A new season approaches, but readers can rely on beloved characters and series additions to guide them through the change, including tales following a group of animal friends, a beach day full of pranks, a quest to find a missing mother, and more.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Always Anthony by Terri Libenson (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, May 7 $15.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-332092-5). Popular student Anthony and shy peer Leah witness an incident of bullying and try to navigate how to help in the eighth book of the Emmie & Friends series.
Big Protest by Christine Platt, illus. by Alea Marley (Walker Books US, May 7 $15.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2210-4). In the second installment of the Frankie and Friends series, the titular character learns about protests: what they are and why people have them.
The Curious Why by Angela DiTerlizzi, illus. by Lorena Alvarez Gómez (Little, Brown, May 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-50014-2). The protagonist of the second book of The Magical Yet series shows readers that curiosity can lead to all kinds of adventures.
A Fox, a Pig, and a Dig by Jonathan Fenske (Penguin Workshop, May 21 $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-66122-2). While trying to enjoy a beach day, Fox plays pranks on their friend Pig in the sequel to A Pig, a Fox, and a Box.
Hornbeam Gets It Done by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Arthur Howard (Beach Lane, May 14 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-66592-483-2). Hornbeam the moose, Eureka the goose, Cuddy the bull, and Adorabelle the skunk enjoy each other’s company through a game night, grocery store trip, and a new season in the latest addition to the Hornbeam Books series.
If You Spot a Shell by Aimée Sicuro (Random House Studio, May 14 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-65099-8). In the companion picture book to If You Find a Leaf, a girl enjoys a seashell hunt and imagines the many ways to play with them.
Karen’s Sleepover: A Graphic Novel by Ann M. Martin, illus. by Katy Farina (Graphix, May 7 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-338-76254-9). Right before her first sleepover, Karen and her best friend Nancy have a big fight in the eighth graphic novel in the Baby-Sitters Little Sister series.
Legendary Legends of Legendarious Achievery by Gene Luen Yang, illus. by Kendall Goode and Alison Acton (First Second, May 28 $17.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-81630-6; $25.99; ISBN 978-1-250-81629-0). In the third book in the Books of Clash series, Sonny the Golem struggles when a new move his Royale team employs winds up hurting him.
Mermaid Helper by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Random House, May 7 $11.99; ISBN 978-0-593-65175-9). Uni and her friend encounter a mermaid who has lots of questions about life above water in the fourth picture book in the Uni the Unicorn series.
No One Likes a Burp by Zoë Foster Blake, illus. by Adam Nickel (Penguin Workshop, May 21 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-593-75311-8). The companion story to picture book No One Likes a Fart follows Burp teaming up with Fart to become Superstinkers.
Pup and Dragon: How to Catch a Unicorn by Alice Walstead, illus. by Paul Gill (Sourcebooks Wonderland, May 7 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-7282-3951-4). In the newest How to Catch graphic novel, Pup and Dragon struggle to capture a unicorn at a zoo.
Sweet Valley Twins: The Haunted House by Francine Pascal, illus. by Knack Whittle (Random House Graphic, May 7 $13.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-37654-6). Jessica and Elizabeth sniff out the truth about the new girl in town who is rumored to be a witch, in the fourth addition to the Sweet Valley Twins series.
A Tour of the Human Body: Amazing Numbers—Fantastic Facts by Jennifer Berne, illus. by Dawn DeVries Sokol (Astra/Kane Press, May 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-662-67015-2). Readers learn about how the human body functions in the latest Number Tours for Curious Kids addition.
Tryouts by Sarah Sax (Knopf, May 7 $13.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-30691-8). Al joins her middle school’s all-boys baseball team and feels the pressure of securing a big win in the second book in the Brinkley Yearbooks graphic novel series.
We Care: A First Conversation About Justice by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illus. by Sharee Miller (Rise x Penguin Workshop, May 14 $15.99; ISBN 978-0-593-75061-2). The latest picture book in the First Conversations series introduces readers to concepts of justice and community.
The Worry-Worry Whale and the Classroom Jitters by Deborah Diesen, illus. by Dan Hanna (FSG, May 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39152-2). Willa Whale struggles with her anxieties about being called on in class in the new Worry-Worry Whale Adventure, a spin-off series to The Pout-Pout Fish books.
You Be Grandpa by Karla Clark, illus. by Debby Rahmalia (Feiwel and Friends, May 14 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-81437-1). A tired Grandfather asks his grandson to take over their nighttime routine in the final installment of the You Be picture book series.
Novels
Beyond the Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz (Disney Hyperion, May 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-368-08143-6). In the prequel to Descendants: The Rise of Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts resents her royal responsibilities and decides to throw a party.
The Boy from Clearwater: Book 2 by Pei-Yun Yu, illus. by Jian-Xin Zhou, trans. by Lin King (Levine Querido, May 7 $25.99; ISBN 978-1-64614-372-6). In the follow-up to The Boy from Clearwater, Kun-lin reflects on the life he built for himself following his imprisonment on Green Island.
Blood & Fury by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland (Razorbill, May 14 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-35335-6). Darling grapples with the powers of her Phoenix body and expectations to reunite feuding houses in the conclusion to the Chaos & Flame saga.
Burning Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, May 7 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-332643-9). Twin queens Wren and Rose prepare to take on Oonagh, their kingdom’s biggest threat, in the finale to the Twin Crowns trilogy.
The City Beyond the Stars by Zohra Nabi, illus. by Federica Frenna (S&S/McElderry, May 14 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-66593-111-3). In sequel to The Kingdom Over the Sea, Yara discovers that she has a sister, and together they may be able to rescue their imprisoned mother—if they can work together.
The Flames of Hope by Tui T. Sutherland (Scholastic Press, May 7 $8.99; ISBN 978-1-338-21458-1). In the 15th installment of the Wings of Fire series, Luna and her friends race to rescue their continent or face the consequences of a frightening prophecy.
The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe. (Little, Brown, May 14 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-57491-4). In the sequel to The Girls I've Been, a case of mistaken identity during a vacation in the woods gets a friend kidnapped and Nora must find a way to save them and survive.
Hoop Queens 2 by Charles R. Smith Jr. (Candlewick, May 7 $15.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2534-1). Smith highlights the power and agility of several female basketball stars in the latest addition to the Sports Royalty series.
Last Best Hope by Madeleine Roux, illus. by Tim Probert (HarperCollins, May 7 $16.99; ISBN 978-0-06-303916-2). Zelli and the Danger Club’s only way to save their friend Bauble is to foil an even more heinous plot including a dangerous dragon, in the third book of the Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Academy series.
The Menace at the Mall by Steve Behling, illus. by Arianna Rea (Disney, May 21 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-3680-8553-3). In the third Agent Stitch adventure, Stitch and the team head off to South Korea to battle a team of aliens.
Moon Madness by Julie Murphy and Crystal Maldonado (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, May 14 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-334726-7). Best friends Maggie and Nora return to Camp Sylvania now that it’s under new management, but worry they’ve signed up for another summer of supernatural shenanigans in the second Camp Sylvania book.
The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate (HarperCollins, May 7 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-322112-3). The One and Only series concludes with this fourth installment following Ivan, who loves being a new parent but can’t help reminiscing about life before the circus.
Quest for the Wishing Stone by Ben Costa and James Park (Aladdin, May 7 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-665-91073-6). In the third Dungeoneer Adventures book, Coop Cooperson and the Green Team go on a rescue mission to save a dungeoneer, but soon become the only ones left to complete the job.
Rooster and the Dancing Diablo by Diana Lòpez (Kokila, May 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-32652-7). In the follow-up to Felice and the Wailing Woman, Rooster and his friends investigate the sudden disappearances of children, which the town worries are the work of the Dancing Devil.
Shock the Monkey by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman (Little, Brown, May 7 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-759-55527-3). When a friend accidentally gets the most popular girl in school abducted by aliens, Noah Prime must search through space to find her, in the second book in the N.O.A.H. Files.
Skandar and the Chaos Trials by A.F. Steadman (Simon & Schuster, May 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-91279-2). Skandar’s third year of training will prove to be the most challenging as he and his friends are charged with completing trials across the elemental zones, in the third book of the Skandar series.
Something Maybe Magnificent by R.L. Toalson (Aladdin, May 28 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-665-92552-5). In the follow up to The First Magnificent Summer, Victoria is determined to get her mother’s new boyfriend out of the picture, even if it means going too far.
