By Libby Stille, Publicist
Check out May new releases from Lerner Publishing Group!
Picture books
Dibs!, written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Marcin Piwowarski
Teaching your little brother his first word—dibs—is funny. Until he starts calling dibs on everything, including the moon, and blasts off into space! Can Julian harness the power of dibs to rescue his little brother?
Praise for Dibs!
“Young readers will definitely call dibs on this one.”—Kirkus Reviews
Graphic novels
Sincerely, Harriet by Sarah Winifred Searle
Harriet Flores struggles with boredom and an unrequited crush while learning to manage her chronic illness through a long, hot, 1990s summer in Chicago. Along the way, she discovers the power of storytelling.
Praise for Sincerely, Harriet
★”Searle tackles Harry’s anxiety about her illness as well as common adolescent concerns about friendships, school, and family with honesty and tenderness that will resonate with readers.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
“Searle’s smooth linework and coloring give Sincerely, Harriet a soft, welcoming visual aesthetic . . .”—Oliver Sava for The A.V. Club
“Sincerely, Harriet reads like a love letter to a younger self—an invitation to be kinder, more patient, more open to possibility. It handles its subjects with grace and understanding, all woven together with stunningly beautiful art.”—Kate Leth, author of Power Up and Spell on Wheels
“Thoughtfully and lovingly illustrated, Sarah W. Searle deftly weaves together a gentle tale about chronic illness, and the power of storytelling to bridge gaps between people across social and generational divides.”—Melanie Gillman, author of As the Crow Flies
“Sincerely, Harriet is a relatable, empathetic story about a girl in the midst of a transitional summer. A sweet and subtle story, Searle’s characters are so lovingly rendered that it’s impossible not to be immediately drawn in.”—Molly Ostertag, author of The Witch Boy
“In her middle grade debut, comics creator Searle slowly unspools the story of a middle schooler living with multiple sclerosis.”—Publishers Weekly
“The wide-eyed, expressive characters and reassuring art are well suited to this introspective narrative.”—School Library Journal
“Middle-grade readers will relate to Harriet’s anxiety about fitting in and making friends, while also exploring subjects like ableism and intersectionality, which Searle depicts with grace and empathy.”—Booklist
Middle grade
Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan
Jane Doe and her father, John, appeared on the steps of the Manor the night the earthquakes started and the gateway to the Otherworlds closed. Fourteen years later, Jane enters the Manor to save her missing father . . . and the world.
Praise for Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds
“[R]eads like a dramatized Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider video game. . . . [T]he quick pace and witty voice make this a good fit for adventure fans.”—Booklist
“[A] breathless, fun crawl through a maze of twisty passages.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Purchase where adventure is in strong demand.”—School Library Journal
The Bolds in Trouble, written by Julian Clary and illustrated by David Roberts
When a very sly fox starts making a big nuisance of himself, it’s up to the Bolds to stop him. The fourth installment of The Bolds illustrated series.
Praise for The Bolds in Trouble
“[S]eries fans will be more than satisfied.”—Kirkus Reviews
YA
Castle of Lies by Kiersi Burkhart
Thelia isn’t in line to inherit the crown, but she’s always been determined to become queen. When an army of elves invades the kingdom, she may have to give up her ambitions to save her life!
Praise for Castle of Lies
“The well-rounded characters develop and mature, becoming less calculating and more sympathetic as they recognize the faults of people and institutions they’d once idolized. . . . [A] comparable option to those who may be too young for Game of Thrones but are still intrigued by its premise.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“With queer characters and a polyamorous relationship, there is a diversity in gender and sexual identity here that is often lacking in fantasy novels . . .”—Booklist
“Wonderfully original, instantly captivating, and truly genre-redefining! With riveting prose and a lovable cast of duplicitous schemers, Castle of Lies is the fantasy book I’ve been dying to read!”—Andrew Shvarts, author of Royal Bastards
“Castle of Lies is like a CW show crashing into a fantasy in the best way, with backstabbing teens in a castle occupied by the enemy, plus bonus! magic zombies.”—Sarah Tolcser, author of Whisper of the Tide and Song of the Current
Nonfiction
Coding Is CATegorical ™ series, written by Brian P. Cleary and illustrated by Martin Goneau
Do you know how to create an algorithm? These cats sure do! Author Brian P. Cleary and illustrator (and coding hobbyist) Martin Goneau offer a fun and accessible introduction to algorithms with the help of the CATegorical cats.
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