A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change by Valerie Bolling, illustrated by Temika Grooms - ADVISABLE

A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change by Valerie Bolling, illustrated by Temika Grooms. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $18. 9781623545826 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Marian was only 4 years old when she first experienced a Jim Crow law. She didn't understand why she couldn't drink from any fountain. Her role model, Sojourner Truth had compared herself to a flea and said she'd make a man keep scratching, so Marian decided she would be a flea, too. She changed the signs on fountains every chance she got. She wanted to stop Racial injustice. As she got older she participated in the restaurant sit-ins, became a lawyer in Mississippi and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King. She continued being a Flea for justice throughout her life. 

Marvelous illustrations with quotes incorporated. I loved this story, I had no idea she started the Children's Defense Fund, among other things. A nice addition to my picture book biographies. Marian was black. 

Lisa Librarian

Just For Today by Charlotte Agell and Ana Ramirez Gonzalez - OPTIONAL

Just For Today by Charlotte Agell and Ana Ramirez Gonzalez. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic Press, JULY 2026. $20. 9781546181323

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Elba, a hippopotamus, has been worrying a lot and not sleeping well, so her friend, Norris, a crocodile, tries to help her have a more relaxing day.  Things don’t quite go as planned, however, and Elba is the one helping Norris to find a peaceful place. 

A sweet book that might help with managing anxiety a little. Though, how can a hippo not swim? The illustrations are lovely and add to the calm feeling Agell is trying to convey.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

When Auggie Learned to Play Chess written by Meredith Rusu, illustrated by Stephen Costanza - ESSENTIAL

When Auggie Learned to Play Chess written by Meredith Rusu, illustrated by Stephen Costanza. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593710814

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

Auggie and his father have moved away from the seaside to the cornfields, and everything is awful. He has no one to play with at recess or to sit next to at lunch. One day, he discovers his grandfather’s old chess set and his father begins to teach him how to play. As he learns the game, he also learns other lessons about his new life, gaining confidence & skills to make the most of this new situation.

I adored this picture book about poor lonely Auggie and his father teaching him chess. The illustrations were so fun, especially when he got so wrapped up in chess that he started imagining his classmates as different game pieces. This is a sweet story of a father and son, and a wonderful coming-of-age as Auggie adjusts to life in a new place.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Rumplestiltskin retold by Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis - OPTIONAL

Rumplestiltskin retold by Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis. PICTURE BOOK. Orchard (Scholastic), 2026. $20. 9781338673852

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Barnett adds a bit of a modern feel to the classic tale and shortens it a bit, but refrains from completely modernizing it. He does change the detail of how Rumplestilskin’s name is discovered, perhaps to give the Queen character some power? I didn’t feel as if the power of the story changed - not enough for me to buy another copy of the story, unless I need a new one for some reason.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Gigantic by Rob Biddulph - ESSENTIAL

 

Gigantic by Rob Biddulph. PICTURE BOOK. Doubleday (Random House), 2026. $19. 9780593518960

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Gigantic may yet be a tiny whale, but when his big brother, Titan, is in trouble, Gigantic pulls out all the stops, and his friends, to save him.

Biddulph’s rhyming text gives the story a rhythm evocative of the sea and adds an urgency to Titan’s danger. A great reminder to “biggers” that those smaller in stature are as important. I love the color palette of the illustrations so much.

Lovely endpapers, too. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

My Abuela is a Bruja by Mayra Cuevas and Lorena Alvarez Gomez - ADVISABLE

My Abuela is a Bruja by Mayra Cuevas, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gomez. PICTURE BOOK Knopf (Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593480632 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The girl's abuela is an island bruja, a garden bruja, a dancing bruja, a kitchen bruja, and a flan bruja. There is magic in everything she does. 

This is one of those picture books where the illustrations tell so much more than the text alone. Lots of Spanish words mixed in; includes a glossary, and there is also an edition in Spanish. The illustrations are wonderful - I especially loved the illustration of the girl interacting with her ancestors, because they are all a part of her own magic. Back matter includes an author's note as well as recipes for Flan and Sofrito. A wonderful picture book. The characters are Puerto Rican 

Lisa Librarian 

Underwearwolf by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso - ADVISABLE

The Underwearwolf by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso. PICTURE BOOK. Simon and Schuster, 2026. $20. 9781665955584

Content: PG (“butt naked” mentioned, main character is naked at one point, but no private parts are shown)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Against all advice, a little slips on the underwear he was gifted during a full moon and becomes a werewolf, running wildly through his town all night long.

The idea that your underwear can turn you into a monster is hilarious and I loved watching his antics throughout the night. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Under One Roof by Miranda Paul & Baptiste Paul and Christopher Silas Neal - OPTIONAL

Under One Roof by Miranda Paul & Baptiste Paul, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. PICTURE BOOK.  Clarion Books (Harper), 2026. $16. 9780358576594

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Bedtime is a time that is the same and yet very different for everyone.  Under One Roof represents a diverse group of children and their families as they get ready for bed.  Some are missing a loved one because they have passed away or are serving their country far away.  Others have lost their homes to wars or natural disasters.  Home truly is where your family is!

With rhyming text and soft, muted illustrations,  Under One Roof would be good for a bedtime story.  I don't think it is the type of book that would hold the attention of a class for a read aloud. 

Many different ethnicities and different types of families are represented.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Piet Finds a Home by Carina Wohlleben and Rachel Qiuqi - ADVISABLE

Piet Finds a Home by Carina Wohlleben, illustrated by Rachel Qiuqi. PICTURE BOOK. Greystone Kids, 2026. $25. 9781778400292

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Piet the squirrel sees Peter the forester and hops over to tell him that his home in the old pine tree is really prickly.  Peter tells Piet that he will find him a new home.  Peter suggests the enormous beach tree at the edge of the yard.  Piet discovers many wonderful and surprising things about the tree as he lives in it through the seasons. He feels his tree is more than a home. 

Piet Finds a Home is a charming story with educational facts about nature.  I liked the sidebars detailing even more facts about trees.  Qiuqi's illustrations are adorable.

PGPowers

Love ABC by Jannie Ho - OPTIONAL

Love ABC by Jannie Ho. BOARD BOOK Candlewick, 2025. $8 9781536246698 

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

A child's alphabet book centered around love, with words like gift, invitation, poem, and friend. There are colorful, simple and large illustrations that pair well with the letter and word. The pictures are engaging and would appeal to young children. 

Michelle in the Middle

Hello, Sleep! by Yak Happy and Ania Simeone - ADVISABLE

Hello, Sleep! by Yak Happy and Ania Simeone. BOARD BOOK Quarto, 2026. $11 978183600900-9  

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

A bedtime book where you turn the wheel to get ready for bed. This is a cute, well thought out book with nice illustrations. 

The wheel turning is what makes it super fun. Turning the wheel will change what toys the child puts away, the color of their blanket, what book they read and let the reader squirt water in the tub. Great interactive book to get your child excited about bedtime, and could be a nice part of that routine. No race is specified, but the child is drawn with white skin and brown hair. 

Michelle in the Middle

The Cedar Mother by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Husun) and Natasha Donovan - OPTIONAL

The Cedar Mother by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Husun), illustrated by Natasha Donovan. (The Mothers of Xsan) NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Highwater Press. 2026. $20 9781774921586 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The cedar tree life cycle, told from the perspective of a storyteller from the Gitxan Nation in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Interwoven into the pertinent facts, are the culture and respect for nature of the Gitxan people. 

I liked how the deep connection between all living things is represented through science and culture, where the sockeye salmon also nourishes the cedar. The culture is represented through words and the art, which complement each other nicely. A good resource for learning to respect nature and indigenous culture. 

Michelle in the Middle