Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles including a YA debut about a teen discovering forbidden magic, a Cyrano de Bergerac inspired graphic novel about the beginnings of a crush, a picture book following a brave rabbit, and more.
And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun. Knopf, $20.99; ISBN 978-0-59390-487-9. A grieving Korean American teen accesses forbidden magic and must contend with the spine-tingling results in this YA debut. The book received a starred review from PW.
Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen. Random House Graphic, $24.99 hardcover; ISBN 978-1-9848-9267-6; $17.99 paper ISBN 978-1-9848-9266-9. Nguyen spins a tale of romance, grief, and community in a graphic novel that draws inspiration from “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” and Cyrano de Bergerac. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
Bunns Rabbit by Alan Barillaro. Candlewick, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1467-3. In this dramatic illustrated fable, a young rabbit singled out for being different finds notoriety for her bravery following an arduous, mysterious journey.
Busted by Dan Gemeinhart. Holt, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-37836-1. An unlikely trio embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this laugh-out-loud romp. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis. Sourcebooks Fire, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4642-3613-6. When dark fae weapons infiltrate the castle and a dire prophecy foretells the barrier’s collapse, half fae lady-in-waiting Alyth’s skills as Scotland’s unseen guardian are put to the test. Meanwhile cursed Samson poses as a lord’s secretary to recover the heavily guarded artifact that doomed him—his only hope to break the curse.
Dinky the Tinysaur by Maggie Edkins Willis. Beach Lane, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-66595-796-0. The protagonists adopt “an itty-bitty, travel-sized, cute-as-a-button TINYSAUR,” but struggle when the dinosaur starts to grow at an alarming rate.
Finding Lost by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Rocky Pond, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-53025-2. After a tragic accident, Cordy moves into a boathouse belonging to a wealthy family and cares for a stray dog, whose presence sets into motion gradual changes. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
The Gift of Words by Peter H. Reynolds. Orchard, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-339-00034-3. In this picture book follow-up to The Word Collector, Jerome goes in search of new words and must connect with his community to learn new vocabulary.
Holding on for Dear Life by Dusti Bowling. Bloomsbury, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-1606-0. Intense action meets heavy emotion on the Arizona junior rodeo circuit in this captivating novel. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich, illus. by Chris Raschka. Random House/Schwartz, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-30817-2. Rejoicing in the “wonders all around me,” a speaker narrates the arrival of annual northern hemisphere weather patterns as experienced via all their sensations.
I'm Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday Book by Oliver Jeffers. Philomel, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-2230-8. In this tale of friendship and second chances, young, teal-hued Bridget is eager to spend her birthday with her friends, but has her feelings hurt when their busy schedules take priority.
A Lost Cause by Felicita Sala. Abrams, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-6691-6. Pablo the pig, a “scatterbrain” in his mother’s words, manages to lose all manner of objects, and the distractable pig struggles when his room’s chaotic clutter stands between him and a fitting show-and-tell item.
Outside by Jennifer Holm. Scholastic Press, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5461-3814-3. In this riveting survival novel by the Newbery Honoree, a 12-year-old girl ventures for the first time beyond her secluded doorstep. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
The Planet, the Portal, and a Pizza by Nora Raleigh Baskin and Wendy Mass. Little, Brown, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-58040-3. Chaotic mad-scientist energy abounds in this time-and-space-bending tale about changing friendships and yearning to belong.
Rain and the Reading Horse by Maria Gianferrari, illus. by Hannah Salyer. Clarion, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-0632-57252. Rain, who struggles with reading but finds comfort in caring for a white horse, builds confidence and familiarity by reading aloud while she works. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Refugee: The Graphic Novel by Alan Gratz, illus. by Syd Fini. Scholastic/Graphix, $14.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-73396-9. This interconnected story, now adapted into a graphic novel, follows a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany, a Cuban girl in 1994, and a Syrian boy in 2015 overcoming politically fraught eras in history.
The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-327127-2. A Black college freshman and her roommates find themselves caught in the web of a charismatic but dangerous older man in this nail-biting thriller.
The Taylors by Jen Calonita. Scholastic, $8.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5461-7677-0. Calonita presents an effervescent, heartwarming tale of four tweens named Taylor, all super fans of their idol, Taylor Swift. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
To Activate Space Portal, Lift Here by Antoinette Portis. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5985-8. In this speculative metafictional romp, readers open the covers to find themselves on one side of an apparent space portal staring at Zrk and Blrg, two bottle-shaped creatures who aren’t as scary as initially perceived.
War Games by Alan Gratz. Scholastic Press, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-3387-3610-6. In a smartly plotted page-turner, young athletes competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics literally go for the gold upon becoming embroiled in a plot to rob the German national bank. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
The Wound by Emma AdBåge, trans. from the Swedish by Melissa Bowers. Arctis, $18; ISBN 978-1-6469-0048-0. AdBåge combines the matter-of-fact and the awe-inspiring to capture a glimpse of social caretaking and minor fame in the kid world. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of October, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
