The Angel and the Mermaid by Becky Cameron - OPTIONAL

The Angel and the Mermaid by Becky Cameron. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9781836005230

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Twins babies are born, one has wings and the other has a mermaid tail. The pair exists alone near the sea, so that they can play together and enjoy their own element. One day, however, a contest causes a rift between the pair. and only a dangerous storm may be able to bring them back together again.

As lovely as the illustrations are, and they are very lovely, depicting the differences between the siblings as angel versus mermaid, add a fantastical element that doesn’t allow readers to see themselves within the lesson. I would buy the book just so that I can look at it, but I’d look for another book to help siblings or even best friends to get over a quarrel. Try Rita and Ralph’s Rotten Day by Carmen Agra Deedy, for example. (https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/2020/01/rita-ralphs-rotten-day-by-carmen-agra.html?spref=pi)

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

No Cheese, Please! by Nishani Reed and Maria Neradova - ADVISABLE

No Cheese, Please! by Nishani Reed, illustrated by Maria Neradova. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2025. $19. 9798887772080

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Mouse is having his friends over to celebrate his birthday. What they didn’t know, however, is that Mouse has a dairy allergy - no milk, butter, or even cheese for him. His friends feel bad that all of the treats they brought ass full of dairy, but they have a plan.

While it is a bit odd that Mouse’s closest friends didn’t know about his dairy allergy, the sentiment and solution are still very sweet. Neradova’s illustrations bring just the right touch of forest-based whimsy. I like the dairy-free chocolate cake recipe included, too.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Messi’s Magic by Caroline L. Perry and Luciano Lozano - ADVISABLE

Messi’s Magic by Caroline L. Perry, illustrated by Luciano Lozano. NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic Press, 2025. $19. 9781546147534

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

How did a small, shy, soccer-obsessed child with a serious medical condition become a goal-scoring, record-breaking, once-in-a-generation sensation? We learn about his supportive family, and the loneliness he experienced as the youngest and smallest player.  We learn how footballer Lionel Messi defied the odds, overcame medical problems and became the G.O.A.T.  and a humble hero. The backmatter includes a timeline, statistics, career highlights, and fun facts.

Perry tells an inspiring story full of excitement and emotion, and easy to read.  I loved this biography!  Lozano's colorful and deep illustrations bring this story to life.

PGPowers

Meet the Smushkins by Claudia Rueda - ADVISABLE

Meet the Smushkins by Claudia Rueda. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2025. $18. 9781536236583

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

The Smushkins are looking for a house.  What makes a good house for Smushkins?  They all agree it must have lots of light, a tree in the backyard filled with apples, a playground and path nearby, and much more.  But what is the one very important thing that they can't do without?

Meet the Smushkins introduces the reader to a family of adorable, goofy and lovable characters with more books to come. Toddlers will enjoy the antics of the Smushkins. I liked Rueda's cute and silly illustrations.

PGPowers

My Street Remembers by Karen Krossing and Cathie Jamieson -

My Street Remembers by Karen Krossing, illustrated by Cathie Jamieson. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.  Groundwood Books, 2025. $20. 9781773066356

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

My Street Remembers peels back the history of one city street, currently called Danforth Avenue in Toronto, Canada.  The story begins 14,00 years ago when mammoths roamed the icefields, and the First Peoples followed their trail.  The story continues through time showing the lives of all the descendants that have lived on that street making particular note  of when the Europeans arrived and swindled the Indigenous People out of their land and resources, and mentions other sad conflicts.  

My Street Remembers is a historically interesting recall of the Indigenous People who once lived on that street or area, putting emphasis on the injustices and apologies. 

PGPowers

A Single Dreadlock by Xaiver Michael Campbell and Eugenie Fernandes - ADVISABLE

A Single Dreadlock by Xaiver Michael Campbell, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. PICTURE BOOK.  Groundwood Books, 2025. $20. 9781773069388

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A young boy named Lovie never thought he looked different until he and his dads moved from Jamaica to Spruce Cove.  His hair is curly and wild and Lovie loves it!  Over the Summer, it forms a dread in just one spot and Lovie is very happy about it until the kids at school make fun of him. He is very sad.  How will Lovie learn to be proud about his hair?

A Single Dreadlock is about finding the courage to be yourself, and the reader can learn to have compassion for others who look different.  I enjoyed the vibrant art of Fernandes. Lovie is being raised by two dads.  They are also Jewish.

PGPowers

Dad, Is It Time to Gather Mint? by Tyna Legault Taylor and Michelle Dao - OPTIONAL

Dad, Is It Time to Gather Mint? by Tyna Legault Taylor and Michelle Dao. PICTURE BOOK. Highwater Press, 2-25. $19. 9781774921227

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

As each season approaches, Josh asks his dad if it is time to gather mint.  Fall, Winter, Spring - it’s not time, though there are other things to do with the land.  Finally in Summer, time for mint gathering, and many other tasks, has arrived.

Taylor uses Cree and Ojibwe words in the text, with the translation simply added on the fringes. While I enjoyed learning about the different activities throughout the seasons, Taylor does a lot of telling us what is happening, instead of showing, so the text is stiff. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Will We Ever Live on the Moon? by Olivia Watson and Veronika Chaves Morales - OPTIONAL

Will We Ever Live on the Moon? by Olivia Watson, illustrated by Veronika Chaves Morales. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beetle Books (Hungry Tomato), 2024. $15. 9781835691304

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

A nice beginning picture book about the kinds of tools it takes to research and, possibly in the future, live on the moon.

I was expecting a more 4-6th grade aimed book, but there is limited, though interesting, information inside. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Brilliant Brain by Dr. Roopa Farooki and Viola Wang. - ADVISABLE

The Brilliant Brain by Dr. Roopa Farooki, illustrated by Viola Wang. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2025. $19. 9781536237801

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Dr. Farooki gives a simple first look at the parts of the brain and how they work together to help your body do all of the wonderful things it does. Wang’s illustrations bring just the right touch to help readers visualize what is going on inside their bodies.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Valentines are the Worst! by Alex Willan - OPTIONAL

Valentines are the Worst! by Alex Willan. PICTURE BOOK. Simon, 2025. $20. 9781665962612

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The goblin is ready to tell you all of the things that make him not like Valentine's Day. 

Willan goes in a slightly different direction from his other books this time. (SPOILERS) You would think that Gilbert would become friends with a Cupid, but he vaguely realizes that he loves his friends. It didn't work quite as well for me as the other books in the series. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Big Bub, Small Hat by Alastair Heim and Aaron Blecha - ADVISABLE

Big Bub, Small Hat by Alastair Heim, illustrated by Aaron Blecha. EARLY READER (Ready to Read Level). Simon, 2025. $19 (hc). 9781665969789

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Big Bub is excited to get his new hat, even though it seems pretty small for his big head.  When the wind blows it away, Big Bub is sad.

A fun adventure for a beginning reader. Front matter goes over the words that make up the story so that the reader can practice before they start. If you need a shelf refresh of this level of book, it is very cute. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

When Science Stood Still by Shruthi Rao, illustrated by Srindhi Srinivasan - ADVISABLE

When Science Stood Still by Shruthi Rao, illustrated by Srindhi Srinivasan. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. McElderry (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665949965

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Subramanyan Chandrasekhar was only 19 in the 1930’s when he did the math and wrote the paper that proved the existence of black holes.  It took more than 30 years for the rest of the science community to take him seriously - and 50 years after that first paper, Chandra was awarded a Nobel prize. 

Rao does an excellent job of succinctly giving us Chadra’s story in a way that captures our attention and keeps us reading. I am excited to show this to my middle school science teachers to support their curriculum. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS