Sign Your ABCs with Sesame Street by Nicole Gabor and Emily Harris - ESSENTIAL

Sign Your ABCs with Sesame Street by Nicole Gabor and Emily Harris. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Lerner, 2026. $10 (pb). 9798765684658

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

American Sign Language is a visible way to communicate. Each letter of the alphabet has a hand shape. There are also hand shapes for words. The book continues with sesame street characters signing the alphabet and sharing about themselves. Then, children are prompted to sign their name. Gabor created a book that Sesame Street fans will love. All the favorite characters get to take part in teaching sign language. One cute technique used is having the characters talk about themselves as they blend the word on the next page into their chat.

MOMMAC 

Llama llama Graduation Day by Anna Dewdney and JT Morrow - ESSENTIAL

Llama Llama Graduation Day by Anna Dewdney and JT Morrow. PICTURE BOOK. Viking Books (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593353233

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

It is graduation day, and everyone is excited! Everyone, except Llama llama. As the teacher lines up students for one last picture, Llama llama starts to feel sick. Llama starts thinking about all of the parts of school that he will miss. No more morning meetings or seeing his friends. But, his teacher reminds him of all of the skills that he has learned at school this year. Llama can do and accomplish anything. Just wait until next year! My daughter and I liked this book because of the familiar characters.

This Llama llama book reads like the rest of Dewdney's books. The plot is easy to follow and it addresses a lot of common fears that young students might face at the end of a school year.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language teacher 

April's Journey by Annamaria Piccione, Luis Amavisca and Francesc Rovira - ESSENTIAL

April's Journey by Annamaria Piccione, Luis Amavisca and Francesc Rovira. PICTURE BOOK. NubeOcho, 2026. $18. 9788410406803

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

April, a young girl, has nowhere to go after the bombing. Everything was destroyed and people have left. All she has is her backpack and her stuffed rabbit Coco. She has to find a new home and journeys through inclement weather and harsh conditions. Along her way, she finds Julio, a boy who also has a backpack and a stuffed bear named Nina. Together, they build a raft and eventually find a place that welcomes them into a new home.

I liked this book because of the mystery behind the bombing and the conflicts that the young characters are facing. It is just vague enough that this situation could be applied to a lot of different times in history. As the author wrote, "it is a story to spark conversation about something that should never happen."

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

The Shy Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro - ESSENTIAL

The Shy Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro. PICTURE BOOK. Red Comet Press, 2026. $17. 9781636551883

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

This book happens to be very shy. It is worried that the reader will think that the book is silly, or even boring. The book then realizes that a good strategy to start conversations is to ask others questions about themselves. This story has an important theme of perseverance, and that it is ok to be shy.

I liked Pearlstein’s story because it addressed a lot of common reasons why kids might be shy. He normalizes the fears, reactions, and gives solutions as well. Munro’s illustrations were cute and the text was engaging.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Stronger Than by Nikki Grimes & Stacy Wells and E.B. Lewis - ADVISABLE

Stronger Than by Nikki Grimes & Stacy Wells and E.B. Lewis. PICTURE BOOK. Harper Collins, 2026. $14. 9780063264755

Content: PG (The Tulsa Race Massacre and the Trail of Tears are mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Dante is an 8yo Afro-Indigenous boy who loves Choctaw Stickball but is plagued with nightmares. His mother comforts him after a nightmare and then tells Dante about his amazing ancestors. People from his heritage are both Native and Black American. They suffered through The Trail of Tears and The Tulsa Race Massacre. Will knowing his ancestor's stories help Dante with his nightmares?

Stronger Than would be a good read aloud to introduce two difficult times in American history. There are several paragraphs of text on each page. The watercolor illustrations look like beautiful paintings but are fairly serious in nature. It would be best suited for older grades in elementary.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian 

Better Than A Touchdown by Jalen Hurts and Nneka Myers - ESSENTIAL

Better Than A Touchdown by Jalen Hurts and Nneka Myers. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo Books (Penguin), 2026. $20. 9798217040308

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Jalen, a young boy, is so excited to start school this year because he will get to try out for the football team. Unfortunately, he quickly learns that football has been canceled for the year because the garden club is growing vegetables where the football team would play. Jalen is devastated and asks teachers and mentors how they deal with disappointment. He gets a lot of good advice along the way. One that really stuck with him is, "ten percent of life is what happens to you, and ninety percent is how you respond." Jamal and his friends team up with the garden club to see if they can enjoy both football and gardening.

I liked this book because it gives kids a lot of good ideas and strategies on how to deal with disappointment. It was a little text heavy on some pages, but my 7 year old daughter enjoyed it. The illustrations were cute and the story flowed well. All of the main characters are African American.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Sammy and Sunny's First Day of School by Nina LaCour and Elizabeth Lilly - ESSENTIAL

Sammy and Sunny's First Day of School by Nina LaCour and Elizabeth Lilly. PICTURE BOOK. Rocky Pond Books (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593695753

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Sammy and Sunny are both starting their first day of school. Sammy was starting Kindergarten, and Sunny, her dog, was starting his first day at doggie training school. At first, they were both a bit nervous, but once they met their teachers and friends, they started to relax and enjoy the day. Once the first day was over, Sammy and Sunny realized that they actually had pretty similar days. The only thing that is next, is their second day at school with a funny twist.

My daughter and I liked this book because of the humor. It compared and contrasted what Sammy and Sunny were learning on their first day of school. The ending was silly and the pictures were cute.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yang and Xindi Yan - ESSENTIAL

Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yang and Xindi Yan. PICTURE BOOK. Dial Books (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593407110

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Laila, a young Chinese girl, wishes her friends could realize how cool her parents are. Her parents don't have enough money to pay for English classes and they are struggling to understand this new language. Laila is not only learning English herself, but she is also busy translating for her parents. She decides to teach them English and along the way learns more Chinese from them. Learning a new language can be hard, but as a family they have fun while doing so.

I liked this book because it shows how children might feel if they are torn between speaking two different languages. This book addressed why the word "ballet" is so difficult to pronounce to non-native English speakers. It also showed how idioms can be so confusing. It showed that all cultures are important and should be valued.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Planets (Time for Kids) by Sarah Jospitre - ESSENTIAL

Planets (Time for Kids) by Sarah Jospitre. 32 pages. EARLY READER NON FICTION. Penguin Young Readers, 2025. $17. 

Content: G 

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Did you know that there is a crater on Mars named after Dr. Seuss? Time for Kids: Planets is a short informational leveled text, level 3, that will engage young readers. The text walks you through the planets, in order, in our solar system. It explains how the planets got their names, fun facts, and even gives size comparisons and analogies to help the reader understand scale. The illustrations compliment the facts making for a short, interesting read. 

I liked this book because the facts for each planet are interesting and updated. The text is challenging for Level 3, transitional readers. The illustrations were beautiful and brought the text to life. It left you wanting to learn more about the solar system. Informational text about planets.

 Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

It's Swing Time by Abi Bi - ESSENTIAL

It's Swing Time by Abi Bi. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto), 2026. $19. 9781836008743

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

What types of swings do you think ladybug would prefer? As you read this story, you get to see animals on all different types of swings. Pandas sit on friendship swings, monkeys swing on banana swings, and snakes make their own swings. Ladybug makes friends wherever it goes. Read to the end to see the best swing of all.

I liked this book because it was a simple, sweet, story with lots of different animals. The book is designed to be read by turning the book vertically. The illustrations were beautiful and the book was very engaging.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Sheepy by Lucy Ruth Cummins and Pete Oswald - ADVISABLE

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Sheepy by Lucy Ruth Cummins and Pete Oswald. BOARD BOOK. Flamingo Books (Penguin), 2026. $10. 9798217041008

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Little sheep does not want to go to bed. He/she tries many ways to stay awake. Mom and dad are trying ways to get him/her to go to sleep. 

This cute board book uses the song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, to tell the story of a typical child not wanting to go to bed. The Playful illustrations help tell the story. The sheep in the story could be a girl or boy, so both can see themselves in the book. 

The child could be either a girl or boy. 

MOMMAC

Pizza and Taco Go Viral by Stephen Shaskan - OPTIONAL

Pizza and Taco Go Viral by Stephen Shaskan. PICTURE BOOK. RH Graphic (Random House), 2026. $15. 9780593814543

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Pizza and Taco want to create a STEWTUBE video. They brainstorm ideas that might work.  They try video game videos. They try pet videos. They don't like how they turn out. Then, they decide to do a friend dance video. 

Shaskan takes the easy way out and creates a graphic story that leaves me feeling flat. While there are many ways to encourage creativity in children, the illustrations and story do not excite. Children who already like the characters will probably enjoy the book. 

MOMMAC