#SSKidsPreview
As anyone who has joined us in our offices over the years knows, we love hosting our seasonal previews to meet local teachers and librarians and introduce them to our upcoming titles and authors. We’re even more excited to be able to bring our previews to teachers and librarians around the country! From this page, you can learn more about preview speakers, download materials distributed at the event, and discover upcoming titles courtesy of S&S editorial staff.

So sit back, get your TBR lists ready, and enjoy this preview of our Fall 2022 season from the comfort of your own home, school, or library. Excited about one of these books? Interested in what we’re reading? Tweet us at @SSEdLib using #SSKidsPreview.
Meet Fall 2022 Preview Speaker, Chloe Gong!
HC: 9781665905589, EB: 9781665905602, Audio: 9781797145273, September 2022, Grades 9 & up, Ages 14 and up
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the first book in a captivating new duology inspired by Shakespeare's As You Like It and following a familiar character from These Violent Delights. To answer for her past crimes, Rosalind Lang has become the Nationalist party’s feared assassin of the night, code named Fortune. When a series of murders cause unrest in Shanghai, Rosalind is sent to infiltrate foreign society, identify the people leading the terror plot, and swiftly dispense justice while posing as the young wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong. But as Rosalind attempts to unravel the conspiracy, she soon finds that there are more layers to this mystery than she ever imagined.
—Sarah McCabe, Senior Editor of Margaret K. McElderry Books
This season’s speaker, Chloe Gong, author of Foul Lady Fortune, shares the start of her follow-up duology to the sensational These Violent Delights series and answers questions about the book’s inspiration and creation. Following her presentation, Nicole Benevento & Caleigh Flegg from the Education and Library department and guests from the editorial team present kids’ titles from the Fall 2022 season!
Preview Fall 2022 Titles on Edelweiss
Check out some highlights from each imprint for the Fall 2022 season!
Book #1 of Umbra Tales
HC: 9781665901277; EB: 9781665901291; Audio: 9781797148649; September 2022; Ages 8–12; Grades 3–7; Aladdin
Twelve-year-old Mia McKenna has grown up in the darkness. It’s all she’s ever known, and she finds comfort in it. Like nearly all the cities in the Kingdom of Lunis, her home of Nubis was plunged into a forever night years ago by the shadowy Reaper King. But all that changes when a mysterious cult storms Nubis, capturing everyone with the ability to protect it—including her parents, the rest of the umbra tamers, and their mystical, powerful creatures. Now, Mia and her brother are the city’s only hope of survival, and Mia must learn to harness her umbra taming abilities to stand any chance of saving her city and rescuing her parents. If she can’t, she’ll lose her soul, and her family, to the Darkness forever.
HC: 9781534438521; EB: 9781534438538; November 2022; Ages 8–12; Grades 3–7; Aladdin
Sophie Foster changed the game. Now she’s facing impossible choices: When to act. When to trust. When to let go. Her friends are divided and scattered, and the Black Swan wants Sophie to focus on their projects. But her instincts are leading her somewhere else. Stellarlune—and the mysterious Elysian—might be the key to everything. But finding truth in the Lost Cities always requires sacrifice. And as the Neverseen’s plans sharpen into terrifying focus, it appears that everyone has miscalculated. The Lost Cities’ greatest lie could destroy everything. And in the battle that follows, only one thing is certain: nothing will ever be the same.
By Sophia N. Lee • Illustrated by Isabel Roxas
HC: 9781534494459; EB: 9781534494466; August 2022; Ages 4–8; Grades P–3; Atheneum
There is always singing in Lola’s house. Sammy Davis Jr. in the morning, Dean Martin in the afternoon, and all throughout the evening, old Tagalog love songs from Nora Aunor, Basil Valdez, and more. Lola always says: “If you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs.” Her granddaughter tucks these sounds and Lola’s wisdom deep within her heart. And when Lola starts slipping into silence and stillness, she helps Lola hold on, piece by piece, with the joy and music that Lola taught her.
HC: 9781665905022; EB: 9781665905046; September 2022; Ages 8–12; Grades 3–7; Atheneum
Naomi Teitelbaum is so ready for her Bat Mitzvah. Her prayers are memorized and she’s definitely got a handle on her Torah portion (well, almost). Then she gets a mysterious gift: a tiny clay Golem. To Naomi’s shock, it comes to life—and obeys her every command. But with each command, the Golem grows…and gets harder to hide. And creepy, unnatural creatures like dybbuks, demons, and a congregation of ghosts have started following Naomi around. To keep herself out of trouble and the Golem out of harm’s way, Naomi gives the Golem well-intended instructions: save the world. Unfortunately, this leaves more room for interpretation than Naomi thought. Before long, the Golem is wreaking havoc all over Los Angeles, and only Naomi and her friends can stop it.
By Deborah Underwood • Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
HC: 9781534477001; EB: 9781534477018; October 2022; Ages Up to 8; Grades Up to 3; Beach Lane Books
Walter and Xavier are best friends. They do everything together! But then…quietly…slowly…Xavier becomes best friends with someone else. Walter goes from feeling hurt and left out to feeling confused and angry to feeling just plain lonely. Until one morning he wakes up feeling a tiny bit hopeful. That day, while out for a hike by himself, he meets Ollie. Could this be the beginning of a new friendship? Sometimes best friends aren’t forever, and that’s okay. Because there might be a new pal waiting just around the corner.
HC: 9781534453654; EB: 9781534453661; September 2022; Ages Up to 8; Grades Up to 3; Beach Lane Books
Count up to ten and back down again to the tune of “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” while learning about the traditions that make Diwali a fun-filled festival! Celebrated during autumn harvest, Diwali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. From sweet treats to intricate henna designs to exciting firework displays, kids will delight in this vibrant glimpse into the Festival of Lights.
HC: 9781534495296; EB: 9781534495302; October 2022; Ages 4–8; Grades P–3; Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Jay’s most favorite things are hanging out with his pals, getting kisses from Grandma, riding in his dad’s cool car, and getting measured by his mom with pencil marks on the wall. But as those height marks inch upward, Grandpa warns Jay about being in too big a group with his friends, Grandma worries others won’t see him as quite so cute now that he’s older, and Dad has to tell Jay how to act if the police ever pull them over. And Jay just wants to be a kid. All Black and Brown kids get The Talk—the talk that could mean the difference between life and death in a racist world. Told in an age-appropriate fashion, with a perfect pause for parents to insert their own discussions with their children to accompany prompting illustrations, The Talk is a gently honest and sensitive starting point for this far-too-necessary conversation, for Black children, Brown children, and for ALL children.
HC: 9781481419758; EB: 9781481419796; October 2022; Ages 14 & up; Grades 9 & up; Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
What does it mean to be yourself? To be born here or somewhere else? To be from one family instead of another? What does it mean to be human? Collected by Lori Carlson-Hijuelos, A Path to the World showcases essays by a vast variety of luminaries—from Gary Soto to Nawal Nasrallah to Ying Ying Yu, from chefs to artists to teens to philosophers to politicians (keep your eyes peeled for a surprise appearance by George Washington)—all of which speak to the common thread of humanity, the desire to be your truest self, and to belong.
HC: 9781534497719; EB: 9781534497733; Audio: 9781797152769; November 2022; Ages 12 & up; Grades 7 & up; Denene Millner Books
There is an unspoken agreement between the racially divided towns of Bayside and Hamilton: no one steps over the train tracks that divide them. Not until Zach Whitman anyway, a white boy who moves in from Philly and who dreams of music. When he follows his dream across the tracks to meet his idol, the famous jazz musician who owns The Sunlight Record Shop in Hamilton, he’s flung into Capri Collins’s path. Capri has big plans: she wants to follow her late mother’s famous footsteps, dancing her way onto Broadway, and leaving this town for good, just like her older brother, Justin, is planning to do when he goes off to college next year. As sparks fly, Zach and Capri realize that they can help each other turn hope into a reality, even if it means crossing the tracks to do it. But one tragic night changes everything. When Justin’s friend, the star of Hamilton’s football team, is murdered by a white Bayside police officer, the long-standing feud between Bayside and Hamilton becomes an all-out war And Capri, Justin, and Zach are right in the middle of it.
By Ruth Forman • Illustrated by Talia Skyles
BB: 9781665903059; EB: 9781665903066; August 2022; Ages 0 & Up; Grades P & Up; Little Simon
Show young readers how to see themselves and others with confidence and love with this beautiful rhyming board book toddlers and parents alike will love.
By Jordan Quinn • Illustrated by Glass House Graphics
HC: 9781665904599; TP: 9781665904582; EB: 9781665904605; October 2022; Ages 5–9; Grades K–4; Little Simon
Ruskin, Cinder, Groth, and Roke join the entire Dragon Kingdom on a trip to the Shattered Shore to say goodbye to Villinelle, the Witch-Dragon who was both an enemy and a friend. This mystical island serves as the entrance to the dragon After Realm, but there are more secrets to be discovered on the Shattered Shore that may help with the larger battle to come.
Part of Little Pookie
Written and Illustrated by Sandra Boynton
BB: 9781665922630; September 2022; Ages Up to 5; Grades P–K; Boynton Bookworks
It’s Thanksgiving! Join Mom and her little Pookie as they prepare for the yummiest of holidays. Told and illustrated with Sandra Boynton’s celebrated charm, Pookie’s Thanksgiving is filled with a cornucopia of family, gratitude, and pie!
Written and Illustrated by Sandra Boynton
BB: 9781665914352; September 2022; Ages Up to 5; Grades P–K; Boynton Bookworks
The cast from the bestselling Moo, Baa, La La La! has returned with a silly holiday twist! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, so sing along with caroling sheep, giggling pigs, and dancing cows as they celebrate Christmas with this merry tune.
By Stephen W. Martin • Illustrated by Brian Biggs
HC: 9781534493414; EB: 9781534493421; October 2022; Ages 4–8; Grades P–3; Margaret K. McElderry Books
Max loves to draw, but he’s not very good at it. No, seriously, just look at some of his drawings. Ouch. So he asks his best friend, Eugene, for help. Working side by side, it’s pretty obvious there’s no hope for Max. Until Eugene has a brilliant idea, and they find a way to use Max’s unique talents to turn up the awesome and have some fun! A lot of fun! Brian Biggs’s hilarious illustrations join Stephen W. Martin’s conversational text to create a laugh-out-loud read about embracing your talent and creativity that budding artists everywhere will relate to!
Book #1 of Hither & Nigh
HC: 9781665910385; EB: 9781665910408; October 2022; Ages 8–12; Grades 3–7; Margaret K. McElderry Books
Nell Batista has been in trouble one too many times. Now she’s down to her last chance—literally. Join the Last Chance Club or be expelled from school. The kids in the club are an odd group, but when their teacher starts giving lessons in magic, things quickly go completely off the weird scale. This magic is real—and powerful. As their skills grow, Nell and her new friends discover a parallel New York City called the Nigh. It’s a place as delightful as it is scary, sizzling with magical energy, where statues can talk, magicians ride on giant dogs, and monsters roam Central Park. And it is all controlled by the terrifying Minister, who might hold the key to finding Nell’s missing brother. Just how far will Nell go to find him, and who can she trust in a world topsy turvy with enchantment?
By Michelle Sterling • Illustrated by Dung Ho
HC: 9781534496606; EB: 9781534496613; November 2022; Ages 4–8; Grades P–3; Paula Wiseman Books
Little Ren looks forward to the preparation for and festivities of Lunar New Year, but she is always too little to help make the delicious pineapple cakes that are her favorite. She watches family members rolling out the dough and loves the mouth-watering smell. Watching and waiting, when will Ren be old enough?
The Story of Toni Morrison
By Jerdine Nolen • Illustrated by James E. Ransome
HC: 9781534478527; EB: 9781534478534; September 2022; Ages 4–8; Grades P–3; Paula Wiseman Books
Born Chloe Ardelia Wofford in Ohio, Toni Morrison grew up listening to her family tell myths, legends, and stories from the Bible. She loved hearing the music and power of the words. Toni also heard new stories from the students from other countries who went to her school. After an early childhood of soaking up tales from those around her, it was no surprise Toni grew into a voracious reader. She worked at her town library as a teenager and was an editor for a New York publisher as an adult. When it came time for her to write her own stories, she knew she wanted to write about her people—Black people. Early in the morning and late at night after her children were asleep, Toni began work on what would become an acclaimed and trailblazing body of work.
Book #2 of Zara's Rules
By Hena Khan • Illustrated by Wastana Haikal
HC: 9781534497627; TP: 9781534497610; EB: 9781534497634; October 2022; Ages 7–10; Grades 2–5; Salaam Reads
Zara lives for bike rides with her friends—so when her shiny, brand-new bike goes missing from the park one day, she’s crushed. After her parents insist she earn the money for another one herself, Zara’s determined to start a business. But what kind? A lemonade stand? Not profitable enough. Selling painted rocks? Not enough customers. Zara’s starting to get discouraged when she and her friend Naomi finally come up with the perfect idea: The Treasure Wagon, a roving garage sale that unloads knickknacks from the Saleem family basement and makes money all at once! But when a mix-up gets Zara in hot water again, will she have to give up everything she’s earned toward her new bike?
HC: 9781665916073; EB: 9781665916097; Audio: 9781797150512; October 2022; Ages 14 & up; Grades 9 & up; Salaam Reads
Adam and Zayneb. Perfectly matched. Painfully apart. Adam is in Doha, Qatar, making a map of the Hijra, a historic migration from Mecca to Medina, and worried about where his next paycheck will come from. Zayneb is in Chicago, where school and extracurricular stresses are piling on top of a terrible frenemy situation, making her miserable. Then a marvel occurs: Adam and Zayneb get the chance to spend Thanksgiving week on the Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia. They can’t wait to see each other—surely, this is just what they both need. But the trip is nothing like what they expect, from the appearance of Adam’s former love interest in their traveling group to the anxiety gripping Zayneb when she’s supposed to be “spiritual.” As one wedge after another drives them apart while they make their way through rites in the holy city, Adam and Zayneb start to wonder: was their meeting just an oddity after all? Or can their love transcend everything else like the greatest marvels of the world?
Finding the Truth in All the Noise
HC: 9781665900034; EB: 9781665900058; Audio: 9781797146874; September 2022; Ages 12 & Up; Grades 7 & Up; Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
What is a fact? What are reliable sources? What is news? What is fake news? How can anyone make sense of it anymore? Well, we have to. As conspiracy theories and online hoaxes increasingly become a part of our national discourse and “truth” itself is being questioned, it has never been more vital to build the discernment necessary to tell fact from fiction, and media literacy has never been more vital. In this accessible guide, Dr. Seema Yasmin, an award-winning journalist, scientist, medical professional, and professor, traces the spread of misinformation and disinformation through our fast-moving media landscape and teaches young readers the skills that will help them identify and counter poorly-sourced clickbait and misleading headlines.
HC: 9781534441637; EB: 9781534441651; Audio: 9781797139746; November 2022; Ages 14 & Up; Grades 9 & Up; Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur’s knights—only to discover her own ancestral power. Now, Bree has become someone new: A Medium. A Bloodcrafter. A Scion. But the ancient war between demons and the Order is rising to a deadly peak. And Nick, the Legendborn boy Bree fell in love with, has been kidnapped. When the Regents reveal they will do whatever it takes to hide the war, Bree and her friends must go on the run to rescue Nick themselves. But enemies are everywhere, Bree’s powers are unpredictable and dangerous, and she can’t escape her growing attraction to Selwyn, the mage sworn to protect Nick until death. If Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first—without losing herself in the process.
Ready-to-Read Graphics Level 3 • Part of Judge Kim and the Kids’ Court
HC: 9781665919647; TP: 9781665919630; EB: 9781665919654; August 2022; Ages 6–8; Grades 1–3; Simon Spotlight
When bicycles go missing at Fairville Elementary School, it’s up to Kim Webster to settle the case. Up in her treehouse court, Judge Kim listens to witnesses and evidence gathered by her friends before determining what’s fair and what’s not. Will Judge Kim be able to restore peace to her neighborhood?
By Coco Simon • Illustrated by Glass House Graphics
HC: 9781665914031; TP: 9781665914024; EB: 9781665914048; September 2022; Ages 8–12; Grades 3–7; Simon Spotlight
Katie is miserable when her best friend is invited to join the Popular Girls Club and Katie is left out. Is there an Unpopular Girls Club she can join? Luckily, Katie finds her way with a great new group of friends—Mia, Emma, and Alexis—and together they become the Cupcake Club. Sometimes starting from scratch turns out to be the icing on the cupcake.
Highlights from Summer 2022 Audiobooks and Preview Excerpts from Fall 2022