Though there are plenty of spooky activities in October, finding sequels to series isn’t one of them. Follow a witch on her quest for Christmas revenge; discover the first call from a death-prediction app; and navigate a frightening intern mess-up in big sequels out this month.


Picture Books

Aaron Slater’s Big Project Book for Astonishing Artists by Andrea Beaty, illus. by David Roberts (Abrams, Oct. 25 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-5397-8).The latest addition to the Questioneers follows the newest member of the team, Aaron Slater, as he explores a variety of different ways to express himself through art.


The Funny Book by Vikram Madan, illus. by Nicola Slater (Random House, Oct. 18 $9.99; ISBN 978-0-593-56280-2). Pup-pup has found a new book that has him laughing out loud, and Bobo will have to learn to wait his turn in the third installment in the Bobo and Pup-Pup series.


Hanukkah, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg, illus. by Sara Palacios (Grosset & Dunlap, Oct. 11 $5.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-09426-6). The sixth book in the Here I Come! series showcases children participating in fun traditional activities as Hanukkah approaches.


How Do Dinosaurs Say I’M MAD? by Jane Yolen, illus. by Mark Teague (Cartwheel, Oct. 4 $7.99 board book; ISBN 978-1-338-83540-3). Dinosaurs have prehistoric meltdowns and attempt to communicate their feelings in the newest book in the How Do Dinosaurs...? series.


The Return of the Christmas Witch by Aubrey Plaza and Dan Murphy, illus. by Julia Iredale (Viking, Oct. 11 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-35083-6). In this sequel to The Legend of the Christmas Witch co-written by actor Plaza, the Christmas Witch herself has been released from her chamber and seeks out revenge for her century-long capture.


Older Readers

Crown of Flames by Sayantani DasGupta (Scholastic Press, Oct. 4 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-338-76681-3). In the sequel to The Fire Queen, Pinki steps up to lead the resistance as the fate of the rakkosh continues to deteriorate.


The Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker (Inkyard, Oct. 4 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-335-91585-6). In the duology closer to the Keeper of Night, Ren’s discovery of dangerous Reapers in Japan leads her to make a deal with ancient gods and a race to save her country.


The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera (Quill Tree, Oct. 4 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-324080-3). Silvera jumps back in time in this prequel to They Both Die at the End, where death-prediction app Death-Cast makes its first call to teens Orion and Valentino, who meet up for their fateful day.


The Frustrating Book by Mo Willems (Hyperion, Oct. 18 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-368-07482-7). In the latest in the Unlimited Squirrels series, Zoom Squirrel’s curiosity about new feelings leads to a foray with negative emotions.


Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers, edited by Jess Harriton and Maithy Vu (Rebel Girls, Oct. 4 $35.99 ISBN 978-1-953424-34-1). Bringing together a collection of powerful women from across the world in a variety of industries, the fifth book in the Good Night Stories series celebrates 100 women who are changing the game.


Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Press, Oct. 18 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-338-18839-4). The Lynch siblings grapple with the harrowing choices they’ve made for themselves and risk losing each other for good in the conclusion to the Dreamer Trilogy.


How to Host a Sleepover by Jean Reagan, illus. by Lee Wildish (Random House, Oct. 18 $5.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-47920-9). In the third How to Step into Reading, friends learn how to comfort one another and have fun during a sleepover.


Let’s Make History! by Nathan Hale (Amulet, Oct. 11 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-6552-0). The latest in Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales lets readers put their own artistic abilities to the test in this book of comic-prompts.


Night of the Vam-Wolf-Zom by Steven Banks, illus. by Mark Fearing (Holiday House, Oct. 25 $13.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5217-0). Eleven-year-old Tom must navigate middle school woes and the drama of being a Vam-Wolf-Zom after being bitten by a vampire, werewolf, and zombie in the fourth book in the Middle School Bites series.


The Nocturnals Nighttime Animals: Awesome Features & Surprising Adaptations by Tracey Hecht (Fabled Films, Oct. 18 $6.99; ISBN 978-1-944020-70-5). Readers uncover the unknown capabilities of animals who are up all night in the latest addition to the Nocturnals series.


Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place to Call Home by Lauren Castillo (Knopf, Oct. 18 $17.99 ISBN 978-1-5247-6674-0). The arrival of a fellow hedgehog makes Hedgehog question how she defines family and who she belongs with in the newest addition to the Our Friend Hedgehog series.


Pig the Rebel by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic Press, Oct. 4 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-338-85919-5. The ninth Pig the Pug book finds Pig in obedience school following his wild antics.


A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo (Dutton, Oct. 4 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-525-55528-5). In the standalone companion to Lo’s National Book Award-winning Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Aria Tang West’s summer with her grandparents opens her up to queer community and the chance at love.


Taco Time Machine by John Gallagher (Random House, Oct. 4 $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-47966-7). When Mindy and Max attempt to travel back in time, they accidentally undo their first meeting and must fix their error before their friendship dissolves, in the fourth Max Meow book.


The Spirit Queen by Arnée Flowers (Bloomsbury, Oct. 18 $16.99 ISBN978-1-5476-0515-6). Princess Calliope journeys into the dangerous Nymph Isles to find her kidnapped friend and must learn to control ancient magic in the sequel to The Firebird Song.


The Stern Chase by John Flanagan (Viking, Oct. 25 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-46381-9). In the ninth book in the Brotherband Chronicles series, Hal and his crew open themselves up to an all-out war when they stop another crew of pirates from a raid.


Zoned Out by James S. Murray and Carsen Smith (Penguin Workshop, Oct. 18 $16.99; ISBN 978-0-593-22614-8). Newly minted interns Viv and her friends grow curious about the Forbidden Zone at the base and accidentally let scary monsters loose in the second Area 51 Interns book.