Close out the year with companion books and follows-ups that are sure to feel like a gift. Young readers can get whisked away to California via the Magic Tree House, help save the world with a mischievous feline, join a group of students gearing up for Valentine’s Day festivities, and more in the many sequels out this month.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Bad Kitty: Supercat by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook, Dec. 27 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-250-74998-7). Kitty and a new friend become superheroes and search for the Orbs of Destiny to save the universe.
Camp Time in California by Mary Pope Osborne, illus. by AG Ford (Random House, Dec. 20 $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-17749-5). In the 35th book in the Magic Tree House series, Jack and Annie land in California and discover that finding threats in nature isn’t as simple as it seems.
Little Owl’s Love by Divya Srinivasan (Viking, Dec. 6 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-20404-7). In this companion to Little Owl's Night, Little Owl admires the many things he loves on a late-night flight through the forest.
Love from Llama Llama by Anna Dewdney (Grosset & Dunlap, Dec. 27 $9.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52174-8). The latest in the Llama Llama series shines a spotlight on the beauty of love just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The Night Before Lunar New Year by Natasha Wing and Lingfeng Ho, illus. by Amy Wummer (Grosset & Dunlap, Dec. 27 $5.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-38421-3). This new entry in The Night Before series showcases a girl’s excitement and rituals as she and her family prepare for Lunar New Year.
Stacey’s Remarkable Books by Stacey Abrams, illus. by Kitt Thomas (Balzer + Bray, Dec. 13 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-327185-2). The companion to the Georgia politician and activist’s picture book Stacey's Extraordinary Words follows Stacey as she bonds with a reader who is struggling with English on a trip to the library.
Together: A First Conversation About Love by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illus. by Anne/Andy Passchier (Rise x Penguin Workshop, Dec. 27 $8.99 board book; ISBN 978-0-593-52096-3). The fourth book in the First Conversations series offers young readers an introduction to the feelings of love and the concept of relationships.
Valentine’s Day, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg, illus. by Laurie Stansfield (Grosset & Dunlap, Dec. 27 $5.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-38717-7). In the 11th title in the Here I Come series, a group of children get ready for Valentine’s Day festivities with love-themed crafts and activities.
Where Do Diggers Say I Love You? by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illus. by Christian Slade (Random House, Dec 13. $8.99 board book; ISBN 978-0-593-37241-8). The vehicles of the Where Do series prepare with gifts big and small for Valentine’s Day.
You Shamrock My World by Rose Rossner, illus. by Ela Smietanka (Sourcebooks Wonderland, Dec. 6 $8.99 board book; ISBN 978-1-728-25633-7). The third book in the Punderland series celebrates St. Patrick’s Day and emphasizes readers’ sense of self-worth.
Novels
The Broken Mirror by Melissa de la Cruz (Roaring Brook, Dec. 6 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-250-82725-8). The Never Ever After team’s next mission sends them on a quest to find the mysterious League of the Seven to help save their kingdom, in the third entry in the Chronicles of Never After series.
Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson (HarperCollins/Tegen, Dec. 27 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-30326-5). In a new mystery set in the Truly Devious universe, the Ellingham Academy crew attempts to solve a cold case in London involving a group of friends, a deadly game of hide and seek, and survivors with secrets to hide.
