Writing Toward Justice by Peggy Thomas and Tonya Engel - ADVISABLE

Writing Toward Justice:  The Life and Reporting of Alice A. Dunnigan by Peggy Thomas, illustrated by Tonya Engel. NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (Astra Books for Young Readers), 2026. $20. 9781662680892

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Alice Dunnigan knew all about injustice, but she wanted to tell stories of spirit.  When she was 13 years old, she wrote to a Black newspaper asking for a job -- and got it.  It was only the beginning.  She worked hard as a teacher, a cleaner, a typist, and a journalist.  She became the first Black woman in the Capitol Press Corp.  But what she really wanted was the ear of President Truman.  What did Alice do to meet the President?

Writing Toward Justice is an inspiring story about how one woman's truth, power, and grit earned the respect of President Harry S. Truman.  I liked learning about another black hero in the civil rights movement. 

PGPowers

Ghost Army by Sarah Glenn Marsh and Becca Stadtlander - ADVISABLE

Ghost Army: The Troop of Artists Who Helped Win WWII by Sarah Glenn Marsh and Becca Stadtlander. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), JUNE 2026. $19. 9780593691717

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

During WWII a small group of artists and musicians played a critical role throughout the war - convincing the enemy that they were real troops of hundreds or thousands of men backed by tanks and artillery. In truth their tanks were rubber and the thousands of troops were rumors and sound recordings!

It wasn’t until 1996 when the efforts and successes of The Ghost army, a troop of artists and sound technicians during WWII, were finally recognized and acknowledged. My grades don’t cover WWII, but any school that does should have this on the shelf.  You could also show this to a theater teacher or art teacher. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Cranky versus the Cat (I can Read Level 2) by Phuc Trana and Pete Oswald - ADVISABLE

Cranky versus the Cat (I can Read Level 2) by Phuc Trana and Pete Oswald. EARLY READER. Harper, 2026. $6(pb), $16 (hc). 9780063469082

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Someone has left a big mess at the playground and Cranky and his friends need to clean it up before they can finish their important job. Turns out a stray cat has taken over the area and each step of the job the cat does something to aggravate Cranky - including eating his lunch.  But every bad cat also has a sweet side ready to be encouraged. 

While the reading level seems a bit above a 2, the story is still a fun one for adult and child to read together - especially if you have a cat.  Or dog people can talk about what a stray dog might do differently from a  cat.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Kiki and the Can written by John Leguizamo, Liz Casal, and John Crash Matos - ADVISABLE

Kiki and the Can written by John Leguizamo, illustrated by Liz Casal, featuring graffiti artist John Crash Matos. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic Inc., 2026. $20. 9781338785692

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Kiki felt bad that he didn’t have any contributions when his diverse group of friends were sharing about their cultural heroes, so he asked his family about their Latin heritage. Kiki then participates in the citywide mural project, honoring all sorts of Latin heroes with his graffiti portraits.

I picked it up initially because the art was eye-catching, but there is a whole lot more to the text. I felt like this was more informative than the casual reader might enjoy. Still, I think it’s important for Latino representation to have this picture book as a starting place. Kids can then do research on any one of the names mentioned in the book to see what Latin/Latino/Latinx peoples have contributed to art, science, food, & technology over the centuries. I do question why Kiki was allowed to leave his graffiti art everywhere, when not everyone recognizes it as a legitimate art form, but that may be just one of those things you have to suspend your disbelief in order to enjoy this story. 

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Taking Flight by Kashmira Sheth and Nicolo Carozzi. - ADVISABLE

Taking Flight by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Nicolo Carozzi. PICTURE BOOK Dial (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798218003884 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

A story of several children, all moving from one place to another, some displaced by war, they might be refugees but they are all worn-out and ready for rest. 

Told in second person, you are the child, experiencing the journey, the new city, the strange school and making friends. Usually I don't like that, but it worked with this, putting the reader in the shoes of the immigrant child. I loved that the final illustration is 3 pairs of children's shoes. The children are from different cultures, some specific and some not. 

Lisa Librarian 

Buttfish by Pauline Pinson and Magali Le Huche - ADVISABLE

Buttfish by Pauline Pinson and Magali Le Huche. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2026. $20. 9781525314124

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Buttfish doesn’t like being constantly told his face looks like a butt. Looking for new friends, he heads to the depths of the ocean where he meets a new friend, Steve, who looks like a cheese.  Maybe together the pair can be more than their looks.

Buttfish doesn’t look like a human-type butt, so don’t worry that you might offend through the illustrations - but if you read this aloud, you have to be comfortable with saying “butt” a lot. Pinson has really given us a story about seeing yourself differently from the roles others will try to force us into - and about being a good friend.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Bear Hair by Jeff Mack - SEVERAL

 

Bear Hair by Jeff Mack. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), JULY 2026. $19. 9781250409676

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Bear/bare Hair/hare - Mack uses basically four words and cute illustrations to give us a full story of two friends. A fun way to teach homophones and the interplay between word and illustration in a picture book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Go Bananas! by A.B. Peele and Lala Watkins - ADVISABLE

Go Bananas! by A.B. Peele, illustrated by Lala Watkins. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster), 2026. $20. 9781665953566

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

Join a cast of banana characters as they take a classic chant and turn it into an infectiously fun read-a-loud, helping turn sad days and frowns upside down.

At first, I thought the author's name was a pun, and I'm still not sure it isn't. Regardless, I got a kick out of this picture book, even though when I read it aloud, it did get a little repetitive. But that is part of the fun, I suspect, for a read-a-loud book. You want the kids to know how to join along. I could see this being very popular for the K-3 crowd, and you may be able to stretch it to older crowds if you got a teacher who really got into it, but I definitely recommend it for lower elementary students. 

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Forty the Fortune Teller by Drew Daywalt and Kevin Cornell. - ESSENTIAL

Forty the Fortune Teller by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Kevin Cornell. PICTURE BOOK Philomel (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593691465 

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Forty is one of those paper fortune tellers where you spell out a color and then pick a number and get your fortune. Unfortunately, Forty was dropped on the playground before ever getting to deliver even one fortune. Then, she meets a chip and they find a bolt that needs to be replaced in the playground slide - but all sorts of things stand in their way, the first one being a squirrel. When Forty tells his fortune, he is swept away by it. Maybe she's more powerful than she thinks! 

Drew Daywalt is such a great storyteller, and this story is funny and clever. I love Cornell's illustrations. I'm so excited to recommend this to the kids who love the "Crayons Quit" books. This would be so fun to read just before teaching a class on how to make the Fortune Tellers (instructions provided). 

Lisa Librarian  

Now You Know Your ABCs (or do you..?) by Caspar Salmon and Matt Hunt - ADVISABLE

Now You Know Your ABCs (or do you..?) by Caspar Salmon and Matt Hunt. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2026. $19. 9798887772240

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

As you innocently read your ABC book, on D you are confronted by a Dangerous Wolf!  Can you make it through the rest of the alphabet without getting eaten?

I like how Salmon makes the wolf there, lurking, but not actively being dangerous - just upping the scare factor.  Parts are silly (being stuck in France, a purple-haired witch saving the day) and it will be fun to read and amaze over together.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

This Was Not the Plan by Jane Chapman - ADVISABLE

This Was Not the Plan by Jane Chapman. Tiger Tales, 2026. $19. 9781664300781

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Spike, a bear, and Roscoe, a rabbit, are ready to head off on their camping trip. Spike feels each setback greatly, while Roscoe always finds another way to see everything with a positive attitude. Together the two find a happy balance to enjoy their adventure. 

I loved the misadventures and Roscoe’s redirects. Chapman has illustrated many beloved books and she’s done a great job with her own title. While a little longer (not much), the story hangs very well together, keeping up the reader’s interest along the way. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Where do Stories Live? by Meenal Patel - OPTIONAL

Where do Stories Live? by Meenal Patel. PICTURE BOOK. Kokila (Penguin Random House), 2026. $19. 9798217003198

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: FEW

Join two sisters, Avni & Isha, as they find different stories to add to a journal. They ask each other where do stories live? In the nature around us? In the people in our homes? Or in our books, pictures, and dreams? Maybe stories exist in all of these places.

A quiet book for quiet reflective children, this picture book is definitely one that adults are going to like more than kids. The muted color palette also doesn’t draw the reader in, but it does fit the contemplative tone of the story, so there are trade-offs. I liked the Indian elements in the background of the story, they were fun to pick out on each page.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes