Stronger Than by Nikki Grimes & Stacy Wells and E.B. Lewis - ADVISABLE

Stronger Than by Nikki Grimes & Stacy Wells and E.B. Lewis. PICTURE BOOK. Harper Collins, 2026. $14. 9780063264755

Content: PG (The Tulsa Race Massacre and the Trail of Tears are mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Dante is an 8yo Afro-Indigenous boy who loves Choctaw Stickball but is plagued with nightmares. His mother comforts him after a nightmare and then tells Dante about his amazing ancestors. People from his heritage are both Native and Black American. They suffered through The Trail of Tears and The Tulsa Race Massacre. Will knowing his ancestor's stories help Dante with his nightmares?

Stronger Than would be a good read aloud to introduce two difficult times in American history. There are several paragraphs of text on each page. The watercolor illustrations look like beautiful paintings but are fairly serious in nature. It would be best suited for older grades in elementary.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian 

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 

A Doctor at Heart by Joan Schoettler and Steffi Walthall - ADVISABLE

A Doctor at Heart by Joan Schoettler and Steffi Walthall. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781481476669

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

The inspiring true story of Vivien Thomas, a scientist and teacher who overcame poverty and racial injustice to pursue his dream of working in medicine. From a young age, Vivien wanted to become a doctor, but financial hardship and discrimination created many obstacles. Even so, he persevered and devoted himself to learning and discovery. Through determination, skill, and innovation, Vivien made groundbreaking contributions to the field of heart surgery and helped save countless lives.

An interesting book, told in an approachable, age appropriate manner, about a person who showed resilience, intelligence, and the power of never giving up on what you love. Great illustrations. Vivien Thomas is Black.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Super Goat Girl by Tracey Baptiste and Dapo Adeol - ADVISABLE

Super Goat Girl by Tracey Baptiste and Dapo Adeola. PICTURE BOOK Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780525517764 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

In a class of Super Students, a new addition seems, well, irregular. Goat Girl looks different. At recess she can't compare to their super powers. But when an Alien attacks the playground, Goat Girl comes to the rescue. And when a Gorilla overtakes the cafeteria - again, Goat Girl has the right powers. So why does she feel like she doesn't fit in? 

Although Goat Girl powers seem ordinary, sometimes that's all you need. I liked this story, I can see a fun lesson after a read aloud about designing a super hero with not so super powers. Adeola's illustrations are cute, with a lot of fun details. 

 

Lisa Librarian

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires - ADVISABLE

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2017. $20. 9781771387279

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Lou and her friends decide to play pirates.  One of the kids wants to use a tree as the pirate ship.  Lou has never climbed a tree before, and she's sure she can't do it.  She comes up with reasons for not joining them.  Finally she tells herself she doesn't want to climb the tree.

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do is a fun story about facing fears, and the idea that trying is what matters even if you fail.  Spires' illustrations are expressive, quirky, and delightful.

PGPowers

Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams by Chiara Colombi and Scott Magoon - ADVISABLE

Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams by Chiara Colombi and Scott Magoon. BOARD BOOK. Viking (Penguin), 2025. $9. 9798217042081

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Rocket gets to go to the moon today. When Rocket realizes that she won’t actually be walking on the moon, though, she is very disappointed. Can Rocket get over her disappointment and help Lander learn how to fly down to the moon?

Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams is a cute story exploring friendship, overcoming fears, and managing disappointment. 

Magoon's illustrations are fun and engaging.

PGPowers

Read All About It! by Benjamin Hall and Martina Motzo - ADVISABLE

Read All About It! by Benjamin Hall and Martina Motzo. PICTURE BOOK. Harper Collins, 2026. $22 9780063357549

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Father Hedgehog is a reporter for the newspaper and hoping to find a good story today.  Little hedgehog is excited to spend the day on a summer adventure.  His father reminds him about the rules.  Don't talk to strangers, don't lose my bag, and never cross the river alone. While little Hedgehog is playing by the river, he sees that a baby owl has fallen out of its nest across the river and a big bear is creeping towards it.  What can little Hedgehog do to help the baby bird without breaking the rules?

Read All About It! is a heartwarming story about speaking up and daring to make a difference.  Motzo's watercolor and ink illustrations are fun and interesting.

PGPowers

Piece Out by Alex Willan - ESSENTIAL

Piece Out by Alex Willan. PICTURE BOOK Astra, 2025 $19. 9781662620935 

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

When a playing piece gets left out of the box on game night, they decide to find their way back on their own, avoiding perils like the dog, escaping from the fish tank, even climbing the curtain and ending up for a time in a place they'd only heard about. No one wants to be a missing piece. 

Oh, so cute and funny, I loved the map of the house with the funny names for things - the stove was called the hot lands, the sink, the wetlands. Every illustration was worth paying extra attention to, and the story was delightful. This will certainly be read over and over again. 

Lisa Librarian

Brave by Weshoyot Alvitre - OPTIONAL

Brave by Weshoyot Alvitre. PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593531600 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A young indigenous boy admires his father's braid and hopes someday his hair will grow like it. He sees the beautiful hair on the dancers at powwows and wants to be like them, too. But at school, the kids tease him and pull his braid. He's brave and stands up for himself. His dad went to residential schools, where he was forced to lose his cultural traditions. He's made an effort to retrieve them as an adult and wants his son to be brave in displaying his culture. 

A sweet story about holding onto your heritage and defending your culture. I liked the illustrations, with their ancestral memories and native regalia. The right Native American or indigenous child will relate. 

Lisa Librarian 

Taking Flight by Kashmira Sheth and Nicolo Carozzi. - ADVISABLE

Taking Flight by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Nicolo Carozzi. PICTURE BOOK Dial (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798218003884 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

A story of several children, all moving from one place to another, some displaced by war, they might be refugees but they are all worn-out and ready for rest. 

Told in second person, you are the child, experiencing the journey, the new city, the strange school and making friends. Usually I don't like that, but it worked with this, putting the reader in the shoes of the immigrant child. I loved that the final illustration is 3 pairs of children's shoes. The children are from different cultures, some specific and some not. 

Lisa Librarian 

Buttfish by Pauline Pinson and Magali Le Huche - ADVISABLE

Buttfish by Pauline Pinson and Magali Le Huche. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2026. $20. 9781525314124

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Buttfish doesn’t like being constantly told his face looks like a butt. Looking for new friends, he heads to the depths of the ocean where he meets a new friend, Steve, who looks like a cheese.  Maybe together the pair can be more than their looks.

Buttfish doesn’t look like a human-type butt, so don’t worry that you might offend through the illustrations - but if you read this aloud, you have to be comfortable with saying “butt” a lot. Pinson has really given us a story about seeing yourself differently from the roles others will try to force us into - and about being a good friend.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Neville’s Great Escape by Sean E. Avery - ADVISABLE

Neville’s Great Escape by Sean E. Avery. PICTURE BOOK. Walker Books, 2026. $19. 9781761602542

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When Neville gets swallowed by the giant whale, he could sit back and wait to be eaten.  Neville, however, has other plans - Escape!

A companion to Frank’s Red Hat. Avery gives us another penguin adventure - this time reminding us to not give up and to look at things a different way.  Avery adds a bit more snark to Neville's character and to his seal sidekick (however unwilling), which I enjoyed. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

All I Want To Do Is Swim by Marilyn Singer and Luisa Uribe - ADVISABLE

All I Want To Do Is Swim by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Luisa Uribe. PICTURE BOOK. Rise (Penguin Random House), 2026. $19. 9780593752395

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

A young girl has taken swimming lessons, but the teachers did not make it very fun.  On the dock at a summer cabin, she dips her toe in the water wondering if she wants to go in the water.  She sees a turtle dive and some fish go swishing by.  She wonders if she could swim like them?  She decides to try.  She copies a duck and floats.  She thinks of other animals and tries to copy them.  Has swimming become more fun?  What has she discovered?

Singer gives us  a clever story to help kids try new skills and develop more confidence while swimming.  Uribe's illustrations beautifully express the exhilaration and relaxation of enjoying the water.

PGPowers

The Koala and the Little Tree by Allisa Malnati and Aleksandra Szmidt - ADVISABLE

The Koala and the Little Tree by Allisa Malnati illustrated by Aleksandra Szmidt. PICTURE BOOK. New Frontier Publishing, 2025. $19. 9781916790988

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Following a devastating wildfire, a brave koala and a small tree become unlikely partners on a mission to restore their home. Their journey through the ashes is a touching adventure that emphasizes that even the smallest duo can revitalize an entire ecosystem. 

 Malnati's central message—"If we do our part, the magic is never gone"—is so important in today’s world. She manages to be thought-provoking and inspiring without being overwhelming for its young audience. Unlike many purely fictional tales, this book includes essential backmatter with facts about koalas and conservation, making it as much a learning tool as it is a bedtime story. It can be used in a unit about endangered species and fire rehabilitation.

S. Lewis https://www.kingsenglish.com/item/xydjJyekr0gtp-QInJj-YQ

The Mountain That Wouldn’t Move by Sandra Dumas - ADVISABLE

The Mountain That Wouldn’t Move by Sandra Dumas. PICTURE BOOK. Owl Kids, APRIL 2026. $19. 9781771476492

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Bear is tired of living in the shadowy forest at the base of a mountain. She calls the other forest animals together and they decide to try a wide variety of actions to get the mountain to move so that they can have sunnier gardens and actually watch the sunset.

Dumais has given us a very nice modern fable. The animals' antics, Bear’s stubbornness, and the final solution all work well together.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Filo's Butterflies by Litea Fuata and Myo Yim. - ADVISABLE

Filo's Butterflies by Litea Fuata and Myo Yim. PICTURE BOOK Bright Light, 2025. $19. 9781761214974 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Filo has butterflies in his tummy. He is going to dance at his auntie's wedding. His dad tells him everyone has butterflies their first time. But as the wedding progresses and it gets closer to the dance time, Filo's butterflies get worse. 

I really liked this story - I loved that his father acknowledged the butterflies and told him it was normal. Filo is brave and excited and doesn't try to not dance. A great lesson in grit. Filo is Samoan 

Lisa Librarian 

Beatrix and the Unicorn by Lita Judge - ADVISABLE

Beatrix and the Unicorn by Lita Judge. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781665963916

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Long ago, a young girl named Beatrix was a maid in a castle.  Life was hard and she was lonely. Her only joy was when she swept the great hall and could gaze upon the unicorn on the large tapestry.  One night, she decided to go into the forest and look for the Unicorn to help her loneliness. Along the way, she discovered and helped scared, injured, and lonely animals and invited them along.  When she stops to rest, she sees the unicorn in a dream.  The unicorn helps her realize how to cure her loneliness.

Beatrix and the Unicorn is a sweet and interesting story about how to help with loneliness.  I enjoyed Judge's soft, watercolor, storybook illustrations.

PGPowers

Mamiachi & Me by Jolene Gutierrez and Dakota Gutierrez and Mirelle Ortega - ADVISABLE

Mamiachi & Me by Jolene Gutierrez and Dakota Gutierrez, illustrated by Mirelle Ortega. PICTURE BOOK Abrams Amulet, 2025. $19. 9781419767159 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Rosa is so proud of her Mami, she calls her Mamiachi because she plays in an all female Mariachi band. Today is the day Rosa gets to play her violin with them. She has practiced, she is ready, she even has the matching outfit, but she is worried! Is she ready? Will they like her? 

Back matter includes the history of women in Mariachi, a labeled illustration of the Trajes de Charro. I love that there is a lot of Spanish - some translated some contextual. Includes a glossary, bibliography and additional reading. The characters are Mexican.

Lisa Librarian  

Isabel's Birthday Surprise by Debbie Zapata and Gabriella Galves - ADVISABLE

Isabel's Birthday Surprise by Debbie Zapata, illustrated by Gabriella Galves. PICTURE BOOK. Magination Press, 2026. $19. 9781433847509

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO:SEVERAL

Today is Isabel’s birthday. Isabel tells her mother her birthday wish of a big cake, a big pinata and a big party with all her friends.  Her mother tells her that this year they can only afford a small fiesta.  Her mother sends her to school with a boiled egg for lunch.  When she cracks it, it is the raw egg that was saved for her cake.  Isabel is sad and knows there will not be a cake and that she will not get her wish. Is there anything that can save Isabel's birthday?

Isabel's Birthday Surprise is for anyone who's ever had big expectations that didn't go as planned. This heartwarming story reminds readers of the small things that really make life special.  I liked Galvez's colorful, interesting, and expressive illustrations. Some Spanish words are used throughout the story.

PGPowers

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