Slow, solemn, and philosophically rich
Easy-flowing rhymes plus construction equipment, vibrant illustrations, and strong female representation in nontraditional roles culminate in a standout title.
A fantastic purchase for libraries with native Spanish speakers or Spanish-language learners, add this to picture book shelves.
A gentle, engaging story about friendship and resilience that highlights the connection between one kind of dinosaur and birds is an excellent choice for developing fluency and confidence.
Best suited as an additional purchase, particularly for collections building interest ahead of an upcoming World Cup.
This title will be useful in environmental units and will be especially helpful for classes prior to visiting parks or nature preserves
A relatable, reassuring pick for families navigating screen-time struggles, with humor, honesty, and an inviting reminder of the pleasures beyond the glowing rectangle.
A celebration of summer warmth, tradition, and togetherness. Recommended, especially as a companion to Winter Solstice Wish.
With an emphasis on play and the joys of the game, this book is another sweet addition to the series.
In this giggle-inducing story for readers across a solid grade range, Monster’s unique conundrum offers an amusing, unexpected adventure down a familiar path.
A must for all collections, this hilarious story full of puns shows readers how creativity can be more important than size in getting a job done correctly.
A tender portrayal of a sibling relationship in the face of a difficult life change.
A good addition to picture book collections, and a solid choice for discussing emotions with young readers.
This amusing introduction and reminder of basic manners, similar to Sesyle Joslin’s What Do You Say, Dear? is a great first buy.
Cozy, delicate, and thoroughly appealing, this is a solid purchase.
Best enjoyed in a close setting so readers can explore and discuss the whimsical illustrations, this book is particularly well-suited to children who appreciate tales of love and family.
This work shares the importance of love throughout a lifetime. It is a great addition to every library’s Spanish language collection and a good choice for SEL collections.
A strong choice for any library’s picture book collection.
A bright, funny picture book that reassures young children that all feelings, even the grumpy ones, are more than okay
A successful cultural introduction and celebration of Ganesha Chaturthi that encourages readers to think about kindness, patience, and self-reflection, this is well-suited to family and classroom settings.
With laugh-out-loud humor, this zesty lesson in getting along with a sibling is an excellent read-aloud and should appeal to a wide audience of readers young and old.
No matter how Rebecca ended her days, the photographs of her at the White House bring history to young readers, making this a solid purchase for most libraries.
A cute but slight picture book that differentiates the seasons and amplifies the beauty of the larger natural world around us.
A wonderful book to introduce multigenerational family units, cultural norms, and caregiving.
This Spanish-language picture book is a first purchase with a giggle-inducing twist on the “going to grandma’s house” story.
With many stronger and clearer titles addressing individuality and self-worth—such as Kelly DiPucchio’s Gaston and Grace Byer’s I Am Enough
The humor and gross factor will have readers clamoring for this fact-filled picture book.
A strong choice for collections in need of girl representation in sports books for children.
A colorful bilingual addition to the world of Parr, this title is a great choice for Spanish-language picture book collections. This book would be ideal for a bilingual storytime and a great addition to both public and school libraries.
A worthwhile purchase, this is a creative tale suitable for classroom use or in read-alouds.
Imparting community-oriented values related to working together as a team and being resourceful, this is recommended for libraries serving young readers.
A truly outstanding, readable A truly outstanding, readable resource for both young scientists and educators.–Lonna Pierce
A gentle, cozy pick for bedtime, and a welcome addition to collections seeking global picture book favorites.
A solid take on a noteworthy holiday for early readers, useful in a classroom setting.
A charming friendship tale and a strong addition to picture bookshelves
A compelling story of grief for adults and children to share.
A dreamy story with sophisticated illustrations that will live in the minds of readers long after its conclusion. Recommended.
Thrilling art conveys more than the unsubtle text to promote dialogue on these worthy topics.
A good book for early readers and for encouraging SEL conversations.
A gentle, observational picture book that doubles as a bedtime wind-down for dog lovers; a strong addition to bedtime story collections or even quiet-down story hours.
A warm, visually appealing story that celebrates creativity, cultural expression, and classroom community. Ideal for lessons on collaboration, heritage, and the value of collective storytelling.
An inspired and joyful boost to both new swimmers and those experiencing the ocean for the first time; a first purchase for picture book collections.
A recommended purchase, this lyrical picture book, full of joyful detail, is a lovely choice for sharing and a wonderful introduction to the rhythms of life in the Arctic.
Administering to children’s natural curiosity, this is a sweet bedtime book or for use in lessons on animals at night.
An excellent read-aloud for all children, this book will be a welcome addition to any elementary school library.
A tender, imaginative exploration of grief and remembrance, with the bonus of spotlighting groundbreaking representation of Black female pilots.
More than any direct appeal to altruism or compassion, the focus on emotions in this very simple episode is sure to spark empathy in younger audiences.
This paean to school will warm the heart of anyone who has ever worked in a school setting and is the perfect gift for Teacher Appreciation Day.
This is a strong sequel and suitable addition to libraries and classrooms alike.
A thought-provoking ode to the multitudes each unique day contains, this story demonstrates the interconnectedness of all things near and far, and has plenty of potential for classroom and storyhour use.
With its bold colors and friendly forms, this is a must-purchase for elementary collections in need of a fresh back-to-school story to help students that are both fun but imperfect processes.
Drawn from the author’s childhood, this uplifting story pairs beautifully with the included puppet-making activity.
This factual and life-affirming book celebrates our ocean and reminds us to keep it healthy and wild.
Suitable for most collections serving young children who may or may not have a fear of the water but will be rewarded with a gentle friendship story celebrating the beauty of the underwater world.
A good choice for libraries needing picture books featuring regional specialties, such as music and food or for use in the celebration of families.
This title is a first purchase for school and public libraries and is perfect for fans of Jan Thomas and Ethan Long. While it’s useful for supporting language arts curricula, it’s also plenty of fun on its own.
This is highly recommended for purchase, and especially useful for units on the Civil Rights Movement and civic engagement.
By inviting children to understand the teachings of animal brothers and sisters, this book works for units on nature, animals, and Indigenous culture, and is a compelling work for all collections.
A gentle, inspiring addition to classroom, library, and community collections, perfect for helping children reflect on their own stories and honor the stories of others.
Packed with SEL content, advice, and an activity, this book is a great fit for a library audience looking for ways to cope with the topic of moving.
With no focus on the bike race itself and no background for Mr. Felix’s astonishing ability, the story serves as a goofy lark, offbeat but unfulfilling. An additional selection.
This winning, humorous title will delight on its own and even more so when paired with its predecessor. A first purchase.
A simple notion carried out with intention, effectively evoking compassion in children across many grade levels.
A whimsical morning lullaby, this SEL adventure will gently guide readers to find the sun amid their own fears.
Hand to fans of Mo Willems’s Elephant and Piggie, as well as those who love Yoon’s other stories. A first purchase for all libraries where little readers frolic.
An inviting resource for all those hoping to bring more nature-based play into children’s lives, this is a recommended purchase, especially for collections supporting outdoor play, exploration, and early learning.
While not essential for libraries, the story is certain to be enjoyed by animal lovers who won’t want to put it out to pasture.
The rhythmic text of this charming and effective story, along with its imaginative depiction of large creatures engaging in gentle rituals, will make this a great addition to anyone seeking soothing read-alouds for the young.
Gorgeous illustrations highlight the frenetic pace of life often faced by children, here paired closely with the gift of moments of calm and connectedness that might surprise anyone on a crammed day. Highly recommended.
This is a powerful SEL title would be welcome in any collection.
A simple story that prescribes playful imagination as the cure for the universal condition of occasional boredom; useful for units on balancing screen time.
With its heartfelt exploration of change and thoughtful depiction of diverse characters, this story is a gentle, refreshing take on moving that will resonate with young readers and to have on hand for families navigating transitions.
In a nice change of pace from more serious storylines, Gunnar’s hardships in the quest for a delicious pizza for himself and for his community are wonderfully presented and entertaining.
A solid choice for those needing books about gender identity for young readers.
There isn’t a kid alive who won’t respond to this book; libraries should consider buying multiple copies.
This poetic picture book teaches children about diversity, freedom, identity, and respecting others; it’s a great addition to any SEL collection.
A must-purchase for elementary collections where short and simple age-relevant stories about gender are needed.
An enjoyable picture book perfect for dog and cat lovers alike. Molk’s artwork alone could carry the story, but paired with the playful text, it becomes an irresistible read-aloud about friendship, surprises, and learning to make room for someone new.
Purchase where other books in the series are popular or where collections are in need of more interactive titles.
A wonderful creative adventure, though inappropriate for library circulating.
A solid book to talk about the life cycles of bears, kindness to others, using pictures to make predictions, making pancakes, and seasonal changes.
Illustrating the importance of emotionally supportive caregivers, this heartwarming story is “just right” for every library collection.
Charming illustrations and an approachable story make this a worthy selection for school and public libraries.
This is a helpful, jovial addition on camping for collections with its gentle guidance on friendship and how to cultivate it.
An educational read that introduces Passover through a child’s perspective while also teaching a valuable lesson about animal care. A great addition to bolster Jewish holiday representation.
Filled with humor and heart, this story about a unique little spider who discovers how much she can do is sure to inspire readers to new heights. A great addition to Spanish-language picture book collections.
Libraries may already own the English and/or Spanish editions, but this bilingual version is a strong addition for early elementary readers and bilingual collections.
This modern twist on classic themes will resonate with families looking for picture books that challenge traditional gender norms. This is a general purchase for any Spanish-language children’s collection.
This is a solid book that demonstrates good sportsmanship and friendship and is a good buy, especially where the character is popular.
This sensitive take on the realities of war and displacement is a strong introduction for families to discuss these topics. A good choice for every library’s young readers’ Spanish-language collection.
A great addition to Spanish-language children’s collections, especially where picture books for older readers are needed.
Libraries seeking modestly religious creation stories may find this a quiet, sturdy edition to add to the shelves.
Pull this one out when the classroom or story hour needs a reset and some giggles.
A stunning celebration of the darkness and all the wonders it holds.
An additional purchase for collections seeking more Indigenous representation.
Fans of this prolific author’s work as well as children who love nature and seashore life will enjoy this short, beautifully illustrated story.
A vibrant picture book, this would be a good selection for libraries, with a celebration of hope that is always welcome.
This wonderful book would be a solid addition to any library as a reminder for all ages to appreciate the small things.
Sweet celebration of faraway family, the beauty of culture, and common experiences Nuha and Jadda share make this a standout. Recommended for all collections.
This title is a great addition to social-emotional learning collections, offering a dynamic and unique approach to discussing anxiety, inner strength, and resilience with young readers during a fun and compelling read-aloud.
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