I Like Hoops by Juwanda G. Ford and Jada Jeni Bennett - ADVISABLE

I Like Hoops by Juwanda G. Ford and Jada Jeni Bennett. EARLY READER Holiday House, 2025 $16. 9780823459582 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

I Like Hoops is a play-by-play of the last 5 minutes of a basketball game. The narrator struggles to keep the ball (missing a throw, a shot, slipping), but her team is keeping the score about even. Who will win? 

A level one reader, most illustrations contain fewer than 3 words each. Many are only one. For a reader who likes basketball, this will be a lot of fun. The characters are illustrated as a mix of races and genders. 

Lisa Librarian 

Raven's Ribbons by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez - OPTIONAL

Raven's Ribbons by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez. PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown, 2025. $19. 9780316422161 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Raven dances the round dance with his grandmother, and he loves the beautiful ribbon skirts, but when he wants Grandmother to make him one, she admits that she has never seen a boy wear a ribbon skirt. 

I loved this story! I loved the imagery of the dances, I loved the illustrations, and I loved Raven! A definite pick for your library if you have Indigenous children, especially if they identify as two-spirit. Raven and his Grandmother are Ojibwe 

Lisa Librarian  

The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah by Laurel Snyder and Leanne Hatch - OPTIONAL

The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Leanne Hatch. PICTURE BOOK Clarion, 2025. $20. 9780063278141 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Each night of Hanukkah, a candle is lit. In addition to a poem for the lighting of each candle, there is a thought for every night as well. These thoughts are nice explanations of the traditions throughout the 8 days, and things to remember during the time the candles are lit (like we shouldn't work, but wait and rest and let them burn). 

I liked this so much, I learned many things about the Hanukkah candles, and I really loved the thoughts. The illustrations are sweet and peaceful and represent the family doing many things, then settling down for the special candles. What a great addition to your holiday section this will make. The family is Jewish. 

Lisa Librarian  

Attack Bunnies by Laura Gehl and Julia Patton - ADVISABLE

Attack Bunnies by Laura Gehl and Julia Patton. PICTURE BOOK. Beaming Books, 2026. $18. 9781506492254

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Carrot Cake and Pufftail have trained hard to protect the animals of the forest. When Renard Fox moves in, however, they are not sure they are up to the task. It may be that some careful listening may be what they need.

The attack bunnies are pretty cute and I really liked the lesson that the bunnies learned about making assumptions. All around cuteness. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

No More Gnomes by Beth Mills - ADVISABLE

No More Gnomes by Beth Mills. PICTURE BOOK. Carolrhoda (Lerner), 2025. $19. 9798765643457

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Herbert, the dog, used to be the cutest thing in Ms. Goat’s garden, until Ms. Goat bought her first gnome. ANd then her next gnome - and more. Herbert tries a few ways to get along with the gnomes, and finally has the ultimate great idea. He’s not sure if Ms. Goat will be happy with him. 

Mills could do for gnomes what Pennywise did to clowns. They do feel a bit menacing.  But kids like being a little scared in a safe space, so I think they will be delighted. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Tulip’s Mess by Anden Wilder - ADVISABLE

Tulip’s Mess by Anden Wilder. PICTURE BOOK. Knopf (Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593704769

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Careless with her things, Tulip’s little mess grows into something so big that Tulip can’t ignore it any more. In order to reclaim something precious to her, she will have to tackle it piece by piece.

For us oldies, the story line reminds me a bit of Mrs. PiggleWiggle, without the kindly old lady. A nice simple object lesson wrapped in a digestible story. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Selfish Sister by David Sedaris and Bob Staake - NO

The Selfish Sister by David Sedaris and Bob Staake. PICTURE BOOK. Toon Books (Astra), MARCH 2026. $19. 9781662665752

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

The family finds it impossible to deal with the sister of the family, who claims absolutely everything is hers. 

The payoff or lesson is so late in the book, it might as well not be there. I also don’t like the rhyming text - reading it out loud is too sing-songy. I don’t mind the two LGBT references, but they feel forced, like they are there to make a point. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Big Empty: a sagebrush survival story by Kirbi Fagan - OPTIONAL

The Big Empty: a sagebrush survival story by Kirbi Fagan. PICTURE BOOK. Millbrook (Lerner), 2025. $20. 9798765627242

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

With few words, Sagebrush gives us a look at the important role it plays in desert life. 

The back matter is where the information really is about sagebrush. The illustrations are very dramatic and landscape painting-like, but there is very little to hold onto within the text. In communities where sagebrush is a big part of the ecosystem, I could see it being useful.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Pass the Parcel by Carly Gledhill - OPTIONAL

Pass the Parcel by Carly Gledhill. PICTURE BOOK. Post Wave, 2026. $19. 9798895090398

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The Parcel is on its way somewhere. He may not know where, but he will have quite an adventure along the way. 

Gledhill’s illustrations are quite cute, but very busy.  Not really a great way to teach little ones how the mail works. I also didn’t think that the end reveal was clear enough for little ones to get it - I had to re-look and think before I got it. Its cute - really cute - but I don’t think it lands its story.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Andre: Andre Leon Talley by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders, Illustrated by Lamont O'Neal - ADVISABLE

Andre: Andre Leon Talley - A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy Tale by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders, Illustrated by Lamont O'Neal. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2025 $20. 9781250887283 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Andre Leon Talley was raised by his grandmother (he called her mama) in Durham North Carolina. He always loved wearing colorful and chic clothing, But Andre faced racism in Durham, tormented by bullies, and adhering to Jim Crow laws was the daily thing for him. by high school he spent his summer in Washington DC , and after college moved to Paris. Talley became a celebrated fashion editor. It's hard to write a short synopsis of this involved story. Talley moved from one thing to another, working in the fashion industry and for famous artists and designers. 

It must have been hard to limit his experiences to the length of a picture book. There's a lot of text, but it isn't tiny and doesn't feel like too much. I loved the illustrations, so much fashion. A nice addition to your picture book biographies - he wasn't your everyday celebrity. Andre is African American 

Lisa Librarian 

The Peddler of Puddles by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenfeld - OPTIONAL

The Peddler of Puddles by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenfeld. PICTURE BOOK. Clarion (Harper), 2025. 9780063318342

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The Peddler of Puddles, a turtle, loves traveling the forest and making puddles big and small for his friends. One day he wanders down to the beach and needs their help when he gets stuck.

The illustrations are whimsical and engaging. The story feels overly complicated and wordy, though.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

The Tunneler Tunnels in the Tunnel (Ready to Read level 1) by Michael Rex. - ADVISABLE

The Tunneler Tunnels in the Tunnel (Ready to Read level 1) by Michael Rex. EARLY READER Simon and Schuster, 2025 $19. 9781665962100 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

The penguin digs underground, tunneling in the tunnel. He pops up to give a paper to all the other workers - Gardner, farmer, shopper, banker etc. Where is he going, and what are those papers? 

A cute easy-to-read story, I liked the anticipation and was surprised at the end. 

Lisa Librarian