In the June issue, Q&Q looks ahead at fall’s most anticipated titles for young readers.

Fall is shaping up to be the season of sequels, for both picture books and fiction. In September, Scholastic Canada will release Ruth Ohi’s Fox and Squirrel Make a Friend ($14.99 cl.), a follow-up to her 2013 book featuring the titular bushy-tailed duo. • Governor General’s Literary Award–winning children’s author and illustrator Anne Villeneuve returns with Loula and the Sister Recipe (Kids Can Press, $18.95 cl., Aug.), in which Loula, still fed up with her terrible triplet brothers, gets more than she bargains for when she begs her parents for a sister. • Also from Kids Can comes Geneviève Côté’s Goodnight, You ($16.95 cl., Sept.), the fourth book in her popular Piggy and Bunny series, which sees the pals sharing secret fears during their first camp out. • Andrew Larsen and Calgary-based illustrator Jacqueline Hudon-Verrelli join forces on Charlie’s Dirt Day (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $18.95 cl., Sept.). In this sequel to the pair’s delightful 2012 release, Bye, Bye, Butterflies!, Charlie and his dad explore the wonders of compost. • Halifax-based news anchor and television producer Starr Dobson has a second book coming out from Nimbus Publishing in October. Illustrated by Dayle Dodwell, Gertrude at the Beach ($19.95 cl.) follows everyone’s favourite goat as she gets up to shenanigans at Starr’s family cottage. • Brian Deines lends his artistic talent to Stephanie Innes and Harry Endrulat’s Bear on the Homefront (Pajama Press, $19.95 cl.), which lands in August. The story again examines the First World War through the eyes of a teddy bear.

You can’t argue with the popularity of board books among the rattle-and-drool set. Lauded poet Lorna Crozier brings sophistication to the form with the release of Lots of Kisses ($9.95 b.b.), new from Orca Book Publishers in October. • Canada’s largest city is put in the spotlight for something other than its mayor in Paul Covello’s Toronto ABC (HarperCollins Canada, $12.99 b.b., Sept.). Let’s hope “C” is for Casa Loma. • Work: An Occupational ABC (Groundwood Books, $16.95 cl., Aug.), by debut author-illustrator Kellen Hatanaka, uses cool jobs to teach kids their letters. • Look at Me Now! (Nimbus, $9.95 b.b., Oct.), by board-book collaborators Carol McDougall and Shanda LaRamee-Jones, explores the developmental milestones of an average 18-month-old. Carmen Mok provides illustrations.

Even when talented Canadian illustrators up and move to sunny Los Angeles, we still have a soft spot in our hearts for them. Matthew Forsythe, who has made two appearances on Q&Q’s books of the year lists, provides visuals for U.S. author Adam Lehrhaupt’s Please! Open This Book! (Simon & Schuster, $19.99 cl., Sept.). • Jon Klassen and buddy Mac Barnett’s first collaboration, Extra Yarn, earned the duo a Caldecott Honor. We’ll see if lightning strikes twice when Sam and Dave Dig a Hole (Candlewick Press/Random House, $19 cl.) arrives in October.