If March came in like a lion, then new books out this month must be the mane event. Discover the small wonders a puddle can hold; join a courageous ladybug on a quest to rescue a caterpillar from a fearsome foe; explore a school that holds secrets between its walls; and more in our roundup of some of the big new books for young readers.


Picture Books and Early Readers

All from a Walnut

Ammi-Joan Paquette, illus. by Felicita Sala. Abrams, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4197-5002-1. Ages 4–8.

When Emilia finds a walnut one morning, Grandpa tells her the story behind it: of his journey across the ocean to a new home, with only one small bag and a nut in his pocket. The book received a starred review from PW.


Chester van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme

Avery Monsen, illus. by Abby Hanlon. Little, Brown, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-7595-5482-5. Ages 4–8.

Chester van Chime is usually the best at rhyming, but something has changed. Today there’s no dog on a log. No duck in a truck. Just a Pomeranian on a sideways tree and a waterfowl in a full-size pickup. What’s a kid to do? The book received a starred review from PW.


Dress-Up Day

Blanca Gómez. Abrams, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4197-4410-5. Ages 4–8.

When a girl is home sick for dress-up day at school, she decides there’s no need to miss out entirely: she’ll just wear her rabbit costume the next day. But the next day arrives and she’s the only one in costume. Can a little bit of confidence and an unexpected new friend turn a self-conscious moment into a wonderful one? The book received a starred review from PW.


Hello, Puddle!

Anita Sanchez, illus. by Luisa Uribe. Clarion, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-358-38144-0. Ages 4–7.

A normal everyday puddle may not seem very special, but for a mother turtle, it might be the perfect place to lay her eggs. And for any child, it can be a window into the complex natural world right outside their window. The book received a starred review from PW.


I’ll Go and Come Back

Rajani LaRocca, illus. by Sara Palacios. Candlewick, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5362-0717-0. Ages 3–7.

When Jyoti visits her grandmother halfway around the world, she is overwhelmed by the differences between India and home. At first she feels lonely and out of place, but soon, despite a language barrier, she and Sita Pati are able to understand each other. When it’s time to part, Jyoti doesn’t want to leave, but then she remembers that in Tamil, people don’t say goodbye, they say “I’ll go and come back.” The book received a starred review from PW.


I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared

Seth Meyers, illus. by Rob Sayegh Jr. Flamingo, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-59335-237-3. Ages 3–7.

When you’re a bear who is easily scared, it’s hard to have friends. Fortunately, Bear has one: Rabbit, who is very brave. One day, Rabbit encourages Bear to face his fears and embark on an adventure together. However, things don’t entirely go as planned. See our q&a with Late Night host and former SNL head writer Meyers on his picture book debut.


The Invisible Whale (Crab and Snail #1)

Beth Ferry, illus. by Jared Chapman. HarperAlley, $12.99 (64p) ISBN 978-0-06-296214-0. Ages 6–10.

In this series debut, the never-ending rain is putting a damper on Crab and Snail’s plans for a sunny day. When the Best Beach Friends realize that it’s only raining on them, they put their heads together and consult one know-it-all gull to get to the bottom of it. The book received a starred review from PW.


Jack Knight’s Brave Flight: How One Gutsy Pilot Saved the U.S. Air Mail Service

Jill Esbaum, illus. by Stacy Innerst. Calkins Creek, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-68437-981-1. Ages 7–10.

This fast-paced picture book outlines the landmark night flight of pilot James H. “Jack” Knight (1892–1945), who helped extend the life of the U.S. Air Mail Service by serving as a relay pilot in the first overnight cross-country U.S. airmail delivery. The book received a starred review from PW.


John’s Turn

Mac Barnett, illus. by Kate Berube. Candlewick, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5362-0395-0. Ages 4–8.

It’s John’s big day at school today—a performance for Sharing Gifts time. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins. The book received a starred review from PW.


Sir Ladybug

Corey R. Tabor. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $12.99 (72p) ISBN 978-0-06-306906-0. Ages 6–10.

Sir Ladybug never shies away from a quest, even when he’d rather be playing a video game or baking a cake. When a caterpillar needs rescuing from a “monster” (a hungry chickadee), Sir Ladybug and his trusty friends hatch the perfect plan. The book received a starred review from PW.


This Is a School

John Schu, illus. by Veronica Miller Jamison. Candlewick, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5362-0458-2. Ages 4–8.

A school isn’t just a building; it is all the people who work and learn together. It is a place for discovery and asking questions. It is a place of hope and healing, even when that community can’t be together in the same room. See our q&a with librarian and literacy advocate Schu on his picture book debut.


Middle Grade

The Aquanaut

Dan Santat. Graphix, $24.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-545-49761-9. Ages 8–12.

Ever since her father was lost at sea, Sophia has been moping around Aqualand, the marine theme park her dad and uncle created. But Sophia’s world is turned upside down when an “aquanaut” breaks into the park’s research lab that contains a band of four goofy sea creatures. The book received a starred review from PW.


Cress Watercress

Gregory Maguire, illus. by David Litchfield. Candlewick, $19.99 (224p) ISBN 978-1-5362-1100-9. Ages 8–12.

When Papa doesn’t return from a honey-gathering expedition, Cress holds out hope, but her mother assumes the worst. It’s a dangerous world for rabbits, after all. Mama moves what’s left of the Watercress family to the basement unit of the Broken Arms. Can a dead tree full of annoying neighbors, and no Papa, ever be home? The book, from Wicked author Maguire, received a starred review from PW.


Falling Short

Ernesto Cisneros. Quill Tree, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-288172-4. Ages 8–12.

This year, athletically gifted Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac’s parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, academically gifted Marco plans on finally gaining his father’s approval by earning a spot on the school’s basketball team. The book received a starred review from PW. See our q&a with Cisneros.


Honestly Elliott

Gillian McDunn. Bloomsbury, $16.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-5476-0625-2. Ages 8–11.

Elliott has never had many friends, and isn’t sure where he fits in with his family. His only solace is cooking, where he can control the outcome, testing exciting recipes and watching his favorite cooking shows. When he’s paired with the super-popular Maribel for a school-wide business project, Elliott is a little nervous that they won’t see eye to eye, but sometimes the least likely friends have the most in common. The book received a starred review from PW.


Isla to Island

Alexis Castellanos. Atheneum, $21.99 (192p) ISBN 978-1-5344-6923-5. Ages 10 and up.

Marisol loves Cuba. But things are changing. The home Marisol loves is no longer safe, and her parents are sending her to the United States—alone. Nothing about Marisol’s new life in cold, gray Brooklyn feels like home, but Marisol starts to realize that home isn’t always a place. The book received a starred review from PW.


Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves

L.M. Elliott. HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-06305-656-5. Ages 8–12.

Days after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Hitler declared war on the U.S., unleashing U-boat submarines to attack American ships. Suddenly, the waves outside Louisa June’s farm aren’t for eel fishing or marveling at wild swans or learning to scull her family’s boat—they’re swarming with hidden enemies. The book received a starred review from PW.


New from Here

Kelly Yang. Simon & Schuster, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-1-5344-8830-4. Ages 8–12.

When the coronavirus hits Hong Kong, 10-year-old Knox Wei-Evans’s mother makes the last-minute decision to move him and his siblings back to California, unfortunately leaving his father, who has to stay for work. As racism skyrockets during Covid-19, Knox tries to stand up to hate, while finding his place in his new country. See our cover reveal and conversation with Yang here.


The Ogress and the Orphans

Kelly Barnhill. Algonquin, $19.99 (400p) ISBN 978-1-64375-074-3. Ages 10 and up.

Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. After all, he is a famous dragon slayer. But only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town’s problems are. The book received a starred review from PW. See our q&a with Barnhill.


Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa

Julian Randall. Holt, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-250-77410-1. Ages 8–12.

Pilar’s world is changing. The only constant is her family’s code of silence around her cousin Natasha, who disappeared in the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo dictatorship. When Pilar hears of a professor who studies such disappearances, she hops on the next train downtown. After snooping around the professor’s empty office, she finds a folder with her cousin’s name on it, and literally falls into it. The book received a starred review from PW.


The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck

Matt Phelan. Greenwillow, $16.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-06-291100-1. Ages 8–12.

A sly villain with a plan to cause havoc across the globe is no match for three animal spies—and their two young human friends. Ten-year-old Emile is too busy being the fastidious caretaker of ambassador Benjamin Franklin’s château in Paris to think much about the wonders of hot air balloons. But forces both good and nefarious are after the inventions in Franklin’s notebook. The book received a starred review from PW.


Those Kids from Fawn Creek

Erin Entrada Kelly, illus. by Celia Krampien. Greenwillow, $17.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-06-297035-0. Ages 8–12.

There are 12 kids in the seventh grade at Fawn Creek Middle School, and everyone knows everyone in the small factory town. When Orchid Mason arrives, the other seventh graders don’t know what to think. The book received a starred review from PW.


Wingbearer

Marjorie Liu, illus. by Teny Issakhanian. Quill Tree, $22.99 (208p) ISBN 978-0-0627-4115-8. Ages 8–12.

Zuli has been raised by mystical bird spirits in the branches of the Great Tree, and has never ventured beyond this safe haven. But when a sinister force threatens the life-giving magic of the tree, Zuli, along with her guardian owl, Frowly, must get to the root of it. The book received a starred review from PW.


Young Adult

Button Pusher

Tyler Page. First Second, $21.99 (256p) ISBN 978-1-250-75833-0.

Tyler’s brain is different. Unlike his friends, he has a hard time paying attention in class. To the adults in his life, Tyler seems like a troublemaker. But he knows that he’s not. He’s the best artist in his grade. Tyler doesn’t want to cause trouble, but sometimes he just feels like he can’t control himself. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.


Gallant

V.E. Schwab, illus. by Manuel Šumberac. Greenwillow, $18.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-06-283577-2. Ages 13 and up.

Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. The book received a starred review from PW.


Kiss & Tell

Adib Khorram. Dial, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-593-32526-1. Ages 14 and up.

Euphoria—that’s what Hunter Drake, 17, feels when he’s singing with band Kiss & Tell, and what he used to feel playing hockey before an injury. But bliss, and his lyric-writing, become less accessible when the boy band starts an arena tour just as Hunter’s first relationship ends and his ex reveals intimate details about their sex life. The book received a starred review from PW. See our q&a with Khorram.


Lakelore

Anna-Marie McLemore. Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends, $18.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-250-62414-7. Ages 13 and up.

When their older siblings move out, Bastián Silvano has one job: protect the secret world they’ve all shared since they were children. For years, the world under the lake has been not just a magical place; it’s been a safe space for their neurodivergent brains. But when Lore Garcia finds their way in, everything changes. The book received a starred review from PW.


Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American

Laura Gao. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $22.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-06-306776-9. Ages 14 and up.

After spending her early years in Wuhan, China, riding water buffalos and devouring stinky tofu, Laura immigrates to Texas where her hometown is as foreign as Mars—at least until 2020, when Covid-19 made Wuhan a household name. The graphic memoir received a starred review from PW.


Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime

Candace Fleming. Random House/Schwartz, $19.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-593-17742-6. Ages 10 and up.

In 1924, 18-year-old college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb decided they would commit the perfect crime. But they made one crucial error: as they were disposing of the body of young Bobby Franks, whom they had bludgeoned to death, Nathan’s eyeglasses fell from his jacket pocket. The true-crime book received a starred review from PW. See our q&a with Fleming.


And They Lived...

Steven Salvatore. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (384p) ISBN 978-1-5476-0819-5. Ages 14 and up.

Chase is a budding animator and hopeless romantic, but he’s plagued with the belief that he’s not enough for anyone. Then Chase meets Jack, a poet who longs to experience life outside of his sheltered world. The book received a starred review from PW.


A Thousand Steps into Night

Traci Chee. Clarion, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-358-46998-8. Ages 12 and up.

In the realm of Awara, where gods, monsters, and men exist side by side, Miuko is simply an ordinary girl. But when Miuko is cursed and begins to turn into a blue demon whose touch is deadly, she must embark on an expedition in the hope of reversing the transformation. The book received a starred review from PW. See our q&a with the author.


Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix

Aminah Mae Safi. Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends, $18.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-250-77127-8. Ages 13 and up.

In the third volume in the Remixed Classics series, Rahma al-Hud loyally followed her elder sister Zeena into the war over the Holy Land, but now that the Faranji invaders have gotten reinforcements from Richard the Lionheart, all she wants to do is get herself and her sister home alive. But Zeena, a soldier of honor, refuses to give up the fight, so Rahma has no choice but to take on one final mission with her sister.