On Fridays, written by Winsome Bingham and illustrated by Jason Griffin. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House, 2026. $26.99 ages

"Miss Neely stands next to Momma. She's 
one of my favorites. She always push my 
shoulder back and says, "Stand up straight,
Jamar. Don't slouch." Or "Pull your pants
up, No sagging." Or "You know, we will 
all be happy if you just give your best." 

She meets me at the door 
with chewy-gooey cookies." 

I think it's very important for those sharing this book with children to read the opening notes from both author and artist; it was an eye-opening experience prior to reading the book myself. Thanks to both for sharing their heartfelt reasons for the story told here. 

When school ends on Friday, Jamar rides the bus to his mother's workplace. The ride there is joyful; it's the weekend, the bus is noisy, and the ride bumpy. It takes no time to see the brick building ahead. His therapist mother loves the people in her care, and reminds Jamar of that whenever she has the chance. Miss Neely meets him at the door, cookies in hand and an invitation to visit her garden where he is encouraged to plant his own tulip. 

Once back inside, he hears Mr. Dillon's cane tapping in the hallway. They do a little dance, have a short chat before Jamar is aware of the guitar music coming from Mr. Riff's room. He is invited in for a listen. Before he knows it, Mama is announcing their departure. Taking the tulip with him, he waves goodbye to all of his friends. At bedtime he lets his Momma know that he wants to work where she does, taking care of people who are like family, when he grows up. 

Too soon, Momma wakens him to let him know of an emergency at her work. He is worried, as is his mother. His friends are there to greet him. Not Miss Neely. The three move out to the garden, where he is told that Miss Neely 'is gone to another home'. It's hard for Jamar to understand what has happened; his friends explain that she didn't have time for a goodbye. They promise to help him take care of Miss Neely's garden. As he and his mother prepare to attend the memorial, Jamar explains that he doesn't want to say goodbye because she didn't say goodbye to him. His mother tells him that people don't always know when they will 'move on.'

"And when we're almost out the door, 
she says, "That's why you give everyone
their flowers while you're with them. 
Because you never know when they 
will be moving on.""

This child's-eye view of a caring community and loss is given context in vivid artwork that resonates with warmth and emotion on every spread.                                                                                  

                                                                                     

The Path, written by Pamela Paul and illustrated by Qin Leng. G.P. Putnam's Sons, Penguin Random House. 2026. $27.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Ooh, looks like a 
barred owl up there. 

And a heron! 
I just need to get 
a better look. 

Okay, good, and let's just stay
quiet now. Staaaaying quiet. 

Argh! Not quiet."

A park path holds interest for a diverse group of people and animals; they walk, bike, roller skate, exercise their dogs, ride scooters, watch birds, run, and enjoy conversation as they go. Children playing together are interrupted by a cyclist who, in turn, faces a problem caused by zig-zagging roller skaters. One roller skater is bothered by the number of dogs being walked on long leashes, who scare a little girl out for a walk with her grandpa. The dogs are bothered by kids on scooters passing them by. A birdwatcher seeking quiet to enjoy a close look at both an owl and a heron is interrupted by the loud cries of a baby fighting sleep. A young couple having a personal conversation are almost swept aside by a runner intent on making her best time, and the runner is held back by a child determined to ride a bike on her own. 

That child comes to a sudden stop while looking up. Only then does everyone along the path take time to follow her lead and look to the sky, where a 'fast and beautiful black cloud' sweeps past. The birdwatcher describes it. 

"Yes! It's called a murmuration. The birds fly together 
so they can take care of one another." 

The elegance of their flight and their reason for gathering is felt by all who are watching. As those using the path return to the business of their day, they do it with an enlightened sense of community and kindness. The runner encourages the little girl learning to ride her bike; the birdwatcher offers help for the baby and others interested in seeing what he sees; the dog that scared the little girl has found new focus for his barking while she is encouraged to get to know the other dogs being walked; and the two kids at the start of the story find a side path that provides further enjoyment for all. 

Told entirely in thought bubbles and dialogue, and accompanied by signature artwork created using brush and ink, markers, and watercolor by the remarkable Qin Leng, all who read this book will be engaged and entertained by a community that celebrates diversity and kindness. The power of nature has the most marvelous effect on all who travel the path and then stop in wonder to relish the glory of seeing a murmuration and understanding its reason for being. 

Readers will pay rapt attention to the people, the setting, and the nonstop action; then, wait until they veer toward the side path where they see everyone all over again: squirrels, heron and owl included. 

This book is pure delight! 
                                                                                      

Mac and Croc, written and illustrated by Jami Gigot. Kids Can Press, 2026. $16.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Hello, down there. 
Are you okay?

I'm tangled in the rope. 

Croc can help. Right, Croc? 

My hero!" 

This graphic novel for early readers features two friends. One is gregarious and outgoing; the other is quiet and reserved. When Mac leaves his lighthouse to walk to Croc's house, his mind is on convincing his friend to go on an adventure. Croc is not interested. Despite Mac's pleas, Croc is happy where he is. For every thought Mac has about the fun they might have, Croc has a rejoinder. Could they play chess rather than take on a dragon? Mac would rather bet on the results of a win. They agree. 

Croc is perturbed by Mac's newfound prowess at his favorite game. True to his word, Croc makes extensive preparations for their adventure at sea. When they find themselves lost, Croc's very active imagination results in foolish outcomes. Mac remains hopeful; Croc is doubtful and longs for home. Each of the following parts of their story begins with the pair facing difficulties. Croc remains skeptical and grumbly. Mac tries his best to keep them on track. 

Meeting a mermaid in need of assistance, facing a shark, and calling on a giant octopus for aid will have readers rooting for their success in finding the treasure, then making their way home. It takes a whale migration (Croc's reading has prepared him) to lead them straight home. Arriving at Croc's house, the tide has turned and the need for adventure has found a new fan!  

An excellent use of panels and told entirely in dialogue, this is an adventure that moves very quickly, introduces appealing new friends and humorous escapades, and has elements of courage, adaptation, and persistence. It's a charmer. 

Emilia Wishing, written by Belen Medina and illustrated by Magdalena Mora. Random House Studio, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"She waits month after month
until her mother has enough 
to pay, 

imagining wearing her 
new clothes just like the 
other girls."

Emilia is filled with wishes, mostly concerning material things. Sugar cereal would be a treat compared to the toasted tortillas she has each morning. She would love to live in a new house, have a new car rather than their old truck, and even a bed of her own. Alas! It is not to be. 

When her mother takes her to a thrift store to find new clothes for school, Emilia wishes they were at the 'fancy mall' on the other side of town. They carefully search the rows of clothing; Emilia is excited to model what they find. Her mother 'whittles down' their purchase to what she can afford. Taking them to the layaway desk hurts Emilia's heart; nothing goes home with the family. 

The wait until her mama has the money to pay is endless. Each day as they wait, Emilia watches her mother work, work, work from morning until night to buy what the family needs. Poor mama, always tired. When the wait is finally over, the family piles into the truck once more. Mama can make the final payment; she beams with a happiness Emilia has never noticed. Finally, her mama can spin and dance in the one beautiful blue dress she has chosen for herself.  

Ms. Mora's artwork that blends pencil, charcoal, watercolor and ink is rich in color and gratitude. Emotions are evident and enhanced by the colors chosen to portray family life, as well as the different life imagined. This celebration of a hardworking mother's love for her children and their needs is powerful; it is also a hard look at poverty and its heartache.                                                                                 

Mountainous, written and illustrated by Julia Kuo. Greystone Kids, 2026. $24.95 ages 4 and up

 

"But mountains move 
and change, just like you. 

What if you could be like a
mountain, just for a moment? 

Mountains may appear still, but they are
constantly moving in big and small ways.
Over the years, all mountains will rise and then fall."

In this second book in Ms. Kuo's I Am Nature series, she explores the beauty and majesty of mountains which may seem always still to observers. In describing them, she uses her accompanying illustrations to show a child growing up. At first, as mother and child ride a train, they view a mountain in the distance which appears to be standing still. In additional scientific text, mountains are described for readers as 'the tops of our world as we know it'. 

A turn of the page shows a growing child who moves and changes, just as mountains are also moving in 'big and small ways'. Using parallel text to capture the child's growth, while also asking readers to imagine themselves as the mountains displayed in stunning digital illustrations from page to page, offers a chance to learn the science of the mountains as they change in many of the same ways children do.

"Or wiggle and shake
with groans and shouts!

Some mountains sit on the edges of tectonic
plates, or pieces of the earth's crust. These plates 
can shift and bump against each other, causing 
earthquakes of all sizes.'"

This book is a clear and careful look at mountains from around the world. In backmatter, the author charts 13 of them that include Mount Everest, the Matterhorn, Mount Fuji, and Mount Saint Helens. Their heights are shown at the left edge of the spread, and a note is added to explain many have more than one name, reflecting their Indigenous and colonial histories. Thumbnail sketches of each mountain mentioned encourage readers to go back on a search to find them in the book's pages.

I shall certainly look forward to the third book in this admirable series. 

Night Treasure, written by Allison Wortche and illustrated by Alison Farrell. Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Now
outside Quinn's window
it was night
and the rain was gone. 
When Daddy came in for a bedtime hug, 
Quinn said, Tomorrow we'll go on a 
treasure hunt. 

Daddy peeked out the window and said, 
How about 
now?"

A rainy day ruined Quinn's plans for being outside. While Daddy was busy at his work, she spent the day inside pretending to be on a treasure hunt. It did little to distract her as the treasures were few and the house too familiar. As night fell, the rain stopped. Clad in his pajamas, Daddy offered a bedtime hug, and Quinn shared a wish for tomorrow. 

Rather than wait, Daddy suggested they head out into the dark, moonlit night. Still in their pajamas, the two put on their boots and warm jackets and set off. Warm light from nearby houses and streetlights helped to light their way in the dark. Everything seemed so much bigger as they explored dark corners and imagined the many animals in the woods they passed. They trudged on with treasure in mind. Quinn led the way past bushes, fences, old walls, berries and pine cones. They hurried forward until they came to the tall oak tree. Thanks to the rain, Quinn and Daddy found the treasure they were seeking ... wet ground covered with hundreds of acorns. 

"It felt like no one else had ever
been awake so late
    wandered so far
            made such a discovery
                         (especially in pj's)." 

Retracing their steps, they returned home, pockets filled with treasure and hearts full from being on a nighttime adventure with someone you love. 

Frog Face, written and illustrated by Blythe Russon. Ten Speed Young Readers, Penguin Random House. 2026. $26.99 ages 4 and up

 

"The thing was, Frog just had a frowny face.
It'd been that way since she was an itty, bitty 
little egg. There was nothing she could do 
about it. 

"I am not grouchy," said Frog. 
And she set off again."

How delighted she is when Frog awakens one morning. It's a rainy day, she's home and happy, and she has all that she needs. Or does she? When she finds her cupboard empty and herself in need of snacks, she heads out on a search, all the while hoping that she will not encounter any of her neighbors as she goes. Instead, she peeks out to see a plethora of them right outside her door. Not to be deterred, Frog pops out. 

Thus begins her encounters with many. Butterfly is concerned with Frog's long face. This happens too often. Comments are regularly made about the way Frog's face looks. Naturally frowny, Frog tries to reassure the others that she is happy and content. Every creature feels the need to comment on what they see when they look at her: long face, no smile, a need to cheer up, have some fun, relax, let loose. When she has had ENOUGH, Frog splashes into a nearby pond in frustration. 

A rotten mood settles over Frog, leaving her with no appetite for the food she out to find. Sugarbird stops to see how Frog is doing; Frog lets the bird have it. Sugarbird explains her concern for her friend, and Frog apologizes. A silly joke breaks the ice and sends the two into fits of laughter, then leads to a shared snack and a heartfelt compliment. 

""By the way, Frog ... 

I love your face exactly the way it is." 

Isn't that what true friends do? 

Amusing artwork puts emphasis on every emotion felt. The weather changes, the facial expressions of each creature with an opinion, and the dramatic movement across the pages will hold interest as the story is read, and then read again.