Spring has finally sprung and young readers can enjoy the season with their favorite series, including an illustrated chapter book following a trio’s chaotic trip to the beach, a graphic novel about a family member’s visit, a middle grade novel about revelations about a war, and more.
Picture Books
Beatrix Butterfly Wings It for Once by Marren Morris and Karina Argow, illus. by Kelly Anne Dalton (Chronicle, Apr. 8 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-79723-503-5). When titular butterfly Beatrix wakes up not feeling well, she relies on her friends to help her get back on track in the second installment of the Addie Ant’s Garden Friends series.
Diggers Love Their Daddies! by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illus. by Christian Slade (Random House, Apr. 1 $8.99; ISBN 978-0-593-71058-6). The latest in the Where Do... series follows the diggers as they find ways to celebrate their fathers.
Dinomite! by Steve Breen (Pixel+Ink, Apr. 8 $14.99 ISBN 978-1-64595-217-6). Cowgirl Sky and T. rex friend Ty continue their delivery service adventures in the second book of the Sky & Ty series.
Grumpy Monkey Mom for a Day by Suzanne Lang, illus. by Max Lang (Random House, Apr. 1 $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-70931-3). The latest book in the Grumpy Monkey series follows Jim Panzee as he takes over his mother’s duties and discovers the many challenges of the job.
One Day at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea by Daniel Bernstrom, illus. by Brandon James Scott (Astra/Hippo Park, Apr. 29 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-66264-082-7). In the follow-up to One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, a girl in search of pearls under the sea must outsmart a hungry shark with plans to eat her.
The Tractor Squad Saves the Day by Heather Dawn Torres, illus. by Gary Laib (Marble, Apr. 1 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-958-32532-2). Readers can follow the Tractor Squad making rescues in two new stories in the second picture book in the Tractor Squad series.
Illustrated/Graphic Novels
The Beach Day by Ame Dyckman and Mark Teague (S&S/Beach Lane, Apr. 29 $17.99 ISBN 978-1-66595-742-7). In the third book in the Bat, Cat & Rat series, the trio head out on a beach day and face missing the bus, hungry seagulls, and a runaway kite.
K Is in Trouble Again by Gary Clement. (Little, Brown Ink Apr.15 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-316-46884-8). In the sequel to K Is in Trouble, the titular narrator continues to find himself in mishaps despite his attempts to stay out of it.
Karen’s Prize by Ann M. Martin, illus. by Shauna J. Grant (Graphix, Apr. 1 paper $12.99, ISBN 978-1-339-00507-2). In the 10th addition to the Baby-sitters Little Sister Graphic Novel series, Karen struggles when her newfound success as a speller has her friends thinking she’s a showoff.
The Most Perfect Summer Ever by Jonathan Hill (Walker, Apr. 8 $24.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1647-9. In book two of the Lizard Boy series, Tommy, a lizard in human disguise, determines to have a perfect summer until a picture of him as a lizard shows up in a magazine, nearly upending his ruse.
Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang (Graphix, Apr. 15 paper $14.99; ISBN 978-1-338-83271-6). The Lin siblings struggle to accommodate their violin prodigy cousin in the second installment of the Parachute Kids series.
The Last Comics on Earth: A Song of Swords & Stuffies by Max Brallier and Joshua Pruett, illus. by Jay Cooper and Douglas Holgate (Viking, Apr. 29 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-52681-1). The Last Kids on Earth meet stiff competition in the comics writing business in the third installment of the Last Comics on Earth series.
The Love Report Volume 3 by BeKa, illus. by Maya (Astra/Hippo Park, Apr. 15 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-66264-087-2). Grace learns that her feelings for Abe aren’t reciprocated when she finds out he has a girlfriend in the third installment of The Love Report series.
Novels
Abeni and the Kingdom of Gold by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor/Starscape, Apr. 29 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-82585-8). Abeni and her friends are being held captive by the Kingdom of the Gold Spinners, and their only hope of escape is to retrieve a hidden ancient relic in the second book of the Abeni’s Song series.
Beetle & the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne (Atheneum, Apr. 29 paper $15.99; ISBN 978-1-665-90747-7). Beetle, Penny, and Kat discover that the traditional reveal of dragons during the Chimera Carnival is not what it seems in the sequel to the Stonewall Honor–winning Beetle & the Hollowbones.
Chaos King by Kacen Callender (Tor Teen, Apr. 15 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-89028-3). When he’s captured by a radical group fighting for alchemist rights, Ash questions if he can trust the Houses to fight for alchemists, or if he must forge a new path forward in the second book of the Infinity Alchemist.
Charlie Hernández & the Hand of Darkness by Ryan Calejo (Aladdin, Apr. 15 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-94294-2). Charlie and his friends journey to the Land of the Dead to unleash the power of five powerful gods in the fifth and final installment of the Charlie Hernández series.
The Double Trouble Puzzle by James Patterson and Keir Graff (Little, Brown/Patterson, Apr. 7 paper $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-41253-7). Kid detective Minerva senses something has taken over her teacher when she allows a new student to run detective club in the second book of the MK’s Detective Club series.
The Family I’m In by Sharon G. Flake. Scholastic Press, Apr. 1, $18.99 ISBN 978-1-338-57320-6. Best friends John-John and Caleb navigate coming of age as Black boys in the follow-up to The Skin I’m In and The Life I’m In.
Fearless by Lauren Roberts (Simon & Schuster, Apr. 8 $21.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95546-1). In the conclusion of the Powerless trilogy, Paedyn’s return to the Kingdom of Ilya with Kai forces her to make a damning choice.
Gigi Shin, Live from Manhattan by Lyla Lee (Aladdin, Apr. 29 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-665-93920-1). In the second installment of the Gigi Shin series, the titular middle schooler spends a summer at an exclusive art academy in New York City.
Give Up the Night by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Wednesday, Apr. 1 $20; 978-1-250-86518-2). In the conclusion of the Moonstruck series, Wren questions if she should complete a ritual that could change how magical society operates, and Lee finds himself ascending the Academia hierarchy.
The Gods’ Revenge by Katherine Marsh (HarperCollins, Apr. 15 paper $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-330379-9). In the second book of The Myth of Monsters, Ava hopes to uncover her ancestor’s true history after discovering the Olympians have lied.
The Hallow Hunt by Margie Fuston. (McElderry, Apr. 1 $21.99 ISBN 978-1-66593-444-2). Bly and Kerrigan find themselves working together again when they’re both accused of treason and their siblings are at risk in the second book of The Revenant Games.
Ice on Fire by Geri Halliwell-Horner (Philomel, Apr. 8 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-62400-5). Rosie Frost investigates a palace that is supposedly for scientific purposes but might have sinister underpinnings in the second book of the Rose Frost series.
Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen (Holt, Apr.1 $21.99 ISBN 978-1-250-83117-0). Vanja has stepped into power but must face the consequences of her actions in the conclusion of the Little Thieves trilogy.
Lady Knight by Amalie Howard. (Joy Revolution Apr. 1, $19.99 ISBN 978-0-593-70506-3). Lady Zia joins a secret social club for young women who break free of society’s mold but will need the help of Mr. Rafi Nasser once he learns of her secret in the second book of the Diamonds series.
Lost and Found by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Carmen Mok (Candlewick, Apr. 29 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2530-3). Friend Orris and Tumble navigate a shift in their friendship when Orris doesn’t appear for a storytime in the second book of the Orris and Timble series.
A Risky Game by Alyson Gerber. (Scholastic Press, Apr. 1 $14.99 ISBN 978-1-338-85924-9). In the second installment of The Liars Society series, when Weatherby and Jack are accepted into a secret society, the duo learns that the price to enter might be too costly to pay.
The War of the Maps by Jonathan Auxier (Amulet, Apr. 29 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-5394-7). Peter Nimble and Sophie Quire have always fought for magic but find themselves at odds when a mysterious group offers their perspective on the ongoing war in the third installment of the Vanished Kingdom series.
Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi (HarperCollins, Apr. 15 $21.99; ISBN 978-0-06-341900-1). Mafi’s spinoff series based on her bestselling Shatter Me series follows James, who has found the stronghold of the Reestablishment but is being hunted by assassin Rosabelle.
