Call Me Gray by Andrew Larsen, Bells Larsen and Tallulah Fontaine - ADVISABLE

Call Me Gray by Andrew Larsen, Bells Larsen and Tallulah Fontaine. PICTURE BOOK Kids Can Press, 2025. $22. 9781525311352 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A child is helping their dad make an ice rink in their yard. It's something they do every year, but this year is different. The child feels differently, mixed up about themself. They sometimes feel more like a girl than a boy. 

I love that the father listened and took time to think before responding. I love that he was supportive and did not question the child. I also liked the illustrations - I want to help with and skate on that ice rink. The characters are white. 

Lisa Librarian  

Leave Me Alone! by Dr. Becky Kennedy, and Joanie Stone - ADVISABLE

Leave Me Alone!  A Good Inside Story About Deeply Feeling Kids by Dr. Becky Kennedy, illustrated by Joanie Stone. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2026. $20. 9781250413116

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Pia noticed everything, and felt things deeply.  She loved to play secret agents with her brother Charlie.  One day, while they were sneaking to rescue Teddy, they had to be very quiet so that no one would notice them.  Pia tripped and made a loud noise.  The game was ruined.  Everyone told her it was okay, but her feelings bubbled up until she was out of control.  Her mother carried her up to her room telling her that she's not in trouble and that she was just a good kid having a hard time.  But Pia can't calm down.  What will help Pia feel better?

Dr. Kennedy compassionately shows caregivers how to deal with the emotional explosions from DFK - Deeply Feeling Kids.  I liked her parent corner section in the back that gives more in-depth information.

PGPowers

Stop That Mop! (Ready to Read Level One) by Jonathan Fenske. - ADVISABLE

Stop That Mop! (Ready to Read Level One) by Jonathan Fenske. EARLY READER Simon and Schuster, 2025. $19. 9781665932721 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The mop is tired of mopping, and tired of cleaning up the slop and glop the pig drops, so it runs away. The bunny, the horse and the fish can't catch it either. 

Combining the repetitive rhymes like Green Eggs and Ham, along with a plot like The Gingerbread Man, this is certainly a fun read for the newly independent reader. Fenske's illustrations are so funny. 

Lisa Librarian

Mayhem at the Museum by Hannah Bruckner - ADVISABLE

Mayhem at the Museum by Hannah Bruckner. PICTURE BOOK. North South, 2025. $20. 9780735845855

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Yuri visits the museum with his father.  He is enjoying himself when he is frightened by the flying museum parakeet doing the evening inspection flight.  The result is mayhem.  Yuri collides with the center dinosaur exhibit, knocking down all the bones into a big heap.  Everyone saw it happen.  Yuri is in a miserable mess.  What should he do?

Mayhem at the Museum is a cute story about finding creative and unexpected solutions when the worst happens.  Brukner's illustrations are interesting and humorous.

PGPowers

Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lope and Abraham Matias - OPTIONAL

Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lope, illustrated Abraham Matias. PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $18. 9781623544577 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Nan loves to cook, and she loves her grandchildren, and she especially loves her little dog Popo. But she is also old and tired and hurts. One evening while sleeping in her chair, she passes away - and Popo, her Xolo (pronounced cholo) leads her on her journey to reunite with Abuelo. 

Another picture book about grief - I have read several this year, I wonder why there are so many. The illustrations were beautiful, deep oranges and greens and purples. Lots of Spanish - the glossary includes a pronunciation guide, and there's also some nice resources at the end, describing what a Xoloitzcuintle is, the nine levels of Mictlan (the place where people go who've passed on). Also the author tells about losing her own Nana. The characters are indigenous Mexican.

Lisa Librarian 

My Cat is a Secret Agent by Daniel J. Mahoney - ADVISABLE

My Cat is a Secret Agent by Daniel J. Mahoney. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2025. $19. 9780374392512

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

A young girl named Samantha tries to convince her parents that their cat Walter is a secret agent.  She tells them his secret agent name is Agent Kitty Pants, but they don't believe her.  Samantha points out his impressive espionage skills battling the neighbors cat and Aunt Marie's dog.  The cat is still unappreciated  - then Samantha falls out of the treehouse. 

My Cat is a Secret Agent is humorous and delightful. I enjoy Mahoney's quirky characters and artwork.

PGPowers

Construction Site: Firefight by Sherri Duskey Rinker and AG Ford. - ADVISABLE

Construction Site: Firefight by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by AG Ford. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2026. $19. 9781797226590

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

It is night time at a construction site.  Suddenly a storm appears and starts a fire.  Fire fighting vehicles come to the rescue! Can the firefighting vehicles and construction vehicles work together to fight the fire?

Rinker is up to thirteen books in her construction site series now!  I think this book would appeal to children who like machines.  Every vehicle has a face and the illustrations are very eye-catching.  Even though the illustrations are cute, the book also teaches facts about fighting fires.  It is a rhyming book with minimal words on a page.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Many Things at Once by Veera Hiranandani and Nadia Alam - ADVISABLE

Many Things at Once by Veera Hiranandani and Nadia Alam. PICTURE BOOK Random House, 2025 $19. 9780593643907 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A girl grows up in a bi-racial, multi-cultural family. Her grandmother or her mother's side is American - growing up in Brooklyn, and her grandfather came from Poland. Her father's parents were from Pakistan. She has a rich American, Jewish, Polish, Indian culture but sometimes feels she is not enough of any of them. She has friends who are also multicultural and wonders if they feel the same. 

This child has a wonderful family heritage. How lucky for her to have parents who tell the stories of her ancestors. I loved the illustrations, which clearly depict the races and time periods. I especially loved one particular illustration of the child with her extended family at a dinner, with all the different people and so many different foods. This would be a nice selection for your library, as I think the sentiment of a child embracing her heritage while having concerns that she isn't enough will connect with many readers. 

Lisa Librarian

Goodnight, Escargot by Dashka Slater and Sydney Hanson - ADVISABLE

Goodnight, Escargot (Escargot #5) by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Sydney Hanson. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Strauss Giroux (Macmillan), APRIL 2026. $19. 9780374392291

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Escargot has invited the reader to a soiree pyjama and really, really, really does not want to go to sleep.

Escargot is a sweet little character and he is very earnest in trying to have a good time at his soiree and not fall asleep. While I don’t think it will put your little one to sleep, I do think it is fun to read together. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

White Sunday: A Celebration for Samoan Kids by Litea Fuata and Myo Yim - OPTIONAL

White Sunday: A Celebration for Samoan Kids by Litea Fuata and Myo Yim. PICTURE BOOK Bright Light, Hardie Publishing, 2025. $19. 9781761214097 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

On White Sunday, all the children dress in white and put on a program for the whole church. Bubba is very proud of herself, and she receives a bunch of ulas (candy necklaces) because she did so well. When she goes home, she plays hide and seek with her cousins. She chooses a hiding place that is difficult to get out of, and her cousins can't hear her call for help. 

I liked this - White Sunday - a special Samoan tradition. Full of Samoan words, most explained in context, this story will be special for a Samoan child, while other children, not part of the culture, will relate to the hide and seek game. The illustrations are fun, and Bubba is adorable. The characters are Samoan 

Lisa Librarian 

Bunny in Disguise by Cynthia Platt and Josh Cleland - OPTIONAL

Bunny in Disguise by Cynthia Platt and  Josh Cleland. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $13. 9780063483033

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The Easter Bunny has lost its way to the Egg Hunt. The children must help him arrive on time to hide the eggs and save the day.

Cleland’s illustrations are a lot of fun to pore over. The iambic octameter rhyming text is a bear to read out loud, though. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Go Tell it: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris and Gordon C. James - ADVISABLE

Go Tell it: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris, art by Gordon C. James. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown, 2025. $19. 9780316483933 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

James Baldwin loved to read and to write his own stories. His stepfather was a minister and didn't like that James was reading anything other than the Bible. But he had caring teachers who appreciated his work and gave him experiences in the arts. He tried preaching for a while, but was a very different minister than his stepfather, so he went out on his own, supporting himself and writing his version of the Harlem he loved. 

Last year there was another James Baldwin picture book biography given a CSK honor, and I can't help but compare. I like these illustrations much better, especially the words incorporated into the pictures - as though James sees everything as a story. Realistic and full of feeling - I can sense James' frustration and see his pride in both the text and the pictures. All in all a better biography, I think this will be more likely to be read. James and his family are African American 

Lisa Librarian