The Great Gathering Place by Naomi McIlwrait and Onedove - ADVISABLE

The Great Gathering Place by Naomi McIlwrait and Onedove. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2026. $20. 9781525310102

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

A modern day indigenous Cree family invites the reader to travel along the river to a special place on the shore, where we'll meet and visit with people for hours and days, talking about good things and bad, rejoicing in our good fortune and celebrating our achievements.  We'll speak to our ancestors, and build a fire and feast.  How can we protect these wonderful gathering places?

The Great Gathering Place introduces the reader to Indigenous concepts and teachings.  I enjoyed the sacred, colorful illustrations.

PGPowers

The Lost Board by Alice Feagan - ADVISABLE

The Lost Board by Alice Feagan. PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), JUNE 2026. $19. 9798217040827

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Generations of her family learned to ride the waves on that surfboard, but Lana loses it one day to an unlucky wave.  Instead of scorn from her family, she finds love and understanding and learns how to let go. Meanwhile, the surfboard is only beginning its new journey.

For being from Colorado, Feagan does a great job of evoking the islands through her story and illustrations. She creates a harmony between Lana finding forgiveness from her family and the journey and uses the old surfboard experiences. While great for any ocean edge library, I think landlocked kids will also enjoy.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Monkeypig by Huw Aaron - ADVISABLE

Monkeypig by Huw Aaron. PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), JUNE 2026. $19. 9798217039159

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Molly may be a pig, but she lives in the trees in the jungle doing all of the monkey things in all of the money ways. Then Norman the head monkey calls an important monkey gathering. Will Pig be exposed as a monkey imposter?

Aaron’s pig and monkeys are a fun nonsense book.  While there might be a “lesson” within, I only wanted to enjoy the silly pig and the monkeys that welcomed it in.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Goldfinches by Mary Oliver and Melissa Sweet - ADVISABLE

Goldfinches written by Mary Oliver, illustrated by Melissa Sweet. PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin Random House), 2026. $19. 9780593692417

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

Award-winning poet Mary Oliver’s beautiful poem Goldfinches is brought to life with the stunning mixed-media artwork of Melissa Sweet.

The cover caught my eye initially, because of that gorgeous pink color. I was pleased to see Mary Oliver’s work at the heart of this picture book. I think it’s a great way to help students learn to access poetry, by pairing it with illustrations. I loved the artwork - the illustrations are vibrant, but also mimic the format of a nature journal, which is perfect for the poem’s topic. I loved the poem too. Like all of Mary Oliver’s work, it’s simple, yet meaningful. I could see this being used at every level (elementary, middle, & high school) to teach poetry in a different way. However, I do think it’s a book that adults will like more than kids.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

 

Little Owl’s Opposites by Divya Srinivasan - ADVISABLE

Little Owl’s Opposites ittle Owl’s Opposites by Divya Srinivasan. BOARD BOOK. Viking (Penguin), JUNE 2026. $8. 9780593691168

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

As Little Owl flies through the forest looking for Raccoon, he sees many animals who are displaying different kinds of opposites.

I enjoyed the little story, but Srinivasan’s illustrations are so clear that she could have also chosen to only have the opposites on each page. I need some Little Owl merch, he is so cute! 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I Will Not Walk to School by Naseem Hrab and Kelly Collier. - ADVISABLE

I Will Not Walk to School by Naseem Hrab and Kelly Collier. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2026. $20. 9781525314391

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Monster is not interested in walking to school today - even with the promise of pepperoni pineapple pizza pancake Breakfast Day.  Reluctantly he starts on his way, finding excuses and methods to avoid going any faster. 

Monster will appeal to any student who wants to sleep in rather than go to school today. He is very silly, a bit sarcastic, and Collier’s illustrations give him just the right atmosphere.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Feel Better Book for Little Sleepers by Holly Brochmann and Shirley Ng-Benitez - ADVISABLE

A Feel Better Book for Little Sleepers by Holly Brochmann, illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez. PICTURE BOOK. Magination Press, 2026. $19. 9781433848629

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

It's time for a young girl to go to bed.  Her Father asks her to grab a blanket, a stuffed toy, and then snuggle in tight for a bedtime story. The father soothes his child and talks about how day changes into night. He then tells her how sleep is so good for her, and that while she is sleeping, her body is growing.  He tells her many other things that her body does while she sleeps.  How does someone fall asleep?

A Feel Better Book For Little Sleepers is intended to teach kids about the importance of sleep, and presents simple, concrete strategies that support falling asleep, staying asleep, and feeling secure at bedtime.

PGPowers

Disco Dave written by Jody Jensen Shaffer and Yana Kozak - ADVISABLE

Disco Dave written by Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Yana Kozak. PICTURE BOOK. Magination Press, 2026. $19. 9781433848582

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Dave the Walrus loves disco, but he cannot dance. It’s a disaster every time he tries! He even takes some dance lessons to no avail. He decides he is going to quit disco forever. However, when the disco club’s jockey unexpectedly quits, Dave steps up and spins some sweet tunes for his friends, making sure disco doesn’t die.

I thought this was a sweet story about trying new things and failing, but still being OK in the end. There is a helpful reader’s note at the end from a psychologist specializing in treating anxiety & OCD with discussion points on how to talk to kids who struggle with not getting things right the first time they try something. Overall, I thought it was a cute story with a positive message presented in a low-stakes way. I recommend it for elementary school libraries or for counselors who might work with kids who deal with these anxieties a lot.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Brave by Weshoyot Alvitre - OPTIONAL

Brave by Weshoyot Alvitre. PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593531600 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A young indigenous boy admires his father's braid and hopes someday his hair will grow like it. He sees the beautiful hair on the dancers at powwows and wants to be like them, too. But at school, the kids tease him and pull his braid. He's brave and stands up for himself. His dad went to residential schools, where he was forced to lose his cultural traditions. He's made an effort to retrieve them as an adult and wants his son to be brave in displaying his culture. 

A sweet story about holding onto your heritage and defending your culture. I liked the illustrations, with their ancestral memories and native regalia. The right Native American or indigenous child will relate. 

Lisa Librarian 

Flowers For Mama by Deborah Freedman - ADVISABLE

Flowers For Mama by Deborah Freedman. PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593695494

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Four young kittens try to think up something special to give to Mama on her special day.  They realize that Mama loves flowers.  They couldn't find any flowers, so they decided to be creative and make flowers.  Oleander planted a seed in dirt and a can.  Tulip drew flowers with orange chalk.  Others found bits and scraps to make yellow sunflowers and pink tulips.  Blossom made up a song.  Will Mama like their gift?

Flowers for Mama encourages creativity, and is a heartwarming story of patience and love.

Freedman's illustrations are very charming.

PGPowers

The Great Escape by Deborah Marcero - ADVISABLE

The Great Escape by Deborah Marcero. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam (Penguin), 2026. $20. 9780593857953

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Evie believed in magic words and magic tricks,  but they had no effect on her three younger siblings who she wished would be quiet and leave her alone. Evie found a magic wand, said some magic words, and disappeared down through the ground, but her siblings followed.  They found themselves in a fantastical world blending the deep sea and outer space.  When her siblings are in peril, she helps them.  After they help a baby whale tangled in a net of constellations, they wonder how they will ever get home.

The Great Escape is an imaginative adventure touching on coping skills in a noisy family, and how peace can be found in chaos.  Marcero's illustrations are beautiful featuring digital illustrations with real photographs from the James Webb Space Telescope.  I liked how the book's orientation changed as the story progressed.

PGPowers

 

Goal! Awesome Soccer Stories and Fun Facts for Kids by Carlos Mojica - ADVISABLE

Goal! Awesome Soccer Stories and Fun Facts for Kids written by Carlos Mojica, 160 pages. NON-FICTION. becker&mayer!kids (The Quarto Group), 2026. $20.

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

With over 100 player profiles, Goal! is a nonfiction young readers guide to soccer that has all you ever wanted to know about the global obsession with the “beautiful game.”

This is obviously going to be a popular book in your library, just because of the nature of the topic material. I liked the general overview of the game, the different positions, player profiles and the sports trivia. However, I could have been just as happy with a book that was half as long. As someone who isn’t a sports fan, I got bored reading about player stats, especially when not every profile had a photograph. For being one of the most popular sports in the world, you would think there would be at least one photo of each player featured! Regardless, I would recommend this for your school’s library, especially with the World Cup this year, this book will see some traction.

Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes