Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia WenJen and Violeta Encarnacion - OPTIONAL

Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia WenJen and Violeta Encarnacion. PICTURE BOOK. Red Comet Press, 2026. $20. 9781636551920

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL; MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

The stories of two little girls separated by decades, both of whom are incarcerated by barbed wire.

WenJen and Encarnacion share the story of Fort Sill, Oklahoma - site of Japanese imprisonment during WWII and immigrant child imprisonment in 2014 - using reverso poetry and a stark color palette. In communities affected by recent detainments, the book could be helpful for children still processing.  I see the most value in secondary schools as a way to foster conversation about immigration - especially as the backmatter talks about the Japanese experience and the lies told by the US government. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Gwei: The Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee and Basia Tran - ADVISABLE

Gwei: The Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee, illustrated by Basia Tran. PICTURE BOOK. Kokila (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798217002795

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

As a hungry ghost, Gwei is supposed to eat the offerings left by the Chinese people in his graveyard, but Gwei craves so much more. When Ghost Festival Month arrives, Gwei wanders out into the market place, where he gorges himself on the many food offerings. It isn’t until Gwei finds a little ghost who is also hungry and shares food together that he finds his appetite actually feeling satisfied.

The back matter has information about hungry ghosts and other types of ghosts from Chinese culture. I like that the glossary not only has the Chinese name for foods, but also the kanji. Lee gives us a nicely subtle message about the value of sharing.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

No More Gnomes by Beth Mills - ADVISABLE

No More Gnomes by Beth Mills. PICTURE BOOK. Carolrhoda (Lerner), 2025. $19. 9798765643457

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Herbert, the dog, used to be the cutest thing in Ms. Goat’s garden, until Ms. Goat bought her first gnome. ANd then her next gnome - and more. Herbert tries a few ways to get along with the gnomes, and finally has the ultimate great idea. He’s not sure if Ms. Goat will be happy with him. 

Mills could do for gnomes what Pennywise did to clowns. They do feel a bit menacing.  But kids like being a little scared in a safe space, so I think they will be delighted. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Quick Trip to the Store by Sam Wedelich - ESSENTIAL

A Quick Trip to the Store by Sam Wedelich. PICTURE BOOK. Knopf (Random), 2025. $19. 9780593905982

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

How can there be no bananas at home! Well, off we go for a trip to the store - which no one really wants to do - not mom, not daughter. Instead of being so boring, though, the little girl finds herself an empty cart (while mom’s not looking) and sets off on an adventure. 

Wedlich has made such a cute casewrap, it will cause no end of problems for librarians who will have to figure out how to attach the cover to the book for circulation. The little girl and her adventures are not to be missed. While I might be a little afraid the book will give little ones some ideas, it is too cute to resist.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Angel and the Mermaid by Becky Cameron - OPTIONAL

The Angel and the Mermaid by Becky Cameron. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9781836005230

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Twins babies are born, one has wings and the other has a mermaid tail. The pair exists alone near the sea, so that they can play together and enjoy their own element. One day, however, a contest causes a rift between the pair. and only a dangerous storm may be able to bring them back together again.

As lovely as the illustrations are, and they are very lovely, depicting the differences between the siblings as angel versus mermaid, add a fantastical element that doesn’t allow readers to see themselves within the lesson. I would buy the book just so that I can look at it, but I’d look for another book to help siblings or even best friends to get over a quarrel. Try Rita and Ralph’s Rotten Day by Carmen Agra Deedy, for example. (https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/2020/01/rita-ralphs-rotten-day-by-carmen-agra.html?spref=pi)

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

No Cheese, Please! by Nishani Reed and Maria Neradova - ADVISABLE

No Cheese, Please! by Nishani Reed, illustrated by Maria Neradova. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2025. $19. 9798887772080

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Mouse is having his friends over to celebrate his birthday. What they didn’t know, however, is that Mouse has a dairy allergy - no milk, butter, or even cheese for him. His friends feel bad that all of the treats they brought ass full of dairy, but they have a plan.

While it is a bit odd that Mouse’s closest friends didn’t know about his dairy allergy, the sentiment and solution are still very sweet. Neradova’s illustrations bring just the right touch of forest-based whimsy. I like the dairy-free chocolate cake recipe included, too.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Valentines are the Worst! by Alex Willan - OPTIONAL

Valentines are the Worst! by Alex Willan. PICTURE BOOK. Simon, 2025. $20. 9781665962612

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The goblin is ready to tell you all of the things that make him not like Valentine's Day. 

Willan goes in a slightly different direction from his other books this time. (SPOILERS) You would think that Gilbert would become friends with a Cupid, but he vaguely realizes that he loves his friends. It didn't work quite as well for me as the other books in the series. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I, Rock: a Geology Tale by Katie Slivensky and Steph Stilwell - ADVISABLE

I, Rock: a Geology Tale by Katie Slivensky and Steph Stilwell. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665940368

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Rock teaches us not just about the different kinds of rocks and crystals, but also takes us through his own millenial long journey - through earth’s mantle to the crust and through different phases of its existence. 

90% of Slivensky’s book is excellent - it is 100% interesting to look at and very clear and engaging. My Earth Science teachers (7th grade) did have a couple of little problems - early on (1.8 billion years) it shows the continents and the plates as we know them today. Several pages later (325 million years) it shows a supercontinent, which we assume is Pangea; we feel it would have been clearer if those two things were reversed. The other detail was the page showing, as it said, erosion - the little rock rolling down the hill. The teachers had a great debate about whether the definition is actual for weathering, not erosion - but the rock bouncing is showing erosion. That’s my teachers’ two cents. Otherwise, they still want to the book so that they can use it in their teaching.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Little Red and Big, Bad Fred by Ashley Belote - ESSENTIAL

Little Red and Big, Bad Fred by Ashley Belote. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593902431

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Little Red loves his encounters in every season with Fred, the fluffy kitty that lives in the forest. Little Red thinks that Fred is the best. When Fred gets hurt one day, Red brings Fred to his Great Grandfather who informs Red that Fred is a DOG! Even better!

As you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, you know Fred is really a wolf. Watching the two interact is pure gold. Belote has a perfect combination of text and illustrations creating a cohesive whole.

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 

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

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

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

Have You Seen My Acorn? by DK Ryland - OPTIONAL

Have You Seen My Acorn? by DK Ryland. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo Books (Penguin), 2024. $19. 9780593622421

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Squirrel keeps accusing the other animals, but he refuses to listen when they each try to point out something very important to him. 

Squirrel is about as inattentive as they come - an adult will feel like Squirrel represents every child they’ve ever encountered! It is quite wordy, so it would be a long read aloud. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earle Jones Found his Voice by Kari Lavelle, illustrated by Brian Collier. - ADVISABLE

Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earle Jones Found his Voice by Kari Lavelle, illustrated by Brian Collier. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Knopf (Random House), 2024. $20. 9780593372760

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Standing in front of the kids at school, the words never come to James. It isn’t until high school and with poetry that James is finally able to work through his stutter and start expressing himself to the world.

Lavelle takes time at the end to talk through what parts are exactly as presented and the few things she had to take some license with. Kids might not know him as the voice of Darth Vader, but his story will resonate with kids who have their own problems. I plan on sharing it with our speech therapist.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Rock by Rock by Jennifer Bradbury and Sam Broughton - ADVISABLE

Rock by Rock: The Fantastical Garden of Nek Chand by Jennifer Bradbury, illustrated by Sam Broughton. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2021. $18. 9781481481823 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Nek Chand was displaced when India and Pakistan were divided. He relocated to Chandigarh, got a job, and got married. But he still missed his jungles. After work he disappears into the jungles around his city, brings rocks, cement, and discarded bits with him, eventually creating a wonder of tunnels, figures, animals, walls. When the city discovers his garden, some want to tear it down. But many people take a stand to support him. Even though Chand is gone, his wonders still remain for the whole world to enjoy. 

If you want to read more about Nek Chand, you can read the novel Bradbury wrote and another picture book by Barb Rosenstock. It will fuel dreams of trips to India to see the wonders for yourself. Broughton’s illustrations enhance the magic. For classroom support, there a lot of photos of Chand’s work available online – it is a major tourist site. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Layla’s Luck by Jo Rooks - ESSENTIAL

Layla’s Luck (Once Upon an Island) by Jo Rooks. PICTURE BOOK. Magination Press, 2020. $15. 9781433832383

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Layla, a ladybug is sure that her luck comes from all of the “lucky” objects that she deploys around her.  After a disaster when she tries to bake a cake for the Great Garden Cake Bake, her friends help her realize that things don’t create “luck”, her hard work and diligence helped her succeed.

The simple, stylized illustrations definitely point this to a younger audience, but the message is a great one to share with slightly older students.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Come Next Season by Kim Norman and Daniel Miyares - OPTIONAL

Come Next Season by Kim Norman, illustrated by Daniel Miyares. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar, Straus, Giroux (Macmillan), 2019. $18. 9780374305987

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A white brother and sister play and live their way through each season in a dreamy palette of suburban home and family farm.

The lush illustrations add a wistful effect to an idealized version of the perfect middle class white childhood.  It is very much a celebration of simplicity.  What I’d really love is to have an older class read this book – an older, urban, diverse class – and have them rewrite the entire book from their own perspectives.  What do they do each season? If you want to book to explore the seasons, you’d be better off with Bruce Goldstone’s season series for slightly older readers or Sam Usher’s seasons books for younger readers.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal - ADVISABLE

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal.  PICTURE BOOK. Roaring Brook (Macmillan), 2019. $19. 9781626727465

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

First celebrate the front and center place of fry bread in First People families and then Native American culture.

The cover wrap is a nice surprise and the end papers are a litany of the names of First People Tribes. It even includes a recipe for fry bread at the end. The detailed back matter goes through each page spread, giving excellent background information to add to the depth of the material. I can see why this won the 2020 Seibert Award.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer and Marvin Bileck - ADVISABLE

Rain Makes Applesauce (restored edition) by Julian Scheer, illustrations by Marvin Bileck. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 1964, 2019. $19. 9780823443611

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Silly, merry illustrations join the call and response patterned verse of nonsense. 

There is an extra pattern to learn, but it will be fun once it is. Much fun for a day of ridiculous play, especially for a preschool.  I can see why the illustrations won a Caldecott Honor.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS