Spring has finally sprung, and we are here for the warmer weather and brighter days! With fresh flowers blooming, bees buzzing, and birds chirping, we’re ready to take our books outside for some relaxing reading time—but which books should we grab?

Fortunately, April has some incredible upcoming picture book and middle grade releases that make for the perfect springtime read! So, whether you care to crack open a mystery, a history, a comedy, a fantasy, or a little bit of everything, these are the new releases hitting shelves next month that you can’t miss.

Picture Books

My Body, My Rules by Andy Passchier (4/7)

Following up on the stellar My Gender, My Rules from last year, Passchier returns with another empowering book that not only helps readers understand and take pride in their bodies but also learn how to enforce boundaries. Both a celebration of the uniqueness of each individual as well as a critical lesson on consent, this read is a perfect way to show the beauty and pride in every body.

Baba Palooza by A. D. Ghani, illus. by Nadia Alam (4/7)

Aizah’s Baba is a taxi driver, which means he works long hours and often has to miss special events. Still, every Saturday morning, he picks up one very important passenger—Aizah, in her most fashionable dress-up clothes—for a chauffeured father-daughter drive around the city. This touching and gorgeous ode to working-class parents is wonderful for many reasons, including some marvelous Deaf representation, but at its heart is a universal story of a father and daughter’s loving bond.

Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp by Minoru Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, illus. by Chris Sasaki (4/7)

Based on the experiences of Tonai’s family during the shameful internment of Japanese-American U.S. citizens during WWII, this story follows young Minoru as the government unjustly incarcerates first his father, then himself, his mother, and his siblings. An understated yet deeply affecting tale that carries an upsetting amount of modern relevance, this powerful family narrative is a solid pathway to opening conversations about an often-brushed aside series of events in U.S. history.

Even Steven: A Book About Sharing by Carrie Finison, illus. by Daniel Wiseman (4/14)

While some kids can have trouble sharing, Steven is all about fairness. In fact, he’s so eager for things to be split evenly that his efforts can border on the overzealous, such as trying to break a nickel in half or tear a book apart so that everyone gets an even number of pages. A brilliant breakdown of the difference between equality and equity, Finison and Wiseman’s follow-up to the equally edifying Don’t Hug Doug is a beneficial read for all ages.

My Art Book of Peace by Shana Gozansky, designed by Meagan Bennett (4/15)

Latest in the board book series that combines art appreciation with early SEL concepts, this title introduces the idea of peace as not only a feeling or state of being, but as a basic human right. Paired with museum works by artists such as Faith Ringgold, Georges Seurat, and Salman Toor, the littlest of bookworms can explore beautiful paintings, photos, and sculptures while receiving the important message that we are all deserving of peace.

Taking Flight by Kashmira Sheth, illus. by Nicolò Carozzi (4/21)

According to the United Nations, there were around 117.3 million people in 2025 who had been displaced by conflict, violence, or human rights violations, a staggering percentage of them children. Taking Flight follows the story of three such children and their families as they flee Tibet, Syria, and Ukraine, braving long journeys, refugee camps, and the constant anxiety of the unknown. Candid yet hopeful, this title illuminates the realities of displaced persons while offering solace to those who are experiencing them.

Piece by Piece: How Stephen Sondheim Made Musical Puzzles Come Alive by Erin Frankel, illus. by Stacy Innerst (4/21)

Considered by many (including me) to be the greatest composer and lyricist in theater history, Stephen Sondheim had a unique way of piecing together his musical masterpieces. Guided by his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, Sondheim’s brilliant creativity was made all the better by his willingness to practice, edit, and rework his initial drafts. Combining a loving portrait of an American icon with a lovely lesson in perseverance, this picture book biography is a delight.

Hold by Randy Ribay, illus. by Zeke Peña (4/21)

As a frazzled dad prepares to leave the house with his toddler, he offers the kiddo’s water bottle and makes a simple request: “Hold, please.” Elated with the new concept of holding, the little one requests to hold more items: a stuffed sloth, the family gato, a plane in the sky, and a stranger’s baby! A positively charming childhood adventure with a touching final act, this silly tale is sure to take hold of the heartstrings.

Because of Dads by K.E. Lewis, illus. by Maithili Joshi (4/28)

Following a city full of dads as they interact with their kids, this title celebrates the diversity of fatherhood in both appearance and action. Along with the typical fatherly fare of fixing, building, and playing sports, dads are shown cooking meals, doing hair, and making music. With a cast that includes two-dad families, tattooed dads, gender non-conforming dads, and disabled dads, the wide scope of what it means to be a father is all tied together by its true constant: love for their little ones.

We the People Is All the People by Howard W. Reeves, illus. by Duncan Tonatiuh (4/28)

“We the people…” begins the U.S. Constitution, but who does this phrase include? With the United States’ 250th birthday approaching, this timely reevaluation of the Constitutional preamble sets a perfect balance of tone, envisioning the promise of a land that truly values all the people that make up its populace. With powerful text by Reeves and Tonatiuh’s signature artwork, readers are reminded that for a more perfect union to be built, everyone is entitled to freedom, safety, and a voice.

Middle Grade

Last Day Pool Party by Emma Steinkellner (4/7)

The eighth-grade class of Orange Grove Junior High has graduated, but before summer break (and the looming spectre of high school), there’s Dustin’s pool party to contend with. In a page-turning graphic novel that effortlessly captures the highs, lows, and in-betweens of adolescence, readers follow six kids over the course of the day as they mend fences, reveal secrets, and puzzle out what this new chapter in their lives might mean.

Nell O’Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin (4/7)

Though her parents run an inn at the Golden Crossroads—a nexus where twelve roads of travelling questers meet—half-human, half-elf Nell wants absolutely nothing to do with such nonsense. Happy to tend her chickens and mind her business, she is incensed when she must leave her cozy home on a business trip (NOT a quest) and gets drawn into a world of intrigue and derring-do. Both a hilarious subversion of fantasy tropes and a potent lesson on broadening one’s worldview, this title is a fun ride for homebodies and adventurers alike.

A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm by Philip C. Stead (4/7)

Stead’s marvelous middle-grade debut follows Bernadette, a young goatherd whose charges amount to the two dozen goats who are holding up a kingdom—literally, carrying it on their backs. When one of her charges makes a break for freedom, Bernadette must brave a thoroughly whimsical world to return him to his duty… something that proves challenging when the story’s writer (also a character) keeps mixing up the plot. Completely unserious and absolutely absurd, this adventure will leave readers in stitches.

When You’re Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim (4/7)

There’s a tradition at Lacey’s new school: during the final performance of the fall play, one couple kisses onstage. As she’s been cast as the lead in Bye Bye Birdie, Lacey is expected to carry on this tradition, and her new friends are happy to help her pick between her male co-leads. The thing is, Lacey wants to kiss a fellow new student: Violet. A tender and sweet tale of queer and Jewish adolescence, Bendheim’s story offers an immensely complex and relatable protagonist and a universal story of blossoming romance and developing identity.

Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American Activism by Kristina Wong, Theodore Chao, Anna Michelle Wang, & Jenessa Joffe, illus. by Shehzil Malik (4/14)

In this infectiously energetic manual, historical review, and guidebook based on the Radical Cram School webseries, readers are introduced to the core concepts of Asian American activism. A more comprehensive tome on the subject you’d be hard-pressed to find, and this title offers everything from lessons on body positivity to guides on creating allyship with other marginalized communities to instructions on how activists of all ages and personal strengths can contribute to the movement, and much more. Radical motivation and identity affirmation with an electric vibe that will leave all readers raring to dismantle the status quo.

Sashimi by Dan Santat (4/14)

Latest from the impossibly talented and prolific Santat, this graphic novel introduces the titular character, the newest student at Barnacle Bay Elementary, who is DEFINITELY A TOTALLY NORMAL HUMAN CHILD. While doing what he can to remain undercover to locate a mythical beast and solve the mysteries of his own origins, Sashimi must also contend with curious classmates and puzzle out the human world… and perhaps even make a few friends along the way.

Where Ella Went by Laurie Morrison (4/14)

Eighth graders Sadie and Pug have only two things in common: soccer and their friend Ella Hart, the captain of the team. So when Ella disappears right before the most important game of the year, the “sort-of” frienemies join forces to figure out what the heck happened to their fearless leader. Morrison uses a clever mix of shifting narratives and multimedia evidence to unravel the mystery for the reader, which proves to be a deeply affecting examination of the often-unseen pressures of adolescence.

Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters: A Graphic Memoir by Yevgenia Nayberg (4/14)

A gripping, intricate, and fascinating account of Nayberg’s childhood in Soviet Ukraine, this singular graphic novel is as complex as its central subject and themes. Following young Genya as she embarks on her childhood dream of becoming an artist, readers are immersed in a world of Soviet-era antisemitism, oppressive government surveillance, and complicated family relationships that feel startlingly present and perennially relevant.

Found Sound by Meg Wolitzer & Charlie Panek (4/21)

Overlooked middle child Felix is feeling particularly apathetic about this year’s summer vacation in Blissfield, Massachusetts… until he finds a mysterious box that contains an audio recorder, headphones, and a list of timecodes. The box’s contents lead him and neighbor Marigold on a scavenger hunt that unveils a world of hidden real-world sound phenomena, leading to discoveries about his own life and forgotten memories. A thrilling STEM mystery that ties together the mind and the heart, this read will have readers listening a little more closely to the world around them.

The Endless Game by J.D. Amato, illus. by Sophie Morse (4/28)

While many of us might think of Capture the Flag as a timeless childhood game, this probably isn’t what we have in mind. Yet when Fred moves to Lakeside, he is surprised to find that the entire town has been engaged in a round of capture the flag for the last seventy-five YEARS. An action-packed tale of competition with absorbing worldbuilding and a cunning examination of privilege and conformity to boot, this graphic novel is a perfectly well-rounded read.

---

We hope that you and your young readers check out the books on this list! If you’re looking for more amazing reads, be sure to check out our picks for the best new books of last month!