On sale March 24^th, RELIC OF THIEVES follows two new friends as they journey into uncharted depths of the Underwild, encountering new mythical creatures and mysterious places, where they are also joined by Senka, the heroine of River of Spirits. While the Underwild books are a series, they can also be enjoyed as standalone reads with different perspectives and storylines!

An ordinary girl’s longing to return to the way things were sets off a chain of events that lands her and her best friend in the Underwild in this second book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade fantasy series The Underwild—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan.

The best ways Anya knows how to cope with the struggles life throws her way is to keep her head down, stay invisible, and stick close to her best friend, Lizzie. Lizzie has been Anya’s rock since second grade. Together, they pretend the world away. But when Lizzie moves out of state, Anya is left adrift and desperately lonely.

One day, Anya follows a strange girl home from school and is shocked to see her go into the home of the woman who everyone in town swears is a witch. As Anya spies on the pair, she realizes the woman really does have magic—including a set of magical keys that can deliver you anywhere you want to go…keys that could reunite Anya with Lizzie. Anya has seen all she needs to; as soon as she has the chance, she steals the keys.

But magic always has a price. The keys do bring Anya to Lizzie, but then the girls are transported to the dark and chaotic world of the Underwild. Before long, Lizzie is snatched away by a terrible creature! Now wracked with guilt and paralyzed by fear, Anya has no choice but to trust the girl from school, Senka, when she unexpectedly shows up and offers to help. But can Anya find the bravery locked away deep inside herself in time to rescue her friend?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shana Targosz writes about magical girls, budding friendships, ghosts who may or may not be friendly, and fiercely held hope. She is an Oregon Literary Fellow and the 2021 recipient of the Edna L. Holmes Fellowship in Young Readers Literature. Shana is the author of The Underwild series, the first book of which was an instant New York Times bestseller. When not writing or reading through a stack of books, she spends her time playing Zelda with her son, designing solo journaling games, walking her domesticated monster disguised as a Labradoodle, and dreaming up different worlds.

On sale March 10, this heartwarming, poignant illustrated novel in verse follows a girl as she searches for her lost dog and the truths about her family. By the acclaimed author of Roll with It, Jamie’s writing is engaging and has a charming simplicity that belies the profound emotional depth of her story. With lovely black & white interior illustrations throughout, Glory Be is aimed at the younger end of middle grade and is perfect for kids struggling with reading.

The newest Brain Quest^® title introduces children to the alphabet with hands-on learning that builds literacy and fine motor skills. Brain Quest Write and Erase: Alphabet Skills (on sale 3/10/26; $10.99) includes wipe clean pages and a dry erase marker so that kids can keep practicing over and over again! 

Curriculum-based activities, colorful illustrations, and guiding dots for upper case and lower case letters make this workbook a must-have for early learners. Plus, each page includes questions for caregivers to support further language development and critical thinking skills. This is a workbook that will grow with learners!

Brain Quest is written and vetted by award-winning educational experts to align with state and national curriculum standards. Plus, Brain Quest Write and Erase makes learning FUN by combining critical learning with exciting activities. 

A Kid’s Guide to Backyard Animals
Eliza Berkowitz • Illustrated by Nicole LaRue

Packed with captivating facts about the most common animals in North America, this brightly illustrated guide is perfect for young nature lovers.

Learn all about the amazing animals right outside your door in A Kid’s Guide to Backyard Animals—a handy, easy-to carry guidebook for explorers ages 6 to 8 that shows you how to identify 40 animals that are commonly found in the United States. The book covers five animal types: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Kids learn all about these amazing creatures with fascinating facts, how to identify each animal (what it looks like and size), what it eats, whether it’s nocturnal or diurnal, and its habitat and range (including maps). Check the glossary for animal-related terms you might not know, keep track of the animals you’ve seen in a handy log, and try out a fun DIY project that helps you build a comfortable frog pond.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature. Cover images were also included.

After a perfect outing with her boyfriend, Kenna makes an unbearable mistake that sends her to prison for seven years. Hoping to rebuild her life after her release, she tries to reunite with her daughter, but her custodial grandparents refuse to let Kenna see her. She soon finds unexpected compassion from a local bar owner as their secret romance gives Kenna hope for a second chance.

Kenna Rowan pleads guilty to vehicular manslaughter for a car accident that resulted in the death of her boyfriend, Scotty Landry. Six years later, Kenna is released from prison on parole and moves back to her hometown in hopes of meeting her five-year-old daughter Diem, whom she gave birth to during her sentence and has been raised by Scotty’s parents, Grace and Patrick.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Sydney S. comments, “Reminders of Him encapsulates a stirring plot with characters that are easily likable. Although it starts off slow, the film is very moving on a personal level… The film’s message is that even when life is difficult, it’s important to find hope and something to live for.” See her full review below.

Reminders of Him

By Sydney S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Reminders of Him encapsulates a stirring plot with characters that are easily likable. Although it starts off slow, the film is very moving on a personal level.

The storyline follows a woman who is recently released from prison for killing her boyfriend. She goes in search of her daughter that was taken away from her after birth. She ends up finding her late boyfriend’s best friend, and they build a close relationship with each other.

Reminders of Him is based on the book with the same title by Colleen Hoover. The main characters are Kenna (Maika Monroe), Ledger (Tyriq Withers), Grace (Lauren Graham), Scotty (Rudy Pankow) and Diem (Zoe Kosovic). One of my favorite things about this film is how connected I felt with the characters. Knowing their backstory and struggles, but also seeing their interactions with each other, made it easy to get attached to them. That’s why when Kenna and her daughter Diem meet, it’s especially heartwarming because the audience knows how much it took to get to that point and how much it means to Kenna. I felt complete empathy for all the characters. However, we know very little about Scotty’s background, despite the whole film being based on him. The plot is lacking there and he is only shown in a couple of scenes. Even though the plot is very predictable, one scene shocked me even though I knew it was bound to happen. I applaud the directors for that. Books are explicitly detailed and can be difficult to transfer into a movie script, but this screenplay delivers. It makes me want to read the book now. I especially like Scotty and Kenna’s flashbacks. The car crash scene is very intense and captivating, even to the point of shaking and heart racing! The setting is mostly in a rural city and the sets look very realistic. My favorite part is hearing the jokes of Kenna’s coworker, who is a kid. She’s so funny and adds humor and balance to the storyline.

The film’s message is that even when life is difficult, it’s important to find hope and something to live for. When Kenna feels like she has nothing to live for, she creates new relationships with people and becomes part of her daughter’s life, which she didn’t think was possible. However, she never gives up and continues to persevere. Be aware that there are some scenes with bloody images, personal intimacy, and mild profanity.

I give Reminders of Him 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Reminders of Him releases in theaters March 13, 2026.

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Children and families go back in time along the historic Silk Road. The story follows a group of kids who must save the great scientists of history from an evil time traveling alchemist.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Kyla C. comments, “Time Hoppers: The Silk Road is an animated, action-packed adventure through time that is perfect for kids and families. This film contains striking animation, an interesting story, and well-developed characters.” Spencer C. adds, “I like how, at the beginning, we get a quick understanding of Layla and her family. Plus, unlike most historical shows that take place in Europe or America, this one takes place in the Middle East and Africa, which really stands out.” Brooklyn S. wraps it up with, “Time Hoppers: The Silk Road is a futuristic and adventurous film that includes time travel. Combining unique history and animation makes it interesting to watch. The film is set in 2050 and follows a widowed father, Habib (Omar Regan) who flees with his daughter Layla (Jayce McKenzie) to Vancouver, Canada after almost being captured because of inventing time travel.” See their full reviews below.   

Time Hoppers: The Silk Road

By Kyla C, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 16

Time Hoppers: The Silk Road follows a group of four young kids who attend a prestigious school and are introduced to a professor with a lab dedicated to time travel. When one of them accidentally transports himself into the past, the others follow. They find themselves being chased by an evil alchemist and must discover where they are in time and how to stop the alchemist’s malicious plans. The kids discover that they have been transported to the Silk Road in Baghdad and must work together along with their professor, who is in current time, to save the Silk Road.

The animation in Time Hoppers The Silk Road stands out to me immediately. The characters are vivid and colorful, and intricate details of each character portray aspects of their personality or background. From the first introduction of the characters, I can easily identify which one is which, and differentiate their personalities. The colors they wear and their facial expressions match up to the actors’ voices and their character as a whole. These well-rounded characters allow me to truly care that they end up safe and successful, making the film as a whole more engaging. Additionally, the settings are meticulously animated, with details from the Silk Road making appearances throughout. Although I’m not an expert on the Silk Road, I’ve learned enough in history classes to know that this film portrays this time period with an accuracy aimed for young children who may not have background knowledge. Both the plot points and astounding animation of the setting add a certain educational element that makes this film perfect for kids or an elementary school or middle school classroom environment. Overall, the story is engaging, contributing to the character development, educational value, and portrayal of the theme.

The film’s message is that teamwork and courage is often the only way to accomplish goals. The main characters must work together to stop the evil alchemist, and they are only able to do so through collaboration. The film also emphasizes the importance of religious freedom and representation, particularly of the Muslim faith.

I give Time Hoppers: The Silk Road 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. Time Hoppers: The Silk Road releases on March 31, 2026 on video on demand and streaming.

Time Hoppers: The Silk Road
By Spencer C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

Time Hoppers: The Silk Road is a great movie and I really like it! I like how, at the beginning, we get a quick understanding of Layla (Jayce McKenzie) and her family. A lot of movies start with a gentle beginning, but this movie gets straight to the point by starting with a chase scene. Plus, unlike most historical shows that take place in Europe or America, this one takes place in the Middle East and Africa, which really stands out.

The storyline follows four students from the Aqli Academy who find themselves time traveling along the historic Silk Road to save their friend Abdullah (Emily Gin). They end up having to save great scientists from the evil alchemist Fasid (Morris Seng). Fasid steals the time watch, which leaves Abdullah stuck in the past. This film is the first-ever Muslin-made animated feature to have a nationwide theatrical release in a celebration of Muslin heritage and history.

Something that stands out to me in this movie is the different personalities of the four kids – Abdullah, Aysha (Angel Haven Rey, Khalid (Tareek Talati) and Layla (Jayce McKenzie). Each part of the movie shows their strengths. Khalid, known as “Calculator,” is the brains of the group, while Aysha is the strength, Layla is the heart, and Abdullah is the comedian. My favorite part is when Maryam (Jenna Abu Tineh), a girl astronomer in Aleppo, Syria, shows her father the astrolabes she made and wins the contest for best invention. It is a really sweet moment between her and her father. I also like how the guards and soldiers have personalities and even joke around, which doesn’t usually happen in historical shows. The movie travels to places people don’t usually learn about, like Baghdad, Cairo, Timbuktu and Syria, which made it more interesting.

The film’s message is that you should not give up and you should not blame yourself when things go wrong. The kids keep trying to help each other, even when they make mistakes and things get difficult. Parents should know that the movie is very suspenseful and could be a little scary or confusing for younger kids. There is a lot of action and chasing, but there is no bad language.

I give Time Hoppers: The Silk Road: The Silk Road 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. It releases on (where) on March 31, 2026. It will be available across the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Africa in October, 2026

Time Hoppers: The Silk Road

By Brooklyn S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

Imagine a world where time is the limit! Time Hoppers: The Silk Road is a futuristic and adventurous film that includes time travel. Combining unique history and animation makes it interesting to watch.

The film is set in 2050 andfollows a widowed father, Habib (Omar Regan) who flees with his daughter Layla (Jayce McKenzie) to Vancouver, Canada after almost being captured because of inventing time travel. When three of Layla’s friends are introduced to the time lab, they embark on an adventure trying to save history and restore it back to normal.

Time Hoppers: The Silk Road starts off strong and jumps straight to action with a trailer that got me hooked immediately. It is very well produced with its animation quality and futuristic looks – the beginning of the film is very interesting and fun to watch. Each character has a distinct personality, ranging from determined, to protective, and of course, funny. Another thing that caught my eye is the setting which always looks beautiful, fits the time period, and has lots of detail. While the film has many interesting aspects and a creative plot idea, I got off track at times when things became repetitive. I found the film a challenge to keep track of especially when they keep jumping to different times in history; that becomes confusing. There are also so many side characters in the film that add to the confusion.

The film’s message is to not blame yourself. Layla blames herself for getting her friends into the time travel mess because she didn’t go back to grab Abdullah’s time device when he dropped it. She continues to feel guilty throughout the film.

I give Time Hoppers: The Silk Road 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12 plus adults. It is available on VOD and streaming on March 31, 2026.

Trailer: