Marvelous May Books

PICTURE BOOKS

Blue Sky Morning by Kim Jihyun

Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World) by Corey Tabor

Firefly Season by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess

Frank’s Red Hat by Sean Avery

The Gathering Table by Antwan Eady, illustrated by London Ladd

The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M. Pei by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Khoa Le

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith

Hurricane by Jason Chin

Jim!: Six True Stories about One Great Artist: James Marshall by Jerrold Connors

Lighthouse Ladies: Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines by Kris Coronado, illustrated by Islenia Mil

One Day in June: A Story Inspired by the Life and Activism of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline, illustrated by Charlot Kristensen

So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey

Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca

Where Are You, Bronte? By Tomie DePaola, illustrated by Barbara McClintock

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

The Gate, the Girl and the Dragon by Grace Lin

J vs. K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft

El Niño by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Malcolm Lives! by Ibram X. Kendi

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell

One Crazy Summer: the Graphic Novel by Rita Williams-Garcia, illustrated by Sharee Miller

YA LIT

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler

Invisible Wild by Nikki Van De Car

This Moth Saw Brightness by A.A. Vacharat

Out of Air by Rachel Reiss

Song of the Lioness Book 1: Alanna: A Graphic Novel by Tamora Pierce, adapted by Vita Ayala, illustrated by Sam Beck

This Thing of Ours by Frederick Joseph

Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks

Wake the Wild Creatures by Nova Ren Suma

You and Me on Repeat by Mary Shyne

Upcoming April Books to Wake Your Brain Cells

Here are the books I’m looking forward to in April:

PICTURE BOOKS

Book of Maps for You by Lourdes Heuer, illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III (3 stars: Booklist, Kirkus, & Publishers Weekly)

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat (3 stars: Booklist, Kirkus, & Publishers Weekly)

His Fairytale Life: A Book about Hans Christian Andersen by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes (2 stars: Booklist & Kirkus)

Mistaco by Eliza Kinkz (3 stars: Booklist, Kirkus, & Publishers Weekly)

Peddler of Puzzles by Beth Ferry & Tom Lichtenheld (2 stars: Booklist & Kirkus)

Night Light by Michael Emberley (2 stars: Horn Book & Kirkus)

CHILDREN’S FICTION

Benny on the Case by Wesley King (2 stars: Booklist & Publishers Weekly)

Candle Island by Lauren Wolk (2 stars: Booklist & Publishers Weekly)

The Pecan Sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores (2 stars: Booklist & Kirkus)

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner (3 stars: Booklist, Kirkus, & Publishers Weekly)

YA

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum (3 stars: Booklist, Kirkus, & Publishers Weekly)

Run Away with Me by Brian Selznick (3 stars: Booklist, Kirkus, & School Library Journal)

November/December 2021 Kids Indie Next List

The November/December 2021 Kids Indie Next List has been announced. The books on the list are all released during in the fall of this year and were selected by independent booksellers from across the country. Here are the books that made the list:

#1 PICK

Cover for Vespertine

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

PICTURE BOOKS

Cover for Amos McGee Misses the Bus

Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Cover for Bathe the Cat

Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts

Cover for Dog's First Baby

Dog’s First Baby by Natalie Nelson

Cover for Everybody in the Red Brick Building

Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Oge Mora

Cover for Gladys the Magic Chicken

Gladys the Magic Chicken by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Adam Rex

Cover for A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Mary Lee Donovan, illustrated by Lian Cho

Cover for Our Table

Our Table by Peter H. Reynolds

Cover for Read Island

Read Island by Nicole Magistro, illustrated by Alice Feagan

Cover for Room for Everyone

Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Mercè López

Cover for Sweater Weather

Sweater Weather by Matt Phelan

MIDDLE GRADE

Cover for African Icons

African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History by Tracy Baptiste

Cover for Barakah Beats

Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui

Cover for Cold-Blooded Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery 3)

Cold-Blooded Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Cover for Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers

Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter

Cover for Frankie & Bug

Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman

Cover for Manu

Manu by Kelly Fernandez

Cover for Neverforgotten

Neverforgotten by Alejandra Algorta, Aida Salazar, Iván Rickenmann

Cover for Playing the Cards You're Dealt

Playing the Cards You’re Dealt by Varian Johnson

Cover for The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

The Troubled Girls of Dragomire Academy by Anne Ursu

Cover for Tidesong

Tidesong by Wendy Xu

YOUNG ADULT

Cover for All of Us Villains

All of Us Villains by Amada Foody and Christine Lynn Herman

Cover for Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Cover for Black Birds in the Sky

Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert

Cover for The City Beautiful

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

Cover for The Keeper of Night

The Keeper of the Night by Kylie Lee Baker

Cover for Little Thieves

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Cover for Skin of the Sea

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

Cover for Squad

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle

Cover for Within These Wicked Walls

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

Cover for You've Reached Sam

You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

13 YA Books Coming in November to Wake Your Brain Cells

Here are 13 buzzy YA books that have gotten starred reviews. All are coming out in November. Enjoy!

Cover for All of Us Villains

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman

Cover for Graceling (Graphic Novel)

Graceling: The Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore, illustrated by Gareth Hinds

Cover for Himawari House

Himawari House by Harmony Becker

Cover for Listen, Layla

Listen, Layla by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Cover for Revolution in Our Time

Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon

Cover for Skin of the Sea

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

Cover for A Snake Falls to Earth

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

Cover for Sway with Me

Sway with Me by Syed M. Masood

Cover for Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed

Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

Cover for Within These Wicked Walls

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

Cover for The Words in My Hands

The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia

Cover for Year of the Reaper

Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

Cover for You'll Be the Death of Me

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus

10 Children’s Books Coming November to Wake Your Brain Cells

Here are ten children’s books released in November that have received buzz and starred reviews. There is a nice mix of nonfiction and fiction to enjoy.

Cover for Art of Protest

Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution by De Nichols

Cover for Candidly Cline

Candidly Cline by Kathryn Ormsbee

Cover for Four Streets and a Square

Four Streets and a Square: A History of Manhattan and the New York Idea by Marc Aronson

Cover for Out of My Heart

Out of My Heart by Sharon M. Draper

Cover for Rise of the World Eater

Rise of the World Eater by Jamie Littler

Cover for Second Sleep

Second Sleep by Diane Stanley

Cover for Stuck

Stuck by Jennifer Swender

Cover for The Swag Is in the Socks

The Swag Is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist

Cover for A Tale as Tall as Jacob

A Tale As Tall As Jacob by Samantha Edwards

Cover for Tangled Up in Luck (The Tangled Mysteries #1)

Tangled Up in Luck by Merrill Wyatt

12 New Picture Books Coming in November to Wake Your Brain Cells

Here are twelve new picture books getting released in November that have gotten lots of buzz and starred reviews. There is a lot of movement in release dates for books due to supply chain issues, so some may be delayed.

Cover for The 1619 Project

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

Cover for Amos McGee Misses the Bus

Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Cover for The Big Bath House

The Big Bath House by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Cover for Dear Little One

Dear Little One by Nina Laden, illustrated by Melissa Castrillon

Cover for Dream Street

Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Cover for Fox

Fox: A Circle of Life Story by Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Daniel Egneus

Cover for Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates

Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates by Cheryl B. Klein, illustrated by Abhi Alwar

Cover for Little Red and the Cat Who Loved Cake

Little Red and the Cat Who Loved Cake by Barbara Lehman

Cover for A Sky-Blue Bench

The Sky-Blue Bench by Bahram Rahman, illustrated by Peggy Collins

Cover for Soul Food Sunday

Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by C. G. Esperanza

Cover for Stitch by Stitch

Stitch by Stitch: Elizabeth Hobbs Kekly Sews Her Way to Freedom by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Cover for The Story of a Story

The Story of a Story by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Hadley Hooper

11 new october ya releases to wake your brain cells

Here are 11 great teen reads for your fall TBR pile. They have received plenty of starred reviews and praise and offer a nice mix of fiction and nonfiction titles. Enjoy!

Cover for Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Cover for Black Birds in the Sky

Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert

Cover for Briarheart

Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Punching Bag by Rex Ogle

Rise Up! How You Can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy by Crystal M. Fleming

Thirty Talks Weird Love by Alessandra Narvaez Varela

The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life by Amy Butler Greenfield

11 October children’s books to wake your brain cells

Here are some great children’s books and middle grade reads that are coming out in October. They have gotten praise and starred reviews. Enjoy!

Cover for Frankie & Bug

Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman

Cover for The Genius Under the Table

The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin

Cover for How Do You Live?

How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino

Cover for A Kind of Spark

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

Cover for Neverforgotten

Neverforgotten by Alejandra Algorta

Cover for The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne

The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud

Cover for Picturing a Nation

Picturing a Nation: The Great Depression’s Finest Photographers Introduce America to Itself by Martin W. Sandler

Cover for Playing the Cards You're Dealt

Playing the Cards You’re Dealt by Varian Johnson

Cover for The School Between Winter and Fairyland

The School Between Winter and Fairyland by Heather Fawcett

Cover for The Swallows' Flight

The Swallow’s Flight by Hilary McKay

Cover for This Is Our Rainbow

This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them and Us edited by Katherine Locke and Nicole Melleby

12 New October picture books to wake your brain cells

Here are twelve of the upcoming picture books releasing in October that include favorite authors, new names, fiction and nonfiction. Enjoy!

Cover for Art Is Everywhere

Art Is Everywhere: A Book about Andy Warhol by Jeff Mack

Cover for Everybody in the Red Brick Building

Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Oge Mora

Cover for Forty Winks

Forty Winks by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Lita Judge

Cover for From the Tops of the Trees

From the Tops of the Trees by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Rachel Wada

Cover for Inside Cat

Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel

Cover for The Longest Letsgoboy

The Longest Letsgoboy by Derick Wilder, illustrated by Catia Chien

Cover for The Message

The Message by Michael Emberley

Cover for Off-Limits

Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

Cover for Red

Red by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Cover for Room for Everyone

Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Mercè López

Cover for Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge

Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge by Gary Golio, illustrated by James Ransome

Cover for Sweater Weather

Sweater Weather by Matt Phelan