Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a picture book acknowledging a universal shared experience, a YA thriller investigating the death of a homecoming queen, a picture book featuring an outstanding animal performance, a magical middle grade with visions from the past, and more.
All the Beating Hearts by Julie Fogliano, illus. by Cátia Chien. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5216-3. At night, Fogliano observes, the bustle of the world grows quiet enough to reveal people’s hearts. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
The Black Queen by Jumata Emill. Delacorte, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-56854-5. The murder of Nova, a Mississippi high school’s first Black homecoming queen, inspires an investigation led by her best friend Duchess into the privileged popular suspect who is desperate to clear her name.
Bunny Rabbit Show! by Sandra Boynton. Little Simon/Boynton Bookworks, $7.99; ISBN 978-1-665-92501-3. A group of performing bunnies put on a showstopping performance in this board book.
The Carrefour Curse by Dianne K. Salerni. Holiday House, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5267-5. When 12-year-old Garnet Carrefour and her mother return to their family estate to perform a magical ritual, Garnet begins to experience sudden visions of a missing girl. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
The Cartographers by Amy Zhang. Greenwillow, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-238307-5. Struggling under the high pressure from her family, 17-year-old Ocean Sun secretly defers her college admission and moves to New York City in hopes of finding her own way in the world.
Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare. S&S/McElderry, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-481-43193-4. In the finale of the Last Hours series, Cordelia returns to London where she finds the Shadowhunters preparing to battle their greatest enemy yet as revelations about her husband threaten to destroy their relationship.
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis. Dial, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-46333-8. Olivia, John, and Helen, Black heirs of the Davenport empire, navigate politics, love, and inheritance amid a bustling courting season in Chicago, in this YA novel inspired by a historical family. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Going Dark by Melissa de la Cruz. Union Square, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-454947-64-6. When college student and social media influencer Amelia Ashley goes missing on an Italian vacation, hacker Harper Delgado’s investigation uncovers shocking secrets in the starlet’s life.
The Grip by Marcus Stroman. Aladdin, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-665-91614-1. In this semi-autographical middle grade book from major league pitcher Marcus Stroman, a young Marcus attempts to overcome doubt from his coach about his ability to play baseball due to his height.
How to Be a (Young) Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone. Kokila, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-46160-0. The young adult adaptation of Kendi’s adult guide helps teens recognize incidents of racism and how to confront them.
I Have a Question by Andrew Arnold. Roaring Brook, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-83824-7. A student worries about reactions from their peers when they have a question in class.
Jump In! by Shadra Strickland. Bloomsbury, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-61963-580-7. A lively metropolitan community engages in a game of double Dutch. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter, illus. by Daniel Miyares. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-286577-9. Between two timelines, a cherished pecan tree holds sentimental weight for different generations of one intergenerational family. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Play the Game by Charlene Allen. HarperCollins/Tegen, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-321279-4. Jack and VZ are still struggling with the loss of their friend Ed, whose killer went uncharged. When the killer is murdered in the same location as Ed, police turn to Jack as their suspect, and VZ must find the real killer before he loses another friend. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks. Holt, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-86697-4. When the principal of venerated all-boys charter school Urban Promise Prep is found shot dead under mysterious circumstances, accused students of color J.B, Ramón, and Trey must work together to clear their names. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-321299-2. Pop punk band singer Delilah and D&D gamer Reggie attempt to align their outward personas with who they really are over the course of year-long holiday meet cutes. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Sleepy Sheepy by Lucy Ruth Cummins, illus. by Pete Oswald. Flamingo, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5934-6591-2. A tired sheep tries to stay awake just a little while longer in this bedtime picture book.
Then Everything Happens at Once by M-E Girard. HarperTeen, $18.99; ISBN 978-006-320-668-7. Sixteen-year-old Baylee grapples with negative self-talk about her body while beginning new sexual relationships.
Welcome to the World by Julia Donaldson, illus. by Helen Oxenbury. S&S/Wiseman, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-66592-987-5. A family navigates the joys and trials of caring for a new baby.
Yellow Butterfly: A Story from Ukraine by Oleksandr Shatokhin. Red Comet, $21.99; ISBN 978-1-63655-064-0. Yellow butterflies act as a source of hope for a girl surviving the war in Ukraine.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of January, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
