Spring is here, and a fresh new crop of books is in bloom! We’ve scoured the upcoming book lists and identified all the most intriguing new reads headed to shelves this month. Here are the April 2025 new books we’re most excited to check out based on their promising reviews.
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New Fiction Picture Books April 2025
Everybelly by Thao Lam
Dive into a pool of diverse representation! The text is fun and thoughtful, but it’s the illustrations that really make this new picture book for April 2025 shine. Bodies of all shapes and sizes appear on the pages, with scars, skin tones, tattoos, and even prosthetic limbs on proud display.
Buy it: Everybelly
We Leap Together by Christopher Silas Neal
Draw beautiful parallels between a mother whale with her calf and a human mother and child with this striking new read. Kids learn more about marine wildlife as they enjoy the simple, charming story.
Buy it: We Leap Together
We Are the Scrappy Ones by Rebekah Taussig, ill. by Kirbi Fagan
Children with disabilities will see themselves celebrated throughout this new book, which invites them to view themselves with pride. Share this with your whole class to highlight the strength and resilience of those whose disabilities challenge them but don’t fully define them.
Buy it: We Are the Scrappy Ones
A Book of Maps for You by Lourdes Heuer, ill. by Maxwell Eaton III
A child moving to a new home is presented with a book of maps from their old neighborhood, featuring different angles and snapshots of streets, blocks, and even their old house. Kids will want to create their own maps after reading this one!
Buy it: A Book of Maps for You
The Peddler of Puddles by Beth Ferry, ill. by Tom Lichtenheld
Join a turtle peddling puddles from his cart of ingenious tools and machines on this fun new adventure. He creates little puddles for little birds and big ones for kids to play in. In the end, he faces the biggest puddle of all: the ocean!
Buy it: The Peddler of Puddles
April 2025 New Chapter and Easy Reader Books
The Story of Gumluck and the Heroes by Adam Rex
Gumluck and his pals are back for a third adventure in the latest book in the series. This time, they’re after a unicorn’s horn and the Goblin King’s giant diamond. But what does a hero really look like? With help from the wise raven Helvetica, this brave crew is about to find out.
Buy it: The Story of Gumluck and the Heroes
Orris and Timble: Lost and Found by Kate DiCamillo, ill. by Carmen Mok
This is book two (there’s one more planned) about this owl-and-rat pair, and Orris and Timble are growing up. When Timble flies off on his own adventures, leaving Orris behind, the two have to find a way to patch up their friendship so it can continue to grow as they do.
Buy it: Orris and Timble: Lost and Found
Moose and Violet Knock Things Down by Corey Powell, ill. by Kristen Humphrey
Moose is a superpuppy, with strength he hasn’t yet learned to control. Until now, he’s lived in a magical puppy world, but a leap through a portal brings him into the real world, where he meets human girl Violet. Together, they track down the magic ball Moose desperately needs to find.
Buy it: Moose and Violet Knock Things Down
New Middle Grade Fiction Books for April 2025
The Pecan Sheller by Lupe Riuz-Flores
In 1937 Texas, 13-year-old Petra must drop out of school to work in a pecan-shelling factory under horrible working conditions. Though she dreams of returning to school and becoming a writer, Petra instead finds herself part of a bigger story as she and her co-workers unionize and demand a better life for all.
Buy it: The Pecan Sheller
The Trouble With Secrets by Naomi Milliner
Rabbi’s daughter Becky is 12 and preparing for her bat mitzvah. She has good intentions, but they don’t always pan out as she expects. When her older sister asks her to keep a life-changing secret, Becky must make some difficult decisions, learning that sometimes doing what’s right can feel all wrong.
Buy it: The Trouble With Secrets
Rainbow Fair by Diana Ma
Sophie Hu is Chinese and Muslim, the only one of her faith at her school. When her teacher asks her to create the Muslim booth for her school’s multicultural Rainbow Fair, Sophie feels like a fraud since her family doesn’t participate in many religious traditions. Fortunately, a new Muslim student arrives in time to help Sophie make more sense of her faith, culture, and family background.
Buy it: Rainbow Fair
The Reel Wish by Yamile Saied Méndez
Aspiring ballerina Flor seems to be on the fast track to success, but a panic attack on the night of a major performance derails everything. Her best friend takes over her role and turns against her after Flor is expelled from her ballet school. Now Flor must find a new path to happiness, one that might even include a whole new style of dancing.
Buy it: The Reel Wish
Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Live through the Revolutionary War and a smallpox epidemic with young Elsbeth, whose life is turned upside down during the Siege of Boston. Immune to smallpox (she had it as a child), Elsbeth scratches out an existence caring for a Patriot family after their inoculations. But what she really wants is to find her missing father. This new book for April 2025 is perfect for middle grade historical-fiction fans.
Buy it: Rebellion 1776
April 2025 New Young Adult Fiction
Calm by S.J. Baker
Dystopian fiction fans will welcome this new April 2025 book, set in a world where the government controls the population by putting calming drugs into the water supply. Some people like Owyn, known as Resistors, are immune to the effect, while others like Tiegan make the choice to avoid the drugs. Now they’re part of a massive resistance, fighting for freedom for all—but is the cost too high?
Buy it: Calm
Messy Perfect by Tanya Boteju
Cassie hopes that starting an underground LGBTQ+ club as a straight ally at her Catholic high school will help restore her friendship with Ben, whom she betrayed years ago. But things aren’t that simple, and her life is further complicated by the realization that she can no longer deny her own queer identity. Can she find a way to continue to be a perfect student, churchgoer, and daughter—and also be herself?
Buy it: Messy Perfect
Cope Field by T.L. Simpson
Craw has anger management issues and is sentenced to community service for hitting his father (a former pro baseball player) with a baseball bat while defending his younger brother. Restoring a community baseball field leads to a relationship with Hannah, who has problems of her own. Craw’s first instinct is to leap in to defend her, but he soon realizes that what he really needs to do is support others as they defend themselves.
Buy it: Cope Field
How To Tell a True Story by Tricia Springstubb
Amber’s family has lost their home in a fire, and Amber herself survived only because her brother Gage came to her rescue. Now her whole life has changed, and the once “invisible” girl has become popular overnight. At the same time, Gage begins acting out and her parents split up. When Amber learns a startling fact about how the fire started, she has to make a decision that will change her world all over again.
Buy it: How To Tell a True Story
All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis
Aiden longs to play football with his brother before he leaves for college, but autism-related sensory overload derails tryouts. When a spot opens midseason, he seizes it—only to land in a brawl that gets his brother arrested. Now he must clear his brother’s name and prove himself to the team.
Buy it: All the Noise at Once
New Graphic Novels for All Ages April 2025
Night Light by Michael Emberley
A blackout in the middle of a bedtime story makes a child cry. His parents gather up the stars to light his room, but now the moon is crying! This new easy reader tells a sweet story about finding a good compromise in text new readers can decode on their own. (Grades K–2)
Buy it: Night Light
The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier, ill. by Scott McCloud
Four friends bring their artistic strengths and challenges together to create the Cartoonists Club, a place for kids to learn how to create and perfect their own comics. Kids will be inspired by this fun and engaging new book. (Grades 3–7)
Buy it: The Cartoonists Club
The Lemonade War (Graphic Novel) by Jacqueline Davies, ill. by Karen de la Vega
The classic novel gets the graphic novel treatment in this new April 2025 book. This one is perfect for reluctant readers, with simplified text and delightful illustrations that will keep them engaged until the very end. (Grades 3–7)
Buy it: The Lemonade War (Graphic Novel)
Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang
Book two in the series about the undocumented immigrant Lin siblings, this one finds the family settling into their new lives. Their parents are still awaiting their visas in Taiwan, so the kids lay low, until their snooty cousin (a violin prodigy) turns up and creates chaos. Once again, the siblings will have to pull together to “make it work.” (Grades 4–8)
Buy it: Outsider Kids
Huda F Wants To Know? by Huda Fahmy
The third book in the Huda F series finds the 11th grader feeling confident at school, but her personal life is upended when her parents announce they’re getting divorced. This universally relatable story will speak to kids of all races and religions. (Grades 7–12)
Buy it: Huda F Wants To Know?
April 2025 New Nonfiction for All Ages
His Fairytale Life by Jane Yolen, ill. by Brooke Boynton-Hughes
Hans Christian Andersen was famous for tales like The Little Mermaid, and this new book aims to make his own personal story a classic as well! (Grades pre-K to grade 2)
Buy it: His Fairytale Life
Incredible by Maia and Alex Shibutani, ill. by Dion MBD
This companion book to the authors’ previously published Amazing highlights a few dozen more inspiring Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, including Connie Chung and Patsy Mink. (Grades 1–5)
Buy it: Incredible
Your Brilliant Brain by Philip Bunting
Young readers will enjoy exploring this fascinating new book for April 2025, packed with brainy facts in kid-size portions. We love Bunting’s assurance that there’s no such thing as a “normal” brain, since every single one is a little bit different. (Grades 2–5)
Buy it: Your Brilliant Brain
Ours To Tell by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
Often, the stories of Indigenous heroes are told by others, rather than by themselves or Indigenous people. This new middle grade nonfiction book aims to change that, bringing the lives of 16 Indigenous Americans to life through the words of those who share their culture and history. (Grades 6–9)
Buy it: Ours To Tell
Death in the Jungle by Candace Fleming
Learn the full story of the tragedy behind the phrase “drink the Kool-Aid.” Modern teens will be fascinated by one of the most famous cults of all time in this new retelling of Jim Jones and the Jonestown Massacre. (Grades 8–12)
Buy it: Death in the Jungle
New Books for Teachers April 2025
Pronoun Trouble by John McWhorter
The use of “they” as a non-gendered singular pronoun has become a hot-button topic in recent years. But those in the know understand that language is fluid and changes over time—and the so-called “woke” use of this pronoun today can actually be dated to Shakespeare’s time. Discover how all languages change, both naturally and by force, in this compelling new read.
Buy it: Pronoun Trouble
Questions Without Answers by Sarah Manguso, ill. by Liana Finck
No one knows better than teachers that the things kids say can be both hilarious and thought-provoking. Enjoy this fun new volume of “stuff kids say,” with accompanying clever illustrations. Tip: Try sharing some of these with your students as journal prompts!
Buy it: Questions Without Answers
