Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a YA romance about a teen helping her crush ask out someone else, a YA love story featuring three teens at a resort, a picture book about a bear befriending his meal, and more.
10 Things I Hate About Prom by Elle Gonzalez Rose. Random House/Joy Revolution, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-70520-9. Ivelisse struggles with her feelings for her best friend Joaquin while helping him plan an elaborate promposal for someone else.
Beach Cute by Beth Reekles. Delacorte, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-80906-8. Teens Luna, Rory, and Jodie form new friendships while staying at an exclusive Spanish beach resort, where they face the uncertainties of impending adulthood and romantic upheaval.
A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish by Daniel Bernstrom, illus. by Brandon James Scott. Astra/Hippo Park, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-66264-069-8. In this sequel to A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree, Bear wants to eat Fish until he learns this fish simply wants to go home.
Blood & Fury by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland. Razorbill, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-35335-6. In the closer to the Chaos & Flame duology, Darling is charged with reuniting the warring houses and Talon must end the war his family started or face the kingdom’s downfall.
The Boo Hag Flex by Justina Ireland. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $15.99; ISBN 978-0-06328-782-2. When a string of mysterious deaths strikes her trailer park, tween Tasha embarks on an adventure to stop a monster draining mortals of their souls in the first book of the Tales from Cabin 23 series.
The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-04565-0. Hesse highlights the history of the Hello Girls, individuals employed by the U.S. Army to operate phone lines in France, in this middle grade thriller. The book received a starred review from PW.
The Color of Love by Poppy Harlow and Laura Jarrett. illus. by Elisa Chavarri. Viking, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52710-8. Grace considers how love looks like a myriad of different colors in this collaboration between former CNN news anchor Harlow and Saturday Today’s Jarrett.
The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood. Wednesday, $20; ISBN 978-1-250-89107-5. Set during the Civil War, Jerusalem, who has god-like powers, must team up with a vampire, a known enemy, to help Black Americans gain freedom.
Finding Things by Kevin Henkes, illus. by Laura Dronzek. Greenwillow, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-324566-2. A curious pup enjoys bringing home the many things it finds during its trips outdoors, including a new friend.
It Waits in the Forest by Sarah Dass. Disney/Riordan, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-368-09833-5. Selina DaSilva’s lies about pretending to be a psychic come to a head when she meets Gabriel, a tourist who claims to be haunted by an evil spirit wreaking havoc wherever he goes, including Selina’s home.
Keep It Like a Secret by John David Anderson. Walden Pond, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-327931-5. Tween Morgan struggles with the gap forming between his sister Claire and their mother, and during an outing with his sister he comes to understand the challenges that await him as he matures.
Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo. HarperAlley, $24.99; ISBN 978-0-06-305760-9; $15.99 paper ISBN 978-0-06-305759-3. After moving from their community spaceship to neo-Indonesian New Earth, Indu must consider whether to stay with their new friends and family or return to space. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
The Monarchs of Winghaven by Naila Moreira. Walker US, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1830-5. Aspiring naturalist Samantha Tabitha Smith befriends nature photographer Bram Layton and together the pair explore an overrun patch of wilderness. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
On a Summer Night by Deborah Hopkinson, illus. by Kenard Pak. Chronicle, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-79720-013-2. A child wakes up in the middle of the night and explores her home to discover what else has woken up with her. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
The Pelican Can! by Toni Yuly. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-49781-7. Rhyming questions are answered with the triumphant titular cry in this picture book that displays the pelican’s power and balletic grace. The book received a starred review from PW.
Puzzleheart by Jenn Reese. Holt, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-78346-2. Nonbinary 12-year-old Perigee Eklund hopes to fix the acrimonious relationship between their father and paternal grandmother by orchestrating a trip to visit her at the Eklunds’ Puzzle House.
Rising by Sidura Ludwig, illus. by Sophia Vincent Guy. Candlewick, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2549-5. A child wakes up early to enjoy the process of baking challah for a festive outdoor Shabbat meal with guests. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Road Home by Rex Ogle. Norton, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-3240-1992-3. The final addition to Ogle’s autobiographical series traces his experience being kicked out of his home after being outed, and a harrowing relationship with an older man. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park by Tonya Duncan Ellis, illus. by Jenin Mohammed. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-328605-4. Narrated by the voice of the park, Ellis highlights the origins of Houston’s Emancipation Park. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Thirsty by Jas Hammonds. Roaring Brook, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-2508-1659-7. Eighteen-year-old Blake struggles with an intense partying culture when she’s invited to join an exclusive sorority. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Ursula Upside Down by Corey R. Tabor. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-0632-7556-0. Ursula the catfish attempts to look at the world right side up when she’d told she is upside down.
The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza. Holiday House, $19.99 320p ISBN 978-0-823-45634-5. Sixteen-year-old Tegan Masters must convince the powers that be that her version of heaven is incorrect or face staying there forever. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of May, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
