The year might be ending, but there’s no need for young readers to leave their favorite characters behind. Check out new series additions out this month, including a picture book search for a holiday mascot, an early reader investigation about the origins of an egg, a series addition set from a new perspective, and more.


Picture Books and Graphic Novels


Alana’s Cupcake Garden by Coco Simon, illus. by Manuela López (Simon Spotlight, Dec. 10 $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-665-96333-6). In the fourth installment of the Cupcake Diaries: The New Batch, Alana struggles to navigate her new friendships with her old ones, but when her grandmother’s business is on the verge of closing, she needs all of her friends to work together.


Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day by Vera Ahiyya, illus. by Debby Rahmalia (Random House, Dec 10 $5.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-80954-9). Kai worries that he will be the only classmate without a Valentine’s Day card in the third book of the Getting Ready series.


The Goodnight Train Valentine by June Sobel, illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith (Clarion, Dec. 10 $10.99 board book; ISBN 978-0-06-335413-5). Readers can take a love-themed ride on the Goodnight train in the sixth book of the series.


Hap-Pea Valentine’s Day by Keith Baker (Beach Lane, Dec. 3 $9.99, ISBN 978-1-665-94022-1). The latest in the Peas series follows as the titular veggies hand out a series of valentines.


How to Catch a Groundhog by Alice Walstead, illus. by Andy Elkerton (Sourcebooks Wonderland, Dec.10 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-7282-9303-5). In the latest How to Catch book, the titular club accidentally awakens and scares off a groundhog and must find him before Groundhog Day.


Little Owl’s Love by Divya Srinivasan (Viking, Dec. 17 $8.99 board book; 978-0-593-69145-8). In this new board book in the Little Owl series, the feathered hero floats around in search of items they love.


Little Puppy by Nicola Killen (S&S/Wiseman, Dec. 24 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96590-3). Ollie quickly befriends Grandmother’s new pet in the newest book in the My Little Animal Friend series.


Mr. Boddington’s Studio: How to Say I Love You: Delightful Poems for Valentine’s Day by Mr. Boddington’s Studio (Penguin Workshop, Dec. 10 $17.99; 978-0-593-22658-2). A companion to Mr. Boddington’s Studio: ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, this collection features love poems that young readers can appreciate.


Wallace and Grace and the Mystery Egg by Heather Alexander, illus. by Laura Zarrin (Bloomsbury, Dec. 17 $8.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5476-1615-2). Best friends and detectives Wallace and Grace are hired to trace where a mysterious egg has come from in the latest addition to the Wallace and Grace series.


Will You Be My Friend? by Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram (Candlewick, Dec. 3 $10.99 board book; 978-1-5362-3355-1). Thirty years after the release of Guess How Much I Love You, the sequel follows Little Nutbrown Hare’s newly formed friendship with another rabbit.


Novels


Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao (Tundra, Dec. 24 $20.99 ISBN 978-0-7352-6998-9). In the sequel to Locus and Lodestar award nominated Iron Widow, Zeitan struggles with her newfound power as the head of the Huaxia empire, as the elites fight for control and a revolution among residents brews.


Spell of the Sinister by Danielle Paige (Bloomsbury, Dec. 17 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-6811-9688-6). In the sequel to Wish of the Wicked, sisters Bari and Farro are on opposing sides of a battle for power after Cinderella’s disappearance.


Unraveled Book 9.5 by Shannon Messenger (Aladdin, Dec. 3 $21.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96741-9). In this new installment to the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Keefe Sencen has no choice but to escape to the Forbidden Cities without his friends. See our interview with Sharon Messenger on returning to the series.