Important lessons on bodily autonomy, consent, diversity, and self-love wrapped up in an age-appropriate hug of a book.
This touching story of a mother and son planting vegetables for the season would be a great addition to any library’s nature or gardening collection.
A lovely look at the seasons, an excellent choice for story time, that shows the sensory experience of a child who is never depicted as anything but whole.
The predictable, lesson-y nature of the story will likely keep young listeners from returning for additional readings.
This an excellent book to include in units on teaching poetry.
Snow’s cinematic vision is mesmerizing; this is recommended for school libraries and older picture book readers.
Children will enjoy this sensitive and nuanced story focused on social and emotional themes.
This is a perfect fit for SEL lessons about owning up to one’s mistakes and asking for forgiveness. A must-buy and ideal read-aloud for all libraries.
Fans of more challenging search-and-find books will enjoy the intricate artwork and the visual challenge this title delivers; upper elementary students may enjoy the hunt as well.
A solid addition to picture book collections, best for libraries looking for quirky stories to add to their rotation.
A charming tale that will certainly be enjoyed by aunts and their loved ones.
A lovely, if difficult, title that belongs in many collections.
Fine if you need a book on the subject, but unnecessary for a robust collection.
A must-read during Women’s History Month, this is a solid purchase for every library.
This is a delightful and highly recommended picture book that celebrates imagination, communication, and the power of forming new friendships. It supports social-emotional learning (SEL) by encouraging openness, curiosity, and embracing unexpected connections, making it ideal for school libraries.
Attractive but not an essential purchase.
A secondary purchase for libraries serving young children.
Regardless of flaws, this book is a welcome addition. It’s a a beautifully illustrated and gentle retelling that will remind young people of the duty to care for the planet.
A meaningful addition to school and public libraries, as well as a lovely choice for readers to take home, where they can consider their own neighborhood’s history.
A compassionate and workmanlike story, lacking important nuance.
This book offers a unique and engaging blend of fictional storytelling and scientific education, making it an excellent addition to school library collections. It celebrates themes of self-identity, bravery, and understanding scientific concepts in a fun, accessible way, making it valuable for young readers and for social-emotional learning.
A satisfying story that also could be useful for discussions about our need for natural spaces or about what community means.
A joyful celebration of both individuality and community and a great purchase for public libraries, pre-schools, and lower elementary schools.
This may be the story that sends readers off to research other ancient stories from China. And Treelings certainly feel like a merch moment waiting to happen.
Heartfelt and moving, this is an exceptional and a must-have for the shelves helping children deal with divorce and other challenges.
A great choice for an Earth Day story time, this book is applicable all year round. Readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations and strong message Morales delivers.
A meaningful choice for enthusiastic five-years-olds, this will also work for students in the lower elementary grades.
Readers will enjoy this easygoing but slight story about perseverance and friendship.
A secondary purchase where folktales are popular or in need of modern reinvigoration.
A valuable resource, especially for libraries looking to expand their collections of books about North American peoples.
A fantastic purchase for libraries serving English and Spanish-speaking communities, this would also make a good choice for bilingual story time.
A good purchase for libraries serving Spanish-speaking communities or with bilingual programs, especially around the holiday.
PreS-Gr 3–A look at the immigrant experience through the eyes of a young girl named Rocío...
[needed] Perfect for ages 3-6 or anyone looking to build their Spanish/English vocabulary.
This bilingual book about children pursing their dreams is a buy for libraries with a large Latinx community and an additional purchase for those with a smaller Spanish children’s collection.
A good purchase for libraries serving Spanish-speaking communities or with bilingual programs.
A beautiful Spanish-language picture book about worries and friendship that is a great choice for children’s SEL collections.
A heartfelt and inspiring story and a strong choice for library collections, especially where bilingual titles and stories about perseverance and the arts are valued.
Not a necessary purchase, but by the end, readers will be in total agreement: babies and library cards don’t mix. Or do they?
With an aspirational scenario that many children will relate to, this is recommended for purchase for all picture book collections.
This is a perfect book for bedtime; likely to be a favorite and widely circulated.
Educators have plenty of other books to choose from, so place this in Yolen collections or where there is a need for more poetic, loosely defined looks at cartography.
A very mild book that is best left to home use, for one-on-one readings and perhaps further discussion about emotions.
An excellent pick for pirate-themed story hour and sure to be a hit with young readers and their adult crews.
A visually striking and well-intentioned story about acceptance and diversity, with a quiet affirmation of friendship at its heart. A solid addition to collections exploring identity, emotions, and belonging.
With digitally rendered illustrations that have the quality of faded color photographs, Mandin lifts up a story that reminds readers that all children deserve protection, care, and joy in their lives.
A quirky, darkly whimsical graphic/picture book hybrid best suited for bold young readers; libraries may want to shelve with a content advisory.
Baby-pleasing photographs with active youngsters and adults will get even small children reaching for the sports equipment nearby and going out to play. For all board book collections.
Not essential, but it’s a whole lot of love in relatively few pages, and children won’t mind the sugarcoated sentiments.
An excellent purchase for story times focused on teamwork, empathy, and the power of quiet determination.
A solid if sentimental purchase for any collection serving young children and families.
A sweet, accessible look at the avian world, ideal for one-on-one reading.
Shibu’s tail is a perfect starting point to get readers talking about the complexities of human emotions, and a great reminder that hiding feelings isn’t fun.
Will picture book readers take up the message in this dazzling display of artistic versatility, that art is something they can make themselves as well as admire in books and on museum walls? Of course they will.
From the informative bilingual poems to the incredible artwork, this title is a great choice to learn more about these important peoples. A must-have for children’s book collections.
This book could be relevant to early discussions around emotional awareness and self-acceptance; an additional purchase for collections where SEL-themed books are valued.
A vibrant celebration of life’s simple moments for quieter story hours, reminding children to go slow, to pause, notice, and cherish their worlds.
A deeply affirming portrayal of sibling dynamics and growing up. Highly recommended for collections exploring family, emotional resilience, and love in all its quiet forms.
This gorgeously illustrated picture book about sisterhood is a must-purchase for all collections.
For libraries with an established audience for these popular books, this installment is a worthwhile purchase.
This easy-to-enjoy story of two temperature-challenged creatures will be enjoyed on a hot summer day and throughout the year.
For story hours and read-alones, this is for dinosaur lovers and all readers
Gentle and loving, this is a ghost story for readers who are looking for something beyond the traditional scary ghost story for a tale of everlasting connection. Wistful and wish-fulfillment personified: What reader has not hoped that a loved one long gone is near?
This whisper-thin story is flat, lacking beauty and nuance, making this an optional purchase for school libraries.
Simple language and a straightforward, low-stakes plot works as a read-aloud in classrooms or libraries and fits neatly into story time themes about food, community, and working together. It offers equal parts delight and gentle life lessons.
A peppy introduction to Hispanic Christmas traditions for young readers.
While cozy in tone, the story follows a well-worn holiday arc grounded in magic, loss, and wish fulfillment.
Sullivan and Persico make these friendly monsters heartwarming; readers will enjoy welcoming them to their holiday storytimes.
A first purchase, especially where the English version circulates well.
This fun, Spanish-language search-and-find is sure to provide enjoyable moments, especially during the holidays. A great addition to picture book collections.
Perfect to read with a family member around the holidays.
Not an essential buy for libraries, but may be useful if additional holiday craft and family activities are needed.
Festive and educational, this title is an excellent choice for expanding holiday collections and introducing young readers to the traditions and spirit of Hanukkah.
This sensitive book addresses family change during an emotional time of year. A recommended purchase for social-emotional collections.
A sweet, realistic story of family, culture, and emotional resilience.
An excellent choice for Spanish-speaking communities and libraries.
A breathtaking picture book about the beauty of the water and the magic of swimming, perfect for Spanish-language collections for children.
A modern city twist on a Christmas classic.
A heartfelt ode to the celebration of chosen family to welcome into every holiday library collection.
This rhyming Christmas story will appeal to young children who love dinosaurs.
A great addition to any picture book collection.
An appealing and authentic introduction to Dongzhì for readers of any background.
A joyful title that emphasizes the importance of connection and togetherness, whether with family or found family.
A cozy, inclusive celebration of the season.
An excellent secular selection for any library serving young children.
Only fans of the show will enjoy this simple, short story that celebrates how life is sweeter with friends by your side.
Children will love the beautiful artwork and hidden images in this heartfelt holiday book.
Full of humor and holiday spirit, this is sure to please Fenske’s existing fans and is a perfect suggestion for fans of Jan Thomas and Bob Shea.
A sweet, meaningful addition to holiday collections.
Excelling in engagement, design, and joyful reading experience, this festive title will delight young browsers and enrich collections seeking high-interest seasonal books.
This Spanish-language picture book is a fun and humorous demonstration of the realities of sisterhood and a first purchase for all libraries.
A great purchase for libraries serving Spanish-speaking communities or with bilingual programs.
This work is another wonderful addition to Spanish-language collections for children.
Perfect for bilingual households, early language learners, or any family wanting to share a beloved song across cultures, this edition is a joyful celebration of nature, music, and connection.
This vibrant Spanish-language picture book is an excellent choice for children’s collections.
A beautiful addition to Spanish-language collections for children, with a compelling view of the passage of time.
A vibrantly illustrated tale of finding friendship through creativity, this book is a strong addition to picture book collections and story hour shelves.
This charming board book features a helpful group of familiar animals with an engaging story that will make for an enjoyable read for an audience just learning to help others.
Touching upon the importance of a lighthouse keeper, this picture book is a good choice for children’s collections and for those in search of this compelling, but little-mentioned, occupation.
The crayons and their art are delightful, rustic, and interesting enough to keep children not only entertained but constantly looking for playfulness on every page. An aquatic amusement that lands across a range of grades.
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