10 to Note: Spring Preview 2022

I went through, oh, 1865 books publishing in March, April, and May and picked out 10 to share with you.

Picture Books

Build! by Red Nose Studio

May 17 | Anne Schwartz Books (Penguin Random House) | Grades PreK

I feel like this is the book Red Nose Studio was born to make. All manner of construction vehicles, working together to create a one of a kind building. But who is controlling them? All is revealed in the end. A beautiful book for the youngest of readers.

Endlessly Ever After: Pick YOUR Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Dan Santat

April 19 | Chronicle Books | Grades K-3

Ever since I heard about this one, I’ve been waiting to see it. Classic fairy tale stories meet Choose Your Own Adventure – in a picture book format? Sounds like something we’ve never quite seen before.

Early Readers

It’s a Sign! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!) by Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey, Mo Willems

May 10 | Hyperion Books (Disney) | Grades K-2

I was really pleased to see that The Old Truck creators are trying their hands at an Elephant & Piggie Like Reading book. They’ve done the series proud, with a book that’s clever and funny.

Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Tabor

March 29 | Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) | Grades 1-3

Well this is really a graphic novel, but it’s the size and length of an early reader so I’m putting in the early reader section here. Following his Caldecott Honor for Mel Fell, Tabor returns with a new comic series about a trio of woodland pals.

Chapter Books

Fenway and the Bone Thieves (Make Way for Fenway #1) by Victoria J. Coe, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Fenway (from Fenway and Hattie) is back in chapter book form in this first book in a new series. I’m always on the lookout for new chapter books that my students might be into, and I have some hopes for this one.

Middle Grade Fiction

It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds

April 5 | Scholastic Press | Grades 3-6

Five kids come to the slow realization that they may be the last five people left on earth. Mix the apocalypse with some humor and I’m all for it, so I’m excited to read this one.

Graphic Novels

Unhappy Camper by Lily LaMotte, illustrated by Ann Xu

April 25 | HarperAlley | Grades 3-6

I really enjoyed Measuring Up, this duo’s Iron Chef-inspired debut. This one is about Taiwanese sisters rebuilding their relationship at summer camp. I might be the world’s biggest Be Prepared fan, and that’s been named as a comp, so I’m looking forward to this.

The Aquanaut by Dan Santat

March 1 | Graphix (Scholastic) | Grades 3-7

A decade after Sidekicks (still a favorite), Dan Santat returns to graphic novels with this story about a girl who teams up with some intelligent sea creatures to set the captive marine life of Aqualand free.

The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Shawn Harris

May 10 | Katherine Teagan Books (HarperCollins) | Grades 2-5

Sometimes, spontaneity is everything. That’s the feeling I get when I open up this graphic novel that was born on Mac Barnett’s Instagram Live show during the early days of the pandemic. It’s spontaneous in the best way – unpredictable, creative, and really funny.

Nonfiction

Blips on a Screen: How Ralph Baer Invented TV Video Gaming and Launched a Worldwide Obsession by Kate Hannigan, illustrated by Zachariah OHora

April 19 | Knopf (Penguin Random House) | Grades K-3

Turns out I have a lot to thank Ralph Baer for, and I didn’t even know it. He started the TV gaming revolution and soon we will have this lovely picture book all about it.

Filed under: Previews