Just Try It! Someplace New! by Phil and Lily Rosenthal, illustrations by Luke Flowers - ADVISABLE

Just Try It! Someplace New! by Phil and Lily Rosenthal, illustrated by Luke Flowers. PICTURE BOOK. Simon and Schuster, 2026. $20. 9781665942652

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Phil and Lily are headed off to Grandma's house for a three day visit.  Since this is the first time they have slept over, Lily is a little worried that she will miss everything that is familiar to her. 

Flowers illustrations are nice and bright. This might sound weird or picky, but I thought the text type face and the illustrated words were a bit too big - I felt like I was being shouted at and they occult so much space on the page. But my pickiness besides, the Rosenthal’s do a great job expressing some of the nervous feelings that might come from a  first sleepover - even at Grandma’s.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Buzz Like a Bee by Guilherme Karsten - ESSENTIAL

Buzz Like a Bee by Guilherme Karsten. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2026. $11. 9798887772370

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Meet five little critters and play with five different interactive pages in this delightful board book.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Secrets of the Jellies by Karen Jameson and Marie Hermannson - ADVISABLE

The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents by Karen Jameson, illustrated by Marie Hermannson. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2026. $20. 9781797221977

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

What do jellyfish eat?  Where do they live?  Is it true that jellyfish don't have brains?  Do some of them glow in the dark? Get these questions and more answered when  you read The Secrets of the Jellies.

With realistic illustrations and short but catchy rhyming phrases this book will appeal to young readers.  It would be a great read aloud in the classroom to teach facts about jellyfish in a fun and engaging way.   However, this story does not have much of a plot and is more of an informational book.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson - ADVISABLE

Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Christian Robinson. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2026. $13. 9781452131566

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Can a ghost be an imaginary friend?  Leo is a kind ghost who loves to draw and make snacks.  When he is kicked out of his house,  he finds a girl named Jane who thinks that he is her imaginary friend.  Will Leo save the day when a thief breaks into Jane's house?

I enjoyed the message of this book.  We should try to notice and appreciate everyone.  The illustrations are a little rudimentary but that adds to the charm of the book.  The only colors you will find in the illustrations are blue, black and white.  This adds to the ghostly feel in the book.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

When Planet Earth Was New by James Gladstone and Katherine Diemert - ADVISABLE

When Planet Earth Was New by James Gladstone, illustrated by Katherine Diemert. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Owlkids Books Inc., 2023. $10. 9781771475976

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When the Earth was new, you could not walk on it because of the molten lava coming from volcanoes. Comets would crash into it. Then, when the Earth's surface cooled, water vapor rose, and rain descended, creating mighty oceans. Life began in the water. Dinosaurs came and went. What remained are versions of animals we can see today. Humans are a small spec in the vast history of our planet. 

Gladstone chose to tell a quick, sweeping story of the earth's history that a young child could understand. The illustrations echo the simple story that was intended. The illustrations will attract a young reader with their bright, vivid colors.

MOMMAC

Main Street: A Community Story about Redlining by Britt Hawthorne, Tiffany Jewell, and David Wilkerson - OPTIONAL

Main Street: A Community Story about Redlining by Britt Hawthorne and Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by David Wilkerson. PICTURE BOOK. Kokila (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798217002672

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL; MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A young black girl, Olivia, is upset when her white friend, Alison, can't come to her neighborhood Block Party because Alison’s mother says it isn’t safe. At home, Olivia’s neighbor, Ms. Effie, explains the history of redlining, a secret practice historically used by banks to deny funding loans to people of color. 

Hawthorne gives us a succinct, honest look at the practice of redlining, a proven historical practice that kept people of color out of “good, white” neighborhoods. This is the first picture book that I can remember tackling the issue. Though Hawthorne has written a picture book, I am not sure that elementary students are the right audience - I would proudly show this to any middle school or high school teacher who touches on the subject in any way.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Home Construction by Anne Blanchard and Didier Balicevic - ESSENTIAL

Home Construction by Anne Blanchard, illustrated by Didier Balicevic. INTERACTIVE NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.  Bayard Editions- France, 2023. $19. 9791027612208

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

There are many parts to building a house. First, land is purchased and excavated. Then, there is the foundation, framing, drywalling, bricking, etc, that makes the structure of the house. There is also work done by electricians, plumbers, tilers, flooring installers, etc, that make the house beautiful and comfortable. And, lastly, there are landscapers who work to create a beautiful yard. 

Blanchard writes clearly, with vocabulary words in bold type.  Balicevic stole the show with adorable illustrations, pull tabs, doors, and rotating illustrations. The book was made to endure with its heavy cardboard.

Many different persons of color were used in the illustrations. 

MOMMAC

Stargazers (New and Updated) by Gail Gibbons - ESSENTIAL

Stargazers (New and Updated) by Gail Gibbons, NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House Publishing, 2023. $19 9780823454495

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Stargazers are people who watch the night sky. Some of the people are astronomers. Stargazers cannot see all the stars in the sky, but they try to do so with binoculars or telescopes. Gibbons tells us about many ways that people have interacted with the night sky throughout the ages.

Gail Gibbons explains this topic with her usual clarity. She uses vocabulary words to teach the subject. Her illustrations are also bright and clear.

People of color are used in the illustrations.

MOMMAC

Prince Among Slaves by N.H. Senzai and Anna Rich - ESSENTIAL

Prince Among Slaves by N.H. Senzai, illustrated by Anna Rich. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK.  Nancy Paulson Books (Penguin), 2025. $20. 9781984816986 

Content: PG (mention of slavery practices, including whipping and death)

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Abdulrahman, meaning "servant of God", grew up as the prince of the Fulbe people in Fouta Djallon in Africa. His community followed Mohammed and the Quran. As prince, his father sent him away to school at the University of Sankore at the age of 12. He came home and learned to be a warrior. His tribe befriended an Irish man and he learned to speak English.  He was captured and became one of the millions of slaves sold in America. He worked tirelessly to return to Africa with his family. 

What a joy to learn about this Muslim man and his return to Africa! The miracle of meeting the befriended Irishman in America and his helping the prince astounds me. Senzai tells this story with passion for her people. The illustrations keep the reader riveted to the story. 

MOMMAC

Take Me Out To the Ballgame by Jack Norworth and Gary Clement - ESSENTIAL

Take Me Out To the Ballgame by Jack Norworth, illustrated by Gary Clement. PICTURE BOOK.  Greystone Books Ltd., 2026. $20. 9781778403248

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

A boy wants his father to put down his work and take him to the baseball game. The boy begins to sing the song, Take Me Out to the Ballgame while imagining himself in the game. By the end of the song, both are singing.

This visual rendition of the American pastime song will delight all baseball fans. The joyful intro of the boy begging his father to go will put a smile on your face. Clement adds some historical notes at the end about the songwriter and the song. 

There are persons of color in the illustrations.

MOMMAC

Gwei: The Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee and Basia Tran - ADVISABLE

Gwei: The Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee, illustrated by Basia Tran. PICTURE BOOK. Kokila (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798217002795

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

As a hungry ghost, Gwei is supposed to eat the offerings left by the Chinese people in his graveyard, but Gwei craves so much more. When Ghost Festival Month arrives, Gwei wanders out into the market place, where he gorges himself on the many food offerings. It isn’t until Gwei finds a little ghost who is also hungry and shares food together that he finds his appetite actually feeling satisfied.

The back matter has information about hungry ghosts and other types of ghosts from Chinese culture. I like that the glossary not only has the Chinese name for foods, but also the kanji. Lee gives us a nicely subtle message about the value of sharing.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Bad Banana by Michael Rex - ESSENTIAL

Bad Banana by Michael Rex. EARLY READER LEVEL 2. Simon, 2026. $6 (pb). 9781665962124

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

As the banana sits in the bowl, he becomes more worried about his spots and brown patches.  The little girl wants to throw it out, but Mom has a better, tastier idea that helps the banana feel much better about itself.

Be ready to make banana bread after your child reads this early reader! It would make a very cute picture book too. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS