August arrives with an abundance of series additions, including a duo of early readers on gender and consent, the end of a bloody tournament, a moose unravelling a fishy mystery, a reimagining of a historical meeting with a literary icon, and many more.


Picture Books and Graphic Novels

Adurable: This Pup Is Stuck! by Bob Shea, illus. by Brian Won (Dial, Aug. 30 $7.99 board book; ISBN 978-0-593-32592-6). In the second addition to the Adurable series, while attempting to build a swimming pool, puppy Dig Doug digs too deep, and must rely on his friends to get him out.


Being You: A First Conversation About Gender by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illus. by Anne/Andy Passchier (Rise x Penguin Workshop, Aug. 16 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52187-8). The latest in the First Conversations series, this picture book introduces children to the concept of gender, including subjects such as pronouns, preferences, identity, and more.


Yes! No! A First Conversation About Consent by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illus. by Isabel Roxas (Rise x Penguin Workshop, Aug. 16 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52188-5). Early readers get a lesson in bodily autonomy and how to decline unwanted touch in this new addition to the First Conversations series.


Booked (Graphic Novel) by Kwame Alexander, illus. by Dawud Anabwile (HarperAlley, Aug. 2 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-358-16182-0). In this graphic novel adaptation of the follow-up to Newbery Medal-winner Crossover, soccer player Nick must face the plethora of problems awaiting him off the field, including his parents’ divorce, dealing with a bully, and a crush.


Creepy Crayon! by Aaron Reynolds, illus. by Peter Brown (Simon & Schuster, Aug. 23 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-534-46588-6). In the third installation of the Creepy Tales! series, Jasper Rabbit’s discovery of a crayon that helps him overcome his academic troubles takes a turn when the crayon wants control over Jasper’s life.


Crunch by Kayla Miller (Clarion, Aug. 30 $13.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-35-839368-9). Olive struggles with her passion for trying new things when she becomes overwhelmed with all of her new activities in the newest addition to the Click graphic novel series.


Frankenstein Doesn’t Plant Petunias by Marcia Thornton Jones and Debbie Dadey, illus. by Pearl Low (Graphix, Aug. 2 $7.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-73662-5). In the second installment of the Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series, the Kids grow suspicious of the science museum’s assistant, Frank, who they believe to be a monster but whose penchant for floral arrangements challenges their theory.


Hello, World! Kids’ Guides: Exploring Sharks by Jill McDonald (Doubleday, Aug. 2 $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-56481-3). The board book Hello World series gets a picture book expansion, in which readers learn details about different species of sharks and how to relate to them.


Hello, World! Kids’ Guides: Exploring the Solar System by Jill McDonald (Doubleday, Aug. 2 $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48204-9). Discover the wide universe in this addition to the Hello World! series, depicting fun facts about each planet and notable NASA accomplishments.


How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead, illus. by Andy Elkerton (Sourcebooks Wonderland, Aug. 2 $10.99; ISBN 978-1-7282-1035-3). It’s up to the Club Kids to capture a witch who has unleashed ghouls and goblins into their neighborhood in the newest addition to the How to Catch series.


If Animals Trick-or-Treated by Ann Whitford Paul, illus. by David Walker (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Aug. 2 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-374-38852-2). The If Animals Kissed Goodnight series gains a Halloween-themed seventh title, in which a group of animal friends imagine the holiday hijinks they’d like to participate in.


Operation Owl by Mo O’Hara, illus. by Jess Bradley (Feiwel and Friends, Aug. 2 $10.99; ISBN 978-1-250-22225-1). The animals of Big Forest look to Agent Moose to uncover who is flooding the forest and stealing their goods in the third installment to the Agent Moose series.


The Legend of the Lost Boy by Francesco Sedita and Prescott Seraydarian, illus. by Steve Hamaker (Viking, Aug. 23 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-20620-1). The Pathfinder kids find themselves trapped in a different era after a time-traveling mishap, and rush to get back to their own time in the third addition to the Pathfinders Society series.


Novels

All of Our Demise by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman (Tor Teen, Aug. 30 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-78934-1). The deadly tradition of the tournament has been disrupted, opening a new chance to end the curse, but its champions must decide if they’ll return to their fatal ritual in the closer to the All of Us Villains duology.


Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, Aug. 30 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-297519-5). In the second installment of the Supernatural Investigations series, Amari’s rejection of a powerful new position allows a nefarious leader to step into place, and it’s up to Amari to win the Great Game to stop them.


Blood Like Fate by Liselle Sambury (McElderry, Aug. 9 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-6531-2). Despite becoming a full-fledged witch, Voya has lost the confidence of her community, but in the face of a force that wants to destroy them all, she must step into her potential as Matriarch in the sequel to Blood Like Magic.


Empty Smiles by Katherine Arden (Putnam, Aug. 9 $16.99; ISBN 978-0-593-10918-2). Brian, Coco, and Phil make an important discovery that may help getting their friend Ollie back from the eerie Smiling Man, but must play his twisted game and risk losing everything in the finale of the Small Spaces Quartet.


The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Little, Brown, Aug. 30 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-37095-0). The Inheritance Games series comes to a close with Avery Grambs awaiting her inheritance of millions at the Hawthorne House, until a visitor’s appearance points to a final game that Avery and the Hawthorne brothers must complete.


Friday—The Total Ice Cream Meltdown by Ralph Lazar (Scholastic, Aug. 30 $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-77051-3). Dash Candoo and his backpack full of endless gadgets take on a dessert-filled adventure in the fifth of the Total Mayhem series.


Friendo Lives by Adam Cesare (HarperCollins, Aug. 23 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-309691-2). In the sequel to 2020 Bram Stoker Award–winning novel Clown in a Cornfield, the rumor of the Kettle Springs Massacre being a hoax brings survivor Quinn back to her hometown to face the rumors, as well as the murderous clowns coming after her and her family.


Furysong by Rosaria Munda (Putnam, Aug. 9 $19.99 ISBN 978-0-525-51827-3). The threat of dragonfire destroying their homes looms over Annie and Lee as they make painful sacrifices to save the ones they love in the conclusion to the Aurelian Cycle series.


Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist (Crown, Aug. 2 $16.99; ISBN: 978-0-593-42921-1). In the sequel to Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero, Isaiah’s entrance into middle school comes with new troubles, including looking out for his mentee and learning to rely on his instincts in order to help.


The King Will Kill You by Sarah Henning (Tor Teen, Aug. 2 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-84103-2). The conclusion of the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky series finds Amarande as a new queen and, with the assistance of Luca, attempting to make peace across the realms as a power-hungry king grows vengeful.


My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows (HarperTeen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-293007-1) In the fifth installment to the Lady Janies series, when Ada Lovelace meets Mary Shelley, their unique skills bring a machine to life and places a mad scientist on their tails.


Nico Bravo and the Trial of Vulcan by Mike Cavallaro (First Second, Aug. 9 $24.99; ISBN 978-1-250-78545-9; $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-21887-2). Myths and legend expert Nico comes to the aid of a god to help find five ancient artifacts but might be signing on for more than he expects in the third installment in the Nico Bravo series.


Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows (Disney/Rick Riordan Presents, Aug. 2, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-368-07687-6). In the third addition to the Paola Santiago series, Paola must find a new way to enter the void in order to save her captured friend, but discovers new enemies awaiting her, including one who is eerily similar to herself.


Surely Surely Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly (Greenwillow, Aug. 9 $16.99; ISBN 978-0-06-297045-9). In the second installment in the Maybe Marisol series, Marisol attempts to overcome her fears of gym class by looking toward her big brother for help.


Surviving the Wild: Sunny the Shark by Remy Lai (Holt, Aug. 9 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-250-78545-9). Sunny the shark accidentally gets her fin trapped in a plastic ring and must find a way to remove it in the third book of the Surviving the Wild series.


A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin (Feiwel and Friends, Aug. 23 $18.99 ISBN 978-1-250-76710-3). In the conclusion to the Book of Tea duology, the rise of a dark regime has arrived, and magic tea-maker Ning and her friends travel across the kingdom in search of allies willing to overthrow the throne before it’s too late.


Wildbound by Elayne Audrey Becker (Tor Teen, Aug. 30 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-75224-6). Helos attempts to make amends in the midst of a looming war while his sister Rora prepares a growing rebellion in the second book in the Forestborn series.


Why-Why’s Gone Bye-Bye by Stephan Pastis (Aladdin, Aug. 30 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-534-49613-2). In the second book in the Trubble Town graphic novel series responsibility falls into the hands of the town’s children when all the adults are abducted by aliens.