Bitsy Bat Team Star by Kaz Windness - ADVISABLE

Bitsy Bat Team Star by Kaz Windness. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Shuster, 2025. $20. 9781665947558

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Autistic Bitsy Bat is excited to go to school.  Bitsy is a fantastic flyer, and can't wait to show off her star flying skills in the class competition.  Her class welcomes a new student Enzo Owl who uses a tablet and sign language to communicate.  Bitsy and Enzo practice race, and Enzo wins.  Bitsy has a meltdown and uses the sensory room.  While racing on the day of the competition, Bitsy notices a friend in trouble. Will she care more about herself winning the race or will she help her friend?

Windness herself is autistic, and tells an inclusive story from her own insights.  This cute story highlights the importance of family support, and the power of teamwork.  The backmatter of the book is a "More About Autism Glossary."

The teacher of the class is from the LGBTQ+ community, but it is not pointed out in the story other than subtly in the illustrations.

PGPowers

Trains and Trainers by Sarah Musa, illustrated by Rania Hasan - ADVISABLE

Trains and Trainers by Sarah Musa, illustrated by Rania Hasan. PICTURE BOOK. Kube Publishing, 2024. $11. 9780860379034

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Malik's brother is autistic. Sometimes they have fun together, but lately life with Badr is too hard.  They fight over the T.V. , and when they go to the store, Malik can't have a nice train set because Badr will just take it apart.  Mama says that Badr is a blessing. Malik doesn't see it that way.  But then Badr does something unexpected to cheer Malik up.

Trains & Trainers is a heartfelt tale about how everyone is special and unique in their own way.

PGPowers

Wake Up Moon! by Lita Judge - ADVISABLE

Wake Up Moon! by Lita Judge. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum Books (Simon), 2024. $19. 9781665939256

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

The snowstorm is over and the stars are out.  One little squirrel is not in bed and can't wait to play in the snow. He wakes up his friends Fox and Owl. They romp, run, and build a snow bear.  Squirrel yells "Wake up moon! Wake up bear!"  Then the friends hide when they hear a real bear roar!  Is this scary bear a friend or foe?

Judge captures the energy and excitement of playing at night in new fallen snow.  She also brings her story to life with fabulous snowy illustrations and humorous animal antics.

PGPowers

Where We Can Hear the Giants Sing by Peter Cheong - ADVISABLE

Where We Can Hear the Giants Sing by Peter Cheong. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9781250907578

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The little girl has a secret, but when she tells her mother, the mother won’t allow it, so the girl grabs her secret and runs. Will the girl enjoy her secret so much that it becomes more important to her than home?

Cheong’s lovely book can only be appreciated as a combination of words and pictures working together to reveal the plot and action. I would call this a mentor text on how illustrations can be better utilized to be in partnership with the words, not just supporting them.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Days After Christmas by Maggie C. Rudd and Elisa Chavarri - OPTIONAL

The Days After Christmas by Maggie C. Rudd, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. PICTURE BOOK. Farra Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9780374390167

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

The days after Christmas are filled with lovely memories and also melancholy as everything gets put away to wait for the next year.

Rudd’s text is a sing-songy rhyme that forces you to sing along, instead of enjoying the story. I would have preferred to be able to linger on each page instead of feeling I needed to rush off. The sentiment is nice, but it is not a Christmas book and only kind of a winter book.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sinclair: the velociraptor who thought he was a chicken by Douglas Rees, illustrated by Galia Bernstein - ESSENTIAL

Sinclair: the velociraptor who thought he was a chicken by Douglas Rees, illustrated by Galia Bernstein. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9781250781994

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Edna, the first chicken, has hatched the first seven chicks, but there is a mystery egg close by that she decides to hatch.  Sinclair looks so different from the others, but he tries very hard to be the best chicken he can - and his family loves him very much.  When a giant predator snatches two of the chicks away to eat, it is Sinclair’s time to shine!

Rees’s anti-Ugly Duckling book is a delight! Bernstein’s Sinclair is ugly/beautiful and the whole book is a visual treat. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sweet and Sour by Brian Yanish and Stacy Ebert - ESSENTIAL

Sweet and Sour by Brian Yanish and Stacy Ebert. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9780374391447

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Sweet and Sour do not get along - even though they live next door to each other.  Opposites in every way.  When their differences turn into disagreements, no one is sure that there is a way for them to reconcile and become friends.

Much more than a simple book of opposites - though there are plenty of those pages. Yanish’s story shows us that differences can be roads to friendship too. Ebert’s illustrations are the perfect accompaniment. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Love is Taylor Swift by Patty Michaels, illustrated by Ruth Burrows - OPTIONAL

Love is Taylor Swift by Patty Michaels, illustrated by Ruth Burrows. PICTURE BOOK. Simon, 2025. $10. 9781665973519

BUYING ADVISORY: GIFT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: FEW

What goes into being a Swiftie  -- sharing kindness and love.

The glittery cover will catch attention, but there is very little on the inside to give this book a backbone.  A die-hard young Swiftie might like it as a gift?

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Whose Poop is That? by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Kelsey Oseid - OPTIONAL

Whose Poop is That? by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Kelsey Oseid. BOARD BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $9. 9781623545932

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Look at that pile of poo - which animal does it belong to?

Reprinted from the original 2017 picture book. I don’t have access to the original PB to see if there are fewer animals in the board book version. I’m not sure why this is now in board book form - seems like an odd choice to me.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

First Words by Patricia Hegerty and Summer Macon - ESSENTIAL

First Words by Patricia Hegerty and Summer Macon. INTERACTIVE BOARD BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $9. 9781664351523

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Hegerty and Macon give us 20 bright, simple words to trace with a finger (with directions as if you are writing them) and a little flap to lift to finish the page. All of the words are very simple and will be a fun book for learning those first sight words.  Now I need to buy the first two books in the set!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Little Bunny by Petr Horacek - OPTIONAL

Little Bunny by Petr Horacek. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick, 2024. $8. 9781536238853

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Little Bunny is out in the forest when it spots a fox.  Quick! Better find mom!

Each page spread has some kind of cut-out to peek through to the next page, adding interest and texture. The short sentences are rhyming, but of the “me, be, see” variety, so they are not sing-songy. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Pets by Xavier Deneux - OPTIONAL

Pets by Xavier Deneux. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle, 2025. $17. 9781797232485

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Deneux mixes bright, simple illustrations with cut-outs, for a visually engaging board book. Each pages covers one of eight common household pets.  Along the bottom are a series of words associated with the animal. While little one can’t read the words, they can point to the page if an adult reads the words aloud. 

I would buy a copy of this purely for the illustrations and cut outs.  I know my grandchildren would love running their hands along the pages - or chewing on the corners.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Cute Toot by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Olivia de Castro - OPTIONAL

Cute Toot by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Olivia de Castro. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt and Company (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9781250881298

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Baby is playing hide-n-seek in the attic with her sister.  She is afraid that her sister will know right where she is because she keeps tooting.  Then Baby and her sister both have a huge stinky toot war.  Then Momma walks in the attic.  What will she say?

McDaniel handles a stinky and embarrassing subject with humor, but seems to teach that letting a toot loose is great fun.  I feel teaching manners is missing from this story. 

PGPowers

Glenn Burke, Game Changer by Phil Bildner and Daniel J. O'Brien - ADVISABLE

Glenn Burke, Game Changer: The Man Who Invented the High Five by Phil Bildner, illustrated by Daniel J. O'Brien. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Farrar, Straus & Giroux (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9780374391225 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Glenn Burke was all about baseball. He was a five-tool talent who could run, hit. throw and more! He was a valuable member of the Dodgers. Burke was also the first openly gay Major League baseball player. For most of his teammates it wasn't a problem, but for others, like his coach, it was. But he's better known for something else, Glenn Burke invented the High Five! 

What a nice short biography of Glenn Burke! I loved that it addressed his private life, giving some indication what it was like to be gay in the 1970s, as well as the positives and negatives of his sports career. Bildner's author's note - I cried, at an author's note. Seriously Phil? There's also a bibliography, and a cool timeline. Glenn Burke is black. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Bear Who Had Nothing To Wear by Jeanne Willis and Brian Fitzgerald - ADVISABLE

The Bear Who Had Nothing To Wear by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald. PICTURE BOOK. Scallywag Press, 2023. $19. 9781915252951

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO:MANY

Albie is a bear with nothing to wear.  He got on the i-pad and ordered himself clothes, but he didn't like anything.  How will he dress to feel like himself?  What should he do with all the clothes that he doesn't want?

Willis has written  a funny story in verse about the joys of dressing up, sharing, and one bear's search for his own identity.  This would be a cute book to read aloud, and show the amusing illustrations.

PGPowers

Randy Rainbow and the Marvelously Magical Pink Glasses by Randy Rainbow and Jaimie MacGibbon - OPTIONAL

Randy Rainbow and the Marvelously Magical Pink Glasses by Randy Rainbow, illustrated by Jaimie MacGibbon.  PICTURE BOOK Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), May 2025. $19. 9781250900777 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Randy thrives being his own person, he dresses the way he likes, he paints his fingernails and he listens to Broadway show tunes! But when the kids at school tease him, his granny has a solution. A sparkly pair of magical pink glasses. Randy can wear them and turn the world he sees to something marvelous. 

I love Randy Rainbow - he's so entertaining, funny, and clever. I expected to see more of that in his picture book. I read an e-arc so I don't know if there was back matter included. Is this a recreation of his own childhood experience, his "origin story" about how he became a comedian? I didn't love that he embraced the teasing, calling himself a weirdo as part of his stand-up comedy routine for his friends. There's got to be a better path to acceptance of kids who chart their own course. Sorry Randy, I wanted to love this; I didn't. Randy is white. 

Lisa Librarian