Fierce Aunties! by Laurel Goodluck and Steph Littlebird - ADVISABLE

Fierce Aunties! by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Steph Littlebird. PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2025. $20. 9781665948968 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Fierce Aunties - they are women you can look up to, who know you and want the best for you. Sometimes you are related to them but you don't have to be. They cheer on your successes, they teach about your life and culture, and they really listen. 

I loved this book. It made me think about all the strong women in my life who were there for me. What a great reflection. And a child reading this story can recognize these women, too. I'm sure we all have them (and take them for granted). Set within Indigenous culture, the illustrations often reflect those women, but women of other races and cultures are also represented. 

Lisa Librarian 

Bartleby by Matt Phelan - ADVISABLE

Bartleby by Matt Phelan. PICTURE BOOK. Macmillan Children's, 2026. $19. 9780374393557

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Young polar bear Bartleby repeatedly says, "I prefer not to," when asked to join group activities at school and with other kids at recess.  One activity finally interests him and he finds a way to participate on his own terms.  Will this make it easier for him to join in other activities?

Bartleby teaches a gentle lesson about acceptance and being yourself.  I like Phelan's cute characters and signature sketchy, watercolor style.

PGPowers

Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa by Sara Andrea Fajardo and Juana Martinez-Neal - ADVISABLE

Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa by Sara Andrea Fajardo, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2025. $20. 9781250838612 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Alberto Salas is a scientist who studies potatoes - particularly those grown in the wild of the Andes mountains. So, he plays Paka Paka con la papa (hide and seek with a potato) with us! He has to be quick; some potatoes can only be found on the days their flowers bloom, and he's especially looking for the rare Papa de Zorro, his favorite, which is really hard to find. 

This is a delightful non-fiction/biography. I learned that different potatoes have different superpowers, and that scientists can engineer the healthiest varieties to grow in the most difficult places, helping people feed themselves. I really liked the illustrations. Salas keeps a journal where he makes his own maps - these illustrations look like they could have come from his journals, along with illustrations of Salas working with the villagers to find and harvest his discoveries. The unusual cover picture makes perfect sense now. I liked this more than I expected to. Alberto Salas is Peruvian. 

Lisa Librarian 

Everyone Cries by Adam Ciccio, illustrated by Barbara Bongini - ADVISABLE

Everyone Cries by Adam Ciccio, illustrated by Barbara Bongini. PICTURE BOOK. Clavis Publishing, 2025. $20. 9798890630421

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

A big friendly monster named sadness visits a young boy.  Sadness explains that he visits on gloomy days as well as beautiful days, and that he only comes for a while and doesn't stay.  He reminds the boy that it is okay to cry and that everyone cries.  Sadness explains to the boy the many reasons people cry.  How will crying help the young boy feel better?

Everyone Cries is a sweet comforting story that will help children understand and accept their feelings.  Bongini's lively and cute illustrations aptly bring the abstract concepts to life.

PGPowers

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith - ADVISABLE

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593619681 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The History of We tells the history of our past, back to the earliest evidence of modern man in Africa over 200,000 years ago. There is evidence of their tools, their jewelry, their inventions, and shelters. 

A fascinating and beautiful picture book. I love how it connects to things that we value today, art, dance, language, music, and style, and how we know they developed medicines and specialized tools. In the author's notes, illustrations are referenced with the artifacts or time period they represent, along with the scientific discoveries supporting them. A great introduction to the History of Man with gorgeous illustrations. The characters are African. 

Lisa Librarian 

Men Cry by Joan Turu, translated by Anyeliz Pagan Munoz - ADVISABLE

Men Cry by Joan Turu, translated by Anyeliz Pagan Munoz. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2026. $18. 9781623546885

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A young boy named Neil wasn't sure exactly how to be a man.   He tried to observe the older boys at school, his soldier grandpa, bikers on the street, the men in his family at a funeral, superheroes, athletes and politicians on T.V., and made a chart of what he thought.  The next day at school, he tried to act like what he thought a man was.  He rode his bike against traffic, didn't play with Halima his best friend, laughed at Pablo, tripped Adri, and had a fistfight with Oscar. He started to feel sick and went to see the school nurse.  He began to cry.  What was wrong with Neil?

Men Cry is a fun, heartwarming story about gender roles and embracing individuality.  I enjoyed Turu's expressive, quirky illustrations.

PGPowers

A Vaisakhi to Remember by Simran Jeet Singh and Japneet Kaur - OPTIONAL

A Vaisakhi to Remember by Simran Jeet Singh, illustrated by Japneet Kaur PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593859087 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A young girl loves the day her village in India celebrates Vaisakhi. Farmers celebrate the harvest, there's music and dancing and food. She loves sitting with her grandma and hearing her tell all about her family. But when the family moves away, to another country, and a big city, she worries that Vaisakhi will never be the same. 

Definitely for a child familiar with this celebration and culture. Although an author's note gives a short description as well as identifying the names mentioned in the story and a few Punjabi phrases, it would be best loved by someone who knows Vaisakhi, rather than someone wanting to learn about it. While the illustrations were beautiful, they were very busy, giving the impression that this is a very crowded event. I found it difficult at times to find the part of the illustration that the text was telling about. The characters are Sikh. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Highly Sensitive Rabbit by Judith Orloff, illustrated by Katy Tanis - ADVISABLE

The Highly Sensitive Rabbit by Judith Orloff, illustrated by Katy Tanis. PICTURE BOOK. Sounds True, 2025. $19. 9781649632876

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Aurora is a highly sensitive rabbit.  She cares about the natural world and the other animals around her, but she has a hard time connecting with others.  Her brothers tell her she is "too sensitive."  When a flash flood destroys her family's burrow, Aurora meets a spiny lizard, a wren, a skunk, and a javelina who are sensitive too.  They teach her some techniques for self care. Will she learn to connect with others while embracing who she is?

The Highly Sensitive Rabbit educates us about empaths, and offers easy-to learn coping and communication skills.  I enjoyed Tanis' beautiful, colorful, desert illustrations.

PGPowers

I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich, illustrated by Chris Raschka

I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich, illustrated by Chris Raschka. PICTURE BOOK Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593308172 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A young girl experiences the seasons with her mother, and without the sense of sight. The air smells cold in winter, and everything is quiet. In the spring, she smells flowers and hears birds. A summer day at the beach brings cold waves and warm sun, and in the fall, the wind has changed, and she can hear geese. 

I really enjoyed reading about all the senses we take for granted, and how this young girl appreciates her world. The author teaches the visually impaired and blind, and they inspired her to write this book. Chris Raschka's illustrations were marvelous - although his illustrations are oil and watercolor, they look like crayon drawn on a textured surface. The characters are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Princess and the Grain of Rice by Tina Cho and Honee Jang - ADVISABLE

The Princess and the Grain of Rice by Tina Cho, illustrated by Honee Jang. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2026. $19. 9780374392253

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

In the mountain Joseon kingdom, it was time for the crown prince to marry a princess chosen by his parents.  Jeongsoon wanted to be a princess to help the hungry so she agreed to compete in the Manners Test, and the Wisdom Test.  The queen chooses her out of all the other girls to compete in the final sleep test. Will she unknowingly feel a tiny grain of rice underneath 100 blankets?  Will Jeongsoon pass the test even when she lets a hungry mouse eat the grain of rice?

I really liked Cho's Korean retelling of the Princess and the Pea. Jang's illustrations are interesting and beautiful.

PGPowers

Picking Tea with Baba by Xu Bin and Yu Yin, translated by Shan Chen - OPTIONAL

Picking Tea with Baba by Xu Bin, illustrated by Yu Yin, translated by Shan Chen. PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025 $19. 9781623546236 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A boy and his brother accompany their parents to the top of the mountain, where their tea garden is. It's a long day of leaf picking, but the children love spending time with their parents and seeing the birds, bugs, and other things in the garden. 

I never thought about how tea leaves get picked. This family is Chinese, it seems like modern day, but rural, as when they take the leaves to the market, there are cars and scooters. The illustrations are beautiful but I think the story has limited appeal. 

Lisa Librarian 

Our Lake by Angie Kang

Our Lake by Angie Kang. PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $20. 9780593698235 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Brothers go to the lake to swim. It's the first time without their father, and the youngest is worried about diving in. 

I loved the illustrations. A really sweet story about grief, trust, and memories. I like that it's vague about why their father is not with them - we know he's gone. The story would be comforting for any child needing reassurance, healing, and a way to process loss. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian