Go Bananas! by A. B. Peele, illustrated by Lala Watkins - ESSENTIAL

Go Bananas! by A. B. Peele, illustrated by Lala Watkins. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2026 $20. 9781665953566

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Have you ever fallen? Have you ever taken a tumble? Feeling confused? Or bruised? Just call out to our friends, your banana friends!

Go Bananas is a must have for every parent and teacher who has little ones needing a “shout out” of love and fun in their young lives. The wording and illustrations of this picture book are spot on.  As a teacher and a parent, I imagine this book will be read and loved by many.  With bold colors and perfect facial expressions, Watkins is superb! A.B. Peele writes the perfect children’s book that is fun and interactive.  This book can be used in a unit on emotions and on motion/ physical exercise. 

S. Lewis

The Case of Old MacDonald and His Farm by Mark Teague - ADVISABLE

The Case of Old MacDonald and His Farm by Mark Teague. PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781665990769

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

There is a gang about the farm! They are called The Skunk Gang and they are creating havoc on Old MacDonald’s Farm! Cows now have mustaches, horses have stripes, chickens have hats! Officer Busby from Animal Control is concerned until she realizes what day it is, April 1st! Just wait to see what happens on the 4th of July! The Skunk Gang is already starting to plan.

This a fun side story to the beloved “Old MacDonald Has a Farm”. The illustrations are detailed and very colorful. The farmer’s expressions are life-like and funny.  The addition to the Skunk Gang weaved into this story is a fun and unexpected twist. Officer Busby is black. 

S. Lewis

Our Islands by Yuval Zommer - ADVISABLE

Our Islands by Yuval Zommer. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.  Thames & Hudson, 2025. $20. 9780500653685

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Our Islands takes young readers on a journey to unique islands around the world.  Readers will explore each island's location, formation, special plants, animals, extreme environment, and highlights any natural marvel.

Our Islands fuels the reader's natural curiosity with colorful, creative illustrations, and fun fact vignettes.  I liked the illustrated world map showing the location of these fascinating islands.

PGPowers

Millie and the Midnight Hedgehog by Bernadette Watts -- ADVISABLE

Millie and the Midnight Hedgehog by Bernadette Watts. PICTURE BOOK. North South, 2025. $20. 9780735846043

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Millie's parents care a lot about the planet.  Most of the time they are too busy for anything fun or enjoyable, so Millie passes lonely hours admiring Mrs. Periwinkle's wonderful garden.  One day, she gives Millie three potted plants.  As they grow, so does Millie's joy.  One night a storm threatens to knock the pots over.  When Millie goes out to check on them, she meets a hedgehog who gives her valuable advice about how she can show the earth she cares.

Watts weaves a modern environmental fairytale about connecting to nature and discovering joy and hope in plants and animals.  I enjoyed Watt's expressive storybook illustrations.

PGPowers

Buzz! Boom! Bang! The Book of Sounds by Benjamin Gottwald - ADVISABLE

Buzz! Boom! Bang!  The Book of Sounds by Benjamin Gottwald. PICTURE BOOK. North South, 2025. $22. 9780735846036

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

APPEALS TO:   MANY

Can you bang, boom, caw, crash, buzz, blub, pitter-patter, pffffft, whoosh, yawn, moo, or roar?  Then this read aloud book is for you!  just look at the picture and say whatever noise you think the picture is making.  

Buzz! Boom! Bang! is a fun and silly, interactive, wordless picture book where readers make sounds based on the colorful illustrations, encouraging creativity and imagination through onomatopoeia.

PGPowers

Who Are You? by Claire Keane - ADVISABLE

Who Are You? by Claire Keane. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Studio, 2026. $19 9798217029136

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A young girl and her basset hound explore nature asking the question, "Who are you?"  As the young girl wanders, she finds her identity through her experiences.  She is the rock beneath her and the clouds above her.  She is the grass and the butterfly.  She is the howling wind and the raindrops.  In her thoughtful wanderings she gets lost and frightened.  What does she realize when she finds her way home?

Keane gives us a thoughtful simplistic story about how every moment, both good and challenging, shapes who we become. I  liked Keane's loose style of illustration.

PGPowers

Father's Day Fuss (Grumpy Monkey) by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang - ADVISABLE

Father's Day Fuss (Grumpy Monkey) by Suzanne Lang , illustrated by Max Lang. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Studio, 2026. $13. 9780593709405

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Jim Panzee tries to celebrate Father's Day by bringing his dad breakfast in bed, but his dad is already up.  He decides instead to make breakfast for Grandpanzee.  Grandpanzee doesn't like a fuss.  Jim learns where he gets his own grumpiness.  After exploring many humorous different ideas on ways to show appreciation, all three of them decide on the best way to celebrate Father's day.

Father's Day Fuss is a fun way to think about how you would celebrate your own father.  I loved all the silly antics of the characters.  I was amused with Lang's comical illustrations.

PGPowers

When I Redraw the World by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Heather Fox - ADVISABLE

When I Redraw the World by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Heather Fox. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Studio, 2026. $19. 9780593811283

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

A young girl decides to draw pictures of how she would joyfully reimagine the world.  Everyone would have a home, and no one would be hungry.  Treehouse ice cream shops are a thing, and you can always find a kind elephant in case you need to reach something high.  Every tall mountain has a slide to come down, and confetti bursts whenever someone does something good.  She imagines many more wonderful things.  What would you want if you redrew the world?

When I Redraw the World  is an endearing and fun celebration of imagination and curiosity.  I loved the creativity and the colorful illustrations

PGPowers

Wild About Capybaras! by Kevin McCloskey - ADVISABLE

Wild About Capybaras! by Kevin McCloskey. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Toon Book (Astra Books for Young Readers), 2026. $14. 9781662665776

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Capybaras are the world's largest and trendiest rodent, and beloved across the world.  Wild About Capybaras! is a Giggle and Learn graphic novel full of many facts about this trendy animal.  Capybaras can swim like seals, have fourteen toes, eat their own poop, and many more fun facts.

Wild About Capybaras is a quick, fun, and fascinating read for kids of all ages.  I really enjoyed the graphic novel format and McCloskey's humorous approach to the facts.

PGPowers

My Friend the Paintbrush: The Colorful World of Marcus Pfister by Marcus Pfister - ESSENTIAL

My Friend the Paintbrush: The Colorful World of Marcus Pfister by Marcus Pfister. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. NorthSouth Books, 2026. $20. 9780735845947

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

In an effort to inspire creativity, Marcus Pfister shares with readers his passion for painting and writing incredible children’s books.  From Rainbow Fish to Happy Hedgehog and Hooper, we see the different techniques he uses in his illustrations.  With fun rhyming, Phister shares his painting journey.  “On canvas, in oil, or gouache it’ll go. Watercolor, acrylic, all grand! Funny, fantastic- but digital? No! It’ll only work in my hand.”  It was fun to read and recognize beloved pages from Wilson’s many popular books. 

S. Lewis

Bog Buddies by Amy Hevron - ADVISABLE

Bog Buddies by Amy Hevron. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781665962674

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

This charming picture book follows the plants and creatures that call a “mossy mountain bog” their home.  Readers discover that even the messiest places can be full of magic. Hevron’s illustrations make the mud, moss, and dragonflies feel like you could reach out and touch them. The text is in regular font while the insect and animal conversations are in different font making it easy to differentiate between the two.  Bog Buddies is a wonderful reminder that there is beauty in the muck. It’s so easy to look at a swamp or a bog and think it’s just a dirty puddle, but this book helps kids (and adults!) see the life and importance hidden there. It’s simple, soulful, and very, very cute.

The conversations are adorable! Teachers and parents will love reading out loud this picture book as much as little ones will enjoy listening.  This picture book can be used in a unit on the ecosystem.

S. Lewis

Quietly . . . Quietly . . . QUACK! by Jonty Howley - ESSENTIAL

Quietly . . . Quietly . . . QUACK! by Jonty Howley. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak, 2026. $20. 9781836005896

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

A family of ducklings is trying to navigate their morning routine without waking up the momma duck.  Morning is the perfect time to explore the farm so they snuck out of the duck house.  Two of the three ducklings know how to be really, really quiet.  But the youngest, who is fashioned in a blue scarf, ultimately blurts out, “QUACK” at the hint of any danger.  From a house bucking to a fox burrow, the ducklings find themselves in compromising situations.  Will the ducklings finally make their way safely back to the duck house?

Howley’s art style is stylish and warm, with expressive characters that perfectly capture the "tip-toeing" energy of the story.  The illustrations are the sweetest part of this picture book.  There is something so relatable about trying to be as quiet as possible, only for the smallest thing to trigger a giant explosion of noise. I loved the sweet, simple plot and the adorable illustration.

S. Lewis