The Fire Breathing Duckling (Toon level 2) by Frank Cammuso - ADVISABLE

The Fire Breathing Duckling (Toon level 2) by Frank Cammuso. 40 pages. EARLY READER, GRAPHIC NOVEL Toon (Astra/Boyds Mill), 2025. $14. 9781662665332 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When an unusual egg appears in a duck's nest, she is determined to raise it with her other ducklings. But when it realizes it can't swim, a bluebird tries to help it find its family. It's not an oinking or a mooing duckling, so what could it be? 

A darling retelling of the ugly duckling for a modern audience. The baby dragon is adorable. These early-reader graphic novels are perfect for emerging readers. 

Lisa Librarian  

Billy and the Hole by Jessica Goecke - ADVISABLE

Billy and the Hole by Jessica Goecke. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo Books (Penguin), AUGUST 2026. $19. 9780593695234

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Billy goes to sit by his favorite tree with his best stuffed friend Cosmo.  Billy tossed in his apple to see how deep the hole was, then he heard a cold hard voice that said it preferred red apples. Billy picked some red apples from a neighbor's tree and threw them in.  As the hole asks Billy for more things, Billy will have to decide if he will comply.

Billy and the Hole is a darkly humorous story about a toxic friendship, and that people should set boundaries and overcome peer pressure.  Gooecke's illustrations are darkly beautiful.

PGPowers

Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird and Andrea Tsurumi. - ADVISABLE

Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird and Andrea Tsurumi. PICTURE BOOK Union Square, 2025. $19. 9781454960461 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The weasel "pops" himself into the end of a bunch of popular nursery rhymes, much to the dismay of Mother Goose. 

I had to laugh at all the different ways this silly weasel could pop. Do children still know nursery rhymes? They won't need to, but the humor and surprise is better if they do, so they can fully enjoy Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme. 

Lisa Librarian  

What Fish are Saying: Strange Sounds in the Ocean by Kirsten Pendreigh and Katie Melrose - ADVISABLE

What Fish are Saying: Strange Sounds in the Ocean by Kirsten Pendreigh and Katie Melrose. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Sourcebooks, 2025. $19. 9781464218965 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

With underwater microphones, scientists have discovered that fish make sounds! It's pretty noisy down there. Some fish click their bones together, some squeeze their swim bladder, others pop, chirp, bark or burp and we don't know how. Some fish even fart. Scientists have learned a lot of new things about fish because of these microphones. 

Written in verse - well, rhyming couplets, I thought it would be silly, but it wasn't. It's very well written, none of the rhymes seemed forced and the book is very informative. The illustrations are cute, the fish are illustrations without looking like photographs of actual fish, which makes this books very accessible. Back matter includes links to hear the fish for yourself - which I listened to and my life changed. Crab have teeth inside their bodies that make clicking sounds. What???? This is a great book. 

Lisa Librarian 

From Bam to Burp by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens - ESSENTIAL

From Bam to Burp by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $18. 9781623544461 

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Carbon atoms have been around for millions of years, originally stored deep inside the earth and bursting through the crust during volcano activity. Carbon is part of gasses in the air, is used in photosynthesis, is part of the air we breathe and the sugars we eat, it's a cycle that plays many parts in our natural processes. 

Melissa Stewart tells a great story, and Marta Alvarez Miguens' illustrations are perfect. This could be a boring topic but presented this way, it's not. I love how the possibility of us having a carbon atom inside us that was also inside a dinosaur exists. Who wouldn't want that to be part of this cool process - and it happens just by eating something with carbon atoms. 

Lisa Librarian

Super Goat Girl by Tracey Baptiste and Dapo Adeol - ADVISABLE

Super Goat Girl by Tracey Baptiste and Dapo Adeola. PICTURE BOOK Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780525517764 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

In a class of Super Students, a new addition seems, well, irregular. Goat Girl looks different. At recess she can't compare to their super powers. But when an Alien attacks the playground, Goat Girl comes to the rescue. And when a Gorilla overtakes the cafeteria - again, Goat Girl has the right powers. So why does she feel like she doesn't fit in? 

Although Goat Girl powers seem ordinary, sometimes that's all you need. I liked this story, I can see a fun lesson after a read aloud about designing a super hero with not so super powers. Adeola's illustrations are cute, with a lot of fun details. 

 

Lisa Librarian

Whirby by Molly Harris and Jacob Souva - ESSENTIAL

Whirby by Molly Harris and Jacob Souva. PICTURE BOOK. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2026. $12. 9780063385474

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Whirby is a young robot that loves competing in bot battles.  On the night before an important battle, Whirby is so excited that he practices all night instead of climbing into his charging base.  

Whirby is a great intro  into talking to kids about bedtime routines and the importance of sleep.  The story is told in an engaging way with very colorful pictures.  Whirby would make a great read aloud.  The students could compare their bedtime routine to Whirby's.  (Like going to bed instead of plugging into a charging base)

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Frank and Bert by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros - ADVISABLE

Frank and Bert : The One Where Bert Plays Soccer (Frank and Bert #4) by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2025. $19. 9798887772288

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Frank the fox and Bert the bear love soccer.  Bert mostly has trouble playing; his ball always lands in the wrong place. Frank hopes he can help Bert.

Frank and Bert are up to their humorous antics in "The one where Bert Plays Soccer," celebrating friendship and heart.  I love Naylor's simple quirky illustrations.

PGPowers

William Shakespeare by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Andrea Stegmaier - ADVISABLE

William Shakespeare by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Andrea Stegmaier. NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto), 2026. $16. 9781805701675

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

William Shakespeare from the Little People, Big Dreams series tells the journey of the famous playwright and poet.  It covers Shakespeare's life, from his childhood to his rise as a celebrated writer.  

William Shakespeare is a perfect simple overview for young children with interesting illustrations to help them visualize the time period.  I liked the extra facts, and biographical timeline in the back-matter.

PGPowers

Oprah Winfrey by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Sera Latterell - ADVISABLE

 

Oprah Winfrey by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Sera Latterell. NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto), 2026. $16. 9781836007500

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Oprah Winfrey, Little People, Big Dreams, chronicles her journey from poverty to becoming a global icon.  It highlights Oprah's early life in Mississippi and Tennessee, her determination in landing a television news job at nineteen, and her groundbreaking television show.

Oprah Winfrey is inspiring for young readers, and focuses on empathy, ambition, and the power of dreaming big.  I liked the extra facts and timeline in the back matter. 

PGPowers

How to Say You're Sorry by Stephanie Calmenson and Shannon McNeill - ADVISABLE

How to Say You're Sorry by Stephanie Calmenson and Shannon McNeill. PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books (Simon), 2026. $18. 9781665958394

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

What happens when you make a mistake but you are afraid to make it right?  A boy and his elephant are playing when the elephant knocks over the boy's tower of blocks.  The elephant thinks of how to get out of it before saying he is sorry.  Will the boy forgive him?

How to Say You're Sorry is a great book about explaining what it feels like to make a mistake.  I like how Calmenson goes through the different feelings we experience when we feel sorry.  The text rhymes and there are only a few sentences per page.  

The boy is presumably white.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Maya's World by Andrea Pippins - ADVISABLE

Maya's World by Andrea Pippins. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Studio, 2026. $19. 9780593814994

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Maya's class is asked to draw something inspired by nature.  Maya loves to draw, and spends all evening drawing, painting, and gluing.  When her classmates don’t quite understand her vision, it is a great way to talk about the different ways we all see the world.

Maya's World is a colorful, vibrant story that celebrates self-expression and imagination.  Readers are encouraged to explore their creativity and share their ideas with confidence.

PGPowers