Three Weeks in the Rainforest by Jennifer Swanson - ADVISABLE

Three Weeks in the Rainforest by Jennifer Swanson. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $21. 9781623543167

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Three Weeks in the Rainforest follows the Field Museum's Rapid Inventory 30 team in Columbia as they race to gather data over three short weeks in the field.  Biologists trek through mud and rain, counting every animal and plant they see.  Social scientists visit villages, speaking with people about their goals for the land.  Based on this evidence, the team makes a case of conservation.  So far their teams have helped conserve almost 30 million acres of Amazon rainforest.

Swanson gives us a glimpse into real-life fieldwork in the rainforest.  This is not a detailed book about animals and plants that live in the rainforest. I liked the pictures of the scenery and the animals they were able to capture.

PGPowers

The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio - ESSENTIAL

The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo, illustrated by John Picacio. PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown, 2025. $20. 9780316295703 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Cala is not looking forward to the party on Dia de los Muertos. She misses her grandfather terribly and doesn't want to go to the cemetery. Once there, she loses sight of her family, and instead, meets a ghost on horseback - the ghost has a terrible cold. Cala offers her mother to make him some soup, but as they are looking for her, they meet a skeleton on a horse of bones who is hungry, and he is invited along. Will Cala find her family or continue to be delayed by these spirits of the dead? It seems Cala has some lessons to learn from them. 

Leigh Bardugo writes an amazing story, but oh the illustrations! Wow! Cala (and the reader) are taken to a fiery magical experience, including a ride with Death himself. I loved the lessons about being sick and poor and caring for others, and how she can keep her grandfather's memory alive in a better way. Highly recommended! The family is Hispanic. 

Lisa Librarian Yes 

The Last Last by Wendy J. Whittingham - ADVISABLE

The Last Last by Wendy J. Whittingham. PICTURE BOOK. Groundwood Books, 2025. $19. 9781773068657

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A young Jamaican girl's family is packing all their things.  She is nervous that they are leaving their island home.  On her final day, she takes in the final sights and smells.  She wants to remember all of it.  She takes a last swim in the ocean and finds a beautiful shell to take with her.  Her family flies to a big city in Canada.  She is still worried about her new home until she hears something outside her window.

The Last Last deals with the bittersweet experience of immigration, honoring memories of home while looking forward to new adventures.  I liked Whittingham's use of vibrant colors in her illustrations.

PGPowers

The Keeper of Stories by Caroline Kusin Pritchard and Selina Alko - ADVISABLE

The Keeper of Stories by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Selina Alko. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2025. $20. 9781665914970 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

In 1966, a fire started in the upper floors of New York's Jewish Theological Seminary library. This library contained old and rare books, newspapers, and magazines, some from the Middle Ages. While the firefighters made great efforts to protect the books from the flames and the water used to fight the fire, thousands were destroyed in the blaze, and 170,000 books were water-damaged and had to be dried. The community all pitched in to help, but how do you dry all that paper? 

My heart was breaking to read about the loss of ancient books, including a Torah. The story is well written, with a great author's note, photographs of the library, and the damage caused by the fire. There's a list of sources and even a link to an interview with the head librarian who worked there at the time. I so would like a copy for my library; however, it's tall - too tall for my shelves. 

Lisa Librarian  

Beatrix and the Unicorn by Lita Judge - ADVISABLE

Beatrix and the Unicorn by Lita Judge. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781665963916

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Long ago, a young girl named Beatrix was a maid in a castle.  Life was hard and she was lonely. Her only joy was when she swept the great hall and could gaze upon the unicorn on the large tapestry.  One night, she decided to go into the forest and look for the Unicorn to help her loneliness. Along the way, she discovered and helped scared, injured, and lonely animals and invited them along.  When she stops to rest, she sees the unicorn in a dream.  The unicorn helps her realize how to cure her loneliness.

Beatrix and the Unicorn is a sweet and interesting story about how to help with loneliness.  I enjoyed Judge's soft, watercolor, storybook illustrations.

PGPowers

Fierce Aunties! by Laurel Goodluck and Steph Littlebird - ADVISABLE

Fierce Aunties! by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Steph Littlebird. PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2025. $20. 9781665948968 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Fierce Aunties - they are women you can look up to, who know you and want the best for you. Sometimes you are related to them but you don't have to be. They cheer on your successes, they teach about your life and culture, and they really listen. 

I loved this book. It made me think about all the strong women in my life who were there for me. What a great reflection. And a child reading this story can recognize these women, too. I'm sure we all have them (and take them for granted). Set within Indigenous culture, the illustrations often reflect those women, but women of other races and cultures are also represented. 

Lisa Librarian 

Bartleby by Matt Phelan - ADVISABLE

Bartleby by Matt Phelan. PICTURE BOOK. Macmillan Children's, 2026. $19. 9780374393557

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Young polar bear Bartleby repeatedly says, "I prefer not to," when asked to join group activities at school and with other kids at recess.  One activity finally interests him and he finds a way to participate on his own terms.  Will this make it easier for him to join in other activities?

Bartleby teaches a gentle lesson about acceptance and being yourself.  I like Phelan's cute characters and signature sketchy, watercolor style.

PGPowers

Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa by Sara Andrea Fajardo and Juana Martinez-Neal - ADVISABLE

Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa by Sara Andrea Fajardo, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2025. $20. 9781250838612 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Alberto Salas is a scientist who studies potatoes - particularly those grown in the wild of the Andes mountains. So, he plays Paka Paka con la papa (hide and seek with a potato) with us! He has to be quick; some potatoes can only be found on the days their flowers bloom, and he's especially looking for the rare Papa de Zorro, his favorite, which is really hard to find. 

This is a delightful non-fiction/biography. I learned that different potatoes have different superpowers, and that scientists can engineer the healthiest varieties to grow in the most difficult places, helping people feed themselves. I really liked the illustrations. Salas keeps a journal where he makes his own maps - these illustrations look like they could have come from his journals, along with illustrations of Salas working with the villagers to find and harvest his discoveries. The unusual cover picture makes perfect sense now. I liked this more than I expected to. Alberto Salas is Peruvian. 

Lisa Librarian 

Everyone Cries by Adam Ciccio, illustrated by Barbara Bongini - ADVISABLE

Everyone Cries by Adam Ciccio, illustrated by Barbara Bongini. PICTURE BOOK. Clavis Publishing, 2025. $20. 9798890630421

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

A big friendly monster named sadness visits a young boy.  Sadness explains that he visits on gloomy days as well as beautiful days, and that he only comes for a while and doesn't stay.  He reminds the boy that it is okay to cry and that everyone cries.  Sadness explains to the boy the many reasons people cry.  How will crying help the young boy feel better?

Everyone Cries is a sweet comforting story that will help children understand and accept their feelings.  Bongini's lively and cute illustrations aptly bring the abstract concepts to life.

PGPowers

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith - ADVISABLE

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593619681 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The History of We tells the history of our past, back to the earliest evidence of modern man in Africa over 200,000 years ago. There is evidence of their tools, their jewelry, their inventions, and shelters. 

A fascinating and beautiful picture book. I love how it connects to things that we value today, art, dance, language, music, and style, and how we know they developed medicines and specialized tools. In the author's notes, illustrations are referenced with the artifacts or time period they represent, along with the scientific discoveries supporting them. A great introduction to the History of Man with gorgeous illustrations. The characters are African. 

Lisa Librarian 

Men Cry by Joan Turu, translated by Anyeliz Pagan Munoz - ADVISABLE

Men Cry by Joan Turu, translated by Anyeliz Pagan Munoz. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2026. $18. 9781623546885

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A young boy named Neil wasn't sure exactly how to be a man.   He tried to observe the older boys at school, his soldier grandpa, bikers on the street, the men in his family at a funeral, superheroes, athletes and politicians on T.V., and made a chart of what he thought.  The next day at school, he tried to act like what he thought a man was.  He rode his bike against traffic, didn't play with Halima his best friend, laughed at Pablo, tripped Adri, and had a fistfight with Oscar. He started to feel sick and went to see the school nurse.  He began to cry.  What was wrong with Neil?

Men Cry is a fun, heartwarming story about gender roles and embracing individuality.  I enjoyed Turu's expressive, quirky illustrations.

PGPowers

A Vaisakhi to Remember by Simran Jeet Singh and Japneet Kaur - OPTIONAL

A Vaisakhi to Remember by Simran Jeet Singh, illustrated by Japneet Kaur PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593859087 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A young girl loves the day her village in India celebrates Vaisakhi. Farmers celebrate the harvest, there's music and dancing and food. She loves sitting with her grandma and hearing her tell all about her family. But when the family moves away, to another country, and a big city, she worries that Vaisakhi will never be the same. 

Definitely for a child familiar with this celebration and culture. Although an author's note gives a short description as well as identifying the names mentioned in the story and a few Punjabi phrases, it would be best loved by someone who knows Vaisakhi, rather than someone wanting to learn about it. While the illustrations were beautiful, they were very busy, giving the impression that this is a very crowded event. I found it difficult at times to find the part of the illustration that the text was telling about. The characters are Sikh. 

Lisa Librarian