The Fantastic Floating Mr. Finnegan by Rebecca Gugger and Simon Rothlisberger. - ADVISABLE

The Fantastic Floating Mr. Finnegan by Rebecca Gugger and Simon Rothlisberger. PICTURE BOOK. North South, 2026. $20. 9780735846319

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When Finnegan was born, he could float .  He gleefully floats his way through childhood, until questions and concerns from friends and neighbors eventually weigh him down.  Then one day a little girl floats by him.  Mr. Finnegan remembers how he used to float, but now he can no longer float.  Can Mr. Finnegan learn to float again?

The Fantastic Floating Mr. Finnegan is about overcoming boundaries set by others and ourselves.  I like Rothlisberger's delightful quirky illustrations.

PGPowers

The Boredom Monster by Mariana Ellery and Clara Reschke - ADVISABLE

The Boredom Monster by Mariana Ellery and Clara Reschke. PICTURE BOOK. Beaming Books, 2026. $20. 9798889835073

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: ADVISABLE

Cameron is having a very boring no-screens day.  He feels so bored and miserable.  All of a sudden, his ordinary living room transforms into the land of Boredom. A friendly monster appears and helps Cameron on an a distraction - free adventure.  Can Cameron find his own creative spark?

The Boredom Monster is perfect for inspiring imaginative play.  I enjoyed Reschke's mixed media art creating a world brimming with possibilities.

PGPowers

Forest en Familia/El Bosque en Familia by Cynthia Harmony, illustrated by Renata Galindo - ADVISABLE

Forest en Familia/El Bosque en Familia by Cynthia Harmony, illustrated by Renata Galindo. PICTURE BOOK Yosemite Conservancy, 2026. $18. 9781951179397 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Emilia and her family are going to a "Forest and Family" day in the national park. They've packed a lunch and snacks, sunscreen, water bottles, binoculars, and a compass. Nico, Emilia's brother, is very excited, but she's not sure she will fit in in the Great Outdoors. Much to her surprise, there's so much to do and see! 

Written in both Spanish and English, I really liked that the English had familiar Spanish words and phrases, while the Spanish contained English words and phrases. I can see this book being offered in a national park gift shop - no surprise its publisher is Yosemite Conservancy, a nonprofit supporting the park. That said, it's a cute story and fits any national park visit. The children are experiencing nature- trees, birds, bugs, animals all in a day trip. I loved the Ranger they got their map from - just an illustration, but no question they were at a national park. I'm impressed, but probably a better souvenir than a library book. The family is Hispanic/Latino 

Lisa Librarian 

Just Shine! How to be a Better You by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara - ADVISABLE

Just Shine! How to be a Better You by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara. PICTURE BOOK Philomel (Penguin), 2025 $19. 9780593206294 

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL-ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor tells how to be a better person through vignettes about her mother's life. She was courageous, she was helpful, made friends, listened to them and showed her love in many ways. 

The illustrations are very nice, and I enjoyed learning about Justice Sotomayor's mother. She was an ordinary woman whose life reflected love in all the good things she did. While she didn't change history, she was a very good person, someone who was a good example. 

Celine is Puerto Rican. 

Lisa Librarian

Pretty Close but Not the Same by Meg Fleming, pictures by Steph Stilwell - ADVISABLE

Pretty Close but Not the Same by Meg Fleming, pictures by Steph Stilwell. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Beach Lane (Simon), 2026 $20 9781665978996 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

How do you tell the difference between a tortoise and a turtle, or a monkey and an ape? A dolphin and a porpoise, a leopard and a tiger, and 3 other sets of commonly confused animals? 

I love the book layout. An illustration with their names, another 2-page spread of what they have in common and what is different. Simple, not a lot of descriptive text, and . . . It rhymes! So very cute. 

Lisa Librarian 

Otis Knows (How to be a Bear) by Liz Garton Scanlon and Martha Brockenbrough, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis - ADVISABLE

Otis Knows (How to be a Bear) by Liz Garton Scanlon and Martha Brockenbrough, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. PICTURE BOOK Beach Lane (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781665970815 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

All the bears in Alaska have been hibernating all winter, but now it's spring! Everyone is up, even the mamas and the babies. But not Otis. Otis will wake up in his own time. He knows how to be a bear, but he's older and wiser and knows just how and when he should come out of hibernation. 

A cute book based on a real bear. I love the authors note - they talk about the real Otis, and what hibernation is, but also, Fat Bear Week! If you are streaming the bears fishing and digging and playing and such, introduce it to your class with this delightful picture book. It's not just about fat bears. 

Lisa Librarian 

Carrots Make Me Suspicious by Robin Mitchell Cranfield - ADVISABLE

Carrots Make Me Suspicious by Robin Mitchell Cranfield. PICTURE BOOK Greystone, 2026. $25. 9781778403187 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

This bunny is a selective eater. He won’t even try carrots - too noisy, too crunchy. He prefers quiet food like yogurt and bananas. But when he’s curious, his mother suggests a different method than tasting. So the bunny starts an investigation. 

There is a lot to love about this book. I loved how the parents encouraged him and answered questions but didn’t force the bunny to try a carrot until he was ready and on his own terms. I love that his investigation reveals a lot of different facts about carrots, and I came away with two recipes. 

Lisa Librarian 

Hay Gatos en Este Libro (There are Cats in This Book) by Vivian Schwartz - ESSENTIAL

Hay Gatos en Este Libro (There are Cats in This Book) by Vivian Schwartz (translated into Spanish by Luis America and Rami Abu Salmin) INTERACTIVE PICTURE BOOK Somos8 2025. $22 9788410406087 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The reader finds 3 cats in this book who actively ask to be played with. They wake from a nap after their blanket is removed, lead the reader to a pile of yarn, and ask for help playing in boxes. Help the cats have a fun day. 

There are Cats in This Book is fun and interactive. Originally written in English, the translation is great, and honestly, it’s fun even for a child who doesn’t speak Spanish. Lift the flaps, engineered pages, and marvelous illustrations carry the story, and the cats are adorable. Get this book in any language. I understand it’s been translated multiple times. No wonder, it’s a great book! 

Lisa Librarian 

The Sacred Stone Camp by Rae Rose, illustrated by Aly McKnight - ADVISABLE

The Sacred Stone Camp by Rae Rose, illustrated by Aly McKnight. PICTURE BOOK Dial (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593696637 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

A girl helps her grandparents and her tribe prepare to hold a peaceful protest to prevent a pipeline from crossing their reservation and changing their water sources and their land. 

Definitely written for a Native American child with many Lakota names and references. However, it's a great lesson on preservation and ecology and the effects of industrial encroachment. I loved the author's note at the end, which included photographs of Sacred Stone Camp and the author's grandparents. The characters are Lakota. 

Lisa Librarian 

Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold, illustrated by Sanne Dufft. - ESSENTIAL

Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold, illustrated by Sanne Dufft. PICTURE BOOK Random House, 2026 $19. 9780593903094 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Friends in a band, on a team, at a picnic, in a show or in their neighborhood send notes or tell each other "Thank you for being a friend!" 

Andrew Gold's hit single from 1978 (later revived as the theme song to the television show "Golden Girls") is beautifully illustrated in this darling picture book. A great picture book about friendship. Readers don't need to be familiar with the song; it makes a fun read-aloud, but, you know, why not stream the song and follow along? Even the background vocals are included in the text. The illustrations are gorgeous! I love that kids, adults, and elderly people are all represented. There's a child in a wheelchair in multiple illustrations, and recurring kids as well. Can't say too many good things about this picture book. 

 The characters are multicultural and of many different ages. 

Lisa Librarian 

Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton. - ADVISABLE

Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton. LARGE-SIZED BOARD BOOK. Boynton Bookworks (Simon and Schuster), 2026. $13. 9798347115785

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Pookie is trying to choose a costume to wear for Halloween.

My one year old granddaughter loves her Spooky Pookie board book - I know she’s going to love the bigger size for this 11th anniversary. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Monsters are the Worst! by Alex Willan - ADVISABLE

Monsters are the Worst! by Alex Willan. PICTURE BOOK. Simon 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Gilbert Goblin has a monster problem - one that followed him home from the forest.

I think Gilbert is going soft!I could tell the whole time that he really loved that monster! Gilbert is such a great unreliable narrator. Willan has taken him through seven adventures now.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS