Don't Call Me a Dinosaur by Charlotte Guillain and Sally Agar - ADVISABLE

Don't Call Me a Dinosaur by Charlotte Guillain and Sally Agar. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK words and pictures (Quarto), 2026. $19. 9781836008484 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Remi and Toucan travel back in time looking for a Dinosaur. But each creature they find isn't actually a dinosaur; some are closely related to dinosaurs, and others are reptiles or amphibians, but they have features that don't match, so each creature tells Remi "I'm not a Dinosaur!" Finally they find some dinosaurs, and Toucan has a surprise. 

The introduction begins in verse and continues except when the characters talk. I suppose this makes it more fun as a read-aloud, but I found it makes the text clunky. The identification pages are nice though (and not in verse) - telling the characteristics of each NOT a dinosaur and making a comparison to living animals in our time. It also identifies why they aren't a dinosaur. The last identification is for a generic dinosaur and teaches the characteristics to look for when identifying a dinosaur,

Lisa Librarian 

Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano and Dan Tavis. - ADVISABLE

Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano and Dan Tavis. PICTURE BOOK Margaret K. McElderry (Simon and Schuster), 2026, $20. 9798347108947 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Milton was happy where he lived; there were lots of dogs in his yard, and everyone played together and snacked together. Milton was content. But then, Milton heard he'd been adopted. Jonathan, his new friend had made everything perfect for Milton, he had toys and snacks and even a stinky bed. But thunder! Milton hadn't experienced a storm before and he was really scared. Jonathan was a bit worried too. Milton may need to be brave to help Jonathan. 

Another cute picture book by the author of Noodle and the No Bones Day. The illustrations are great. I'm happy that Jonathan got a new pug so that we can enjoy more adventures - this time with a younger dog. I liked the message of friendship and being courageous when trying new things. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Greatest Bedtime Story Ever by Jessie Sima - OPTIONAL

The Greatest Bedtime Story Ever by Jessie Sima. PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2026. $20. 9781665974523 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

When a story writing elf discovers a sleepy dragon, he offers to write The Greatest Bedtime Story ever (in lieu of being the dragon's bedtime snack). So the elf begins to spin his tale, but can it meet the demanding dragon's expectations? 

I liked the premise; I also enjoyed the illustrations, especially the pages where the elf is explaining all the emotions the dragon felt hearing the story. However, there's a twist that made the story so disappointing, and I understand the humor of it,  but will a child? It made this review difficult to write without providing a spoiler, so please excuse my vagueness.  It's not as nice a read when you already know the ending.

Lisa Librarian 

The Composers by Mary Richards and Skylar White - ADVISABLE

The Composers (Listen to the Music) by Mary Richards and Skylar White.  INTERACTIVE, NON-FICTION Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2026. $25 9781805700845 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

10 composers are featured, along with a clip of one of their pieces. The premise is that children are playing together and learning how composers wrote their music. Sammy is taking the lead and points out things for Pip to listen to, like how the violins in Vivaldi's Spring sound like birds. Or how quickly Chopin's fingers must have been moving to play Fantaisie-Impromptu so quickly. 

I enjoyed The Composers and was pleasantly surprised how engaging it was for my granddaughter. I'm a lover of classical music; she - not so much. Some things that worked in this book to capture a novice ... the text was short, as was the musical clip (about 10 seconds). In the book itself, the song is introduced and something is pointed out, either in the music or in the illustration. Then, in the author's notes at the end, the musical buttons are available to press again, and additional information about the composers is given. A great introduction to classical music. 

Sammy is dark-skinned, Pip is white, and the characters in the illustrations are multicultural. 

Lisa Librarian  

With You in Spirit : A Qing Ming Story by Jenny Liao and Lenny Wen - ADVISABLE

With You in Spirit : A Qing Ming Story by Jenny Liao and Lenny Wen. PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A Knopf (Random), 2026. $19. 9780593806975

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

It's Qing Ming, a Chinese holiday to honor ancestors and loved ones who have passed away. A little girl goes with her parents to the cemetery to honor Yeh Yeh (grandfather). Together they share memories and burn paper so Yeh Yeh can have money and other things in the afterlife. 

This is a sweet story about remembering someone who has died. I loved learning about this bit of Chinese culture. The gouache illustrations were colorful and engaging. An author's note and Cantonese pronunciations are included in the back matter. 

Rachel, Elementary school librarian 

Ways Papi Says I Love You by Delia Ruiz and Carlos Velez Aguilera - ADVISABLE

Ways Papi Says I Love You by Delia Ruiz and Carlos Velez Aguilera. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2026. $18. 9781623546304

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Maricruz is excited to go to the store with her Papi. They jump in his old truck and head to town. On their trip, Papi says "I love you" in different ways like stopping at her favorite park and reminding her to put on her seatbelt. But when they go over a creek, Maricruz loses the list! 

Spanish words are mixed into the text of this sweet father-daughter story. (Translations are provided in the back matter.) The characters are Mexican. 

Rachel, Elementary school librarian

My Friend Billy Whiskers by David Litchfield - ADVISABLE

My Friend Billy Whiskers by David Litchfield. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln, (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9780711296015

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Patrick wants to play with the other kids, but he feels too nervous. Instead, Patrick plays with his imaginary friend, a lion named Billy Whiskers. Billy listens to Patrick and takes him on adventures until he feels brave. One day, Patrick feels brave enough to say hello to the other kids. As he keeps being brave, he doesn't see Billy as much, but Billy always comes back when Patrick needs him. 

This is a very cute imaginary friend story about anxiety and being brave. 

Patrick is white; background characters have varied skin colors. 

Rachel, Elementary school librarian

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea by Janet Lawler and James Weston Lewis - ADVISABLE

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea by Janet Lawler and James Weston Lewis. NON-FICTION BOARD BOOK. Phaidon Press, 2026. $13. 9781837290895

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Lawler's playful lift-the-flap book takes toddlers on an underwater adventure.  Guess who's hiding under the sea, then lift the flap to meet six of the ocean's most amazing creatures.

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea is engaging for toddlers with it's guessing game format.  Lewis' illustrations are beautiful and detailed.

PGPowers

Mildred and the Copy Cat by Jono Ganz - OPTIONAL

Mildred and the Copy Cat by Jono Ganz. PICTURE BOOK. Tate, 2025. $17. 9781849769785

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Mildred the cat lives in an art museum. She loves creating anonymous art at night and seeing the awed reactions of people the next day. One day, someone mistakes a dog, Barksy, as the mysterious artist, and suddenly he gets all the love and attention Mildred deserves. 

I found the colorful collage illustrations chaotic. I thought the story was engaging enough, but not incredible. For me, it's a take-it-or-leave-it book. 

The humans in the background are diverse.

Rachel, elementary school librarian 

Extraordinary Europe by Catherine Fletcher and Helena Bonastre - ADVISABLE

Extraordinary Europe: An Encyclopedia of an Epic Continent by Catherine Fletcher and Helena Bonastre. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Quarto Publishing, 2026. $30. 9781836007623

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Extraordinary Europe dives into the history, beauty, and diversity of Europe in this beautifully illustrated, fact-filled encyclopedia.  Fletcher covers five historical eras including Ancient, medieval, early modern, industrial, and the twentieth century, and includes illustrated maps showing how geography, borders, and countries have shifted across the centuries.

Extraordinary Europe combines expert knowledge with rich, illustrations to create a thought provoking read.  Fletcher's interesting facts will immerse the reader in history.

PGPowers

Secrets From the Fairy World: Discover the Magic of Fairies by Evander Acorncup, Saskia Gwinn and Rachel Corcoran - ADVISABLE

Secrets From the Fairy World:  Discover the Magic of Fairies by Evander Acorncup, Saskia Gwinn and Rachel Corcoran. 63 pages. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto), 2026. $30. 9781805703884

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Take an extraordinary tour of the fairy realm and it's secrets including how pixie dust is made, the many different jobs of the fairies, how fairies get their wings, how they travel between our world and theirs, and much more.

Secrets From the Fairy World reads more like a non fiction book about fairies with 27 different chapters.  Acorncup is definitely in the know and will delightfully fill the reader in on all things fairy.  Corcoran's illustrations are cute and fanciful.

PGPowers

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses by Tegen Evans and Tom Troese - ADVISABLE

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses by Tegen Evans and Tom Troese. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2026. $20. 9798887772622

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses tells the history of ancient Greece's gods and goddesses. Topics include how Zeus became king of the gods, who gave Athens its name, why Hera turned a princess into a cow, and which deity pulled the Moon across the night sky.  Other gods featured are Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Artemis Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaistos, Ares, Dionysos, Hermes, Demeter,  and Hades.

Evans has created an interesting deep dive into the important information relating to many of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses suitable for children.  Froese's illustrations are beautiful and expressive.

PGPowers