Daisy Rewilds by Margaret McNamara and Kerscoet - OPTIONAL

Daisy Rewilds by Margaret McNamara and Kerscoet. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593125670

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Daisy has loved nature since the day she was born. One day she decides to let nature runs its course with her as its canvas. As Daisy homeschools through the seasons, her bounty of vegetation and flowers ignites the curiosity of her neighborhood, leading Daisy to the rest of her plan.

McNamara and Kerscoet create a festival for the eyes. Little kids love to work in dirt and plant things - they will love the illustrations, even if the story leaves them a bit confused. The back matter has a little blurb about what rewilding is. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Ablaze by Jessica Lawson and Sarah Gonzalez - ADVISABLE

Ablaze: the story of America’s first female smokejumper by Jessica Lawson, illustrated by Sarah Gonzalez. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Penguin, 2025. $19. 9780593463659

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Deanne loved nature and she saw the devastation caused by wildfires each season. She wanted to help save her beloved trees, so she joined the Forest Service and worked every job in the service, except for smokejumper. She is determined to conquer each obstacle placed in her way so that she can fully protect the forests she loves.

Another good picture book about a woman willing to work to earn a job  that would easily restrict her from entry. Also a nice look at the hard-working people who protect the forest with their brave actions.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Rainy Dragon Day by Julie Volk - OPTIONAL

A Rainy Dragon Day by Julie Volk. PICTURE BOOK. Gecko Press, 2024. $11. 9781776575848

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

A girl looks forward to a comfy day indoors when she discovers that it is raining.  She settles down to read when her doorbell rings.  A dragon is at the door and he needs to use the bathroom.  The girl's bathroom is too small.  Where do dragons go to the bathroom anyway?

This book has a very strange plot but the watercolor pictures are very beautiful.  I was put off by pictures of the girl in the story sitting on the toilet and the dragon urinating.  I did not enjoy this book but I know that children who enjoy potty humor might. 

The girl is presumably white.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Feelings are like Farts by Christopher, PsyD Willard, Tara Wosiski and Toshiki Nakamura - OPTIONAL

Feelings are like Farts by Christopher, PsyD Willard, and Tara Wosiski, illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura.  PICTURE BOOK Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2025. $19. 9781250903075 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Feelings and Farts have a lot in common. Everyone has them, they can come unexpectedly, make you laugh, be troublesome, and it's not healthy to hold them in. 

Children seem to love books about farts (and feelings too, I suppose). Toshiki Nakamura's illustrations give just the right balance - is this child farting or having a feeling? Unfortunately, it doesn't tell the reader what to do about any of them - farts or feelings, other than talking to someone. I think its intention is to just to be silly. The characters are multiple races and genders. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Friendship Train by Debbie Levy and Boris Kulikov - OPTIONAL

The Friendship Train: A True Story of Helping and Healing after World War II by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Boris Kulikov. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Bloomsbury, 2025. $20. 9781547608027 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Right after WWII, the people of Europe were feeling the effects of hunger. Farms had been destroyed, and the cold weather was setting in, no time to grow food for the winter. A journalist named Drew Pearson challenged Americans all across the country to help. He organized a "Friendship Train" starting in California and heading across the country to gather food to send to Europe. It was much more successful than he expected. 

The Friendship train is an inspirational story, I loved the illustrations of children helping however they can. Includes an extensive author's note - apparently, Pearson wasn't demonstrating his generosity, he had an ulterior motive, he was pro-Democracy and anti Communism and was demonstrating that the US system was better. This is not addressed at all in the text, so the story itself isn't political. Includes a bibliography, sources and some websites to learn more about the Friendship train. 

Lisa Librarian 

An Elephant in our City by Friederike Dammermann - ADVISABLE

An Elephant in our City by Friederike Dammermann.  PICTURE BOOK Clavis, 2025. $20. 9798890631459 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When an elephant suddenly arrives in the street outside Ben's house, his parents imagine all the reasons it might have come to the city. To swim, see a show, do some shopping? What if it sneezes? Ben is not concerned, he knows why it's there. 

What a darling story! I loved the silly illustrations which sometimes included photography. So much fun to think about what I would do if an elephant came to my street. Translated from Dutch, I found it whimsical. I would love to see more from this author/illustrator 

Lisa Librarian 

Our Solar System by Stacy McAnulty and Stevie Lewis - ESSENTIAL

Our Solar System: A Stellar Neighborhood by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Stevie Lewis. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2025 $19. 9781250813473 

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Comet, who claims to be both author and illustrator, takes us on a tour of the Solar System, including the sun, the planets and even tells the reader about asteroids, comets and even an oort cloud. 

I hope your library includes all of McAnulty's books about the planets, including purchasing this one - a culmination of all the friendly planets, with bits of cool information about each one. Funny, clever, informational, everything we want in a book about the Solar System. I learned things I didn't know! Stevie Lewis is also the illustrator, so everything matches and complements. Well done! 

Lisa Librarian  

The Jade Bracelet by Hà Dinh and Yong Ling Kang - OPTIONAL

The Jade Bracelet by Hà Dinh and Yong Ling Kang. PICTURE BOOK Penguin, 2025. $19. 9780593711781 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Tiên receives a special gift for her birthday. It's a beautiful jade bracelt that belonger to her late grandmother. Tiên appreciates it, but it's not like the bracelets her friends wear at school, so she is embarrassed and tries to hide it. When she tells her mother she doesn't want the bracelet, her mother has an idea. 

I loved the connection to culture and family history, especially if the bracelet actually belonged to her grandmother, however, I didn't understand how she had a change of heart, other than seeing the other bracelet as a possibility. I'm sure this can happen and it probably does, but it leaves the resolution without a plot point. The child is Vietnamese.

Lisa Librarian

The Endless Sea by Chi Thai and Linh Dao - OPTIONAL

The Endless Sea by Chi Thai, illustrated by Linh Dao. PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION Candlewick, 2025. $19. 978153623960 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

When a young girl's family is displaced by war and poverty, they sell their belongings to escape and try for a new life somewhere else. The journey is unbelievable dangerous, and only the very lucky are successful. 

This is a heart wrenching story - a memoir of the author who escaped Viet Nam with her family. The author's note at the end identify how many refugees there are today. Definitely a good choice for a class introduction to refugees, or for someone looking at the aftermath of conflict/war. The characters are Vietnamese 

Lisa Librarian 

Trouble Dog by Carol A Foote, illustrated by Larry Day - ADVISABLE

Trouble Dog: From Shelter Dog to Conservation Hero by Carol A Foote, illustrated by Larry Day. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK Eerdmans, 2025. $19. 9780802855817 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Tucker is one of those dogs who has so much energy he's hard to control. He keeps getting returned to the shelter. Until Laura find him. He is just what he is looking for. His energy and love to play and tireless energy makes him perfect for her conservation projects. Tucker can be trained to find things by scent. 

Kids love books about dogs, especially dogs like Tucker who start out of hand and end up a hero. A great author's note at the end, showing the dogs Tucker is based on, how conservation dogs are trained, the kind of animals they help find, and what jobs other working dogs do. Includes a bibliography for even more info. 

Lisa Librarian 

Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen's First Great Story by Heidi E. Y. Stemple and Madelyn Goodnight - ADVISABLE

Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen's First Great Story by Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $19. 9781623543273 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Young Jane Yolen was a writer even when she was still a little girl. She and her brother would interview people in their apartment elevator and turn it in to a newspaper they charged residents 5 cents for. When Jane anticipates the upcoming class play, she is so disappointed to find it less than exciting. No rising plot or big moment. So she spends the evening writing her own play for the class to perform. 

Jane Yolen is a really big deal. She wrote so many books - over 400) and has helped so many authors. I just don't know how relevant she is with today's picture book audience. I think this will be snatched up by adults - particularly librarians. However, as a story about a little girl who loves literature and sees the value in a plot, it's a fine story, so is still an advisable purchase. Jane Yolen is white. 

Lisa Librarian 

A Star Shines Through by Anna Desnitskaya - OPTIONAL

A Star Shines Through by Anna Desnitskaya. PICTURE BOOK. Eerdmans, 2024. $11. 9780802856319 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A girl walks home from music lessons and sees a cardboard star glowing in her apartment window. The star's warm light welcomes her home. Soon after, her family has to flee because of war. Everything is different, the food, the language, where they live. Will Anna ever get used to her new home? 

A Star Shines Through is a poignant story that cleverly uses few words and detailed illustrations to show the difficult situation of people displaced by war. I like that the pictures compare her old life and her new life. This is a true story about a family that had to leave their home country of Russia after they invaded Ukraine. The main characters are white.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian