Spring 2012 Sneak Previews

ABRAMS

Abrams hangs 10 with Surfer Chick by Kristy Dempsey, illus. by Henry Cole, about a little chick who learns to catch waves like her father; Library Mouse #4 by Daniel Kirk, in which mice Sam and Sarah leave the library behind to go to the museum; Chuck Close: Faces by Chuck Close and Glue + Paper Workshop LLC, a biography of the titular artist featuring an interactive element; Bat and Rat by Patrick Jennings, illus. by Matthew Cordell, about the adventures of two animal pals who go out for ice cream one hot summer night; and Rapido’s Next Stop by Jean-Luc Fromental, illus. by Joëlle Jolivet, starring a speedy package messenger.

Amulet goes into the woods for The Sisters Grimm: Book 9 by Michael Buckley, illus. by Peter Ferguson, the final volume of the fantasy/mystery series; A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle, in which a girl’s dying grandmother sets in motion an unusual adventure; The Quick Fix by Jack D. Ferraiolo, a novel of blackmail, basketball, and corruption at Franklin Middle School; Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, edited by Kazu Kibuishi, an anthology of short graphic works, all using the central theme of a magic box; and launch of TOPPS Chapter Books, a fictional tie-in with the confection/collectible brand, packaged with 4 baseball cards.

ABRAMS/APPLESEED

Appleseed tweets into spring with My Birdie Puzzle Book by Jessie Ford, a title with pop-out puzzle pieces; Huff and Puff by Claudia Rueda, an interactive retelling of the Three Little Pigs; Little Pim: Animals by Julia Pimsleur Levine, illus. by Brian O’Connell and Asterisk Pix, a language-learning book set on the farm and starring Pim the panda; and Hippoposites by Janik Coat, a humorous concept book featuring a red hippo.

ANDREWS MCMEEL/ACCORD

Accord opens wide with Chomp!, in which a pull-tab mechanism allows readers to manipulate an animal mouth; and Happy Birthday, Mouse!, the tale of a surprise birthday party unfolded on overlapping board book pages.

BLOOMSBURY

Bloomsbury sets its pants afire with Fairy Lies by E.D. Baker, a sequel to Wings, featuring fairy romance and whopping fairy lies; and In Darkness by Nick Lake, a YA novel about a contemporary boy trapped in the Haitian earthquake and his eerie connection to Toussaint L’Ouverture, a former slave and hero of the Haitian revolution hundreds of years earlier.

CANDLEWICK

Candlewick swings for the fences with Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit by Chris Van Dusen, about a boy obsessed with space, robots, and baseball; Ruby Redfort Look Into My Eyes by Lauren Child, the real-life version of the middle-grade adventure books beloved by Child’s character Clarice Bean; What Color Is My World?: How African-American Inventors Have Changed the Way We Live by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld, illus. by Ben Boos and A.G. Ford, a collection of profiles of little-known inventors; Bink and Gollie: Two for One by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illus. by Tony Fucile, in which the two BFFs navigate the wonders of the state fair; and Diabolical by Cynthia Leitich Smith, the finale to the YA dark fantasy Tantalize series.

CANDLEWICK/NOSY CROW BOOKS

Nosy Crow has lung power with The Baby That Roared by Simon Puttock, illus. by Nadia Shireen, in which Mr. and Mrs. Deer find an unusual baby on their doorstep; Pip and Posy: The Scary Monster by Axel Scheffler, a gentle tale of a monster mask and a friendly misunderstanding; Hubble Bubble, Granny Trouble by Tracey Corederoy, illus. by Joe Berger, a rhyming story starring a girl and her witch grandmother; Bizzy Bear: Let’s Get to Work! by Benjie Davies, in which a bear works at the construction site; and Mega Mash-Up: Ancient Egyptians vs. Pirates in a Haunted Mansion by Nikalas Catlow and Tim Wesson, a chaotic face-off between the titular characters.

CANDLEWICK/TEMPLAR BOOKS

Templar drops anchor with The Pirates Next Door by Jonny Duddle, a picture book about the Jolley-Rogers, who move into the quiet shore town of Dull-on-Sea; The Creepy Castle: A Changing Picture Book by Ruth Martin, illus. by Nick Price, an interactive title in which readers become trapped on a fairground ride; I Spy Under the Sea by Edward Gibbs a concept book featuring an undersea spy hole; Dark Knight by Own Davey, a bedtime tale of derring-do; and Jack and the Baked Beanstalk by Colin Stimpson, a twist on the classic, set in a retro-style future and featuring a can of baked beans.

CANDLEWICK/TOON BOOKS

Toon swims into spring with The Shark King by R. Kikuo Johnson, a comic book that reimagines the legend of the shark-boy Nanaue; Zig and Wikki in “The Cow” by Nadja Spiegelman, illus. by Trade Loeffler, an easy-reader comic in which extraterrestrial best buds explore earth and learn about the natural world;, and Chick and Chickie in “Twin Stories” by Claude Ponti, an easy reader starring two silly young chicks.

CHARLESBRIDGE

Charlesbridge says “let it snow” for Snowmobile! Bombardier’s Dream Machine by Jules Older, illus. by Michael Lauritano, a look into the life of the inventor of the snowmobile; Lola Reads to Leo by Anna McQuinn, illus. by Rosalind Beardshaw, about a girl who loves reading to her new baby brother; Emily and Carlo by Marty Rhodes Figley, illus. by Catherine Stock, a biography of Emily Dickinson, with a focus on her pet dog, Carlo; Percy Listens Up by Stuart J. Murphy, in which a boy learns the importance of listening; and Higgin’s Hole by Kevin Boreen, illus. by David Clark, the tale of a cast of quirky sea creatures threatened by a pack of sharks.

CHARLESBRIDGE/MACKINAC ISLAND PRESS

Mackinac Island discovers Hidden New Jersey by Linda Barth, a seek-and-find book spotlighting the Garden State.

CHRONICLE

Chronicle tells it like it is with Boy Meets Girl, edited by Kelly Milner Halls, a collection of he said/she said stories featuring male-female teams of writers including Chris Crutcher, Ellen Wittlinger, and Terry Trueman; Wordles by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illus. by Serge Bloch, a playful picture book featuring sentences that sound the same but have different meanings; Earthling by Mark Fearing and Tim Rummel, a graphic novel in which nine-year-old Bud catches the wrong bus on the first day of school and ends up in outer space; The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner, illus. by Jeremy Holmes, a debut middle-grade novel filled with adventure, puns, word games, and puzzles; and The Worst-Case Scenario, Ultimate Adventure: Amazon by David Borgenicht, illus. by Yancey Labat, a comic-book style choose-your-own-adventure outing based on facts about the Amazon.

Disney-Hyperion swings for the fences with Cal Ripken Jr.’s All-Stars: Super Sized Slugger by Cal Ripken Jr. with Kevin Cowherd, in which an overweight kid who’s a target for bullying tries out for the team; The Kane Chronicles, Book Three by Rick Riordan, the conclusion to the adventures of Carter and Sadie Kane; Poems to Learn by Heart, edited by Caroline Kennedy, illus. by Jon J Muth, an anthology of poems that lend themselves to memorization; Gallagher Girls Five by Ally Carter, in which spy-girl Cammie wakes up with amnesia and races through Rome and Ireland to remember what she did last summer; and The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe, about a deadly virus that sweeps through 16-year-old Kaelyn’s small island community.

DISNEY PRESS

Disney Press waves the checkered flag for Cars: Mater’s New Mission by K. S. Andrews, an original chapter book featuring characters from the Pixar film; La Luna by Enrico Casarosa, a picture book inspired by the new Disney/Pixar short of the same name about a boy whose father and grandfather give him a ladder to the moon; Happy Birthday, Captain Hook by Melinda LaRose, a Jake and the Never Land Pirates early reader; and A Gift for Pooh by Sara Miller, a lift-the-flap story of giving.

DISNEY/MARVEL

Marvel spins a spring web with Ultimate Spider-Man by Tomas Palacios, a tie-in to the new Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon; The Story of Spider-Man by Kate Pryde, illus. by Peter Rasputin, an early reader in the Heroes of Reading line; and The Mighty Avengers and The Mighty Avengers Meet Captain America by Rich Thomas, illus. by Pat Olliffe, featuring Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Wasp, Thing, and Captain America.

DK

DK straps in for My Tourist Guide to the Solar System, a science exploration book for young armchair astronauts; Color Me Clever, an interactive encyclopedia featuring science, technology, history, and pop culture; 100 People Who Made History, profiles of key figures from Aristotle to Mark Zuckerberg; Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide, an update of Ryder Wyndham’s well-loved edition; and Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide, a revised and updated edition containing original comic-book art.

EDC/KANE MILLER

Kane Miller hits the road with The No. 1 Car Spotter Book 2: The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird by Atinuke, in which No. 1’s car-spotting hobby helps him solve problems; Wrong Way by Mark Macleod, illus. by Judith Rossell, in which duck’s “wrong” way of making a splash turns out to be just right; Monkey’s Friends by Ruth Brown, about the friends Monkey meets on a walk; You Choose by Pippa Goodhart, illus. by Nick Sharratt, an interactive book that lets readers create a story; and The Mythical 9th Division Book 1: Operation Robot Storm by Alex Milway, first in a humorous, middle-grade adventure series.

EERDMANS

Eerdmans huffs and puffs into spring with Becoming the Wolf by Bettina Wegenast, illus. by Katharina Busshoff, about a sheep who dons the dead Big Bad Wolf’s clothing with surprising consequences; I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery by Cynthia Grady, illus. by Michele Wood, an anthology chronicling the various experiences of slaves, featuring the imagery of quilting and fiber arts; Peter Is Just a Baby by Marisabina Russo, about a girl adjusting to her younger sibling; John J. Jensen Feels Different by Henrik Hovland, illus. by Torill Kove, a picture book about individuality; and Garmann’s Secret by Stian Hole, in which Garmann discovers a secret world of imagination in the woods.

EGMONT USA

Egmont can’t get enough of Butterfly Effect by Kate Ellison, a debut YA thriller about a girl whose obsessive compulsive collecting leads her down a dangerous path; Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, in which demon hunter Kali faces high-school horrors as well as supernatural ones; BZRK by Michael Grant, a project with book, digital, and game components that involves conspiracy, changing realities, empowerment, and the implications of social and personal choice; Savage Grace: A Dark Divine Novel by Bree Despain, which concludes the Dark Divine trilogy; and Popular Clone by M.E. Castle, in which 12-year-old science genius Fisher’s clone gets clone-napped by the evil Dr X.

ENCHANTED LION

Enchanted Lion takes wing with Little Bird by Germano Zullo, illus. by Albertine, the winner of the Prix Sorcières illustration award in France about a man’s encounter with a little bird; and Coppernickel Goes Mondrian by Wouter Van Reek, an illustrated fictional homage to abstract artist Piet Mondrian

FLASHLIGHT PRESS

Flashlight walks the plank for Victricia Malicia by Carrie Clickard, illus. by Mark Meyers, about a pirate girl who would rather read than pay attention to pirate chores; and Silly Frilly Grandma Tillie by Laurie Jacobs, illus. by Anne Jewett, starring a grandmother whose creative streak makes her the best babysitter of all.

GROUNDWOOD BOOKS

Groundwood summons the sandman with Nocturne: Dream Recipes by Isol, trans. by Elisa Amado, an interactive picture book in which readers can select a dream and see a glow-in-the-dark image from it; I Have the Right to Be a Child by Alain Serres, trans. by Helen Mixter, illus. by Aurelia Fronty, an illustrated introduction to the rights of children as proposed by the United Nations; Jimmy the Greatest by Jairo Buitrago, trans. by Elisa Amado, illus. by Rafael Yockteng, in which a boy is inspired by Muhammad Ali to follow his dreams; Out of the Way! Out of the Way! by Uma Krishnaswami, featuring a growing tree and a road that must make room for each other; and Children of Kabul by Deborah Ellis, an exploration of how Afghani children are faring in a city changed by war.

HARPERCOLLINS/AMISTAD

Amistad hits the high notes with When Grandmama Sings by Margaree King Mitchell, illus. by James Ransome, in which a girl learns how music can bring people together, even in the segregated South; All the Right Stuff by Walter Dean Myers, about the life lessons learned by a boy volunteering at a Harlem soup kitchen; Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker, in which a black boy sent to a white boarding school to avoid the violence in his neighborhood must find his place between two very different worlds; Freedom’s a-Callin’ Me by Ntozake Shange, illus. by Rod Brown, a poetry collection about the plight of Underground Railroad travelers; and In the Land of Milk and Honey by Joyce Carol Thomas, illus. by Floyd Cooper, a picture book inspired by the author’s girlhood move from Oklahoma to California in 1948.

HARPERCOLLINS/BALZER + BRAY

Balzer + Bray snaps, crackles, and pops with Cold Cereal by Adam Rex, first in a middle-grade trilogy about three kids who join forces with a leprechaun, a giant, and a time-traveling accountant to save the world from an evil cereal company; When My Baby Dreams by Adele Enersen, a photographic journey through a new baby’s dreamscapes from the blogger of Mila’s Daydreams; The Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker, in which two foster kids become unlikely allies during a summer on Cape Cod; Everneath by Brodi Ashton, the initial volume in a trilogy about a girl who temporarily returns to her old life after spending six months trapped in an underworld; and Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris, a debut SF thriller in which a girl learns the secrets of the mysterious loner who brought her back to life after an accident.

HARPERCOLLINS/GREENWILLOW

Greenwillow stirs the cauldron with Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones, illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky, a short novel from the late author about an orphaned girl, a witch, a warlock and a cat; The Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin, a steampunk reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic horror story; Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes, first in a series of picture books featuring Penny the mouse and her family; Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham, illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky, in which a moose insists on being the center of everything;, and Invisible Sun by David Macinnis Gill, a sequel to Black Hole Sun about teen mercenaries fighting for their lives on a dystopian Mars.

Harper is on the case with Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth by Jane O’Connor, illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser, the first chapter book starring the popular picture book character; Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, first in a romantic trilogy set in a future dystopia; Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, second in the Delirium trilogy in which Lena joins the resistance effort against the government; Planet Tad by Tim Carvell, the humorous blog of a 12-year-old boy who ponders the middle-school universe; and Big Nate Goes for Broke by Lincoln Peirce, more misadventures of the sixth-grade troublemaker.

HARPERCOLLINS/HARPERFESTIVAL

HarperFestival goes back in time with Ice Age #4: The Junior Novel, a tie-in to the feature film Ice Age: Continental Drift due in July 2012; The Berenstain Bears’ Dinosaur Dig by Jan and Mike Berenstain, in which Brother and Sister happen upon a fossil dig at the museum; Fancy Nancy: JoJo’s First Day Jitters by Jane O’Connor, illus. based on the art of Robin Preiss Glasser, a lift-the-flap book about beginning preschool; Batman Classic: Joker’s Fright Club by John Sazaklis, illus. by Rick Farley, another crime scenario for Batman and Robin; and Mia: Trick or Treat by Robin Farley, illus. by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov, a tale of two best friends’ Halloween dilemma.

HARPERTEEN

HarperTeen pinky swears by The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten, about a clique with a mean streak; The Temptation: A Kindred Novel by Alisa Valdes, a supernatural love story; Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins, a paranormal romance starring the daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen angel; In the After by Demitra Lunetta, first in a post-apocalyptic trilogy set on an Earth overrun by alien-like creatures; and The Selection by Kiera Cass, in which a girl is forced to compete for a chance at royalty when she’d rather have a life with her true love.

HARPERCOLLINS/TEGEN

Katherine Tegen Books sets things straight with Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig, in which a teen girl plays at being Robin Hood, stealing from rich and popular girls at school to give to the less fortunate ones; Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood, about 12-year-old Rose’s adventures using the magical recipes from the Bliss family cookbook; Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan, in which a boy and his grandfather work to rebuild the sod house that the grandfather lived in as a boy; Incarnate by Jodi Meadows, a dystopian fantasy set in a world where everyone has been reincarnated except for Ana; and Fear: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant, a continuation of the dystopian saga in a world where there are no adults.

HARPERCOLLINS/WALDEN POND PRESS

Walden Pond Press is in the swim of things with Neversink by Barry Wolverton, a debut middle-grade survival tale starring a puffin, a walrus, and a hummingbird; The Fourth Stall Part II by Chris Rylander, sequel to the middle-grade noir title about Mac and his right-hand man Vince; Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, in which Platypus detectives try to keep the streets of Kallamazoo City clean; and The Mask of Destiny: The Archer Legacy, Book 3 by Richard Newsome, the final volume in the series that began with The Billionaire’s Curse.

HAYMARKET

Haymarket rises and shines for Red Sky in the Morning by Elizabeth Laird, in which 12-year-old Anna struggles with, and adapts to her newborn brother’s disabilities.

HEYDAY

Heyday hikes into spring with My Yosemite by Mike Graf, illus. by Annette Filice, a guidebook to the national park featuring interviews with rangers and experts; and Kodoku by William Emery, illus. by Hanae Rivera, a picture-book biography of Japanese marine adventurer Kenichi Horie, the first person to sail solo from Osaka to San Francisco in 1962.

HOLIDAY HOUSE

Holiday House soars with Kite Day by Will Hillenbrand, about Bear and Mole’s kite-flying adventure; Cock-A-Doodle Doo, Creak, Pop-Pop, Moo, a noisy picture book by Jim Aylesworth, illus. by Brad Sneed; The Helpful Puppy by Kim Zarins, illus. by Emily Arnold McCully, featuring a pup who wants to be useful; Willie and Uncle Bill by Amy Schwartz, about a boy and his fun, babysitting uncle; and My Sister’s Stalker by Nancy Springer, a YA thriller in which a boy tries to find the person who’s been maintaining a Web site filled with creepy pictures of his sister.

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT/CLARION

Clarion makes waves with Teen Boat! by Dave Roman, illus. by John Green, a comic that blends the angst of being a teen with the thrill of being a boat; Martin de Porres by Gary D. Schmidt, illus. by David Diaz, a picture-book account of the poor black man whose faith and healing powers led to sainthood; Tallulah’s Solo by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Alexandra Boiger, in which the headstrong star of Tallulah’s Tutu dreams of a solo; Mr. Death’s Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn, a tale inspired by the real-life 1956 murder of two teenage girls in a small community, and Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship by Russell Freedman, an illustrated profile of these two icons.

HMH/GRAPHIA

Graphia floats on air with First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky, a tale of romance in which opposites attract; Croak by Gina Dormico, first in a series about a girl who joins the family business as a grim reaper; Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohn, a humorous romance set during a summer internship at a Maine museum; Radiate by Marley Gibson, a novel in which Hayley draws strength from cheerleading as she fights cancer; and Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler, the third in the Riders of the Apocalypse series, about a bullied boy tricked into becoming Pestilence.

HMH/HARCOURT

Harcourt has a ticket to ride with The Beatles Were Fab—and They Were Funny: The Story of Beatlemania by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, illus. by Stacey Innerst, a profile of the iconic group; Ladies in Waiting by Laura Sullivan, in which three young ladies enter the intriguing, scandalous world of King Charles II’s court; Sunday by Aletha Kontis, a mix of fairy tales blended into a novel about a girl who meets an enchanted frog; Illuminate by Aimee Agresti, in which a teen’s hotel internship draws her into a den of evil where she discovers her true mission as an angel in training; and Waking Storms by Sarah Porter, the sequel to Lost Voices, about a war between humans and mermaid.

HMH/HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

Houghton Mifflin takes aim with His Fair Assassin: Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers, first in a YA trilogy about a young assassin in 15th-century France; More by I.C. Springman, illus. by Brian Lies, a picture book about mice who try to stop a friend from hoarding; Digit by Annabel Monaghen, a debut novel in which a female math geek tries to fit in, outsmart the bad guys, and win the boy; Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery, an authorized biography of the noted scientist and animal advocate; and The Bell Thief by Jacqueline Davies, third in the Lemonade War series.

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

HMH is movin’ on up, to the East Side with Lyle, Lyle Crocodile Storybook Treasury: 50th Anniversary Edition by Bernard Waber, featuring four complete books about Lyle, an introduction by the author, and a bonus audio download; Gossie & Friends Board Book Set by Olivier Dunrea, a four-book collection packaged with two puzzle tiles in a gift box; Tons of Trucks by Sue Fliess, illus. by Betsy Snyder, a novelty book about these big vehicles; and Curious George Curious About Learning, emphasizing reading and math for preschoolers.

HMH/SANDPIPER

Sandpiper hits it out of the park with Able to Play: Good Sports Book 3 by Glenn Stout, about four baseball players who overcame physical challenges to play the game they loved;, and The Final Battle…For Now by Lauren Baratz-Logsted with Greg Logsted and Jackie Logsted, the conclusion to the Sisters Eight series in which the girls rescue Mommy and Daddy.

Kar-Ben sets a place for Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean by Yael Mermelstein, illus. by Carrie Hartman, about an amateur inventor who develops a clean machine just in time for the holiday; Jodie’s Passover Adventure by Anna Levine, illus. by Ksenia Topaz, in which Jodie invites her cousin on a Passover adventure to explore the famous Hezekiah’s Tunnel in Jerusalem; Grandma Rose’s Magic by Linda Elovitz Marshall, illus. by Ag Jatkowska, about the magic that happens every time Grandma Rose sews; Barnyard Purim by Kelly Terwilliger, illus. by Barbara Johansen Newman, in which the farm animals decide to put on a Purim shpiel to tell the story of Queen Esther; and Hannah’s Way by Linda Glaser, illus. by Adam Gustavson, a tale set during the Great Depression about a girl who is the only Jewish child in her class at her new school.

KENSINGTON/DAFINA/KTEEN

KTeen is getting colorful with Living Violet and Burning Emerald by Jaime Reed, two of three books in the Cambion Chronicles series, about a woman who meets a guy with supernatural powers; On The Flip Side by Nikki Carter, fourth in the Fab Life series; Boyfriend Season 2: Cali Boys by Kelli London, part of her series about urban teens juggling family, school, and relationships; and Creeping with the Enemy by Kimberly Reid, second in the Langdon Prep mystery series.

LEE & LOW BOOKS

Lee & Low hatches a spring list with Puffling Patrol by Ted and Betsy Lewin, which recounts how children on an island off the coast of Iceland rescue stranded young puffins and return them to the sea; As Fast As Words Can Fly by Pamela Tuck, illus. by Eric Velasquez, in which an African-American boy’s typing skills see him through challenges at his predominantly white school in the 1960s; Baby Flo by Alan Schroeder, illus. by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu, a biography of the young Florence Mills, an entertainer of the Harlem Renaissance; Billy Hoy: The Outfielder Who Heard No Cheers by Bill Wise, illus. by Adam Gustavson, a biography of William “Dummy” Hoy, one of the first deaf-mute players in Major Lleague Baseball; and It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Began to Draw by Don Tate, illus. by R. Gregory Christie, a profile of artist Bill Traylor, a former slave who at age 83 began to draw pictures based on memories of his rural Alabama life.

LEE & LOW/TU BOOKS

Tu Books plunges into the season with Vodnik by Bryce Moore, in which Tomas returns with his family to Slovakia and discovers that a vodnik—a water creature of Slovak fairy tales—wants to drown him, pitting Tomas in a fierce life-and-death battle.

LERNER/CAROLRHODA

Carolrhoda uses a full-court press for the picture book Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball by John Coy, illus. by Joe Morse; A Secret Keeps by Marsha Wilson Chall, illus. by Heather Solomon, a story told in verse about a child’s trip from his urban home to his grandparents’ farm; Beep and Bah by James Burks, in which a robot and goat form an unlikely friendship; Hey, Charleston! The True Story of the Jenkins Orphanage Band by Anne Rockwell, illus. by Colin Bootman, a profile of the black instrumental group formed in South Carolina in 1891; and The White Zone by Carolyn Marsden, a novel about two cousins and their lives in the aftermath of the Iraq war.

LERNER/CAROLRHODA LAB

Carolrhoda Lab casts a wide net with Catch and Release by Blythe Woolston, about two young people who share their fondness for trout fishing as they cope with fallout from a serious outbreak of illness in their town; Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick, a novel exploring the problems surrounding the relationship between a damaged teen girl and a troubled older man; No Crystal Stair by Vaunda MicheauxNelson, illus. by R. Gregory Christie, a profile of the iconic National Memorial African Bookstore of Harlem, owned by the author’s father, which served as a backdrop for rallies in the 1960s; and The Knife and the Butterfly by Ashley Hope Pérez, in which a teenage boy wakes up in a mysterious lock-up after a gang brawl.

LERNER/DARBY CREKK

Darby Creek blasts off with The Not-So-Perfect Planet by Pamela F. Service, illus. by Mike Gorman, in which aspiring writer Josh and his sister Maggie encounter feuding alien species during their outer space vacation; Oh, Boy, Mallory by Laurie Friedman, illus. by Jennifer Kalis, about Mallory’s first boyfriend; Last Chance and You Can Run by Norah McClintock, which launch the Robyn Hunter mystery series, starring a Canadian teenage detective with a talent for getting into trouble; and The Catch by Rick Jasper, first in a series about an elite high school travel baseball team based in Las Vegas.

LERNER/GRAPHIC UNIVERSE

Graphic Universe is head counselor with The Nighttime Cabin Thief: A Mystery About Rocks by Lynda Beauregard, illus. by Guillermo Perez, new to the Summer Camp Science Mysteries series of graphic novels; Freedom! by Flore Balthazar, the adventures of a mischievous cat; White Duck: A Childhood in China by Andrés Vera Martínez and Na Liu, illus. by Martínez, six short stories about a girl growing up in China in the 1980s and ’90s; Secret Diary by Julien Neel, first in the eight-book Lou! series starring exuberant, friendly girly-girl Lou; and The Girl Who Owned a City: The Graphic Novel by Dan Jolley, illus. by Joëlle Jones, an adaptation of the O.T. Nelson novel about a virus that has killed everyone on Earth older than age 12.

LERNER/MILLBROOK

Millbrook digs into the season with Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth About UFOs and Aliens by Kelly Milner Halls, a look at the fact and fiction surrounding these subjects; and Feet and Puppies, Thieves and Guppies: What Are Irregular Plurals? by Brian P. Cleary, a word-usage book.

LITTLE, BROWN

Little, Brown pulls out the hide-a-bed for If All the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder, illus. by Marc Brown, in which a boy’s house is overrun with wild guests; Revenge of the Dinotrux by Chris Gall, a follow-up to Dinotrux in which the truck-dinosaur hybrids learn how to behave; The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart, a prequel to the Mysterious Benedict Society series, starring nine-year-old Nicholas Benedict; The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi, the sequel to the Printz Award–winning Ship Breaker; and Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, illus. by Maira Kalman, a YA novel that explores a relationship via the collection of mementos a girl returns to her ex-boyfriend.

LITTLE, BROWN/LB KIDS

LB Kids has its arms open wide with Hugs and Kisses by Rachael Hale, a board book featuring photos of animals sharing hugs and kisses; Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell, a board book edition of the picture book; Kaleidoscope by Salina Yoon, a novelty title that is part book and part kaleidoscope; Riding in My Car by Woody Guthrie, illus. by Scott Menchin, an interactive version of the folksinger’s children’s song, with flaps, tabs, and pop-ups, and Birdie Plays Dress-Up by Sujean Rim, a board book spotlighting a pint-sized fashionista’s search for the perfect look.

Poppy figures out the season with The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, a romantic YA novel that takes place over a 24-hour period; The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze, in which Princess Eliza must disguise herself as the enemy in the streets of London to save her family during a violent revolution; The White Glove War by Katie Crouch and Grady Hendrix, second in the Magnolia League series about intrigue among Southern debutantes; A Midsummer’s Nightmare by Kody Keplinger, in which Whitley’s dream summer almost goes bust when she doesn’t fit in with her father and her perfect new stepfamily; and Messy by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, a follow-up to Spoiled.

MACMILLAN/FARRAR STRAUS AND GIROUX

Farrar Straus and Giroux takes flight with A Year in the Life of the Moonbird by Phillip Hoose, a look at the vast migration of the Red Knot species of sandpiper; Struck by Jennifer Bosworth, a debut novel about a teenager fighting two fanatical doomsday cults in earthquake-devastated Los Angeles; Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo, a humorous novel about a teenager with OCD; and Rebel Fire, Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins Book 2 by Andrew Lane in which teenage Sherlock Holmes pursues Confederate terrorists during the Civil War.

MACMILLAN/FSG/FERGUSON

Margaret Ferguson Books digs deep for Barnum’s Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World by Tracey Fern, illus. by Boris Kulikov, a picture book about the main bone collector at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City; Carl at the Dog Show by Alexandra Day, new adventures for the Rottweiler and his charge; Chained by Lynne Kelly, in which a young elephant keeper in India makes a daring move to save an animal’s life; and All These Lives by Sarah Wylie, in which a teenager convinced she has nine lives tries to give one of them to her dying sister.

MACMILLAN/FSG/FOSTER

Frances Foster Books dives into spring with Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola, a biography of the American explorer; Paiute Princess: The Story of Sarah Winnemucca by Deborah Kogan Ray, the life of this pioneering figure who published the first book by a Native American woman; and Various Positions by Martha Schabas, a debut YA novel about a gifted ballet student balancing her studies with her sexual attraction to her instructor.

MACMILLAN/FEIWEL AND FRIENDS

Feiwel and Friends crows about Cock-A-Doodle Dance! by Christine Fagan-Tricarico, illus. by Rich Deas, a rollicking barnyard read-aloud; The Humming Room by Ellen Potter, a middle-grade novel inspired by The Secret Garden; After the Snow by Sophie Crockett, in which Earth enters a new Ice Age and a young hunter is left to survive on his own; Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, a futuristic retelling of “Cinderella;” and Of Poseidon by Anna Zagaruyka, a YA debut starring mermaids and the mer-guys who can’t live without them.

MACMILLAN/HOLT

Henry Holt makes a playdate for Lenore Finds a Friend: A True Story from Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz, more adventures of Katz’s real-life dogs; Kate and Pippin: An Unlikely Love Story by Martin Springett, illus. by Isobel Springett, starring a deer and a dog; Because of Shoe and Other Dog Stories, edited by Ann M. Martin, an anthology of canine fiction from nine renowned authors; Suryia Goes Swimming: A True Story by Dr. Bhagavan Antle with Thea Feldman, photos by Barry Bland, in which Suryia the orangutan learns to swim at the T.I.G.E.R.S. preservation; and Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier, trans. by Anthea Bell, second in the romantic time-travel series that begin with Ruby Red.

MACMILLAN/ HOLT/OTTAVIANO

Christy Ottaviano Books tunes up with Vivaldi and the Invisible Orchestra by Stephen Costanza, starring Candida, who prepares sheet music for the composer and whose poetry inspired his Four Seasons; Zero the Hero by Joan Holub, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld, in which people don’t think much of Zero until they get into trouble and realize they need him, and The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark, about a teenager navigating high school and the ups and downs of his personal life.

MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK

Roaring Brook Press has all hands on deck with Dangerous Waters: An Adventure of the Titanic by Gregory Mone, the mysterious tale of a stowaway on the famous, doomed ship; Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey through the Center of the Earth by Jon Chad, a skinny-format comic about an intrepid explorer climbing down to the center of the Earth; The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll & Mademoiselle Odile by James Reese, a gothic novel about the young woman who unwittingly supplied Jekyll with the transformative salts that produced Edward Hyde; and The Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castelluci, illus. by Nate Powell, a YA novel about the isolating effect of grief, told in alternating chapters of prose and comics.

MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK/FIRST SECOND

First Second is armed and ready with graphic novels Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre, illus. by Rafael Rosado, in which Claudette goes on a quest to find a giant to slay; and Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks, about a homeschooled girl starting anew at the local high school.

MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK /PORTER

Neal Porter Books hits the campaign trail with Bad Kitty for President by Nick Bruel, in which Kitty wants to lead the Neighborhood Cat Coalition; Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, which examines objects and their relationships to different shades of green using intricately crafted die-cuts; Mr. Prickles: A Quill-Fated Love Story by Kara LaReau, illus. by Scott Magoon, featuring a romance between two porcupines; A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead, in which a toad helps a lost wooden cuckoo bird find a home; and And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, illus. by Erin E. Stead, an ode to the stirrings of spring.

Marshall Cavendish says fee fi fo fum for Jack and the Giant Barbecue by Eric A. Kimmel, illus. by John Manders, in which Jack climbs through the clouds to retrieve a barbecue cookbook stolen by a giant; Earth Day, Birthday! by Maureen Wright, illus. by Violet Kim, about a monkey who tries to convince his friends that Earth Day is his birthday; Teen Cuisine Vegetarian by Matthew Locricchio, photos by James Peterson, which features recipes for all kinds of vegetarians; The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker, a YA novel about a girl who leaves a bunker after years in hiding to find Los Angeles devastated and overrun with humans infected with a rabies virus; and The Good Braider: A Novel in Verse by Terry Farish, about a girl’s journey from war-torn Sudan to America.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

National Geographic is more powerful than a locomotive with Superman vs. the Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate by Rick Bowers, an exploration of the civil rights movement that compares Superman’s evolution with the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan; National Geographic Kids Just Joking: 300 Hilarious Jokes, Tricky Tongue Twisters, and Ridiculous Riddles, illustrated with humorous photos; Weird But True: Stupid Criminals: 100 Brainless Baddies Busted, Plus Wacky Facts, a collection of stories about bad deeds gone awry; National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide U.S.A.: The Most Amazing Sights, Scenes, and Cool Activities from Coast to Coast written by National Geographic Children’s Books; and National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas: Maps, Games, Activities, and More for Hours of Backseat Fun by Crispin Boyer.

PARRAGON

Parragon packs its passport for Around the World We Go by Margaret Wise Brown, a never-before-published story; Marvel Super Heroes Book of Secrets, filled with activities, games, and stickers; Power Rangers 3D Sticker Scene Book; Disney Build It Now: Lightning McQueen, a story book that includes a punch-out paper model; and Baby Animals, a Discovery Kids book packaged with a CD full of activities.

PENGUIN/DIAL

Dial needs a Tic Tac for Dragon Breath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies by Ursula Vernon, in which Danny Dragonbreath helps foil a bunny-napping scheme at camp; Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, starring Princess Bitterblue, a character from Graceling; The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg, a debut novel in which a 16-year-old girl dies of a broken heart; One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo, illus. by David Small, an amusing story of friendship between a boy and his pet penguin; and Temptation Angels by Michelle Zink, about a teenage angel trying to stay on the good path after her parents’ murder.

PENGUIN/DUTTON

Dutton has attitude with The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour, about the upheaval caused by friends’ breaking their long-planned pact for post-graduation plans; The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, narrated by a 16-year-old cancer survivor named Hazel; and Amelia Anne Is Dead and Gone, by Kat Rosenfield, about how two young women’s lives are affected by a brutal murder.

PENGUIN/GROSSET & DUNLAP

Grosset & Dunlap does a double-take with Almost Identical by Lin Oliver, a series debut starring twin sisters and best friends Charlie and Sammie; The Four by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, which launches a series about four seventh-grade girls competing to create a magazine for girls; Archie Comics: Untitled Kevin Keller Novel by Brian Sloan, which features Keller, the first openly gay character in the Archie comics; Puppy Bowl: Yearbook by Tracey West, a profile of the pups featured in Animal Planet’s annual event; and Zoobles!: Talent Show Mix-Up, introducing a cast of colorful toy balls that turn into animals.

PENGUIN/PAULSEN

Nancy Paulsen Books has a treat for Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic by Monica Carnesi, about a dog rescued after days afloat on a sheet of ice in the Baltic Sea; Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson, the story of a young teen’s journey on and off crystal meth; Looking at Lincoln by Maira Kalman, a unique look at the iconic president; You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo, an introduction to the discipline; and Pouch! by David Ezra Stein, a board-book edition of this story about a baby kangaroo’s first step out of the pouch.

PENGUIN/PHILOMEL

Philomel relaxes the dress code with PJ Bottoms: Book 1 by Jeff Mack, about a boy detective who solves crimes with the help of his magic pajamas; Big Hugs, Little Hugs by Felicia Bond, a celebration of love, hugs, and animals from around the world; Ripper by Stefan Petrucha, in which notorious killer Jack the Ripper is alive and well in New York City; Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street by Peter Abrahams, a modern-day mystery that’s part Nancy Drew, part Robin Hood; and Penelope Crumb by Shawn Stout, first in a middle-grade series starring the eponymous young sleuth.

PENGUIN/PSS!

Price Stern Sloan serves up some ham on wry with The Onion Mad Libs, concept created by Roger Price and Leonard Stern, a fill-in-the-blanks book from humorists at the satirical news outlet; Madagascar 3: The Novel, inspired by the movie in which animal characters join the circus; and Tag This!, an activity book in which kids can draw and create graffiti art.

PENGUIN/PUFFIN

Puffin hits its mark with Lights, Camera, Cassidy: #1 Celebrity by Linda Gerber, about a young blogger turned reality TV star; Vet Volunteers: #13 New Beginnings by Laurie Halse Anderson, in which Jules and Josh are initiated as the newest volunteers; and Sophie’s Mixed-Up Magic: Book #1 by Amanda Ashby, about a genie in a lamp wreaking havoc on a sixth grader’s life.

PENGUIN/PUTNAM

Putnam saddles up for The Case of the Deadly Desperados, Western Mysteries, Book One by Caroline Lawrence, first in a middle-grade series set in the Nevada Territories of the 1860s and starring a 12-year-old runaway named P.K. Pinkerton; Fangbone: Third-Grade Barbarian by Michael Rex, the debut of a humorous graphic novel series starring a barbarian warrior who’s also the new kid in class; Born Wicked: The Cahill Witch Chronicles by Jessica Spotswood, about a witch caught between protecting her family and following her heart; The Harbinger by Sara Etienne, a psychological thriller about a girl tormented by strange visions; and The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco, a tale inspired by the teacher who helped this author-illustrator discover her talent for art.

PENGUIN/RAZORBILL

Razorbill heats things up with A Million Suns by Beth Revis, a sequel to Across the Universe, in which Amy and Elder must find a way off the spaceship Godspeed; Dark Eyes by Will Richter, about an adopted girl who seeks out her biological parents and discovers her father’s evil plot for her; Immortal City by Scott Speer, first in a series about guardian angels; and Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral, a love story about a piano prodigy who descends into madness, told entirely in photographs and drawings.

PENGUIN/SPEAK

Speak plans a getaway with The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland, in which a girl spends the summer at her aunt’s bed and breakfast, where she discovers a life-changing secret; and The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jansen, a YA romantic comedy.

PENGUIN/VIKING

Viking sees nothing but net with The Final Four by Paul Volponi, about a key game in the NCAA basketball tournament; Meet Me at the Moon by Gianna Marino, a tender tale about the bond between parent and child starring an elephant family; Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti, in which a girl is inspired to stand up against bullies and conditions in her troubled home life; Llama Llama Wakey Wake by Anna Dewdney, a board book starring spirited Llama Llama; and Girl in a Diamond Collar by Katherine Longshore, set in the opulent and dangerous world of King Henry VIII’s court.

PENGUIN/WARNE

Warne waddles into spring with novelty titles featuring the characters of Beatrix Potter, including Peter Rabbit: Hello, Peter!; Peter Rabbit: Hello, Jemima!; and Peter Rabbit: Tickle, Tickle, Peter!

Random House hopes you will enjoy the show with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, illus. by LeUyen Pham, a picture-book adaptation of the Beatles hit; The Bunny Night-Light: A Glow-in-the-Dark Search by Geoffrey Hayes, a reassuring tale about finding the night light that’s just right; Little Wings #1: Willa Bean’s Cloud Dreams by Cecilia Galante, first in a Stepping Stone series about cupids; Oddfellow’s Orphanage by Emily Martin, a debut novel about a girl’s stay at an unusual orphanage; and Daughter of the Centaurs by Kate Klimo, which kicks off a futuristic fantasy YA trilogy.

RANDOM HOUSE/ COREY

Robin Corey Books flies home with The House at the End of Ladybug Lane by Elise Primavera, in which Angelina’s wish for a pet creates a mess; The Lorax Pop-Up! by David A. Carter, a special edition of the ecological fable (collector’s limited edition also available); and My Dad Is the Best Playground by Luciana Navarro Powell, a celebration of Dad from a child’s point of view.

RANDOM HOUSE/DELACORTE

Delacorte casts a spell with Enchantress: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott, the sixth and final book in the fantasy epic; The Katerina Trilogy, Vol. I: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges, which kicks off a historical trilogy set during the time of Russia’s aristocracy; Starters by Lissa Price, first in a futuristic thriller series; Rapture by Lauren Kate, which marks the conclusion of the fallen angels quartet; and Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown, a debut novel starring a merman and his murderous mermaid sisters.

RANDOM HOUSE/EMBER

Ember takes spring enrollment with Les Chevaliers by Christine Hung and Emily Seife, a tale of privilege and secrets set in a Swiss boarding school.

RANDOM HOUSE/FICKLING

David Fickling Books sets sail with A Boy and a Bear in a Boat by Dave Shelton, in which a boy and a bear encounter “unforeseeable anomalies” during their excursion; The Deserter by Peadar O. Guilin, a companion novel to The Inferior, blending human primitivism and futuristic technology; I Don’t Believe It, Archie! by Andrew Norriss, illus. by Hannah Shaw, featuring the escapades of Archie and his friend Cyd; and Heart of Stone by M.L. Welsh, a companion to Mistress of the Storm, in which Verity and her friends are tangled in a tale of evil, intrigue, and lost love.

RANDOM HOUSE/GOLDEN BOOKS

Golden Books turns a frown upside down with The Smiley Book of Colors by Ruth Kaiser, a collection of “found” Smiley faces inspired by SpontaneousSmiley.com; Good Night, Little Dragons Good Night, Little Dragons by Leigh Ann Tyson, illus. by Jim Bernardin, which follows the slightly unusual bedtime routine of three dragon siblings; Disney Fairies: Rosetta’s Dress Mess by Laura Driscoll, in which Rosetta designs a dress for the fairy fashion show; Team Unizoomi: Find the Dinosaurs!, a tie-in to Nickelodeon’s series; and another Nickelodeon tie-in, The Bubble Guppies: It’s Time for Bubble Puppy!, in which the Bubble Guppies discover the joys and responsibilities of adopting a pet.

RANDOM HOUSE/.KNOPF

Knopf takes a bite out of spring with Chomp by Carl Hiaasen, an eco-adventure starring a father-son team of animal wranglers and an inept survivalist; The Adventures of the New Cut Gang by Philip Pullman, the humorous exploits of a gang of crime-busting kids in Victorian London; The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman, a thriller in which Nora discovers that her best friend has been murdered and her boyfriend is the main suspect; The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: The Young Reader’s Edition by Rebecca Skloot with Gregory Mone, an adaptation of the acclaimed book about how Lacks’s cells—harvested without her permission—have been used in scientific research; and Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey, a seaside adventure for Action Man and his loyal pet, Scrubbing Brush.

RANDOM HOUSE/LAMB

Wendy Lamb Books heads to the shore with Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman, a story of friendship inspired by the real people behind the stereotypes of the Jersey Shore; The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis, a Depression-era tale of an extraordinary girl named Deza, a character introduced in Bud, Not Buddy; Crush by Gary Paulsen, in which Kevin tries to work up the courage to ask the Most Beautiful Girl in the World on a date; Calvin Coconut: Man Trip by Graham Salisbury, illus. by Jacqueline Rogers, in which Calvin is treated to a deep-sea fishing trip on the Big Island (Hawaii); and Bears Beware by Patricia Reilly Giff, illus. by Alasdair Bright, featuring the ZigZag Kids on a weekend camping trip.

RANDOM HOUSE/SCHWARTZ & WADE

Schwartz & Wade Books hops into spring with Duck & Goose, Here Comes the Easter Bunny by Tad Hills, a board book starring the feathered friends; Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny, trans. from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath, illus. by Sophie Blackall, a middle-grade adventure about a girl searching for her missing parents with some cotton-tailed assistance; The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks, a YA murder mystery inspired by the 1986 Central Park murder; A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson, illus. by John Hendrix, a historical fiction picture book about Charles Dickens’s boyhood; and George Washington’s Birthday by Margaret McNamara, illus. by Barry Blitt, a humorous imagining of the president’s seventh birthday.

Running Press checks the incubator for Hatchlings: Life Size Baby Dinosaurs by Kelly Milner Halls, featuring renderings of just-hatched dinosaurs; Song of the Winns by Frances Watts, illus. by David Francis, an action-adventure novel starring three orphaned mice triplets; Steampunk Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, illus. by Zdenko Basic and Manuel Sumberac, the classic tale given a modern twist via steampunk-inspired illustrations; The Downside of Being Charlie by Jenny Torres Sanchez, in which a former fat kid deals with letting go of his inner demons and the pain of being bullied; and Cornered, ed. by Rhoda Belleza, a YA anthology about teens who, for various reasons, feel harassed and intimidated.

SCHOLASTIC

Scholastic stares down danger with Dear America: The Boldest Mask by Susan Patron, a Wild West adventure in which a girl faces a ghost, vigilantes, and a mysterious stranger as she tries to prove that her father is still alive.

SCHOLASTIC/BLUE SKY

Blue Sky Press hears an echo with Blue Sky by Audrey Wood, a picture book focusing on the ever-changing sky.

SCHOLASTIC/CARTWHEEL

Cartwheel Books gets tucked in with Good Night, I Love You by Caroline Jayne Church, a soothing bedtime rhyme; How Do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies? by Jane Yolen, illus. by Mark Teague, which contains recipes and scratch-and-sniff pages; There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Clover by Lucille Colandro, illus. by Jared Lee, a St. Patrick’s Day version of the cumulative rhyme; I Spy Sticker Book by Jean Marzollo, photos by Walter Wick, a pairing of riddles, seek-and-find photos, and stickers; and Animals on the Farm by Christopher Hernandez, a farm animal board book with sounds and music.

SCHOLASTIC/CHICKEN HOUSE

Chicken House keeps things on the down low with The Whisper by Emma Clayton, sequel to The Roar, in which psychic mutant twins Ellie and Mika race to free the army of stolen children; Muncle Trogg by Janet Foxley, which stars the smallest giant on Mount Grumble; Beads, Boys, and Bangles by Sophia Bennett, the follow-up to the fashion-focused Sequins, Secrets, and Silver Linings; and The Crowfield Demon by Pat Walsh, in which a demon freed from below the monastery introduced in The Crowfield Curse is about to unleash hell on holy ground.

SCHOLASTIC/DI CAPUA

Michael di Capua Books aims its telescope to the night sky for The Moon Over High Street by Natalie Babbitt, in which 12-year-old Joe has to choose between his passion for astronomy and the chance to be adopted by a millionaire.

SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX

Graphix wags its tail for Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan, illus. by Nathan Fox, a graphic-novel adventure inspired by the real-life roles of military dogs in WWI, WWII, and Vietnam; BONE: Quest for the Spark #2 by Tom Sniegoski, illus. by Jeff Smith, in which Tom continues his quest to find the missing fragments of the Spark and defeat the evil dragon; and Pandemonium by Chris Wooding, illus. by Cassandra Diaz, a classic tale of mistaken identity in the fantasy world of Darkling Realm.

SCHOLASTIC/ LEVINE

Arthur A. Levine Books blossoms with Irises by Francisco X. Stork, in which two very different sisters find new freedoms after the death of their repressive father; Just Behave, Pablo Picasso! by Jonah Winter, illus. by Kevin Hawkes, spotlighting the young artist’s headstrong, creative ways; Above by Leah Bobet, about a family of magical misfits that emerges from its safe haven belowground; The Girls of No Return by Erin Saldin, about a girl at school for troubled girls who is struggling with her history of cutting; and The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone, the tale of a wounded girl and the boy who won’t give up on her.

SCHOLASTIC/LICENSED PUBLISHING

Licensed Publishing harnesses the force with Star Wars: Darth Maul Bio by Ryder Windham, featuring never-before-told secrets of the titular character; Star Wars: Phantom Menace (3D Storybook), which contains the entire story of this film in 3D; Power Rangers Samurai: Armed for Battle, a tie-in to the TV show; The New Puppy by Lynn Maslen Kertell, first in a new line of Bob Books beginning readers; and Lego Ninjago: Cole: Ninja of Earth (Chapter Book #3) by Greg Farshtey, starring Earth Ninja Cole who uses strength and skill to try and save the world.

SCHOLASTIC NONFICTION

Scholastic Nonfiction logs on with Profiles #3: Tech Titans by Carla Killough McClafferty, featuring biographies of six prominent figures in the technology world including Bill Gates and Steve Jobs; Penguins, new to the Discover More line of reference books packaged with a free companion digital book; Scholastic Reader Level #3: Remembering the Titanic by Frieda Wishinsky, a history of the ship for early readers to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the tragic sinking; 20 Questions #1: Why Do Feet Smell? by Gilda and Melvin Burger, kicking off a series of interactive Q&A books; and 3-D Thrillers: Snakes and Other Extraordinary Reptiles by Paul Harrison, which is packaged with a pair of 3-D glasses.

SCHOLASTIC/ORCHARD

Orchard sits by the fire with Dear Cinderella by Mary Jane Kensington and Marion Moore, illus. by Julie Olson, a picture book consisting of funny letters between Cinderella and Snow White; Silly Doggy! by Adam Stower, about a girl who mistakes a lost, loveable bear for a dog; and Homer by Shelley Rotner, illus. by Diane deGroat, in which Homer hits a grand slam in the baseball game between the Doggers and the Hounds.

SCHOLASTIC PAPERBACKS

Scholastic Paperbacks pours its heart out for Dear Dumb Diary Year Two #1: School. Hasn’t This Gone On Long Enough? by Jim Benton, which kicks off a new year of entries in Jamie Kelly’s diary; Dogs of the Drowned City #1: The Storm by Dayna Lorentz, in which Shep the German shepherd will do whatever it takes to find his humans when a hurricane tears their city apart; Underworlds #1: The Battle Begins by Tony Abbott, illus. by Antonio Javier Caparo, launching a series in which kids who discover a world underneath their school must wrangle with figures from Greek mythology; I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 by Lauren Tarshis, an early chapter book about a boy caught in the disaster; and Double Trouble #1: Show & Tell by Abby Klein, illus. by John McKinley, starring twin sisters Kelly and Kasey who are always in trouble but always having fun.

SCHOLASTIC/POINT

Point has an aha moment with Perception by Kim Harrington, the sequel to Clarity, featuring another mystery for psychic Clare Fern to investigate; and paperback editions of Harrington’s Clarity and Kate Cann’s Consumed.

SCHOLASTIC PRESS

Scholastic Press flaunts its Thin Mints with Here Come the Girl Scouts! by Shana Corey, illus. by Hadley Hooper, a picture-book biography of Girl Scouts founder Daisy Gordon Low; Those Rebels, John & Tom by Barbara Kerley, illus. by Edwin Fotheringham, a portrait of two American heroes and their fight for our country’s freedom; The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, first in a trilogy about an orphan forced to impersonate the realm’s long-lost prince; One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson, in which Hal runs away when his parents tell him he can’t keep a dog; and The Chronicles of Avantia #1: First Hero by Adam Blade, a fantasy about Tanner’s attempts to protect his land with the help of his Flame Bird, Firepos.

SCHOLASTIC/PUSH

PUSH checks the bulletin board for The List by Siobhan Vivian, about an annual list that divides a school into three groups: the prettiest, the ugliest, and everyone else.

Simon & Schuster cracks the code with Spy School by Stuart Gibbs, about a nerdy boy who longs to be a C.I.A. agent; SPHDZ #4! by Jon Scieszka, illus. by Shane Prigmore, in which the brainwave has been stolen and it’s up to Michael K. and the SPHDZ to get it back; Wolf Won’t Bite by Emily Gravett, a picture book starring three little pigs and a wolf who (maybe) won’t bite; The New Adventures of John Carter of Mars by John Joseph Adams, an anthology of new stories celebrating Edgar Rice Burrough’s classic A Princess of Mars; and Chemical Garden Trilogy #2: Fever by Lauren DeStefano, the second title in a dystopian trilogy for teens.

S&S/ALADDIN

Aladdin orders popcorn for Double Feature by Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy, joining the Trading Faces series; Twice Upon a Time by James Riley, which fractures favorite fairy tales about mermaids and pirates; Aliens in Underpants Save the World by Claire Freedman, illus. by Ben Cort, a humorous picture-book romp; Beyonders #2: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull, new to the fantasy-adventure epic, and Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder: Who Cut the Cheese? by Jo Nesbo, trans. by Tara Chace, the latest silly, smelly outing for the Doctor Proctor and the kids.

S&S/ATHENEUM

Atheneum breaks out the glue sticks for Crafty Chloe by Kelly DiPucchio, illus. by Heather Ross, first in a series about a young DIY princess; I’ll Save You Bobo! by Eileen Rosenthal, illus. by Marc Rosenthal, a follow-up to I Must Have Bobo!; The Guardians #2: E. Astor Bunnymund by William Joyce, in which the Bunnymund is on a warpath; Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School #3: Whites of Their Eyes by Andrew Clements, about Ben’s race to save his harbor-side school from being bulldozed; and Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934 by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illus. by Frank Morrison, a play-by-play of this historic game in Chicago.

S&S/BEACH LANE

Beach Lane Books creates buzz with unBEElievables: Honey Bee Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian, which explores the unique lives of honeybees; Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff, a picture book about colors; Hey Little Baby! by Heather Leigh, illus. by Geneviève Côté, in which a baby discovers his world; Brownie & Pearl Go for a Spin by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Brian Biggs, the seventh picture book featuring these characters; and Great Rabbit Rescue by Katie Davies, illus. by Hannah Shaw, more excitement for the kids from The Great Hamster Massacre.

S&S/LITTLE SIMON

Little Simon celebrates the season with Baby Loves Spring! A Lift-the-Flab Board Book by Karen Katz; Heidi Heckelbeck #1: Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret and Heidi Heckelbeck #2: Heidi Heckelbeck Casts a Spell by Wanda Coven, illus. by Priscilla Burris, which launch a beginning reader series about a young witch in disguise; and Captain Awesome to the Rescue! and Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man! by Stan Kirby, illus. by George O’Connor, starring Eugene McGillicudy, a.k.a. second-grade superhero Captain Awesome.

S&S/MCELDERRY

Margaret K. McElderry Books stretches its canvas with Artist Ted by Andrea Beaty, illus. by Pascal Lemaitre, in which the bear from Doctor Ted and Fireman Ted paints himself into a new friendship; The Goblin Gifts by William Alexander, illus. by Alexander Jannson, about a boy who joins a theatrical troupe of goblins to find his missing brother; Caddy’s World by Hilary McKay, illus. by Julia Denos, which marks the return of the Casson family; The Curse Workers #3: Black Heart by Holly Black, a teen fantasy about the blurred line between right and wrong; and Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson, illus. by Sean Moser-Smith, in which Scotch tries to find her brother who’s trapped between our world and the world of myth and chaos.

S&S/SIMON PULSE

Simon Pulse is back to square one with Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler, a dark YA debut about an accident that puts everything into perspective for a newly popular girl; Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook, a contemporary gothic novel laced with romance, humor, and mystery; Ruins by Orson Scott Card, book two in the Pathfinder series; Dead To You by Lisa McCann, a psychological thriller; and A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton, the sequel to Darkness Becomes Her,a paranormal novel about a descendant of Medusa.

S&S/SIMON SPOTLIGHT

Simon Spotlight tests the evidence for CSI Kids #1: The Case of the Mystery Meatloaf by David Lewman; Fanboy and Chum Chum: Don’t Toy with Me! by Rebecca McCarthy; Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Easter Bunny Adventure; Dora & Diego: Let’s Brush Our Teeth!; Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Kai-lan Loves YeYe, adapted by Mickie Matheis, illus. by Kellee Riley; and In the Night Garden Peekaboo! by Andrew Davenport.

S&S/WISEMAN

Paula Wiseman Books minds its p’s and q’s with Louise the Big Cheese and the Ooh-La-La Charm School by Elise Primavera, illus. by Diane Goode, in which Louise is the newest student in Claire E’Claire’s VIP charm school; Little Color Fairies by Mara Van Fleet, featuring fairies in a novelty format; Me Want Pet by Tammi Sauer, illus. by Bob Shea, about a cave boy who really wants a pet; George by Frank Keating, illus. by Mike Wimmer, an exploration of who George Washington really was; and Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illus. by James E. Ransome, about how the abolitionist found his way to freedom one word at a time.

SLEEPING BEAR

Sleeping Bear has a hole in one with Twice As Good by Richard Michelson, illus. by Eric Velasquez, about African-American golfer William Powell who built and opened the first golf course open to all Americans; and Stella Batts Has a New Name by Courtney Sheinmel, first in a chapter book series about an eight-year-old aspiring writer searching for a new name.

Fire goes soul searching with Finding Eden by Katherine Grace Bond, about a girl on a quest to find the truth about love, death, religion, and the secret identity of her celebrity crush; Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, first in a paranormal series about the battle between angels and exiles; Nothing Special by Geoff Herbach, in which a band geek who believes he’s destined for greatness takes a road trip; Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova, a fantasy featuring a long-lost son of the Sea Court fighting for his life and his humanity; and Hold Me Forever by Karen Haluorsen Schreck, in which Penna is torn by feelings for another guy and embroiled in a family mystery when her boyfriend goes to Iraq.

SOURCEBOOKS JABBERWOCKY

Jabberwocky whips the buttercream for Truth, Love and Cupcakes: The Sweet Revenge by Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk, about the formation of a special cupcake club; Poppy’s Splendid Surprise by Kristi Yamaguchi, illus. by Tim Bowers, the further adventures of Poppy, the ice-skating pig; Isabella’s Monumental Adventure by Jennifer Fosberry, illus. by Mike Litwin, another picture book blend of history, imagination, and self-affirmation; Real Mermaids Don’t Hold Their Breath by Hélène Boudreau, in which Jade is caught between her English and Mermish worlds; and Revenge: Jason Steed by Mark A. Cooper, about an undercover double agent who must find the traitor who betrayed him.

ST. MARTIN’S/GRIFFIN

Griffin lets loose with Tempest: A Novel by Julie Cross, about a 19-year-old time traveler who must jump from time to time to save his girlfriend’s life; Switched by Amanda Hocking, first in the Trylle magical fantasy trilogy initially self-published as an ebook; the as-yet-untitled first book in the paranormal romance Soul Seekers series by Alyson Noël; and Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon, third in the Chronicles of Nick, a spinoff from the Dark-Hunter series.

STERLING

Sterling flies the coop with Bawk ’N’ Roll by Tammi Sauer, a goofy barnyard romp; Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders by Jim Arnosky, an up-close look at these critters, which contains large fold-out pages; The Olive Branch by Little Airplane Productions, a picture book packaged with two plush toys that tie-in to the Nick Jr. TV show about conflict resolution; and Time for a Hug by Phillis Gershator and Mim Green, in which Little Bunny is reassured by lots of hugs from Big Bunny.

TUNDRA

Tundra colors the season with The Green Man by Michael Bedard, about a teenager who helps run her aunt’s antiquarian book shop and discovers mysteries and long-buried dark forces; Here Comes Hortense! by Heather Hartt-Sussman, in which a six-year-old boy must try get along with his Nana’s new step-granddaughter; A Tinfoil Sky by Cyndi Sand Eveland, about a a daughter and her mother who, after tough times, try to make a new life; Who Needs an Iceberg?: An Arctic Ecosystem by Karen Patkau, a look at the impact of the changes in this ecosystem; and Who Will Save My Planet? by Cristina Urrutia, a wordless photographic picture book that emphasizes humans’ impact on the environment.

WALKER

Walker breaks out its spring list with Fracture by Megan Miranda, a YA novel in which a 17-year-old girl defies medical precedent and is brought back to life after an accident, perfectly normal, despite brain scans that show devastating damage.