
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.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.

A jaguar asks a coati who asks a cockatiel who asks a sloth to wake him up in exactly ten minutes. Will the sloth be able to stay awake that long?

In this fictional story, Amelia Simmons, writer of the first American cookbook, creates an Independence Cake in 1789 to offer the newly elected President, George Washington.

Lonely Blobfish invites everyone to a party, but miscommunication leads to unexpected results.

Percy tells a lie, and it turns into a monster. As Percy’s guilt grows, so does the monster, which gets hungrier and hungrier.

A shy little girl wears a cat mask to help her feel braver.

Life was sweet for Benedict the bear until the day the bees went on strike. Great early intro to beekeeping!

Next week there’s a talent show for grandparents at school. Jeremy’s worried that his grandma doesn’t have any special talents.

A boy accompanies his grandfather on the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, a demonstration in Washington, DC, on Memorial Day to pay tribute to American veterans.

A little girl gets ready for school, almost all by herself.

A lonely fisherman nurses an injured bird back to health then alters his course in order to take the bird home.

Children tend to a garden, digging, planting, watering, and weeding.

Moo Moo the cow decides she wants to be a ballerina.

When two little fish with big personalities have to share the same tank, there are rough seas ahead.

At the end of the school year, the children of Room 3 and Mrs. McBee find their own ways of helping each other get ready to leave and say good-bye.

Follow a gorilla family as they imagine their baby’s future. Great gift for a graduation or baby shower!

All the forest animals want the gold leaf for themselves. Beautifully illustrated!

A young girl spies on her new neighbor, a boy who is building something from planks of the fence between their backyards. Nearly wordless with a lovely message and clever use of color!

A young girl helps her grandfather adjust to his new home in the city by inventing a fantastical fishing game. Super imaginative!

A little boy must give up his new dog after he gets hurt caring for him, but never gives up on his dreams of them being together. Incredibly moving!