Picture book sequels this month include familiar characters on outdoor adventures, uplifting words of guidance, and one very stinky pug.

The Band

by Carles Porta (Flying Eye, Apr. 1, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-911171-67-6)

The third story in the Tales from the Hidden Valley series, which began with The Artists, sees the return of Porta’s decidedly Moomintroll-esque woodland menagerie. Mister Cold, Ticky, and other characters celebrate spring with a musical procession across the valley—encountering the Ogre along the way.

My Mama Is a Mechanic

by Doug Cenko (Blue Manatee, Apr. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-936669-71-4)

In this follow-up to My Papa Is a Princess, a boy describes the many different roles his mother plays, from chemist (she is seen baking muffins) to surgeon (she stiches up the boy’s wounded stuffed animal). The most important role of all? Being his mother.

Mr. Monkey Takes a Hike

by Jeff Mack (Simon & Schuster, Apr. 2, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-5344-0433-5)

When a yellow bird absconds with protagonist Mr. Monkey’s video game remote control, the theft leads him on an eventful hike. Stepping away from the screen can yield all sorts of unexpected adventures, Mack slyly suggests in this third entry in the series.

The Quiet Crocodile Goes to the Beach

by Natacha Andriamirado, illus. by Delphine Renon (Princeton Architectural Press, Apr. 2, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-61689-801-4)

In this addition to The Quiet Crocodile series, Fossil the crocodile heads for a beach getaway with friends, including Fippo the Hippo, Sonny the Bunny, and Ryan the Lion. The busy animals take part in quintessential beach activities on each long, slender spread—optimally designed for Fossil’s lengthiness.

The Traveling Dustball

by Judith Henderson, illus. by T.L. McBeth (Kids Can, April 2, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-77138-789-7)

Henderson’s sequel to The Missing Donut tells the story of an errant dust ball. In brief, chapter-like sections and with piecemeal art set against white space, Henderson integrates vocabulary words—many of which readers aren’t likely to come across in daily life (“collywobbles is a Big Word that means a sore or upset tummy”).

Dear Boy

by Paris Rosenthal and Jason Rosenthal, illus. by Holly Hatam (HarperCollins, Apr. 23, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-06-242251-4)

The Rosenthals—husband and daughter of Amy Krouse Rosenthal—offer a companion to Dear Girl, which the late author wrote before her death in 2017. Words of affirmation, guidance, and emotional support urge boys to become well-rounded, empathetic individuals.

Pig the Stinker

by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic Press, Apr. 30, $14.99, ISBN 9781-338-33754-9)

Blabey’s bulgy-eyed pug hero stars in the sixth Pig the Pug book. Pig is objectively gross: he digs through the garbage, passes gas, and drinks from the toilet. But that’s all the more reason for fans to love him.