Our Most Anticipated New Kids’ & YA Book Releases of March 2022

In his author-illustrator debut, Christopher Denise’s clever wordplay and detailed illustrations for Knight Owl give it the feel of an instant classic. Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight — but he’ll have to be creative when facing the fearsome dragon. Owl’s quest to become a formidable knight is perfect for fans of Dragonboy and Attack of the Underwear Dragon.

If you had the chance to choose a dream team to create the quintessential “love letter” book for children, I don’t think you could do any better than Andrea Beaty (The Questioneers, One Girl) and Vashti Harrison (Hair Love, Sulwe, Think Big, Little One). I Love You Like Yellow is the delightful and special book about love that’s so perfectly relatable you’ll find it’s perfect for Storytime all year round.

Seth Meyers does what Seth Meyers will do — make you and everyone around you laugh. Perfect for fans of The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak and The Serious Goose by Jimmy Kimmel, I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared is his hilarious picture book debut about a fearless rabbit and fearful bear — or so he thinks. Adventure awaits in this creatively silly and gratifying story that will quickly become a favorite for the bookshelf.

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel from Caldecott-winning author-illustrator Dan Santat follows Sophia five years after her marine biologist father is lost at sea, as she teams up with a group of sea creatures to save the marine life at Aqualand. The Aquanaut is a sweet and fun tale of environmentalism and found family.

When Alfred’s mother, the queen, is dragged off to the Tower of London, he takes off on an epic quest in an act of valor to rescue her and bring her back to safety, changing his life forever. Fans of David Walliams’ The Ice Monster will go giddy over his latest work following a prince, a palace, and a battle of epic proportions between good and evil.

With the events of the 1992 LA Riots unfolding around him, 12-year-old Jordan decides to take matters into his own hands when he follows his strict father to check on the family store. This action-packed yet thought-provoking story told from the perspective of a young Korean American boy shines light on a life-changing event in the not-too-distant past.

Stuart Gibbs is no stranger to crafting hilarious middle grade tales, and he’s done it once again with Once Upon a Tim. When a young peasant named Tim gets the opportunity to join a quest to rescue a kidnapped princess, he jumps at the chance — even though his knightly skills are just a bit lacking. This laugh-out-loud story coupled with black-and-white illustrations throughout is sure to make any young reader giggle.

Darkly eerie, and utterly evocative, Gallant is a gothic tale of a place where shadows meet light and death meets life. When Olivia Prior is summoned to her family’s home after a lifetime spent in an orphanage, she’s determined to understand what drove her mother, and countless other family members, to the edge. This chilling novel is best read with the lights on (or off, if you dare).

Showing love doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people may not have sexual or romantic feelings, and that’s okay! Loveless is the funny and relatable story of Georgia as she goes off to college and discovers an LGBTQIA+ community that helps her realize that there are a lot of things to unlearn about the way she thought things had to be. Perfect for fans of Love, Simon, I Wish You All the Best and You Should See Me in a Crown. 

Taking inspiration from ancient Mesoamerica, The Lost Dreamer is the captivating tale of two young seers fighting for survival in a society that wants them gone. Complete with atmospheric world-building and a detailed magic system, this mesmerizing tale is perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and We Hunt the Flame.

After defeating the evil king, Arek assumes the throne, but there’s one big catch — he must find a spouse before his 18th birthday. This sweet and laugh-out-loud funny fantasy will have readers shipping their favorite match for the newly crowned king. This swoon-worthy tale is a must-read for fans of In Deeper Waters.

Judy I. Lin has exquisitely combined two of our favorite things — tea and magic — to craft her debut novel, A Magic Steeped in Poison. Following her mother’s death, Ning journeys to the capital to compete in a tournament to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi, or master of the magical art of tea-making. But competition breeds danger, and Ning is soon embroiled in a feud far more perilous than she could ever imagine.

This coming-of-age story meets superhero graphic novel from Alicia Keys follows 14-year-old Lolo after she accidentally discovers that she has telekinetic abilities — and she’s not the only one who wants to use them. Coupled with beautiful illustrations from Brittney Williams, Girl on Fire is the next must-read young adult graphic novel.

Hollow’s End has long been a place of magic and mystery, drawing visitors from all over with its miracle crops and livestock. However, when a deadly blight poisons the crops and eventually the people of Hollow’s End, it’s up to Wren and her ex-boyfriend to uncover what is causing the deadly infection and how to stop it before it claims them, too. This spine-tingling debut is perfect for fans of genre-bending thrillers like The Grace Year.

With Messy Roots, Laura Gao has crafted an engaging, relatable, and at times, laugh-out-loud funny graphic novel detailing her own experiences immigrating from Wuhan, China to Texas at an early age. This timely and important read follows the author from childhood to young adulthood as she navigates the complex dynamics of both her cultural identity and sexuality.