Prince Among Slaves by N.H. Senzai and Anna Rich - ESSENTIAL

Prince Among Slaves by N.H. Senzai, illustrated by Anna Rich. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK.  Nancy Paulson Books (Penguin), 2025. $20. 9781984816986 

Content: PG (mention of slavery practices, including whipping and death)

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Abdulrahman, meaning "servant of God", grew up as the prince of the Fulbe people in Fouta Djallon in Africa. His community followed Mohammed and the Quran. As prince, his father sent him away to school at the University of Sankore at the age of 12. He came home and learned to be a warrior. His tribe befriended an Irish man and he learned to speak English.  He was captured and became one of the millions of slaves sold in America. He worked tirelessly to return to Africa with his family. 

What a joy to learn about this Muslim man and his return to Africa! The miracle of meeting the befriended Irishman in America and his helping the prince astounds me. Senzai tells this story with passion for her people. The illustrations keep the reader riveted to the story. 

MOMMAC

Take Me Out To the Ballgame by Jack Norworth and Gary Clement - ESSENTIAL

Take Me Out To the Ballgame by Jack Norworth, illustrated by Gary Clement. PICTURE BOOK.  Greystone Books Ltd., 2026. $20. 9781778403248

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

A boy wants his father to put down his work and take him to the baseball game. The boy begins to sing the song, Take Me Out to the Ballgame while imagining himself in the game. By the end of the song, both are singing.

This visual rendition of the American pastime song will delight all baseball fans. The joyful intro of the boy begging his father to go will put a smile on your face. Clement adds some historical notes at the end about the songwriter and the song. 

There are persons of color in the illustrations.

MOMMAC

Gwei: The Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee and Basia Tran - ADVISABLE

Gwei: The Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee, illustrated by Basia Tran. PICTURE BOOK. Kokila (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798217002795

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

As a hungry ghost, Gwei is supposed to eat the offerings left by the Chinese people in his graveyard, but Gwei craves so much more. When Ghost Festival Month arrives, Gwei wanders out into the market place, where he gorges himself on the many food offerings. It isn’t until Gwei finds a little ghost who is also hungry and shares food together that he finds his appetite actually feeling satisfied.

The back matter has information about hungry ghosts and other types of ghosts from Chinese culture. I like that the glossary not only has the Chinese name for foods, but also the kanji. Lee gives us a nicely subtle message about the value of sharing.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Bad Banana by Michael Rex - ESSENTIAL

Bad Banana by Michael Rex. EARLY READER LEVEL 2. Simon, 2026. $6 (pb). 9781665962124

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

As the banana sits in the bowl, he becomes more worried about his spots and brown patches.  The little girl wants to throw it out, but Mom has a better, tastier idea that helps the banana feel much better about itself.

Be ready to make banana bread after your child reads this early reader! It would make a very cute picture book too. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Rumble! by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Kirk Parrish - ADVISABLE

Rumble! by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Kirk Parrish. EARLY READER Level 1. Simon, 2026. $6 (pb). 9781665974639

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Rocket is ready for her trip into space, but will something stop her from her dream?

Parrish’s illustrations are the highlight of the story. A young reader who loves space and tech will enjoy the story.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Clack-Clack , Little Crab! by Amy Blay. - ADVISABLE

Clack-Clack , Little Crab! by Amy Blay. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle, 2025. $15. 9782408061807

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO:SEVERAL

Little Crab is scuttling around the ocean floor. 

I will admit, the draw for the book is that as you pull out the tabs, they actually do click and clack. Your youngest toddlers will need help pulling the tabs, but a 2 ½ - 3 year old should have no problem.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Archibald and the Furry Dinosaurs by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang. - OPTIONAL

Archibald and the Furry Dinosaurs by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593811962

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Archibald was the only dinosaur without fur. As he searches high and low for his fur, he makes some friends and manages to avoid different dangers. When his hair refuses to come back with him, Archibald is going to have to figure out how to live without it.

Maybe kids will realize that the story isn’t about any real dinosaurs or any real time period.  From what I’ve heard about kids who like dinos, however, is that they like to learn all about them.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Cassini’s Mission by Kate Venit, illustrated by Julia Blattman - ESSENTIAL

Cassini’s Mission by Kate Venit, illustrated by Julia Blattman. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. MIT Kids Press, 2025. $19. 9781536232325

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When the Cassini spacecraft was sent towards Saturn to explore the tiny moon Enceladus, the scientists thought they had packed it with every needed tool.  As the team had more questions to answer and challenges for Cassini, the little spacecraft responded beautifully, until they discovered the one question Cassini couldn’t answer - is there life on Enceladus.

I love this look at space missions and scientists finding out their hypotheses were incorrect and then changing their trajectory both literally and figuratively. Excellent for all levels of science teachers. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Please Look After This Cat by Kasia Antczak and Kasia Fryza, translated by Agnes Monod-Gayraud. - ESSENTIAL

Please Look After This Cat by Kasia Antczak and Kasia Fryza, translated by Agnes Monod-Gayraud. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Post Wave, 2025. $19. 9798895090268

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Antczak and Fryza give a simple, practical book about how to raise your house cat. 

I love the simple, but well-researched information that the authors bring to their book. An excellent resource for first-time, young cat parents.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Echo People by SD Youngwolf, illustrated by Shonto Begay - ADVISABLE

The Echo People by SD Youngwolf, illustrated by Shonto Begay. PICTURE BOOK. Lee and Low, 2025. $20. 9781643790848

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A Native American grandfather is introducing his grandchildren to the Echo People.  While the grandson finds the Echo People irritating, the granddaughter had an uplifting experience. Grandfather explains to them about getting back what you put out into the world.

A lovely lesson in a story.  While a couple of pages are quite wordy, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the message sneak up on me. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse by Darcy Whitecrow, Heather O’Connor and Natasha Donovan - ADVISABLE

Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather O’Connor, illustrated by Natasha Donovan. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2025. $19. 9781536229455

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

The Ojibwe of Lac La Croix First Nation had a special relationship with the wild ponies of their area.  As white people settled the land, however, the large herds were reduced to a final four ponies. In order to save them, the Ojibwe helped round them up in 1977 and smuggled them across a frozen lake to a ranch in the United States.  Today the herd has grown to almost 200.

A lovely look at the cycle of almost destroying and then saving a species. Great for a science lesson about man’s effect on nature, saving endangered species, etc. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Don’t Do It Doug! by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie - ADVISABLE

Don’t Do It Doug! by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2026. $19. 9781664300798

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Doug, a hamster, has never seen a button he wouldn’t press, a lever he wouldn’t pull -- you get the idea. His friends hope to curb his frenetic energy by giving him some thrilling, but safe (?) activities. Can Doug learn?

Powell-Tuck creates a fun book, but the final illustration negates the whole possibility of this being also a subtle lesson. An adult would have to do a lot of discussion to turn this into a useful exercise. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS