US Air Force Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta, Sammie Garnett and Vickie Fraser - ESSENTIAL

US Air Force Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta and Sammie Garnett, illustrated by Vickie Fraser. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2023. $18. 9781570919527

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

A is for the US Air Force which was created in 1947. B is for the many Bombers used in the Air Force. C is for Cargo Aircraft. D is for Drones. Etc., etc.

Pallotta and Garnett created a comprehensive informational book about the Air Force. They included definitions where needed. The pages include both detailed illustrations and photographs. Specific number planes and missiles help the reader to see the depth of defense involved in the Air Force. A timeline of the Air Force can be seen at the back of the book. The book ends with a beautiful motto: Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do". 

MOMMAC

Pride by Eric Huang and Amy Phelps - OPTIONAL

Pride by Eric Huang and Amy Phelps, 48 pages. NON FICTION PICTURE BOOK. words&pictures (Quarto), 2025. $15. 9781836000877

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Young Brian, along with his friends and family, are preparing for a Pride month celebration and parade. The friends are deciding what to wear at the parade and Brian is not quite sure what to wear during the parade. Brian's school and teachers develop lessons and activities and present historical features of the Pride celebration including the lives of famous LGBTQIA+ people. While his friends make decisions about their parade wear Brian is slow to figure out his. Finally, he decides on an outfit that will be perfect. 

The endnotes give facts about the Stonewall Uprising, activities, history of Pride and Pride flag, and a quiz." I liked the age-appropriate approach to Pride and the history of Pride. I like the portrayal of diverse families and a community working together to celebrate all people within a community. The characters reflect a wide diversity of ethnicities, gender fluidity, and family relationships. Something the book tries to do is not categorize the characters.

Bryant Baird, Certified Teacher Librarian

The First Snow by Marie Stumpford & Radek Maly, illustrated by Marie Stumpford - ESSENTIAL

The First Snow by Marie Stumpford & Radek Maly, illustrated by Marie Stumpford. PICTURE BOOK.  Albatross Media Group, 2024. $18. 9788000070759

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Remember how magical it is to wake up to the first snow of winter?  How the world looks completely different?  Stefan and Agnes wake up to the first snow and have many adventures in the winter wonderland that is their back yard.

The First Snow captures the excitement and beauty of the first snow of the year.  The plot is unpredictable as Stefan and Agnes use their imaginations to have fun in the snow.  Stumpford uses soft, soothing pastel colors to create a magical winter land.  The cover is textured and covered in glitter. This would be a great read aloud!

Stefan and Agnes cue white.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Small World: Meet 30 of Earth's Tiniest Creatures by Nick Crumpton and Rosie Dore - ESSENTIAL

Small World: Meet 30 of Earth's Tiniest Creatures by Nick Crumpton, illustrated by Rosie Dore, 95 pages. NON-FICTION. Quarto Publishing, 2025. $30. 9780711288577

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

The tiniest of creatures, as all animals, strive to find food and escape capture. They are found in all types of animal groups such as birds, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles. Most of the tiny creatures use supremely defined ways of thwarting their enemies from camouflage, to body transformation, to poison, to bioluminescence, and to symbiotic relations. Some of these amazing creatures measure less than an inch.

Crumpton shares incredible information concerning tiny creatures. Dore's illustrations are lifelike and beautiful. Each new page is full of surprise and delight for biology lovers of all ages. At the end of each section, Dore illustrates on one page the comparison of the actual size of these creatures. This is a must read if just for the Illustrations. 

MOMMAC

Unsinkable Lucile by Hugh Brewster, illustrated by Laurie McGaw - ADVISABLE

Unsinkable Lucile by Hugh Brewster, illustrated by Laurie McGaw. NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Firefly Books, 2022. $20. 9780228103820

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Lucy Duff spent her younger years growing up on her grandparent’s farm in Canada. When her widowed mother remarried, they returned to England. Later Lucy married James Wallace, but he abandoned her and her daughter, Esme, after six years. Need prodded Lucy to come up with the idea to become a dressmaker. Women loved her designs. Eventually, she opened a dress shop in London under the name "Lucile", then one in New York and Paris. Her designs were famous. As her business grew, she came up with the idea of fashion shows, the first ever to do so.  

Hugh Brewster used quotes from Lucy Duff to enhance his third person telling of her life story. Brewster gives a brief, but clear  glimpse into Lucy's complicated life.  There is a good mix between original photos connected with Lucy Duff's works and beautiful illustrations of the story. Anyone interested in fashion will enjoy the rich history and designs mentioned.

MOMMAC

How to Find a Yeti written and illustrated by Matt Hunt - ADVISABLE

How to Find a Yeti written and illustrated by Matt Hunt. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2025. $19. 9798887772127

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Our nameless protagonist cannot wait to find a yeti in the forest behind his house. He is a self-proclaimed expert - he has read all 27 books available in the library! So he goes exploring with his dog Milo to finally find a yeti, but only time will tell if he actually finds what he is looking for.

It’s a great day to go on a hunt for a yeti with our book’s narrator - the story is a fun adventure story where the reader gets to know something that the main character doesn’t know just yet.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth by Joan Schoettler, illustrated by Jessica Lanan - ADVISABLE

Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth by Joan Schoettler, illustrated by Jessica Lanan. PICTURE BOOK. Lee and Low Books, 2011, reprint 2025. $12. 9781643795904

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The Emperor of Korea had called upon Ji-su's mother to live in the royal palace and sew for his household. Ji-su could not go with her. In her sorrow, Ji-su poured her heart and soul into learning how to become a great seamstress by making bojagi, a square cloth of various designs used for multipurpose. One day, the Sanguiwon, the master overseer of sewing at the palace, tells Ji-su that if she could sew a perfect bojagi by the next festival, he would come again to see if she were worthy to live with her mother in the palace.

Schoettler tells a sweet story that also includes the traditions and culture of Korea. She weaves many Korean words into the story which enhance the understanding of Korean society. To help with the Korean words, she created a glossary at the end of the book. Lanan used subdued watercolors to tell this tale of loss, love, and hope. It makes an ideal book to introduce Korean culture. 

MOMMAC 

Mao Mao's Perfectly Imperfect Day written and illustrated by Laan Cham - ADVISABLE

Mao Mao's Perfectly Imperfect Day written and illustrated by Laan Cham. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593710043

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Mao Mao, the perfectionist panda, must learn how to deal with his chaotic, messy, new classmate Olivia. Can he teach her the art of being perfect? Or will he learn an important lesson himself?

As a perennially recovering perfectionist myself, it's an important reminder to embrace the chaos and enjoy life's little messes when you can. I loved the kawaii-inspired art style and I loved the message of the book.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

A Day in the Life of the Desert by Roxie Munro - ADVISABLE

A Day in the Life of the Desert by Roxie Munro  NON-FICTION EARLY READER. Holiday House, 2023. $19 9780823450923 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

There are six North American deserts. They include the Mojave, Sonora, Great Basin, Chihuahua, Painted, and Death Valley. Deserts are fragile ecosystems. The animals and plants that live there have adapted to withstand the heat and low moisture. These animals and plants are interconnected and need each other. If one species dies, it affects the ecosystem forever. We can make a difference by conserving water, decreasing our light pollution, limiting use of recreational vehicles, and reducing energy use. 

The author divided the book into three main topics for each desert which she illustrated. They are: daytime desert animals, nighttime desert animals, and fun facts about animals in each desert. The illustrations are highly detailed with a "find the animal" list at the bottom of each page. Munro has keys to the lists at the back of the book. She also lists organizations that help to protect these wild desert areas.

MOMMAC

Weirdosaurus: Prehistory's Most Peculiar Dinosaurs written and illustrated by Philip Bunting - ADVISABLE

Weirdosaurus: Prehistory's Most Peculiar Dinosaurs written and illustrated by Philip Bunting. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto Publishing Group), 2025. $20. 9780711295827

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Check out over 80 different weird dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods with this detailed and hilarious guide, complete with all the facts and stats that your little dinosaur loving heart could desire.

My eye was caught by the colorful book cover, but I was pleased to learn lots of different things about dinosaurs that I never knew before. Your younger readers might struggle with the Latin names, but the accompanying translation and pronunciation guide will help them out. It’s mostly a reference book with witty commentary from the author, so it will be really appealing to those students who are already interested in dinosaurs, but the illustrations will also draw in those who check it out in passing.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Listen to the Music at Christmas by Mary Richards and Skylar White - OPTIONAL

Listen to the Music at Christmas by Mary Richards and Skylar White. INTERACTIVE PICTURE BOOK. Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025. $25. 9781836005834

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Sammy and Pip have brought out a special Christmas box with magical objects and a sheet of music that takes them on a magical musical journey around the world to see different ways Christmas is celebrated.

The question you, as an adult, need to ask yourself is - how many times do you want to hear the snippet of music? THe back matter includes the name of each piece. Pip and Sammy’s story is incidental to listening to the tunes.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Fox and Owl’s Winter Adventure by Jackie Lui and Maanlie - ADVISABLE

Fox and Owl’s Winter Adventure by Jackie Lui and Maanlie. PICTURE BOOK. Words and Pictures (Quarto), 2025. $15. 9781836009580

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Fox is awake while his family sleeps snuggly in their den. He goes outside and heads off on an adventure with Owl. 

If you can believe a fox and owl making snow sculptures, then you’ll find Lui’s premise cute. THe illustrations have the perfect wintery feel to them. The back matter includes fix and owl facts, two craft ideas with instructions, and a little game, which help the quality of the book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Joy to the Whole World by Lucy Brownridge and Sang Miao - OPTIONAL

Joy to the Whole World by Lucy Brownridge and Sang Miao. INTERACTIVE BOARD BOOK. Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025. $23. 9780711297920

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Travel to eleven homes around the world and learn a little bit about how each of them celebrates Christmas.

While a board book, the pages are large. Each page not only has a lot to discover in the illustrations, but each page has several flaps to lift; the flaps blend into the illustrations, so I had to run my fingers all over the pages to find each of them. The illustrations are very full - almost too much. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Star by Fiona Munro and Laura Hambleton - OPTIONAL

Star by Fiona Munro and Laura Hambleton. BOARD BOOK. Design Eye (Quarto), 2025. $13. 9781805702511

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

If you have worries and troubles, let your star take them away.

Munro has tried to create a little meditation book with cut-outs and a fluffy star. The text  is quite a lot for a board book and the rhyming lines and pattern are quite short, making me feel rushed, rather than calming me like a mindfulness book should. I know my grandson son will try to yank the star out of the book first thing,

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?! by Rebecca Patterson and Luciano Lozano. - OPTIONAL

How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?! by Rebecca Patterson and Luciano Lozano. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9781836003021

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

The little girl is so excited about Christmas - she is counting the days.  

While the girl’s enthusiasm is a bit fun to watch, I don’t know how much charm this holds for a child - who wants their own Christmas excitement, not to watch someone else’s. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

As the World Goes By by Jonny Lambert - ADVISABLE

As the World Goes By by Jonny Lambert. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $19. 9781664300552

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Buttons is a cute dog watching the world from his window.  He sees a beautiful blue butterfly go by.  He thinks everyone will want to see this! Buttons rushes outside to share his small wonder with the world, but all the people in the street, and at the cafe don't notice anything.  Two new animal friends pick up the chase.  How will Buttons get people to notice the beautiful butterfly?

As the World Goes By inspires children to find the beauty and stillness in a busy world, and to appreciate the little things in life.  The illustrations are beautiful, interesting and action packed.

PGPowers

Secrets From the North Pole by Sakia Gwinn and Daria Danilova - ADVISABLE

Secrets From the North Pole by Sakia Gwinn and Daria Danilova. PICTURE BOOK. Fences Lincoln (Quarto), 2025 $30. 9781836005742

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Everjongle, Santa’s head elf, has compiled a book of all of the Santa and Christmas facts that can safely be shared with humans. 

For families that dive deep into Christmas lore and Santa fever, adults and children will enjoy reading about Santa and all the things building up to Christmas. The illustrations have an old-fashioned charm to them.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Who's Making All That Noise by Darrin Lunde and Erica J. Chen - ADVISABLE

Who's Making All That Noise by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Erica J. Chen. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $18. 9781623546267

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Who's Making All That Noise?! plays a noisy guessing game with the reader about which animal is rap-tap-tapping, or Too-OOt! trumpeting, Yak-Yak-Yammering and many more sounds of different animals.

Lunde creates a fun and rowdy read-aloud to learn more about different animals.  I'm not sure a human can make all the different sounds, but it's fun to try.

PGPowers

Dawn by Marc Martin - OPTIONAL

Dawn by Marc Martin. Candlewick Studio, 2025. $19. 9781536232400

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Martin takes us on an adventure through the forest, using a single word with each illustration as a sort of contemplation and guide. I can see an adult using this with a child as a calming tool, like guided meditation, as the illustrations are mostly soothing. I’d even be interested in using it at bedtime.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Returning the Sword by Caren Stelson and Amanda Yoshida - OPTIONAL

Returning the Sword by Caren Stelson , illustrated by Amanda Yoshida. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Carolrhoda (Lerner), 2025. $19. 9798765611531

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

At the end of World War II, after a stint in Japan keeping the peace, Orval was gifted a sword from the thousands of swords surrendered by the Japanese people.  For almost 70 years Orval cared for the sword, but never talked about it. Then he finally had an idea of what he could do with the sword and still work on spreading peace.

I’m not sure how post WWII fits into the elementary curriculum. If you have a teacher who touches on it, or talks about war, peace, reparations, etc.  This is a book worth looking into.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I’m Going to Eat a Polar Bear by Karl Newsom and Nicola Kinnear - OPTIONAL

I’m Going to Eat a Polar Bear by Karl Newsom and Nicola Kinnear. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9780711295742

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Penguin is hungry, but he’s tired of eating the same old fish.  He’s heard rumors of something called a “bolar pear” so he sets off on a very long journey to find this new delicacy.

Of course it is silly that a penguin would travel all the way to the North Pole and back in the space of a single meal - or that the polar bear would follow it the whole way and the penguin not recognize what he is looking for.  Your tolerance for this book is going to depend on your tolerance for mildly funny nonsense. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Journey of the Humpbacks by Juliana Munoz Toro and Dipacho - ADVISABLE

Journey of the Humpbacks by Juliana Munoz Toro, illustrated by Dipacho. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Eerdmans, 2025. $19. 9780802856432

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Toro takes us through the migration and mating of the humpback whales along the coast of Chile. 

Dipacho’s illustrations have a quality that compliments the non-fiction in a way that doesn’t make it feel too “non-fiction-y”. It is text heavy, though - so not a read aloud. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Circus of Shadows by Lidia Brankovic - OPTIONAL

Circus of Shadows by Lidia Brankovic. PICTURE BOOK. Cicada Books, 2024. $17. 9781800660526

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Lika’s shadow has started misbehaving and then one day it runs away, forcing Lika to come with it to the Circus of Shadows. The two pieces of Lika learn to find joy in each other.

A very atmospheric picture book - while it doesn’t make a lot of sense, it could be a good vehicle to talk about dark things and why we are sometimes afraid of them. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Floor It! by Bex Tobin Fine and Federico Fabiani - OPTIONAL

Floor It! by Bex Tobin Fine and Federico Fabiani. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593904992

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

See the floor from the perspective of a baby as they try to traverse the front room to their ultimate goal - mommy!

I wanted to like this book, but I am confused by who the intended audience is.  Baby? Well, a crawling baby isn’t going to understand the words.  An older sibling - maybe, but while they might like the idea of setting up a maze for a baby sibling to crawl through - the book is still too juvenile for them. A parent - could be.  All I can see is that it is a mildly interesting book about perspective.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Pool Party by Amy Hevron - ADVISABLE

Pool Party by Amy Hevron. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665935043

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Join the party as a bromeliad fills with water in the rainy season and then nurtures life throughout the year, until it is time to start over again.

While very simple, Hevron stills brings enough information to the telling that I felt I learned a lot. Her illustrations have a child-like quality, while still feeling professional.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Everything Trail by Meg Fleming, illustrated by Chuck Graenink - ADVISABLE

The Everything Trail by Meg Fleming, illustrated by Chuck Graenink. PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665924870

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Come explore the wonders of a redwood forest. 

Fleming and Graenick turn the picture book on its side to capture the majesty of the redwoods. The rhythm is based around “This is the church, this is the steeple”. You can also follow certain children from page to page - I always enjoy that. A book to enjoy the majesty of wandering through a forest.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen - ADVISABLE

If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen. PICTURE BOOK. Rocky Pond (Penguin), 2025. $20. 9780593324981

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (ADVISABLE) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Jack is talking to the mayor and dreaming of the town he would build if he were in power.

Like the three other books before this, Jack’s imagination is wild and also full of hope. It is a lot of silly fun, with a few good ideas thrown in. Van Dusen has written in a loosely iambic pentameter rhythm, so it can be difficult, when reading aloud, to keep from getting stuck singing the words. THe illustrations are highly engaging.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Trapped in the Tar Pit by Jessica Stremer and Alexander Vidal - ADVISABLE

Trapped in the Tar Pit by Jessica Stremer, illustrated by Alexander Vidal. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665953177

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Go back in time to the origins of the La Brea Tarpits, on through the animals stuck by it and on to the discoveries still being made.

If you have never been to the La Brea TarPits it is worth a visit if you are ever near Los Angeles (or Disneyland). While La Brea might be the most famous, there are at least a dozen sites around the world. Kids love dinosaurs - I think this will be of interest. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I’m Trying to Love Farts Flatulence by Bethany Barton - ESSENTIAL

I’m Trying to Love Farts Flatulence by Bethany Barton. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593693773

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

A young scientist and her little brother are going to teach us all about flatulence!

You know you probably need more than one copy of this book - farts are a very popular topic for elementary aged boys - and high school boys - and adult boys. Barton gives the humor and the facts about farts.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Salon Saturday written by Janelle Harper, illustrated by Charlot Kristensen - ESSENTIAL

Salon Saturday written by Janelle Harper, illustrated by Charlot Kristensen. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Young Readers Group (Penguin Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593526330

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

It's the first trip to the salon for our young narrator and she is overwhelmed by all the options she sees on the street. What hairstyle would fit her best? Bobs, buns, coils, and fros and so much more!

I loved this story of our young narrator finding her own kind of beautiful, guided by the women in her life, like her grandmother, mom, and older sister. This book is a beautiful tribute to Black hair and shining the spotlight on one of the things that makes us unique. I think this could be paired really nicely with Hair Love by Matthew Cherry.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers - ESSENTIAL

The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. PICTURE BOOK. Philomel (Penguin), 2025. $20. 9780593622360

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Duncan wants to color, but all of the crayons are gone!  It’s okay, though.  Each of them sent Duncan a letter telling him about their new adventures.

I‘m so glad we get to revisit the crayons. Their adventures are so much fun. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Firefly Song by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Ji_Hyuk Kim - ADVISABLE

Firefly Song by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Ji_Hyuk Kim. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. McEldery (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665931847

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Lynn loves her yearly visits to the family cabin - especially watching the fireflies come out at night with their 6 seconds on- 6 seconds off synchronous pattern.  When Lynn learned that scientists thought that none of the fireflies in her area were synchronized, she knew she had to prove them wrong.  Thus began her journey to becoming known as the Lightning Bug Lady.

I really liked how even though Lynn never studied to become an entomologist, she still put in the hours and has become an important part of the field. Citizen scientist and a woman. Look into it as a classroom support book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Nibbles Christmas by Emma Yarlett - ADVISABLE

Nibbles Christmas by Emma Yarlett. INTERACTIVE BOARD BOOK. Kane Miller, 2021. $12. 9781684642953

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Oh No! A hungry monster is eating its way through Christmas!

I love a board book with a difference - in this case, holes of every page - including the covers! Nibbles is silly and the action is based around a countdown - so educational to boot!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

1, 2, 3, Do the Robot written by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw - ADVISABLE

1, 2, 3, Do the Robot written by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw. BOARD BOOK. EDC Publishing, 2023. $14. 9781684645664

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Layla the inventor isn’t tired enough for bed, so she stays up to create not 1, not 2, but 3 new robot friends. They dance and design the night away before falling asleep in the wee hours of the morning.

Three is not a crowd in this book!  I thought it was a cute STEM focused story with our girl Layla and her robot friends. I’m all about women in STEM. If you read it in your class, you can have everyone design their own robot friend as a connection to the story.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Merry Christmas! illustrated by Giovana Mederiros - ADVISABLE

Merry Christmas! illustrated by Giovana Mederiros. INTERACTIVE BOARD BOOK. Kane Miller, 2023. $15. 9781684646395

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Join Santa and the elves as they are getting ready for Christmas Eve.

Sliding scene changers will be fun for young eyes and hands, who will want to flip the pages back and forth to make the changes. The rhyming is simple and a little stiff. A good optional holiday book.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Best Daddy of All by Peter Horn, illustrated by Jessica Meserve - ADVISABLE

The Best Daddy of All by Peter Horn, illustrated by Jessica Meserve. BOARD BOOK. North South Books, 2025. $20. 9780735845671

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Little Sebastian, the turtle, is relaxing with his dad. in the grass. Sebastian wonders what kind of things dads can do. Dad then goes on to describe what animal dads can do. Sebastian then guesses which kind of animal his dad is talking about. Sebastian decides who the best daddy is in the end. 

Horn creates a sweet story all children can relate to. Meserve echoes with playful illustrations. She fills the pages with movement enough for any reader to enjoy. 

MOMMAC

 

Best Counting Book Ever by Richard Scarry - ESSENTIAL

Best Counting Book Ever by Richard Scarry. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Random House, reprint 2025, 1975. $18. 9780593813638

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Willy Bunny is bored. His father gives him the idea to go count everything he sees and share it with the family. Willy starts by counting himself as one. As Willy walks along, he counts various things up to 20 and then by 10s to  90. At dinner he shares his counting adventure  with his family. Willy and his dad end their day by going out on the porch to continue the count to 100.

Richard Scarry takes the cake on this delightful adding and subtracting book. Along the way, children are able to categorize by color and activity also. This delightful book can be read over and over by both children and adults. It is so very entertaining!

MOMMAC

Baby Ballena written by Ben Gundersheimer, illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero - ADVISABLE

Baby Ballena written by Ben Gundersheimer, illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Young Readers Group (Penguin Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593624845

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Follow along with the gray whale migration from the warm sandy shores of Mexico all the way up to the cold Arctic waters with our bilingual narrator, Juana, a newly born gray whale.  

I loved the bilingual text and thought the illustrations were engaging. I could see being a great read-aloud for a dual-language immersion class. It also could be a great book to add to a science picture book collection. 

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Charlie Mouse Cleans House by Katerina Gorelik - ESSENTIAL

Charlie Mouse Cleans House by Katerina Gorelik. PICTURE BOOK. Red Comet Press, 2025. $20. 9781636551418

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Charley Mouse keeps her house clean and immaculate at all times. She also cleans houses in the Wild Wood and the Magical Forest for other creatures. Monday through Wednesday she cleans for Moles, Frog, Fox, and Wolf. Thursday through Friday she cleans for the Witch, Unicorn, Gingerbread House, and Dragon. At each house, she is asked to collect some items that have been misplaced. She returns to her tidy house to rest before starting another work week.

If this book is an example of Katerina Gorelik's work, all her books would be best sellers! The highly detailed, adorable illustrations could keep one busy for a long time. Not only that, but the neighborhood she has created with maps and storyline are just as adorable. Each page makes the reader smile. 

MOMMAC

Snarky Sharky by Bethan Clarke and Nikolas Ilic - OPTIONAL

Snarky Sharky by Bethan Clarke, illustrated by Nikolas Ilic. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $19. 9781664300644

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: FEW

Snarky Sharky is the biggest thing on his reef. But he is a bit tired of all of the attention, of the dull surroundings, and of the sea creatures who are constantly admiring him. But when he ventures off the reef for the first time, a surprise awaits him.

The story dragged with all of Sharky’s lines being sarcastic and a bit annoying - while I liked the surprise awaiting him, it was a one pager and the whole thing just didn’t feel finished.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Volcano Atlas by Tom Jackson and Maggie Li, - ESSENTIAL

Volcano Atlas by Tom Jackson and Maggie Li, 61 pages. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Words and Pictures (Quarto), 2024. $17. 9780711283794

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

What is a volcano?  Come along with Jackson and Li as they dive into the basics of a volcano and then tour 23 volcanic sites around the world with more detailed information.

I love this highly illustrated non-fiction book.  Each page is full of fascinating tidbits in a highly digestible fashion. I would love to buy extra copies of the book and divide the pages up for a class to investigate each site further. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

We're Different and It's Totally Cool! written and illustrated by Camey Yeh - ADVISABLE

We're Different and It's Totally Cool! written and illustrated by Camey Yeh. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593899847

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A simple story to illustrate how we are all different (but with a lot of similarities) and how that is something worth celebrating.  

I liked the overall message of the book, and the illustrations were cute and quirky, but it didn't have enough uniqueness to make it one that I would recommend everyone to read or add to their library right away. 

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

The Laughing Book by Kael Tudor and Daniel Wiseman - ESSENTIAL

The Laughing Book by Kael Tudor and Daniel Wiseman. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9781836000143

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Explore the many ways and reasons why we laugh.

Wiseman’s illustrations are a joyous way to talk about all things laugh related.  From what a laugh sounds like, to good and bad reasons and situations that make us laugh, I had such a  good time enjoying Tudor’s work. It will a lot of fun to share out loud - there are pages that are guaranteed to make your audience LOL or ROFL!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Scrub in the Tub by Jan Thomas - ESSENTIAL

A Scrub in the Tub by Jan Thomas. PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2025. $18. 9781665972963

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Rabbit and Weasel are trying to convince Pig that he needs to take a bath, but Pig is not interested.

Thomas has another silly, short book for us. Her whole cast of characters is so much fun to follow. There are at least a dozen books now. And this one would be great for a small one who doesn’t want to take a bath.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Fanny’s Big Idea: how Jewish Book Week was born by Richard Michaelson, illustrated by Alyssa Russell - OPTIONAL

Fanny’s Big Idea: how Jewish Book Week was born by Richard Michaelson, illustrated by Alyssa Russell. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Rocky Pond (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9798217003259

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Fanny and her family left their home in Russia when the tsar started burning their villages and homes. In New York she found a place where she could learn and grow, even if she was being urged to learn housekeeping and get married. Throughout her life she encouraged others to learn about their own origins and to learn about others - “The more you learn about someone’s life, the harder it is not to like them.” When she eventually became the director of a Boston public library branch, she created a week of celebration around Hanukkah to help the new American Jews learn their background and to open Jewish traditions and cultures to other ethnic groups.

The title of the book is misleading - while it does lead to the beginning of Jewish Week, it is more Fanny’s story even though we don’t learn her last name until the last page of the book. It is a story of immigration and persecution and finding your own path in the world - which happens to lead to the formation of Jewish Book Week. Lovely illustrations for a quiet story. It could lead to a discussion of “Week” celebrations of various kinds.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Don’t Waste the Poop! by Marilyn Sanger, pictures by Heather Fox - ESSENTIAL

Don’t Waste the Poop! by Marilyn Sanger and Heather Fox. NON-FICTION EARLY READER Level 2. Simon, 2025. $19. 9781665971997

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Sanger and Fox have given us a humorous, but fact-filled look at different animals that use poop for a variety of reasons. While it made me a little queasy, I know that young readers, especially boys, love learning about and talking about poop.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Bittersweet by Christy Mandin - ESSENTIAL

Bittersweet by Christy Mandin. PICTURE BOOK. McElderry (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665960588

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Hilda is a little girl, still starving in Berlin after the end of WWII.  A kind American pilot sees Berlin’s children and first shares the gum from his pocket with them and then drops more candy from his plane when he returns.  As word spreads, first through the armed forces and then to America, where his two sticks of gum turned into 23 tons of candy for the children.

I have always thought Gail Halvorsen’s story is a great tribute to the power of kindness, which is also emphasized in the back matter.  I am glad Mandin turned it into a picture book. Her illustrative style is just the right amount of nostalgia. Also, Gail Halvorsen was born and lived his life in Utah - so home town hero.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Little Snail Goes House Hunting by Bia Melo - ADVISABLE

Little Snail Goes House Hunting by Bia Melo. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9780711292338

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Little Snail is feeling a little bored with the same-old-same-old environment, so she heads out to try out different types of housing environments, traveling all over the world. When she visits the sea slugs, there she finds the inspiration she needs to create the home to reflect her personality.

Melo’s illustrations are colorful and inspiring - so much fun to gaze at. And I really liked how Snail realized it wasn’t the physical environment that mattered the most, but how she felt about herself.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Mr. Willowby’s Head Over Heels Christmas by Robert Barry - ADVISABLE

Mr. Willowby’s Head Over Heels Christmas by Robert Barry. PICTURE BOOK.Doubleday (Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593708194

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree has not arrived and it is Christmas Eve.  Bear sees Willowby’s plight and decides to remedy it. After Bear cuts down a tree, however, he has to deliver it.  So he decides to ride it down the mountain.  Along the way Bear “picks up” more passengers along the way.

Mr. Willowby’s second book is published posthumously by Barry’s son. If you’ve read the first book, this action is like the opposite - the tree gains more riders as it goes. While it didn’t hit me as forcefully as the original, it still is a sweet Christmas story.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS