When Brian Met Terry by Russell Kane and Erica Salcedo - OPTIONAL

When Brian Met Terry by Russell Kane and Erica Salcedo. PICTURE BOOK. Words & Pictures (Quarto), 2026. $19. 9781836006534

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

The Kane family has one very relaxed cat and one very high-maintenance cat, Terry. When they adopt a chihuahua, Brian, Terry is very put out and has a really hard time adjusting to the new situation.

I hope Terry never realizes that Brian got top billing in the title! While Terry’s dramatics are kind of funny, it is really just one family’s pet story - not helpful when trying to introduce new pets to each other.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Puggle Snuggles by Mo O’Hara and Loretta Schauer - ESSENTIAL

Puggle Snuggles by Mo O’Hara and Loretta Schauer. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2026. $19. 9781836007326

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

During the day all of the diurnal baby animals are busy, but the platypus baby (a puggle) is sleeping away the light.  Once night arrives, however, the puggle is wide awake and not alone in its antics as the nocturnal babies start to play.

O’Hara teaches us all kinds of baby animal names and treats us to pages of bright illustrations and funny scenes. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Dog who was (almost) perfect by Jack Kurland - ADVISABLE

The Dog who was (almost) perfect by Jack Kurland. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2026. $19. 9781836007753

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Doris the dog’s life is absolutely perfect until the day she chews a hole in her owner, Bill’s, favorite slippers.  She runs away in shame, but some other dogs help her understand that while it may be a mistake, it isn’t the end of everything.

A cute way to look at owning up to your mistakes and they aren’t, mostly, life ending.  Say you’re sorry and move on.  The little twist on the last page kind of undermines the message, but kids will find it  funny.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Ed Sheeran (Little People, Big Dreams) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Mariajo Ilustrajo - OPTIONAL

Ed Sheeran (Little People, Big Dreams) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Mariajo Ilustrajo. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2026. $16. 9781805703433

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Get a simple, yet insightful look into the life and rise of Ed Sheeran, musician extraordinaire. 

The Little People series books are short, but they do a great job of distilling a life.  And they are so varied in their topics - they cover people that would never have received a kid’s level biography. Pick and choose your favorites.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Carlotta's Special Dress by Carlotta Walls LaNier with Lisa Frazier Page, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Carlotta's Special Dress: How a Walk to School Changed Civil Rights History by Carlotta Walls LaNier with Lisa Frazier Page, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown, 2026. $19. 9780316572545 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

It's 1957 and Carlotta is one of the "Little Rick 9." She and other Black high school students would be the first integrated into Central High School. Her Uncle had given her mother money for Carlotta to buy a new dress, and she was excited to go wearing the beautiful store bought dress. But, that first day of school was not to be. Angry crowds and soon the National Guard prevented Carlotta and her classmates from going to school. 

An interesting twist on the story of Central High school. I like that it made it personal, giving not just a face but a story to one of the students. I loved the illustrations, and the amount of text was just right. Includes an author’s note (Carlotta is the author) and so we learn a bit more to her story. Also includes a timeline and captioned photographs - yes, one is of Carlotta in The Dress. 

Carlotta is Black. 

Lisa Librarian 

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 

A Family of Readers by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Gabbie Benda - ADVISABLE

A Family of Readers by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Gabbie Benda. PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2026. $18. 9781623546472 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The public library can be a busy place, so from the moment the family arrives there's always something going on. Old men reading the newspaper, women in a book club, cooks and mechanics discussing their latest project, even a group of actors who have come to put on a show for pre-schoolers. The family finds a quiet place just perfect for them. 

Told in verse, I found this story delightful. It's just like my local library with so much going on no matter when you arrive. I love how all the things somehow floated back to the family and their needs. I'm not sure kids will love this as much as I do but for a librarian, this was a perfect read. Buying a copy for myself and a couple of friends, too. The family was white, but the library was full of a mix of cultures and races. 

Lisa Librarian 

Snowfall by Park Sun-jung - ADVISABLE

Snowfall by Park Sun-jung. PICTURE BOOK. Floris Books, 2026. $19. 9781835750049

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Little snowflakes are drifting to earth.

The anthropomorphized snowflakes in this wordless picture book are so sweet. Together with the evening colors, I felt the sleepiness that could come with slowly looking over each page. Probably more for home use than school use, however.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

How to Scare a Mouse and a Bear by Ross Collins - OPTIONAL

How to Scare a Mouse and a Bear by Ross Collins. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2026. $19. 9798887771731

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Mouse and Bear are trying to scare each other for Halloween. 

This time I didn’t find the rhyming really helping the scary factor of the book.  It was too sing-songy and cheerful. The illustrations are still spot on.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

What a Small Cat Needs by Natalia Shaloshvili, translated from Russian by Lena Traer - optIONAL

What a Small Cat Needs by Natalia Shaloshvili, translated from Russian by Lena Traer. PICTURE BOOK Enchanted Lion, 2026. $18. 9781592704774 

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

APPEALS TO: SOME 

There are a lot of things a small cat needs - eyes and ears and a tail and the ability to catch food and a place to live, but there is so much more than just those basics. 

What a sweet story - not a conflict resolution so much as a long description of a sweet cat and how it gets by. Maybe not for everyone, there's not a lot of story to it. 

Lisa Librarian

Haircut Day with Dad by Monica Mikai - ADVISABLE

Haircut Day with Dad by Monica Mikai. PICTURE BOOK. Crown Books (Random House), 2026. $19. 9798217027545

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

A young boy is so excited to go to the barber shop with his father.  It is a special time for the two of them to bond and take care of themselves.  As they wait their turn, the boy takes in the sights and sounds of the barber shop. The father tells the boy that barbers are magic because they create a new you.

Haircut Day with Dad encompasses the joy of fathers and sons spending time together.  It shows that it doesn't matter what you do, the important part is being together. Mikai turns a mundane event into a special and exciting one.  Haircut Day with Dad is a celebration of black culture and love between a father and a son. Miaki also wrote a book about mothers and daughters called Wash Day with Mama.

The boy and his dad are black.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

On Our Bikes by Dan Saks and Joao Fazenda - OPTIONAL

On Our Bikes by Dan Saks and Joao Fazenda. PICTURE BOOK. Rise X (Penguin Workshop), 2026. $19. 9798217142798

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

A community finds joy in riding bicycles, from young kids on big wheels to adults pulling trailers. The book is a colorful celebration of the outdoors, fresh air, caring for the earth, and building relationships. Young kids gain independence and confidence and learn to navigate their neighborhood alongside family and friends. Ultimately, the book captures the magic of a childhood day spent outside with friends, biking adventures, and the plan to repeat it all the next day.

The rhyming prose would be a fun read-aloud for younger kids with short rhyming verses and vibrant illustrations. I like the throwback to a time when kids would take off with neighborhood friends on bicycles and not come home until dinnertime. The nostalgia for a simpler time when neighbors all knew each other brings to mind a community bike bus where adults and kids all ride together just for the joy of it. The book's viewpoint is pretty young, which is the only reason why I didn't rate it higher, but it is a fun and joyous book. A diverse community is portrayed, all coming together for a shared ride.

Heather Robinson 

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 

I Could Be Eaten by a Shark by Marcela Ferreira and Mark Chambers - ADVISABLE

I Could Be Eaten by a Shark by Marcela Ferreira and Mark Chambers. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2026 (First US publication). $19. 9781623547691

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Louie and his grandfather visit the beach and Louie sees a shark. From that moment, his thoughts are consumed by sharks and he is convinced that one day, a shark will eat him. His grandfather tries to help him overcome this fear in various ways, but nothing seems to help him stop worrying about being eaten by a shark. With bonus shark facts, after paying a visit to the library, Louie must find a way to live with his anxiety.

This book is bright and fun, and even though Louie's fear is mostly unfounded, the author and illustrator portray this with humor and compassion. Likewise, Louie's grandfather never makes fun of Louie, but helps him find ways to deal with his fears so that he can live his best life. A fun ending helps to show kids dealing with anxiety that they are not alone and lots of people live with anxiety every day. Louie and his grandfather present white.

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 

From the Fields to the Fight by Angela Quezada Padron and Sol Salinas - ADVISABLE

From the Fields to the Fight: How Jessica Govea Thorbourne Organized for Justice by Angela Quezada Padron and Sol Salinas. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum Books for Young Readers (SImon), 2026. $20. 9781665946704

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Starting as a young child, Jessica Govea Thorbourne worked alongside her family as a migrant farm worker. She saw how unfair conditions were. There were no bathrooms, they worked long hours and also ingested pesticides that were meant to kill bugs but were harmful to humans. Jessica met Cesar Chavez, an activist for farm workers. Jessica's parents decided to join him in fighting for justice for migrant workers. Jessica learned how to help the migrant's cause and dedicated her life to it. Can one girl make a difference?

Padron gives us the compelling story about one girl's resilience. Jessica saw something in the world that she wanted to change and fought to change it. With just a few sentences per page and vibrant and emotional illustrations by Salinas, From the Fields to the Fight would make a great read aloud.

Jessica and her family are Hispanic.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian 

A River Running Through You by Amy-Jane Beer and Elin Manon - OPTIONAL

A River Running Through You by Amy-Jane Beer and Elin Manon. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Magic Cat Publishing, 2026. $19. 9781917366915

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Have you ever wondered where water comes from or where it might be going? This book takes readers on a journey that is part science and part reflection, following water as it moves from oceans to rivers, clouds to rain, and through its ever changing cycle.

Manon's illustrations are beautiful and complement Beer's text. The prose encouraged me to think more deeply about water and its importance as one of Earth's most valuable resources. This is a thoughtful, contemplative book that invites reflection and discussion, while also conveying a clear environmental message.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian 

Indigo Irvine by Rhiannon Archard - OPTIONAL

Indigo Irvine by Rhiannon Archard. PICTURE BOOK. Tate Publishing, 2025. $17. 9781849769617

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Indigo Irvine loves her artistic mum. Through her paintings, Indigo's mum brings light, color, and excitement into their lives. But not every day is easy. Some days there is not enough food to eat, the heat is turned off, or her mum cannot find the energy to get out of bed. Even during these difficult times, Indigo and her mum face challenges together as a team, relying on love, resilience, and laughter to carry them through. 

I loved Archard's bright, bold, and engaging illustrations, which bring warmth and energy to the story. However, I struggled with some of the messages presented in the book. The story seems to normalize situations that are concerning, such as the family having their utilities shut off and Indigo being left to care for herself when her mother is unable to get out of bed for days. While the book highlights the love between mother and daughter and their resilience in difficult circumstances, I felt it glossed over the seriousness of the challenges Indigo faces.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian https://www.kingsenglish.com/item/CVbOt1jz_0sKO_Yc9Ikk2Q