Get Ready to Celebrate April!

By Ashly Moore Sheldon • April 03, 2026

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Got any April-born friends and family to celebrate this month? Treat your loved ones to a bookish celebration! Choose something special for your April amigos from our roundup of some of the hottest books of the month, like the new Deluxe Edition of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the basis of the epic sci-fi film starring Ryan Gosling in theaters now.

New April-specific e-Gift Card design!

If you'd prefer to go with ThriftBooks e-Gift Cards for your offerings, choose from an assortment of fun designs, including our new month-themed birthday e-gift cards to be delivered on the day of your choosing. Purchase now and schedule for delivery on your recipient's special day. The process is quick and easy. This is a great way to get all your monthly gift shopping done in one fell swoop!

April's best gifting books

Here are some of the reads that are currently getting rave reviews from a range of readers.

Fiction finds

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• Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell—The bestselling author of Attachments returns with a breathtakingly honest novel about a woman who's lost everything. And she isn't sure she wants it back.
• Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman—Carl and Donut confront an ancient spell and new dangers in the second book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
• Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict—a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharaoh.
• Kin by Tayari Jones—A sparkling novel about two lifelong friends whose worlds converge after many years apart in the face of a devastating tragedy.
• Beneath by Ariel Sullivan—Hundreds of years before the Illum ruled supreme, humanity risked everything to rebuild after a devastating war in this explosive dystopian romance and prequel to Conform.

Nonfiction gems

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• Thank You, Teachers by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann—Teachers are the heroes we too often forget to thank. And we need them more than ever. Hear inspiring stories from America's frontline of hope.
• Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden—The author retraces the history of her twenty-year marriage as she tries to understand its demise and find a way forward.
• A World Appears by Michael Pollan—The award-winning author of How to Change Your Mind explores perspectives on consciousness in this meditation on the essence of our humanity.
• You With the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate—The Emmy Award-winning actress, who received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2021, shares her stories in this unflinchingly honest and darkly funny memoir.
• Who Needs Friends by Andrew McCarthy—The author, actor, and director offers this moving and provocative exploration of male friendship.

Winsome picture books

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• It's My Bird-Day by Mo Willems—The Pigeon has the hat. And the hot dog cake. He's ready for the presents. But can he handle his BIG bird-day surprise? (Ages 3–5)
• Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins—Bruce likes to keep to himself. So, when he accidentally acquires a flock of goslings who think he is their mother, what's a bear to do? (Ages 3–5)
• Have You Ever Seen a Flower by Shawn Harris—This enchanting picture book explores the relationship between childhood and nature. (Ages 3–5)
• Busy Spring: Nature Wakes Up by Sean Taylor, Alex Morss, and Cinyee Chiu—Two children and their father explore their backyard, discovering all the different ways nature wakes up from its long winter sleep. (Ages 4–7)
• Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever by Suzanne Lang—Jim Panzee (aka Grumpy Monkey) catches a bad case of spring fever. (Ages 4–8)

Middle-grade goodies

• The Star of Moon Village by Jennifer Ann Richter—Middle school space adventures? This is the story of a girl whose dreams of interstellar travel are within reach. (Ages 8–12)
• The Wish Ring Cipher by Alexandra Ott—A fast-paced adventure brimming with magic and warmth that introduces a tenacious and endearing heroine on a quest to save the world. (Ages 8–12)
• Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique—This epic fantasy adventure inspired by Indigenous American mythology follows a band of misfit children who must pull off an impossible heist. (Ages 8–12)
• Here Lies a Ghost by Shakirah Bourne—This spooky, poignant novel is an ode to Black Boy friendships, the richness of Caribbean history, and the power that comes from reclaiming your past. (Ages 8–12)
• When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller—From the Newbery-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger, comes this novel about three middle school students on a quest to find a book that may just save their lives. (Ages 10 and up)

YA winners

• The Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee—An orphan races to uncover a killer when she and her beloved orcas fall under suspicion in this beguiling historical gothic mystery (Ages 12–18)
• Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page—A teen mystic will do anything to solve a series of love-related magical mishaps plaguing her high school, including fake dating her boss's daughter, in this charming sapphic romance. (Ages 12 and up)
• Few Blue Skies by Caroline Ixta—From a Pura Belpré Award–winning author comes this tender story about love and hope, following a teen as she tries to protect her family and community from a major corporation taking over her town. (Ages 14 and up)
• Bad Kid: A Graphic Memoir by Sofia Szamosi—This searing account of one girl's harrowing ordeal exposes and humanizes the experience of so many young people caught up in the unregulated "troubled teen industry." (Ages 14 and up)
• Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai—This sweeping debut fantasy is inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy. Perfect for fans of A Magic Steeped in Poison. (Ages 13–18)

Culinary keepers

• Sabzi: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes by Yasmin Khan—From bountiful salads to fragrant soups to and heart-warming mains, this collection of more than 80 accessible, plant-forward recipes celebrates the best of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian flavors.
• Parm to Table by Christian Petroni—This stunning collection of Italian-American recipes like 8-hour Marinara Sauce and Spaghetti Vongole is the go-to cookbook for anyone who loves comforting, home-cooked food, from Italy to the Bronx.
• Ohana Style: Food from Hawai'i, for Your Family by Sheldon Simeon—A beloved chef and two-time Top Chef fan favorite brings the essence of Hawai'ian cuisine to everyday cooking with over 100 unfussy and flavorful spins on traditional dishes.
• Morning Baker by Roxana Jullapat—The follow-up to Mother Grains, this repertoire of 100 recipes expands the possibilities of whole-grain magic with fundamental pastry formulas, simple sourdough techniques, and tips and troubleshooting advice throughout.
• Sunshine, Lemons, and Sea Salt: A Celebration of Modern Coastal Home Cooking by Donna Hay—Bringing us into her home on the Australian coast, the author shows us how she crafts delicious, no-fuss meals and celebrates special occasions with friends.

Special editions

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• The Traitor Queen: Deluxe Edition by Danielle L. Jensen—The second novel of the bestselling Bridge Kingdom series, now in a stunning deluxe hardcover edition, featuring new cover art, an illustrated book case, designed endpapers and more.
• Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher—Something darker than the devil stalks the North Carolina woods in a new gothic masterpiece. The gorgeous hardcover edition features endpapers illustrated by the bestselling author and a foil case stamp.
• The Book Thief: 10th Anniversary Edition by Markus Zusak—This 10th-anniversary edition of the extraordinary bestseller features pages of bonus content, including marked-up manuscript pages, original sketches, and pages from the author's writing notebook.
• The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst—A teenage girl discovers a magical secret while spending a summer at her eccentric great aunt's quaint Vermont Inn. The stunning first edition of this whimsical YA cozy fantasy features gorgeous designed edges.
• The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez—This stunning deluxe edition of the sequel to the bestselling Say You'll Remember Me comes with designed edges and color endpapers for one limited printing only.

Happy, happy birthday to all the April babies! Whether you're celebrating a loved one or yourself, we hope you find something perfect here at ThriftBooks to bookify the occasion!

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