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.
SHY ONES: Maurice the little flapjack octopus is not the type to draw attention to himself, he’s shy, but he’s not the only one. Adorable!
THE CAT MAN OF ALEPPO: When war came to Syria, many fled the city, but Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel stayed behind to care for neighbors and the hungry, abandoned cats of Aleppo.
MILO AND MONTY: Milo and Monty are two very different dogs, while Monty loves to be around people, Milo prefers to be by himself, but both fit perfectly into their family.
DIRT CHEAP: Birdie wants a very expensive soccer ball, but she has no money, so she starts selling dirt and learns some important lessons along the way about earning and counting money.
PAPA, DADDY, AND RILEY: When a classmate insists that a family must have a mother and a father, Riley fears she will have to choose between Papa and Daddy.
LAYLA’S LUCK: When Layla the ladybug enters a baking competition, she learns that she cannot always rely on her luck.
UNSTOPPABLE: A crab who wants to fly and a bird who wants claws work together to outwit danger and become unstoppable.
MERMAID AND ME: A girl and a mermaid become best friends as they figure out how to enjoy their favorite things together, and when the shore becomes unsafe, Mermaid must leave, but she promises to return one day.
TAD: When Tad’s brothers and sisters start to get bigger and disappear, she worries that she’ll be left all alone in the dark with Big Blub.
THE HIDDEN RAINBOW: Follow along to uncover the rainbow of colors hidden in a garden, which help flowers bloom and bees find food. Rhyme
DREAM BIG, LITTLE SCIENTISTS: Meet twelve budding young scientists, each with their own favorite branch of science, as they wind down for the day. Rhyme
THIS IS A DOG: The boisterous, energetic dog steals the spotlight as each of the other animals, from a cat to a gorilla, is introduced.