Twigs and Stones by Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop - ADVISABLE

Twigs and Stones by Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop. PICTURE BOOK Gecko Press (Lerner), 2025. $19. 9798765668238 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Snake and Lizard are friends who live together - they share a hole under a rock. When Lizard wants to write their names in sticks above their hole, Snake keeps asking why, which is irritating. Snake doesn't help; Lizard does all the work, but Snake is pleased. But when the wind blows down the letters of Snake's name, and in his rush to put them back, Lizard makes a mistake, their friendship might be ruined for good. 

A humorous story about surviving a friendship fight. The illustrations were cute and practical - Snake would have a hard time helping with poor vision and no arms, but she still manages to get back at Lizard. An interesting conversation starter about dealing with problems in a friendship. 

Lisa Librarian  

Born Inside a Nest so Small by Iza Trapani - ADVISABLE

Born Inside a Nest so Small: Conversation with a Hummingbird by Iza Trapani. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $18 9781623545840 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A child watches a hummingbird while reading, um, this book, and comments on each page poetically. He tells the hummingbird about itself as he reads the information. A bit surreal, but I don't think a K-3 reader will notice. It's a sort of poetry/non-fiction hybrid. The rhymes are clever and make for a fun read; the information is worthwhile and perfect for a young reader without telling too much about the hummingbirds. However, the information text is in a lighter-colored font, while the poems are in black, I'm afraid the actual info may get skipped. 

The child appears white 

Lisa Librarian 

Sweet, Sweet Memory by Jacqueline Woodson and Tonya Engel - ADVISABLE

Sweet, Sweet Memory by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Tonya Engel. PICTURE BOOK Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593530849 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Sarah's grandfather has passed away, and the family has come to say goodbye. Everyone has stories and memories about grandpa, and Sarah does, too. She lives with her grandparents, but with everyone there, she can't tell her memories; she just cries. 

What a sweet story. There are a lot of stories about grieving and losing a loved one. This is one I might share with a child who has lost a grandparent. It's not upsetting; it's uplifting and hopeful. 

The family is black 

Lisa Librarian 

Stubby: A Pencil’s Journey by Sydra Mallery and John Hare - OPTIONAL

Stubby: A Pencil’s Journey by Sydra Mallery and John Hare. PICTURE BOOK. Greenwillow (Harper), 2026. $20. 9780062364319

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Stubby, the pencil, takes us from the beginning of his life as a tree, through becoming a pencil, and on to all of his adventures in the classroom.

Stubby’s story is actually quite long. In places it is very entertaining, but the length is its drawback.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott - OPTIONAL

The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $20. 9780063455887

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The Skeleton is happy with its solitary life, so when the cat wants to be friends, Skeleton is reluctant.

The tale unfolds in five mini stories, so it doesn’t flow. The illustrations are so beautiful; I’m disappointed that the story is so disjointed.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Ghost Who Saved Halloween by Jen Anyong and Kaly Quarles - OPTIONAL

The Ghost Who Saved Halloween by Jen Anyong and Kaly Quarles. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $13. 9780063478008

Content: G (one kid scared down to his underwear)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The ghost is surprised to see that Halloween has co
me around again. As he pulls out his best scary tricks, he is unpleasantly surprised that none of them seem to be working.

The text is written in the form of Poe’s The Raven poem - making it sing-songy and, by the end, wearying. I love the illustrations, but need a rewrite of the text, please.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Lost and Found (Little Blue Truck) by Alice Schertle and John Joseph - OPTIONAL

Lost and Found (Little Blue Truck) by Alice Schertle and John Joseph. PICTURE BOOK.

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Blue and Toad are loading hay into the truck bed, but now Blue can’t find Toad. He asks the animals around the farm to help him look.

Fans of The Little Blue Truck will like this little mystery with its rhyming text and illustrations still in McMurry’s style.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

I Think We’re Upside Down! by Marcus Cutler - ESSENTIAL

I Think We’re Upside Down! by Marcus Cutler. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam’s (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798217113552

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

The cat and bunny are opening a package, but there seems to be something wrong - they are upside down. They enlist the help of the reader to make things right.

Interactive books are so much fun! Kids will have a great time helping the friends set everything right.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

I Guess I’ll Go Eat Worms by Linda Liu - ADVISABLE

I Guess I’ll Go Eat Worms by Linda Liu. PICTURE BOOKS. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2026. $19. 9781250359506

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Separately a sheep and a duck are bemoaning that no one likes them so they are going to eat worms - because, why not? What will happen when the two lonely animals meet?

Any adult is going to try to sing this book to the classic Worm song. Sorry to say - It won’t work. Despite that flaw, the illustrations and the story are fun for kids.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Don’t Leave by Kristen Tracy and Fecerico Fabiani - ADVISABLE

Don’t Leave by Kristen Tracy and Fecerico Fabiani. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Mamillan), OCTOBER 2026. $19. 9780374393403

BUYING ADVISORY:Pre- K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Wild Princess knows that something is up. When she smuggles herself into a suitcase, she finds herself at a donation center, instead of with her people on vacation like she thought.

If only cats could read and understand the cat lesson here. Regardless, it is super cute.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Cat Shapes by Aidan Cassie - OPTIONAL

Cat Shapes by Aidan Cassie. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2026. $10 (board book). 9781525313271

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

PPEALS TO: SOME

Cassie gives us a cute board book about the many different shapes that a cat can take to fit inside the many different objects they find curious.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Beware the Sock Monkeys!! by Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox - ADVISABLE

Beware the Sock Monkeys!! by Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox. PICTURE BOOK. Balzer + Bray (Harper), SEPTEMBER 2006. $19. 9781250414380

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The kids can’t finish getting ready because the sock monkeys have stolen most of their socks. Dad is not fooled - he knows that the kids are just making excuses - or are they???

I believe in sock monkeys too. How else can you explain disappearing socks? Fox provides colorful, fun illustrations for Stutzman’s silly story.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS