Our Graphic Novel Preview series invites readers to look inside new graphic novels! This month, we’re highlighting a futuristic middle grade graphic novel, The Space Cat by Nnedi Okarafor and illustrated by Tana Ford—on sale August 12th!
Look inside The space cat→
RSVP now for our MacKids School & Library Fall 2025 Preview Event, where we’ll preview upcoming picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult titles! We’ll have video appearances from talented creators Kevin Maillard and Rafael López (And They Walk On), Craig Kofi Farmer (A Method for Magic and Misfortune), and Deborah Heiligman (Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs. America (A Love Story)).
Stay tuned for our live special guests! Author María Dolores Águila will introduce her middle grade debut novel in verse, A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez, based on the true story of one child’s courage to stand against segregation. Plus, we are excited to welcome Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Rebecca Stead! She’ll be in conversation about The Experiment, a fast-paced coming-of-age novel (with aliens!) that asks universal questions about how we figure out who we want to be, and whether it’s ever too late to change.
And, don’t miss our exclusive cover reveal of a new book by Newbery Honoree and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Warga!
The Song of Orphan’s Garden
By Nicole M. Hewitt
Ages 8-12
On Sale Now!
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Combining the gentleness of Miyazaki, the wintry wonderland of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the whimsicality of Newbery winner The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Nicole M. Hewitt’s debut middle-grade novel, The Song of Orphan’s Garden, is an enchanting fantasy tale with all the makings of a new classic.
In an arctic world that’s getting colder every day, Lyriana’s only hope of survival is to get her little brother Zave and herself to the fabled Orphan’s Garden. It’s rumored to be the one place in the world not controlled by deadly Winter Spirits or ruled by the tyrant Giant king. In Orphan’s Garden, healing trees will melt away Winter’s pains, and Lyriana and Zave can live safely in the warmth of Spring. If the garden exists, they must find it. They won’t live much longer without it.
Brob, a Giant boy, also needs sanctuary. When the Giant king banishes his family to the Winter Blight, it’s a death sentence. Orphan’s Garden is his family’s only hope, and as far as Brob’s concerned, it belongs to him. After all, he was the one who accidentally used an ancient magic to grow the garden years ago. He has no intention of sharing his haven with pesky humans, who will just use up its magic and ruin it.
When it becomes clear that Orphan’s Garden is in danger of being destroyed, Lyriana and Brob are the only ones who can save it—but only if they can put the ages-old battle between Humans and Giants aside and find a way to work together.
dOWNLOAD THE dISCUSSION gUIDE FOR The song of orphan’s garden hERE →
Browse a catalog of our state award winners and nominees for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 and add these books to your TBR! Highlights include:
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In May, we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month by reading and sharing stories by Jewish American authors and illustrators. Celebrate in your school or library by uplifting these voices all year round! Enter a sweepestakes below for the chance to win an advance reading copy of Caldecott Medalist Uri Shulevitz’s final work, The Sky Was My Blanket. Find more resources on the Jewish American Heritage Month website.
Enter for a chance to win a galley of Caldecott Medalist Uri Shulevitz’s final work, The Sky Was My Blanket: A Young Man’s Journey Across Wartime Europe. From celebrated Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Uri Shulevitz comes the gripping and revealing true story of a young Polish exile fighting to survive in war-torn Europe. Inspired by the true story of Uri’s uncle and stunningly illustrated by the author, this is a unique and riveting account of one man’s courage and resilience amidst one of the darkest periods in global history.
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Our Graphic Novel Preview series invites readers to look inside new graphic novels! This month, we’re highlighting a debut young adult graphic novel, You and Me on Repeat by Mary Shyne—on sale May 13th!
Look inside You and me on repeat→
Watch our MacKids School & Library Spring 2025 Preview Event where we previewed upcoming picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult titles! You’ll hear from talented creators Marzieh Abbas (The Camel Library); Askel Aden (Love, Misha); and Kasia Babis (Breadcrumbs)!
Plus author Kristen Mei Chase was in conversation discussing her picture book debut, We Are American, Too, an exquisitely illustrated exploration of Asian American history, identity, and pride. Also, we were thrilled to have the #1 New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed historian Ibram X. Kendi with us! Dr. Kendi was in conversation talking about Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers, a powerful biography about the life of Malcolm X!
This month’s Author Spotlight are Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Boston Weatherford, authors Rap It Up!, where aspiring young rappers will delight in this infectious, read-aloud introduction to the poetry and craft of rap.
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Our Graphic Novel Preview series invites readers to look inside new graphic novels! This month, we’re highlighting a warmhearted middle grade graphic novel, Don’t Cause Trouble by Arree Chung—on sale April 22nd!
Look inside Don’t Cause Trouble→
We’ve put together a roundup of titles to celebrate National Poetry Month, including new 2025 titles coming soon such as The Five Wolves, While We Wait, and Spark! Explore our poetry titles, and discover more about each book below by clicking the book jacket!
Find more poetry recommendations here →
