White seventh grader Lena Lennox is a “champion worrier.” When school administrators invite Lena and six of her similarly anxious Cranberry Bog Middle School classmates to participate in a mindfulness meditation trial meant to help reduce student stress via app, she’s skeptical but hopes it proves beneficial. Though the tweens find the first part of the exercises—“Calming and Clearing Our Minds”—to be useful, strange things occur when they begin part two: “Finding and Facing Our Fears.” Soon, their dread starts manifesting in the physical world as inky, tangible blobs. As the group try to uncover the app’s origins and ascertain how their terrors are becoming real, they must also find a way to keep the administration from deploying the program to the entire school. Uhrig (The Polter-Ghost Problem) keeps a steady pace and intertwines Lena’s encounters with her fear monsters with interpersonal worries surrounding her best friend Gina—now going by Regina—who’s “gone pretty” and started flirting with boys after returning from summer camp. Capably balanced humorous and heartfelt prose depicts kids finding the courage to face their demons, both internal and external. Ages 8–12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (July)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

“Small, quiet” Isabel Beane doesn’t feel like she fits in. She tries her best to please others, even practicing smiling at home, “so people would know she was nice/ and good and friendly.” Attempts to befriend classmate Monica result in a cruel dismissal and claims by Monica that Isabel is too different. She’s further crushed upon learning that she’s the only girl in class who’s not invited to Monica’s birthday party. Isabel’s mother insists that she’s “too sensitive” and must learn to speak up for herself. She struggles trying to meet her mother’s expectations, make friends, and do well in school, contending with heartbreak and disappointment when her efforts don’t net success, but unexpected events soon change everything for Isabel and force Monica to face the consequences of her actions. Sensorial verse alternates between Isabel’s and Monica’s POVs. Though Isabel’s experiences are at times framed as learning opportunities for Monica, the challenges that she faces in navigating mounting anxieties are sensitively depicted in this touching story by Pla (The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn) that celebrates identity, friendship, and finding inner strength. An endnote offers “useful starting points, about anxiety and/or autism.” Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Sara Crowe Literary. (July)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

In this moving verse novel by Sheth (Nina Soni, Perfect Hostess), a 13-year-old boy navigates loss and threats of violence. Anoop is aware that his brown skin and patka headwrap make him stand out (“I am a first-generation Indian American Sikh,/ surrounded by mostly white students./ A brown crystal of sugar,/ in a bowl of white sugar”). The protection afforded by Jacob, “my friend from first grade,” ends as they enter eighth grade; they don’t have any classes together, which makes Anoop anxious. “Without him standing by me, for me, I feel vulnerable,” especially when he remembers how a recent attack on Sikhs in nearby Oak Creek, Wis., resulted in “more than a half dozen dead.” After he learns his beloved Baba is sick in India, Anoop and his father travel there for a visit. In his grandfather’s serene presence, Anoop ponders how Baba, orphaned by the violent partition of India at the end of British colonial rule, holds fast to his Sikh faith. Sheth evocatively explains Sikhism in this compassionate story in which characters combat hate with reason. An author’s note concludes. Ages 8–12. (July)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

Silliness reigns in this caper about a lonely, fame-hungry fox who finds belonging within his reluctantly chosen family. Ever since his first skulk—humans who adopted him as a baby—broke his heart and surrendered him to an animal rescue, fennec fox Zoodini has lived up to his self-given moniker, doing his best to escape from any zoo he’s taken to. Luckily his trusted sidekick Hoppy—a stuffed rabbit whose voice only Zoodini can hear— supports his efforts. When the duo is transferred to Twin Buttes Animal Sanctuary and Drive-In Movie Theater in Colorado, Hoppy thinks they’ve found a forever home with a group comprising an orangutan, tortoise, otter, flamingo, and grizzly cub who host game and movie nights. But financial troubles, miscommunications, and human family grudges waylay any potential home sweet home. Though some of the action, including Zoodini’s cellphone use, strains credulity, Gardner (the Horace & Bunwinkle series) evokes belly laughs via clever naming conventions and incorporation of plot elements from musicals such as Grease. Readers will want to stay along for the ride and feel-good finale, ferried by a bighearted crew. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. (July)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

Burgos (The Cot in the Living Room) centers the relationship between a stray cat and a Dominican American boy who loves to draw in this family-oriented series opener about the bonds that make life sweet. On a cold winter night, Miguel Rosado rescues a hungry black-and-white cat outside of Blanca y Roja Bodega, his family’s Washington Heights store. Urging from elderly Tío Diego (“Doesn’t Miguel need a pet? Especially since the poor child doesn’t have any siblings”) prompts Mami and Papi to reluctantly allow Miguel to keep the cat, which he names Lolo. Lolo happily settles in as the bodega’s mouser and runs off feline interlopers, and Miguel decorates his litterbox with drawings. He even creates comic books about Lolo despite Mami and Papi’s protests that art is a waste of time. Miguel soon tricks his parents into permitting him to join an art club rather than the after-school science club they’d prefer, but his subterfuge ends in near disaster. Faison’s cozy illustrations, depicting Miguel, Lolo, and the surrounding community, buoy this lively portrayal of the many forms that bravery, kindness, and connection can take. Ages 7–10. (July)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

In the spirit of Lemony Snicket, Lexie—“the very best number one storyteller in Shreveport”—warns readers that they might be scared to learn that paranormal entities are real. She then chronicles the harrowing tale of how Grams signed her up for Happy Hollow Camp for Joyful Boys and Girls. Yet “somehow, something went very wrong”: rather than dropping her off at Happy Hollow Camp, Lexie’s gram leaves her at Camp Croak, a summer program for supernatural creatures run by a three-headed witch. At first, Lexie is scared she’ll be eaten for dinner. Much to the mortal human’s relief, Lexie instead befriends her cabinmates: a werewolf named Emmy LouLou, a skeleton named Bébé, a small ghost named Sweet Boo, and a zombie named Mary Shelley. Together, they earn Camp Croak badges, play games, and learn about their innate skills and powers both supernatural and mundane. Dolan’s quick-witted first-person narration highlights Lexie’s vigilance, creativity, and deepening love for her new friends. Intermittent lists of rules, ingredients, and more are rendered via scratchy black, white, and yellow illustrations throughout, adding to the creepy atmosphere. Character skin colors match the white of the page. Ages 6–10. (July)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

This frightfully fun book by Lerner (the Nat the Cat series) collects all the paranormal creatures of the night into a boarding school setting. Quivering with dread, Bash, an insecure young ghost, enters Scare School, fearful that he will fail the classes meant to test his ghostly skills, including flying, invisibility, and intangibility. Bash isn’t as proficient as his talented older sister Bella, and worries he’ll be doomed to haunt small-time locations like closets or dresser drawers as a result. He’s surprised to discover he (mostly) enjoys Scare School: the headless headmaster is kind and his roommate, Itsy Spider, is his first real friend. Still, the classes are just as difficult—and the teachers are just as fearsome—as Bash anticipated. Even with amateur hypnotist Itsy as his study buddy, Bash struggles. But while he fumbles his attempt to use his powers to rescue Itsy from bullies, Bash’s actions provide a distraction that allows Itsy to scurry to safety. Via Bash’s “TOTALLY PRIVATE” journal entries, Lerner utilizes howling humor and occasional b&w comics to depict timid Bash, who—with help from his new friends and an unexpected source—faces his fears and (mostly) succeeds. Ages 5–8. (July)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

Shenanigans ensue as mythical creatures attend school for the first time in this cozy chapter book series launch by collaborators Holub and Williams (the Little Goddess Girls series). Young Pegasus is excited for his first day at the School for Magical Monsters, where each student will discover their inherent magical power and learn how to control it. More than that, he’s looking forward to making new friends. Once he arrives, Pegasus meets a courageous boy named Zeus as well as myriad other mythical creatures like himself, including Griffin, Minotaur, Hippocampus, Cyclops, and Sphinx. When the class is divided into groups, Pegasus takes the lead on their magical drawing assignment—but Pegasus’s idea doesn’t go according to plan, leading to personal disappointment and internal shame. Still, Pegasus continues to encounter surprising obstacles and adventures, eventually discovering his own innate power—and netting himself a trusted companion. Engaging language combines with elements of Greek mythology to present a lighthearted, charming story of self-discovery, new experiences, and open-mindedness. U.K. illustrator Allen’s softly lined art depicts Pegasus’s adventures throughout. Includes a glossary, discussion questions, and an author’s note. Ages 5–8. (July)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

When their flying saucer crash-lands near Mr. and Mrs. Li’s rural home at midnight, a trio of aliens tries their darndest to convince the couple that “we are DEFINITELY human.” The three clearly resemble blue chess pieces with ovoid heads and huge eyes, but instead of challenging their story or sending them elsewhere, Mr. Li “did what kind humans do. He offered to help.” The two welcome the aliens as guests—referring to them as “y’all” and going along their stories of being “from Europe.” (Asked what they do there, they reply, “I make business... I play sports ball... I wear hat.”) After the group visits a local general store for repair equipment, neighbors prove curious but equally hospitable, and a barn-raising-style party ensues (one of the aliens applies a hot dog to its head). Digitally colored graphite tableaus lend a slyly funny vibe, and what starts out as a fish-out-of-water comedy becomes a close encounter of straightforward acceptance. “Wherever they went next,” writes Fang (Dim Sum Palace) of the aliens as they fly away, “they would remember the kindness of humans, and do what kind humans do—offer help to anyone who needs it.” Human characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

One of the hatching eggs in Mr. and Mrs. Wren’s cozy nest is incongruously bright pink, and a small, human-like hand protrudes from it. “Oh dear!” says Blackbird, “Does this mean the fairies are coming back?” But the wingless creature that hatches out isn’t a full fairy, and the kindly Wrens and their feathered offspring embrace her as one of their own, naming her Tiny Jenny. But her innate exuberance—“Well done, me!” she declares when she crashes to the ground after an unsuccessful attempt at flight—alarms the Wrens’ animal neighbors. Upon Owl’s suggestion that she look into her possible fairy background, Tiny Jenny runs away to join the gossamer forest beings, only to discover that they’re actually insouciant bullies (“They didn’t forage for food or gather twigs or sing songs. They just... smashed and stole stuff”). Tiny Jenny is indignant but also torn—does she belong anywhere? Smith (The Mermaid Moon) combines elegantly rendered mixed-media images with whip-smart humor and an irrepressible protagonist—the result is a fractured fairy story with a distinctly contemporary sensibility. Tiny Jenny is rendered with pale skin; the fairies are shown with a range of skin tones. Ages 4–8. Agent: Charlie Bowden, Pickled Ink. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink