Spring Children’s Preview
42 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY FEBRUARY 2, 2026
Stubby: A Pencil’s Journey by Sydra Mallery, illus. by John Hare (June 30, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-06-236431-9). Stubby describes each step of his journey from cedar tree to classroom pencil to writer, from his amusing point of view. Ages 4–8. The Weedy Garden: A Happy Habitat for Wild Friends by Margaret Renkl, illus. by Billy Renkl (Feb. 24, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-06- 343281-9), invites readers to observe and wonder about the various inhabitants in the ecosystem of a backyard garden. Ages 4–8. Clock Hands: A Graphic Novel by Marieke Nijkamp, illus. by Sylvia Bi (Apr. 21, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-06-302713-8). In this standalone companion to Ink Girls , when Maestro Giuseppe recruits talented Vale as an apprentice on his project to build the first astronomical clock in Siannerra, Vale starts to imagine a better life for their struggling fam- ily. Ages 8–12. The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly (May 12, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-06- 348595-2). After Zuzu’s father is given an old robot named Snap, Zuzu becomes fast friends with it. But Snap’s battery is dwindling and Zuzu isn’t ready to say goodbye. Ages 8–12. Evie and Her Nightmares by Francesca Zappia (July 28, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-06- 345148-3). After the death of her best friend, Evie seeks solace in an online role-playing game where she finds purpose, community, and even romance, but pushes herself further away from reality. Ages 13 and up. This Ain’t Our First Rodeo by Liara Tamani (Feb. 3, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-06-309333-1). When life lassoes Josie and Shawn back together three years after their dreamy first date, their second chance at love is anything but easy in this rodeo romance. Ages 13 and up. HarperCollins/HarperAlley My Imaginary Duck by Graham Annable (July 28, $5.99, paper, ISBN 978-0-0634- 1417-4). Mavis and her best (imaginary) friend, Duck, love nothing more than playing together, but they soon discover that letting others into your world might be even more fun. Ages 4–8.
would you choose, and what would it be? Ages 8–12.
ISBN 978-0-0630-4950-5), is a graphic novel adaptation of this fantasy adventure in which a boy discovers the portal to other worlds behind his bedroom wall. Ages 8–12. A Kid Like Me by Norm Feuti (Feb. 3, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-06-335410-4). Ethan navigates the ever-evolving social landscape of middle school and befriends the new kid in class, trying to figure out where he fits in. Ages 8–12. My Sister, the Freak by Dani Jones (Apr. 14, $15.99, paper, ISBN 978-0-0633-4326-9) is a middle grade tale of sisterhood, forgiveness, and alien invasions. Ages 8–12. Encore! by Miles Toriko Burks (June 16, $18.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-06-328245-2). Two former besties reconnect in high school and discover they might be something more than friends. Ages 13 and up. Speak of the Devil by Sweeney Boo (March 3, $18.99, paper, ISBN 978-0-0630-5633-6). In the sequel to Over My Dead Body , months after Abigail and her friends thwarted a dark magic ritual that threatened to destroy Younwity Institute, new dangers and long- buried secrets bubble to the surface. Ages 14 and up. Series Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, an illus- trated series adapting the bestselling tales of awkward high-schooler-turned-real-life- princess Mia, launches with The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel , illus. by Bethany Crandall (Apr. 7, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978- 0-06-345917-5), ages 8 and up. Squalo & Mage by Kara Bodegón-Hikino, illus. by Kara Bodegón-Hikino, a fantasy graphic novel duology inspired by Filipino folkore featur- ing Mage and her shark best friend, launches with Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa (May 26, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978- 0-06-305642-8). ages 8 and up. And Erin Hunter’s Warriors Graphic Novel adds The New Prophecy #1 , adapted by Gibson Twist, illus. by Sammy Savos (June 30, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-06-345088-2), ages 8–12. HarperCollins/HarperPop Lionel Messi: Big Goals by Erica Wainer, illus. by Claudia Marianno (Apr. 28, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-06-349488-6), tells the story of how Lionel “Leo” Messi went from the
Styx and Stones by Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge (May 5, $18.99, ISBN 978-0- 06-338097-4). After centuries of failed attempts, Simon finally escapes from Hades into modern times—and into the stall of a middle school bathroom. Now it’s up to his new friend, Zeke, to keep him safe from the demons looking to drag him back. Ages 8–12. Rialto by Kate Milford (Apr. 14, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-328-46691-4). Sisters Ivy and Dahlia spend a magic-tinged summer in small-town Missouri in the shadows of an abandoned amusement park that is not what it seems. Ages 10 and up. Holloway by Elana K. Arnold (May 5, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-06-299088-4). After getting lost in the woods on the way to spread her mother’s ashes, Nora finds herself transported to 1945, which feels disturbingly like the Covid-ravaged life she left behind in 2021. Ages 14 and up. HarperCollins/Greenwillow Bear for a Day by Corey R. Tabor (May 19, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-06-337360-0). Readers can imagine how a bear might spend the day—maybe riding a motorcycle?—in this tale with unexpected POV twists. Ages 4–8. I Used to Be a Dinosaur by Casey Lyall, illus. by Laurie Keller (June 9, $19.99, ISBN 978- 0-06-289031-3). A soon-to-be mother hen just found out that chickens descended from dinosaurs, and now she is reexamining her entire life. Ages 4–8. Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes (Feb. 24, $21.99, ISBN 978-0-06-346925-9). The sun encourages patience and assures that spring will come, even as buds bloom and birds chirp one day and snowflakes fall the next. Ages 4–8. Kaleidoscope of Hope: How Butterfly Life Cycles Reflect Our World by Miranda Paul, illus. by Hari and Deepti (May 12, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-06-314410-1). The butterfly’s life cycle serves as a call to environmental action in this narrative non- fiction book featuring 3D paper sculptures. Ages 4–8.
100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson, illus. by Forrest Dickison (June 9, $15.99, paper,
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