Bentley takes readers on a thrilling, alliterative ride in this dryly comedic story about a reticent bear who becomes the unwitting inventor of the world’s first roller coaster. Seeking an efficient, crowd-avoiding route from his cliffside home to his beehives on the other side of the valley, Bear creates a fast, twisty rail system he dubs “the Honey Runner.” To the protagonist’s immense surprise and despite his warnings, other creatures clamor for repeated rides. When signs (“definitely not fun”) fail to dissuade the masses, the accidental designer implements modifications, yielding transport “so stomach-twaddlingly uncomfortable that surely no sane critter would ride it, and Bear would finally be left in peace.” After the effort backfires and Bear moves to a new home, closing pages suggest the character may not be done with inadvertent diversions. Rendered in warm tones, thinly lined digital illustrations infuse forest scenes with golden rays as the animals’ eager, googly-eyed glee contrasts with Bear’s quizzical expressions. Bear’s fantastic forest attraction propels this amusing book to sensational heights. Ages 4–8. (June)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

Riffing on the title words and their homophones, Mack’s simple, recombinatory narration yields comedic results in this raucous work. After a round-eyed brown bear discovers an electric-blue wig on the ground, “hair on bear” quickly becomes “hare on bear” with the arrival of a fuzzy pink bunny who steals the hairpiece, leaving behind a “bare bear.” As tongue-twisting text proceeds through other possible orderings of the four rhyming words, the pair battle for the hair. Flatly colored minimalist backdrops place all the attention on Bear and Hare, capturing their furry selves with hundreds of individually drawn lines. After both animals have managed to sit on the prop (and on each other), Bear gains the upper hand and two new words—“tear” and “share”—are introduced for a friendship-producing conclusion. The duo’s sustained physical humor gives this heterograph-driven title a pleasing sense of mirth. Ages 4–8. (June)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

Via ornately patterned artwork and mythic storytelling, Mistry presents a beautifully packaged eco-tale of nature’s resilience. When clear-cutting destroys a “magical and ever growing” forest, and resident animals begin to leave, “Bear’s heart was overcome with grief.” Discovering a seed nestled in the grass, the protagonist solicits advice from various creatures about how to encourage growth. Worm advises, “Place it deep in the earth. The soil is a warm, cozy blanket”; Frog suggests adding water; and Bird proposes “a special song.” Eventually a sprout emerges, which the ursid meticulously tends until his need to hibernate kicks in. Upon waking in spring, Bear makes a predictable but no less joyous discovery, and closing pages center on further opportunities for caretaking. Folksy digital illustrations incorporate geometric motifs such as dots, zigzags, and mandala-like detailing for an immersive effect that elevates this earnest fable. Ages 3–7. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

In Bailey and Wong’s boisterous picture book, it’s absolute “pandamonium” when a gathering of giant and red pandas attempt to snap a group pic at an annual reunion. Bouncy rhymes establish a high-energy tone: “Ties and hair bows all precise.// Hurry! While we still look nice!” Once the crew get into position, further chaos ensues as “Pandas start to fiddle, giggle,/ can’t sit still, they’ve got to wiggle!” Multiple pose attempts yield less than ideal shots involving poking, nose-picking, and “Panda bum?!” After the camera is set aside, the “roly-poly” ensemble let loose, culminating in a “panda pile”—and, at last, an impromptu but successful selfie. Candy-colored digital cartoons convey the pandas’ antics with expressive humor across this congenial and realistic snapshot of a kid-filled family gathering. Panda trivia concludes. Ages 2–5. (June)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

Via lively prose punctuated by images of the subject’s life and work, Fight AIDS! author Long chronicles the journey of activist Keith Haring (1958–1990) from unknown rural Pennsylvania artist to international star. A prologue set in 1982 New York City sets the scene, introducing Haring as an unrepentant creative who was frequently arrested for graffiti vandalism. Later passages trace his running away from his conservative parents during high school and his eventual move to N.Y.C., where he honed his artistic skills alongside local street artists. Scans of the figure’s most prominent works shape the narrative: a picture of a crawling “radiant” baby (untitled, 1990) accompanies a chapter about his childhood, a purple piece of an embracing couple (untitled, 1987) opens a section describing his coming out as gay, and subsequent parts feature his efforts opposing nuclear war (untitled, 1982) and raising awareness for AIDS (Stop AIDS, 1989), with which he was diagnosed in 1987. Haring made a name for himself drawing on the fly in the subway, railing against “sophisticated, elitist” attitudes surrounding art, and producing pieces that address social injustice for “hundreds of millions of everyday people.” This exuberant, uplifting biography will inspire and encourage teens to more closely observe and engage with their surroundings as a means to spark creativity and connection. Ages 14–up. (June)

Reviewed on 04/03/2026 | Details & Permalink

Galandon and Crouzat make their English-language debut with a tender graphic novel that follows two siblings as they brave nuclear radiation and enigmatic yokai to spread their grandmother’s ashes. In 2013 Minamisōma—two years after the Fukushima nuclear accident—young tinkerer Osamu and his older sister Akiko, an aspiring social media influencer, live alone with Bā-chan. While walking to school, Akiko, armed with a radiation detector, plots the safest route for Osamu, who leaves offerings along the path for local yokai. Following Bā-chan’s sudden death, distant cousins arrive to move the children to Tokyo. But when the caretakers refuse to accompany the siblings to scatter Bā-chan’s ashes at her former farm in Tomioka, citing its proximity to the nuclear red zone, Osamu and Akiko set out for the property on their own. Along the way, the duo contend with hazardous conditions (Osamu urges Akiko to “just smile” and move forward when her radiation detector goes off), encounter restless spirits, and evade pursuit from their cousins and police. Thinly lined, pastel-hued illustrations prioritize movement alongside detailed backdrops that lend lived-in ambiance to emotionally potent character interactions and harrowing adventure sequences. The result is a quietly contemplative meditation on grief and environmental crisis anchored by a whirlwind journey. Includes a contextualizing afterword. Ages 8–12. (June)

Reviewed on 04/03/2026 | Details & Permalink

Freeman (The Book That No One Wanted to Read) crafts a gleefully absurd graphic novel that channels the spirit of The Divine Comedy into a kid-friendly, anarchic adventure. After chasing a runaway coin into an open manhole, young Shirley, depicted with pale skin and a brown bob, finds herself plunged—literally—into the Underworld. Upon arrival, she encounters George, an oversize cockroach with bright red spectacles and a matter-of-fact demeanor, who informs her that escape from the realm requires pressing forward, not turning back. What follows is a series of increasingly bizarre trials: a forest of dubious temptations, a treacherous Bog of Intense Emotions, stampeding rats, a child-hungry witch with a house made of broccoli, and a pair of unnervingly eager Sphinx twins. Looming over it all is an enigmatic figure known only as the Boss, whose connection to Shirley hints at deeper stakes beneath the chaos. Loose, kinetic artwork complements the story’s breakneck pacing, and the episodic quest structure provides a sturdy framework, balancing irreverent humor with a subtle undercurrent of emotional discovery as Shirley and George grow closer over the course of their adventure. It’s a satisfyingly offbeat introduction to what promises to be a wildly imaginative series. Ages 8–12. Agent: Penny Holroyde, Holroyde Cartey. (June)

Reviewed on 04/03/2026 | Details & Permalink

French comics creator Trondheim (the Ralph Azham series) slips impressive emotional depth beneath the breezy comedic surface of this deadpan graphic novel. When a teleportation spell mistakenly transports an orc to a human classroom, young Aurora’s first question is “Does he have to sit next to me?” Subsequent queries receive unsatisfying answers, solidifying Aurora’s belief that she’s the only one who seems to find the situation unusual. (Her teacher remains unruffled, her classmates are thrilled, and her mother’s main concern is the orc’s favorite food.) Soon, Aurora becomes the newcomer’s reluctant guide to human life, explaining everything from cameras and bathrooms to money and the important rule against eating people, lessons that unravel less than smoothly. The book’s first half thrives on culture-clash comedy. The chafing of the orc’s affable yet battle-hardened perspective—interpreting classroom silence as torture-resistance training or a too-soft bed as punishment—against Aurora’s increasing exasperation paves a path toward eventual understanding as Aurora and the orc broach questions about his origins. Minimalist artwork with comic-strip appeal depicts characters with varying skin tones and reinforces the brisk momentum. What begins as loosely connected classroom antics develops into a thought-provoking mystery about the way prejudice is taught. Ages 7–10. (June)

Reviewed on 04/03/2026 | Details & Permalink

Debut author Pennant gathers 17 authors—including Zoraida Córdova, Kwame Mbalia, and Maggie Tokuda-Hall—for a dreamy collection of fantastical tales about love’s ability to defy magic, monsters, and the occasional apocalypse. Each story unfolds in a distinct fantasy setting, from a seaside town frequented by mysterious sirens to an infernal realm governed by an elaborate royal court. The contributors also span a wide range of styles and subgenres, creating an eclectic mix that moves comfortably between high fantasy adventure and lighter, more whimsical fare. Among the standouts is Sophie Li’s “Chloe’s Cat,” a darkly comedic tale in which a girl’s beloved pet devours her longtime crush, forcing her to confront the awkward consequences. “Old Gods” by Chelsea Padilla offers a more tender romance, following a boy who falls for a shape-shifter—despite the inconvenient fact that his father makes a living hunting monsters. Stakes climb even higher in Pennant’s “Meet Me at World’s End,” in which a demon hunter and her crush must save the world from impending doom. Across the selections, intersectionally diverse teens grapple with difficult choices as love collides with loyalty to family, duty to community, or the risks of a dangerous world. Stories with varying voices and tones culminate in a beguiling offering about romances that challenge expectations and survive extraordinary obstacles. Ages 14–up. Agent: Vicky Weber, CMA. (June)

Reviewed on 04/03/2026 | Details & Permalink

Heard (We’ll Never Tell) considers the allure of self-transformation in this eerie supernatural horror novel. In Ventura, Calif., 17-year-old Bella seems to have perfected the art of reinvention. As a social media influencer with millions of followers, she’s polished, popular, and academically accomplished—her curated persona summed up by the ironically self-effacing handle @imsuchaluckygirl. Bella credits her success to discipline and the power of manifestation, a philosophy that has helped her shed an awkward past. But not everyone has fallen for her put-together persona, least of all Kerry, her estranged former best friend, who has never forgiven Bella for abandoning their childhood bond. Kerry’s quiet life takes a dark turn when she discovers a cryptic self-help volume, As Within, in the home of elderly Ruby, whom Kerry cares for. Promising fulfillment through rituals and spells, the book offers Kerry a tantalizing shortcut to everything Bella has achieved. As Kerry delves deeper into its instructions, though, unsettling phenomena begin to ripple through both girls’ lives, including encounters with shadowy, malevolent entities. Intermittent excerpts from the ominous text and glimpses into Ruby’s past build an atmosphere of creeping dread. Skillfully balanced psychological tension and supernatural horror ground a recognizable narrative about identity and belonging. The protagonists read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lauren Spieller, Folio Jr. (June)

Reviewed on 04/03/2026 | Details & Permalink