BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The inventor has created a FrankenKitty and now he is blaming every spooky happening and every slimy thing on the kitty - unfair!
Check out the gorgeous endpapers. And a neat little twist right at the end. Whether you want to blame Kitty or defend him, you will have lots of Halloween creepy things to gaze at on every page.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
The children are headed to the barn on Old MacSpooky’s Farm. Before they can celebrate, they have several obstacles to bypass.
So much fun! The author took care to match the words and rhymes to the original song I will have to work on a spookier voice, however, when I read this one aloud. My absolute new favorite Halloween remake!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Meet five familiar sights of Halloween and hear their sounds in this board book.
I know my grandchildren will delight in pushing the buttons to make the sounds. Parents - there is an on/off switch on the back! The words are simple, but it is the sounds that carry the weight.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Pull the tabs and find a goal and the picture with some counting to do for each page of the board book. Both sides of each tab are put to use, plus the pages have some see-thru elements. A fun one to pair read.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL GIFT - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Briar has called to be a hero and find the Jewel of Everlasting Life and save everything living in the Enchanted Forest. But she needs our help to find her way. Spread out the map, grab the dice, and help her along the way.
Because you need to cut out the map and the Briar figurine, I can’t recommend this for a school library, unless you already check out board games or puzzles to your students. But it would make a great gift for young ones in a family that likes role-playing games and Dungeons and Dragons.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Alex found a dragon and now he is trying to find anyone to help him with its care and feeding.
I love that Alex decided to write letters for help instead of calling, texting, or emailing. Because the book does include letters that could be lost, you will have to cross your fingers (and maybe keep copies of the letters on hand to replace them if lost).
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Vegara give us a succinct, but measured look at the life of Shakespeare. I am always amazed at how well she distills the lives she writes about. Were I a 1st or 2nd grade teacher, I would pair this with other books in the series about authors.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Using colors and instructions, a little one moves their fingers in different ways on the pages.
While the back says it is for ages 10 months and up, a ten month old will need a lot of help to figure out what the book wants them to do. I do like that it works on coordination skills.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Five pull tabs on five pages have a little one counting animals up to five, with a little surprise ending.
Cute illustrations and sturdy tabs - I would have to try really hard to bend them, which means my grandson will also have a hard time!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The simple board book gives the reader one verse of the Old Macdonald song. The cut-out tabs give other ideas for other animal based verses.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The witch has great Halloween surprises planned for all of her friends.
Wow! Dext packs a lot of sliding interaction into this board book. Every slider has something - on the front and the back. That’s not as common as you might think for pull-tabs!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Claire and her mother tour a cathedral on a rainy day. Claire couldn't be more bored. As Claire's mother looks through the cathedral, Claire mopes. Then she sees a stained glass window that is breathtakingly colorful. She starts to see and hear the beauty that is all around her.
Claire and the Cathedral is an enchanting wordless book. The illustrations are intricately drawn in black and white. Splashes of color are purposefully placed throughout the book. Claire and the Cathedral would provoke a great discussion as to why wordless books can be so powerful.
Claire is around 5 or 6 and presumably white.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Poppy is so excited to sleep over at G-Pa and Mimi's house for the first time ever. She'll bake bread and gather pinecones and read all the books her mother used to read. But Home isn't excited. While Poppy is on her big adventure, Home misses Poppy and feels hollow and Echoey. Mom and Dad miss Poppy. Will Poppy start to miss Home too?
Homesick's heartfelt take on a child's first sleepover is very innovative by representing the house as a person with feelings. I enjoyed the yellow colors showing excitement in the illustrations, and the blue showing sadness.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Encyclopedia of Fungi is a reference book that introduces readers to over 300 diverse fungal species from around the globe. It highlights weird, colorful, and unique organisms ranging from glowing toadstools and giant puffballs to zombie fungi. It also includes helpful tips, a glossary, and an index for young nature explorers.
Howard makes this reference very interesting for those who want to know more about the different kinds of mushrooms, and which ones are poisonous. Niumim's gouache illustrations are beautiful, graphic, and interesting.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
How much do you know about Johnny Appleseed? Did you know that he was so much more than a person who planted many apple seeds? In Seed by Seed, a brief and interesting history is given of Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman. Johnny lived by example in five ways. Those ways are explored in Seed by Seed by actual events in his life.
I really loved this book! From the interesting facts about his life to the beautiful lessons we can learn from Johnny, Seed by Seed is very inspirational and interesting! The illustrations have many details and remind me of the art found in Jan Brett's books. In the back of the book, crafts and a recipe are suggested to celebrate Johnny's birthday (Sep 26). Even though this book was written years ago, I think that it will still appeal to students today.
Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman is white.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - SEVERAL
APPEALS TO: ADVISABLE
Have you ever heard of a cow wandering around at night? This cow makes a secret plan to go on an adventure at night. She meets many interesting people and creatures, even aliens! Will the cow ever return to the farm?
I thought this book was hilarious! I think students would enjoy it because the text shows that the cow does not know what is going on but the students can infer from the pictures what is going on. The illustrations are very simple but funny. Would make a great read aloud for younger grades!
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Henry's family loves plants and gardening. Henry struggles to help plants grow even when he follows his mom's instructions perfectly. Henry's mom becomes sick with a serious illness. Can Henry find a way to care for the garden and have hope while his mom is away?
Joseph tells a beautiful story about having hope when life is difficult. The illustrations are eye-catching and vibrant. The text is limited to a few sentences per page. Planting Hope handles the topic of an ill parent in a very gentle and kid friendly way.
Henry is an early elementary aged boy between 1st and 3rd grade. Henry and his parents are black.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Pops and Big Ma start cooking early for the big family feast. Relatives travel from miles away to gather together. Once everyone arrives, aunts, uncles, and cousins all pitch in to help prepare the meal. Family favorites fill the table, and the kitchen buzzes with activity. There is plenty of chaos, laughter, and love as everyone comes together to share a delicious meal and enjoy each other's company.
The fun chaos of a family holiday meal is beautifully depicted in this story. The illustrations are especially wonderful, filled with bold colors, expressive characters, and a sense of constant movement that brings the bustling family gathering to life.
The characters are Black.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Lolly loves to ice skate. When it is just her and her dad on the ice, she can glide, spin, and skate with confidence. But as soon as other people are watching, she freezes and can barely move. Hoping to help her overcome her fears, her dad encourages her to audition for the local ice skating show. The audition does not go well, and Lolly is cast as a snowman whose job is to stand perfectly still. Although she dreams of being part of the snowflake team, she knows performing in front of an audience is too scary. But when one of the snowflakes is injured, Lolly has a chance to step into the spotlight. Can she find the courage to take her place on the ice?
A sweet story about overcoming fears and being brave even when it is scary. Fun illustrations.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young black girl goes scuba diving with her family. As they dive deeper, they find a sunken slave ship. The girl wonders about the history of the wreck. She also thinks about her ancestors and how she is connected to them.
The Deepest Blue has the most beautiful illustrations. It is meant to be read vertically. The text is written in verse and is limited to a few sentences per page. The Deepest Blue is more about the feeling the illustrations invoke than about a plot. It is a tribute to black heritage and history. The girl and her family are black.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young girl discovers the many ways caregiving flows through her family. She helps her grandfather just as he has always helped her. Her mother cares for her grandmother, just as her grandmother once cared for her. Through these everyday acts of kindness, the child begins to see how love and caregiving connect generations. Like a river, this cycle of care runs through her life, linking her to her ancestors and the generations yet to come.
I loved the message of how multigenerational families love and support one another through every stage of life. The story beautifully highlights the ways care and kindness flow between generations, creating strong family bonds. I also really enjoyed the illustrations, which are warm and engaging. However, I am not sure how much the tone and style of the storytelling will appeal to the intended 3–7-year-old audience. The themes are meaningful, but the reflective narrative may be better suited to upper elementary readers who can more fully appreciate its message. The family is Taiwanese.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young boy accompanies his family to the weavers to choose a Kente cloth for his baby brother, Jojo. As he learns about the meanings behind the different patterns and colors, he carefully selects a design he thinks is perfect for his brother. The boy then helps weave the cloth, creating a special gift that celebrates family, tradition, and the rich cultural heritage of Ghana.
I liked the collage-style illustrations, which added warmth and texture to the story. I also enjoyed learning about Kente cloth and its cultural significance. The history, traditions, and importance of Kente are presented in an approachable manner. The additional information at the back of the book provides additional information about Kente cloth. The family is Ghanaian
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: APPEALS TO: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Auset feels split in two after her parents' divorce. As she adjusts to living in two homes, she struggles to make sense of the many emotions that come with such a big change. She finds comfort in the music of Sweet Honey and Bob Marley, the listening ear of her beloved stuffed dolphin, and the love and support of both of her parents.
Children experiencing divorce will likely relate to Auset's as she works through feelings of sadness, confusion, and joy while discovering the strength to navigate difficult days. The story is written in free verse. The illustrations are excellent.
The family is Black.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: APPEALS TO: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
A peek through a picture book with call and response rhyming that pairs words like spoon/moon, house/mouse, and pear/bear with cute accompanying illustrations.
This book is based on the author's eight-year-old son's original idea and drawings. The result is cute, unexpected, creative, and fun. This would be a good read-aloud book.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Hugo is a monster that is trying to find himself. He is bald. Throughout the book, Hugo imagines different hairstyles and wonders if they will help him fit in. Will Hugo find the right hairstyle or will he decide it is ok to just be himself?
Hugo's Hair has bright and colorful pictures. The story is told through rhyme with a sentence or two per page. Even though this book is cute, it does not have much of a plot. However, it does contain a great message about loving who you are.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
A little girl plants seeds in the spring and visits them every day, telling them that one day they will become jack-o'-lanterns. She watches them grow from tiny sprouts into pumpkins. But one little pumpkin is different. While the others grow big and orange, he just keeps getting greener. Then, one summer day, he is picked too soon. What if he isn't a pumpkin at all?
Choppy offers a delightful twist on Halloween traditions. Why wait until October when you can celebrate "Summerween" with a watermelon jack-o'-lantern? The illustrations are bright and cheerful.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Baby knows only one word—"No!" As she learns to talk, she also leaves a trail of chaos in her wake. Share? No. Get dressed? No. Eat breakfast? No. Every request is met with the same determined response. But when she is asked if she would like a kiss, it may be time to learn a new word.
Parents, and older siblings will easily recognize this stage of toddlerhood as little ones begin to discover both language and independence. The story captures the humor, frustration, and sweetness of a child determined to do things her own way.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Can unicorns be hairdressers? Firefighters? What about bakers? In Unicorns in Uniforms, unicorns do it all. Can the unicorns work together to save their village from a dragon?
Unicorns in Uniforms, with its eye-catching cover, will intrigue students who love unicorns. The text rhymes and is limited to a few sentences per page. The illustrations are adorable with lots of details. Working together is the theme that is emphasized in Unicorns in Uniforms.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Secrets of Bees dives into the hive to uncover the intriguing and hidden lives of bees. Learn through beautiful, fun illustrations and text about how bees have incredible super powers, how they pollinate plants, how they communicate, and how without bees, the world would be a very different place.
Secrets of Bees is intriguing and contains interesting new facts found in short paragraphs under clever, engaging illustrations. It is mostly for older children, but younger children will enjoy the pictures.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Louisa May Alcott was always exploring, playing, dreaming, and creating - the very actions that would one day make her a writer. She treasured her "Imagination Book" given to her by her mother. Louisa and her family went through hard times, but they persevered. She worked many odd jobs, and hoped that one day she would make enough money through her writing to help her family. When the opportunity came, she drew from her own family experience to write her first novel Little Women.
Louisa Learns to Write is a beautiful, heartfelt tale biography that will inspire creativity and spark interest in learning to write.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
When her mother leaves the den, Little Fox expects to spend the next few hours by herself. But then she hears a knock at the door. The visitor's name is silence. Silence is so big and strange. Is silence bad, or can silence teach her something good and be her friend?
The Visit is a tender story about making friends with silence, and learning about mindfulness, self-regulation and alone time. Font's artwork is gorgeous.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Growing up, Kathy Sullivan loved to look at maps and National Geographics and wonder about distant places. When she was six years old and saw Sputnik in the sky, she knew space would be the most amazing adventure of all. Kathy became the first American woman to walk in space. Kathy also became the first woman to travel to the Mariana Trench, the lowest known point on Earth. Kathy never forgot the maps she loved as a child and followed her curiosity to the highest reaches and most sunken depths.
Stanley captures the curious, adventurous, brave spirit of Kathy Sullivan and touts her many accomplishments. The juvenile illustrations are engaging and delightful.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
What do families need to have fun and make memoirs? Each other! and this book that will help you discover 50 fun activities you can do at home or in the backyard or in your local area. Each one encourages families to be in the present, enjoy quality time together, practice new skills, and create treasured family memories.
All Together Now helps families get new, fun, and creative ideas to do together for free or with minimal resources. I enjoyed the sweetly illustrated activities.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
In the heart of the forest stands an ancient tree that Ellie loves more than anything. One night, a comet passes overhead and the tree erupts into shimmering stars that seem to take over the forest and bother all the animals. The animals want to chop down the tree to stop the stars. But Ellie loves the tree and tries to find a way to get rid of the stars. Can Ellie and her friends solve the starry problem?
The Star Tree is an interesting comic book tale of friendship and teamwork that will enchant young readers. I enjoyed the cute characters and illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Two kids decide it's time to rumble in their living room! They roughhouse and use their imaginations, making sure to stop when someone says the safe word. When a third kid joins the fun, she gets to learn the rumble rules too. "The text is exclusively speech bubbles; the illustrations are colorful and engaging. Tips and information on how to roughhouse and its benefits are included after the story.
The kids have olive skin and dark hair. The youngest boy is illustrated with hearing aids.
Rachel, Elementary library specialist
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Emily is on the hunt for a door that she can go through. The first door she tries is only for very blue people. The next door is for liars, and Emily doesn't want to go in there. Emily encounters door after door that won't let her in or aren't right for her. Will Emily ever find somewhere just right for her?
A very cute story with a good message about belonging and creating space for yourself and others. I liked that Emily and the doors are illustrated with bright colors on a white background.
Emily is white.
Rachel, Elementary library specialist
The Magical Orchestra by Lauren Crisp and Ella Hobbis. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $20. 9781664300934BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Hare and Rabbit are playing in the forest when suddenly, Hare says, "Shhh-listen! Can you hear something?" Rabbit also wonders what the sounds are. The two friends follow the musical sounds and happen upon an orchestra made up of different animals of the forest. The musicians are warming up for a very special performance. How can Hare and Rabbit participate?
The Magical Orchestra helps children explore the magic of the classical orchestra with a beautifully illustrated story complete with 20 sound buttons throughout. I like the on/off switch to preserve the battery life.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
There are all kinds of bodies. They have different shapes, abilities, and colors. Your body is your best friend and needs to be treated with kindness. Every body needs to be respected too!
I love Gravel's adorable illustrations! This is an important book about diversity, consent, body-positivity, and kindness. Kids, teens, and adults will benefit from this relatable book.
Rachel, elementary school librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
In this classroom there is room for everyone. We will fail, succeed together, learn, push ourselves, and so much more!
This is a great book for classroom teachers to read to their students. The back matter has suggestions on how to use the book and create a classroom community. The colorful blob students and teacher complement the one or two lines of text on each page.
Rachel, Elementary school librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Lila is visiting Abuelo Carlos. The visit isn't the same without Abuela Ana, and they both miss her. To help remember her grandma, Abuelo Carlos helps Lila recreate Abuela Ana's famous sancocho soup. They go to the market to get the ingredients and struggle to make out Abuela's handwriting on the recipe.
This is a sweet book about losing a loved one. Most of the Spanish words in the text are understandable from context. The back includes a recipe for sancocho.
Lila and her grandparents are Latino.
Rachel, elementary school librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Owl wakes up with a big idea for the day: to do everything “owl” by himself. He cleans his room. (Don't look in that corner) He brushes his teeth. ( Oops, the toothpaste is all over the place) He does many other things himself with many messes and misshaps. When he's at school he realizes that playing catch isn't fun by himself. What else does he need someone to help him with?
Owl by Himself is the perfect blend of humor and warmth, and filled with visual gags that will make readers laugh. I liked the spare text, and the adorable illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) -ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
One day, a terrible storm rips through the forest, destroying everything in its path. Nests have been blown away, trees are broken and burrows are flooded. The animals are all soggy and sad. First the beetles begin to help rebuild. Then other animals join in the small steps to rebuild their home. Beaver builds a dam, but then the raging waters start to wash it away. Will the water ruin what they've started?
The House that Love built is an inspiring story of hope, community, and working together. Readers will realize that small steps with everyone’s help make a big difference. I loved the expressive illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Weatherford brings poetry and playfulness to natural science as she shares her fascination with jellyfish. I loved Ibatoulline's illustrations that blend shimmering bioluminescence to stylish folklore and myth and portray the mysterious jellyfish.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
When shy Mole is out walking one day, he sees a tiny thing - a dandelion seed. He brings it to his burrow and immediately sets out to make it feel at home. Mole, who had never been noticed by the squirrels or included by the birds, finds an imaginary friend in the tiny thing.
He tells the tiny thing stories, and when spring comes, he brings the tiny thing out into the sun. The tiny thing helps him feel brave. Will he finally make new friends?
The Tiny Thing is a cheerful tale of growth reminding us that even the tiniest of encouragement is all that's needed to branch out and make new friends. I enjoyed Stringer's heartwarming and expressive illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
When Finnegan was born, he could float . He gleefully floats his way through childhood, until questions and concerns from friends and neighbors eventually weigh him down. Then one day a little girl floats by him. Mr. Finnegan remembers how he used to float, but now he can no longer float. Can Mr. Finnegan learn to float again?
The Fantastic Floating Mr. Finnegan is about overcoming boundaries set by others and ourselves. I like Rothlisberger's delightful quirky illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: ADVISABLE
Cameron is having a very boring no-screens day. He feels so bored and miserable. All of a sudden, his ordinary living room transforms into the land of Boredom. A friendly monster appears and helps Cameron on an a distraction - free adventure. Can Cameron find his own creative spark?
The Boredom Monster is perfect for inspiring imaginative play. I enjoyed Reschke's mixed media art creating a world brimming with possibilities.
PGPowers
