Fall has finally arrived and readers can cozy up with new additions to beloved series, including a picture book about a fight over holiday festivities, a middle grade mystery following a trio of sisters investigating a group of scientists, a fantasy sequel about the poisoning of a magical isle, and more.
Picture Books
The Big Cheese Presents: Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas by Jory John, illus. by Pete Oswald (HarperCollins Sept. 16 $15.99; ISBN 978-0-06-343786-9). In the latest installment of the Food Group series, Big Cheese questions if his friends will still come to his party, even if it’s not as extravagant as he’d like it to be.
Bold, Brilliant, and Latine by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, illus. by Sol Cotti (Wide Eyed, Sept. 2 $24.99; ISBN 978-0-711-29436-3). The newest addition of the See Yourself in Their Stories highlights 52 Latine heroes who can inspire young readers to see themselves in any career.
Buffalo Fluffalo and Puffalo by Bess Kalb, illus. by Erin Kraan (Random House Studio, Sept. 30 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-81030-9). Titular Buffalo struggles to acclimate to their new sibling in the sequel to last year’s Buffalo Fluffalo.
Bunheads, Act 2: The Dance of Courage by Misty Copeland, illus. by Setor Fiadzigbey (Penguin/Paulsen, Sept. 16 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-399-54768-3). Ballerina Copeland returns to her Bunheads universe for a story centered around Cat, who must learn to believe in herself when she must take over a starring role when a friend is injured.
Butt or Face? Volume 3: Super Gross Butts by Kari Lavelle (Sourcebooks Explore, Sept. 2 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4642-3303-6). Readers are invited to view close-ups and guess which animal or derriere it belongs to in the third installment of the Butt or Face? series.
Dasher and the Polar Bear by Matt Tavares (Candlewick, Sept. 30 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3631-6). In the third addition to the Dasher series, the titular reindeer encounters a new friend who hopes to fly, and Dasher struggles to make his friend’s dream a reality.
The Digger and the Christmas Tree by Joseph Kuefler (HarperCollins, Sept. 16 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-342739-6). Digger and his friends try to find the perfect decorations for their tree in the newest installment of the Digger series.
Fancy Nancy: Besties for Eternity by Jane O’Connor, illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser (HarperCollins, Sept. 16 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-341122-7). Collaborators O’Connor and Glasser make a return to the world of Fancy Nancy in this new picture book that follows Nancy navigating a tumultuous friendship triangle.
Hap-Pea Holidays by Keith Baker (Beach Lane, Sept. 9 $9.99; ISBN 978-1-665-94028-3). In the newest addition to the the Peas series, the titular pod of friends work together to celebrate the holiday season in a myriad of ways.
Holly Jolly Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham (Abrams, Sept. 23 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-6879-8). In the newest picture book in the Kitty-Corn series, best friends Kitty and Corn want to spend the holidays together but cannot come to an agreement on which festive activity is best.
If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall (Little, Brown, Sept. 16 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-58172-1). The companion to If I Was a Horse invites young readers to imagine what kind of dog they would be if they could.
Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker by David Ezra Stein (Candlewick, Sept. 9 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-0779-8). Chicken is so excited to attend the ballet that she finds herself joining the cast onstage in the latest addition to the Interrupting Chicken series.
It’s a Mitzvah by Suzy Ultman (RISE x Penguin Workshop, Sept. 2, $9.99; ISBN 978-0-593-75195-4). The third book in the My First Books of Jewish Culture board book series introduces readers to the Jewish tradition of small acts of kindness.
It’s Not Easy Being a T. Rex by Marilyn Sadler, illus. by Stephanie Laberis (Random House, Sept. 30 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-593-81036-1). Young Rexy learns to embrace her T. Rex features ahead of her first day of school in the newest addition to the It’s Not Easy Being series.
A Kids Book About Food by Asma Khan (DK, Sept. 2 $19.99; ISBN 979-8-217-13232-4). The latest addition to the A Kids Book series from world-renowned chef Asma Khan shows how food is not only a source of nutrition but also an expression of culture, history, and connection.
Never Let a Unicorn Wear a Tutu by Diane Alber (Sourcebooks Wonderland, Sept. 2 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-4642-5923-4). Despite being told to not allow a unicorn wear a unicorn, a girl is determined to find out why in the newest picture book of the Never Let A series.
The Pigeon WON’T Count to 10! by Mo Willems (Union Square Kids, Sept. 2 $9.99; ISBN 978-1-454-96440-7). Titular star of Mo Willems’ The Pigeon series has exactly 10 reasons why he won’t count to 10.
The Trouble with Giraffes by Lisa Mantchev, illus. by Taeeun Yoo (S&S/Wiseman, Sept. 16 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96276-6). Ten years after the release of Strictly No Elephants, Mantchev returns to the Pet Club series with a tale about a girl and her giraffe and how they overcome troubles with their height difference.
Illustrated/Graphic Novels
Bones and Berserkers by Nathan Hale (Abrams Fanfare, Sept. 9 $15.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7320-4). Hale gathers haunting stories from across the US in the 13th installment of the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series.
Cook with Clydeo: A Cookbook for Kids by Jennifer Aniston, illus. by Invisible Universe (HarperCollins, Sept. 9 $24.99; ISBN 978-0-06-337238-2). The latest installment of the Clydeo series offers readers a variety of recipes to try at home.
The Court of the Dead: A Nico di Angelo Adventure by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro (Disney Hyperion, Sept. 23 $21.99; ISBN 978-1-368-10911-6). Demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace investigate monsters disappearing from Camp Jupiter in this sequel to The Sun and the Star.
InvestiGators: Case Files by John Patrick Green and Steve Behling, illus. by Chris Fenoglio (First Second, Sept. 9 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-250-22322-7). In the newest InvestiGators graphic novel, readers are on the case to help special agents Mango and Brash unravel six new mysteries.
Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Sophie Blackall (Candlewick, Sept. 30 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2552-5). Tiny Evangeline is abandoned by her adopted family but learns to find her own way through the world in the finale to the Norendy Tales trilogy.
The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham (Candlewick, Sept. 2 $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5362-4352-9). In the newest Princess in Black book, Princess Magnolia learns how to deal with an unruly new pet.
Stella & Marigold: Mermaids and Mix-Ups by Annie Barrows, illus. by Sophie Blackall (Chronicle, Sept. 9 $15.99; ISBN 978-1-797-21971-4). When sister Stella and Marigold are given a notebook to list their friends, they decide they need to make more friends and discuss the best tactics in the second installment of the Stella and Marigold series.
Novels
The Book of Anansi by Angie Thomas (Clarion, Sept. 16 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-322518-3). In the sequel to Nic Blake and the Remarkables, titular tween Nic has become a student for Manifestors but an old foe is out to get her.
Every Spiral of Fate by Tahereh Mafi (Storytide, Sept. 30 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-331534-1). Alizeh and Cyrus find themselves bound together in marriage that can only end in bloodshed if Alizeh is to free her people in the fourth installment in the This Woven Kingdom series.
The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar by Sonora Reyes (HarperCollins, Sept. 16 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-335840-9). In the sequel to The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, Cesar navigates his recent bipolar diagnosis while trying to win back the heart of his ex.
The Great Escape by Anh Do (HarperCollins, Sept. 16 $9.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-334606-2). Gwen has been separated from her family and has relied on her pack to get her home. But when she is kidnapped and taken to a prison camp, Gwen questions how her pack will ever find her in the second book of the Wolf Girl series.
Grim and Oro: Dueling Crowns Edition by Alex Aster (Amulet, Sept. 30 $34.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-8562-7). This companion novel to Aster’s Lightlark Saga gives readers an insight into the perspectives of characters Oro and Grim.
Hurricane Heist by James Ponti (Aladdin, Sept. 2 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-93256-1). In the second installment of the Sherlock Society series, the snoops investigate a cold case when a hurricane uncovers new information.
Into the Fire by Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares (S&S, Sept. 16 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95084-8). Henry, Frances, and Lukas find themselves trapped in Westfallen, an alternate version of modern-day America where the Allies lost WWII in the second installment of the Westfallen series.
Joy to the Girls by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick (S&S, Sept. 30 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96393-0). Alex and Molly struggle to communicate their plans for the future in this spin-off novella to She Gets the Girl.
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science: Secrets of the Purple Pearl by Kate McKinnon (Little, Brown, Sept. 30 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-55529-6). Sisters Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee trace a group of mad scientists in search of ancient artifact rumored to contain incredible power in the second installment of the Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science series.
Museum Mayhem by Tracey Baptiste (Disney/Freedom Fire, Sept. 2 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-368-07537-4). Tween Misty and her cousins Aidan and Brooke must stop dust bunnies from sucking visitors to a museum into the artwork in the second installment of the Moko Magic series.
The Others by Cheryl Isaacs (Heartdrum, Sept. 16 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-328744-0). Avery has to choose between returning to a normal life with her best friend or facing the haunting reflection at the pond once more in the sequel to The Unfinished.
Pennies by Lora Senf (Atheneum, Sept. 23 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-66596-724-2). In this prequel to The Clackity, set in 1921, best friends Mae, Lark, Brigid, and Claret discover a door to an alternate world that triggers disappearances in their town.
The Pharoah’s Tomb by James Patterson and Tad Safran (Little, Brown/Patterson, Sept. 8 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-57817-2). After learning that orphans Pew and Basket have been charged by their late parents with the mission to protect time travel, the twins head to ancient Egypt to protect the timeline in the second book of the Time Travel Twins.
The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell, illus. by Ashley Mackenzie (Knopf, Sept. 11 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-80990-7). Christopher Forrester must prevent a poison from spreading throughout the Archipelago in the sequel to Impossible Creatures.
Roswell Johnson Saves the Galaxy by Chris Colfer (Little, Brown, Sept. 16 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-51542-9). The titular Roswell attempts to save his kidnapped grandparents and get an evil general back to prison in the sequel to Roswell Johnson Saves the World!
Skandar and the Spirit War by A.F. Steadman (S&S, Sept. 2 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96623-8). In the Skandar series conclusion, Skandar has no choice but to turn to an old ally for help in a battle against his best friend.
A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Sept. 23 $20.99; ISBN 978-0-374-38942-0). In the duology closer of the Blood and Tea series, Arthie must find her friends after a bloodshed battle and prepare to take on their enemies together.
Unending by Ivelisse Housman (Quill Tree, Sept. 23 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-33-501004-9). In the second and final volume of the Unseelie duology, sisters Seelie and Isolde grapple with changes in their relationship and the sudden splitting of the realms, which clashes human and fae worlds.
You’ve Found Oliver by Dustin Thao (Dutton, Sept. 30 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-85847-9). In this companion to You’ve Reached Sam, Oliver discovers that his unanswered messages to his late best friend’s phone have been read by the phone’s new owner, and the pair decide to meet in person.
