The Best Children’s and YA Books of April
by the Brightly Editors
This April brought a shower of gorgeous new books to read! Vibrant colors, magical adventures, and insightful stories await readers of all ages and stages. So, settle into a comfortable spot and get ready to meet the best and brightest books for children and teens coming to bookstores this month!
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Picture Books
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Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers?
Available from:This vibrantly illustrated picture book reimagines a city with grandmothers as the keepers of public safety. The grandmothers cruise around in their vintage Cadillacs, playing classics on the radio, picking up anyone being naughty. With the wisdom and insight only a grandmother can have, they use love and understanding to make the city safer.
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Pocket Full of Sads
Available from:Adorable animals experience heavy feelings in this expressive picture book. Bear feels too sad to go fishing with his friend Rabbit, and she tries everything to perk him up. This heartwarming story shows children that well-meaning advice on the internet doesn’t always work, and friendship might be the best balm for the blues.
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Contenders
Available from:Young baseball fans will love this fascinating account of Charles Bender and John Meyers, the first two First Nations athletes to play against each other in the World Series in 1911. These men’s stories will keep kids glued to the page as they learn how Charles and John overcame obstacles, racism, and prejudice to play the game they loved. It’s the perfect book to read during baseball season!
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Who Will U Be?
Available from:From the New York Times bestselling creator of Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave comes a clever alphabet book about growing up and dreaming big. A young letter “u” goes on a field trip with her class and discovers the many possible futures that await her. She learns the value of authenticity and embracing your strengths.
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Amazing
Available from:Celebrate the many incredible Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have made a difference to our society. This book highlights 36 influential people who made America a better place, from actors to athletes and activists. It’s a fantastic book to read during Asian Heritage Month and beyond.
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Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Makes It Big
Available from:Music lovers will adore this pitch-perfect picture book from the queen of country music herself — Dolly Parton. Billy the Kid wants to become a country music star, so he heads to Nashville, Tennessee, to chase his dream. He faces mean dogs, disappointments, and doubt along the road to stardom, but a few good friends and upbeat tunes help him persevere.
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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Grace Needs Space!
Available from:Grace can’t wait to set out on her cross-galaxy trip with one of her moms. But her exciting vacation plans derail when her mom spends every day distracted by work. And with problems arising one after another, Grace and her mom must fix their relationship to save their trip. This sci-fi graphic novel is perfect for kids who love coming-of-age stories!
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Come See the Fair
Available from:Seances, secrets, and magic combine in this spooky middle grade novel set at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. When Eva goes to the fair, she meets a magician who wants her help. However, it doesn’t take long before Eva questions the magician’s motives and finds herself racing against time to stop his nefarious plans.
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This Is Not a Cookbook
Available from:Young food lovers will enjoy reading Flynn McGarry’s thoughts on cooking, aesthetics, and taste. He shares his passion for food and how he started cooking as a child. Illustrations, stories, and recipes make it a delightful gift for the young chef in your life.
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The Piper's Promise
Available from:Fairy tale enthusiasts will love the latest installment in the Sisters Ever After series! It’s about Clare, the younger sister of the infamous pied piper, who stole all the children in town. To prove her brother’s innocence, Clare and a friend set off for the Faerie Realms to find the stolen children. If your kid devoured Thornwood and Glass Slippers, add this book to your “must-read” list!
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The Rhythm of Time
Available from:Time travel, adventure, and friendship combine in this fast-paced middle grade novel from the creative powerhouse, Questlove. Rahim can’t wait to try out the phone his best friend, Kasia, built for him. But neither kid expects the phone to turn into a time machine, whisking Rahim back to 1997. Now, Rahim and Kasia must dodge government agencies and avoid doing anything to affect the future while they figure out how to get him home.
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Doodles from the Boogie Down
Available from:Young artists will love this graphic novel inspired by the author’s childhood experiences. It’s about a girl named Steph who wants to become an artist. Applying to a high school specializing in art means chasing her dreams — and requires lying to everyone she cares about. This heartfelt story about friendship, growing up, and making choices is perfect for kids who love realistic fiction.
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The Last Comics on Earth
Available from:When their favorite superhero comic gets discontinued, The Last Kids on Earth team up to create a comic book starring themselves. With all the humor and action that series fans have come to expect, this full-color graphic novel is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Kids who can’t get enough of the books will love this new spin-off series!
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Shannon in the Spotlight
Available from:Shannon has OCD, and she thrives on routine and staying out of the spotlight. So when she steps out of her comfort zone and wins the lead role in a summer theater production, her life suddenly feels chaotic. The addition of friendship drama and problems at home make her feel overwhelmed. Shannon wants everything back in order before opening night, but that is not a simple task. This book is a must-read for kids who love theater and stories about friendship.
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Songs of America: Young Reader's Edition
Available from:What do you get when you combine a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer with a Grammy Award-winning music legend? You get an incredible literary tour of the songs, music, and poetry that shaped a nation. Readers will learn about the history of music, its movements, and its influences in the United States with this fascinating work of nonfiction.
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Would You Rather? Summer Edition
Available from:Keep your kids busy with this hilarious and screen-free conversation starter. The latest addition to the Would You Rather? series gives kids over 160 bizarre scenarios to think about and debate. These warm weather-themed scenarios are perfect for summer break, from forgetting camp supplies to choosing a white-water adventure.
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YA
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Chaos & Flame
Available from:Warring factions, forbidden love, and romance make this YA fantasy a must-have! When her adoptive father gets captured by members of House Dragon, Darling vows to get revenge and attacks their prince, Talon. By doing so, she unwittingly stumbles into the middle of a royal court rife with corruption and rebellion. She and Talon join forces against the dark powers threatening both their houses.
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Silver in the Bone
Available from:From the bestselling author of the Darkest Minds series comes a new urban fantasy novel based on the Arthurian Legend. A magical ring from the days of King Arthur surfaces in Boston, throwing the world into a frenzy as ruthless treasure hunters search for the relic. Hoping to break her younger brother’s curse, Tamsin meets an unlikely ally and joins the perilous search for the ring. This breathtaking adventure will keep you reading well into the night!
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Queen Bee
Available from:Years after being betrayed by her best friend, Ela wants nothing more than to get revenge. She impersonates an heiress and sets a plan in motion to ruin her former friend’s luxurious life. Those plans hit a speed bump when she reconnects with an old flame and loses focus. Pick this one up when you’re in the mood for a fun historical romp about romance and revenge!
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A Hunger of Thorns
Available from:Ancient magic, monsters, and spine-tingling moments collide in this spooky YA fantasy! When a young witch named Odette goes searching for dark magic, she vanishes without a trace. Her best friend, Maud, believes Odette is trapped inside an abandoned power plant and sets out to rescue her. Grab a copy of this book when you need a chilling story to get lost in.
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Snow & Poison
Available from:Calling all fairy tale lovers, this retelling of “Snow White” from bestselling YA author Melissa de la Cruz is right up your alley! Immerse yourself in this enchanting tale of a young socialite, an angry king, dark magic, and true love in 1621 Bavaria. It is the perfect next-read after binge-reading the author’s other fairy tale retelling, Cinder & Glass.
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