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.

Two kids explore an abandoned house and imagine who might have lived there.

As twilight falls, some animals come out to graze while others are settling in for the night.

Separated from her mother, a young whale swims the oceans for decades until she finds a young girl who shares her vision of one planet for which all are responsible.

Fred tries to keep still, but it’s so hard to keep that bouncy feeling inside.

Follow the clues to guess which adorable baby animal appears on the next page.

Amanda and Bitsy’s friendship may be ruined after they discover their birthday parties are on the same day.

Jim connects each of his found objects–a stone, a key, and a button–to fantastical tales of why they are so important.

Gideon was going to build the most stupendous sand castle the beach had ever seen–without his sister’s help.

When Peter and his dog Nell arrive to school one day and discover the books missing, Detective Dog Nell is ready to solve the case.

A dugong tries to convince two children that she is a mermaid.

Nelly loves to wear her new swimsuit for everything—except for swimming.

After twins Ally and Mae come home sick, it’s up to Nanny Paws to take care of them.

Celebrates a diverse community on a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that welcomes all people. Great message!

Kangaroo tries to make friends with Koala using bubbles. Sweet!

On Mouse and Monster’s camping trip, things quickly go awry after Monster eats all of the supplies. Cute!

Little Owl is afraid of falling and will not try to fly until his friends persuade him to say a special word and keep trying even after he fails. I like the art!

The friendship between a boy and a horse blossoms as the seasons pass.

Russell’s family reunion is coming up and he is not looking forward to all of the hugging, hand shaking, and hair tousling he’ll receive from his unusual relatives.

Cece and Isaac team up to discover the answer to their science project question: Do dogs eat vegetables?

Rashin is an Iranian immigrant girl living in New York and excited about her first trip to Coney Island.

As goat becomes more adventurous in her eating, the farmer and his family begin to notice that things have gone missing.

Henry is fascinated by the bees his Aunt cares for and wants to help, but she says he must wait until he’s older.

In this whimsical celebration of the senses, we learn that when the mind and body are calm, we can see that all of life is still and moving, just like us.

Bear is determined to find the spider that’s building messy webs all over his house. Cute!

Two children notice all the beautiful colors that surround them on a rainy summer day in the country. Great as both a concept book and a fun, rhyming story!

Every week, Zaida delivers bagels fresh from the bakery to his grandson, but when he falls and must rest for two weeks, who will get the bagels?

A long time ago, before email and texting, mail was delivered in a much slower way.

While camping, Bear tells Mole the story of how the First Bears created the moon and the stars.

A child explains how his parent’s lives used to be boring before he was born.

Max is an expert at grocery shopping because his mom makes him go every week. 

Since Box can’t jump and Circle can’t sit, they must find a way to play together. Cute!

A chick and a puppy become barnyard friends. Adorable!

While Harry and his baby brother are getting ready for bed, their father is starting work as a conductor on the overnight train from London to Penzance.

Prankster Kaylee tries to trick the tooth fairy with disastrous results.

Elephant wants to build something as tall as he is, but can he keep it from toppling over?

You’re invited to a glorious Fourth of July picnic, where you’ll learn all about sharing. Lovely!

After LaRue, a handy bunny, grows a giant carrot he figures out a way to use it to help his friends. Cute!

A shy and anxious boy feels sick the day he’s supposed to wear his starfish costume for the parade at school. Great illustrations!

A dog looking for a home sends letters to prospective owners on Butternut Street. This one made me sad. Thank goodness for happy endings!

An otter named Randal leaves home to become an elephant. Sweet, funny, and love the art!

Career Day is approaching, and Annie can’t wait to show the school and her family what she wants to be when she grows up.

When Bif finds a big red rock blocking his path, he enlists the help of his friends to move it.

When an ice cream cone lands on Keith the cat’s head and his friends laugh at him, he pretends it’s a magic hat. Cute and colorful!

Follow the growth of a tree through the seasons.

Two ducks gaze into the clear water of their pond and discover other ducks. Sweet!

Follow Kalayaan, an eagle shot by a hunter, as he is rescued by kind villagers and eventually released back into the wild.

Tired of being teased about her hair, MacKenzie seeks the help of her neighbor Miss Tillie who compares hair care to tending a garden.

Frank the French bulldog is lost. Important evidence and maps will help track his steps and find him. Clever!

Artist Emma scolds her dog, Muse, for changing one of her paintings, but when he leaves, so does her creativity. Perfect for those of us inspired by our dogs!

When the night grows stormy, only Mama Elephant can reassure the baby animals that they are safe. Unusual and interesting art for a picture book!

Charlotte has a talent for anything technological, but when she receives a doll for a gift, she’s not quite sure what to do with it. Fantastic art!

Jack the horse escapes his stall and gets into all sorts of trouble on the farm. Cute!

A group of children say goodbye to a beloved pet turtle who has died.

Olive needs some time away from her little brother Will.

Celebrates the milestones and accomplishments of childhood from first birthday to graduation. Sweet!

Get ready for some wild dancing and find out what really happens at the zoo after dark. Fun!

Fox and Chick are good friends who don’t always get along. Cute!

When Albert the bear’s favorite tree won’t stop crying, Albert tries everything he can think of to cheer it up.

Four chickens flee the coop, roam the world, and return home just in time to roost.

A celebration of friendship that focuses on what makes a person special.

A little girl and her brother imagine all the things that will grow if they plant the sand they brought home from the beach. Darling story and pictures!

Chaos spreads around the world as Petronilla transfers color to everything she touches. Interesting art!

Thief Jack enlists the help of a duck to break into a safe.

Vincent the cat lives on a cargo ship, but he has never had a real home.

A page turns every time you blink, bringing you closer to the end of the book–and bedtime.

The perfect gift of all is the world itself in its natural beauty through every season.

When a dragon catches a cold, setting off fires with its sneezes, a wizard comes to the rescue with a magic potion.

Rupert the rhino becomes flustered when Levi the tickbird lands on him one day and won’t go away. Great art!

People use their teeth to bite all sorts of things, but not other people. Fun!

Mama and little Toad help their friends who are stranded on the road.

Caroline is distracted all day at school because her parents are bringing home someone very special for her to meet.

As Max and Marla set out for the perfect picnic, they learn that getting along isn’t always easy, but best friends can’t stay mad for long. Nice art!

The bears are enjoying a picnic until a feisty wind swoops their kites away and the little bears too. Adorable addition to this series!

Big Brown Bear’s cave just doesn’t feel like home, so he fills it with stuff–all sorts of stuff.

Izzy gets frustrated when her inventions fail to work, but when she finds an injured crow, she knows just what to do to help.

Hot Dog is chilling out on his comfy bread with some corn and a couple of fries when disaster strikes. Cute!

Dogs engage in all sorts of fun activities at the dog park.

A boy is determined to catch the ball even if it takes a bit of imagination.

An older brother encourages his younger brother to take a leap of faith.

A young mouse ventures out on his own to find the most wonderful words.

Stanley the spider likes to collect things, but he soon finds out that nothing lasts forever.

Quincy wants to blend in at chameleon school, but his daydreams always make him stand out.

Greedy Greenbackboy’s got an idea for a game; he wants Snowboy to help him cut down all the trees in the forest.

A fox is caught burglarizing a house by the owners, the three bears. Fantastic illustrations!

Follow a group of friends as they go sailing, explore an island, and return home to tell their tale. Cute art!

Animals love playing sports. Clever concept book!

When two of Moose’s letters come loose, he vanishes, but his best friend Cow has a plan. Fun!

A toad is bumped, bounced, and blown along a bustling road. Fun read aloud!