Wanda Hears the Stars by Amy S. Hanson with Wanda Diaz Merced and Rocio Arreola Mendoza - ADVISABLE

Wanda Hears the Stars: A blind astronomer listens to the Universe by Amy S. Hanson with Wanda Diaz Merced, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $19. 9781623544874

Also available in Spanish, Translated by Gabriela Carrion. 9781623544881

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Wanda’s childhood in Puerto Rico fostered her love for nature and of the stars. She followed her dream into college, but when she lost her sight from complications of her diabetes, she thought her dream might be over. Luckily she was surrounded by supportive friends who not only helped her learn how to navigate her new world, but they also helped her find a new way for her to pursue her dreams of the stars - hearing the universe in a whole new way.

Wanda’s story hits so many buttons - conquering challenges, global majority, female, current science - so many reasons to introduce her to students on so many levels. SHow all of your teachers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

Flat Cat: The Class Pet by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Pete Oswald - ADVISABLE

Flat Cat: The Class Pet by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Pete Oswald. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo Press (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593404607

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Flat Cat loves his flat existence.  One day a fresh breeze blows him away, where he ends up hitching a ride to school - a place full of all kinds of unfamiliar smells, sights, and sounds. 

I don’t know if Flat Cat will replace Flat Stanley, but I think he has a good chance at it. I’d like more Flat Cat stories.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Little Bunny, Fall is Here! by Deborah Marcero - ADVISABLE

Little Bunny, Fall is Here! by Deborah Marcero. BOARD BOOK. Putnam’s (Penguin), 2025. $9. 9780593698990

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

After dinner, Little Bunny is ready for a story, but everyone around him seems to be too busy.  As he and Mouse travel through the forest, they find a story of different kind.

Most of the book is natural sentences, but when the pair find their story it turns to a lovely rhyme. Bunny also has a spring season board book.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Bob Marley by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Subi Bosa. - ADVISABLE

Bob Marley (Little People, Big Dreams) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrations by Subi Bosa. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2025. $16. 9781836007173

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Bob Marley grew up very poor in Jamaica, a bit of an outcast because his father was white. His love for music and for Rastafarian religion helped him create music beloved by people all over the world.

The Little People Big Dreams series has such interesting people in its catalog.  A teacher could choose a group of people to have in their classroom library and use them for a simple biography unit or to support different units of study.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Beatrice Looks for Home by Ron Grady. - ADVISABLE

Beatrice Looks for Home by Ron Grady. PICTURE BOOK. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593696354

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Beatrice loves her life with her Gram, her Papa, and her Dad.  When Papa gets a new job, however, Gram doesn’t move with them to the new city.  Beatrice is not sure that this new place will ever feel like home. But Gram sends Beatrice something to spark her creativity.

Moving - even in the middle of the school year - is common for students. Grady gives us a nice way to share the complexity of those feelings with all of your students and help all develop some empathy.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Luna and the Case of the Missing Mooncakes by Natasha Yim and Violet Kim - OPTIONAL

Luna and the Case of the Missing Mooncakes by Natasha Yim, illustrated by Violet Kim. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $17. 9781623544669

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Luna and Mina are excited for Lunar New Year, but when one of the mooncakes goes missing, they are on the case to find the culprit. As they find clues they eliminate suspects using logic and deduction.

I liked how Luna and Mina used logic to make their deductions.  I did not like Luna’s superior attitude, but that goes with the age. I do wish that the girls’ deductions had lead to them the final answer, though - using the power of deduction would have had more power then. The Story-Telling Math series now has 12 diverse titles. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Little Monster by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton - ADVISABLE

Little Monster (Ten Minutes to Bed) by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton. BOARD BOOK. Ladybird (Penguin), 2025. $10. 9780241735114

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K  - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

It may be only ten minutes until bedtime, but Little Monster has other plans besides settling  between the covers!

So cute!  Fielding and Chatterton have several other books in this series, with characters like a dinosaur and unicorn - you can choose the one that would appeal most to your little one.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Secret Life of Clouds and Other Wonderful Weather Forms by Moira Butterfield and Vivian Mineker. - ESSENTIAL

The Secret Life of Clouds and Other Wonderful Weather Forms by Moira Butterfield and Vivian Mineker. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $20. 9781836001140

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Butterfield and Mineker, with the help of Casper the Cloud, brings us a lovely book about all sorts of weather.  Each weather piece is simply explained, but in good detail for young scientists. Great for reference, or for parts of a longer weather unit. This is the 6th book in their non-fiction nature series.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Emmie Builds Something New by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall - ADVISABLE

Emmie Builds Something New by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. PICTURE BOOK. Red Comet Press, 2025. $25. 9781636551395

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Emmie, a little mouse,  has made a great life for herself in the attic.  When the cat arrives, however, she is scared. She decides to create bigger and bigger monsters to scare the cat away. How big will she have to go?

Crosby celebrates ingenuity and finding new friends with her charming book. Emmie’s Rube-Goldberg-esque contraptions are quite fun to inspect. I would break out all of the building materials afterwards.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

How the Forest Feels by Wendi Silvano and Mirka Hokkanen - ADVISABLE

How the Forest Feels: Sensory Play Nature’s Way by Wendi Silvano and Mirka Hokkanen. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2025. $20. 9780823456406

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

A child and their grandfather head into the woods to enjoy a walk together,

After enjoying the pictures and the sentiments, your readers will want to head out for a walk. While I am not a fan of the rhyming couplets as text, I can see how it would be a fun way to have students write couplets of their own about what they saw after their walk.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Daisy Rewilds by Margaret McNamara and Kerscoet - OPTIONAL

Daisy Rewilds by Margaret McNamara and Kerscoet. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593125670

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Daisy has loved nature since the day she was born. One day she decides to let nature runs its course with her as its canvas. As Daisy homeschools through the seasons, her bounty of vegetation and flowers ignites the curiosity of her neighborhood, leading Daisy to the rest of her plan.

McNamara and Kerscoet create a festival for the eyes. Little kids love to work in dirt and plant things - they will love the illustrations, even if the story leaves them a bit confused. The back matter has a little blurb about what rewilding is. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Ablaze by Jessica Lawson and Sarah Gonzalez - ADVISABLE

Ablaze: the story of America’s first female smokejumper by Jessica Lawson, illustrated by Sarah Gonzalez. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Penguin, 2025. $19. 9780593463659

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Deanne loved nature and she saw the devastation caused by wildfires each season. She wanted to help save her beloved trees, so she joined the Forest Service and worked every job in the service, except for smokejumper. She is determined to conquer each obstacle placed in her way so that she can fully protect the forests she loves.

Another good picture book about a woman willing to work to earn a job  that would easily restrict her from entry. Also a nice look at the hard-working people who protect the forest with their brave actions.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS