Dad by Christian Robinson - ESSENTIAL

Dad by Christian Robinson. PICTURE BOOK Balzer/Bray (HarperCollins), 2026. $20. 9781250397041 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Animal dads interact with their young. Human fathers do too. 

What a sweet book about fathers. An appendix describes the fathering skills of the different animals. The illustrations are beautiful. I loved when it shifted to human children and their dads. Easy read for an early reader. Not only informative but poignant. The human dads and kids are mixed races. 

Lisa Librarian 

Today We'll Be Eaten by Alan Barillaro - ADVISABLE

Today We'll Be Eaten by Alan Barillaro. PICTURE BOOK. Rocky Pond Books (Penguin), 2026. $20. 9798217004362

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Ladybug and dragonfly are on their way home when a storm unexpectedly sends them in a new direction. Helpless to change their course, they learn to see things through a new perspective, facing their fears and finding new friends, if only for the moment.

The simple story has a humorous element where the main characters' worst fears, being eaten, do not actually come to pass, but instead, they find their winding way is filled with surprising new thoughts and views on the world. Barillaro's beautiful illustrations add whimsy to the life-and-death situation the bugs find themselves in. The main characters are resigned to their fate, but when it doesn't happen, they see the world around them that they never took the time to notice before. There is humor and depth behind the simple story, but the bugs also show resilience when life doesn't happen as they thought it would.

Heather Robinson 

Awe! by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal - ESSENTIAL

Awe! by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic Press, 2026. $20. 9781546150350

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Whether they are exploring nature, helping a friend, building a community, or just being in their backyard, wonder is everywhere, and this book explores all the ways we can feel awe in our lives, and more importantly, that it is essential to seek out those moments. Stiefel uses amazing artwork and rhyming verse to teach kids how "awe" feels.

Gal has gorgeously illustrated it, portraying natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and the Northern Lights, but it also suggests that we can find awe in small quiet moments too. This book is joyful to read and each time I look at the artwork I see new things. This book would be a lovely read-aloud, encouraging kids to put down their screens and look for the awe-inspiring moments around them. Multiple ethnicities are portrayed as well as kids with disabilities and people in all shapes and sizes.

Heather Robinson 

My Subway Runs by James Gladstone and Pierre Pratt - ADVISABLE

My Subway Runs by James Gladstone and Pierre Pratt. PICTURE BOOK. Groundwood Books, 2026. $20. 9781773067544

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

A boy journeys on a subway into the city so his mom can look for a job. Told from a child's perspective, we experience everything he does, from descending to the platform, feeling the wind as the subway rushes by, even noticing a homeless man that the adults pretend not to notice. The colorful illustrations move the story along, immersing us in the experience as the boy holds his mother's hand, safe, but with a child's curiosity in the world around him.

I love this book for Pratt's charming illustrations and the immersive experience that many children may not have if they don't live in a big city. The celebration of public transit calls to mind "Last Stop on Market Street" in using the child's perspective to experience the world around us and a commonplace ride to many adults becomes a fascinating journey. The boy and his mother present white, but as a subway in a big city, many ethnicities are present.

Heather Robinson 

Fly Away Home by Betty Quan and Akin Duzakin - ESSENTIAL

Fly Away Home by Betty Quan and Akin Duzakin. PICTURE BOOK. Groundwood Books, 2026. $20. 9781773069623

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Told through nursery-rhyme-esque language, Little Bird and her family migrate to find a new nest. Other birds, turtles, and other animals are also migrating to find safety as a girl and her family also search for a new home. While the animals are the main focus of the pages, we see people in the background, fleeing their homes, crowded into small boats, rushing through a burned-out village, looking for a safe new place. It ends on a hopeful note, both for the birds and the little girl. 

With the world in upheaval and millions of people displaced every year, this book provides an entry point for those conversations with young children. The author uses collective nouns like a "charm of goldfinches", a "flamboyance of flamingoes" and a "gift of robins" which adds to the whimsical quality of the action in the foreground. Each page shows a different species and their journey, while there is always help along the way. The illustrations are beautiful and enhance the lyrical quality of the verses. The focus of the book is on the animals and the ethnicity of the people is ambiguous, although they appear pale-skinned. 

Heather Robinson 

Some Days I'm the Wind by Rebecca Garden Levington and Dinara Mirtalipova - ESSENTIAL

Some Days I'm the Wind by Rebecca Garden Levington and Dinara Mirtalipova. PICTURE BOOK. Barefoot Books, 2025. $18. 9798888596623

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Some days a girl is like the wind when it’s blustery and then some days she is like the wind when it is breezy. Some days the girl is like the sun, the sea, the clouds, the rain, a tree, the snow, etc. in all its variety. It’s important to explore our emotions and know it is fine to share those feelings with others.

What a fantastic way, through metaphor, rhythm, and design to help children understand how they are feeling. The rhythm and alliterations make this a delicious read for all ages. Mirtalipova aptly catches the emotions felt by the little girl. Adorable! There is a QR code for a read along on the back cover.

The girl in the story appears Polynesian.

MOMMAC 

The Dance of Courage by Misty Copeland and Setor Fiadzigbey - ESSENTIAL

The Dance of Courage (Bunheads, Act 2 )by Misty Copeland and Setor Fiadzigbey. PICTURE BOOK.Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780399547683

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Misty and Cat are friends who love the art of ballet. One day when Misty was visiting Cat, Cat told her how she wanted their next performance to be the ballet, Don Quixote and how Don Quixote searches far and wide for his love, Dulcinea. The next day at ballet rehearsal, Cat suggests that the company perform it.

Misty Copeland, as an expert on ballet, wrote a touching story about two friends who lift and care for each other. Copeland, as the first black American to be promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, can understand the need for inclusion and kindness in team situations, which she shares so well in this sweetly illustrated story. Misty is a black American and Cat is Hispanic.

MOMMAC 

Pig Dreams by Margarita del Marzo and Guridi - ADVISABLE

Pig Dreams by Margarita del Marzo and Guridi. PICTURE BOOK. NubeOcho, 2025. $18. 9788410406629

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Pigs wonder about many things. Some pigs wondered why sheep were the ones allowed to put Johnny to sleep every night. THe pigs will do crafty thing sin order to realize their dream.

Mazo created a cute, funny story about pig angst. The emotions of the pigs are gleefully illustrated on their faces and those of the sheep. Children and adults alike will laugh at these antics.

MOMMAC 

The Worried Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro - ESSENTIAL

The Worried Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro. PICTURE BOOK. Red Comet Press, 2025. $17. 9781636551982

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

This book wants to be read, but then it worries that you won't like it. Or, what if you use it as a coloring book, or what it gets lost? The book realizes that everyone worries, and maybe instead of worrying about everything that could go wrong, it could try thinking of what could go right.

Like The Shy Book, the Worried Book teaches an important lesson of resilience. It normalizes being worried and offers realistic advice for what to do when worries start to get out of control. Cute illustrations with minimal colors support a text that flows well. The background characters are illustrated with various ethnicities and abilities.

Rachel, elementary school librarian 

Welcome to the Nighttime Train by Louise Fitzgerald and Margarita Kukhtina - ESSENTIAL

Welcome to the Nighttime Train by Louise Fitzgerald and Margarita Kukhtina. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow Inc., 2025. $18. 9798887772059

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

The Nighttime train is here to pick up children at bedtime. The first stop is Pajamaville. The second stop is Toothbrush Town. Then, on to Library Land, and the train finishes at Starlight Skies in their own beds. 

Fitzgerald creates a joy filled book about going to bed. She uses Onomatopoeia and Alliteration to enrich and create flow of the story. The illustrations are cute animals that look like stuffed toys that could represent any child. A read aloud audio book is attached with a QR code on the back cover. The speech of the performer carries on at a good pace, with clear wording, but feels a little monotonous compared to the excitement of the storyline. The one part of the read aloud that was irritating happened when the reader finished the sentence on another page after a ""turn the page"" bell had rung. " Any child could see themselves in this book.

MOMMAC 

Sign Your ABCs with Sesame Street by Nicole Gabor and Emily Harris - ESSENTIAL

Sign Your ABCs with Sesame Street by Nicole Gabor and Emily Harris. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Lerner, 2026. $10 (pb). 9798765684658

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

American Sign Language is a visible way to communicate. Each letter of the alphabet has a hand shape. There are also hand shapes for words. The book continues with sesame street characters signing the alphabet and sharing about themselves. Then, children are prompted to sign their name. Gabor created a book that Sesame Street fans will love. All the favorite characters get to take part in teaching sign language. One cute technique used is having the characters talk about themselves as they blend the word on the next page into their chat.

MOMMAC 

The Shy Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro - ESSENTIAL

The Shy Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro. PICTURE BOOK. Red Comet Press, 2026. $17. 9781636551883

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

This book happens to be very shy. It is worried that the reader will think that the book is silly, or even boring. The book then realizes that a good strategy to start conversations is to ask others questions about themselves. This story has an important theme of perseverance, and that it is ok to be shy.

I liked Pearlstein’s story because it addressed a lot of common reasons why kids might be shy. He normalizes the fears, reactions, and gives solutions as well. Munro’s illustrations were cute and the text was engaging.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Better Than A Touchdown by Jalen Hurts and Nneka Myers - ESSENTIAL

Better Than A Touchdown by Jalen Hurts and Nneka Myers. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo Books (Penguin), 2026. $20. 9798217040308

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Jalen, a young boy, is so excited to start school this year because he will get to try out for the football team. Unfortunately, he quickly learns that football has been canceled for the year because the garden club is growing vegetables where the football team would play. Jalen is devastated and asks teachers and mentors how they deal with disappointment. He gets a lot of good advice along the way. One that really stuck with him is, "ten percent of life is what happens to you, and ninety percent is how you respond." Jamal and his friends team up with the garden club to see if they can enjoy both football and gardening.

I liked this book because it gives kids a lot of good ideas and strategies on how to deal with disappointment. It was a little text heavy on some pages, but my 7 year old daughter enjoyed it. The illustrations were cute and the story flowed well. All of the main characters are African American.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Sammy and Sunny's First Day of School by Nina LaCour and Elizabeth Lilly - ESSENTIAL

Sammy and Sunny's First Day of School by Nina LaCour and Elizabeth Lilly. PICTURE BOOK. Rocky Pond Books (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593695753

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Sammy and Sunny are both starting their first day of school. Sammy was starting Kindergarten, and Sunny, her dog, was starting his first day at doggie training school. At first, they were both a bit nervous, but once they met their teachers and friends, they started to relax and enjoy the day. Once the first day was over, Sammy and Sunny realized that they actually had pretty similar days. The only thing that is next, is their second day at school with a funny twist.

My daughter and I liked this book because of the humor. It compared and contrasted what Sammy and Sunny were learning on their first day of school. The ending was silly and the pictures were cute.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Planets (Time for Kids) by Sarah Jospitre - ESSENTIAL

Planets (Time for Kids) by Sarah Jospitre. 32 pages. EARLY READER NON FICTION. Penguin Young Readers, 2025. $17. 

Content: G 

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Did you know that there is a crater on Mars named after Dr. Seuss? Time for Kids: Planets is a short informational leveled text, level 3, that will engage young readers. The text walks you through the planets, in order, in our solar system. It explains how the planets got their names, fun facts, and even gives size comparisons and analogies to help the reader understand scale. The illustrations compliment the facts making for a short, interesting read. 

I liked this book because the facts for each planet are interesting and updated. The text is challenging for Level 3, transitional readers. The illustrations were beautiful and brought the text to life. It left you wanting to learn more about the solar system. Informational text about planets.

 Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Exca-Gator! by Brooke Hartman and Michael Slack - ESSENTIAL

Exca-Gator! by Brooke Hartman and Michael Slack. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo Books (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9780593693339

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Gator comes to the work project site with his excavator. His friends are ready to work, too. Gator is so excited, he steps in and does most of the work. When he steps in to do a job better suited for his friend who works the crane, the project is in peril. Gator learns a lesson.

This story in rhyme tells a powerful story about learning to work as a team. Vocabulary words associated with building increase a child's verbal skills. The adorable illustrations help to clearly describe the various verbs and nouns.

MOMMAC

Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess and Robin Rosenthal - ESSENTIAL

Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess and Robin Rosenthal. PICTURE BOOK. Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin), 2026. $17. 9780593699638

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Have you ever heard that cats can't stand water? This is especially true for Serafina, a kitten whose parents have signed her up for swimming lessons. She does everything she can to avoid the water.  Will Serafina learn to love the water?

I absolutely loved this book!  The narrator talks directly to the reader which makes it even more engaging.  The text is very funny and overly dramatic.  The pictures are adorable and are filled with details that lend to the story.  Would make an awesome read aloud!

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Gingerbread Yeti by Dan Gemeinhart and Hugo L. Cuellar. - ESSENTIAL

Gingerbread Yeti by Dan Gemeinhart and Hugo L. Cuellar. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), SEPTEMBER 2026. $19. 9781250356765

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Ella the Elf is cooking up a giant gingerbread man for the elves to enjoy on Christmas Eve, but a mistaken extra ingredient turns him into an abominable yeti instead.  How will they be able to save Christmas? 

Gemeinhart uses the rhythm pattern of “The Night Before Christmas”, which is a little easier to read out loud than most rhyming picture book text. The story is so adorable from beginning to end. Gemeinhart even includes a gingerbread man recipe.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Hummingbird's Big Trip by G. Brian Karas - ADVISABLE

Hummingbird's Big Trip by G. Brian Karas. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Studio, 2026. $19. 9780593902608

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Hummingbird loves summertime, but as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, he starts to worry about the big trip when hummingbirds leave the cold north for the warm south.  He couldn't eat, so he took a nap.  Then he was really hungry, but he couldn't stop thinking about all those days ahead travelling by himself.  How will he ever find his winter home?

Karas combines relatable anxiety with subtle science facts about migration, and encourages young readers to build self-confidence.  Karas' illustrations are cute and quirky.

PGPowers

Coco and Stephen Together Forever by Beth Stern and Joanie Stone - ADVISABLE

Coco and Stephen Together Forever by Beth Stern and Joanie Stone. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Studio, 2026. $20. 9798217123544

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Coco was the sweetest kitten.  One day he fell and injured his leg.  His owners surrendered him to a shelter because he was too much work.  Stephen is a bunny who was abandoned in the forest.  All they both want is a forever home.  Beth finds Stephen in the forest and introduces him to Coco in her foster room.  Will they ever find friendship and a forever home?

Coco and Stephen Together Forever is based on a true story that is filled with hope and heart.  I enjoyed Stone's expressive and vintage illustrations.

PGPowers