At YA Books Central we hope that your spring is off to a great start!
We are looking to help you enjoy reading children’s books once again in the warmer weather and teamed up with wonderful publishers to organize a great giveaway!
Title: A DOCTOR AT HEART
Author: Joan Schoettler; Illustrator: Steffi Walthall
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Release Date: 5/12/26
A fascinating and inspiring picture book biography about Vivien Thomas, a pioneer of children’s heart surgery and trailblazer for Black people in STEM.
Vivien Thomas always loved solving problems and figuring out how things worked. In high school, inspired by his family physician, he decided he would become a doctor. Despite losing his college savings during the 1930 bank panic, Vivien stayed dedicated to making his dream a reality, a trait that would serve him all his life.
Vivien secured a lab assistant position at Vanderbilt University and later moved to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he and his mentor developed a groundbreaking procedure to cure blue baby syndrome, which led to them performing the first open-heart surgery on a child.
With the power of his passion, perseverance, and dedication to learning (and without any formal college education), Vivien saved thousands of lives.
Title: WHAT KIND OF QUEEN?
Author: Kyle Casey Chu & Andrew Shaffer
Publisher: Abrams Books
Release Date: 4/28/26
A joyous picture book biography of José Sarria, a pioneering activist, drag queen, and the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in the United States
Once upon a time, there lived a boy named José who dreamed of becoming royalty—and of a queendom where everyone would be treated fairly and with respect.
A child of immigrants from Colombia, José Sarria was born in San Francisco in 1922. With the support of his family, he grew up to discover what it means to be a queen: he fought against evil by serving in WWII, helping to liberate a Nazi concentration camp; he inspired others to be their authentic selves by performing at San Francisco’s Black Cat Café, a haven for artists and activists; and he cared for his community through his LGBTQ+ advocacy work, including the establishment of the Imperial Court System, a global charitable organization that still thrives today.
Sarria led by example, joyfully giving back to his community while challenging the status quo. With a fairy-tale feel and radiant illustrations, this picture book biography celebrates his legacy of seeing the world not as it is but as it could be.
Title: TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION
Author: Melissa Taylor
Publisher: Red Comet Press
Release Date: 4/21/26
When Tova discovers she’s allergic to her favorite bakery treats, she and her loving family whip up a recipe for resilience, creativity, and the sweetest kind of love.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Selection Title
Tova’s Sweet Solution is a heartfelt and deliciously sweet story about creativity, resilience, and the magic of family. Tova loves everything about her family’s bakery—the warmth, the smells, the cinnalove scones. But when a painful tummy ache leads to an unexpected allergy diagnosis, Tova learns she can no longer enjoy her favorite treats made with honeygrain. Crushed but determined, Tova’s family rallies around her with hugs, songs, and a whole lot of “bakestorming.” But none of their new recipes taste quite right . . . until Tova and her squirrel sidekick, Biscuit, stumble upon a surprise ingredient that leads to the Toviest Tova-size idea ever! Bursting with playful language, cozy charm, and a dash of culinary creativity, this story celebrates perseverance, problem-solving, and the loving support of a family that always bakes together—no matter what. Perfect for readers who love baking, bold ideas, and stories that fill both the heart and tummy with joy.
Title: Brain Quest Write & Erase: Alphabet Skills
Author: Workman Publishing
Publisher: Workman Kids
Release Date: 3/10/26
Brain Quest Write and Erase: Alphabet Skills introduces children to the alphabet, providing essential practice in letter recognition, writing, and fine motor skills for early learners. Includes a removable double-sided white board and dry erase marker (attached in spiral binding).
Discover the joy of learning with Brain Quest! From the brand that’s loved by kids, teacher approved, and parent trusted comes Brain Quest Write and Erase: Alphabet Skills. Each spread balances critical practice with fun activities, featuring lots of room for writing along with teacher-approved activities full of colorful, vibrant illustrations. Uppercase and lowercase letters have guiding dots and arrows to support learning, and questions at the bottom of each page provide opportunities to help caregivers support language development and critical-thinking skills.
Title: Paint by Sticker Kids: America
Author: Workman Publishing
Publisher: Workman Kids
Release Date: 3/10/26
Joining the bestselling Paint by Sticker Kids sticker-activity series is Paint by Sticker Kids: America, packed with popular American symbols from the Statue of Liberty to the Liberty Bell, plus eagles, astronauts, flags, popsicles, and more!
The Paint by Sticker Kids series has sold more than 10 million copies to date, and the reasons are obvious: stickers, stickers, and more stickers! Plus, it’s a craft that delivers hours of screen-free, mess-free fun. Paint by Sticker Kids: America is publishing just in time for the USA’s semiquincentennial (250th anniversary). From national symbols like the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, the White House, and the eagle, to everyday Americana like the American flag, cowboy boots, popsicles, and more, kids will delight in celebrating all things USA.
Painting by sticker is easy, mess-free, and portable (plus, all the pages are perforated so multiple kids can create at the same time!). The stickers are designed to be easy for small hands to maneuver, and no actual paint means no splatter, drips, or messy clean-up. All you have to do is 1) find the sticker, 2) peel the sticker, and 3) place the sticker on the corresponding numbered space.
Title: My First Milestones: Ready for Bed
Author: Lee Wildish
Publisher: Workman Kids
Release Date: 5/5/26
Get little ones ready for bed in this fun, engaging, and beautifully illustrated board book guaranteed to be a nighttime favorite.
From New York Times Bestselling creator Lee Wildish comes the first in a fun and family-centric series of milestone books. Learn how to navigate the bedtime routine, including everything from cleaning up toys and taking a bath to brushing teeth and reading a book together before snuggling tight and saying good night. The book contains a fun read-aloud text that breaks down each experience into easy 1-2-3 steps.
Title: Ways Papi Says I Love You
Author: Delia Ruiz
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Release Date: 3/24/26
How many ways can Papi say I love you without saying the words? Through actions big and small, his love shines during their road trip.
A heartfelt celebration of the father-daughter bond—ideal for fans of My Papi Has a Motorcycle. An adorable picture book for ages 3 to 7.
When Papi, who is always busy working at el rancho, asks Maricruz to jump in the truck with him to go get groceries for Mami, she grabs the list and sprints! During the drive, they wave to the people in their community and enjoy each other’s company. But when they make a turn down a particularly bumpy road, they lose their grocery list. Fortunately, an unexpected friend shows up to save the day!
Inspired by the author’s own truck rides with her father through a ranch in Mexico, Ways Papi Says I Love You connects the love languages between a father and daughter and shows the many ways love can be expressed and received.
Written and illustrated by a Latine duo, Ways Papi Says I Love You is available in English and in Spanish.
Title: The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan
Author: Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Calvin Nicholls
Publisher: Levine Querido
Release Date: 3/3/26
Title: Rhea’s Rodeo
Author: Laekan Zea Kemp
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 3/3/26
Rhea LOVES Rodeo Day!
She loves the boots and buckles and ruffles. She loves riding her trusted steed, Galleta, alongside her mighty girl teammates. But more than anything, Rhea likes to WIN! As she and her friends stampede through the arena, Rhea can almost taste victory. But will she be able to get back in the saddle if they don’t take home the coveted trophy?
RHEA’S RODEO celebrates the rich tradition of Escaramuza Charra, women’s Mexican rodeo, and is for everyone looking for:
-exuberant, feel-good stories with depth and emotion
-feminist stories
-character-driven stories
-great read-alouds
-books that center the Latine experience
-horse stories
-sports stories
-themes of teamwork, competition, managing emotions, and dealing with defeat and disappointment
Title: Awe!
Author: Chana Stiefel
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 3/3/26
Introducing A. W. E., an
Awesome
Wondrous
Empowering
emotion!
When chills travel down your spine,
and sudden tears surprise your eyes.
When your heart exclaims, “Ooh! Ahh! Whoaaa!”
That’s when you know
you’ve found AWE.
This breathtaking journey will take you to the Grand Canyon and the deepest reaches of the sea. It will invite you to share moments of giving and to feel the joy of family and community. It will lift you to the highest heights and make your spirit soar.
Experiencing awe has been scientifically proven to spark wonder, improve thinking, and open us up to new ideas. For children living through these turbulent times, Awe! is the perfect book to foster positivity, comfort, joy, and empowerment.
Title: Beautiful Black Boy
Author: Sophia Robinson
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 4/7/26
A simple yet poetic composition celebrating and uplifting positive attributes of Black boys such as strength, bravery, and joy.
STAND-OUT READ ALOUD: Rhyming text paired with eye-popping jelly facts makes this a delightful read-aloud for a wide range of young readers.
CELEBRATES INCREDIBLE ANIMALS: Kids are ceaselessly curious about animals and the natural world, and jellies are some of the most mysterious creatures in the sea. This playful nonfiction picture book showcases jellyfish as the marvelous creatures they are while providing an inspiring, educational springboard beyond the book’s pages.
TERRIFIC TEACHING TOOL: With an engaging narrative and highly visual format, this book is a welcome resource for librarians and primary school educators.
GO-TO GIFT FOR OCEAN LOVERS: This beautifully illustrated sea-themed book makes a gorgeous gift for any special occasion in an ocean lover’s life.
Perfect for:
- Ocean lovers and jellyfish fans
- Parents, grandparents, and caregivers looking for a book about animals to share with kids
- Teachers, educators, and librarians seeking beautiful nonfiction books with STEM content
- Anyone seeking a distinctive gift for an animal- or nature-loving child
Author/Illustrator: Mary Peterson
Publisher: Feeding Minds Press
Release Date: April 28, 2026
Bobbi’s family loves apples! The only problem? They can’t agree on which type to grow! Gala? Granny Smith? McIntosh? When Bobbi discovers the solution – grafting – her family comes together to care for one very special tree. The result? Apples for all!
This children’s picture book, written and illustrated in the fun and colorful style of Mary Peterson, introduces young readers to the fascinating world of apples, apple trees, and the science of tree grafting. Perfect for curious kids who love nature, gardening, and learning where food comes from, this STEM-aligned story makes a great classroom resource or gift for budding gardeners, scientists, and apple lovers!
Filled with engaging facts about apples, tree grafting, and the heartwarming theme of compromise, APPLES FOR ALL! is not just a delightful read that will resonate with young readers, but also a valuable educational resource.
Informational backmatter includes fun apple facts, an apple variety guide, and an applesauce recipe!
Mary Peterson is an illustrator and author/illustrator of many books for young readers. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their elderly parakeet, Pierre. Mary grew up on a farm with an apple orchard that grew the perfect fruit for snacking, baking, jelly, AND applesauce. You can visit her anytime at www.marypeterson.com.
Title: Isaiah Johnson and the Big Game
Author: Esau McCaulley
Illustrator: Emmanuel Boateng
Publisher: Convergent Children’s
Release Date: May 05, 2026
A sweet and thoughtful picture book about how we all need forgiveness–even parents–from the bestselling author of Andy Johnson and the March for Justice and Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah Johnson’s baseball team has made it to the championships, and he’s up to bat! Most of the Johnson family is in the stands cheering him on . . . but someone is missing: Isaiah’s dad.
When Dad finally shows up, he apologizes for his absence and asks for Isaiah’s forgiveness. But Isaiah is still hurt and isn’t sure if he can forgive.
As a dad who’s made plenty of mistakes himself, Esau McCaulley has crafted a biblically informed story that offers plenty of avenues for discussion on the power of forgiveness.
Title: THE UPSIDE DOWN GIRL
Author: Keith Negley
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: 5/5/26
From the acclaimed creator of Mary Wears What She Wants and Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too) comes a silly and sly investigation of what happens when one girl dares to do her own thing.
Who is the Upside Down Girl?
How did she get up there?
Most importantly . . .
Why is she upside down?
This cheeky, charming tale about seeing things from a different perspective is perfect for readers who march to their own kazoo. Perfect for fans of Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett!
Perfect for:
- Classroom and at-home storytime
- Building confidence and independent-thinking
- Readers who like to laugh!
- Conversations about mindfulness and slowing down
~ Giveaway Details ~
One winner will receive a copy of each book from the Kids Spring Buzzworthy Giveaway ~US Only!
*Click the Rafflepress link below to enter the giveaway*
*be sure to include complete mailing address for the second entry question to qualify to win*
This is an excellent collection of books with something for every reader.
What great diversity in this set of children’s books! Truly something for everyone.
What a fantastic stack of books!!!
This is an amazing assortment of books! I see many books that I would like to read and share with other people, especially grandnephews and grandnieces. 🙂
So many good books!