The seasons are changing, and so are kids’ reading lists!
Help kids blossom into avid readers with these new book releases for April. From picture books to mythological fantasies, there’s something for every little bookworm to enjoy.
Aru Shah and the City of Gold by Roshani Chokshi is the fourth addition to her Pandava series. This book follows the titular Aru Shah and her sisters as they search for their mentors Hanuman and Urvashi in Lanka, the city of gold. War threatens to break out between the devas and asuras, and Aru must decide if she wants to fight on behalf of the devas, risk getting her trust betrayed by mischievous gods, and wage the battle of her life. Middle-grade readers can easily immerse themselves in this gripping, Hindu-inspired, mythological adventure.
Billy Miller Makes a Wish is the stand-alone companion of author Kevin Henke’s The Year of Billy Miller. Young Billy wants something exciting to happen on his birthday, but immediately regrets his wish when an ambulance arrives at his neighbor’s house. Is Billy responsible? And how do love letters, art projects, and misguided tattoos get thrown into the mix? Illustrated in black and white by Henke, this book is a comedic and emotionally complex adventure for early elementary and middle-grade readers to enjoy.
Julius and Macy: A Very Brave Night is a woodsy tale about bravery and friendship for kids to get lost in. Written by Annelouise Mahoney, the book follows Julius (a badger) and Macy (a mouse) as they play heroes. When the Night Goblin swipes their snack one night, Julius and Macy go on an adventure to retrieve it. This tale teaches kids that bravery comes in all different shapes and sizes.
The Messengers by Margaret Peterson Haddix is the third and final book of the author’s Greystone Secrets series. The Greystone heroes come across mysterious coins with urgent messages pleading for help. The Greystones discover that their friends in the alternate world are under attack, and evil forces are invading the better world as well. The Greystones and their alternate doubles, the Gustanos, must team up to save the alternate world or risk losing both of their worlds. This conclusion to the series is an action-packed and fantastical journey for middle-grade readers to embark on.
Rambee Boo’s Lake Vacation! is the fourth addition to the Rambee Boo series written by Reena Korde Pagnoni and illustrated by Frances Rose Espanol. It follows the silly dog Rambee Boo and his human brother Rock in rhyme-riddled adventures. In this book, Rambee and Rock take a summer vacation to the lake, and are having so much fun that Rambee doesn’t realize he keeps dropping his sock! Will the sock make it back home with Rambee and Rock? This picture book will help kids develop their rhyming skills.
We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know educates kids about contemporary and historical Native life. Written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Frane Lessac, this book features 12 Native American kids discussing topics such as forced assimilation, Native urban relocation, and civil rights. Every theme ends with the powerful refrain, “We are still here!” to remind readers that Native American history is not just pages in history books, but a real, ongoing affair for the indigenous peoples.
Aru Shah and the City of Gold, Billy Miller Makes a Wish, The Messengers, Rambee Boo’s Lake Vacation!, and We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know will launch in April on Amazon and Kindle. Julius and Macy: A Very Brave Night is already available to order on Kindle or as a hardcover edition. You can also look out for these titles in your local bookstores.
