Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly's Classroom? Written by Chris Priestley and illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2026. $26.99 ages 6 and up

 

"But Grace did not see anyone along the way.
It just got darker and darker and more and 
more cobwebby. 

"This school is so big," said Grace, 
and her voice echoed down the corridor:
"So ... so ... so ... big ... big ... big ... "

Just then, a wooden door creaked open and
a pale figure stepped slowly forward. 

Grace gasped."

This is another truly exceptional book to read to your kids at home, or for a classroom read. Grace loves to volunteer for any task suggested by her teacher, Miss Flytrap. Asked to return a book to Mr. Grimly, Miss Flytrap wants reassurance that Grace does know the way. Grace is sure! Or is she? 

It's Grace's first week at her new school; a school that is decidedly stranger than her last. Grace does not know the way, and she has no idea who Mr. Grimly is. Having this information sets up listeners for an eerie walk through the school, always on the lookout for surprises along the way. Prepared to ask for help, Grace begins her journey. 

There is no one in the hallways. Finally, a door opens revealing Miss Endpaper, the librarian. She is happy to give instructions which Grace is not sure are all that helpful. Miss Endpaper is back to her work before Grace moves on. Now concerned that she will fail her assignment, Grace worries aloud, only to be heard by a woman in the shadows. Mrs. Nightshade, the head teacher, offers a more complicated answer to her query. 

Outside Grace goes and across the playground to an extremely high tower. The steps are steep and Grace, once again, worries aloud about finding Mr. Grimly's classroom. A bat offers help, and a zip line is marked by a finger pointing the way. Grace lands in a kitchen filled with delectable sights and smells. Mrs. Macaroon, the school cook, gives her final instructions. 

"You're almost there.
You just have to go through that door, 
down three flights of stairs, 
up two more flights of stairs, 
turn left, 
turn right, 
then left again, 
and there you are."

Finally meeting Mr. Grimly, Grace is faced with another dilemma. Her response to it is absolutely perfect!

Though lengthy, this is a book of wonder that I would first read without benefit of illustrations. It is told with a suspenseful tone, and hints of both mystery and humor. I would love to hear what listeners think once done, after asking what they have imagined throughout the reading. And then ... read it again with the breathtaking watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil artwork of Mariachiara Di Giorgio. Her meticulous images use light and shadow with perfection as Grace makes her increasingly complicated and daring journey in search of Mr. Grimly and his classroom. 
                                                                                 

Still Friends, written by Troy Wilson and illustrated by Mike Deas. Orca, 2026. $21.95 ages 4 and up

"No matter how wet he was. No matter how
dirty. No matter how stinky. 

No matter the crowd. No matter the load. 

                                       No matter what. 

She was always there for a quiet moment.

And always there to listen."

A visit to the local park with his person leads a young beagle to a meeting with a new friend. He sits at her feet and admires her quiet nature. She doesn't move; she doesn't talk. She is nothing like his owner whose constant care makes him feel grateful: a long walk, treats, warm greetings each morning, and compliments. He ignores this new friend, just as she ignores him. There is no chatter between them. There are even times when he chooses not to look at her. 

Despite the inability to be real friends, he notices her from season to season. She is always there when he returns to the park. She provides a happy space for leaning, jumping on, and even taking a nap on her head.  She doesn't mind if he smells. She lets children climb all over her. Best of all, she is always there to hear what he has to say. She does not make rules she expects him to follow the way his owner does. In the end, he realizes that the three of them - owner, dog, statue - are not perfect. In their own ways, however, they are just right for one another.  

Children are sure to fall for this charming pup whose attitude toward a new friend is genuine, despite their differences. Observant readers will find joy in the many exceptional details Mike Deas uses to add context. The story is simply told, and engaging. It's great fun to read.                                                                             

I Wonder If I'm Growing, written by Raffi and illustrated by Jon Klassen. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2026. $26.99 ages 3 and up

"My mom says 

eat your sandwich

it will make you grow up tall"

What??? It's Jon Klassen again, and I am delighted to share this new book with you. I am often teased about my lack of knowledge when it comes to the music of the 80s. The way I explain it is to say that we had young kids then, and were listening to Sharon, Lois, and Bram, Raffi, and Fred Penner. This favorite song from Raffi will be added to my growing pile of new books for 'our' April baby. 

It is not unusual for little ones to wonder if they are growing. They can't see it, while their parents assure them that they are changing every day. In this song, Raffi offers reassurance that growth is happening in a song that speaks to the passage of time, and the knowledge that the child can do things now that he could not do in the past. The repetitive text encourages those sharing the book to sing it first together, and then alone as the words become more familiar. 

Jon Klassen's visual interpretation of these words is classic. Views of the wondering child show him from one page to the next looking pretty much the same. Readers can only see his eyes and the top of his head as he explains that he is being told he is growing, but sees little evidence of it. On the day he can reach the bathroom taps for the very first time, he is very pleased with himself and willing to admit that his mother is right ... he is growing! As the scenes repeat and he can finally see more of his face, he no longer worries. As happens when Jon Klassen interprets text through the eyes of a child, he is dead on with his illustrations. It's perfectly paced to show the passage of time that drags on for little ones. 

Emotional and reassuring, you will want to read it on repeat. 

To help, here's the song from Molly Whuppie:

https://youtu.be/MoHuQ3n5Dmw?si=nanKok4Ct7c6315V

Fritz: A Mushroom Story, written and illustrated by Kelsey Garrity-Riley. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 3 and up

"Then he and Pip meet up with friends
for a swim in the puddle pond. 

Next up, flower chains in the meadow. 
Then it's time to blow bubbles in the violet patch. 

"I wonder why having fun is so tiring?" thinks Fritz. 

"Who wants to play hide-and-seek?" shouts Pip."

If you have never imagined a mushroom's family and friends, here's your chance to make their acquaintance. A first page banner lets readers know that Fritz is a chanterelle mushroom who has a favorite red cardigan; loves hats, the taste of rose hips, and the sight of the wood anemone. The facing page allows that there are other things Fritz likes to do. His encounters with friends vary from many to one. He also very much likes being by himself. He craves quiet time to do nothing. 

His friend Pip is a fly agaric mushroom, whose favorite flavor is blackberry; who loves loud music; and whose favorite flower is the hepatica. He, like Fritz, likes other things as well. Pip is most happy in a crowd where everyone is paying close attention to him. Fritz sees that Pip is full of fun, and wonders if he should be more like that. Fritz makes the decision to follow in Pip's procession and spend one day as Pip does. It is adventurous, full of friends, and very tiring. 

While playing hide-and-seek, Fritz finds a perfect, quiet spot to be still and all alone. He is not prepared to be found that happens. Pip leaves him to savor what he loves the most before he returns to play, and  finish their day with rosehip ice cream. A perfect ending!  

Might we meet them again in the future? Maybe ...                                                                                   

If You Kiss A Kohkom, written by Tonya Simpson and illustrated by Mando Littlechild. Orca, 2026. $21.95 ages 3 and up

"When the ribbon skirt is done, 
she will want you to try it on!

As you twirl and whirl, she will 
sing her favorite song and ask 
you to dance with her." 

The relationship between Kohkom and her grandchild is special in every way. This book examines a day spent together and the many lovely ways that Kohkom shows her abiding love. Giving Kohkom a kiss results in a warm hug and a spoken truth about the love she has for her grandchild. Stroking her hair results in the joy inherent in brushing, and braiding. Kohkom also offers a listening ear for what the grandchild has to tell her. 

Kohkom's love for decoration shows when she teaches the art of making new earrings to add style for the new hairdo. Wouldn't a ribbon skirt look grand with those earrings? After the grandchild picks the colors that make her heart happy, Kohkom busies herself with another colorful creation. As she works, she shares family stories. When the skirt is done, it's time to dance! Near the end of the day, they make bannock. Gathering ingredients, Kohkom's memory for blending exactly what is needed results in a delicious piece to be served with raspberry jam. YUM!

Elders have a very important role to play in the lives of the young. The culture, traditions and knowledge they offer are passed on with love and in celebration. Mixed-media digital illustrations are filled with the warmth of the bond between grandmother and granddaughter. A list of Cree words shown throughout the reading are included in the final two pages, alongside thumbnail sketches of each.                                                                              

Ah Ma's Home, written by Gillian Sze and illustrated by Leah Hong. Groundwood, 2026. $23.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Leaves drift in the pond, and I wonder what it
would be like to drink from it. But before I can 
dip my fingers in, Ah Ma takes my hand and 
pulls me close. She always knows what I am 
thinking. 

"The water I had was much, much clearer than
this," she points to the pond." 

Aiya, the young girl who narrates this story of her grandmother and the memories she has from growing up in China, is happy that they spend time together. On Saturdays, they walk to the park where they can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Aiya runs ahead and scares the geese that Ah Ma loves to watch. Aiya apologizes, then asks what her grandmother finds special about the geese. 

As they talk about the coming winter, Ah Ma shares that she didn't have geese or snow at home in China. Instead, they had a river with fresh, clear, and cold water from the mountains that they could drink. Ah Ma cautions Aiya against drinking the pond water in the park. The two continue to compare special memories from Ah Ma's childhood: rainbow birds, nests in walls of mud, watching baby birds cheep and grow, and nips from lizards that she liked to believe were really tiny dragons. 

Aiya loves to listen to Ah Ma's childhood memories. She wonders if her grandmother misses her home. Yes she does, Ah Ma tells her. In truth, while Ah Ma does miss her old home, her new home is the best place for her to be. She has a good reason for feeling that way. 

"Because home has always been with the people I love."                                                                                   

Leina and the Haunted House, written by Myriam Dahman and Nicolas Digard and illustrated by Julia Sarda. Kids Can Press, 2026. $23.99 ages 7 and up

 

"A thousand questions rushed through Leina's 
mind, but she treated the strange creature like
any other passenger. She punted through the 
storm and delivered him to the opposite bank.

                Without a backward glance, 
                                the toad entered the town."

Halloween will soon be here. If you are looking for a magical, slightly scary, new book to read to your kids or class, I recommend this one. It is an original fairy tale that has many of the elements we expect from such stories: magic, mystery, and a game with a welcome outcome. 

Leina pilots her ferry from the village side of the river to the forest where the villagers cut down trees for firewood and forage for food, despite warnings that the forest is haunted. One of her passengers is a young man named Oren. Leina has feelings for him, and is distraught when he fails to return to the dock to be ferried back to the village. She returns each day in hopes that he will be there when she arrives. 

When she is met by an elegant looking and human-sized toad who wants a ride to the village, she is surprised but accommodating. Mr. Spadefoot returns to the river in a furious state after villagers pelt him with rocks and treat him poorly. Upon arrival at the forest side, the weather turns and Leina is invited to have dinner with the toad. It is a remarkable feast in an equally remarkable place. Since the weather has not improved, Mr. Spadefoot suggests she stay and offers the choice between nineteen opulent bedrooms for the night. His only warning is that she should NOT enter the room with the black door. 

When she cannot resist checking it out, she finds cages filled with many different animals all staring at her, and able to share that Mr. Spadefoot has made them what they are. Oren is now a squirrel. When Mr. Spadefoot returns, he is suspicious of Leina's actions. Before retiring for the night, Leina challenges him to a game; he chooses TRUTH OR DARE. Through a series of questions and answers, Leina is able to trick him into revealing his true self and makes a threat he cannot refuse. The caged animals are freed from his spell. Returning to town with all the missing villagers brings a change to the way people treat the forest. Now when they take something, they leave something in thanks for the gifts it offers. 

This is a wonderful read, filled with compelling and intricate digital art that will inspire readers to go back and experience it once again.