Under the Clam Moon by Kaitlyn Wells and Mariyah Rahman. - OPTIONAL

Under the Clam Moon by Kaitlyn Wells and Mariyah Rahman. PICTURE BOOK. Roaring Brook (Macmillan), 2026. $19. 9781250341198

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

A little girl and her uncle are looking for clams along the beach while her mother and little brother wait by a fire for the feast.

The idea of clamming at night is fun, but the girl and her uncle have only one clam for their work, which is very disappointing to me. Also, in the back matter, whoever wrote it uses the word “eatable” instead of “edible” - why? As pretty as Rahman’s illustrations are, I would have enjoyed watching a more successful clamming, rather than watch the girl make mistake after mistake.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Wake Up, Grouchy Bear! by David Ezra Stein - ADVISABLE

Wake Up, Grouchy Bear! by David Ezra Stein. PICTURE BOOK. Clarion (Harper), 2026. $20. 9780063382664

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The other animals are excited for Bear to wake up, so they decide to go to his den and help him. They try everything they can think of, but nothing seems to be working.

I love the animals’ creativity and patience when it comes to waking Bear. A lovely ode to a coming spring.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Do Bees Pee? by Linda Booth Sweeney and Ariel Rutland - ADVISABLE

Do Bees Pee? by Linda Booth Sweeney and Ariel Rutland. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $20. 9780063264632

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Subtitle: The Curious and Amazing Ways Nature Avoids Poo-llution

Sweeney explores several animals and the way that their scat is used in nature. The words and illustrations seem simplistic enough that this would make a great board book.  There are added details for each creature and some back matter. 

Little children are pretty poo-oriented.  The end of the book includes a poo song, celebrating the many different words we use for animal feces - odd, but could be catchy.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Spells to Cast on Your Parents by Pete Holmes - ESSENTIAL

Spells to Cast on Your Parents by Pete Holmes. PICTURE BOOK. Doubleday Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2026. $19. 9798217119035.

BUYING ADVISORY: PreK, EL (K-2) – ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

This is a book of spells, guarded by a little black dragon named Jesse. However, only a wizard is allowed to read it! Young readers will cast spells on their parents and crazy things will happen with each turn of the page. Be careful!

I loved this book and I think young readers will especially love having this book read to them. There is silliness and joy and magic in this story that celebrates the very act of reading aloud.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes  

The Snow Queen by Bette Westera and Aida de Jong - ADVISABLE

The Snow Queen by Bette Westera and Aida de Jong, 61 pages. PICTURE BOOK. Floris Books (Quarto), 2026. $23. 9781835750070

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Arne and Janna are best friends and live on neighboring farms in southern Sweden.  The children receive seven special parcels over seven weeks retelling the story of the snow queen.  A magic mirror falls into Arne's eye, he grows cold, and the snow Queen takes him away to her northern palace.  Can Janna use the items in the parcels to bring Arne back?

Westera has crafted a very unique version of the fairy tale The Snow Queen.  It contains lots of text, pages, and interesting illustrations.

PGPowers

Waffles and Julius: No Hugs Please! by Ed Vere - ADVISABLE

Waffles and Julius: No Hugs Please! by Ed Vere. PICTURE BOOK. Balzer + Bray (Macmillan), 2026. $19. 9781250439673

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Waffles, a dog, loves giving hugs and receiving them.  His friend Julius, a cat, does not like hugs - ever. Waffled tries all kinds of ways to get a hug, but Julius doesn’t relent. WHen Waffles finally gives up and takes a nap, Julius realizes that Waffles is also soft and warm - a perfect place for a nap, NOT a hug.

I am glad that Vere didn’t have Waffles get his way by something that he overtly does.  Instead, Julius approaches Waffles on his own terms. Could be easily used as a way to talk about consent. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Vlad is Mad by Su Moon - OPTIONAL

Vlad is Mad by Su Moon. PICTURE BOOK. Balzer + Bray (Macmillan), 2026. $26. 9781250436450

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Vlad is mad and he is taking out on everything around the castle. WIth intervention and some time to be still and breathe, Vlad turns his mood around.

Moon’s book seems ready-made to be a board book. Simple illustrations, a couple of words on each page. Vlad’s mood is turned around with a little bit of deep-breathing, no complicated or detailed explanations here. Not really a Halloween book, despite the vampire characters.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly's Classroom? by Chris Priestley and Mariachiara Di Giorgio - OPTIONAL

Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly's Classroom? by Chris Priestley and Mariachiara Di Giorgio. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2026. $19. 9781536245011.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (4-6) – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

Grace is a new student at a spooky new school. She volunteers to return a book to Mr. Grimly’s classroom, despite not knowing her way around the building. What can happen en route? More than you’d think…

I did not love this book as much as other reviewers I’ve seen online. It was fine. But I just didn’t get the spooky vibe and I wanted it to make more sense. If it’s a magic school, that should be more clear. If it’s not a magic school, then half of the stuff that happened to Grace shouldn’t be possible. I guess I just wasn’t a fan of the ambiguity and overall mood of the book. It is very similar to Chris Van Allsburg’s works, just not as well done in my opinion.  

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Landing in a New Pond by Marisa Ramel and Jennifer Doehring - OPTIONAL

Landing in a New Pond by Marisa Ramel and Jennifer Doehring. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2026. $18. 9781623545680

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

A young boy and his family have moved to a new town. The only friends he’s made so far are the ducks at his local pond.  He is very attached to the ducks and when they fly away for the winter, he struggles to accept the change. 

You can tell that the boy is very invested in the ducks - naming them and caring for them. The message is a mild one about letting go.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Bitsy Bat, Snow Star by Kaz Windness. - ADVISABLE

Bitsy Bat, Snow Star by Kaz Windness. PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books  (Simon and Schuster), 2026. $20. 9781665963664

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Bitsy Bat wakes up to see her first-ever snowfall.  She's excited to go to school and try out wintry activities with her friends.  She doesn't like being cold and wet, but she tries out making snow angels, sledding, and making snowmen.  She pretends to have fun until a snowball fight pushes her over the edge.  She retreats inside worried that her friends won't like her anymore.  Inside the school a surprise awaits her.  Enzo Owl and Mo are inside too. Will she get the courage to be honest with her friends outside?

Bitsy Bat, Snow Star is a cute story told from an autistic perspective, and celebrates emotional honesty and how individual differences make everyone shine.  I love the adorable, expressive illustrations.

PGPowers

Little Fairy Godmother : Before the Fairy Tale by Abie Longstaff and Leire Martin. - OPTIONAL

Little Fairy Godmother : Before the Fairy Tale by Abie Longstaff and Leire Martin. PICTURE BOOK. Quarto Publishing Group, 2026. $19. 9780711296381

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When fairies are young they train to find out what kind of fairy they are so they can become a fairy godparent and help a human folkling. All the other fairies seem to have useful magic, except Dazzle. Other fairies practice growing pumpkins and getting mice out of kitchens; Dazzle's magic turns pumpkins into giant carriages and mice into horses. Will she ever find someone who needs her magic?

Fairy loving kids will enjoy the colorful illustrations in this cute Cinderella prequel. While it's not a spectacular book, I didn't hate it. 

The fairies are illustrated with different skin colors. 

Rachel, Elementary school librarian

Dance and Roar Like a Dinosaur by Colleen Patterson, Brenda Miles, and John Joseph - ADVISABLE

Dance and Roar Like a Dinosaur by Colleen Patterson,  Brenda Miles, and John Joseph. PICTURE BOOK. Magination Press (American Psychological Association), 2026. $20. 9781433849220.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Like the other book Calm Your Roar Like a Dinosaur in this Dino Power! series, our young dinosaur teaches readers to “up-regulate” their mood through active body movement.

I loved the first book, Calm Your Roar, and I also really liked this one. I just liked Calm more. I think this could be a powerful text for teachers to use to help students self-regulate. It’s not just about bottling things up, but learning how to manage all your emotions well, both good and bad.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes