LibGuides: Children's Virtual New Book Shelf: New Fiction February 2023

Redshift by H. S. TAK; Brent David McKee (Illustrator) REDSHIFT is a science fiction space saga about a family's survival on the Martian frontier written by HS Tak and illustrated by Brent David McKee, published monthly by Scout Comics.   A decade ago, explorer Isabella Faye Drake was chosen to take the illustrious and all-important Voyage to hunt down a new Earth. Like the other Voyagers before her, she never returned, leaving behind two sons Hellener and Sebastian, and their father Roderick. When the Ministry of Exploration chooses Hellener for the same deep space mission, his brother Sebastian is left behind to try and contain a depleted Mars that stands on the brink of a civil war. While Hellener chases the fleeting dream of a new home, Sebastian struggles to ensure his brother will have a home left to return to.

All That Is You by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; Devon Holzwarth (Illustrator) Filled with snuggles and giggles galore, this wondrous picture book is an ode to the intergenerational bonds of love and joy shared between family and friends, featuring a wide array of communities--for fans of You Are My I Love You and I Love You to the Moon and Back. You're the give in my love, the boundless in it, too, and forever tucked inside of me is all that is you. All That is You celebrates the treasured bonds of love, joy, and inspiration shared by us all. Join us on a sunrise to sunset journey, full of giggles, wonder, and tenderness connecting everyone--parents, children, grandparents, and friends alike--everywhere. From Alyssa Satin Capucilli, the bestselling writer of the Biscuit series, comes a picture book ode to the warmth and affection that enriches generation to generation, family to family, and friend to friend. Paired with Devon Holzwarth's lush, expressive art, this is bound to become a classic readaloud story and a wonderful gift for parents, grandparents, baby showers, graduations, and other celebrations.

Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld In this stunning story from New York Times bestselling creator Cori Doerrfeld, a child and their grandfather take a walk in the woods and discover more about themselves. Finn is in a horrible mood and doesn't want to talk about it. After some persuading, though, they agree to go for a hike with Grandpa. Throughout their forest walk, they see many different things: big, strong trees with networks of roots growing underneath, still water with schools of fish swimming below, and an expectant bird with eggs nestled under her. It's when the pair pass fellow hikers that Finn realizes that people, just like the elements of nature, are more than they appear. Grandpa explains that sometimes beneath a person who seems like they won't understand what you're feeling, is someone feeling the exact same way.    This sweet and tender picture book celebrates our similarities, differences, and that there's always more under the surface of what we can see.

Nana, Nenek and Nina by Liza Ferneyhough (Illustrator) Nina loves visiting her two faraway grandmas-one in Malaysia and one in England. Spot the similarities and differences between their homes in this cozy and beautifully illustrated picture book! Nina lives in San Francisco with her parents, and she loves visiting her two grandmas across the world. Follow Nina as her two trips unfold side by side- Young readers will love poring over the details of what is the same and what is different at Nana's home in England and at Nenek's home in Malaysia. In each place, Nina wears different clothes, plays different games, and eats different food. But so much about visiting Nana and Nenek is the same, from warm hugs at the airport to beach days and bedtime snuggles. Nina is equally at home across the world in Malaysia or England, and both of her grandmas love her to California and back. ***Three starred reviews!*** Shelf Awareness Best Children's & YA of 2022 selection *"Conveys differences and similarities bound together by love, and offers a joyful narrative of multicultural childhood."-Publishers Weekly, starred review

I Hope by Monique Gray Smith; Gabrielle Grimard (Illustrator) Poignant words from award-winning Indigenous author Monique Gray Smith about all the hopes adults have for the young people in their lives. The hopes we have for the children in our lives are endless. We want our young people to thrive and experience all that life has to offer, but we also feel protective of them. Using simple but powerful statements, Monique Gray Smith delivers a touching message about loving, nurturing and wishing the best for our children. Paired with Gabrielle Grimard's warm and enchanting illustrations, the message in I Hopewill resonate with all parents, grandparents and caregivers. Praise for Monique Gray Smith: ★"Joyful and tender...celebrates the activities that bring gladness through family and cultural connections."--School Library Journal, starred review for My Heart Fills With Happiness "Smith's text is heartwarming!"--Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literaturefor You Hold Me Up "Gentle...Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities--and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others."--Publisher's Weekly for When We Are Kind ★"Smith tackles difficult and complex conversations with straightforwardness and compassion."--School Library Journal, starred review for Speaking Our Truth

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever the Courage to Dream by Frederick Joseph; Nikkolas Smith (Illustrator) Set in the world of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from Marvel Studios, The Courage to Dream is an inspiring picture book about a young Wakandan finding her destiny, from two New York Times best-selling creators. The Courage to Dream tells the story of Assata, a young Wakandan who hopes to become one of the Dora Milaje, the warriors who protect Wakanda. But because of Assata's disability, she lets go of her dream. Assata's light shows through all the same, introducing her to surprising friends: the princess Shuri, the warrior Okoye, and the powerful M'Baku. But only Assata can give herself what she's missing: the courage to dream. New York Times best-selling author Frederick Joseph (The Black Friend) and New York Times best-selling illustrator Nikkolas Smith (The 1619 Project: Born on the Water) bring Wakanda to life in this inspiring picture book about discovering who you can truly be.

The Cool Code by Deirdre Langeland; Sarah Mai (Illustrator) In this funny and heartfelt slice-of-life graphic novel for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller, when coding whiz Zoey goes from homeschooled to new school, she develops an app to help her make friends. Will the Cool Code help Zoey fit in Or will it completely crash her social life In an attempt to fit in, Zoey develops an app called the Cool Code with a cute llama avatar that will tell her everything from what to say to what to wear based on pop culture algorithms she's uploaded. But when the app gives her ridiculous advice, awkwardness and hilarity ensues. With a few upgrades and a bit of debugging from the coding club, the app actually works--Zoey gets really popular . . . and gets her pulled in all kinds of directions, including away from her real friends. Life's most complicated choices. . . is there a code for that

Wanda the Brave by Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni; Chantelle and Burgen Thorne (Illustrator) Meet Wanda, with her glorious head of hair. Written and illustrated by the South African team who brought you the award-winning book Wanda. Today, Wanda is visiting the hair salon where she'll use all the hair secrets Makhulu taught her. But Aunty Ada wants her to straighten her hair with a white chemical. Wanda and her new friend Nkiruka come up with a plan and both girls stand strong and brave in the face of this big challenge. Bold and zesty, Wanda the Brave is a celebration of girl power, and a reminder that courage and friendship is a mighty force!

Frances in the Country by Liz Garton Scanlon; Sean Qualls (Illustrator) Frances is a city kid, but it's hard for her to fit in. City walls aren't for climbing, city rooms aren't for running, city shops and city yards are too crowded, and there are so many rules that Frances can't seem to follow. She takes a trip to visit her cousins in the country, where she finds cats for chasing, roads for racing down, ladders for leaping, and fields full of animals. When it's time to go home, it's not easy to leave her cousins, but she invites them to visit and see the sights and sounds, lights, thumps, beeps and shines of the city where she returns to her loving mom and sisters. Liz Garton Scanlon is author of the Caldecott Honor book All the World, illustrated by Marla Frazee, and many other books including Bob, Not Bob, illustrated by Matt Cordell, and Another Way to Climb A Tree, illustrated by Hadley Hooper, With Frances in the Country, she deftly balances the appeals of city and country life. Sean Qualls is the Coretta Scott King Honor artist for Before John Was a Jazz Giant, Emmanuel's Dream, and Giant Steps to Change the World.

A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor Expert quilter Kim Taylor shares a unique and powerful story of the celebration of the first Juneteenth, from the perspective of a young girl. On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, General Gordon Granger of the Union Army delivered the message that African Americans in Texas were free. Since then, Juneteenth, as the day has come to be known, has steadily gained recognition throughout the United States. ln 2020,a powerful wave of protests and demonstrations calling for racial justice and equality brought new awareness to the significance of the holiday. A Flag for Juneteenth depicts a close-knit community of enslaved African Americans on a plantation in Texas, the day before the announcement is to be made that all enslaved people are free. Young Huldah, who is preparing to celebrate her tenth birthday, can't possibly anticipate how much her life will change that Juneteenth morning. The story follows Huldah and her community as they process the news of their freedom and celebrate together by creating a community freedom flag. Debut author and artist Kim Taylor sets this story apart by applying her skills as an expert quilter. Each of the illustrations has been lovingly hand sewn and quilted, giving the book a homespun, tactile quality that is altogether unique. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Sugar Pie Lullaby by Carole Weatherford; Sawyer Cloud (Illustrator) Celebrate family love with this heartwarming and soulful bedtime book perfect for toddlers 1-3! Shoo-be-do-wop along with your little one as you introduce them to the legendary music of the Motown era. Heartfelt text and whimsical illustrations will touch the hearts of sentimental parents and grandparents and will ensure little ones enjoy a jazzy drift off to dreamland. Sugar Pie Lullaby also includes delightful facts so that kids and caregivers can learn more about Motown legends together! Baby love, Little bitty precious one, I was born to love you. What else is there to do? You are the sunshine of my life. Morning, noon and night All I do is thank God for you.

Like Me by Laura Wifler; Skylar White (Artist) "A delightful book to help our children understand how we are all different and we are also the same."--Trillia Newbell, author of God's Very Good Idea and The Big Wide Welcome This children's picture book follows a sibling of a child with a disability as they go through their day. A simple story with an important message, Like Me helps kids recognize the many similarities they share with disabled kids and model a loving and understanding approach to the differences.      "God made you, God loves you, God is kind to you."   It can be hard for children to take those three life-changing truths into their hearts and treat others with love and understanding, especially when they encounter those whose needs differ drastically from theirs.   Through a sibling's eyes, young readers will tag along on a day of a child with a disability. As the two siblings play with friends, go to therapy, and spend time with family, relatable comparisons will help children understand a different type of family life, building empathy for children with disabilities along the way.   Like Me opens the door to meaningful talks with your child about empathy, compassion, diversity, and God's love for them and others.

Rica Baptista: Llamas, Iguanas, and My Very Best Friend by Janet Costa Bates; Gladys Jose (Illustrator) Rica's very best friend is moving away. How can she convince her parents to let her get a pet so she won't be lonely? Friendship and family shine in this engaging young chapter book. Rica Baptista wants--no, needs--a pet. A llama, a kinkajou, or maybe an iguana? She even has a name picked out: Frederica, her own name, after her Cape Verdean great-great-grandfather. But Rica's parents say no almost faster than their mouths can open. The worst part is that Rica can't tell anyone the real reason she wants a pet, because she's not supposed to know--she overheard that her best friend, Laini, is moving away, and Rica worries about being left behind. Rica and Laini make lists of the benefits of having a pet to convince Rica's parents, and they try all sorts of schemes to raise money to afford one, from party planning to holding a yard sale to entering a poetry contest. But in the end, it might be an act of unselfish kindness and courage that shows that Rica is ready to take on the pet of her dreams. In a rich and amusing story that will appeal to fans of Judy Moody and Ivy and Bean, a sincere and creative protagonist navigates friend and family relationships from funny to frustrating, endearing to insightful.

How We Say I Love You by Nicole Chen; Lenny Wen (Illustrator) In this heartwarming picture book, an Asian American girl shares how her family expresses their love for one another through actions rather than words. How do you tell your family that you love them? For Hana, love is all around her- Mom stirs love into a steaming pot of xifan. Dad cheers with love at her soccer game. Hana says good night with love by rubbing her grandma's feet and pouring her grandpa his sleepy tea. And as the light fades, Hana's parents tuck her into bed and give her a good night kiss. So many families express their love in all they do for one another, every day. Here is a book that wraps you in a hug and invites your family to share their own special ways of showing love.

Eva in the Band: a Branches Book (Owl Diaries #17) by Rebecca Elliott (Illustrator) Eva Wingdale is rocking out in a band with her friends, in this New York Times bestselling early chapter book series just-right for newly independent readers. Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow! Eva is ready to rock out at the Woodlandstock Music Festival! But when another band can't make it, Eva and her friends are ready to step in. Will they be able to form their own band in time to save the festival? And who will be their band's star singer? With speech bubbles, easy-to-read text, and adorable characters, this bestselling series is perfect for newly independent readers! Continue this book series with "Eva the Owlet," an Apple TV+ original series!

Fall Frolic in the City by Cathy Goldberg Fishman; Melanie Hall (Illustrator) A fall frolic in the city. What do I see? One pile of red leaves Under a tree. Frolic through the city in the fall and experience the sights, sounds, colors, and smells of the multitude of different holidays we celebrate this season. From Rosh Hashanah to Halloween and Día de Muertos, everyone has a reason to celebrate. With simple rhymes, a counting pattern, and stunning papercraft art reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats, this diverse board book is the perfect introduction to autumn and the cultural melting pot that makes the city so special.

Battle of the Bands by Felix Gumpaw; Glass House Glass House Graphics (Illustrator) In this eighth installment of the Pup Detectives graphic novel series, the sleuths must stop a ghostly saboteur! The local Battle of the Bands gets off to a haunting start as a mystery ghost tries to scare music away from Pawston forever! Can the Pup Detectives sniff out the specter and save the day?

Captain Stone's Revenge by Carolyn Keene Nancy's sailing trip to Vermont turns into a hunt for a ghostly saboteur's lost treasure in the twenty-fourth book in the Nancy Drew Diaries, a fresh approach to a classic series. When a family friend, Grace, opens a sailing club on Lake Champlain at the former site of the Gemstone Islands Resort, Nancy, Bess, and George are invited to enjoy a few days of boating before the club's official grand opening. But when they arrive, they learn there have been some strange things happening on the property, from missing items to holes dug all over the yard. Is someone trying to sabotage the club, and could it have anything to do with the fire that destroyed the old resort twenty years ago? As Nancy tries to pry information from the tight-lipped locals, all clues lead back to Captain Richard Stone, the enigmatic Revolutionary War-era pirate whose tavern once stood on the same site as the resort and sailing club. Legend has it that Captain Stone's ghost still haunts the property, guarding the treasure he buried there. But it isn't a ghost that punches a hole in Nancy's sailboat, leaving her and the girls to sink in the middle of the lake when an unexpected summer storm rolls in. Unraveling the mystery of Captain Stone's treasure will be the key to finding out who's been sabotaging Grace's club. But first, Nancy and her friends will have to make it back to shore in one piece...

Together: a First Conversation about Love by Megan Madison; Jessica Ralli; Anne/Andy Passchier (Illustrator) A beginner's exploration of love, relationships, and families - the latest in the FIRST CONVERSATIONS board book series, which offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way. Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven board book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion. While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like love, relationships, and families from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice. This fourth book in the series begins the conversation on love with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.

The Birthday of the World by Rachel Naomi Remen; Rachell Sumpter (Illustrator) From the New York Times bestselling author of Kitchen Table Wisdom, a modern retelling of a timeless story about healing the world by finding light in everyone and everything In the beginning, there was only darkness, and then a great ray of light ended the darkness and the world was born, the world of a thousand thousand things. It was filled with light. Then something unexpected happened, and the light of the world broke into millions of sparks of light. These sparks fell everywhere. They fell into everyone and everything. This is why you were born and I was born, and why everyone was born--to find the light and change the world. The Birthday of the World is a beautiful retelling, by a beloved author, of a timeless story about finding light in the darkness, one spark at a time.

So Much Snow by Kristen Schroeder; Sarah Jacoby (Illustrator) A beautifully illustrated, rollicking read-aloud about forest animals who are caught-literally up to their ears and antlers-in a snowstorm. On Monday, it starts to snow. Silent swirling. How high will it go? Follow seven forest creatures, from a tiny mouse to a giant moose, as they hunker down in a snowstorm. As the week progresses, the snow piles up and up--even past Moose's antlers! On Sunday, the sun starts to melt the snow, and it seems that, as the next week passes and it grows sunnier, spring has finally sprung. But wait...is that more snow?! This cumulative picture book is at once beautiful and lyrical and playful and joyful, with charming illustrations by a highly acclaimed illustrator.

Broadway Bird by Alex Timbers; Alisa Coburn (Illustrator) A charming and heartfelt picture book about a little bird who dreams of making it big on Broadway, from Tony Award-winning Broadway director Alex Timbers. What Louisa loved most about living in Times Square wasn't the buzzzz of the city... No, it was that she could sing as loud as she wanted. She could sing all day and she could sing all night. Louisa was truly a Broadway bird. Louisa is a tiny parakeet with a HUGE dream: to be a Broadway star. But no matter what she does, everyone keeps telling her she's too small to make it big! When a chance at her big break comes, Louisa learns that no matter how small you are, with a little talent and a lot of hard work, you can do anything - even be on Broadway! With colorful, charming illustrations by artist Alisa Coburn, this heartfelt picture book from renowned Broadway director Alex Timbers is about persistence, believing in yourself, and, of course, the magic of Broadway.

Camp Creepy by Kiersten White The third book in the middle-grade series that's part Scooby-Doo, part A Series of Unfortunate Events, and entirely genius! Follow the Sinister-Winterbottoms on their most outrageous adventure yet, when they find themselves at a normal summer camp! After leaving the Sanguine Spa in pursuit of Edgaren't, the kids find themselves at a mysterious summer camp, Camp Creek. There are lake games and happy counselors, and there's even a tie-dye cabin. It's all very . . . normal. But if Theo and Alexander know one thing, it's that normal doesn't always mean good. When everyone around her starts acting strange, Theo wonders if maybe the fumes from the tie-dye cabin are seeping into their brains, and she resolves to investigate what's really going on at Camp Creek.    The third book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White's Sinister Summer series continues the adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their aunt, who never saw a discount vacation destination she didn't love.

Go, Sled! Go! by James Yang (Illustrator) Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winner James Yang hops on a speeding sled with this hilarious and helpful easy-to-read picture book, perfect for beginning readers! Go, sled, go! What could be more exciting than a thrilling sled ride? Maybe when a few unexpected creatures join the adventure? Before long, there's a bunny, a moose, a snowman, and even a baker with cakes on the sled, and more surprises are headed their way. Repetitive words and large type make this a perfect book for beginning readers. And the laughs and surprises keep coming until the very satisfying end.

Kwanzaa Candles by Megan Borgert-Spaniol; Susana Gurrea (Illustrator) See what role candles play during Kwanzaa. Young readers will learn about the holiday in this fictional story, which pairs with the nonfiction title Holiday Fun.

Henry Heckelbeck and the Great Frog Escape by Wanda Coven; Priscilla Burris (Illustrator) In this eleventh Henry Heckelbeck adventure, Henry catches frogs with his friends! Henry Heckelbeck and his friends spend the day at Brewster Creek, a place where they can relax, run around, and catch frogs! But when Henry accidentally brings a frog home, it does not want to stay put! Will Henry be able to return the frog to the creek? Or will this great frog escape turn into an absolute disaster? With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Henry Heckelbeck chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

The Enchanted Bridge by Zetta Elliott; Cherise Harris (Illustrator) Getting three baby dragons back home was just the beginning. Now Jaxon is on a mission to help all magical creatures from Dragons in a Bag! But things in the magical realm are more complicated than they seem in the fourth book in the critically acclaimed series. With their new special abilities, Jaxon and his friends are not the ordinary kids they used to be. No longer destined to become a witch, Jax finds himself caught up in a secret plan involving the Guardian of Palmara's mysterious twin brother, Ol-Korrok. As the ambassador to the realm of magic, Jax must convince Sis that magical creatures should be free to return to the human world. But to reach Palmara, Jax and his friends must cross Ol-Korrok's enchanted bridge connecting the two realms. Is Ol-Korrok really the ally he pretends to be? Or has Jax set in motion a plan that will endanger both realms? It takes strength to build a bridge. But sometimes even the strongest bridges must be burned.

The Ever Storms by Amanda Foody Barclay and his friends find new dangers and fresh adventure when they encounter mysterious sandstorms in the Desert in this thrilling third book of the New York Times bestselling Wilderlore series. After saving the Sea, Barclay and his fellow apprentices are eager to take part in a new kind of adventure--the Symposium, a set of courses that all apprentices of the Lore Keeper Guild need to pass before they can take their licensing exam. Barclay is excited to travel to the Desert to study at the University of Al Faradh, the most respected school in all the Wilderlands, and to reunite with the new friends he made at the Sea. He's slightly less excited about the Tourney, the traditional, good-natured prank war between the various apprentice tracks. As an Elsie, he's pretty sure he'll have enough on his hands keeping up with the Symposium without having to worry about stink bombs and slime warfare. But as mysterious, unnatural sandstorms start to appear around the Desert, there are more than just exams and bragging rights at stake. And the appearance of an exclusive, magical library might just be the key to everything...

Let's Play Ddakji by Seo-Ha Im; Joon-Young Jang (Illustrator) It's vacation time! Woo is ready to visit his aunt, because that means he gets to play ddakji with his friends. Woo spent all year practicing and making the best ddakji--a bright, golden one. He made sure his was hard and heavy so he could beat Gorin, the reigning champion who won his ddakji last summer. When he loses to Gorin again, he makes it his mission to find the best material for his new ddakji so he can win. But Woo will find that a well crafted ddakji is only part of what it takes to win. The other? Fun! In this vibrant story about friendly competition, Let's Play Ddajki inspires kids to try a new game through Woo and Gorin's love of ddakji. Complete with colorful illustrations and detailed instructions on how to fold a ddakji, anyone can learn how to play this traditional Korean game from start to finish.

Zara's Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure by Hena Khan; Wastana Haikal (Illustrator) From the beloved author of Amina's Voice comes the second book in the delightful Zara's Rules middle grade series following Zara as she starts her own business! Zara lives for bike rides with her friends--so when her shiny, brand-new bike goes missing from the park one day, she's crushed. After her parents insist she earn the money for another one herself, Zara's determined to start a business. But what kind? A lemonade stand? Not profitable enough. Selling painted rocks? Not enough customers. Zara's starting to get discouraged when she and her friend Naomi finally come up with the perfect idea: The Treasure Wagon, a roving garage sale that unloads knickknacks from the Saleem family basement and makes money all at once! But when a mix-up gets Zara in hot water again, will she have to give up everything she's earned toward her new bike?

Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll A neurodiverse twelve-year-old girl is shown an amazing new technology that gives her another chance to talk to the best friend she lost. But she soon discovers the corporation behind the science hides dark secrets that only she can expose in this heartwarming and heroic sophomore novel from the award-winning author of A Kind of Spark. A CILIP Carnegie Medal nominee! *"McNicoll writes Adrien and narrator Cora with nuance and verve." -Publishers Weekly, Starred Review It has never been easy for Cora to make friends. Cora is autistic, and sometimes she gets overwhelmed and stims to soothe her nerves. Adrien has ADHD and knows what it is like to navigate a world that isn't always built for the neurodiverse. The two are fast friends until an accident puts Adrien in a coma.  Cora is devastated until Dr. Gold, the CEO of Pomegranate Institute, offers to let Cora talk to Adrien again, as a hologram her company develops. While at first enchanted, Cora soon discovers that the hologram of Adrien doesn't capture who he was in life. And the deeper Cora dives into the mystery, the more she sees Pomegranate has secrets to hide. Can Cora uncover Pomegranate's dark truth before their technologies rewrite history forever?

Dear Black Child by Rahma Rodaah; Lydia Mba (Illustrator) In the spirit of I Am Enough, this is a moving and lyrical tribute to and affirmation of Black children around the world--by an exciting new author and illustrator team. Dear Black Child, We are here to remind you of your glory... An inspiring love letter to Black children from all cultures, this book is a celebration of their beauty, joy, and resilience. Dear Black Child is a story of self-acceptance, love, and empowerment for Black immigrant children and families of the diaspora around the world and features joyful and vibrant illustrations.

Where Did Poppy Go? by Gail Silver; Amanda Quartey (Illustrator) "How do we answer children's questions about the cycle of life? This book is the perfect resource." -Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE, RYT, author of Raising Good Humans After a grandfather, "Poppy," dies, a father and son journey forward through seasons and time, discovering how our loved ones remain with us even after they pass on. From beloved author Gail Silver of the Anh's Anger series comes a touching story of a father comforting his son after a grandfather, "Poppy," dies. The lovely rhyme and poetry offers a heartfelt way to discuss loss and grief with a child. We see, along with the little boy of the story, how our loved ones are with us forever, in everything we do. Beautiful textured pastels carry the reader through the seasons as the father describes the cycle of life, and all of the beauty and sadness that comes with it.

The Polter-Ghost Problem by Betsy Uhrig Three best friends discover a haunted orphanage and get swept up in ghoulish shenanigans in this "laugh-out-loud, high-action read" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) for fans of Best Nerds Forever and the Fear Street series. One haunted orphanage + two types of ghosts + three freaked-out friends = plenty of trouble. Best friends Aldo, Pen, and Jasper are braced for a boring summer. And equally dull summer journal writing assignments. That is, until they see a slightly transparent boy with a bad haircut appear by the soccer field and then disappear into the woods beyond. The boys follow him and discover the long-abandoned Grauche Orphanage for Orphans, a house in the woods that is most definitely haunted. But the ghosts are not the problem. They have been trapped at the orphanage by a cranky poltergeist who erupts into violent tantrums if they put even a spectral toe across the property line. The ghosts ask the boys to help free them--but who is the angry poltergeist and what does it want? To solve the mystery, the trio must investigate the orphanage's dark past, evade Aldo's ghastly older brother, borrow a skeptical librarian, and duck lots of flying furniture, all while failing to agree on almost anything. Can they defeat the evil entity and rescue the ghosts before their parents catch on and ground them for eternity?

Vampiric Vacation by Kiersten White The spooky summer adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottom twins continue in another gothic mystery- can Theo and Alexander solve the secret of the Sanguine Spa in the little Transylvania Mountains? The second book in the new Sinister Summer series by #1 NYT bestselling author Kiersten White, called "perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket, Edward Gorey, and Roald Dahl," by Shelf Awareness. After leaving Fathoms of Fun, the kids are on their way to the next odd summer destination their aunt has chosen for them. This time, they find themselves dropped off at the Sanguine Spa in the "little Transylvania Mountains." There they meet the owners- Mina, her mysterious little sister, Lucy (who is extremely pale, can't go in the sunlight, and has an affinity for hanging upside down from the ceiling), and their intimidating guardian, the Count. When the Count sends all the children in the spa on a scavenger hunt, the Sinister-Winterbottoms use the excuse to snoop around and discover that this spa may be more than just eerie-it might also hold clues to what happened to their parents. When Wil starts to show vampiric symptoms, the twins resolve to investigate what's really going on at the Sanguine Spa. The second book in the Sinister Summer series continues the adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their aunt who never saw a discount vacation destination she didn't love.

Worser by Jennifer Ziegler A bullied 12-year-old boy must find a new normal after his mother has a stroke and his life is turned upside down. William Wyatt Orser, a socially awkward middle schooler, is a wordsmith who, much to his annoyance, acquired the ironically ungrammatical nickname of "Worser" so long ago that few people at school know to call him anything else. Worser grew up with his mom, a professor of rhetoric and an introvert just like him, in a comfortable routine that involved reading aloud in the evenings, criticizing the grammar of others, ignoring the shabby mess of their house, and suffering the bare minimum of social interactions with others. But recently all that has changed. His mom had a stroke that left her nonverbal, and his Aunt Iris has moved in with her cats, art projects, loud music, and even louder clothes. Home for Worser is no longer a refuge from the unsympathetic world at school that it has been all his life. Feeling lost, lonely, and overwhelmed, Worser searches for a new sanctuary and ends up finding the Literary Club--a group of kids from school who share his love of words and meet in a used bookstore- something he never dreamed existed outside of his home. Even more surprising to Worser is that the key to making friends is sharing the thing he holds dearest- his Masterwork, the epic word notebook that he has been adding entries to for years. But relationships can be precarious, and it is up to Worser to turn the page in his own story to make something that endures so that he is no longer seen as Worser and earns a new nickname, Worder.

The More You Give by Marcy Campbell; Francesca Sanna (Illustrator) A modern-day response to The Giving Tree, this lyrical picturebook shows how a family passes down love from generation to generation, leaving a legacy of growing both trees and community. Once there was a wide-open field, and a boy who loved his grandmother, who loved him back. The boy's grandmother gives him many gifts, like hugs, and Sunday morning pancakes, and acorns with wild and woolly caps. And all her wisdom about how things grow. As the boy becomes a father, he gives his daughter bedtime stories his grandmother told him, and piggyback rides. He gives her acorns, and the wisdom he learned about how things grow. His daughter continues the chain, then passing down gifts of her own. Here is a picture book about the legacy of love that comes when we nurture living things-be they people or trees.

Happy Easter from the Crayons by Drew Daywalt; Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator) Celebrate Easter with a hilarious holiday adventure starring the crayons from the #1 New York Times bestseller The Day the Crayons Quit! Easter is the perfect holiday for crayons! They get to learn new shapes and decorate one giant egg together...but where will they hide it?! Blue Crayon has some ideas... In a gift book perfectly sized for Easter baskets, this story is sure to make kids--and grown-ups--giggle as they celebrate the holiday together.

Two Fur One (Home for Meow #4) by Reese Eschmann All the "awwws" of animal adoption stories are combined with sugary sweetness in this new, fun-filled chapter book series about a cat café! Every home needs a cat! Kira Parker lives above The Purrfect Cup, the cat café that her family owns and runs. When her parents decide they want to renovate it, she is worried because it means knocking down a wall! Why would they do that when the café is already purrfect? When a stray cat and its puppy companion find their way into the café, Kira has the GREAT IDEA to convince her parents that they belong at The Purrfect Cup. They don't need to make any changes for it to be the perfect home! But as Kira tries her best to keep renovations from happening, she and her friends learn that maybe what makes a home isn't just colorful walls or wobbly shelves...

The Weeping Tide by Amanda Foody Barclay and his friends must save an island city from the Legendary Beast of the Sea in this "charming and earnest" (Kirkus Reviews) sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Accidental Apprentice, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and How to Train Your Dragon. Something is wrong at the Sea. The weeping tide, a carnivorous algae bloom, is eating up all the fish. Beasts are terrorizing the nearby Elsewheres. And Lochmordra, the Legendary Beast, is rising at random and swallowing ships whole. Barclay's teacher, the famous Guardian Keeper Runa Rasgar, has been summoned to investigate, and as her apprentice, Barclay gets to join too. But Runa's nemesis has also been called to the Sea, and he's brought apprentices of his own. When the not-so-friendly competition between them grows fierce, it's Barclay--the only one from the Elsewheres--who can't seem to keep up. The key to stopping Lochmordra lies in his mythical home, but as the flood of the weeping tide encroaches, time is running out to find it. If the rival groups can't cast aside old grudges and learn to work together, soon the Sea will be destroyed completely. And all the while Barclay must ask himself: is there truly a place for him in the Wilderlands?

Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen: the Seaside Corpse by Marthe Jocelyn For young detective Aggie Morton and her friend Hector, an opportunity to dig up fossils becomes even more thrilling when a corpse washes ashore in this fourth book in the Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen series, inspired by the life of Agatha Christie as a child and her most popular creation, Hercule Poirot. For fans of Enola Holmes. After an invigorating but not exactly restful trip to a Yorkshire spa during which she survived a near brush with death and foiled a murderer, aspiring writer Aggie Morton and her friend Hector are thrilled to have the opportunity to stay at a camp by the sea and watch real paleontologists at work. The famed husband and wife team of the Blenningham-Crewes are about to become even more famous with the recovery of the fossilized bones of an ichthyosaur from the sea by Lyme Regis. This news has already caught the attention of an American millionaire, a British museum and a travelling circus owner, who each want the bones for their own collections. Tensions are running high throughout the camp, from the cook, to the collectors, to the Blenningham-Crewes themselves, and become downright dangerous after Aggie and Hector make a discovery of their own- a body on the beach. Not a fossil, but a human body.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Summer of Ashes, Autumn of Dust by Ballad Kitaguni; Gege Akutami (Concept by) Resurrect the tense conflict between the Jujutsu Sorcerers and the cursed spirits in this collection of original stories. Sorcery and demon curses abound in this collection of stories spun from the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. Cursed spirits have struck the opening blow at Satozakura High School in an unfolding conflict against the jujutsu sorcerers. But while this epic and unyielding battle intensifies, the heroes of Jujutsu Kaisen have other mysteries to solve...such as why Yuji and Megumi see Gojo at a maid café, whether Nanami can uncover the secret behind a website that claims to sell dolls that resurrect the dead, and what happens when a blind old man is able to see the scheming Mahito.

No Place Like Home by Yamile Saied Méndez Pura Belpré Award winner Yamile Saied Méndez welcomes readers back to the ranch in the fourth installment of Horse Country! Carolina Aguasvivas's oldest friend, Vida Jones Castillo, has never been interested in riding horses -- until now! Carolina is thrilled for her BFF to join Paradise Ranch, along with new sponsorship student Brielle Stuart. The barn is a full, happy house! But the girls' perfect summer falls apart when they find out that one of the horses might be sold -- Carolina's favorite riding buddy, Shadow. Can Carolina and her friends save her beloved horse... and the future of the Unbridled Dreams program?

I Am Not Afraid by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso; Marta Dorado (Illustrator) Provide comforting reassurance for a child experiencing nighttime fears and anxieties. In this creative retelling of Psalm 23, a child imagines scary shadows chasing away her sleep and peace as she reaches out to God her Comforter. Gently and imaginatively written, this story about being afraid of the dark brings the psalmist's words into a new and relatable light for children. Backmatter includes background information about Psalm 23 and encouragement and practical tips for coping with fear and scary times.

The Summer of Diving by Sara Stridsberg; B. J. Woodstein (Translator); Sara Lundberg (Illustrator) A New York Times Book Review Best Children's Book of 2022 The award-winning and beautiful story of a child coping with her father's absence. The book tackles a difficult subject with great tenderness, validating a child's experience of a parent suffering from depression. "This poignant, gentle book . . . will be immensely helpful to anyone caring for the child of someone with major depression. It fills an important gap in literature for young children."-Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon (winner of the National Book Award) and Far From the Tree Zoe's dad isn't home. She still sees him in photographs, laughing and playing tennis, but for now she can only visit him in a building where everyone looks sad and the walls are an ugly pink color. Some days Zoe's dad is too sad to see her, but she goes to the hospital anyway. While waiting she meets Sabina who invites her to swim across the world. Zoe's not sure it's possible, but Sabina tells her, "A girl can do everything she wants." Even though Sabina sometimes dives deep into her own thoughts, the two of them swim around the world many times that summer, until eventually Zoe's dad is ready to come home. The Summer of Diving is a book full of imagination and hope with a tender child's-eye understanding of the world. Stridsberg's story and Lundberg's lush and colorful paintings reflect and validate a child's feelings of loss and longing for closeness when a parent's joy for living temporarily fades.

God Is Just Like Me by Karen Valentin; Antonieta Muñoz Estrada (Illustrator) "Some days, I think God is just like me." God may be hard to describe, but one young Puerto Rican girl in New York City finds examples of God's character all around her. As she goes day-by-day through the week, she talks to God about the delightful ways she and God are similar. From vivid sunrises and colorful paintings, dancing to music in the park, loud thunderstorms, and fishing on a quiet lake, the evidence that she is made in the image of God is everywhere she looks. This joyful, heartfelt story offers a fresh take on what it means to be made in God's image.

Only the Trees Know by Jane Whittingham; Cinyee Chiu (Illustrator) A frustrated little rabbit longs for spring in this gentle, warmhearted story about waiting. Little Rabbit is hungry, bored and very tired of winter. "When will it be spring?" he asks his parents. All they can tell him is that he must wait and be patient. Except, Little Rabbit doesn't like waiting, or being patient. Instead, he turns to the oldest, wisest rabbit in the forest, his grandmother, to find out when it will be spring. "Only the trees know," she says. "Ask them, and they will tell you." So Little Rabbit does. But the trees don't answer him. He tries shouting, jumping up and down, listening very hard. And still, nothing. Then, just when Little Rabbit is about to give up, he notices there's something different in the forest, something that's right underneath his nose ... Author Jane Whittingham's message of finding hope and patience in trying times is always a relevant one for children. The lyrical depictions of the forest in winter -- "The winds blew and bit, the trees shivered and shook, and the snow fell and fell" -- give this book the feel of a classic. Cinyee Chiu's lush illustrations in muted shades evoke a magical wintery world, and their varied perspectives perfectly showcase Little Rabbit's place in his world. This book offers excellent character education lessons on patience, perseverance and resilience. Young readers will be rooting for Little Rabbit, easily relating to his impatience. It's the perfect read-aloud for a late-winter day, or anytime children are finding it hard to wait.

Moana's Story Collection (Disney Princess) by Random House; Disney Storybook Disney Storybook Art Team (Illustrator) A collection of five Step into Reading leveled readers--all featuring the brave and adventurous Disney Princess Moana! This Disney Moana Step into Reading collection features five Step 2 and Step 3 leveled reader stories in one book: Moana's New Friend, Moana and Pua, Moana Finds the Way, Pua and Heihei, and Quest for the Heart. This is a perfect gift for Disney Princess fans and children ages 4 to 6 who can't get enough of Disney's Moana.   Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.