I’m Thankful for Animals by Lindsey Sagar - ADVISABLE

I’m Thankful for Animals by Lindsey Sagar. BOARD BOOK. Kane Miller, 2023. $9. 9781684645619

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The children in Sagar’s book are a delightful variety of types and abilities. And they are grateful for a fun array of animals for very unique reasons. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Don’t Wake Up the Tiger by Britta Teckentrup - OPTIONAL

Don’t Wake Up the Tiger by Britta Teckentrup. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2025. $9. 9781536241440

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The animals are very nervous.  They need to set up for a big celebration, but Tiger is sleeping right in the way. Can they safely cross over, or will they waken the beast?

The ending twist is very cute. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Santa Yeti by Matthew Luhn, illustrated by Luke Flowers. Kane Miller - OPTIONAL

Santa Yeti by Matthew Luhn, illustrated by Luke Flowers. Kane Miller, 2023. $16. 9781684646036

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Frank the yeti dreams of warmer temperatures than his chilly home. He sneaks a ride on Santa’s sleigh and almost ruins Christmas. 

I don’t understand why the book is written in rhyme.  I found it distracting. The Yeti is a cute character and the story line is solid, otherwise.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Leah’s Star: a nativity story by Margaret Bateson-Hill and Karin Littlewood - OPTIONAL

Leah’s Star: a nativity story by Margaret Bateson-Hill and Karin Littlewood. PICTURE BOOK. Kane Miller, 2021. $13. 9781684642243

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Leah’s father owns an inn and stable in Bethlehem. When the pregnant woman needs a place to rest, she convinces her father to let them stay in the stable. There Leah witnesses the Christmas miracle of the birth of Jesus.

Bateson-Hill condenses the entire Christmas story into one night - shepherds, wise men, and fleeing to Egypt included. While it makes for succinct story-telling, it is also misleading. I don’t see Leah replacing the Little Drummer Boy any time soon, though the illustrations are a dreamy touch. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Santa Needs a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird - ESSENTIAL

Santa Needs a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan, illustrated by Ross Kinnaird. PICTURE BOOK. Dover Publications, 2025. $9. 9780486855141

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Poor Santa has squished and lopsided butt problems from sitting in his sleigh too long.  Everyone jumps into action to try and help,  but Grandma ends up saving the day with the perfect solution for Santa's derriere.

McMillan is back at it with another one of her butt books. The illustrations are colorful and bold.  I was glad to see they are large enough for a room full of students to enjoy and the rhyming story is short enough to hold the youngest readers' attention.  The repeated use of the word "butt" will surely garnish plenty of giggles.  I look forward to sharing this book as a read-a-loud.

Alissa Loves Books

Upside Down Animals by Danielle McLean, illustrated by Matt Hunt - ADVISABLE

Upside Down Animals by Danielle McLean, illustrated by Matt Hunt. BOARD BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $9. 9781664351554

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Monkey goes up and then goes low.  Duck floats and then dives. See animals do opposite actions depending on if you hold the book right side up or upside down.

Upside Down Animals is a clever engaging book of transformations.  Each image transforms into its opposite when the book is flipped upside down.

PGPowers

The Night of the Hedgehog by Tanya Rosie, illustrated by Chuck Groenink - ADVISABLE

The Night of the Hedgehog by Tanya Rosie, illustrated by Chuck Groenink. PICTURE BOOK.  Candlewick Press, 2025. $19. 9781536245066

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A father wakes his little girl, and together they quietly creep into the garden at night to wait for the hedgehog mother and her family.  They put out some water and watch them drink.  They have made something special to help the mother hedgehog.  Will the hedgehogs find it and use it?

The Night of the Hedgehog is a sweet and tender Father-daughter book that will inspire in children an appreciation of nature.  I enjoyed the expressive storytelling illustrations.

PGPowers

Hogbert by Briony May Smith - ADVISABLE

Hogbert by Briony May Smith. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2025. $19. 9781536245035

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

One day Mommy Boar decides that it is time for her piglets to explore the forest for the first time.  She warns them to stay together for the Big Bad Wolf might be near.  Little Hogbert is following his siblings when he is lured away by a super-tasty trail and he gets lost.  Hogbert is trembling with fear when he hears something rustling in the leaves. It is just a squirrel.  Then he hears a growl coming through the trees.  Is it the Wolf?  How will he ever get back to his mother?

Hogbert is a delightful story with subtle fairy-tale references. It is about finding your independence, making new friends, and trusting your instincts.  I loved the beautiful illustrations.

PGPowers

US Air Force Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta, Sammie Garnett and Vickie Fraser - ESSENTIAL

US Air Force Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta and Sammie Garnett, illustrated by Vickie Fraser. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2023. $18. 9781570919527

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

A is for the US Air Force which was created in 1947. B is for the many Bombers used in the Air Force. C is for Cargo Aircraft. D is for Drones. Etc., etc.

Pallotta and Garnett created a comprehensive informational book about the Air Force. They included definitions where needed. The pages include both detailed illustrations and photographs. Specific number planes and missiles help the reader to see the depth of defense involved in the Air Force. A timeline of the Air Force can be seen at the back of the book. The book ends with a beautiful motto: Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do". 

MOMMAC

Pride by Eric Huang and Amy Phelps - OPTIONAL

Pride by Eric Huang and Amy Phelps, 48 pages. NON FICTION PICTURE BOOK. words&pictures (Quarto), 2025. $15. 9781836000877

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Young Brian, along with his friends and family, are preparing for a Pride month celebration and parade. The friends are deciding what to wear at the parade and Brian is not quite sure what to wear during the parade. Brian's school and teachers develop lessons and activities and present historical features of the Pride celebration including the lives of famous LGBTQIA+ people. While his friends make decisions about their parade wear Brian is slow to figure out his. Finally, he decides on an outfit that will be perfect. 

The endnotes give facts about the Stonewall Uprising, activities, history of Pride and Pride flag, and a quiz." I liked the age-appropriate approach to Pride and the history of Pride. I like the portrayal of diverse families and a community working together to celebrate all people within a community. The characters reflect a wide diversity of ethnicities, gender fluidity, and family relationships. Something the book tries to do is not categorize the characters.

Bryant Baird, Certified Teacher Librarian

The First Snow by Marie Stumpford & Radek Maly, illustrated by Marie Stumpford - ESSENTIAL

The First Snow by Marie Stumpford & Radek Maly, illustrated by Marie Stumpford. PICTURE BOOK.  Albatross Media Group, 2024. $18. 9788000070759

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Remember how magical it is to wake up to the first snow of winter?  How the world looks completely different?  Stefan and Agnes wake up to the first snow and have many adventures in the winter wonderland that is their back yard.

The First Snow captures the excitement and beauty of the first snow of the year.  The plot is unpredictable as Stefan and Agnes use their imaginations to have fun in the snow.  Stumpford uses soft, soothing pastel colors to create a magical winter land.  The cover is textured and covered in glitter. This would be a great read aloud!

Stefan and Agnes cue white.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Small World: Meet 30 of Earth's Tiniest Creatures by Nick Crumpton and Rosie Dore - ESSENTIAL

Small World: Meet 30 of Earth's Tiniest Creatures by Nick Crumpton, illustrated by Rosie Dore, 95 pages. NON-FICTION. Quarto Publishing, 2025. $30. 9780711288577

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

The tiniest of creatures, as all animals, strive to find food and escape capture. They are found in all types of animal groups such as birds, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles. Most of the tiny creatures use supremely defined ways of thwarting their enemies from camouflage, to body transformation, to poison, to bioluminescence, and to symbiotic relations. Some of these amazing creatures measure less than an inch.

Crumpton shares incredible information concerning tiny creatures. Dore's illustrations are lifelike and beautiful. Each new page is full of surprise and delight for biology lovers of all ages. At the end of each section, Dore illustrates on one page the comparison of the actual size of these creatures. This is a must read if just for the Illustrations. 

MOMMAC