I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

A young boy with an unusual name, which is the same as his father’s, wants to change his name to something that fits him better.

Three sisters who take weekly trips to the zoo always buy food to feed the animals and never buy anything for themselves. Because of their kindness, a vendor gives them each a magical balloon.

Charlie visits his grandparents for two weeks each summer, but always feels lonely, until he discovers an old bridge he can bong like a bell and receives a response from somewhere off in the distance.

A young boy is frustrated because his gorilla won’t go to bed.

A simple box can be a child’s most imaginative plaything.

Senor Sasquatch wants to relax beside Mr. Blobule’s pool without getting wet, but he is constantly splashed by the other guests.

Poetic text celebrates United States immigration and the country’s diverse immigrant heritage.

A little boy named Sam takes a trip to the beach and meets a new friend, but leaves behind his stuffed bunny Jump when it’s time to go home.

Joey loves things that fold. When he gets the chance to learn origami, he discovers that practice and patience lead to perfect paper cranes.

As the seasons change, a mother explains how the love for her child knew to blossom in her heart naturally, like the wonder of the great outdoors.

A father tells his young son the story behind each of his tattoos.

A father acts like a boy and a boy like the father while visiting the zoo; and they both leave exhausted.

A sword, a shield, and a helmet are found in the stove, but who put them there?

Grandpa teaches energetic little Mei Mei to do tai chi while she teaches him to do yoga.

It’s Alice’s birthday, but her friend Gertrude seems to have forgotten. Or has she?

Ming is curious and playful and ready for adventure, but even she gets scared of new things sometimes.

A boy has a problem. He tries to avoid it, but it gets bigger. When he finally musters up the courage to face it, it turns out to be something quite different than expected.

Penguin is grumpy from his grumpy hat all the way down to his grumpy socks.

Bertie the giraffe leads a very predictable life, until one day, he meets Blue, who shows him the world in a new way.

It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a bit nervous, especially the school.