The Best Children’s and YA Books of March
by the Brightly Editors
This is an excellent time to be a book lover! You’ll find plenty of exciting new reads bursting with imagination, adventure, and fun in this lineup of new releases. Whether you’re interested in adding a hilarious picture book to your bedtime stack or a high-stakes fantasy for your tween or teen to obsess over, we have you covered. Here are the most exciting books for children and teens hitting bookstore shelves this month.
-
Picture Books
-
The Knowing
Available from:From Grammy Award-winning artist Ani DiFranco comes a lyrical picture book about identity. The young narrator describes herself, from her skin color to her name, before pointing out that she is more than these things. The uplifting message and stunning artwork make this beautiful picture book a must-read for children and parents who want more positive vibes in their lives.
Also available from: -
Bluey: Mum School
Available from:Little readers will adore Bluey’s latest adventure. The little blue dog needs a bath but would rather play Mum School with her balloon collection. She gives each balloon a name and tries to get them to sit still and listen while she teaches a lesson. Things don’t go as planned, and Bluey learns about patience and parenthood.
Also available from: -
How to Talk Like a Bear
Available from:Get ready to growl, roar, and grunt your way through this hilarious picture book that breaks the fourth wall! A cute little bear will teach you the ins and outs of speaking Bear and its many benefits. For example, a simple roar can encourage people to give you their ice cream, and a growl can get you out of bath time. Readers of all ages will love this rib-tickling book!
Also available from: -
The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination
Available from:Harry Potter meets Tinker Bell in this delightful fantasy picture book from the New York Times bestselling author, Brad Montague. A little fairy named Sparky delivers the mail at the Fantastic Bureau of Imagination. The Bureau’s future gets threatened when not enough people share their creativity, and all the untold stories, songs, and poems overflow. Sparky must convince everyone to tap into their imaginations before the Bureau disappears under a pile of unused ideas.
Also available from: -
Little Daymond Learns to Earn
Available from:Children with entrepreneurial ambitions will love this picture book from Shark Tank star and FUBU founder Daymond John. Young readers will learn the basics of earning money, starting a business, and managing cash. It’s an excellent pick if you want to introduce your child to financial concepts like budgeting and saving.
Also available from: -
Gloria’s Promise (American Ballet Theatre)
Available from:Created by Robin Preiss Glasser, a former ballet soloist and the New York Times bestselling illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series, this gorgeous picture book is perfect for little ballerinas! It’s a charming story about a girl named Gloria who wants to attend a prestigious summer ballet program. But she thinks her dreams have shattered when her audition doesn’t go smoothly. Readers will learn that perseverance and a positive attitude go a long way toward reaching your goals.
Also available from: -
Remember
Available from:From US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo comes a beautiful picture book adapted from her poem “Remember.” It reminds readers to celebrate their unique heritage, spend time in nature, and appreciate their families. Add this to your reading list if you love feel-good books with uplifting messages!
Also available from: -
Soon, Your Hands
If you enjoyed The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin, you will also enjoy this gorgeous picture book about three families. The parents admire their children and imagine the bright futures they’ll have. Stunning illustrations, a diverse cast of characters, and a tender message make this the perfect bedtime read-aloud.
Available from:
-
Chapter Books & Middle Grade
-
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookies of Chaos
Available from:Ben relies on fortune cookies to make big decisions, so when he finds a lost wallet, he turns to a cookie for advice. He can’t make sense of the fortune, so he opens another cookie and another one. Soon, he has too many fortunes that he can’t puzzle out and a wallet that still doesn’t have an owner. This hilarious middle grade book will keep young readers giggling until the end.
Also available from: -
The Moth Keeper
Available from:Kids who can’t get enough of graphic novels will love this thoughtful and gorgeous book about a Moth Keeper. Anya watches over the lunar moths that her village relies on for survival. When she abandons her post one night, she sets events in motion that change the village and herself forever.
Also available from: -
Skyriders
Available from:Send your kid on a high-flying adventure with this series opener about a girl who can communicate telepathically with her winged horse. With her kingdom under attack, 13-year-old Kie must teach the royal army the ancient battle strategies passed down through her family. Monsters, friendship, courage, and breathtaking suspense make this adventure novel irresistible to young readers!
Also available from: -
Aniana del Mar Jumps In
Available from:Aniana is happiest when she’s swimming, even if her Mami disapproves. When her Juvenile Arthritis makes movement impossible, she fears her swimming days are over. With a doctor’s help and Papi’s support, Aniana finds the hope and courage to persevere.
Also available from: -
Eb & Flow
Available from:Ebony and De’Kari didn’t set out to start a fight, but that hardly matters when they brawl in the cafeteria. Both kids get suspended from school and must grapple with the consequences of their actions. This novel in verse examines the tween’s lives, friendships, and behavior as they navigate their situations.
Also available from: -
Turtles of the Midnight Moon
Available from:Readers who enjoyed environmental adventures like Hoot by Carl Hiaasen and Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar will love this book about two girls saving sea turtles in Honduras. Abby and Barana notice turtle eggs disappearing from their nests and set out to catch the poachers. They team up to solve the mystery and quickly become entrenched in a heart-pounding adventure. Readers will hang on every word!
Also available from: -
The Underdogs Serve It Up
Available from:The dog detectives take to the tennis court in the latest installment of this hilarious series! When all the tennis balls go missing right before a big match, the Underdog Detective Agency takes the case. The bumbling amateur sleuths, rib-tickling scenarios, and expressive illustrations will have readers howling with laughter.
Also available from: -
Meesh the Bad Demon #1
Available from:Demons, fairies, and friendship combine in this graphic novel fantasy about Meesh, a demon who wants to be a fairy. When danger arrives, Meesh escapes to the fairy realm, where she makes new friends and learns the grass isn’t always greener in a different pasture. This full-color graphic novel will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about friendship, magic, and overcoming prejudice.
Also available from:
-
YA
-
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys
Available from:Chloe is thrilled when her dreams of moving to the United States to attend college come within reach. But with her dad meddling in her love life and all the uncertainties she feels about leaving home, Chloe isn’t sure her dreams are worth the sacrifices she’ll have to make. She must choose between keeping her father (and the boys he sets her up with) happy and taking the most significant risk of her life.
Also available from: -
Royal Blood
Available from:As the illegitimate (and American) daughter of the King of England, Evan Bright knows she’ll have a hard time fitting in when she visits the UK for the summer. But she never expects to get accused of murder. She must find the actual killer to clear her name, but doing so will require her to unearth secrets the monarchy will do anything to keep hidden.
Also available from: -
Midnight Strikes
Available from:Cinderella meets Groundhog Day in this pulse-pounding YA fantasy novel that will keep you turning pages well past midnight. A glamorous ball turns deadly when an explosion kills everyone in attendance, including 17-year-old Anaïs. But then, she wakes up and must relive those terrible events over and over. Anaïs must find out who is behind the explosion and stop them or stay trapped in the horrific time loop forever.
Also available from: -
Free Radicals
Available from:Romance, revenge, and justice combine into an unputdownable novel YA readers will love. Mafi is the self-appointed superhero of her high school. When someone needs revenge, Mafi helps them out. Before long, her secret identity and ever-growing pile of lies cause real-world consequences for herself, her family, and her relatives in Afghanistan.
Also available from: -
Chaos & Flame
Available from:Get ready for a fantasy thrill ride that will keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning! When her adoptive father gets kidnapped by a rival faction, Darling will do anything to save him, even if it means teaming up with her mortal enemy, Talon. Together, they infiltrate the court and uncover several conspiracies of revolution and world-destroying magic.
Also available from: -
Made of Stars
Available from:This fast-paced science-fiction novel reads like Ocean’s Eleven in space! Shane and Ava work as a team to steal aircraft. So, when they stumble across the military’s plans to take over their planet, they decide to prevent it with their galaxy-famous heists.
Meanwhile, recent flight academy graduate Cyrus must figure out who is telling the truth: his military leaders or a pair of headline-making thieves? The answer could determine the fate of the entire planet. It’s a sci-fi adventure you don’t want to miss!
Also available from:
