Class is officially back in session, at least for young readers. And if heading into that fresh start feels intimidating, there are always children’s and YA series favorites to rely on. This month, readers can revisit the worlds of a beloved woodland giant, a Mexican American boy coming of age, and young heroes on an epic fantasy quest.

Picture Books

A Book for Everyone by Haley and John Rocco (Little, Brown/Ling, Sept. 29 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-58842-3). When a reading challenge is issued to the class, Piper is determined to find the perfect book for her best friend, in the second entry in the All the Books series.

Get It Done & Have Fun! by Penn and Kim Holderness (Little, Brown, Sept. 29 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-316-59768-5). The second installment of the ADHD Kids Are Awesome series follows a squirrel who has found unique ways to manage his mental health. Check out our q&a with the podcasters and series creators.

Good Morning, Crayons by Drew Daywalt, illus. by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel, Sept. 1 $9.99; ISBN 978-0-593-69484-8). The crayons of Daywalt and Jeffers’s perennially popular Crayons series show readers their morning routines in this latest installment.

Gruffalo Granny by Julia Donaldson, illus. by Axel Scheffler (Dial, Sept. 15, $19.99; ISBN 979-8-217-23873-6). Returning to the beloved Gruffalo universe after 20 years, this picture follows the titular grandmother as she returns to visit the Gruffalo family.

Lily-May’s Joyful Day by John Schu, illus. by Holly Hatam (Candlewick, Sept. 1, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3862-4). In the second picture book of The School of Sharing series, Ruthie Rose and Lily-May are bringing in items to show to class, and Lily-May requires a little extra support.

Love in Every Language by Anoosha Syed (Viking, Sept. 1 $18.99; ISBN 979-8-217-04113-8). In the companion picture book to Syed’s acclaimed debut, That's Not My Name!, Mirha and her nani are left to their own devices for school drop-off and struggle with the language barrier between them.

Pete the Cat and the Cookie Catastrophe by Kimberly Dean and James Dean (HarperCollins, Sept. 22 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-335058-8). Pete builds a cookie machine to help him bake faster but struggles when the machine goes out of control, in the latest Pete the Cat book.

Piccolo and the Chicks by Dan Yaccarino (Little, Brown/Ottaviano, Sept. 22 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-57457-0). Enlisted as a babysitter for a set of chicks, Piccolo searches the city when a game of hide-and-seek with his charges goes too far.

Tiny T. Rex and the Littlest Star by Jonathan Stutzman, illus. by Jay Fleck (Chronicle, Sept. 15 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-797-23105-1). Tiny wants to find the best star for his Christmas tree this year but gets distracted by helping his friends, in this new picture book in the Tiny Rex series.

Besties: Crush It! by Kayla Miller and Jeffrey Canino, illus. by Sarah K. Turner (Clarion, Sept. 15 $15.99; ISBN 978-0-06-328562-0). Trent and Sawyer’s friendship comes under question when Trent begins abandoning ring toss practice to spend time with a crush, in this new addition to The World of Click universe.

Double Trouble: Lost in Japan by Misako Rocks! (Feiwel and Friends, Sept. 1 $14.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-90143-9; $22.99; ISBN 978-1-250-90142-2). Lilico and her teammates head off to Japan together, and when Lilico gets lost it’s up to her friends to find her in the fourth and final volume in the Bounce Back series. Check out this recent essay by Misako Rocks! on the joys of connecting through manga.

Emily’s Great Idea by Liz Kessler, illus. by Joanie Stone (Candlewick, Sept. 8 $16.99, hardcover ISBN 978-1-5362-4341-3; $6.99, paper and ISBN 978-1-5362-5439-6). Emily and Mandt work together to prevent the demolition of a pier that acts as a community hub in the latest addition to The World of Emily Windsnap.

Gabby Torres Knows What You Did by Angela Dominguez (Roaring Brook, Sept. 1$12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-39080-6; $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-39081-3). In the third Gabby Torres graphic novel, the titular nine-year-old grows curious about her new neighbors and begins to investigate.

I Am a Good Dog by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko, illus. by Wallace West (Feiwel and Friends, Sept. 22 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-42353-5). In the third installment of the I Am a Good Dog series, Metal Head, a robot dog among real dogs, struggles when his closest friend gets adopted.

Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín (Dial, Sept. 1, $24.99; ISBN 979-8-217-00248-1). In the graphic memoir companion to the Newbery Honor–winning Mexikid, Pedro’s dream of carving out his own life comes with learning more about his family’s history and what it took for him to pursue that dream. Check out our story on the making of the book.

Robot Takeover by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow, Sept. 22, $9.99; ISBN 979-8-88777-266-0). Nova builds a robot to assist her with her daily tasks, but struggles when the robot takes on a life of his own in the second Supa Nova graphic novel. Check out this title and more of our Fall Indie Press picks here.

Sashimi and the Field Trip of Doom by Dan Santat (Roaring Brook, Sept. 15 $8.99 paper; ISBN 9781250359957; $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-35996-4). When Sashimi attempts to sneak off during a school trip without a permission slip and accidentally gets lost, chaos breaks out at home as he rushes to return in the second Sashimi graphic novel.

Seriously, Celia? by Terri Libenson (HarperAlley, Sept. 29 $15.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-348140-4). The 10th book in the Emmie & Friends graphic novel series follows Celia and Grace, former besties who attempt to rekindle their friendship, but question if they’re meant to be back in each other’s lives.

S’Witch Back by Sophie Escabasse (Random House Graphic, Sept. 1 $21.99; ISBN 978-0-593-81347-8; $14.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-81346-1). Effie faces the Witches Council after a major mistake and grapples with shifts in her friendship in the sixth and final volume in the Witches of Brooklyn graphic novel series.

You Are My Hero! by Salina Yoon (Bloomsbury, Sept. 1 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-547-62042-5). Kat assists Mouse in overcoming their fear of a big park slide in the third installment of the Kat & Mouse series.

Novels

Art Attack by James Ponti (Aladdin, Sept. 8 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-98356-3). When the Sherlock Society is enlisted to find a an anonymous graffiti artist who’s calling out local politicians, their undercover investigation leads them into the Florida art scene in the third Sherlock Society book.

Ashes at the Altar (Blood at the Root #3) by LaDarrion Williams (Labyrinth Road, Sept. 15 $20.99; ISBN 978-0-593-71200-9). In the conclusion to the Blood at the Root trilogy, Malik still struggles with a spirit that is gaining power and familial allegiances that call his magic and loyalties into question. Check out our interview with Williams, who was named a 2024 PW Flying Start author.

Cemetery Boys: Espiritu by Aiden Thomas (Feiwel and Friends, Sept. 8 $20.99; ISBN 978-1-250-89493-9). In the sequel to Cemetery Boys, Julian and Yadriel’s relationship fractures when Julian turns to a mysterious newcomer for help with his strange visions.

Empire by Sabaa Tahir (Putnam, Sept. 22 $22.99; ISBN 978-0-593-61697-0). In the conclusion to the Heir duology, crown prince Quil makes a dangerous journey in search of allies, Cero must challenge a former mentor, and Sirsha struggles to escape an evil spirit.

Flight: A Story of Seeking Refuge by Alan Gratz (Scholastic Press, Sept. 1 $10.99; ISBN 979-8-225-06319-1). This companion short story to the novel Two Degrees follows Daniela as she and her family leave their home in Honduras and must travel on the perilous train known as The Beast, to get to safety.

A Garden of Vipers by Beth Lincoln (Dutton, Sept. 22 $18.99; ISBN 979-8-217-00198-9). The third installment of The Swifts series follows the titular detectives as they investigate a New York City family with a flower empire, and a mischief maker with a penchant for poison. Check out our 2023 Flying Start interview with Lincoln on her series starter.

Golden Flight by S.K. Ali (Kokila, Sept. 1 $22.99; ISBN 978-0-593-53127-3). Raisa and Nayf plan to infiltrate a masquerade ball for the elites in the conclusion to The Keeper's Records of Revolution series. Check out our story on the resurgence of YA dystopian novels.

Heart of Thieves by Jessica S. Olson (Feiwel and Friends, Sept. 15 $20.99; ISBN 978-1-250-32975-2). Lola, now going as Nocturne, finds that she is not the only one seeking revenge against the Liar and the Thief in the second installment of The Devious series.

The Jungle of Carabanana by Kate McKinnon (Little, Brown/Ling, Sept. 29 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-55581-4). In the third book in the Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science series, the Porch sisters are off to Paris for a vacation, but discover that an evil plan from rival scientists is underway in the city. Check out our interview with McKinnon about the series starter.

The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell, illus. by Ashley Mackenzie (Knopf, Sept. 1 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-80994-5). When a friend is kidnapped and held for ransom, Christopher and Anya race against the clock to find them in the third book in the Impossible Creatures series. Read more about the series’ origins in our author profile.

A Raven of the Rainforest by Rosanne Parry (Greenwillow, Sept. 29 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-342431-9). In this stand-alone companion to the Voice of the Wilderness novels, Westerly the raven is prophesied to save her community, but leaves for fear of her own future. When tragedy strikes, Westerly returns home to face her fate. Check out our interview with Parry about the new book here. The Velvet Knife by Maureen Johnson (HarperCollins, Sept. 29 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-325601-9). In this standalone mystery, detective Stevie Bell is investigating a murder in Manhattan as her relationship is suddenly falling apart.

World at Midnight by Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares (S&S, Sept. 15 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95087-9). Henry, Franes and Lukas find themselves trapped in the past and must use a series of comic books to communicate to the future how to stop the Nazis from uncovering D-Day. Read about the sibling collaboration behind the series.