Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles including a picture book about embracing nature, a picture book about finding things to celebrate, a middle grade novel following a tween’s quest to save their town from monsters that only they can see, a graphic novel adventure comedy, and more.
The Big Green: A Story About the Great Green Wall of Africa by Ken Wilson-Max. Candlewick, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-4953-8. On a “long, hot day/ at the edge of the desert,” two children and their community plant trees in an earnest picture book that highlights efforts to create an uninterrupted swath of greenery, planned to stretch across 11 African countries.
A Celebration of You by Josh Funk, illus. by Kip Alizadeh. Bloomsbury, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-0668-9. Over the course of an “outstandingly average” day, a child nevertheless finds myriad opportunities to celebrate accomplishments in this bright picture book.
Clementine H. Hopeful Is Not a Hero by Noah Corey. Labyrinth Road, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-90636-1. In Corey’s subversive fantasy debut—informed by the author’s experience with genderqueerness and childhood psychosis—a tween endeavors to create a better world.
Clyde by Jim Benton. Papercutz, $17.99 ; ISBN 978-1-5458-2355-2. On a quest to prove he’s one bad dude, a young bear forsakes his forest home for the streets of the city in this madcap graphic novel.
Downfall by Marc J. Gregson. Peachtree Teen, $22.99; ISBN 978-1-682-63708-1. In the series conclusion to the Above the Black trilogy, Conrad is given a new identity and trained for a war against his villainous uncle.
Emeka, Eat Egusi! by Candice Iloh, illus. by Bea Jackson. Atheneum, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-93761-0. Iloh, making their picture book debut, and Jackson serve up a jovial story about a child who resists trying a new food. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee. S&S/Barley, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-66597-896-5. In 1918, an orphaned teen must prove herself innocent of her guardian’s murder in this atmospheric historical mystery. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
It Takes a Family to Serve: A Tribute to Military Families by Lisa Wheeler, illus. by David Soman. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-0632-8347-3. In rhymes and images that encompass both quotidian and life-or-death situations, this reassuring picture book pays simple but effective tribute to loved ones keeping things running during a family member’s military deployment.
The Littlest Elephant by Katherine Applegate, illus. by Lita Judge. Harper, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-335778-5. In a companion picture book to the middle grade novel in verse The One and Only Ruby, the titular baby elephant prepares for a special occasion and learns to be brave for a big ceremony.
Little Passenger by Deirdre Sullivan, illus. by Jessica Love. Candlewick, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-4294-2. An adult speaker relates parallel gestational periods in this visually inventive book that unfolds over the course of a single pregnancy, from YA author Sullivan, making her picture book debut, and Stonewall Book Award winner Love.
More Than a Tree by Sarah Kurpiel. Rocky Pond, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-69768-9. When a family’s beloved backyard tree must be felled, a bittersweet grieving process unfolds, which Kurpiel conveys with understanding in this sympathetic picture book of mourning and regrowth.
The Mother Tree by Sybil Rosen, illus. by Nancy Carpenter. Random House/Schwartz, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-70568-1. Mother trees get their due in this affecting tale with detailed and sensitive storytelling.
Music of the Bells by Anitha Rao-Robinson, illus. by Chaaya Prabhat. Viking, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-62437-1. In this culturally anchored picture book, a child embodies the idea that “all dance tells a story, but only I can tell mine.”
Mystery in the Grand Canyon by Dusti Bowling, illus. by Beth Hughes. Holiday House, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5943-8. Bowling centers the first-person perspective of Edmund, a seizure-alert service dog who goes from the lap of luxury to the great outdoors in this lightly speculative chapter book series opener.
Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch. McElderry, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-7262-8. A tween yearning for connection begins to fade from existence in this introspective and heartfelt tale. See Burch’s tribute to the librarians who inspired her novel.
One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram. Holt, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-40555-5. Khorram impresses with this searing, deeply felt dual-POV novel about the aftermath of a thoughtless act and the process of making amends. The book received a starred review from PW.
Prodigal Tiger by Samantha Chong. Putnam, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-5938-6010-6. Chong blends family drama, supernatural suspense, and teen angst with Malaysian folklore in this arresting debut.
Red River Rose by Carole Lindstrom. Bloomsbury, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-1248-2. Anishinaabe/Métis author Lindstrom pulls inspiration from the North-West Resistance of 1885 in Saskatchewan to deliver a rousing historical tale about standing up for what one believes in.
Ruthie by Esme Shapiro. Tundra, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-77488-565-9. Ruthie—a round marshmallow of a pooch who wears a red collar—declares himself “a prince” on the opening page of this quirky picture book, and the moniker doesn’t seem like much of an exaggeration.
The Selfish Sister by David Sedaris, illus. by Bob Staake. Toon, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-6626-6575-2. The titular sister of this second subversive picture book from humorist Sedaris is wildly covetous, giving readers permission to acknowledge what they know in their bones: siblings can be absolutely awful.
Songbird in the Light by Billy Porter with Chris Clarkson, illus. by Charly Palmer. Abrams, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-4583-6. Performer Porter collaborates with Clarkson to tell the uplifting first-person story of a child—described by their mother as “her songbird”—who finds strength in vocalizing.
Two Perfect Lies by Natalie D. Richards. Sourcebooks Fire, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-7282-7603-8. Lightning-quick pacing results in rapidly building, unrelenting suspense in this thriller of friendship, betrayal, murder, and romance by Richards.
Wonder in the Garden by Talia Aikens-Nuñez,, illus. by Irena Freitas. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-35442-1. A day in the garden provides a child and dog ample time for play in a high-spirited picture book.
Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah by Margaret Gurevich. Penguin Workshop, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-65946-5. In this honest novel, a Russian American 13-year-old explores cultural identity and the meaning of lasting friendship during the lead-up to his bar mitzvah and the 1986 World Series.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of March, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
