Looking at the Sky: How Dr. Janusz Korczak Fought For Children's Rights, written by Amanda West Lewis and illustrated by Abigail Rajunov. Kids Can Press. 2026. ages 9 and up $18.99 ages

 

"Izaak, this is Jozef. 
He'll be sleeping in the
bed next to yours. Please
show him our rules at 
Dom Sierot.

Now, it was my turn to become a guardian. 
There were many children in Warsaw who had
no families, or whose families couldn't look 
after them. There wasn't enough room at Dom 
Sierot for all of them. We knew how lucky we 
were to be there."

The first-person narration by a young Polish boy whose life was saved when he came under the care of Dr. Janusz Korczak, an educator and child advocate in Poland, is an eye-opener for middle grade readers. Amanda West Lewis' story is based on careful research and the memories of one of the children who knew Dr. Korczak, and illustrated as a graphic novel. It introduces readers to the plight of children prior to WWII. 

Izzak is a 7-year-boy living with his sisters in poverty and hopelessness when he joins other Jewish children who have found a home in Dom Sierot (Home of Orphans) in Warsaw. Their parents are both dead; the sisters, despite their young age, must find work that will offer the money needed to keep them alive. They cannot care for Izzak without help. Meeting the kind and generous doctor and his staff turns Izzak's life to the better. He has healthy food to eat. He is welcomed into a place where students take care of one another while also having time to play, help with chores, and learn what will hold them in good stead for their future. 

After 7 years, he ages out and must say goodbye to his friends, caregivers and Pan Doctor. It is a very sad departure. He goes home to his sisters, and the message that they have arranged for him to sail to Canada to live with one of his mother's sisters. With hope in his heart, as promised by Pan Doctor, he makes the long voyage under difficult circumstances; then travels by train to Ottawa to meet his new family. 

He keeps in touch through letters to his sisters. and with Pan Doctor. He makes great progress in his education. When war breaks out in Poland, contact with everyone there stops. One final letter from the doctor, asking for help for the orphanage, is received. Any attempt to make a difference, is returned to Izzak. When the war finally ends, he has heard nothing from his sisters. Much later, he learns the fate of Dr. Korczak, the teachers and the 192 children he did his best to keep safe: they were put on a train and sent to Treblinka, a place that no one came back from. Izzak never hears from his sisters again 

"I am telling you this story because 
I know that Pan Doctor would want 
you to know that you can make the 
world a better place, too. He would 
treat you and your ideas with respect. 
Because you are an important person."

These experiences are shared in clear and memorable images that effectively give historical resonance to the story being told. The graphic novel format works incredibly well to bring Ms. Lewis' stirring and unforgettable storytelling to life for readers.  

"try not to think of what should be but what can be."

Serafina Makes Waves, written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Robin Rosenthal. Dial Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"Reader, I won't lie. 

Serafina was horrified.
        Flabbergasted. 
        Gobsmacked.

And for the first time in her life, 
       completely soaked. 

It was a CAT - ASTROPHE!"  

The one thing Serafina knows with complete and utter certainty is that she HATES water. She never wants to splash in the rain when she can be warm and comfortable inside. There is one thing that water is good for and that is quenching her thirst ... only that! Baths, trips to the seashore and a running tap send her into fits of anger and angst. 

The day comes when her parents (the Powers That Be) insist on compulsory lessons to learn to swim. Serafina is devastated and uses every available emotion to refuse; the Powers That Be also refuse to be deterred. The following Saturday morning Serafina finds herself in the most appalling place possible - the side of a swimming pool filled with children of all shapes and sizes. 

Encouraged by the instructor to make the jump, Serafina considers bolting, or fainting. While she is considering flight, her friend Lennie is giddy with excitement. Lennie inadvertently bumps Serafina and knocks her stuffie Noodles toward the water. In an attempt to save Noodles, she jumps in. Wearing her floaties, her long-held aversion begins to change. 

Can you imagine what happens next? 

Matthew Burgess and Robin Rosenthal bring Serafina's experiences to a grand and most enjoyable conclusion. Young listeners will find themselves begging to hear the story again, allowing for experiencing all the emotions of Serafina's dramatic discovery, as well as the opportunity to explore the fantastic and expressive digital artwork created for their pleasure and understanding. 

Pssst! I've heard a rumor this book may be the first in a new series. Fingers crossed. 

When You Dream Big! Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Orchard Books, Scholastic. 2026. $27.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Charley sat on her hands, 
thankful her teacher pointed to Hazel. 

"I want to be an astronaut!" Hazel shouted
confidently. "I'm going to MARS! Anyone 
want to come with me?" 

Laughter and cheers rang throughout 
the room."

As a teacher I never celebrated DREAM BIG Week with my students; I certainly like the idea that Peter H. Reynolds presents in this book about Charley and her classmates. For Charley, it is a problem right from the get-go. She has no idea about big dreams. As the others begin writing their ideas on the wings provided, Charley sits and broods. The only dreams Charley had were the ones she had at night, and she rarely remember them in the morning. 

Once it was time to share, many of her classmates were wild to share their ideas. Charley hoped against hope that she wouldn't be asked. Hazel shared her dream of being an astronaut; Charley was afraid of heights. Martin chose acting, which made Charley terribly uneasy. As they continued to share ideas, Charley's nervousness became critical. Her teacher's assurance that there was no need for an immediate answer made Charley even more anxious as she walked home. 

The worry finally made her stop in her tracks to stare at her toes. Only then was she able to think clearly about moving forward, determined to worry less. Imagine her surprise when she awoke the following morning with a remembered dream and a willingness to admit she was not sure about her future. She did, however, know that she wanted to be braver, and a good person. Her thoughts led her classmates to consider what was important to them in the days to come.  

After sharing this book in a classroom, I would be keen to make a list with students of their further ideas about what it takes to keep moving forward from where they are. I think it could be a telling conversation for everyone involved. 

https://youtu.be/tCR1AfoKAFQ?si=nxSM1qTBBUcc4Vq1

The Burrowing Owls of the Prairie Grasslands, written by Deborah Hodge and illustrated by Karen Reczuch. Grundwood Books, 2026. $21.99 ages 6 and up

 

"It's spring on the wide, windswept prairie, and 
under a vast and beautiful sky, small brown owls
are returning from a winter away. They have come
back to lay their eggs and raise their young.

They are burrowing owls - little owls with long 
legs that live in underground burrows and run 
along the dry, grassy lands of wester Canada
and the western and midwestern United States."

These owls are the only ones in the world to live under the ground. Their lives are not easy. They have been declared an endangered species in Canada, due to an estimated 90% decline in population. Their biggest challenge has been a loss of habitat. Ms. Hodge focuses her attention on Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan where this owl family lives. 

They have returned to the prairie landscape from a winter in Texas and Mexico to this protected land that is vital to their existence and to that of other prairie animals. The lands where they once flourished have been taken over by farming, and they must find safe places on grazed pastures. It's a precarious existence for these tiny creatures. The burrows that house and protect them from predators and the weather originally belonged to prairie dogs, badgers, and other digging animals. From there they find needed food and protection from predators. 

Returning owls find mates, breed, and get to the work of raising a new family. They improve the burrow, and the female lays her eggs deep within - one egg each day for up to twelve eggs. She keeps them warm while the male provides the food needed. He also keeps watch from above. Owlets are born after a month, and stay inside the burrow for two weeks. Biologists often help with additional food because of the numbers of babies. This helps to strengthen their numbers. 

As the owlets grow, the threat to their safety increases and they must learn to protect themselves. At six weeks, they learn to fly and make a life of their own, all the while preparing for a fall migration to warmer climes. They may return to the same place the following year, or not; they will return to the prairie grasslands to begin the cycle once again. 

As has happened previously in books of this series, Wild by Nature, Ms. Reczuch's realistic watercolor and pencil illustrations give young readers images that capture their attention and provide a close-up look at owls, their family, and the prairie setting that is their home every summer. 

The Wildest Thing, written and illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin. Randon House, Penguin Random House. 22026. $26.99 ages 4 and up

 

"But she wanted to be noisy! 
She wanted to be free. 
She wanted to be wilder
than she was supposed to be.

So she 
fluttered ... 

... and she ran
and made her own kind of tracks.

Readers are immediately informed that Eleanor loves wild things. In fact, she surrounds herself with them. Inside, Eleanor believes she is one of them. The wildness is just waiting to come out. After being called inside one night at bedtime, she dreamed of 'things with fur and fin'. That dream was all she needed to release the Wild. 

Her bedroom and other rooms in the house welcomed rabbits, squirrels, green plants, and a bit of chaos. She had her breakfast on a brown bear sofa, and quietly made her house a wild place for a new day. She lived in joy in the wild running, and leaving drawings wherever she went. She hid from others and howled with a wolf. 

When she had a snack, she shared with the wild animals that gravitated toward her table and chose to be in her space. She did all of the things she had always wanted to do, rather than being composed and quiet. She came right 'out of her shell'. She gloried in the activities ... until she fell. Only then did everything grow quiet once more. After such a glorious day all she wanted was a bath and bed. 

"Then in the place between awake 
and dreams not yet begun, 
she heard a voice that loved her say, 
"Good night, my wild one.""

Every detail on the book's spreads celebrates the wildness that Eleanor covets. Her world brims with verdant green and constant motion. After the beauty and spirit of a day spent in wildness, she is content to return to the safety of love and a good night's rest; ever-changed and full of confidence.
                                                                                      

Navigating Night, written by Julie Leung and illustrated by Angie Kang. anne schwartz books, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 7 and up

 

"A girl appears next to the man. 
She looks about my age. 
Her eyes are full of questions. 

I put the soda on the ground. 
When she gives me a little wave,
I look away. 
I wish the night would hide my face."

A young girl and her Baba are tasked with delivering takeout food from their Chinese restaurant to customers who have placed orders with them. It is a dark and rainy night. She is hungry, but the deliveries are most important. Her father drives, she navigates with a map and a notebook containing their destinations. She is ever helpful; with each delivery, the child helps her father with translation. Praise for being a good kid does not make her feel better. She would rather just be normal. 

While they go from house to house, she is aware that other families are home and together. She tells Baba that she does not want to go on deliveries anymore. Her baba asks for the next stop. The darkness outside and inside the car, inspires Baba to tell a story from his childhood when neighbors turned on one another and forced his family to flee to a safer and better life.

Although Baba was the youngest in his family, he knew that he could adapt and find his way in a new home. As they travel from house to house, he continues to share his memories. A delivery to a new customer has them lost, driving back and forth while worrying that the food is getting cold. They finally see an angry woman standing beside a mailbox that cannot be read. No wonder they had difficulty finding it.  

Baba continues to share his memories about the early days in a new home, and the difficulties he faced when he didn't understand the language.

"Before I had you,
I would get so lost, he says."

As the rain outside the van windows subsides and the moon rises into a less cloudy sky, the two finish their deliveries. The child guides them back to the restaurant where the family waits to share dinner together.

This moving family story is brilliantly told; the artwork, created using gouache, crayon, colored pencil, and pastel, offers a perfect backdrop for the emotions, memories, and shared deliveries the two make throughout the evening. Poignant and telling notes from both author and illustrator about its origins are much appreciated.  
                                                                                 

The Bear Fairy, written by Paul Coccia and illustrated by Fred Blunt. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2026 #24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"The next day, Spencer and the Bear Fairy
got ready to go back to the park. 

Can you go a bit faster? Mariah will have 
gone home by the time we get there."

What do you imagine a fairy looks like? If you have read about such magical beings, you are likely to have an idea about what to expect should your attempt to catch one works. That is certainly what Spencer is hoping when he sets out to trap a fairy in his backyard. 

Spencer's friend Mariah is quite sure his plan will not work; she thinks fairies are meant for 'beautiful little girls like me'. Spencer is unconvinced and continues with his quest. As she wanders off, Mariah leaves a potato chip bag on the lawn. While waiting for his catch, Spencer takes time for a short snooze. Imagine his surprise when he wakes to find the leftover chips sparkling with fairy dust. And a bear fairy to boot who loves potato chips! Appetite sated for the moment the fairy soon departs. Spencer chases the fairy down, wanting to show Mariah. The fairy agrees to hang at the park with Spencer, despite the lack of potato chips. They also spend time at Spencer's home where the fairy finds a secret stash. A bear fairy is not the best kind of guest to have: always hungry for chips, messy, snores, and sleeptalks. 

The challenge to prove Mariah wrong is met with pushback. Mariah names everything that fairies are that the bear fairy is not. Spencer cannot hold back his temper, and lets his friend know just how he feels about his bear fairy. To Spencer, this fairy is perfect.  Off they go with chips and ice cream in hand to spend happy times together. The final spread shows Mariah setting a fairy trap of her own, using a bag of chips as bair. 

There is a lot to like for young readers here: wordplay, cartoon-like art, expressive characters, lots of movement, and the argument about how real fairies should look. It's a funny book to read aloud, with a side of chips.