Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a middle grade novel about good and evil, a YA novel about navigating race issues, a picture book about an elephant with an itch to scratch, and a YA novel about a socially isolated teen.

The Tale of Angelino Brown by David Almond, illus. by Alex T. Smith. Candlewick, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-7636-9563-7. In this middle grade novel, Almond shows that heroes, villains, and angels alike are products of their environments, and that a little nurturing (or angel companionship) is the best way to improve a person’s attitude and behavior. The book earned a starred review from PW.

Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles. Little, Brown, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-44077-6. Cole’s debut novel, based on events in his own life, follows Marvin Johnson, a college-bound senior at Sojourner Truth High School in Alabama. From the opening pages, Marvin and his twin brother, Tyler, navigate racism, drug dealers, and police violence, their lives governed by the “talk that all decent black mothers and fathers give to their children at least once a month. The You-Live-in-a-White-Man’s-World-So-Be-Careful talk.”

Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? by Jory John, illus. by Liz Climo. Dial, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-7352-2854-2. In this picture book illustrated by the creator of the Rory the Dinosaur books, an elephant has an unscratchable itch in the middle of its back.

Finding Felicity by Stacey Kade. Simon & Schuster, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-4814-6425-3. Lonely, college-bound Caroline is obsessed with Felicity, the late ’90s television show about a girl who follows her crush to college. And because her high school social life is virtually nonexistent, she has been lying to her mother for years, pretending the show’s characters are her real-life friends.

Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen. Viking, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-451-47873-3. Killeen’s harrowing debut opens in August 1939, and follows 15-year-old Sarah’s attempts to insinuate herself in a Nazi boarding school to aid the Resistance.

When Paul Met Artie: The Story of Simon & Garfunkel by G. Neri, illus. by David Litchfield. Candlewick, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-7636-8174-6. Neri’s picture book tells the endearing story of the sometimes rocky partnership between folk rock duo Simon and Garfunkel, beginning when they were children in Queens.

Stuck in the Stone Age by Geoff Rodkey, illus. by Hatem Aly. Rodale Kids, $13.99; ISBN 978-1-63565-089-1. Inspired by a story idea from real-life kid Vince Boberski, “presented” by performing troupe the Story Pirates, and written by Rodkey (the Tapper Twins series), this madcap tale also serves as an instruction manual for children thinking of writing their own books. The book earned a starred review from PW.

New Shoes by Sara Varon. First Second, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-59643-920-7. In a South American village, a donkey named Francis makes shoes for discerning clients. Francis is overjoyed to receive a commission from Miss Manatee, his favorite calypso singer, but before he can start work, he discovers that his friend and tiger grass supplier, Nigel, has gone missing. The book earned a starred review from PW.

Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel. Chronicle, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-4521-5014-7. In richly textured mixed-media compositions, Caldecott Honor artist Wenzel (They All Saw a Cat) balances realism and engaging caricature with this picture book celebration of the myriad forms of animal life our planet hosts. The book earned a starred review from PW.

For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of March, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.