The Biggest, Highest Wave written and illustrated by Kerry McQuaide - OPTIONAL

The Biggest, Highest Wave written and illustrated by Kerry McQuaide. PICTURE BOOK. Peter Pauper Press, Inc, 2025. $17. 9781441344885

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) - OPTIONAL

  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Follow a young, nameless surfer as they chase the biggest, highest waves off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, riding down towering walls of water in this rhyming picture book.

I didn’t love this one as much as I was hoping. While I appreciate the book’s message about perseverance and getting up after falling, the rhymes felt a bit uneven and didn’t fully capture the excitement of a surfing adventure for me. There is some informational material at the back of the book about the topography of the ocean in Portugal that explains why they get big waves, but not enough to justify a purchase for a classroom library.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Duck With No Luck by Gemma Merino - ADVISABLE

Duck With No Luck by Gemma Merino. PICTURE BOOK. Macmillan Children's Books, 2023. $15 9781529093698

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Duck had many bad things happen to him, and he thought that he had no luck.  He decided to travel to see Wise Owl to find out why?  Duck took the wrong path.  On the way, he met Fox who's tummy hurt, Tree who couldn't grow leaves, and Swan who was lonely.  He agreed to ask Wise Owl about their problems as well.   Just when he thought he was lost, he luckily found Wise Owl.  She told him what the other creatures needed and  to go back the way he came and he would find his luck.  Will Duck help the others and find his own luck?

The Duck With No Luck humorously teaches the reader about the ups and downs of life, and to have a more positive attitude.  Very cute illustrations help us love the characters.

PGPowers

Dude, Be Nice by Sarah Scheerger, Brent & Jamie Camalich and Alex MacNaughton - OPTIONA:

Dude, Be Nice by Sarah Scheerger, Brent & Jamie Camalich, illustrated by Alex MacNaughton. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593350607

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Dude, a big blue bear, wants to go out and do kind things.  His friend Fizz, a pink penguin, is worried because Dude, while nice, is not always careful about his “helping”. 

Based on the Dude.Be Nice social media. While trying to espouse being thoughtful while doing good works, the changes that Dude needs to make are not highlighted in the same measure that his mistakes are.  In fact, the final pages of the book actually show the bad plan again. Useful as a conversation starter about helping, but that point won’t come across as well if read alone.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

This Little Monster by Coral Byers and Alberta Torres - ADVISABLE

This Little Monster by Coral Byers, illustrated by Alberta Torres. PICTURE BOOK. Kane Miller, 2023. $13. 9781684645763

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ten little monsters come one by one to join the Halloween festivities.

Based on the This Little Piggy rhyme, Torres’s illustrations are colorful and the little monsters are adorable in their costumes. The monsters are very small, more for Pre-K readers and so much fun to read along. The only thing I want to point out is that a child that small in a wheelchair would need either someone pushing them or an electric chair  - they would not be strong enough to manipulate the wheels. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

¡Tocamos! Mexican Folk Art Music Makers in English and Spanish written by Cynthia Welli, art by Avelino Pérez - ADVISABLE

¡Tocamos! Mexican Folk Art Music Makers in English and Spanish written by Cynthia Welli, art by Avelino Pérez. PICTURE BOOK. Cinco Puntos Press (Lee & Low Books), 2025. $20. 9781947627819

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-2) - ADVISABLE

  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A flock of feathered friends come together to make some beautiful music with a variety of instruments. Follow along as you learn a whole new musical vocabulary with some beautiful Mexican folk art. 

I love the bright colors of the book, paired with the beautiful original wooden sculptures from the Mexican folk artist Avelino Pérez. The text is simple but effective. Overall, a very charming introduction to musical words in Spanish, and could be used as a little primer on Mexican culture.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

There was a Young Zombie Who Swallowed a Worm by Kaye Baillie and Diane Ewen - POSTED

There was a Young Zombie Who Swallowed a Worm by Kaye Baillie, illustrated by Diane Ewen. PICTURE BOOK. Kane Miller, 2023. $14. 9781684645787

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

What chain of events will the zombie set off after he swallows a wriggly, lowly worm?  COme along and find out.

A charming homage to the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly with bright, vibrant and often funny illustrations. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Pumpkin who was Afraid of the Dark by Michelle Robinson and Mike Byrne - ADVISABLE

The Pumpkin who was Afraid of the Dark by Michelle Robinson and Mike Byrne. PICTURE BOOK. Kane Miller, 2023. $14. 9781684647286

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Boo is the littlest, the sweets pumpkin and she doesn’t like Halloween one bit. She despairs of finding a place in the holiday, until she meets a little boy who has the same feelings about Halloween as she does.

A cute, light book for those little ones who might find Halloween to be scary at first, rather than fun. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Happy Halloween! illustrated by Giovana Medeiros - ADVISABLE

Happy Halloween! illustrated by Giovana Medeiros. BOARD BOOK. Kane Miller, 2022. $15. 9781684646401

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

This cute, light-hearted board book introduces us to four Halloween characters, inviting us to join in the party.

Little ones will have fun watching the sliding pictures change as you turn the page. They will want to flip it back and forth many times before you can move on to the next!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name written by Luvvie Ajayi Jones, illustrated by Joey Spiotto - ADVISABLE

Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name written by Luvvie Ajayi Jones, illustrated by Joey Spiotto. PICTURE BOOK. Philomel (Penguin Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593694251

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-2) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

It’s Luvvie’s first day at a new school and she is experiencing some big feelings! She’s nervous. Then, when she gets in trouble because someone made fun of her name and she got caught retaliating, Luvvie has to figure out how to advocate for herself and stand up for what is right.

As someone who also had a more unusual name, I could see this being an example text for being proud of your name and how to have important conversations. It could be a great read-aloud text for younger grades to help students practice “I feel” sentences. If you have the budget for it, I recommend it. 

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

It’s Not Easy Being a T-rex by Marilyn Sadler, illustrated by Steph Laberis - ADVISABLE

It’s Not Easy Being a T-rex by Marilyn Sadler, illustrated by Steph Laberis. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2025. $11. 9780593810361

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Rexy’s differences as a T-rex also make it difficult for her to fit in at school. When a huge rock spits out of a volcano, though, Rexy’s strength is exactly what is needed to save the day. THen others confess that they too have a hard time with certain things.

We all get so nervous that we won’t “fit-in”. I love this reminder, through dinosaurs, that our differences are not mistakes and don’t make us bad. And I love when the other dinos confess their own problems too. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Wombat by Philip Bunting - ADVISABLE

Wombat by Philip Bunting. BOARD BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $9. 9781623546595

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Philip Bunting’s picture book (https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/2023/05/wombat-by-philip-bunting-advisable.html) makes for a great board book too. The simple words with the cute illustrations will be fun as a kind-of opposite book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

When Beavers Move In by Alison Pearce Stevens and Natasha Donovan - ESSENTIAL

When Beavers Move In by Alison Pearce Stevens, illustrated by Natasha Donovan. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Godwin (Macmillan), MARCH 2026. 9781250339447

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

WHen beaver build dams near human homes, the people get worried.  In Washington state, people can call the members of the Tulalip tribes, who will relocate the beavers to places where the beavers can do their thing and protect not only the environment, but also help rebuild other species in their wetlands.

I love this look at the importance of beavers to create robust habitats and ecosystems. Everything is explained simply, but well. The back matter adds a little more information. A must for most science programs. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS