Wild About Capybaras! by Kevin McCloskey - ADVISABLE

Wild About Capybaras! by Kevin McCloskey. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Toon Book (Astra Books for Young Readers), 2026. $14. 9781662665776

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Capybaras are the world's largest and trendiest rodent, and beloved across the world.  Wild About Capybaras! is a Giggle and Learn graphic novel full of many facts about this trendy animal.  Capybaras can swim like seals, have fourteen toes, eat their own poop, and many more fun facts.

Wild About Capybaras is a quick, fun, and fascinating read for kids of all ages.  I really enjoyed the graphic novel format and McCloskey's humorous approach to the facts.

PGPowers

My Friend the Paintbrush: The Colorful World of Marcus Pfister by Marcus Pfister - ESSENTIAL

My Friend the Paintbrush: The Colorful World of Marcus Pfister by Marcus Pfister. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. NorthSouth Books, 2026. $20. 9780735845947

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

In an effort to inspire creativity, Marcus Pfister shares with readers his passion for painting and writing incredible children’s books.  From Rainbow Fish to Happy Hedgehog and Hooper, we see the different techniques he uses in his illustrations.  With fun rhyming, Phister shares his painting journey.  “On canvas, in oil, or gouache it’ll go. Watercolor, acrylic, all grand! Funny, fantastic- but digital? No! It’ll only work in my hand.”  It was fun to read and recognize beloved pages from Wilson’s many popular books. 

S. Lewis

Bog Buddies by Amy Hevron - ADVISABLE

Bog Buddies by Amy Hevron. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781665962674

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

This charming picture book follows the plants and creatures that call a “mossy mountain bog” their home.  Readers discover that even the messiest places can be full of magic. Hevron’s illustrations make the mud, moss, and dragonflies feel like you could reach out and touch them. The text is in regular font while the insect and animal conversations are in different font making it easy to differentiate between the two.  Bog Buddies is a wonderful reminder that there is beauty in the muck. It’s so easy to look at a swamp or a bog and think it’s just a dirty puddle, but this book helps kids (and adults!) see the life and importance hidden there. It’s simple, soulful, and very, very cute.

The conversations are adorable! Teachers and parents will love reading out loud this picture book as much as little ones will enjoy listening.  This picture book can be used in a unit on the ecosystem.

S. Lewis

Quietly . . . Quietly . . . QUACK! by Jonty Howley - ESSENTIAL

Quietly . . . Quietly . . . QUACK! by Jonty Howley. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak, 2026. $20. 9781836005896

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

A family of ducklings is trying to navigate their morning routine without waking up the momma duck.  Morning is the perfect time to explore the farm so they snuck out of the duck house.  Two of the three ducklings know how to be really, really quiet.  But the youngest, who is fashioned in a blue scarf, ultimately blurts out, “QUACK” at the hint of any danger.  From a house bucking to a fox burrow, the ducklings find themselves in compromising situations.  Will the ducklings finally make their way safely back to the duck house?

Howley’s art style is stylish and warm, with expressive characters that perfectly capture the "tip-toeing" energy of the story.  The illustrations are the sweetest part of this picture book.  There is something so relatable about trying to be as quiet as possible, only for the smallest thing to trigger a giant explosion of noise. I loved the sweet, simple plot and the adorable illustration.

S. Lewis

Bookie & Cookie Turn the Page by Blanca Gómez - ESSENTIAL

Bookie & Cookie Turn the Page by Blanca Gómez. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Young Readers Group, 2026. $19. 9780593696835

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Bookie and Cookie have very different personalities—Bookie loves adventure and see’s the world as a playground, while Cookie prefers to stay on the safe side of situations. When Bookie wants to “turn the page,” Cookie is hesitant.  “What if we find something bad?”  The two friends discover that sharing experiences can be both fun and rewarding and in the end, Bookie’s adventurous side rubs off onto Cookie and the fun begins. 

Gomez’s illustrations are simple yet expressive, using soft colors and clean lines that make the story feel warm and inviting. The text is easy to follow, making it a great choice for young readers or for reading aloud. This book delivers a sweet message about being open to new interests and appreciating what others enjoy. It’s a delightful read for children and a nice reminder about the value of friendship and the joy of trying new things. 

The boys are illustrated as white and Black.

S. Lewis

Bear Worries by Natalia Shaloshvili - ADVISABLE

Bear Worries by Natalia Shaloshvili. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto), 2026. $19. 9781805701019

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

A little bear who starts to worry about many things, and those worries begin to feel bigger and harder to ignore. “What if this is the last cookie? And the cookie store is about to close? And I miss the last bus to the cookie store?” And so it goes until Bear finally makes it to the cookie store with the very long line of waiting customers.  Will Bear get the last cookie? Or will all his efforts and worry be for nothing? 

Shaloshvili's illustrations are soft and expressive, perfectly capturing the bear’s emotions and helping readers connect with the story. They are stunning! The simple text makes it easy for children to follow along while also opening the door for conversations about feelings and how to handle them. This book offers a reassuring message that worries are normal and can be managed, especially with support. I understand the author was trying for humor in the final pages but I feel like he missed an opportunity to have the ending be a sweet, comfortable situation that would also lend to discussions about sharing and friendship.

S. Lewis

Mama Loves It by Raffi, illustrated by Patricia Pessoa - OPTIONAL

Mama Loves It by Raffi, illustrated by Patricia Pessoa . PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children's Books, 2026. $19. 9798217116348

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Mamas and Papas have many chores to complete around the house.  When children help with the chores, it is much appreciated.  “A happy home is the one where the kids are pitchin’ in, and they do their part to keep things going right.” The sheet music is added to the end of the book so that parents/ teachers can learn the melody and teach the song to little helpers. 

The sentiment is cute and can be used in a unit on chores and household duties.  A unit on teamwork and families could also use this picture book as an added bonus.  The illustrations are sweet and detailed.  I didn’t find the song/ lyrics to be as enticing as other options.  Overall, Mama Loves It is a book that highlights love, connection, and shared experiences.

S. Lewis

Jacomini by Rebecca Dautremer - ESSENTIAL

Jacomini by Rebecca Dautremer. BOARD BOOK. Post Wave, 2026. $19. 9798895090428

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

This book may be small in format, but it has a Big Heart! Jacomini is a dreamer; he’s clever and gentle.  But can someone be too much of a dreamer? Too clever? Too gentle? No! All of Jacomini’s best qualities are character traits we should all want to emulate.  

Usually, board books are loud and fast, but this one is sweet, soft and tender. I could look at the illustrations all day with their rich, breathtaking, classical colors.  One can “feel” the texture of Jocomini’s sweater, see the details of the dandelion seeds, and almost touch the wisps of fir on many of the animals. A beautiful lesson is taught: whether tender or tough, true friends accept you just the way you are. The sturdy pages can withstand the enthusiasm of little hands. It’s a beautiful, durable “must have” for a nursery bookshelf.

S. Lewis

The Secret Recipe written by Ilan Stavans, illustrated by Taia Morley - OPTIONAL

The Secret Recipe written by Ilan Stavans, illustrated by Taia Morley. PICTURE BOOK. Kar-Ben Publishing (Lerner Publishing Group), 2025. $19. 9781728486437

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: FEW

A young boy is inspired to learn more about his family heritage when cooking with his grandmother and hears her use a secret language. Together with our young protagonist, learn how food, language, and culture are integrally tied together through the centuries.

Yes, it is another picture book about food (I can’t help myself!), but this one is about the Sephardic Jews that left Spain and Portugal in the 15th century who speak Ladino, which is a combination of Old Spanish and Hebrew. I liked learning about a culture and history that I was unfamiliar with, but most kids aren’t going to understand how it differs from Spanish because the Ladino words in the story sound very similar, even though they are spelled differently.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Faruq and the Wiri Wiri written by Sophia Payne, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat - ADVISABLE

Faruq and the Wiri Wiri written by Sophia Payne, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat. PICTURE BOOK. Templar Books (Candlewick Press), 2025. $19. 9781536241228

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Faruq learns the art of cooking from his friendly neighbor, an elderly woman by the name of Mrs. Joseph. By utilizing unique Guyanese ingredients like the wiri wiri berry, he prepares a healing soup for his ailing grandmother and a massive lunchtime feast for his entire extended family.

I was not aware that South Asians represent almost 50% of Guyana's population, but the author is Indo-Guyanese and the picture book represents the author growing up in that unique culture. I really liked the colorful and vibrant illustrations. I thought they accurately captured the vivacity of Faruq’s family and culture. I would recommend this for a classroom library, and could be a fun culture study for the Caribbean area.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe by Amy S. Hansen, Wanda Díaz Merced and Rocio Arreola Mendoza - ADVISABLE

Wanda Hears the Stars A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe by Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Díaz Merced, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza. BIOGRAPHY, NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $19. 9781623544874 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

When Wanda Diaz Merced was a little girl, she loved to be in the outdoors with her family - she and her father looked at the stars when they went on a fishing trip. She felt a special connection and had lots of questions. She studied Physics in college with her dream being to study the stars, but her diabetes took her vision while at college so she needed to find another route. One day, while she was experiencing a special radio her friend had engineered, Wanda was able to hear sounds coming from space and the stars. The door to her studies re-opened as she had found another path. She is a scientist and an advocate for those with disabilities. 

What an inspirational story! And how brave she must have been to apply to NASA, which required her to move from Puerto Rico, learn English and find her way around a new campus without sight. I can see my star lovers and my biography readers really liking this introduction to Wanda Merced. Includes a lot of backmatter: Glossary (both of science terms and Spanish words), a note from Wanda and the author, notes about the radio, as well as a timeline and bibliography. Wanda is from Puerto Rico 

Lisa Librarian 

No, I'm a…Flamingo! written by Catharine Robertson, illustrated by Ana Gomez - ADVISABLE

No, I'm a…Flamingo! written by Catharine Robertson, illustrated by Ana Gomez. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (The Quarto Group), 2025. $19. 9781836002031

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Follow a long suffering father as he tries to get his 3 1/2 year-old to wear something other than a flamingo onesie. They go through different outfit ideas before finally settling on what the toddler wants to wear.

This picture book is something that would resonate with anyone who has tried to get a toddler ready for the day, and kids would like it because they all have favorite clothes that they like to wear. I thought it was fun and silly and would work really well for any class read-aloud.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes