Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lope and Abraham Matias - OPTIONAL

Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lope, illustrated Abraham Matias. PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $18. 9781623544577 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Nan loves to cook, and she loves her grandchildren, and she especially loves her little dog Popo. But she is also old and tired and hurts. One evening while sleeping in her chair, she passes away - and Popo, her Xolo (pronounced cholo) leads her on her journey to reunite with Abuelo. 

Another picture book about grief - I have read several this year, I wonder why there are so many. The illustrations were beautiful, deep oranges and greens and purples. Lots of Spanish - the glossary includes a pronunciation guide, and there's also some nice resources at the end, describing what a Xoloitzcuintle is, the nine levels of Mictlan (the place where people go who've passed on). Also the author tells about losing her own Nana. The characters are indigenous Mexican.

Lisa Librarian 

My Cat is a Secret Agent by Daniel J. Mahoney - ADVISABLE

My Cat is a Secret Agent by Daniel J. Mahoney. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2025. $19. 9780374392512

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

A young girl named Samantha tries to convince her parents that their cat Walter is a secret agent.  She tells them his secret agent name is Agent Kitty Pants, but they don't believe her.  Samantha points out his impressive espionage skills battling the neighbors cat and Aunt Marie's dog.  The cat is still unappreciated  - then Samantha falls out of the treehouse. 

My Cat is a Secret Agent is humorous and delightful. I enjoy Mahoney's quirky characters and artwork.

PGPowers

Construction Site: Firefight by Sherri Duskey Rinker and AG Ford. - ADVISABLE

Construction Site: Firefight by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by AG Ford. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2026. $19. 9781797226590

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

It is night time at a construction site.  Suddenly a storm appears and starts a fire.  Fire fighting vehicles come to the rescue! Can the firefighting vehicles and construction vehicles work together to fight the fire?

Rinker is up to thirteen books in her construction site series now!  I think this book would appeal to children who like machines.  Every vehicle has a face and the illustrations are very eye-catching.  Even though the illustrations are cute, the book also teaches facts about fighting fires.  It is a rhyming book with minimal words on a page.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Many Things at Once by Veera Hiranandani and Nadia Alam - ADVISABLE

Many Things at Once by Veera Hiranandani and Nadia Alam. PICTURE BOOK Random House, 2025 $19. 9780593643907 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A girl grows up in a bi-racial, multi-cultural family. Her grandmother or her mother's side is American - growing up in Brooklyn, and her grandfather came from Poland. Her father's parents were from Pakistan. She has a rich American, Jewish, Polish, Indian culture but sometimes feels she is not enough of any of them. She has friends who are also multicultural and wonders if they feel the same. 

This child has a wonderful family heritage. How lucky for her to have parents who tell the stories of her ancestors. I loved the illustrations, which clearly depict the races and time periods. I especially loved one particular illustration of the child with her extended family at a dinner, with all the different people and so many different foods. This would be a nice selection for your library, as I think the sentiment of a child embracing her heritage while having concerns that she isn't enough will connect with many readers. 

Lisa Librarian

Goodnight, Escargot by Dashka Slater and Sydney Hanson - ADVISABLE

Goodnight, Escargot (Escargot #5) by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Sydney Hanson. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Strauss Giroux (Macmillan), APRIL 2026. $19. 9780374392291

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Escargot has invited the reader to a soiree pyjama and really, really, really does not want to go to sleep.

Escargot is a sweet little character and he is very earnest in trying to have a good time at his soiree and not fall asleep. While I don’t think it will put your little one to sleep, I do think it is fun to read together. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

White Sunday: A Celebration for Samoan Kids by Litea Fuata and Myo Yim - OPTIONAL

White Sunday: A Celebration for Samoan Kids by Litea Fuata and Myo Yim. PICTURE BOOK Bright Light, Hardie Publishing, 2025. $19. 9781761214097 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

On White Sunday, all the children dress in white and put on a program for the whole church. Bubba is very proud of herself, and she receives a bunch of ulas (candy necklaces) because she did so well. When she goes home, she plays hide and seek with her cousins. She chooses a hiding place that is difficult to get out of, and her cousins can't hear her call for help. 

I liked this - White Sunday - a special Samoan tradition. Full of Samoan words, most explained in context, this story will be special for a Samoan child, while other children, not part of the culture, will relate to the hide and seek game. The illustrations are fun, and Bubba is adorable. The characters are Samoan 

Lisa Librarian 

Bunny in Disguise by Cynthia Platt and Josh Cleland - OPTIONAL

Bunny in Disguise by Cynthia Platt and  Josh Cleland. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $13. 9780063483033

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The Easter Bunny has lost its way to the Egg Hunt. The children must help him arrive on time to hide the eggs and save the day.

Cleland’s illustrations are a lot of fun to pore over. The iambic octameter rhyming text is a bear to read out loud, though. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Go Tell it: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris and Gordon C. James - ADVISABLE

Go Tell it: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris, art by Gordon C. James. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown, 2025. $19. 9780316483933 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

James Baldwin loved to read and to write his own stories. His stepfather was a minister and didn't like that James was reading anything other than the Bible. But he had caring teachers who appreciated his work and gave him experiences in the arts. He tried preaching for a while, but was a very different minister than his stepfather, so he went out on his own, supporting himself and writing his version of the Harlem he loved. 

Last year there was another James Baldwin picture book biography given a CSK honor, and I can't help but compare. I like these illustrations much better, especially the words incorporated into the pictures - as though James sees everything as a story. Realistic and full of feeling - I can sense James' frustration and see his pride in both the text and the pictures. All in all a better biography, I think this will be more likely to be read. James and his family are African American 

Lisa Librarian 

Seven Million Steps by Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory and Frank Morrison. - NO

Seven Million Steps by Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory,  illustrated by Frank Morrison. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Amistad (Harper), 2026. $20. 9780063357525

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

In 1976 Dick Gregory ran from California to New York to bring awareness to the plight of poor, hungry people around the country. 

Barnes and Gregory wrote the book in an odd second person voice that made the story feel remote and impersonal. I couldn’t find my way into the story.

Gregory is Black.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Filo's Butterflies by Litea Fuata and Myo Yim. - ADVISABLE

Filo's Butterflies by Litea Fuata and Myo Yim. PICTURE BOOK Bright Light, 2025. $19. 9781761214974 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Filo has butterflies in his tummy. He is going to dance at his auntie's wedding. His dad tells him everyone has butterflies their first time. But as the wedding progresses and it gets closer to the dance time, Filo's butterflies get worse. 

I really liked this story - I loved that his father acknowledged the butterflies and told him it was normal. Filo is brave and excited and doesn't try to not dance. A great lesson in grit. Filo is Samoan 

Lisa Librarian 

When Cherry Blossoms Fall by Katrina Goldsaito and Yas Imamura - ADVISABLE

When Cherry Blossoms Fall by Katrina Goldsaito, illustrated by Yas Imamura. PICTURE BOOK. Little Brown and Company, 2026. $19. 9780316281126

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Yuna, a young Japanese girl, visits her grandmother in winter.  Yuna climbs into the old cherry tree and wants to know when the cherry tree will bloom.  Her grandmother introduces her to the concept of "mono-no-aware."  When the cherry tree is in full bloom, it becomes more beautiful because it will soon be gone.  Yuna realizes the full meaning when something happens to her grandmother.

Goldsaito gives us a profound story that teaches concepts of nature, patience, and awareness of the bittersweet, temporary nature of life.  Imamura's illustrations are beautiful.

PGPowers

Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver by Sara Holly Ackerman and Naoko Stoop - OPTIONAL

Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver by Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Naoko Stoop. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Beach Lane (Simon), 2025 $20. 9781665921855 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Mary Oliver preferred the peacefulness of the outdoors to the classroom and would often sit on the back of a river writing. Mary wrote about nature - there were poems in everything she saw. She had trouble getting her poems published because they weren't fancy. Mary Oliver's poems were well loved. 

A nice biography, but I don't see a lot of kid appeal. Like her poetry, this picture book biography isn't fancy or pretentious, so I suppose it makes a fitting tribute, but there's not a lot of plot to keep a young reader engaged. Mary Oliver is white. 

Lisa Librarian