It’s the beginning of a whole new decade, and lots of great-looking books are coming out soon. From new books in acclaimed picture book series, to a sequel to an award-winning middle-grade novel, to a young adult novel that has received four starred reviews… so far!
Here are our most anticipated books coming out in 2020.
PICTURE BOOKS
Two additions to Carmen Oliver‘s BEARS series, illustrated by Jean Claude, are coming out this year from Capstone. BEARS MAKE THE BEST WRITING BUDDIES launched along with the new year on Jan. 1, and BEARS MAKE THE BEST SCIENCE BUDDIES will be out in the fall.
The non-fiction picture book THE ROOTS OF RAP: 16 BARS ON THE 4 PILLARS OF HIP-HOP, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Frank Morrison, came out from Little Bee Books on Jan. 8. The rhyming, triple-timing picture book looks at the origins of hip-hop and how it evolved from folktales, spirituals and poetry to the showmanship of James Brown, to the culture of graffiti art and break dancing.
James E. Ransome put his gorgeous illustrations to FREEDOM BIRD, written by Jerdine Nolen. The historical picture book, which was released by Simon & Schuster on Jan. 14, explores the story of enslaved siblings who are inspired by a bird to escape to freedom.
Just in time for President’s Day on Feb. 17, IT’S HARD WORK BUT IT’S WORTH IT: THE LIFE OF JIMMY CARTER will be published by Balzer + Bray on Jan. 28. The first picture book biography of the 39th U.S. President, who’s also a humanitarian and Nobel Prize winner, was written by Bethany Hegedus and illustrated by Kyung Eun Han.
Dianne White has a followup to her brilliant 2014 picture book BLUE ON BLUE. GREEN ON GREEN comes out on March 17 from Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster. Illustrated by Felicita Sala, the rhyming book features a child going on a colorful journey through the seasons.
A nervous, young sloth makes his first, dangerous climb down the tree to take care of important business in SLOTH WENT. This fun picture book, written by Adam Lehrhaupt and illustrated by Benson Shum, comes out on June 2 from Bloomsbury.
I AM EVERY GOOD THING pairs up the writer, Derrick Barnes, and illustrator, Gordon C. James, behind the Caldecott-winning CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT. This new picture book from the award-winning team is a poetic declaration of self-actualization in which a young black boy makes it abundantly clear that he alone defines who he is, how he should be addressed and what he will become. The book arrives Sept. 1 from Nancy Paulsen Books.
Another book from a Caldecott-winner, ROBOBABY is written and illustrated by David Wiesner. In the picture book, which Clarion also will publish on Sept. 1, a robot family celebrates the arrival of a baby.
Hot off the heels of her acclaimed FREEDOM SOUP, Tami Charles has a new picture book coming out Oct. 6 from Scholastic that’s illustrated by the amazing Bryan Collier. ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER is a rhythmic lullaby that reassures readers that their worth never diminishes.
Laura Gehl focuses on the legal system in her new picture book JUDGE JULIETTE, coming out in the fall from Sterling Children’s Books. Illustrated by Marilia (Mari) Lobo, the story features the irrepressible Juliette who must navigate friends, school and grownups.
MIDDLE-GRADE
The sequel to the Lesa Cline-Ransome‘s award-winning FINDING LANGSTON, LEAVING LYMON came out on Jan. 6 from Holiday House. This new book in the series shows that behind every bad boy is a story worth hearing and at least one chance of redemption.
The first middle-grade novel illustrated with Jessixa Bagley‘s dreamy artwork, A GIRL, A RACCOON, AND THE MIDNIGHT MOON, was released on Jan. 7 from Chronicle. Written by Karen Romano Young, the story tells of bookish Pearl, the daughter of a librarian, who lives in a fantastical version of New York City.
Sure to be every English teacher’s dream book, P.J. Hoover‘s HOMER’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE brings the classic THE ODYSSEY to young readers by mixing it with the fun movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. In the novel, 12-year-old Homer is about to fail out of school unless he comes up with the perfect story, so the god Hermes sends him back in time to sail with Odysseus on his voyage home. Kirkus called the book “awesome reading.” It comes out on April 7 from CBAY Books.
Erica S. Perl is starting a new early reader series about THE LUCKY DOGS featuring a small frisky puppy and a big, careful canine. Illustrated by Leire Martin, the first two books, PENNY AND CLOVER: FOLLOW THAT BALL and PENNY AND CLOVER: UP AND OVER come out on June 2 from Penguin.
Cynthia Leitich Smith is starting a new middle-grade series co-written with Kekla Magoon called THE BLUE STARS. In the first book, MISSION ONE: THE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM, two cousins, Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn, embrace their different strengths to become superheroes. The book is illustrated by Molly Murakami and will be released in the fall by Candlewick.
YOUNG ADULT
Lamar Giles‘ young adult novel NOT SO PURE AND SIMPLE follows a boy who joins a group to get closer to his crush, only to find out he must take a “Purity Pledge.” Published by HarperTeen on Jan. 21, the novel has received four starred reviews so far.
With THE GIRL IN THE WHITE VAN, April Henry continues to terrify her grateful readers. The young adult novel, coming April 12 from Ottaviano/Macmillan, tells the story of a teen who is snatched outside her kung fu class and must figure out how to escape and rescue another victim.