Little Bird Laila, written by Kelly Yang and illustrated by Xindi Yan.Dial Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Mama and Baba want to take English classes, 
but they cost too much money. 

(People say America is free, but it's actually 
really expensive.)

I wish there was a way. One night, as I'm 
watching my neighbor's TV, an idea comes 
to me. 

Maybe I can be their teacher."

Laila is the daughter of Chinese immigrants who don't speak or read English. Laila is with them whenever they face new and often challenging situations. Opening a bank account, filling in forms (which are not always done perfectly), and protecting them from the taunts of neighbors. It isn't fun to have others make fun of them. 

Laila knows how clever and capable her parents are, how kind their actions are at every turn, and how funny they really are. They can't afford to take lessons in English. Laila makes it her work to teach them. It is not easy for Laila as she is learning very difficult language lessons herself. 

"C'mon, out with it! 
Don't beat around the bush!

This is getting out of hand! 

You really missed the boat on that one!"

It's a lot to understand and share with her parents. There are many obstacles. Laila is persistent even though it is tough going. They share jokes in both languages and improve day by day. Mama and Baba make their daughter proud. At the first parent-teacher conference, they are able to communicate and explain that it is due to Laila's teaching. 

Warm art, created digitally, shares the emotional journey when learning a new language Expressions are clear as the three show persistence and patience navigating their new reality. Young readers will be interested to see the speech bubbles that show both Chinese and English words. This is Kelly Yang's debut picture book, and shows promise for what comes next. 

Head Full of Clouds, written by Joanne Schwartz and illustrated by Afsaneh Sanei. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 5 and up

"Hop over the lines in the sidewalk. 
Where the concrete is cracked, weeds push through, 
   spreading along the seam like a tiny forest, 
         roots winding down, down into the earth below."

Do you sometimes wake up in the morning with just a hint of a dream you were dreaming still in your head? The young girl in this story can't quite remember what she was dreaming about. The first illustration makes that abundantly clear for readers. While having breakfast with her bunny friend, she feels a bit foggy. 

As she wanders outside, last night's rain remains in ocean-like puddles that support all types of marine life. Once the brain fog has cleared and she is bent on exploring her natural surroundings, she settles in to some regular routines that still seem slightly surreal. 

Her senses are fully alert as she wanders free. Filling the bird feeder results in a wide variety of creatures hidden nearby; biting into an apple offers a taste worth writing about in a poem; the cracked lines in the sidewalk make a home for a multitude of tiny blossoms; pigeons leave and return to a rooftop in a flurry of purple and green; a busker fills the air with music from his violin; and the old maple tree in the end of the park offers safe haven for a girl seeking shady comfort. 

She is not done yet. She still has time to watch a boy and his dog, to roll down a hill, and to watch a line of ants as they carry food to their home colony. What wonder for the senses is found in this magical, natural world. Only then does she remember a whiff od her morning dream ... a secret from the ocean. That reminder is forgotten when she hears a friend's voice that causes her to run forward into the real world for hugs and a happy reunion. 

Ms. Sanei's exceptional images, created in acrylic gouache and color pencil, then finished digitally, beautifully strengthen the measured words chosen to provide the sights and sounds of nature. The changing perpectives invite close attention, and the chosen colors add depth and surprise.  

The world is an astounding place! 
                                                                             

                                                                      

Plight of the Pelican: How Science Saved a Species, written by Jessica Stremer and illustrated by Gordy Wright. Holiday House, Penguin Random House. 2025. $26.99 ages 7 and up

 

"To try and help pelicans survive, 
scientists removed some from the wild, 
placed them in zoos, 
and fed them food free of DDT. 

Fragile eggs were warmed away from parents
so shells wouldn't 

      crack     and    break." 

In a new release from the books for a better earth series, readers learn about the scientists who work diligently to solve mysteries in the natural world. This research was concerned with dwindling numbers of brown pelicans. In the 1950s, there was worry that fewer pelican chicks were being born, and it was noted that it was also happening with bald eagles, raptors, and other birds of prey. 

Focusing on the pelicans, scientists set to work to try to understand what was causing the loss. The first clue was that the eggshells were not strong enough to hold the weight of the parents who were sitting on them. How could that be? Making connections led to the fact that DDT was being found in water and soil ... and in the animals pelicans ate. It was in every part of the food web. 

Taking some pelicans into captivity to provide them with food free of the pesticide, and to incubate fragile eggs, the scientists pleaded that the spraying be stopped. Although she is not mentioned, the work of Rachel Carson was the catalyst needed to bring awareness and change. It took people protesting and government action. The pelican population improved over the next thirty-seven years, until they were no longer in danger of extinction. 

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the many other plants and animals that are at risk today. 

"Pollinators dwindle as food sources disappear. 

Songbirds struggle to find a suitable spot to hatch their young. 

Marine life gobble garbage. 

Yet there is hope." 

The work that helped the pelican can continue to fight against climate change and habitat loss. It takes constant work and concerned citizens to speak out and work toward change. 

This tribute to the hard-working scientists who worked diligently to solve a mystery is written in clear and compassionate language, and is accompanied by appealing gouache and acrylic illustrations sure to engage young readers. Backmatter is very useful, and includes the effects of DDT, where to learn more about the brown pelican, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. 

How To Pee Your Pants * the Right Way, written and illustrated by Rachel Michelle Wilson. Feiwel and Friends, Raincoast. 2024. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"If the adults make you sit on a bubble-wrapped chair
while you wait for clean clothes, try not to take it
personally. They've probably forgotten what it's
like to pee their pants.

They'll remember in a couple of years."

Oh, so funny! Can't wait to read it to kids. There is absolutely no judging this tiny, bespectacled bird for the accident described here. It can, and does, happen to many. It could be at school, at home in bed, or really anywhere. There are many reasons that it might happen to you. 

Trying to avoid it involves persistence, contortions, and inevitability. Knowing what to do when it happens requires advance consideration. What do you do if? Book research might be the answer; try books titled Go with the Flow, Urine Control, Pee Prepared, The #1 Rule, and this book as well. 

The distractions offered are priceless, the cover-ups endless and the calls for help inventive. The school office staff is obviously prepared for such events, where sitting to wait on a bubble-wrapped chair is the ultimate punishment. The fact that a second chair is fully prepared for someone else provides a touch of comfort. 

The final spreads provide grand advice: 

"Be the friend you wish you had ... 
... when you peed your pants. 

I am laughing out loud! 

,,, and thinking how an empathetic response in other situations can make things much better. 

Don't miss the endpapers, and be sure to allow time for taking a close look at every spread. Color choices are perfect, and the changing perspectives move the action from concern to acceptance with honesty and compassion. 

                                                                                  

The Sunflowers: Vincent Van Gogh's Search for Beauty, written and illustrated by Zahra Marwan. Feiwel and Friends, Raincoast. 2024. $26.99 ages 5 and up

"And with the help of his younger brother Theo, 
Vincent decided to travel and find inspiration 
in more colorful places. 

He packed up his art supplies and a few 
belongings and left Paris through sunflower 
fields and villages to a small city called Arles."

This part of Vincent Van Gogh's life begins in Paris - all 'gray and blue, busy and refined'. The colors (or lack thereof) he saw in his surroundings were a reflection of the city itself. Vincent loved to paint sunflowers, and was not too concerned with whether people liked them. His talks with other artists in sidewalk cafes and coffee shops led to his meeting Paul Gauguin. 

Paul's art was more colorful than any art Vincent had previously seen; he thought Paul was brilliant. As their friendship grew, Vincent willingly shared his sunflower paintings with Paul; Paul was amazed at Vincent's talent. As they talked about art and color, Vincent began to see how to use color in different ways. He wanted to see more. So, he moved away from Paris and found a new home. From there, he wrote letters to his brother and hoped that Paul would visit. 

Vincent also spent time outside at night. All the while, he painted persistently. He was more prolific than he had ever been, and his work became more and more colorful. Still, there was something not right for him. So, he worked harder in hopes he would create work to soothe troubled hearts as it was helping him to heal. 

"Vincent changed the way colors do. 
Vibrant and full of feeling, he was 
prepared to welcome his dear friend."

Perceptive language and exceptional artwork created using watercolor, ink, pen and pencil encourage readers to pay attention to the story being told. It would be wonderful to have samples from Van Gogh's body of work to share once the book is read. Is there an art lesson here? 

Don't Trust Fish, written by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat. Dial Books for Young Readers. Penguin Random House, 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"The angler fish lives in the deepest part of the
ocean and looks the way all fish do on 
the inside. The angler fish attracts poor 
defenseless crabs by glowing.

This is called "bioluminescence."

It's also called "cheating" and 
"being a nasty, tricksy fish.""

The narrator begins this brilliant and wacky picture book with authentic descriptions of mammals, reptiles, and birds. When it comes to fish, he warns, they are not to be trusted. He insists that fish follow no rules when it comes to their common traits.

"Some of them have gills. 
Some have lungs. 
Some live in salt water. 
Some live in fresh water. 
Some lay eggs. 
Some don't.
They are rebels and outlaws. 

DON'T TRUST FISH."

There is nothing consistent about the fish species. With each turn of the page, readers continue to be made aware of proof that trusting fish would be a big mistake. If you are a fan of Dan Santat's artistic acumen and have decided to check this book out for that reason, you will be endlessly entertained by his ability to bring meaning and humor to each successive page. 

Because we can't see them, it is difficult to trust what they are planning in the time they spend underwater. Jeff appears to be the leader; he is obviously cagey and cannot be trusted. While he looks completely innocent when first met, we learn he is the king to whom all fish report their findings. Even if someone reputable introduces a fish you can trust, DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. No fish can be trusted, and that's the cold, hard truth. 

After all the warnings, the narrator reminds readers that amphibians are certainly trustworthy.  The book ends ... or does it??? A final surprise spread teaches readers all they need to know about the teller of the story.   

Have you got a goldfish at home or in your classroom? BE CAREFUL! 

This book is definitely a 10! It's already on the 'keepers' shelf.                                                                                     

This Is How A Ball Rolls: The Science of Wobbling, Bouncing, Spinning Balls. Written by Heather Tekavec and illustrated by Suharu Ogawa. Kids Can Press, 2025. Ages 7 and up

 

"IT'S A JUGGLING BALL! 
Standard juggling balls don't bounce or roll,
but they do drop and plop! Jugglers don't want
to chase runaway, hop-away balls when they 
drop them, so they're made to not bounce. 
These balls are made of leather and beans, so
they're soft if they land on a juggler's head. 
This makes them great for tossing around! "

Each double-page spread presents a type of ball with a description on the verso, and a useful paragraph offering information about it on the recto. The accompanying illustration is digitally created and shows children playing with said ball in a variety of ways. The details are sure to please. Before turning the page, readers are presented with a hint at what ball might be next. 

"But there's another ball - a bigger ball - 
A hopping, pouncing, ricochet ball ... " 

Do you have a guess? Kids will certainly want to take a try before moving forward. The second is a bouncy ball. The format remains the same throughout, with each ball increasing in size as pages are turned. Twelve balls are included, and that makes for a fun guessing game for those sharing the book. There's a fair bit of information offered that will be of interest to sports-minded readers. The artwork is full of fun and action, and offers a diverse group of children participating in a variety of sporting activities. 

A final spread shows a park filled with kids and balls - all doing what they do when they have the opportunity for fun. Back matter describes the science in paragraphs that discuss sphere, elasticity, aerodynamics, gravity, trajectory, drag force and speed. Each paragraph is followed by a question and answer that uses what the reader has learned about balls.