unconventional teammates in Kinsey (more artist than scientist) and the loveable, if also sometimes kind of gross and goofy, Evan.

Do Mia and Tariq still have enough of a spark to build a killer robot (figuratively speaking, of course) and take home the prize? Through much experimentation and a little trail and error, Mia navigates new friendships and old as she tries to find her place in middle school—and on the winner's podium.

Forecast From Stonehenge by Stephanie Phillips

Release Date: April 30th, 2024

In this Choose Your Own Adventure® graphic novel, adapted from the classic ChooseCo book, you'll be visiting the infamous and enigmatic Stonehenge as a young traveler. While attending a solstice event held by a nameless group of druids in disguise, you'll meet numerous characters like the excitable wizard Alistair, the deadly fairy Elaine and her horde, and even a woodland nymph Liandra. At the center are the secrets of Stonehenge and a magical scythe that's fallen into your hands.

Who you meet, and whether they're friends or foes will be up to you as you choose where the story takes you! Part explorer, part detective, you'll explore London's underground in search of answers to uncover the secrets of the famous Stonehenge.

Curveball by Pablo Cartaya

Release Date: May 7th, 2024

Baseball is Elena Rueda’s entire She may be the only girl on her team, but she’s the best player and everyone knows it. Except . . . Elena has stopped having fun, and it’s time to leave the sport behind.

The problem is, Elena has no idea who she is without a bat in her hand. Can a summer spent with her brother's quirky friends in an empty sandlot that offers a world of possibility show Elena who she is—and teach her to love to play again?

Tryouts by Sarah Sax

Release Date: May 7th, 2024

It's warm up time in this newest installment in the Brinkley Yearbook series. Will Alexandra make the cut and help the historically boys baseball team defend their 9-year championship title?

Alexandra, also known as Al, has been playing baseball with her older brothers for as long as she can remember. But when she ages out of Little League, it seems like it’s the end of the road for Al and the sport she loves. Until, that is, her friend Sammy suggests that Al try out for the middle school team—a team that has always been boys-only.

Al is prepared to fight for her right to try out, but to her surprise, the coach is delighted by her interest. When Al makes the team, it seems like everything is going to work out. But with a tenth consecutive championship on the line for Brinkley Middle School and a team that can’t seem to get along, will their season ground out faster than Al can say “home run”?

Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol

Release Date: May 7th, 2024

Jane is incredibly plain. Everyone says so: her parents, the villagers, and her horrible cousin who kicks her out of her own house. Determined to get some semblance of independence, Jane prepares to propose to the princely Peter, who might just say yes to get away from his father. It’s a good plan!

Or it would’ve been, if he wasn’t kidnapped by a mermaid.

With her last shot at happiness lost in the deep blue sea, Jane must venture to the underwater world to rescue her maybe-fiancé. But the depths of the ocean hold beautiful mysteries and dangerous creatures. What good can a plain Jane do?

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen

Release Date: May 7th, 2024

Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic. She doesn't feel much like celebrating anymore.

While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu spots a stray dog down the street. A dog that seems to be staring right at her . But when she chases after it, she slips and falls down a ridge, losing consciousness. When she awakes, she’s in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi, a place she’s only heard about in Obaachan’s stories. The stray dog, she finds out, is actually the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he warns her to return to the human realm before it’s too late.

Only, getting home is not as simple as she’d thought. Faced with the nefarious Queen Izanami of Yomi and a world full of creatures she’d once thought weren’t real, the race against the clock is on. She must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise…or be stuck in Yomi forever.

Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim

Release Date: May 14th, 2024

What happens when a very human kid ends up at the wrong summer camp—FOR VAMPIRES?! This quirky and heart warming graphic novel about making friends and getting in trouble is perfect for fans of Witches of Brooklyn.

After a lackluster school year, Maya anticipates an even more disappointing summer. The only thing she’s looking forward to is cooking and mixing ingredients in the kitchen, which these days brings her more joy than mingling with her peers . . . that is until her dad's girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp! Maya's summer is saved! . . . or not. 

What was meant to be a summer filled with baking pastries and cooking pasta is suddenly looking a lot . . . paler?! Why do all of the kids have pointy fangs? And hate garlic? Turns out that Maya isn't at culinary camp—she's at a camp for VAMPIRES! Maya has a lot to learn if she's going to survive this summer . . . and if she's lucky, she might even make some friends along the way.

Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo

Release Date: May 14th, 2024

Indu, a boy from the moon, feels like he doesn’t belong. He hasn’t since he and his adoptive mom disembarked from their spaceship—their home—to live on Earth with their new blended family. The kids at school think he’s weird; he has a crush on his pen pal, who might not like him back; and his stepfamily doesn’t seem to know what to do with him. Worst of all, Indu can’t even talk to his mom about how he’s feeling because she’s so busy.

In a moment of loneliness, Indu calls out to the moon, begging them to take him back. And against all odds, the moon hears him and agrees to bring him home on the first day of the New Year. But as the promised day draws nearer, Indu finds friendship in unlikely places and discovers that home is more than where you come from. And when the moon calls again, Indu must decide: Is he willing to give up what he’s just found?