Sweet, Sweet Memory, written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated ty Tonya Engel. Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"What will you remember?
Grandma wants to know.

I smile, leaning against her 
shoulder. Grandpa said to 
listen to things.
Listen to the way life goes 
on and on."

There was a time when finding a book to share with children concerning grieving and death was not an easy task. Today, we have a lovely abundance of excellent books that broach the subject for young listeners and offer a place to begin a conversation with those children dealing with the loss of a loved one. 

A young girl lets readers know that her grandma has made her a 'white dress with angel sleeves'. Once dressed, she goes out to the porch to do her own hair as Grandma is busy. It's summer and there is much to see as she sits and remembers her grandfather's teachings about growth and the changes it brings. As the family gathers and guests arrive to pay respects to Grandpa, she wants to share a story about him. She cannot get the words out. Only tears. Grandma encourages, but Sarah cannot bring herself to share a memory. 

As Sarah listens to what others are saying, she realizes that that their stories are the same. Grandpa told each of them that 'everything and everyone goes on and on'. It is true. Their visitors leave with hugs, kisses, and warm wishes; Sarah and Grandma wave goodbye. Together, the two sit on the porch in the darkness to talk about Grandpa. The sadness of loss remains. Watching as his garden grows and is then harvested keeps Grandpa in Sarah's heart through memories of times spent together. 

This lovely, soft and warm story is told with eloquence, reminding us to think of our lost loved ones through memories of special times. Tonya Engel's images were created using acrylic underpainting, and completed using oils. They offer a look back at Grandpa and his teachings, his garden and at life without him.  It is a lovely celebration of a life well lived.                                                                                            

Puffins, written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Maris Wicks. Raoring Brook Press, Mackids, Raincoast, 2026. $27.99 ages 5 and up

"Puffling peeps 
         and eats

and grows, 
        shedding its down 

for a sleek cape of gray. 

PEEP

But she's still very hungry. 

The action begins before the title page; an adult puffin circles in the air as it approaches a rocky shore where it lands with a bit of a bump on the ledge. It is the book's introduction to Maine's Eastern Egg Rock Island and a look at the shoreline as nesting season begins for this summer's puffin population. They are not the only seabirds, but they are abundant. 

It is a very noisy place and keeps them safe from land predators. Puffin mates meet, bill, and rub their beaks together. They have been here before. Inside 'a tent of boulders', the male makes the nest comfortable enough for the female to lay her first and only egg. Keeping that nest safe is the male's main responsibility, as both parents keep watch over the egg during its incubation. 

When that egg hatches, the puffling is ravenous! As Father Puffin broods, Mother Puffin flies off in search of food. She has all the features needed to dive deep, and fill her beak with the butterfish that are there to be captured. Unfortunately, the butterfish are too big for the puffling to swallow. 

"Warming waters have made butterfish
more plentiful than white hake

and herring, 

typical puffin prey.

It's still time to eat!"

The mother stays, and the father is off to gather sand lance for feeding their young. Without any warning, a herring gull swoops down to steal those fish from his beak. Father is undeterred, and heads back underwater to find herrings to satisfy his very hungry young one. As the puffling continues to grow, the parents often face danger as they do their best to keep it flourishing. 

The puffling becomes a Little Puffin, ready to fledge. She now faces her own dangers as she journeys to the rocky ledge, and looks out over a moonlit ocean. Little Puffin is now on her own to grow into an adult puffin, living only at sea for years. She has everything she needs to thrive, including a raft of puffins all in the same place as she is ... until it is time to return to where her life began, find a mate, and start the cycle all over again. 

The information provided is very accessible to a young audience because of its strong and appealing illustrations, and its storybook feel. It is a most welcome and engaging way to pass along many carefully researched facts. Back matter includes further facts about puffins and an explanation of the research the author and illustrator did to make this wonderful book a reality. They also offer suggestions for learning more and helping out. 

For a special surprise, remove the dust jacket to uncover a wonderful surprise on the case wrap!                                                                                  

Searching for Wocks, written and illustrated by Lucy Kinsley. Rocky Pond Books, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"There! 

Look. 

Look at it. 

But don't touch. 

It is mine, 
       and it is very rare
            and precious. 

I will keep it safe."

Checking out the opening endpapers that put the focus on the many collectibles one might find while searching for 'wocks' is sure to inspire conversation and speculation about where they might be, and what each one is. It's a great opportunity to get young listeners ready for the story to come. 

The young child telling the story is apparently an expert at searching for and finding 'wocks'. She proves her point immediately. She finds one, keeps it for herself, and puts it where it will be safe. It is soon obvious that wocks are not the only things worth having a close look at; there is interest in anything that appears valuable. It's important to take as much time as necessary to make the right choices for what goes in her pocket. 

Anything that seems dangerous is left behind or thrown away. Taking something from an established garden results in the offer of an exchange for a much smaller stone. Now, it's worth wondering how many 'things' there might be already collected. Could it be a million? A picnic bench is a perfect place to set everything out and have a closer look. A picture is taken. Time for a play with the other children at the park, and more time for collecting. Once the pocket is refilled, the two are on their way home. There, the wocks are added to an almost full treasure box, and welcomed home.  

A child's world is full of treasure as is evidenced here. The faceless adult follows along, doing what needs to be done as they go. Told in first person and accompanied by gouache, watercolor and colored pencil illustrations that pinpoint the action from start to finish, this fine book provides young listeners with a clear and enjoyable outdoor excursion with all of its quiet, thoughtful moments. 

The Mighty Macy, written by Kwame Alexander, with illustrations by Kitt Thomas. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2026. $20.99 ages 8 and up

 

"A World of Words

Our school library 
is a house
of hope
an imagination park
an opportunity store
a treasure chest
and right now
Blue and I 
don't have the key 
to get inside
this world of wonder
because when we arrive
there's a sign on the door
that says ... 

CLOSED

Oh, I love Macy, her family, her friends, and her librarian. And ... I love that she loves books, especially the new Mighty Zora series. In fact, the first sign of trouble happens when she gets to the school library with her friend Blue to borrow the second book in that series. There is a note of apology from Ms. Coopeer saying the library is closed, due to budget cuts. Macy can't believe her eyes when that news is shared. 

Kwame Alexander is such an exceptional poet and writer; here, here he proves it all over again. Through music and poetry, he shares Macy's ups and downs. There are many wonderful moments with her family, including some with her brother JoJo that often annoy her. Dad is a poet, who must travel at times to  present his work to others. His absence is felt deeply by Macy as she prepares for a violin recital which she hopes he will be able to attend, and to speak up at the school board meeting about the importance of Ms. Cooper and her library. 

Her mom is ever supportive while Dad is gone, encouraging Macy to have a say on behalf of all of the students and knowing she can do it. Hidden poems Dad has left for her to find while he is gone also help her with the tasks at hand. Her resilience and bravery hold her in good stead for speaking out about the importance of the library. When the time comes, Macy is as ready as she can be. She creates a symphony from the words of her friends who have important things to say about the value of the library in their lives. Here are a few excerpts: 

The library 
is almost 
as good as 
Grandma's house. 

When I read 
in the library 
I forget 
I'm at school. 

One time 
I found 
a book and 
the boy in it 
looked 
just like me.

Everything that Macy deals with will find empathy with readers. Who she is, and what she is able to do, has everything to do with her family, friends, and the community who come together for the greater good of all. Kwame Alexander is an incomparable poet whose books resonate with readers of all ages. I am so happy to have met Macy, and am highly anticipating meeting her again at some future date. 

I Am The Mountain, written and illustrated by Steven Weinberg. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House, 2026. $26.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Now I want you to see with your ears. It's summer.
Hear the breeze rustling through my grass. 
What does that sound like? 

Can you hear the trout splashing out of my creek? 
The deer pacing across the meadow? 
The mosquitoes buzzing by my pond?"

In an excerpt from an interview at A Fuse #8 Production, Steven Weinberg had this to say about his truly remarkable new book: 

 “This book began as a very loose idea to try to adapt Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons into a picture book through my landscape paintings. And, I want to stress began because I kept coming back to this idea that beyond the great seasonal structure of that piece, what I really love is how it reminds you that art can be taken in by one sense, but felt by all of them. You know, how you can see a painting. But it can make you feel cold. Or smell spring. This is the way I love to talk about art to kids.”

The stunning watercolors chosen as an invitation to young readers to use their senses to celebrate the many wonders of nature will hold all readers in awe as this book is shared. It begins in near darkness, allowing readers to see the shape of a mountain that describes itself as rocks/old/wise/and dirt. A turn from the title page leads to Part 1 ... a chance to feel winter using only your hands. Windy, shivering cold where the sun is not shining, and with snowflakes that burn like fire whe they land on your skin. The following designated Parts explore each of the seasons with the senses from spring through autumn. Spring is to smell; summer is to hear; autumn is to taste. 

Finally, the reader is asked:

"Now close your eyes.
Take it all in. 
Remember the feel of winter. 
Remember the smell of spring. 
Remember the sound of summer. 
Remember the taste of fall." 

Although the mountain is still unable to see the reader, all readers have now seen it and know the mountain as it stands. Splendid artwork, that I have pored over again and again (and will continue to do as I talk about this book with others) fills spreads with splendor and scenes that capture attention with gorgeous color and detail. 

Slow down, look to nature with each of your senses and learn to appreciate the natural world that surrounds you. Sitting side-by-side with an author's note that encourages kids to find their own piece of nature to observe carefully and sketch, are thirty-eight small paintings Mr. Weinberg has done in past years of the Catskill Mountains which sit outside his studio. How can one place look so different on any given day? 

All the Ways We Learn, written by Chloe Ito Ward and illustrated by Yaroslava Apollonova. Rise, Penguin Random House. 2026. $26.99 ages 5 and up

 

"Sometimes reading looks like ... 
Pointing to letters and 
sounding out words. 

But I don't always read like that. 

An audiobook reads me a story aloud,
giving my brain space to think, 
so I don't have to wrestle with words
that shake, shatter, and swirl on the page.

When I listen to a story, I can read."

Too often our children do not see themselves in the books they read ... especially those who are neurodivergent. Creators of this book show all children that there are many ways to learn. It may be very different for the children in any classroom. Students need to know there is more than one way to learn what is being taught. 

Some can't sit still while learning; they need to move. There are small and subtle ways to make sure they can quietly move while listening: a foot tap, arms on knees, squeezing a soft ball. Learning is then easier for them. Some cannot keep attention with their eyes, and need to look around as they listen. Some learn with pencils and paper to make sense of words, while others need to hear what is written. 

The text is penned in first-person, and follows a pattern for understanding the different ways that children in one classroom might learn. It is comforting for listeners to know it doesn't always need to be the same. Counting may require tactile use of an abacus or other equipment to help with understanding. At times, oral reporting makes answering questions much easier; a scribe puts those ideas on paper. Working with someone rather than alone, can cause anxious moments, while sitting quietly provides the comfort needed to learn. 

HOW DO YOU LEARN?

Colorful digital art, done in soft colors and providing a good amount of white space, invites readers to take a close look at the different ways that children do learn. Most will find someone in the classroom who shares common experiences. Many children will appreciate the details included on the book's pages and want to talk about them. It's easy to see and understand the adaptations made for those who learn differently than others, and to understand that how we learn is as special as we are. The repetitive structure of the writing helps, too. Back matter is useful concerning accommodations and definitions. 

Reassuring and helpful, this is a book that will offer comfort in today's classrooms, for both students and parents. 
                                                                                        

With You in Spirit: A Qing Ming Story, written by Jenny Liao and illustrated by Lenny Wen. Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"There are new stories I can't wait 
to share with Yeh Yeh. 

"Oswald learned how to bake!"

"Mama's art is famous!"

"Baba's garden is growing!"

"And I'm starring in the school play!""

The arrival of April means a family visit to Yeh Yeh's grave for Qing Ming, Pure Brightness Festival, also known in China as Tomb Sweeping Day. It is the opportunity for family to honor and remember those who have died. On the way, our young narrator has difficulty bringing to mind memories of things the she and her grandfather did together. When she closes her eyes, she can see Yeh Yeh's face and his smile; she can't hear his laughter anymore. She can hear his voice helping her with painting their names; she can't remember how he held her hand to help her make the proper brushstrokes. 

She and her parents take care of the gravesite and place Yeh Yeh's favorite foods on his tombstone. They stop to picnic on those favorite foods, and share memories and ideas for what they would like to share with him if he were with them. Baba burns joss paper as offerings to Yeh Yeh, while the little one adds drawings of a bike, a calligraphy brush and ink stick to the fire that represent her memories. 

This is a loving celebration that shows the deep respect of family members for Yeh Yeh and his lasting legacy to his granddaughter. Slightly glowing images, created in gouache, colored pencils and a brush pen, evoke memories of Yeh Yeh throughout the reading. It is a reminder that loved ones who have passed on have never really left us; our memories and love keep them forever in our hearts. 

An author's note and a useful glossary are appended.