The Koala and the Little Tree by Allisa Malnati and Aleksandra Szmidt - ADVISABLE

The Koala and the Little Tree by Allisa Malnati illustrated by Aleksandra Szmidt. PICTURE BOOK. New Frontier Publishing, 2025. $19. 9781916790988

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Following a devastating wildfire, a brave koala and a small tree become unlikely partners on a mission to restore their home. Their journey through the ashes is a touching adventure that emphasizes that even the smallest duo can revitalize an entire ecosystem. 

 Malnati's central message—"If we do our part, the magic is never gone"—is so important in today’s world. She manages to be thought-provoking and inspiring without being overwhelming for its young audience. Unlike many purely fictional tales, this book includes essential backmatter with facts about koalas and conservation, making it as much a learning tool as it is a bedtime story. It can be used in a unit about endangered species and fire rehabilitation.

S. Lewis https://www.kingsenglish.com/item/xydjJyekr0gtp-QInJj-YQ

Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G Griffiths - ADVISABLE

Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G Griffiths. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2025. $19. 9781836001102

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Fox and the Mystery Letter blends a classic scavenger hunt with a deeply emotional core. Fox receives a letter from an Old Friend challenging him to a puzzle. Fox’s journey is filled with whimsical interactive elements—arrows in the mud, smoke signals, and gifts from forest neighbors like a dapper frog and a grumpy mole.

Griffiths keeps young readers engaged by inviting them to help Fox solve each clue. While it starts as a mystery, it is truly a story about forgiveness. A rare find that appeals equally to toddlers and adults. For kids, it’s a fun adventure; for adults, it’s a reflection on how trivial grudges can lead to isolation and how powerful it can be to say "I'm sorry". It teaches children that while friendship can be messy, it is always worth the journey to fix it.

S. Lewis 

Don’t Wash Winston by Ashley Belote - ESSENTIAL

Don’t Wash Winston by Ashley Belote. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel and Friends, 2024. $19. 9781250883056

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Liam’s best bear, Winston, is always there to help him when he’s afraid.  When Winston gets very muddy during play one day, however, Liam will go through all kinds of antics to save Winston from the dreadful, scary washing machine. 

Separation from a favorite stuffy can be hard to face for some littles. Read then Belote’s book before you start and I promise stuffie washing time will go much more smoothly.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Mountain That Wouldn’t Move by Sandra Dumas - ADVISABLE

The Mountain That Wouldn’t Move by Sandra Dumas. PICTURE BOOK. Owl Kids, APRIL 2026. $19. 9781771476492

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Bear is tired of living in the shadowy forest at the base of a mountain. She calls the other forest animals together and they decide to try a wide variety of actions to get the mountain to move so that they can have sunnier gardens and actually watch the sunset.

Dumais has given us a very nice modern fable. The animals' antics, Bear’s stubbornness, and the final solution all work well together.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Bennett's Roof by Anuska Allepuz - ESSENTIAL

Bennett's Roof by Anuska Allepuz. PICTURE BOOK. NubeOcho, 2025. $18. 9788410406353

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Bennett the bear has a perfectly ordinary, steeply pitched roof that mysteriously attracts every animal in the forest. From a cat and a fox to a tiny flea, everyone stakes a claim, turning the roof into a crowded battleground of "mine!" As the argument peaks, the inevitable happens—the roof cracks and... chaos follows!

Allepuz has a visual treat for early readers. I couldn't get enough of the illustrations! The story tackles the heavy subject of selfish inconsideration with a light, delightful touch, making it an excellent storytime choice for discussing sharing and community. It’s a short, punchy read that captures the messy reality of friendship and the magic of fixing things together. S. Lewis 

The Kerfuffle by Lerner Publishing Group and Clotilde Perrin - ADVISABLE

The Kerfuffle by Lerner Publishing Group, illustrated by Clotilde Perrin. PICTURE BOOK. Lerner Publishing Group, 2025. $22. 9798765688656

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Neighbors Kitty and Pup are the best of pals until a small misunderstanding—Kitty ate Pup's fish and Pup took Kitty's slipper—triggers a full-blown feud. As their friendship dissolves, the two build a massive brick wall between their homes.

Perrin uses ingenious lift-the-flaps and die-cuts to represent this wall, allowing you to peek at what’s happening on either side. It’s a literal reverse illustration of how relationships fall apart and are eventually mended. Perrin packed the background with tiny subplots. If you look closely, you’ll see a mouse rescuing a friend or birds building a nest while the main characters bicker. It makes every page feel alive and rewards repeated readings. I loved the lift the flaps and peek through gaps.

S. Lewis 

How to Read a Very Serious Book by Mirielle Messier and Kelly Collier - ADVISABLE

How to Read a Very Serious Book by Mirielle Messier and Kelly Collier. PICTURE BOOK. Owl Kids, 2026. $19. 9781771476584

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The narrator notices that the boy and girl are reading very serious books. He gives them some pointers on how to look even more serious as they are reading their serious books. 

Messier and Collier add a nice little bit at the end to surprise the reader in a delightful way. I would love reading this with a 2nd or 3rd grade group and have them practice along with the narrator’s tips.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Waddle Like a Duck by Guilherme Karsten - ESSENTIAL

 Waddle Like a Duck by Guilherme Karsten. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2026. $11. 9798887772387

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Karsten gives us some very clever interactions with his latest board book about four of our animal friends. 

Great for pre-k little ones.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Zebra and Yak: The Backwards Counting Book by Paul Friedrich - ADVISABLE

Zebra and Yak: The Backwards Counting Book by Paul Friedrich. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam’s (Penguin), JUNE 2026. $20. 9798217002139

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Zebra and Yak are at it again. This time they are counting -- backwards -- from twenty. Love the hijinks and fun of the escapades!

Freidrich is never predictable, but always silly.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Sunflowers: Vincent Van Gogh’s Search for Beauty by Zahra Marwan - OPTIONAL

The Sunflowers: Vincent Van Gogh’s Search for Beauty by Zahra Marwan. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2024. $20. 9781250859631

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Marwan celebrates the friendship between Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, as Gauguin helped Van Gogh find color and joy in his painting.

As a celebration of friendship and support, it is a nice book. I wouldn’t say that it is something so important that I need it, though.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

How Not to Make a Jelly Sandwich by Ross Burach - ESSENTIAL

How Not to Make a Jelly Sandwich by Ross Burach. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic, APRIL 2026. 9781338877090

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Making a jelly sandwich is so simple!  Especially if you follow the steps outlined here - from disguising yourself as a duck to training your hamster to ride a unicycle.  What could be simpler?

Burach has such a funny view on life.  I am always delighted by his offerings. And I love that at the end of the book he invites the reader to use their imagination for making their own jelly sandwich.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Mac and Cheese: the origin story by Michael Benner and Alison Hawkins - ADVISABLE

Mac and Cheese: the origin story by Michael Benner and Alison Hawkins. PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books (Scholastic), JULY 2026. $20. 9781546140764

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

How did macaroni and cheese become the yummy partnership we know today?

Benner and Hawkins give us a humor filled look at a great partnership.  Full of puns, which I am not sure most kids will get, but the adults who read this aloud to them will snort as they go along. It is quite a funny tale.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS