It might be spooky season, but young readers need not fear, because new installments to favorite series promise that beloved characters won’t disappear. Readers can catch up with a fire-breathing baker determined to create a perfect treat, a tween struggling with jealousy, a YA finale about two friends heading towards a dangerous enemy, and more.
Picture Books
The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake by Devin Elle Kurtz (Knopf, Oct. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-71099-9). Ember the baker is determined to make the perfect dessert for a picky customer in the sequel to The Bakery Dragon.
Cupig Saves Christmas by Claire Tattersfield, illus. by Rob Sayegh Jr. (Flamingo, Oct. 14 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-69345-2). Cupig steps in for a sick Santa in the sequel to Cupig: The Valentine’s Day Pig.
Elmore and the Big Christmas Rescue by Dev Petty, illus. by Mike Boldt (Doubleday, Oct. 28 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-51805-2). Moose Elmore finds himself overwhelmed with his sudden responsibilities when Santa calls out sick in the latest installment of the Elmore the Moose series.
The Gift of Words by Peter H. Reynolds (Orchard, Oct. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-339-00034-3). In the follow-up to Reynolds’s picture book The Word Collector, young Jerome turns to his community to help him learn new words.
Moon Song by Michaela Goade (Little, Brown, Oct. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-46163-4). In this companion picture book to Caldecott Honor winner Berry Song, a girl tells her brother a story to help him overcome his fear of the dark.
Mr. Willowby’s Head Over Heels Christmas by Robert Barry (Doubleday, Oct. 21 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-70819-4). Barnaby Bear and his forest friends agree to help the titular Mr. Willowby find a new Christmas tree when his won’t make it home on time in this recently discovered sequel to Barry’s 1963 classic Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree.
Next Stop, Christmas! by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illus. by AG Ford (Chronicle, Oct. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-797-22703-0). In the sequel to Steam Train, Dream Train, readers take off on an adventure as a train’s crew and passengers get ready for the holiday.
The Night Before the Quinceañera by Natasha Wing and Gloria García Díaz, illus. by Nathalie Beauvois (Grosset & Dunlap, Oct. 14 $5.99 paper; ISBN 979-8-217-04939-4). In the latest installment of The Night Before series, a girl excitedly prepares for her sister’s quinceañera celebration and helps her find her missing crown when it goes missing before the special day.
Richard Scarry’s Great Mystery Collection by Richard Scarry (Random House, Oct. 28 $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-81241-9). Detectives Sam Cat and Dudley Pig race to unravel three mysteries in the newest addition to the Busytown series.
Sneakiest in the World! by Ben Clanton (S&S, Oct. 28 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96430-2). In the third book in the Tater Tales series, mutant potato Rot enlists the help of his friends to scare his older brother.
Illustrated and Graphic Novels
Back in Business by Sharee Miller (Little, Brown Ink, Oct. 7 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-316-59149-2). In the second installment of the Curlfriends graphic novel series, Nora turns to her friends for help when she learns her mother’s salon business is at risk of closing.
Center of the Universe by Abby Hanlon (Dial, Oct. 7 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-85756-4). Dory Fantasmagory struggles to deal with a soccer teammate who makes everything look easy in the seventh book in the Dory Fantasmagory series.
Rock Paper Incisors by Amy Timberlake, illus. by Jon Klassen (Little, Brown, Oct. 14 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-643-75007-1). Best friends Skunk and Badger learn they’ve bitten off more than they can chew by inviting new roommates into their home in the third installment of the Skunk and Badger series.
Sew Totally Nala by Misako Rocks! (Feiwel and Friends, Oct. 7 $14.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-90140-8; hardcover $22.99; ISBN 978-1-250-90141-5). While at a fashion summer camp, Nala befriends a squirrel who helps her feel more confident in her designs in the third title in the Bounce Back series.
White House Undercover by Sean O’Brien, illus. by Karyn Lee (Norton, Oct. 14 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-324-05309-5). A search for a stolen eagle sculpture in the White House takes first daughters Clara and Marissa on an adventure through history in the third installment of the White House Clubhouse series.
Novels
Ava and the Owl Witch by Diana López (Kokila, Oct. 7 $18.99; ISBN 979-8-217-11038-4). In the third and final installment of middle grade fantasy series Los Monstruos, Ava, daughter of the shape-shifting La Lechuza, learns to embrace her family’s role as vigilantes in their community.
Coach by Jason Reynolds (Atheneum/Dlouhy, Oct. 14 $17.99; ISBN 979-8-347-10237-2). In this prequel to the Track series, Coach, once known as Otie, goes on the hunt when his prized pair of Jordans goes missing.
The Demon and the Light by Axie Oh (Feiwel and Friends, Oct. 21 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-85311-0). As Sunho succumbs to his powers, Ren must find a way to save him and protect The Floating World from invasion in the conclusion of The Floating World series.
Fortress of Ambrose by J. Elle (Razorbill, Oct. 14 $20.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52776-4). In the final installment of the House of Marionne series, set in a magical world, Quell finds herself at a crossroads: either serve as the leader of her House, or rescue her lover Jordan.
Goalkeeper by Edward Bloor (Clarion, Oct. 14 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-342832-4). In the follow-up to middle grade novel Tangerine, soccer goalie Paul finds his loyalties tested when he’s brought into his father’s trial case against a member of his team.
Heartstrings by Ali Novak (Sourcebooks Fire, Oct. 7 $13.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-4926-5244-1). Indie finds herself being overshadowed by her older sister’s acting career and bonds with Xander, a quiet member of the band Heartbreakers in the third book of The Heartbreak Chronicles.
Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits by Kwame Mbalia (Disney/Freedom Fire, Oct. 7 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-368-06510-8). In the sequel to Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek, titular tween and magic summoner Jax enters the Tournament of Spirits, where he is required to spy on his fellow competitors.
Keeper Chance and the Dubious Doppelgänger by Alex Evanovich (S&S, Oct. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96007-6). In the second installment of Evil Villains International League, though Keeper Chance has abandoned E.V.I.L., he and his friends investigate the kidnapping of a senior member of the organization and must go up against doppelgangers to unravel the mystery.
A Rage of Lions by David Anthony Durham (Lee & Low/Tu Books, Oct. 28 $23.95; ISBN 978-164379-743-4). Ash attempts to prevent a war between Egypt and lion-headed god Apedemak in the third installment of The Shadow Prince series.
Rise of Neptune by Scott Reintgen (Aladdin, Oct. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-94654-4). Lunar Jones and his allies on Earth prepare for a battle with Neptune but find cracks in Neptune’s ranks in the second installment of the Dragonships series.
The Rose Field by Philip Pullman (Knopf, Oct. 23 $29.99; ISBN 978-0-593-30663-5). In the highly anticipated finale of The Book of Dust trilogy, Lyra rushes toward the desert of Karamakan in search of a loved one, while being tracked by an old friend, both heading toward imminent danger as the Magisterium military awaits them.
Spy School Blackout by Stuart Gibbs (S&S, Oct. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95651-2). During a major power outage, Ben and his fellow spies-in-training must tackle villain without CIA assistance in the latest installment of the Spy School series.
Tempest’s Queen by Tiffany Wang (Bindery, Oct. 28 $15.95; ISBN 978-1-964721-44-6). Queen Teia Carthan needs assistance from those she betrayed to make a dangerous trek across the sea in the final installment of the Inferno’s Heir duology.
Our Vicious Descent by Hayley Dennings (Sourcebooks Fire, Oct. 21 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-7282-9790-3). In the conclusion of the Ravenous Fate duology, vampire hunter Elise and vampire Layla face an underworld in turmoil as a war between humans and vampire ramps up.
