With You in Spirit : A Qing Ming Story by Jenny Liao and Lenny Wen - ADVISABLE

With You in Spirit : A Qing Ming Story by Jenny Liao and Lenny Wen. PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A Knopf (Random), 2026. $19. 9780593806975

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

It's Qing Ming, a Chinese holiday to honor ancestors and loved ones who have passed away. A little girl goes with her parents to the cemetery to honor Yeh Yeh (grandfather). Together they share memories and burn paper so Yeh Yeh can have money and other things in the afterlife. 

This is a sweet story about remembering someone who has died. I loved learning about this bit of Chinese culture. The gouache illustrations were colorful and engaging. An author's note and Cantonese pronunciations are included in the back matter. 

Rachel, Elementary school librarian 

Ways Papi Says I Love You by Delia Ruiz and Carlos Velez Aguilera - ADVISABLE

Ways Papi Says I Love You by Delia Ruiz and Carlos Velez Aguilera. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2026. $18. 9781623546304

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Maricruz is excited to go to the store with her Papi. They jump in his old truck and head to town. On their trip, Papi says "I love you" in different ways like stopping at her favorite park and reminding her to put on her seatbelt. But when they go over a creek, Maricruz loses the list! 

Spanish words are mixed into the text of this sweet father-daughter story. (Translations are provided in the back matter.) The characters are Mexican. 

Rachel, Elementary school librarian

My Friend Billy Whiskers by David Litchfield - ADVISABLE

My Friend Billy Whiskers by David Litchfield. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln, (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9780711296015

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Patrick wants to play with the other kids, but he feels too nervous. Instead, Patrick plays with his imaginary friend, a lion named Billy Whiskers. Billy listens to Patrick and takes him on adventures until he feels brave. One day, Patrick feels brave enough to say hello to the other kids. As he keeps being brave, he doesn't see Billy as much, but Billy always comes back when Patrick needs him. 

This is a very cute imaginary friend story about anxiety and being brave. 

Patrick is white; background characters have varied skin colors. 

Rachel, Elementary school librarian

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea by Janet Lawler and James Weston Lewis - ADVISABLE

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea by Janet Lawler and James Weston Lewis. NON-FICTION BOARD BOOK. Phaidon Press, 2026. $13. 9781837290895

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Lawler's playful lift-the-flap book takes toddlers on an underwater adventure.  Guess who's hiding under the sea, then lift the flap to meet six of the ocean's most amazing creatures.

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea is engaging for toddlers with it's guessing game format.  Lewis' illustrations are beautiful and detailed.

PGPowers

Mildred and the Copy Cat by Jono Ganz - OPTIONAL

Mildred and the Copy Cat by Jono Ganz. PICTURE BOOK. Tate, 2025. $17. 9781849769785

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Mildred the cat lives in an art museum. She loves creating anonymous art at night and seeing the awed reactions of people the next day. One day, someone mistakes a dog, Barksy, as the mysterious artist, and suddenly he gets all the love and attention Mildred deserves. 

I found the colorful collage illustrations chaotic. I thought the story was engaging enough, but not incredible. For me, it's a take-it-or-leave-it book. 

The humans in the background are diverse.

Rachel, elementary school librarian 

Extraordinary Europe by Catherine Fletcher and Helena Bonastre - ADVISABLE

Extraordinary Europe: An Encyclopedia of an Epic Continent by Catherine Fletcher and Helena Bonastre. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Quarto Publishing, 2026. $30. 9781836007623

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Extraordinary Europe dives into the history, beauty, and diversity of Europe in this beautifully illustrated, fact-filled encyclopedia.  Fletcher covers five historical eras including Ancient, medieval, early modern, industrial, and the twentieth century, and includes illustrated maps showing how geography, borders, and countries have shifted across the centuries.

Extraordinary Europe combines expert knowledge with rich, illustrations to create a thought provoking read.  Fletcher's interesting facts will immerse the reader in history.

PGPowers

Secrets From the Fairy World: Discover the Magic of Fairies by Evander Acorncup, Saskia Gwinn and Rachel Corcoran - ADVISABLE

Secrets From the Fairy World:  Discover the Magic of Fairies by Evander Acorncup, Saskia Gwinn and Rachel Corcoran. 63 pages. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto), 2026. $30. 9781805703884

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Take an extraordinary tour of the fairy realm and it's secrets including how pixie dust is made, the many different jobs of the fairies, how fairies get their wings, how they travel between our world and theirs, and much more.

Secrets From the Fairy World reads more like a non fiction book about fairies with 27 different chapters.  Acorncup is definitely in the know and will delightfully fill the reader in on all things fairy.  Corcoran's illustrations are cute and fanciful.

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Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses by Tegen Evans and Tom Troese - ADVISABLE

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses by Tegen Evans and Tom Troese. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2026. $20. 9798887772622

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses tells the history of ancient Greece's gods and goddesses. Topics include how Zeus became king of the gods, who gave Athens its name, why Hera turned a princess into a cow, and which deity pulled the Moon across the night sky.  Other gods featured are Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Artemis Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaistos, Ares, Dionysos, Hermes, Demeter,  and Hades.

Evans has created an interesting deep dive into the important information relating to many of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses suitable for children.  Froese's illustrations are beautiful and expressive.

PGPowers

The Water Princess Builds a Well by Susan Verde, Georgie Badiel and Peter H. Reynolds - ADVISABLE

The Water Princess Builds a Well by Susan Verde, Georgie Badiel and Peter H. Reynolds. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam (Penguin), 2026. $19. 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

“Princess” Gie Gie has grown up and had experiences that have taken her all over the world.  But, she still dreams about finding a way to help the women in her home African village to have better access to water. 

It has been 10 years since the first Water Princess picture book. Verde brings Georgie Badiel’s story full circle and gives us back matter about Georgie’s foundation which works to bring clean water to villages just like hers. It has been a long time since I read the first picture book; I am glad for the continuation of Georgie’s story. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Magic Bedtime Train Ride illustrated by Lauren Degraaf - OPTIONAL

The Magic Bedtime Train Ride illustrated by Lauren Degraaf. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2026. $25. 9781805703273

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The music is dreamy as the train rides through the night to take its passengers to Dreamland.

I don’t understand the order of the pages. It starts with the passengers snuggling into bed, but as they get closer to Dreamland they start eating and dancing - the opposite of what you should do to get ready to go to sleep. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Hello, Ocean! by Corinna Luyken - ADVISABLE

Hello, Ocean! by Corinna Luyken. PICTURE BOOK. Rocky Pond Books  (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593625248

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A young exuberant girl takes a joyful trip to the beach with her parents.  She greets the ocean.  She greets everything she encounters.  What should she do when she discovers a pile of marine debris and garbage?

Hello Ocean! is a cute story celebrating the wonders of the beach and ocean from a young girl's eyes.  Luyken's illustrations are unique and capture the breezy, colorful coastal atmosphere.

PGPowers

This is How to Spot Animals by Aline Portman - ADVISABLE

This is How to Spot Animals by Aline Portman. PICTURE BOOK. Eerdmans Books For Young Readers, 2025. $19. 9780802856616

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Bear wants us not to move because he is out in nature trying to spot animals.  One day he hopes to find a rare red-breasted goose.  But today he has no luck. As Bear is telling us how to spot animals, and that sadly there is nothing to see, readers might be able to spy things themselves.

Portman uses humor and irony to delight readers.  I was entertained by Portman's charming illustrations.

PGPowers