Kids love series, and there are some new titles coming up in March for them to enjoy: Oni Press is publishing the second volume of Chris Grine’s Camp Whatever middle-grade stories, The Doors to Nowhere, and Papercutz has a new Geronimo Stilton: Reporter tale, this one involving pirates. Random House Books for Young Readers brings out the third volume of Pacey Packer: Unicorn Tracker. And since kids also love cartoons and tie-ins, it’s worth mentioning that DC League of Super-Pets: The Great Mxy-Up is available to order this month.
In terms of new original graphic novels, this month’s releases are heavy on action and fantasy, two perennially popular genres. Here’s a look at some promising titles
Publisher: HarperAlley
Release Date: March 16
Price: $22.99 Hardcover/$12.99 Paperback
Creators: Rey Terciero (writer) and Megan Kearney (artist)
Format: 256 pages, hardcover or paperback
ISBN: Hardcover: 978-0062941480 / Paperback: 978-0062941466
Age Rating: 8-12 years
What It’s About: Loosely based on the story behind the ballet Swan Lake, this graphic novel imagines Odette and Dillie (Odile) as friends whose families are feuding. Odette is cursed to turn into a swan every evening, while Dillie is bored with the placid life of a princess. Together they set out to undo Odette’s curse, which is the reason for the friction between their families.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: This story has a nice mix of friendship and fairy-tale fantasy action, with a ballet backstory thrown in for good measure. Terciero was the writer of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, which was popular with the middle-grade set a few years ago (see “‘Flutter’ Goes to Dark Horse”).
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: March 30
Price: $24.99 Hardcover/$14.99 Paperback
Creators: Scott Magoon
Format: 160 pages, hardcover or paperback
ISBN: Hardcover : 978-1419752513 / Paperback: 978-1419752506
Age Rating: 8-12 years
What It’s About: The Rescue Ops Acquisition Rangers (R.O.A.R.), a team of extinct animals, journeys to Siberia to rescue a unicorn horn that is dangerously close to thawing. This is the first book in a planned series.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: It has extinct animals, a unicorn, and plenty of action, plus some nonfiction extras for the serious-minded.
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: March 30
Price: $12.99
Creators: Corey Tabor
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0063069060
Age Rating: 6-10 years
What It’s About: Sir Ladybug and his tiny friends Pell the pill-bug and Squire the snail, rescue a caterpillar from a chickadee.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: The concept is an unusual one for this age group, and Tabor’s light-hearted art and silly story look like a winning combo for young readers.
