The Sweater by Larissa Theule and Teagan White - ADVISABLE

The Sweater: A Story of Community by Larissa Theule and Teagan White. PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593528945

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

In autumn, Holly the raccoon set of on a hike. She noticed a little bird that looked lost. She noticed that he found a home in a hole in a tree. She felt the little bird needed some care. Holly went around the forest asking all the neighbors to contribute to a welcome gift for the new bird. The little bird rejoiced in the gifts. Then, winter set in and all the animals had to stay inside by themselves. What would bring them comfort?

Theule created a beautiful story of care and community through forest animals. The artful illustrations designed by White only add to the telling. While a simple story, it was told sweetly.

MOMMAC 

Horned Toad Has a Super Power by Jill Esbaum and Bob Shea - OPTIONAL

Horned Toad Has a Super Power by Jill Esbaum and Bob Shea. PICTURE BOOK. G P Putnam's Sons (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593700020

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Down in Texas, a horned toad meets an owlet. Horned toad explains how people have gotten his name wrong. He is not a toad, he is a lizard. He goes on to explain how he has a super power. He describes how he is cold blooded like a snake, he has horns that make him look scary, and he can camouflage himself by blending in. But none of those are his superpower.

While the illustrations entice, the story line bores. This book is more like a fact book trying to be a storybook. It is made up mostly of dialogue that teaches.

MOMMAC

Chick and T by Jennifer Shand and Esther Hernando - ADVISABLE

Chick and T by Jennifer Shand and Esther Hernando. PICTURE BOOK.Flowerpot Press, 2026. $17. 9781486732029

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

T-rex hatched into a world void of other Dinosaurs. He felt so lonely living all by himself. In his studies, T found out that chickens were his nearest relatives. Soon a family of chickens adopted him. T was happy to have a family, but not all in the chicken family were happy to have him. Chick, one of his siblings, didn’t like that he broke everything he came in contact with.

This playfully illustrated book about belonging and friendship will delight little ones. Hernando created an adorable T-rex. The writing is fairly terse, but the delightful illustrations make up for it.

MOMMAC https://www.kingsenglish.com/item/FBFG88P5iisVm1Pd_HhFHw

Cowboys at the Ballet by Claire Wrenn Bobrow and Ilaria Urbinati - ADVISABLE

Cowboys at the Ballet: The Story of Choreographer Agnes de Mille by Claire Wrenn Bobrow and Ilaria Urbinati. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon), 2026. $20 9781665957878

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Agnes de Mille grew up in Hollywood. Her uncle was Cecil B. de Mille. Agnes loved ballet as an art form. She worked hard to learn to dance. She liked to create unique dances. When World War I struck, America turned from traditional music and dance to art that showed the American spirit. This became the groundwork for Agnes to produce some of the many beloved dances on stage and screen.

Bobrow, with the creative help of Urbinati, told the life story of Agnes de Mille with beauty and care. Bobrwo used transition words at each page turn to move the story along. The author shares a short biography that includes more information at the end of the book. Adults, as well as children, will enjoy reading this book.

MOMMAC 

The Sea We Call Home by Dominique Demers and Gabrielle Grimard - OPTIONAL

The Sea We Call Home by Dominique Demers and Gabrielle Grimard. PICTURE BOOK. Pajama Press, 2026. $19. 9781772783674

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Little Gnouf and Mirabelle are excited for their first day at the beach. The walk to the beach seems to take forever. When they arrive, they see a baby whale all tied up in a fisherman’s net on the beach. They decide to help it. 

The adorable little Gnouf animals captivate the reader. But, this stilted story about saving the environment falls flat. The author could have used much more imagery to bring this cute story to life. The book can be enjoyed solely for its illustrations.

MOMMAC 

Moon Sailors by Naomi Woodward and Rachel Gregg - ESSENTIAL

Moon Sailors by Naomi Woodward and Rachel Gregg. PICTURE BOOK.Blue Dot Kids Press, 2026. $19. 9798989858859

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A boy and girl set sail with their bed sheets as sails. They sail into dreamland where they encounter our beautiful world and its creatures. They make a wish and sore through the skies. The sea gently rocks them to sleep.

Woodward describes the childlike wonder we all feel as we explore the wonders of nature. Her words are finely crafted using metaphor and simile. Her verb use captures our attention. This is a deliciously illustrated book about wonder.

MOMMAC 

The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk and Kristen Adam - ADVISABLE

The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk and Kristen Adam. PICTURE BOOK. Dutton Children's Books (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593407776

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

An old man lived in a house at the tip of the beach and so did Mouse. Mouse could see that the sea grew closer to the house with each passing year. She worried that the house would be swallowed by the sea. She tried many things to keep the water at bay. But, one night the storm came anyway.

Wolk tells the true story of a beach house belonging to a naturalist through the eyes of a mouse. The author’s note at the end of the book tells about the man, Henry Beston, and his house. This exquisitely illustrated book speaks of conservation and love of home. Adults and children alike will enjoy reading this book.

MOMMAC

The Dance of Courage by Misty Copeland and Setor Fiadzigbey - ESSENTIAL

The Dance of Courage (Bunheads, Act 2 )by Misty Copeland and Setor Fiadzigbey. PICTURE BOOK.Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780399547683

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Misty and Cat are friends who love the art of ballet. One day when Misty was visiting Cat, Cat told her how she wanted their next performance to be the ballet, Don Quixote and how Don Quixote searches far and wide for his love, Dulcinea. The next day at ballet rehearsal, Cat suggests that the company perform it.

Misty Copeland, as an expert on ballet, wrote a touching story about two friends who lift and care for each other. Copeland, as the first black American to be promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, can understand the need for inclusion and kindness in team situations, which she shares so well in this sweetly illustrated story. Misty is a black American and Cat is Hispanic.

MOMMAC 

We Always Had Wings by Jess X. Snow - ESSENTIAL

We Always Had Wings by Jess X. Snow. PICTURE BOOK Penguin Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593428511

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Snow and her mother are flying back to China to visit her grandmother in China. Snow is afraid as she watches the only home she has known disappear in the clouds. Her mother tells her a story that helps calm her fears.

Snow tells the story of her childhood when she is able to go back to China to visit her grandmother. But, the story has deeper meaning about immigration, refugees, and the longing for home. The beautiful illustrations send the imagination flying.

MOMMAC 

Pig Dreams by Margarita del Marzo and Guridi - ADVISABLE

Pig Dreams by Margarita del Marzo and Guridi. PICTURE BOOK. NubeOcho, 2025. $18. 9788410406629

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Pigs wonder about many things. Some pigs wondered why sheep were the ones allowed to put Johnny to sleep every night. THe pigs will do crafty thing sin order to realize their dream.

Mazo created a cute, funny story about pig angst. The emotions of the pigs are gleefully illustrated on their faces and those of the sheep. Children and adults alike will laugh at these antics.

MOMMAC 

Love That Baby Hair by Alliah L. Agostini and Sawyer Cloud - ADVISABLE

Love That Baby Hair by Alliah L. Agostini and Sawyer Cloud. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge Publishing, 2026. $18. 9781623546687

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Babies can have no hair. They can have bald spots. Some baby hair is straight while others are curly. Hair comes in many colors. All this depends on your parents genes. The timing of the first haircut is determined by culture and family tradition.

A young child will love this fast paced book. The words have rhythm and repetition. The illustrations of all kinds of babies and hair types keep a reader turning the pages. Every skin color and many races appears to be represented in this book.

MOMMAC 

The Worried Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro - ESSENTIAL

The Worried Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro. PICTURE BOOK. Red Comet Press, 2025. $17. 9781636551982

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

This book wants to be read, but then it worries that you won't like it. Or, what if you use it as a coloring book, or what it gets lost? The book realizes that everyone worries, and maybe instead of worrying about everything that could go wrong, it could try thinking of what could go right.

Like The Shy Book, the Worried Book teaches an important lesson of resilience. It normalizes being worried and offers realistic advice for what to do when worries start to get out of control. Cute illustrations with minimal colors support a text that flows well. The background characters are illustrated with various ethnicities and abilities.

Rachel, elementary school librarian