I'm not Scary...I'm just a Dinosaur! by Ben Lerwill and Erica Salcedo - ADVISABLE

I'm not Scary...I'm just a Dinosaur! by Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Erica Salcedo. PICTURE BOOK. NON-FICTION Quarto, 2025. $19 97818360025 $12 

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

For anyone who thinks dinosaurs are totally scary, this book will show that dinosaurs developed unique ways to survive and thrive. 

The art is bright and colorful and just right for young children. In addition to the informational text, which is easily understood, there are actions and questions for young listeners to answer or act out, which makes this interactive. Great introduction to dinosaurs for small fry. 

Michelle in the Middle

Nunu and the Sea by Isabella Kung - OPTIONAL

Nunu and the Sea by Isabella Kung. PICTURE BOOK Knopf (Random House), 2025. $19 9780593812723  

PRE-K, EL (K-3)- OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Nunu is a little girl with big emotions: emotions so big she feels like she has to navigate their uncharted waters before she can find her way back home. 

The art is beautiful. Though the story is simple, its message that we can build and create again even when things go wrong is a good reminder for anyone struggling with overwhelming emotions. 

Nunu is Chinese. 

Michelle in the Middle

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake by Devin Elle Kurtz - ADVISABLE

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake by Devin Elle Kurtz. PICTURE BOOK Knopf (Random House), 2025 $19.00 9780593710999 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Ember, The Bakery Dragon is now an established bread maker, making golden loaves of deliciousness for his fellow dragons. Beatrice trusts him so much she even leaves him in charge of the bakery when she has far away deliveries. But when Princess Turnip comes by with an unusual request, the Bakery Dragon starts to doubt his skills. He's a bread maker and the princess wants a cake. 

I can see using this in a classroom as it is a terrific story that demonstrates a growth mindset. The ingredients illustrated in the endpapers are clever, and I am entranced with the gorgeous golden colors in Kurtz's illustrations. A child will spend more time looking at the illustrations than reading the text. I loved it. 

Lisa Librarian 

Giddy Up, Unicorn by Dani Gomez - OPTIONAL

Giddy Up, Unicorn by Dani Gomez. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2024. $18. 9781623544850

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

A little girl, Emma, loves unicorns. She draws unicorns and collects stuffed unicorns. Emma's dad reads her unicorn stories every night. Emma and her dad even dress up like unicorns for Halloween! As Emma gets older, she loses interest in unicorns. What will her dad do as Emma finds new interests?

Giddy Up, Unicorn is a sweet book about a dad supporting a daughter's interest and also what happens when a daughter grows up and her interests change. The text per page is minimal and the illustrations are very engaging. Emma and her dad cue white.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian 

Saving Piku by James Sellick and Craig Shuttlewood - ADVISABLE

Saving Piku by James Sellick and Craig Shuttlewood. PICTURE BOOK. New Frontier Publishing (Lerner), 2025. $19. 9781916790971

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The penguin moms are away fishing while the dads and chicks are on land. When an enormous beast of a storm kicks up, little Piku is almost frozen to death. It is only with the help and shared warmth of all of the other penguins that Piku might be saved.

Sellick takes what could be very distressing and turns it into a lovely story about community and helping. I could do without the big labels on the cover (“friendship over fear” “dealing with feeling”) - the book conveys the emotion without needing to be labelled.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

I’m Thankful for Nature by Lindsey Sagar - ADVISABLE

I’m Thankful for Nature by Lindsey Sagar. BOARD BOOK. Kane Miller, 2023. $9. 9781684645602

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A variety of children talk about the many seasons and beautiful flora that they love. The thankful books are a sweet way to get little ones to talk about what they are personally thankful for.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

I, Rock: a Geology Tale by Katie Slivensky and Steph Stilwell - ADVISABLE

I, Rock: a Geology Tale by Katie Slivensky and Steph Stilwell. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665940368

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Rock teaches us not just about the different kinds of rocks and crystals, but also takes us through his own millenial long journey - through earth’s mantle to the crust and through different phases of its existence. 

90% of Slivensky’s book is excellent - it is 100% interesting to look at and very clear and engaging. My Earth Science teachers (7th grade) did have a couple of little problems - early on (1.8 billion years) it shows the continents and the plates as we know them today. Several pages later (325 million years) it shows a supercontinent, which we assume is Pangea; we feel it would have been clearer if those two things were reversed. The other detail was the page showing, as it said, erosion - the little rock rolling down the hill. The teachers had a great debate about whether the definition is actual for weathering, not erosion - but the rock bouncing is showing erosion. That’s my teachers’ two cents. Otherwise, they still want to the book so that they can use it in their teaching.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Snow Problem and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli - OPTIONAL

Snow Problem and Other Stories (Earl and Worm) by Greg Pizzoli, 69 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Knopf (Random), 2025. $11. 9780593649749

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

It’s Earl’s birthday and Worm has surprises for him. Unfortunately, something seems to go wrong during each phase of the plan. Worm is definitely the Eeyore of the pair - Worm sees everything through a negative lens. Thankfully Earl is patient and forgiving.

While I agree that friends don’t have to match, I don’t know why one has to be negative to the other’s positive. They can be different in some other way.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Can You Find Taylor? Seek-and-Find Board Book - ADVISABLE

Can You Find Taylor? Seek-and-Find BOARD BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $10. 9781664351851

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, ADULT - GIFT - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Enjoy nine pages of Taylor Swift hunting. Lots of pages also have 13 other things to find. Swifties young and old will have a fun time searching on each page. Even after searching, you can still spend time enjoying each scene.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Little Red and Big, Bad Fred by Ashley Belote - ESSENTIAL

Little Red and Big, Bad Fred by Ashley Belote. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593902431

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Little Red loves his encounters in every season with Fred, the fluffy kitty that lives in the forest. Little Red thinks that Fred is the best. When Fred gets hurt one day, Red brings Fred to his Great Grandfather who informs Red that Fred is a DOG! Even better!

As you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, you know Fred is really a wolf. Watching the two interact is pure gold. Belote has a perfect combination of text and illustrations creating a cohesive whole.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Five Little Penguins by Lily Murray and Holly Surplice - ADVISABLE

Five Little Penguins by Lily Murray and Holly Surplice. Lift-the-Flap BOARD BOOK. Templar (Candlewick), 2025. $10. 9781536246766

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

In the traditional countdown pattern, five little penguins are playing, but each time fewer penguins return. Will Mama be able to find them all?

Definitely one to read together - at least until little fingers learn to handle the pages with care. But so sweet. I love me a cute board book.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett - OPTIONAL

The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam (Penguin), 2025. $20. 9780593533918

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Ari the pug does not like his new, over-decorated, Christmas sweater. A curious magpie helps him with that. Thankfully, the boy and pug are able to follow the remnants back to safety.

For someone who wants to add an old-fashioned feeling book to their Christmas book stash. Brett’s detailed style lends itself to study each page. 

 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS