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.)

Octicorn, who is half octopus, half unicorn, has trouble fitting in.

Little bird must fly south with his family, but he doesn’t want to leave behind his favorite things.

The tale of Lucy, a small homeless dog; Eleanor, the girl who loves her; and Eleanor’s father, a would-be vaudevillian with stage fright, unfolds in four acts.

Grandpa seems to have forgotten how to do the things that he and Noah love. Does he even know who Noah is?

There are lots of animals on every page of this book, but you’ll have to look very closely. Sometimes you see them and sometimes you don’t.

When the sun sets, a young boy prepares for his greatest adventure…bedtime!

What better thing to do on a gray day than collect some colors? Cat decides to do just that, but where will she find them?

Poor mouse tries all kinds of tactics to move that pesky bear out of his chair.

Big, brave Captain Crave can check off most items on the Be Your Best Buccaneer handy checklist. Only one thing is missing…he doesn’t have a pet.

There’s yellow goop on the floor, an unfamiliar smell, and Daddy shaved! Armed with these clues, Mitzi is on her way to discovering what on earth is happening right under her nose.

Yoshio delights in the sounds of Tokyo, but when a  musician tells him her favorite sound is silence, Yoshio sets out to hear this sound for himself, among the hustle and bustle of the city.

Cowpoke Clyde gets a bike and sets right off, wibblin’, wobblin’ down the road. Learning to ride a bike is a tad bit harder than he thought.

A girl and her canine best friend have a blast playing together, until she forgets that her dog can’t climb a tree and doesn’t like being bossed around.

After a full day of evil schemes, fairy tale baddies return home to spend time with friends and get ready for bed.

Penny is thrilled to get her invitation to a slumber under the stars party, but then she realizes that no pets are allowed and she’ll have to leave her beloved dog Jelly home.

When sand shark twins Flip and Fin try to rescue people and save the day like the heroes of their favorite cartoon, there is a misunderstanding.

A girl ventures back into the realm of kings and emperors, castles and canals, exotic creatures and enchanting landscapes.

No matter how hard Little Wing tries to fly, it’s always flip, flap, flop, until one day when his fluttering takes off and he finds himself high above the clouds.

Expecting a dog for her birthday, a girl is upset when she gets a tortoise instead.

A little girl desperately wants a beautiful unicorn as a pet, but what she gets is a little different.

Twenty young students, some eager, some nervous, some grumpy, prepare for their very first day of kindergarten.

It’s the cement mixers first day on the job, but he gets “mixed up” and instead of mixing cement, he mixes flour to make a cake and sugar to make frosting.

Learning to be a lion takes some serious lessons, but luckily, this kid has a teacher who’s a real pro.

Willy the Gorilla imitates the other animals at the zoo, but despite pretending he remains always a gorilla.

Yelfred and Omek from the planet Boborp are best frints. Sometimes they fight. And sometimes they bite. But they always make up.

When Nick decides to teach his cats to read, Verne is interested, especially in books about mice and fish, but Stevenson is not. Maybe Nick just hasn’t found him the right book.

In his homework assignment about his favorite pet, Gus tells all about his sheep and how they’ve gotten him into trouble.

Bear and Hare are enjoying a walk, but Hare wants everything he sees for himself.

When the life preserver her new friend Claude is napping on drifts out to sea, Bella the lighthouse cat finds the adventure she is seeking–and makes another new friend along the way.

Animal toddlers arrive for storytime with Miss Bingo the flamingo.

Oskar and his bear Theodore must save the day when an angry monster barges into the library and thinks it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Count one by one as one little finger points to cake, two little fingers tap a plate, and so on until you reach ten.

An energetic toddler has a busy, busy day painting pictures, cooking lunch, hunting for treasure, and more.

The shapes in this book get mixed up, moved around, and reshaped into all kinds of animals.

Rod the dog isn’t the best racer in town. But that has never stopped him from competing each and every year in the Pickleberry Grand Prix.

Join Frankentruck, Zombie Truck, Ghost Truck, and more as they race to the finish line. Who will win the monster truck race?

A forgetful narrator tries to tell the tale of a knight’s duel with a dragon, and remembers a very important thing along the way.

When Martha gets a moose for a pet, she’s delighted by all the fun they have together. If one moose is marvelous, then more must be better.

Bear doesn’t mean to be rude, he’s just curious, but nobody likes being stared at, and it soon gets Bear into trouble.

When bullies try to stop the extremely cute animals from building their sand castle, they band together to build something bigger and better.

A little girl takes a dream journey that includes floating along with the moon, meeting new friends, an underwater adventure, and finally floating home with the sun.

Izzie just loves when her mama blows her kisses to catch, but even though she runs and leaps for it, Izzie misses a kiss!

On a long, lazy summer day, Pinny searches for a wishing rock, watches the clouds, picks wild blueberries, feeds a seagull, and bakes a cake.

In this cumulative rhyme, a tiny island in the middle of the sea rapidly becomes very crowded with increasingly larger groups of animals.

Goblin’s best friend Skeleton is stolen by adventurers, and Goblin must travel through a town full of people who don’t like goblins in order to get his friend back.

Monsters and sons fill their days with rough and rowdy fun.

A tiny insect king demands a rock with which to build his throne.

Count from one to ten with the mice who are all dressed up and ready for the ball.

Explore all the ways and places that the wild exists in our world.

Magnolia insists on taking the piano to the beach, but she quickly learns that a piano does not mix well with sand, sun, and seagulls.

In 1943, ten-year-old Diana Hopkins lived in the White House with her father who was the chief advisor to FDR. 

When Isabel’s best friend moves away, she decides being by herself is better, until she meets someone new.

Guess the animals on each page as the perspective zooms right in, then zooms back out.

When Darcy’s friend cancels their play date, she’s sure her day is ruined, until Daddy suggests a Darcy-Daddy day.

A boy and his dog find a newly hatched bird in a nest, on a branch, in a tree, on a hill, in a magical little valley.

On a cold night under a pale moon, a brother and sister explore a dark, dark cave.

When Hee Jun’s family moves from Korea to West Virginia, he struggles to adjust to his new home, school, and language.

When the girl called Silence is sent by the trees who raised her to save Yesterday, she doesn’t know what her task is, only that it’s important.

A boy and his dog learn about each other, go to school to learn more, then explore the world around them as they study science, geography and even foreign languages together.

Wanting to be more like his father, a young boy spends all of his money on a product that will supposedly let him grow a beard almost instantly.

Learn to count from one to ten with the help of vegetables turned animals that practically jump into your salad bowl.

In 1847 St. Louis, Missouri, when a new law against educating African Americans forces Reverend John to close his school, he finds an ingenious solution to the law by moving his school to a steamboat in the Mississippi River.

It’s bath time for Bruno, but there’s a whale in the bathtub–a huge, tub-hogging, bubble-bath-squirting, flipper-scrubbing, barnacle-rinsing whale.

Follow an assortment of creatures as they make their way to a nest, the shore, or a porch while the day comes to an end, and the moon begins to rise.

Discover what goes on beneath the surface at a puppy pool party.

Imagine Louise’s delight when a new neighbor moves in and she loves art too. But liking the same thing doesn’t always mean you agree on it.

Maxwell is a strong, courageous, silent ninja who wants somebody to play with, but it seems Mama, Papa, and little sister Cassy are all too busy.

Soon after Porcupine and Moose arrive at Rabbit’s birthday party, the cake goes missing.

This guidebook will show you how to become a superhero in seven easy steps.

What do you do when you’re so tiny that the big ocean creatures think you’d taste adorable?

A rhinoceros tours Europe in the mid-18th century and becomes a sensation. 

Bear wakes up hungry but can’t remember what he’s supposed to eat other than it starts with the letter “B”.

Did you know that the deepest parts of the ocean are over one mile deep? That’s where Blobfish lives.

Lyrical rhyming text sweetly explains that each animal belongs where it belongs and that you belong with me.

Monty the frog has a big secret…he can’t swim!

A girl tries to pick the perfect dog, but in the end, the right dog picks her.

Tim and Tim are best friends forever until Tom comes along.

When three friends gather on a rainy day, one wants to play princess, one wants to play fairy, and one wants to play ballerina. Which one will win?

Hare is the fastest on the farm. Tortoise is as slow as they go. So when they decide to have a race, Hare is certain to win…isn’t he?

Each year, bar-tailed godwits undertake the longest unbroken migration of any animal, flying from Australia and New Zealand to their breeding grounds in the Arctic and back again.

Benny the woodpecker devises an elaborate plan to get a taste of sweet-smelling waffles.

Rory the dinosaur searches everywhere for a pet, but just as he’s about to give up, a pet finds him.

A boy wants a beard just like his dad but he does not want to wait until he’s old to grow one.

Ian, who always follows the rules, must save his sister Jenny, who always breaks the rules, from three hungry monsters.

A little boy has a grand time pretending to drive every big vehicle he can imagine.

A cast of animal characters builds a brand new playground from Sunday to Saturday, opening day.

A boy and his dog embark upon a very unusual fishing trip in this nearly wordless story. SUPER CLEVER!

Baby Leo loves the water, so his father takes him to swim class with the other toddlers.

This is the story of the horse chestnut tree that stood outside the window of the factory where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during WWII.

When Chuck brings his woodchuck to school,  his woodchuck helps him make friends with a girl named Caroline.

A happy monster goes for a walk in the rain with his bunny friends.

When disaster strikes, Samanthasaurus Rex uses her own unique skills to save her family from a fiery volcano.

From the animals in the woods to neighbors in their homes, we all share our feelings.

Climb aboard the spaceship with Zoey the chicken and her best pig, Sam, as they set off on an out-of-this-world adventure.

What might be on the other side of the ocean–tall buildings, funny animals, pink houses, or someone just like you?

When the other ladybugs make fun of Lucy because she has no spots, she sets off to find some very special spots of her own.

Everybody tells her how dogs should be, but this girl knows better.

Hector the bear just wants a bit of peace and quiet, but Hummingbird won’t stop talking.

An interpretation of the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s 1970 song of the same name, reimagined to portray the love between parent and child.

Fairies are all around us, and if you want to have one come to you, build a fairy house.

After visiting the eye doctor, a near-sighted dog gets glasses.

Join a rascally band of pirates as they swash buckle their way through the neighborhood.

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.)

Big Duck thinks she is wiser than the others, but it’s Little Duck who proves he’s the wisest.

When Maia’s best friend Nico moves away, a big hole is left in her life and in her heart.

When Tokyo plants three seeds under the bricks in the city where he lives, magic blooms.

After a young boy’s beloved dog dies, the boy makes friends with a stray he meets on the beach.

Scruff the dog makes a remarkable discovery while digging for bones one day.

A giant squid decides that he has all the right “qualifications” to be President Squid.

Babysaurus has lost his mamasaurus and turns to his prehistoric friends to help find her.

Ruby has red blocks and Benji has blue blocks. Will they learn to share and have twice as many blocks to play with?

When Doris the gorilla is called a baby for having a blankie, she tries to disguise Frankie the Blankie rather than give him up.

Pip the panda is reassured by his mother that no matter how big he grows, her love for him will continue to grow too.

Everyone in the Ellis family is excellent, except Ed the dog, who is determined to find something at which he, too, can excel.

Billy, a grumpy boy, finds the perfect pet in the grumpy section of the animal shelter.

A little girl is worried that her friend, who has a perfect store bought doll house, will not like the one she made herself out of a cardboard box.

Flora dances with her two new peacock friends.

This is a field guide to the fierce but adorable grumpasaurus, found in every home where there are small children.

Two young chicks train in the art of ninjutsu in order to rescue their parents from a hungry fox.

Sophie doesn’t want to be friends with the kids at school, especially Steven, but over time she realizes that people who like the same things as you can be the very best of friends.

Long ago, as the kingdom of Morocco grew, all the people forgot the dangers of the desert, and they forgot about the storytellers, too.

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.

Henry is having a horrible time camping. So Herman comes up with a plan to  help his best friend have the time of his life.

An ugly dumpling is ignored and sad until an encouraging cockroach sees the dumpling’s inner beauty and helps him see it too.

Nibbles the book-eating monster has nibbled his way out of his own book and now he’s causing mischief in other people’s stories.

Penelope, an exuberant hippo, and Tiny, her cautious mouse friend, plan their act in the school talent show.

A father shows his love for his three kids by spending time with them.

A little dinosaur has a good time making himself a cake, but after he eats it all, what’s he to do?

All of the animals find cozy places to keep them safe and warm during a storm.

Grandfather’s garden has an overabundance of tomatoes. So the family sets out to share them with their community.

When a boy is gulped down by a hungry snake, he finds a clever way to trick the snake and escape its belly.

A young boy is disappointed when he gets his grandfather’s rusty, old toy firetruck instead of a shiny new one. But when he learns about all the fun his grandfather had with it, he begins to like it after all.

Flo and Sam help their new friend Bob learn how to play hide and seek.

A big brother walks his little sister home from school for the very first time.

When Vincent loses the shopping list his mother gives him, he relies on his memory to pick up what she needs, with unusual consequences.

Friends Bear and Hare play hide and seek, counting from one to ten each time.

Secret Agent Man (a.k.a. S.A.M.) needs new shoes. But the mission will be dangerous. Shoe Store Man looks shifty.

Officer Seth and Officer Thea help a little boy who’s lost find his parents at the local festival.

Children can be quiet as a mouse, mischievous as a monkey, stubborn as a mule, and so much more.

Rosie isn’t like her brothers and sisters. She doesn’t have feathers. She can’t fly. And she can’t caw. What is she, really?