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

The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow and Lauren Stringer - ADVISABLE

The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow and Lauren Stringer. PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books  (Simon & Schuster), 2026. $20. 9781534498136

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

When shy Mole is out walking one day, he sees a tiny thing  - a dandelion seed.  He brings it to his burrow and immediately sets out to make it feel at home.  Mole, who had never been noticed by the squirrels or included by the birds, finds an imaginary friend in the tiny thing. 

He tells the tiny thing stories, and when spring comes, he brings the tiny thing out into the sun.  The tiny thing helps him feel brave.  Will he finally make new friends?

The Tiny Thing is a cheerful tale of growth reminding us that even the tiniest of encouragement is all that's needed to branch out and make new friends.  I enjoyed Stringer's heartwarming and expressive illustrations.

PGPowers

Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton. - ADVISABLE

Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton. LARGE-SIZED BOARD BOOK. Boynton Bookworks (Simon and Schuster), 2026. $13. 9798347115785

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Pookie is trying to choose a costume to wear for Halloween.

My one year old granddaughter loves her Spooky Pookie board book - I know she’s going to love the bigger size for this 11th anniversary. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Could That Be a Witch? by Hannah Eliot and Saoirse Lou - OPTIONAL

Could That Be a Witch? by Hannah Eliot and Saoirse Lou. BOARD BOOK. Simon and Schuster, 2026. $9. 9798347106868

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The children are getting ready for Halloween and looking for a witch. Each time tey think they’ve spotted her, it turns out to be something else.

If you want a light Halloween peek-thru book for little ones, here is a simple one.  The witch is not supposed to be scary. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Uh-Oh, Hugo! by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck - ADVISABLE

Uh-Oh, Hugo! by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck. PICTURE  BOOK. Flamingo (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798217039203

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Hugo is up for a busy day. Lots of sniffing and running and sticky mess by the end of the day. 

I don’t know why this is not a board book.  With its simple text and bold pictures, it is perfect for that format. For kids with dogs or without dogs, it is a simple look at a silly dog’s silly day.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Dumped Truck by Daniel Bernstrom and Marcelo Verdad - ESSENTIAL

The Dumped Truck by Daniel Bernstrom and Marcelo Verdad. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. 9780063373624

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Dump Truck works around Toyville and is very helpful, but he is also stinky, dirty, and makes other messes as he works. When the other toys band together to change the rules, they don’t realize the smelly consequences of their choices.

So super cute! I love Dump Truck and the consequences of the other toys’ short-sighted rule making.  It is even a good lesson for many adults (lawmakers).

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Lost and Found (Little Blue Truck) by Alice Schertle and John Joseph - OPTIONAL

Lost and Found (Little Blue Truck) by Alice Schertle and John Joseph. PICTURE BOOK.

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Blue and Toad are loading hay into the truck bed, but now Blue can’t find Toad. He asks the animals around the farm to help him look.

Fans of The Little Blue Truck will like this little mystery with its rhyming text and illustrations still in McMurry’s style.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

I Think We’re Upside Down! by Marcus Cutler - ESSENTIAL

I Think We’re Upside Down! by Marcus Cutler. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam’s (Penguin), 2026. $19. 9798217113552

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

The cat and bunny are opening a package, but there seems to be something wrong - they are upside down. They enlist the help of the reader to make things right.

Interactive books are so much fun! Kids will have a great time helping the friends set everything right.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

I Guess I’ll Go Eat Worms by Linda Liu - ADVISABLE

I Guess I’ll Go Eat Worms by Linda Liu. PICTURE BOOKS. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2026. $19. 9781250359506

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Separately a sheep and a duck are bemoaning that no one likes them so they are going to eat worms - because, why not? What will happen when the two lonely animals meet?

Any adult is going to try to sing this book to the classic Worm song. Sorry to say - It won’t work. Despite that flaw, the illustrations and the story are fun for kids.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Don’t Leave by Kristen Tracy and Fecerico Fabiani - ADVISABLE

Don’t Leave by Kristen Tracy and Fecerico Fabiani. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Mamillan), OCTOBER 2026. $19. 9780374393403

BUYING ADVISORY:Pre- K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Wild Princess knows that something is up. When she smuggles herself into a suitcase, she finds herself at a donation center, instead of with her people on vacation like she thought.

If only cats could read and understand the cat lesson here. Regardless, it is super cute.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Cat Shapes by Aidan Cassie - OPTIONAL

Cat Shapes by Aidan Cassie. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2026. $10 (board book). 9781525313271

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

PPEALS TO: SOME

Cassie gives us a cute board book about the many different shapes that a cat can take to fit inside the many different objects they find curious.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Beware the Sock Monkeys!! by Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox - ADVISABLE

Beware the Sock Monkeys!! by Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox. PICTURE BOOK. Balzer + Bray (Harper), SEPTEMBER 2006. $19. 9781250414380

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The kids can’t finish getting ready because the sock monkeys have stolen most of their socks. Dad is not fooled - he knows that the kids are just making excuses - or are they???

I believe in sock monkeys too. How else can you explain disappearing socks? Fox provides colorful, fun illustrations for Stutzman’s silly story.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

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

My Busy Tool Box! by Design Eye - OPTIONAL

My Busy Tool Box! by Design Eye (Quarto), 2026. BOARD BOOK. $13. 9781805704935

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Play with a few simple construction motions in this brightly colored interactive board book. While I have seen other similar board books with more motions, like Bizzy Bear’s Big Building Book, I have never heard such a great sawing sound and motion! If you love board books, for that alone I would add it to my collection.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Farm (Ask Me About) by Rebecca Atkinson and Susie Hammer - OPTIONAL

Farm (Ask Me About) by Rebecca Atkinson and Susie Hammer. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2026. $13. 9781836009986

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Using a slider on the side, the reader answers a simple question on each page about what the animals are doing around the farm.

The pictures are vibrant and the animals are adorable. It's that slider on the side that worries me the most. I can see my 2yo grandson tearing that off first thing. Board books that you have to guard from little hands are lass desirable for me. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Little Hare Finds a Gift by Oleksandr Shatokhin - OPTIONAL

Little Hare Finds a Gift by Oleksandr Shatokhin. BOARD BOOK. Red Comet Press, 2026. $9. 9781636552071

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Little Hare was sleeping soundly when she was awakened by a giant present falling on her house. She stumbles onto Santa Claus who needs some help cleaning up the spilled presents.

Sweet, but not compelling. This is a board book reprint of the original picture book from 2023.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Suki Cat: Firefighter by Grace Holub - ADVISABLE

Suki Cat: Firefighter by Grace Holub. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2026. $10. 9798887772431

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Suki cat is off to fight fires today. Help her drive the engine, slide down the pole and other things on her journey.

5 sliders and tabs will withstand a lot of abuse. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sound Explorers Space Adventure by Anna Claybourne and Teo Georgiev - ESSENTIAL

Sound Explorers Space Adventure by Anna Claybourne and Teo Georgiev. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Quarto Publishing, 2026. $20. 9781805702757

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

You cannot hear sounds in space because there is no air for the sound waves to travel. Sometimes, sound from space can be collected due to some atmosphere or air in an astronaut's helmet. Other space sounds are created from data from telescopes or space probes which computers interpret into sound. This is known as sonification. You can hear the sounds of the following space bodies: shooting stars, satellites, whistlers, zapping of space rocks, solar sun bursts,  comets, Saturn's aurora, asteroids, and pulsars. 

This battery operated book comes with sound dots that emit the sounds in space. These sounds bring space to life. The information pages that accompany the sounds are informative and astounding. The  bright illustrations depict the galaxy clearly so young children can understand. All ages will enjoy reading and learning from this book.

MOMMAC