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. 
                                                                                 

The Jellyfish Bus, written and illustrated by Suhyeon Lee. Translated by Ha Young Kim. Owlkids, 2025. $22.95 ages 5 and up

"A rumor spread throughout the deep sea.
Everyone was talking about it. A jellyfish
bus was taking deep sea creatures to the 
night bazaar!

Slowpoke picked up an octopus whose 
legs were too short for long-distance 
travel, and a mussel from Salt Lake, 
and a teeny-tiny fish."

Take an underwater ocean voyage with Slowpoke, the jellyfish bus, and his many passengers. True to his name, Slowpoke is unlike the other jellyfish buses in his part of the upper ocean environment. Fired because he doesn't meet his company's expectations, Slowpoke decides to take time for a vacation. After a few days of sleeping and sunbathing, Slowpoke loses interest in sitting still. 

He decides to go deeper into the ocean and see what he might discover there. It's a long, deep dive; it leads to darkness, cold and silence. Should he turn back? When a light suddenly appears, he comes face-to-face with an anglerfish. To his surprise the fish wants a ride to the Ocean Night Bazaar. As they travel, readers learn about other creatures and areas of the deep ocean. Slowpoke becomes their transport to the Bazaar, for a variety of reasons. Their trip together is filled with conversations, concerns, and new learning. 

Upon arrival at the Night Bazaar, the passengers spill out of the bus and find their way to the glory of their destination. Slowpoke now has the work he loves in a totally different part of the ocean. The gatefold that opens upon arrival allows readers a chance to see the many joys of underwater life as depicted in this colorful, informative graphic novel. Kids who are keen to learn facts as they enjoy an ocean adventure will be delighted to read this one. 

A Book of Maps for You, written by Lourdes Heuer and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House. 2025. $25.99 ages 5 and up

 

"This is a map of the library 
past the school on Fern Lane. 

Mr. Mercado is the librarian. 
He never hushes or shushes, 
and even if you ask him:

"Do you know that book with 
the yellow and green cover?" 
he'll answer, "Certainly,"
and he'll certainly choose right."

The detailed title page shows a child inside an attic room, lit by an overcast skylight. A cat lounges on a rolled-up carpet, and the only furniture in the room is a table placed in front of a window and a chair where the child is sitting. Clues to coming action? 

It quickly becomes clear that the child, an artist at heart, has made a book of maps. Readers are not told who it is for. The following spreads provide perspective on the town being mapped. From a bird's eye view of the town itself, the artist moves on to map one street, a Little Farm, an elementary school, a library, a pirate's treasure map inspired by a storytime read with Mr. Mercado, the park next to the library, a maze with a duck pond at its center, past many small businesses on the way to Mrs. Chang's, a craft store that carries all supplies needed by a mapmaker. 

Finally, a map of the child's home is shown from above ... both floors with careful descriptions of some of its special characteristics. The attic room is given life with new furniture, pictures on the wall, and a suggestion for what to look for through the skylight at night. 

Only then does the reader discover that the house has been sold, and is awaiting a new family. The maps were drawn, and left behind to welcome them to their new home. What a kind gift it is! You will be reading this again.