Here are a few recent titles I’ve read. What new picture books have you read? Please share in the comments section.
PEACE: From saying hello to saying I’m sorry, this simple concept book explores definitions of peace and actions small and big that foster it. Rhyme
BARNABY: When Barnaby the budgie’s owner brings home another bird, Barnaby decides that the house isn’t big enough for two of them, and he flies out the open window.
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE ENGINEERS: Goldilocks is an inventor with inventor’s block, but with the help of three new friends, everything turns out just right. Rhyme
I’M A GLUTEN-SNIFFING SERVICE DOG: Chewie is going to be Alice’s gluten-sniffing service dog, but he keeps getting distracted during training.
HALAL HOT DOGS: Every Friday, Musa’s family takes turns picking out a Jummah treat, and they’ve tried all sorts of foods, but when it’s Musa’s turn, he picks his favorite, halal hot dogs.
LET’S POP, POP, POPCORN!: Follow along and learn the step-by-step process of how America’s favorite snack is grown, harvested, and popped. Rhyme
I LOVE YOU AS BIG AS A RAINBOW: Big Bear and Small Bear see a rainbow in the sky, and when it disappears, they decide to make their own.
Here are a few recent titles I’ve read. What new picture books have you read? Please share in the comments section.
THE COLOR COLLECTOR: When a boy notices the new girl collecting litter on her way home, he thinks it’s strange until she shows him the mural she created that reminds her of the home she left behind.
BALLOONS FOR PAPA: Arthur really wants a balloon, something to keep his spirits up for Mama, but his depressed Papa’s answer is always no.
THE LITTLE THINGS: The day after a mighty storm, a little girl finds a sea star that has washed up on shore, and she returns it to the ocean, which sets off a chain of kind acts all around her neighborhood.
THE ALLIGATOR WHO CAME FOR DINNER: Best friends, Little Lamb and Wolf, discover a large egg in the forest, take it home, and soon find themselves caring for a baby alligator.
BIRD HOUSE: On a snowy day, a grandmother and grandchild find an injured bird, care for it, then set it free.
CARPENTER’S HELPER: Renata’s plans to help her father build a new bathroom are put on hold when two wrens decide to fly in through the unfinished window, build a nest, and raise their young.
I’M A HARE, SO THERE!: An irritated hare takes the time to educate a ground squirrel on the differences between hares and rabbits. Funny and informative
WATERCRESS: Embarrassed about gathering watercress from a roadside ditch, a girl learns to appreciate her Chinese heritage after learning why the plant is so important to her parents.
AMERICA MY LOVE AMERICA MY HEART: A single child asks a single question that multiplies across the country from more and more children of color: America, do you love me? Some rhyme
WELCOME HOME, WHALES: A boy befriends a whale by listening to her complex past, understanding their connected present, and offering amends in hopes of a better future.
Here are a few recent titles I’ve read. What new picture books have you read? Please share in the comments section.
SOMEONE BUILDS THE DREAM: A house, a bridge, an amusement park all start as an idea, a sketch, a plan, but someone needs to work the saws and pound the nails, someone has to build each dream. Rhyme
COQUI IN THE CITY: When Miguel moves with his parents to mainland U.S., he misses his home, but he soon realizes that New York has more in common with Puerto Rico than he thought.
ANITA AND THE DRAGONS: Anita must face her fears, enter the belly of the beast-an airplane-, and begin life in a new country far from the Dominican Republic.
THREE: A homeless three-legged dog hops and skips about the city until he befriends a little girl who accepts him as he is.
THE SHAREY GODMOTHER: Shari T. Fairy loves to share, but when some of her friends question whether so much sharing is good, she tries being less generous, with disappointing results.
NYE, SAND AND STONES: A young girl challenges destructive behavior from the citizens of an island of stones that the rest of her community on an island of sand has accepted since forever.
THAO: Ever since Thao can remember, her name has been misspelled, mispronounced, and misunderstood, so now she’s ready for a new name.
AMIRA’S PICTURE DAY: Amira is excited for Eid with special clothes, treats, gifts, and a morning party at her mosque, but picture day at school is the same day and she was looking forward to that, too.
CLOSE YOUR EYES: If you’re not ready to go to bed, better close your eyes so that you don’t see all the sleepy little animals and get sleepy yourself. Adorable!
THE WIND AND THE TREES: Deep in a forest, a mature pine tree and a seedling begin a conversation, and as the years pass, the older pine weathers while the younger tree grows and flourishes.
Here are a few recent titles I’ve read. What new picture books have you read? Please share in the comments section.
A HOUSE FOR EVERY BIRD: When a young artist draws a flock of birds and a house to match each one, her drawings revolt and insist on trading houses.
BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD: When lonely Roland finds a pine cone in the woods, it becomes his best friend, but someone else may just be missing their bumpy best friend at the same time.
ME + TREE: A young girl and an old tree learn from each other how to find their purpose and foster healing in the world. Lovely!
POOJO’S GOT WHEELS: Clever dog Poojo doesn’t let the fact that he was born without back legs slow him down.
THE NICE DREAM TRUCK: Sleepy children receive a visit from the Nice Dream Truck whose driver serves up all sorts of delicious dreams. Rhyme
THE TREE IN ME: A celebration of the strength and wonder within each of us, and a meditation on the interconnectedness of every living thing. Love the art!
HOME FOR A WHILE: Calvin has lived in many houses that never felt like home, but Maggie, his new foster mother, helps him deal with his emotions while also making him feel at home.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SUNNY: Laila has trouble adjusting when a thunderstorm causes her outdoor party to become an indoor party.
SHEEPISH: When the big bad wolf creates a foolproof plan to sneak into the sheep herd, things don’t go as planned.
THE LITTLE LIBRARY: Jake, a reluctant reader, becomes a book lover when the new librarian finds Jake a book about woodworking.
Here are a few recent titles I’ve read. What new picture books have you read? Please share in the comments section.
MOTHER GOOSE TO THE RESCUE!: When the Queen of Hearts’ castle goes up in flames, Mother Goose and her band of nursery rhyme firefighters jump to the rescue. Rhyme
TREEMENDOUS: Follow along as a tiny acorn grows up to be a tall and mighty oak tree.
MEESHA MAKES FRIENDS: Meesha struggles to make friends, so she creates her own out of found materials.
ELEPHANTS DO NOT BELONG IN TREES: When an elephant takes up roost in a tree, he upsets the other animals, until a bulldozer comes along, and the elephant saves their home.
A FAMILY FOR FARU: Tetenya looks for a family of rhinos to take in an orphan named Faru, but he must protect the young rhino from poachers first.
MY MONSTERPIECE: When a child’s attempts at making a scary monster fail, they begin to imagine that monsters don’t have to be scary after all.
HOORAY, IT’S GARBAGE DAY!: Neighborhood children look forward to garbage day and have fun making their own garbage truck. Rhyme
SAM’S FIRST WORD: Baby Sam is ready to say her first word, but the adults in her life keep missing the moment, until she does something they can’t ignore.
THE AQUANAUT: A child dreams of being an explorer, helping others, and meeting new friends. Striking art!
THE PERFECT SHELTER: When a child discovers her sister is ill, she doesn’t know how to deal with it at first, but then she realizes that being together is all they need.
Here are a few recent titles I’ve read. What new picture books have you read? Please share in the comments section.
THE TALE OF THE MANDARIN DUCK: A special duck brings the people of the city back together after they put their phones away.
AVOCADO ASKS: Avocado hunts for the truth, in each aisle of the supermarket, about whether he’s a fruit or a vegetable.
SLOTH WASN’T SLEEPY: Mama Sloth knows some special secrets to help her worried little daughter calm down and drift off to sleep.
RISSY NO KISSIES: Rissy’s friends and family wonder if she’s sick, confused, or rude because she’s a lovebird who doesn’t like kisses. Rhyme
RECTANGLE TIME: Told from the cat’s point of view as it spends time with the boy and watches as the boy gets bigger, the rectangle gets smaller, and it’s (the cat’s) assistance is no longer needed.
TEARS: Explores the reasons why people cry and conveys the idea that when we let our tears flow, we are stronger.
OUT OF NOWHERE: A beetle courageously sets out in search of his best friend, a caterpillar who arrived out of nowhere and vanished without warning.
RAINDROPS TO RAINBOW: On a rainy day, a girl discovers that color can be found all around us, no matter the weather. Rhyme/Concept
THE LOST PACKAGE: Follow one package’s journey from lost to found, and from coast to coast.
BEDTIME BALLET: When the sun sets, a little girl jumps, slides, and pirouettes her way to bed. Rhyme
Here are a few recent titles I’ve read. What new picture books have you read? Please share in the comments section.
OVER THE SHOP: A little girl’s grandparent struggles to rent the shabby apartment above her general store, until a special couple decides to move in and helps transform the store and the community. Wordless
CHICK CHAT: When everyone in her family is too busy, chatty Baby Chick adopts an egg, and finally finds a friend who is a good listener. Cute!
I AM NOT A PENGUIN: Poor Pangolin tries to explain to the other animals who he is, but they keep getting mixed up, confusing him with a penguin, an armadillo, and more. Funny!
TWO WOOL GLOVES: As a winter storm approaches, Father Squirrel sets out to find a warm shelter for his family and finally comes across the perfect place, just the right size for Mother Squirrel and their five babies.
TOGETHER: Whether stargazing, playing, or cuddling before bedtime, a polar bear parent assures a child that they will never be lonely because they are together forever. Rhyme
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.
RAIN BEFORE RAINBOWS: A girl and her companion fox travel together away from a sorrowful past, through challenging and stormy times, toward color and light and life. Rhyme/Lovely!
THE ALL-TOGETHER QUILT: Tells the heartwarming story of a diverse group of people coming together to make a quilt and lasting friendships.
ROO KNOWS BLUE: Little Roo only knows the color blue, but he soon learns the world is made up of lots of other colors, too. Concept/Rhyme/Fun!
NIGHT WALK: A girl has trouble sleeping and goes for a walk at night with her father where she sees her neighborhood in a whole new light.
TAMLIN’S GREAT ADVENTURE: When Tamlin the horse leaves his field and best friend, Ruby, to go explore the wide world, he learns the grass isn’t really greener far from home.
MEL FELL: Mel the kingfisher bird is ready to leave the nest and learn to fly, but when she jumps she falls and falls. Or does she?
SEEKING AN AURORA: Through the silent frost, across fields, and up hills, a father and child set off to find an aurora and share an unforgettable moment as they watch the splendor of the northern lights.
EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS: A young girl notices that her eyes look different from her friends because her eyes kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea.
THE MIDNIGHT FAIR: After the lights go out and the people go home, the creatures in the nearby forest take their turn at the fair. Wordless
I WANT TO RIDE THE TAP TAP: In Haiti, Claude waits all week to ride the tap tap to the beach where he meets up with a mango seller, a fisherman, a straw-hat maker, an artist, and a steel drummer.
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.
ONE GIRL: As one girl reads one book, the world opens up to her and she discovers other places, lives, and possibilities. Rhyme
WE WILL LIVE IN THIS FOREST AGAIN: When a thriving forest is swallowed by wildfire, its animal residents brace themselves and look to new beginnings.
ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER: A lyrical tribute to a young black child, filled with heart, hope, and affirmation, saying, you, dear child, matter.
COW BOY IS NOT A COWBOY: When Goat Girl calls Merle a cowboy, he protests, but when the chickens escape the coop and Humdrum Farm is in need of a hero, Merle decides to live up to his new name. Funny!
WE BELIEVE IN YOU: Celebrates the power and joy of believing in yourself and in one another. Rhyme/Sweet!
POOKA & BUNNI: When Pooka knocks down her older sister Bunni’s pillow castle, Pooka uses her big imagination to fix it before Bunni returns. Love the art!
THE LIBRARY BUS: In Afghanistan, Pari accompanies her mother on her library bus rounds, stopping at a village and a refugee camp so that girls there can exchange books and have a lesson in English.
LOUIS: Tired of dangerous adventures with his human boy, a teddy bear decides to run away, but reconsiders when bedtime arrives.
DINOS DON’T DO YOGA: When a yoga-loving dinosaur named Sam moves to town, rough-and-tumble Rex disapproves of his yoga pants and silly chants, and anyone who prefers tree pose to tussling.
ELLIE’S DRAGON: When Ellie is very small, she finds a tiny dragon just hatched from its egg, but as Ellie grows up, and moves from dollhouses to dance parties with friends, Scratch the dragon begins to fade.
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.
I AM THE STORM: Children share gentle stories of resilience in a tornado, a blizzard, a wildfire, and a hurricane.
THE SAD LITTLE FACT: Follow a sad little fact who is locked away for telling the truth and meets other little facts who want to escape their underground prison.
SNOW FRIENDS: Oscar the dog can’t contain his excitement on the perfect day to play in the newly fallen snow. Sweet!
MAGGIE’S TREASURE: When Maggie’s found treasure collection grows too big and spills out of her house into an unsightly mess, Maggie has the perfect plan to get rid of it all.
THAT MONSTER ON THE BLOCK: When a moving truck pulls up, it’s not a goblin, ogre, or dragon that’s moving into Vampire’s old house, it’s something even more terrifying, it’s a clown! Funny!
THE PURPLE PUFFY COAT: When Beetle gives Stick Bug a purple puffy coat for his birthday, Stick Bug really sticks out in a crowd, much to his dismay.
GRANDMA AND THE ROOSTER: It’s Chinese New Year and Grandma has a special present for her family, a rooster to make into delicious soup, but when her granddaughter Xiaoyue meets the rooster, she begs to keep him.
BENNY WANTS A HAIRCUT: When it’s Sam’s turn for a haircut, Benny starts to bark and won’t stop because he wants a haircut too.
THE WORLD MADE A RAINBOW: A girl feels sad that she can’t go out and play with her friends or see her grandma, so she makes a rainbow to bring joy, hope, and togetherness to her neighborhood. Rhyme
STAR CROSSED: Two friends, a girl made of blood and bone and a boy made of space and stars, each make a wish to be where the other is.
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.
THE SNOW DANCER: Sofia is excited to have a snow day and dance in the unspoiled park, but when other kids show up, Sofia’s beautiful silence is scattered.
MY WORDS: A celebration of words, big and small, prickly or bright, by a young girl. Rhyme
ONCE UPON A WINTER DAY: Milo’s mother is too busy to read him a story so she sends him outside to play in the snow where he discovers a story of his own inspired by nature.
KIND: Shares a host of positive and hopeful ideas, from kindness jars to big hugs, and shows how we can all make the world a better, kinder place. Features 38 illustrators
THE WORRYSAURUS: Little Worrysaurus has his whole day planned out, but after he sets off to have a picnic, he begins to worry that things will go wrong. Rhyme
OUT THE DOOR: In this story highlighting directional concepts, follow a girl as she travels to school in a busy city, going out, down, past, along, and more.
HELGA MAKES A NAME FOR HERSELF: A small but fierce Viking girl, along with her wolverine sidekick, is determined to become a warrior, just like her hero Ingrid the Axe.
MADELINE FINN AND THE THERAPY DOG: Madeline Finn hopes Star can become a therapy dog, but when they can’t get an elderly man in a wheelchair to smile, Madeline must learn patience.
THESAURUS HAS A SECRET: If the other dinosaurs discover that Thesaurus loves to read, they won’t think he’s such a normal dino.
NEIGHBORS: A girl contemplates what her neighbors might be like after her family moves into a new apartment building.
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.
SPEAK UP, MOLLY LOU MELON: Molly Lou’s mother encourages her to speak up when something is wrong, for those who can’t, and even when it’s hard, and Molly knows just what to do when a bully picks on a new kid at school.
SPACE MATTERS: From the spaces between words in a sentence to the vast, blue sky, spaces, both large and small, add beauty and make sense of the world around us.
SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: In ancient India, a boy named Bhagat travels to the rajah’s city, hoping to ensure his family’s prosperity by winning a place at court as a singer.
LUBAYA’S QUIET ROAR: Lubaya, an introverted young girl, quietly draws on the back of old protest posters, but when her family is called to march again, her artwork is the most powerful statement on that day.
THE BOOKSTORE CAT: Follow the well-loved bookstore cat’s hilarious antics from A to Z through a day in his bustling, book-filled shop. Fun!
THIS OLD DOG: From the time she takes her first steps, old dog finds someone, at last, who wants to go the same pace he does, slow. Super sweet!
BYE, PENGUIN!: When the ice cracks, one little penguin is set adrift on a journey around the world. Clever!
TURTLE WALK: A family of turtles goes for a long, long walk that has an unexpected and very fun ending. Cute!
SNOW DAYS: Children celebrate the varied aspects of snow, from the first magic snow of the season to the last melting snow. Rhyme
ADDY’S CUP OF SUGAR: In this reworking of a Buddhist parable, Stillwater, a giant panda, teaches Addy that the grief she feels for the loss of her kitten is part of life and is shared by everybody.
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.
PENNY AND THE PLAIN PIECE OF PAPER: Bored with her plain piece of paper, Penny abandons it and sets off to explore other types of paper, but when she doesn’t fit right on any of them, she must come up with a new paper plan.
RED SHOES: Malika adores her new red shoes and wears them everywhere, but after she outgrows them and they’re left at a resale shop, she wonders who will wear them next.
LOVE IS POWERFUL: Mari and Mama make a sign for the Women’s March, but Mari wonders how something so little will be seen by the whole world.
PICTURE BOOK BY DOG: A dog tells the tale of being lost, being in a shelter, being adopted, and being part of a family. Rhyme
THE LITTLE KITTEN: When Ollie and her cat Pumpkin discover a lost kitten while out playing, Ollie gets lost herself after following the kitten to its home.
ON EAGLE COVE: A young birder and her mother on a hike quietly watch the eagles and anticipate the new life to come. Rhyme
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.
SCOUT THE MIGHTY TUGBOAT: When an oil tanker in distress is too heavy for Scout to pull alone, she calls on her tugboat friends to help.
MY DAY WITH GONG GONG: When May spends the whole day with her grandpa in Chinatown, she’s bored, hungry, and unhappy, until grandpa surprises her with some special treats.
GOODNIGHT MERMAID: In this aquatic take on Goodnight Moon, meet mermaids, whales, and other ocean creatures. Rhyme
OUR LITTLE KITCHEN: A crew of resourceful neighbors comes together to prepare a meal for their community in a joyfully chaotic kitchen.
MARGARET’S UNICORN: When Margaret discovers a baby unicorn while out exploring the wilderness around her new home, she must care for it until the other unicorns return in the spring.
SWIFT FOX ALL ALONG: When Swift Fox’s father picks her up to go visit her Mi’kmaq family and tells her she’ll learn to be like them, butterflies fill up her belly.
TIME FOR BED’S STORY: Bed has a lot of complaints about how he’s treated by the child who owns him, such as too much kicking and drooling and too many stickers. Cute!
LITTLE BLUE HOUSE BESIDE THE SEA: A girl loves living by the sea, from watching boats go by to exploring nature to seeing the moon shine on the water, but when a storm blows in, she retreats inside her little blue house. Rhyme
I AM DARN TOUGH: A girl finishes a race, even after she’s fallen, even with aching muscles and a cramp in her side because she is strong on the inside and the outside.
ELBOW GREASE: FAST FRIENDS: Monster truck Elbow Grease and his brothers meet a monster cycle, Chopper, and hope to be her friend, until she proves to be faster, smarter, more daring, and tougher than they are.
SNOOZAPALOOZA: Count to ten with cuddly forest creatures, from a mouse to a bear, as they settle down in one furry heap to hibernate for winter. Rhyme/Concept
PIRATE NELL’S TALE TO TELL: Captain Gnash says there’s no time for reading on his ship, but when the journey gets rough and the captain is in trouble, it’s Nell and her book knowledge that saves the day. Rhyme
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.
THE SUITCASE: When a weary stranger arrives one day with only a suitcase, everyone is full of questions, but to learn the answers, they must either trust the newcomer or discover what they risk by not believing him.
IF I HAD A UNICORN: A girl imagines what life would be like if she had a unicorn as a pet. Rhyme
IT’S ONLY ONE!: When Rhino tosses a candy wrapper on the ground and then others begin throwing their trash on the ground, too, and it sets off a chain reaction that ruins their town, it’s up to mouse to fix things.
EVERY NIGHT IS PIZZA NIGHT: Convinced that pizza is the best food, Pipo will eat nothing else, until her fed-up parents send her on a quest to prove that no dishes in their multicultural neighborhood are better, each is the best.
JUST A STORY: A young reader comes upon an alluring book and he starts to read, becoming blissfully unaware of increasingly odd and outlandish occurrences looming all around him.
I TALK LIKE A RIVER: When a child has a bad speech day at school, his father gives him a new perspective on his stuttering.
FELIX AND THE MONSTERS: A lonely guard’s love for music leads him to discover what’s actually on the other side of the wall he’s guarding.
A BEAR IS A BEAR: When Bear wakes early from hibernation and can’t remember what he is, he tries to be like the other animals, but he realizes he’s not, and only a nap will help him remember. Rhyme
BESS THE BARN STANDS STRONG: Bess the barn was built by able hands to keep the farm animals safe, but when she is replaced by a shiny new barn and left alone, she slumps, until a storm destroys the new barn and it’s up to Bess to save the animals once more.
TIME TO ROAR: When great yellow beasts threaten to cut and burn the forest and destroy the meadow she loves, Sasha the bear and the other animals must find a way to stop them.
FIELD TRIP TO THE OCEAN DEEP: A student is accidentally left behind on a field trip to the ocean deep, where he discovers a treasure chest, falls into a ravine, and makes friends with a mysterious sea creature. Wordless
NOTHING IN COMMON: Two neighbors assume they have nothing in common, until the same bright part of their day is gone–watching the love between an old man and his dog.
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.
LIGHTS ON WONDER ROCK: When a UFO lands in the woods behind Heather’s house and she meets a friendly alien, her dream to go to outer space comes true.
DANCE LIKE A LEAF: A girl and her grandmother enjoy each other’s company, especially during autumn, and when Grandma passes away, the girl finds a special way to remember her.
THE BLUE HOUSE: As Leo’s neighborhood begins to change and he and his dad must move out of their little blue house, he struggles to make their new house feel like home.
WE DISAGREE: A rat and a squirrel disagree on everything and decide that they can’t be friends, until they finally find common ground. Rhyme
THE POWER OF ONE: Change begins with one person standing up for what is right and one act of kindness can start a chain reaction.
A UNICORN NAMED SPARKLE AND THE PUMPKIN MONSTER: When Lucy accidentally frightens Sparkle with a scary carved pumpkin and he takes off, Lucy must first find him and then comfort him. Sweet!
THE WORST POET EVER: Cat and Pug are each determined to become the world’s best poet, no matter what it takes, but eventually discover working together produces the best results. Fun! Mostly rhyme
THE BEAR AND THE MOON: When the gift of a balloon floats into Bear’s life, the two companions embark on a journey of discovery as small as a clearing in the forest and as deep as the sky.
FUSSY FLAMINGO: When Lola sneaks other snacks instead of eating shrimp and her feathers turn wacky colors, her parents plead with her to eat healthy.
OLIVER THE CURIOUS OWL: A curious owl and a friendly bug ask questions that lead them on a grand adventure away from and back to their home tree.
NO FUZZBALL!: A cat who thinks she is a queen becomes concerned when her loyal subjects, aka her family, leave her alone and are gone all day. Adorable!
ME & MAMA: For a little girl on a rainy day, the best place to be is with Mama.
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.
SWASHBY AND THE SEA: No-nonsense Captain Swashby loves his quiet life by the sea, but when new neighbors settle in next door and disrupt his solitude, the sea knows exactly what he needs.
ONE EARTH: Celebrate the beauty of nature and learn ways to protect our one and only world. Rhyme/Concept
JOY: An exuberant little kitten bounces, wriggles, and runs through the house, chasing her ball of yarn, until she trips down the stairs and her fun comes to an end. Rhyme
EVERY LITTLE LETTER: Walls had been built by big letters to keep out other letters, different letters, but one curious little letter was about to change everything.
IZZY AND FRANK: Izzy loves her island, but when she has to leave her lighthouse and island life behind to move to the city, she also has to say goodbye to her seagull friend Frank.
PLAYING POSSUM: Possums play dead when threatened, so Alfred, an unusually nervous possum, avoids attention and even friendship until he meets Sofia, an armadillo who curls into a ball when she’s nervous. Sweet!
DANDELION’S DREAM: In a meadow filled with dandelion buds just about to flower, one dandelion blooms into a real lion and sets off to explore the great wide world. Wordless
THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT: With care and tenderness, a bird and her mate make their family’s nest from the treasures of the forest. Rhyme
A JOURNEY TOWARD HOPE: Four unaccompanied migrant children come together along the arduous journey north through Mexico to the United States border.
LITTLE GREEN DONKEY: Little Donkey’s favorite food is grass, but when he eats too much and turns green, his mom tries to convince him to eat something new.
DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS: A generous, but increasingly put-upon, bear makes batch after batch of doughnuts for her woodland friends without saving any for herself. Rhyme
A PERFECT DAY: It’s a perfect day for Seagull, perched on a rock in the sea, until crabby Crab comes along and points out all of the day’s flaws.
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.
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.
Check out these fun and spooky tales, perfect for this time of year!
GUSTAVO THE SHY GHOST: Gustavo is a very shy and lonely ghost who loves to play the violin, but when nobody shows up to his concert, his dream of making friends vanishes into the night, almost.
ALIEN TOMATO: The curious vegetables decide the mysterious red orb that landed nearby must be a visitor from outer space, but Gopher knows better, or does he?
SHE WANTED TO BE HAUNTED: Clarissa, an adorable pink cottage, wants nothing more than to be haunted, but her attempts to attract ghosts only make her cuter. Rhyme
AFTER SQUIDNIGHT: A squad of squids are on a mission: make their way from the ocean to your house and leave their artistic mark by doodling on everything, even you, while you sleep. Rhyme
I LOVE MY FANGS!: Young Dracula loves his fangs and is very upset after one falls out, especially when the Tooth Fairy tries to take it away.
RUNAWAY PUMPKINS: When a poorly secured bus lock turns a school trip back from a pumpkin patch into a disaster, the neighbors along the road work together to turn the pumpkins into treats for the children. Rhyme
IT’S HALLOWEEN, LITTLE MONSTER: As Little Monster makes his way around the neighborhood to trick-or-treat, Papa is there to guide him through his fears. Rhyme
COOKIE BOO: When the cookies escape for a Halloween romp, they will have some tricks and treats before the night is through. Rhyme
BEARS AND BOOS: When the bears search through the box of Halloween costumes, one little bear is left without anything to wear. Rhyme
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.
TOGETHER WE GROW: When a bad storm drives all of the farm animals into the barn, they have trouble setting aside their fears and welcoming wild animals in, too, like a frightened fox family. Rhyme
I WILL DANCE: Eve’s cerebral palsy makes it difficult for her to do many things, but she longs to dance, and finally her dream is realized when she joins a special dance class.
ALL ABOARD THE MOONLIGHT TRAIN: Grab your ticket and climb aboard the Moonlight Train where you can read books with a lion, eat pancakes with warthogs, climb up a giraffe’s neck to get the best view, and much more until you’re finally sleepy. Rhyme
CLEM AND CRAB: Clem loves the beach, but not all the garbage left behind, so she takes Crab home with her to protect him, but there has to be something more she can do to save Crab’s home.
GOING UP!: A girl and her father are invited to a neighbor’s birthday party on the 10th floor of their apartment building and meet many other neighbors on their way up in the elevator and things become a bit crowded.
SANDCASTLE: A young girl builds a sandcastle so grand and lovely that royalty from all over the world come to visit, but they are not pleased with all the sand until she starts a game they can’t resist.
THE THREE LITTLE YOGIS AND THE WOLF WHO LOST HIS BREATH: In this twist on the classic fairy tale, a wolf who lost his huff and puff finds his breath with the help of three yogis.
THIS WAY, CHARLIE: Jack the goat isn’t sure about Charlie the horse at first, but the two soon form an unbreakable bond, where Jack is Charlie’s eyes as he goes blind, even after a storm puts their friendship to the test.
A IS FOR ANOTHER RABBIT: Dr. Owl simply wants to make a proper, respectable alphabet book, but some rule-bending, rebellious, and occasionally rhyming rabbits have other ideas. Concept
TINY BIRD: As autumn nears, flowers fade and insects become quiet, and Tiny Bird leaves his northern home for the long and perilous journey to lush southern forests.
A FAMILY FOR LOUIE: A French bulldog who loves gourmet food has trouble finding a family that is just right for him. Adorable!
ONCE UPON A UNICORN’S HORN: A little girl befriends a sad, tiny horse, and with a bit of magic and an ice cream cone, helps him fly.
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.
THIS LITTLE PUP: When a little boy throws a ball for a little pup to catch, it bounces past many animals until it’s finally caught. Concept
CAVE DADA: Even after a long day of hunting and gathering, Dada will do anything for Baba, but Baba wants a book, not just any book, the biggest book of all. Hilarious!
LIFT: A girl who loves to press the elevator button finds a broken button in the trash, hangs it by her closet door, presses it, and discovers worlds beyond her imagination waiting when the door opens.
OUR FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR: Four kindergartners who think they have nothing in common become friends after sharing traditions of their favorite holidays.
MY BROTHER THE DUCK: Stella, a fledgling scientist, has a new baby brother, Drake, and she is seriously considering the possibility that he is a duck, but furher research is required to test the hypothesis.
WHERE’D MY JO GO?: When Big Al, a little dog, gets separted from his trucker friend Jo at a roadside rest area, he patiently waits for her to return. Rhyme
OTIS P. OLIVER PROTESTS: Otis rouses a rabble of neighborhood children to join him in a protest demonstration against baths, but notes from his mother lead to a compromise.
THE BUG COLLECTOR: George loves bugs and decides to collect them until he realizes that watching them in their natural habitat is much better than keeping them in bottles.
HOT HOT PANCAKES!: When Mommy Mouse leaves Max in charge while she’s out, he decides to make pancakes for his brothers and sisters, but he forgets to make one for himself.
FOLLOW ME, FLO!: On the way to visit Auntie Jenna, Flo is supposed to follow Daddy Duck, but instead she goes a different way and attracts the attention of hungry Roxy Fox.
THE ELEPHANT’S GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK: When an elephant who loves to play with his friends, but doesn’t like to always be the first one found in hide-and-seek needs help, he turns to The Elephant’s Guide to Hide-and-Seek.
MY BIG FAMILY: Alex is excited when his Abuela comes from Cuba to stay with him and his parents, but when even more family moves in, the house is soon bursting at the seams.
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.
I AM BROWN: A joyful celebration of the skin you’re in–of being brown, of being you, and all the amazing things you can do.
MARGOT AND THE MOON LANDING: Margot loves talking about space and the moon landing, but nobody around her seems to care or will even listen, causing Margot great frustration.
NATSUMI’S SONG OF SUMMER: When Natsumi’s cousin visits from America, she can’t wait to share everything she loves–summertime festivals, the seaside, fireworks, and especially the cicadas.
BRICK BY BRICK: As a little boy watches his father, a bricklayer, work hard to build the city, both dream of building a house of their own.
DO NOT EAT THE GAME!: A girl tries to play a game with monsters, but it quickly turns into chaos when they don’t follow the rules.
I’M NOT A GIRL: Nobody seems to understand that Hannah is not a girl, but a birthday wish, a new word, and a stroke of courage might be just what Hannah needs to show the world who he really is.
HURRY UP!: After rushing around all day long, at home and at school, a child learns to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the natural world before going to bed. Rhyme
LONE WOLF: So many people think Maple is a wolf that she starts to believe them, but after exploring the world outside her home, she returns to her pack.
THAT’S MY CARROT!: In the garden, each bunny works on its own side of the fence, but one day, something unusual grows between them and they both claim it as theirs.
CORAL: A disagreement between Coral, Filly, and Manta, three young mermaids who work together to build and safeguard the reef that is their home, must quickly be set right, or else it’s the reef that will suffer.
RUNAWAY SIGNS: When all the street signs decide to take a vacation, their absence causes chaos throughout town, and they soon discover how important their jobs really are.
THE NIGHT IS FOR DARKNESS: Celebrate the wondrous beauty of the natural world at night as one family moves to a new home. Rhyme
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.
GREEN ON GREEN: A year is full of colors and changes and life and love, from yellow flowers in spring to white snow in winter and back again to the green of new life in spring. Rhyme
GOODNIGHT, VEGGIES: Visit a community garden where potatoes close their eyes, cabbages nod their heads, and corn covers its ears to go to sleep. Rhyme
LIBRARY BOOKS ARE NOT FOR EATING!: Ms. Bronte loves being a teacher, but she has one small problem, she also loves eating books. Rhyme
AN ORDINARY DAY: An ordinary day in an ordinary neighborhood turns out to be extraordinary as death and new life happen right next door to each other.
UNDER MY TREE: During a visit to her grandparent’s, Susanne leaves the city behind and journeys into the forest to spend time with her favorite tree.
ANI’S LIGHT: Ani’s world has gone dark in his mother’s absence, but when Mama finally returns, her love chases the darkness away.
UNDER THE LILACS: When Kate’s mother and sister are too busy to spend time with her, Kate decides to build her own house under the lilacs in the backyard.
ME AND MCGEE: It’s been a long winter and the pitcher has practiced every day, but will the Slither Ball, Brush-cut Ball, and Cannonball Express be enough to defeat McGee and the Catbirds this year?
OUTSIDE IN: Follow along with a little girl as she discovers all the ways nature affects our lives, such as providing food and clothing, and showing when to go to bed and when to get up.
A WAY WITH WILD THINGS: Poppy Ann Fields loves bugs and feels more comfortable with them than with people, until the day a special bugs lands on her grandmother’s birthday cake.
JASPER & OLLIE BUILD A FORT: Jasper and Ollie have a fort building contest in the yard, but while Jasper keeps adding more and more to his fort, Ollie keeps things simple.
PIGLETTE: Piglette prefers pampering, pastries, and flowers to mud, slop, and piggish things, so she sets off to experience the finer things in Paris.
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.
ELSIE: When Elsie goes fishing with her six siblings, she wants to do things her way, even though they tell her not too, but they soon discover that doing things differently isn’t such a bad idea after all.
FROG BOOTS: Dylan loves his new rain boots with colorful poison dart frogs, until he wears them to school and discovers that the boots are meant for girls.
WHAT SOUND IS MORNING?: Welcome the day by exploring the exuberant sounds and soft silences of morning.
DESERT GIRL, MONSOON BOY: Two families flee extreme weather in India and come together on a mountaintop. Rhyme
WHEN THE STORM COMES: Follow several people and animals as they show the many different ways in which they prepare for a storm and take shelter. Rhyme
THE BOLD, BRAVE BUNNY: After his brothers and sisters ruin his favorite alphabet book, Teetu the bunny has had enough of his big bunny family and decides to sneak off into the night.
NESTING: A pair of robins build a nest together and raise their chicks, navigating a year of changing seasons and serpentine predators.
SWING: As four very different letters arrive at the playground, each makes the next feel unwelcome, but once they begin to swing together , they have a wonderful time.
THE BEDTIME BOOK: Mouse’s favorite book is missing, so she sets off to find it with the help of her dog friend Frank.
WOODPECKER GIRL: When a little girl born with cerebral palsy is given a paintbrush by her teacher, she’s able to express herself and freely explore the world through her paintings.
KAIA AND THE BEES: Kaia is afraid of getting stung even though her dad is a beekeeper, but after she spends time helping care for the bees, she begins to feel braver.
A FRIEND FOR BEAR: After Bear wakes up from her long winter sleep, she’s in a rush to do everything, including running, rolling, and swimming, until her new friend Tortoise convinces her to slow down.
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.
LILAH TOV GOOD NIGHT: Based on a Hebrew lullaby, a Jewish refugee family travels by night to find a safe home in a new land. Rhyme
BIKE & TRIKE: When Lulu graduates to a bicycle with training wheels, rusty, old Trike feels lonely in the garage and worries about Lulu’s safety on her shiny, new bike.
WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS: When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.
HAVE YOU EVER ZEEN A ZIZ?: The mythological Ziz is a giant bird that likes to show off by flying, singing, blocking out the sun with its wings, and resting its head upon a cloud. Rhyme
MY OCEAN IS BLUE: Join a curious young explorer on her seaside adventure as she relates everything the ocean can be with all of its shapes, sounds, smells, and sights.
REMEMBERING ETHAN: Sarah misses her big brother Ethan and wants to talk about him, but her parents don’t even want to mention his name, and she can’t understand why.
CAT AND DOG’S ALPHABET: When Dog discovers the 26 letters of the alphabet, it’s up to Cat to show him all the great things he can do with them.
DIGGERSAURS EXPLORE: The diggersaurs search for buried treasure and discover a new friend. Rhyme
BABY CLOWN: When Frieda and Boffo Clown have a baby, the entire circus is over the moon, but there’s just one problem, Baby Clown won’t stop crying.
DOWN UNDER THE PIER: There’s lots of fun to be had up on the pier, but it’s down under the pier, at low tide, where the real magic can be found.
THE HOMESICK CLUB: Monica and Hannah are classmates who have moved to the U.S. from far away and miss their homes so much that they form the Homesick Club.
THIS BOOK IS UPSIDE DOWN: Penelope Giraffe and Gus Penguin are at home on two different sides of the same world, and when something looks upside down to Penelope, it looks right-side up to Gus.
