Owl by Myself by Pete Oswald. - ADVISABLE

 

Owl by Myself by Pete Oswald. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Studio, 2026. $19. 9780593303603

 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

Do You Really Know Flamingos? by Brandon Todd - OPTIONAL

Do You Really Know Flamingos? by Brandon Todd. PICTURE BOOK. Dial Books (Penguin), 2026. $20. 9798217114672

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Frank Armadillo believes he is an explorer extraordinaire. He comes upon a group of "pretty princess" birds. One of the birds introduces herself as a flamingo. Frank and the bird have a conversation about what flamingos are and what they do.

While the premise of the book invites curiosity in the reader, the question/answer format of the story is dull reading. The illustrations provide the best narrative.

MOMMAC 

Duck Delivers by Tom Tinn-Disbury - ADVISABLE

Duck Delivers by Tom Tinn-Disbury. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Studio, 2025. $19. 9798217122448

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Duck liked to stay at home collecting socks.  He didn't like adventures because he struggled to pay attention. His grandfather encouraged him to get out on an adventure by giving him a lucky compass. Duck applied for a job with HQ delivery service. Will grandfather's lucky charm pay off?

Tinn-Disbury's animation background came in handy as he created such adorable illustrations for this book. The expressions on Duck's face cause the reader to smile. The book will help children who are unsure of themselves to see that they can try new things even when fearful.

MOMMAC

Starbird by Sharon King-Chai - ADVISABLE

Starbird by Sharon King-Chai. PICTURE BOOK. Two Hoots (Pan Macmillan), 2023. $19. 9781035026296

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The Moon King captured the legendary Starbird as a gift for his daughter. When the girl saw how sad Starbird was, she released it - and enraged Moon King who vowed to follow Starbird to the ends of the earth to recapture it.

I am enamored with King-Chai’s illustrations! Some pages are a seek-and-find as Starbird hides from the Moon King at night. King-Chai was written and illustrated a lovely new fable.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Pearl Loves to Sing by Olivier Dunrea - OPTIONAL

Pearl Loves to Sing by Olivier Dunrea. PICTURE BOOK. Clarion (Harper), 2024. $13. 9780547867595

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Pearl, the tiny gosling loves to sing - everywhere and to everything. Then one day a tinier green frog hops down Pearl’s throat and steals her song.

Dunrea’s gosling books are adorable, but there are a lot of them to pick and choose from.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Waiting in the Wings by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton and EG Keller - ADVISABLE

Waiting in the Wings by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton and EG Keller. PICTURE BOOK. Little Brown, 2024. $19. 9780316283083

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

When the duckling pair look for a safe place to nest, they choose a flower box in front of a small theater. The duckling dad is fascinated by the goings-on inside. And the day of the grand show opens is the same day the ducklings decide to enter the world.  In order to get the ducklings safely to water, it will take a village.

Based on a true story from Emma’s experience!  Full of flash and fun. A great update to Make Way For Ducklings, too.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Saving Piku by James Sellick and Craig Shuttlewood - ADVISABLE

Saving Piku by James Sellick and Craig Shuttlewood. PICTURE BOOK. New Frontier Publishing (Lerner), 2025. $19. 9781916790971

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The penguin moms are away fishing while the dads and chicks are on land. When an enormous beast of a storm kicks up, little Piku is almost frozen to death. It is only with the help and shared warmth of all of the other penguins that Piku might be saved.

Sellick takes what could be very distressing and turns it into a lovely story about community and helping. I could do without the big labels on the cover (“friendship over fear” “dealing with feeling”) - the book conveys the emotion without needing to be labelled.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Go, Go, Dodo! by Huw Lewis Jones and Fred Blunt - ADVISABLE

Go, Go, Dodo! by Huw Lewis Jones and Fred Blunt. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $19. 9781664300736

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Dodo is taking a pleasant stroll through the jungle - or is it? 

Dodo’s obliviousness reminds me of Sanderson’s Most Boring Book Ever. The fun is in the illustrations.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Nelly: The Very Different Bird by Alex Macdonald - ESSENTIAL

Nelly: The Very Different Bird by Alex Macdonald. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9781836000761

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Nelly may not be able to fly, but with planning, practice, and determination, she can learn to do things in different ways. 

I had no idea I was going to love Nelly and Macdonald’s simple story so much. Nelly is a wonderful capsule-shaped little bird that I want to own and hug! Her grit shines through. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Hank Meets Frank by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie - ADVISABLE

Hank Meets Frank by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie. PICTURE BOOK. TIger Tales, 2025. $19. 9781664300729 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Cousin Frank is coming over and Hank is not very happy. Powell-Tuck adds a nice bit of fourth-wall-breaking along the way as the narrator tries to get the two birds to be nice to each other. 

Hank’s third book is as cute - maybe cuter - as the others. 

 Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Consider the Birds by Jennifer Grant and Julianna Swaney - OPTIONAL

Consider the Birds by Jennifer Grant, illustrated by Julianna Swaney. PICTURE BOOK. Eerdmans Books For Young Readers, 2025. $19. 9780802855626

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

On a spring day at the birdfeeder, one hungry loud blue jay, two morning doves, three black-capped chickadees and more grab a quick bite.  Some try to keep the food for themselves.  Consider the birds of the air.  If God loves them, and feeds them, does he love and take care of you too?

Consider the Birds is a gentle lyrical story that helps children discover the wonders of nature and the love of God.  Swaney's illustrations are soft, simple, and endearing.

PGPowers