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 

The Storm Cloud by Frances Stickley and Emily Hamilton - ADVISABLE

The Storm Cloud by Frances Stickley and Emily Hamilton. PICTURE BOOK. Post Wave, 2026. $19. 9798895090480

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Bear is having a bad day. His friends try to cheer him up, but he wants to be alone - mostly because he is afraid his bad day will ruin their day too. Squirrel knows that something isn’t right, and he takes the time to show Bear that he is there to support him, and that not everything about a rain cloud is bad. 

Stickley handles interacting with a friend who is sad or depressed in a deft way that will teach many people, including adults, that there are better ways to help and support. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Because of a Shoe by Julie Fogliano and Marla Frazee - ADVISABLE

Because of a Shoe by Julie Fogliano and Marla Frazee. PICTURE BOOK Knopf (Random House), 2026. $20. 9780593707401

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

A small child refuses to put on their shoes, is determined to do their whole life from the floor and never wear shoes, ever. Their mother is frustrated and angry and threatens to throw the favorite shoes into the dump, but . . . 

This is a delightful story about how a child's behavior and a parent's response don't change their loving relationship. Mara Frazee's illustrations are on point - I love how the bright colors change to grays during the worst moments and then back to color again. A delightful bedtime story or a great wind-down after time out or an argument. The characters are white 

Lisa Librarian 

Neville’s Great Escape by Sean E. Avery - ADVISABLE

Neville’s Great Escape by Sean E. Avery. PICTURE BOOK. Walker Books, 2026. $19. 9781761602542

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When Neville gets swallowed by the giant whale, he could sit back and wait to be eaten.  Neville, however, has other plans - Escape!

A companion to Frank’s Red Hat. Avery gives us another penguin adventure - this time reminding us to not give up and to look at things a different way.  Avery adds a bit more snark to Neville's character and to his seal sidekick (however unwilling), which I enjoyed. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Christian's Soccer Superpowers written by Christian Pulisic and Marta Kissi - ADVISABLE

Christian's Soccer Superpowers written by Christian Pulisic, illustrated by Marta Kissi. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Young Readers Group (Penguin Random House), 2026. $19. 9798217041893

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Christian Pulisic is one of the standout stars on the U.S. men’s national soccer team, but before he became a soccer star, he was just a little kid scared to join his first soccer team. His family helps him discover that his soccer superpower doesn’t lie in how big or strong he is, but rather in his focus, determination, and confidence that he brings to the field.

The only reason I know who Christian Pulisic is because I have several soccer diehards in my circle, so I picked this up for them. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was sort of charmed by this soccer story. I think it’s hard for people who are outstanding in their fields to write a story for the average person, but Christian did a good job! I think your soccer aficionados are going to love this story, and (dare I say it) even your non-sporty types will also like it.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes