Wombat Waiting, written by Katheine Applegate. Storytide, Harper. 2026. $25.99 ages 8 and up

"A community is a living thing,
a group of people 
knit together by need or friendship, 
belief or purpose, 
even worn around the edges, 
like a household of grumpy relatives.

But when something bad happens, 
it comes together, stronger than ever, 
ready to start anew." 

Meeting Wombat is a joyous and heartwarming experience. She is a stray dog with stubby legs and silly ears, who is a survivor. She needs to be one as she feels the Santa Ana winds in Southern California blowing and takes note of a fire she can see in the distance. After an upsetting dream, she begins to hear an internal voice telling her to go THAT WAY. Her concern is that it is sending her toward the fire. Having no one, and no home, Wombat does as she is told. 

A chance meeting with a canine friend named Silas. When she tells Silas about the voice, he shares a sympathetic opinion. 

"Oh, you poor pup,
Silas sighed. 
You're one of them, aren't ya?

One of them? Wombat asked. 

You're a destiny dog, said Silas. 

He offered a toothless smile. 
Congrats. 
And condolences."

Being a destiny dog means Wombat is bound to find her person. It's a convincing observation; Wombat will follow the voice's mysterious instructions, despite the dangers. Soon readers meet Henry, a young boy who lives with his two moms and little sister in the path of the wildfire. He loves the bats at the rehab center where Mama Ro works. He and Barnabas, a fruit bat, must find shelter from the fire wreaking havoc everywhere around them. Henry is uncomfortable around dogs following a scary encounter when he was very young. 

As luck would have it, Wombat and Henry cross paths at an emergency shelter. Immediately, Wombat recognizes Henry as her destiny. Henry is wary of any contact. With endless patience and her helping nature, Wombat begins to realize she can offer hope to the displaced people at the shelter. Just as Wombat finds solace in the helping, Henry proves himself to be a willing worker who makes a real difference, too. The bond between the two unfolds as days pass by. Patience is the key to finding each other in the loveliest possible way. 

As the chapters shift from one character to another, readers feel strong empathy toward both. The verse format is perfect for early middle grade readers.Well chosen words balance the terror and acute sadness felt by both as their situation engulfs everyone. It's a story told with gentle caring and quiet humor. So hopeful and endearing. It will be the first book Chelsea and I read in July. We can't wait! 

When I'm a Moshom, written by David A. Robertson and illustrated by Corrie Hill. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"acimo (he tells a story)

When I'm a moshom, 
A long, long time from now, 
I will give my grandchildren stories, 
Just like Moshom did. 

I'll give them stories about themselves, 
And they'll learn to be proud of who they are. 

I'll give them stories about other people, 
And they'll learn about their neighbors, 
friends and classmates."

An opening note from the author tells readers that this book is meant to be a companion to On The Trapline, a story he wrote to honor his father and the relationship the two had with each other and with the land. In looking for ways to keep his father close in memory following his death, and to help his young son remember his moshom, he began considering what his father taught him; he writes about them here. 

Moshom always attended his grandchildren's activities: dance, swim, gymnastics, hockey. He brought good luck every time he watched with immense pride from the sidelines. Moshom took them fishing to catch just enough for a meal, and sat with them on the lake's shore. He smudged, he explained the old teachings for living a good life, and taught them Cree words to help them understand their family's language. 

His love for them was evident in every visit together; he showed it in every way and told them whenever they were together. His storytelling was filled with stories of their ancestors; all told with pride and wonder. He let them know how things were and how they are. He wanted them to know those stories so they could share them with their own loved ones. Visits to his home resulted in eating bannock, playing cards, and visiting his community of family and friends. There was nothing he wouldn't do for them.  His teachings ensure that they will do the same when they are grandparents ... a long, long time from now. 

The text is divided into sections that are prefaced by a Swampy Cree word (and translation) that are later included in a glossary. Digital artwork is created in earth tones and rooted in Indigenous culture that is expressive and telling. Told quietly with a gentle warmth, it is sure to inspire discussion with young listeners about memories of those they have loved and lost, or their own endless experiences enjoyed with their own grandparents. 

The Deepest Blue, written by Shaunty Grant and illustrated by Daniel Minter. Quill Tree Books, Harper. 2026. $25.99 ages 4 and up

 

"The deepest blue is black as night

except

a light 

come from below -

a sunken ship from moons ago."

What a gorgeous book, full of masterly language and amazing, luminous artwork! The first surprise comes when it is opened. The reader immediately turns to the vertical to see a child holding a tiny shell and beaming in the ocean blue setting. From a sandy beach she is invited to board a boat heading out into the blue expanse. Scuba diving is the draw. 

Dipping below those waves puts her in a world of beauty not all people have a chance to see. A sankofa bird is her constant companion above and below the surface. As she discovers what the sea holds, the bird increases in size. As she swims further down, she is even more aware of the beauty in the colors experienced there. The blue becomes black, except for a light from below that comes from a sunken ship lying on the ocean floor. 

A closer look brings awareness of the many people on board and the chains that held them. She wants to know more. 

"'cause there's a place that's hard to find, 
a treasure trove that's lost to time;
the traders and the tides, they took 
a whole entire history book." 

This sunken slave ship glows with the spirits of ancestors who reach their hands out to her and calm her there. Her past is traced to them, their culture and their being. When she resurfaces, she is united in celebration of that history and new learning about herself.  Remembering the past allows forward thinking and movement. 

Stunning! 

Nice Work, written by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Hala Tahboub. Random House Studio, Penguin Random House.. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"If I move, maybe someday someone will
know my tree without knowing me. Or maybe
they'll know me a little. Maybe they'll look
at the tree and know that someone wanted
peaches way back then. 

When told by his parents that he cannot grow a marshmallow tree, he changes his mind and chooses a peach tree. There are similarities between the two: sweet, sticky, feels like summer. Their work begins in the spring when they purchase a stick. He is not impressed, and neither is his friend Maya. She congratulates him on planting a stick. The two plant many similar sticks, assuming that in years to come they will produce even more sticks. 

Nice work! 

He continues to water the peach tree when his parents convince him that the roots are stretching down into the earth below him. To his surprise, the tree is soon covered with leaves. In a bad stroke of luck, Maya lets him know that she and her family are moving. For the rest of the year, including his birthday, Maya's move, the arrival of fall and winter, he is concerned for his tree. When bunnies nibble off the back due to hunger, he leaves them a warning that the tree will seek revenge for their actions. (And his father puts a cage around the tree.) 

In the spring when the leaves burst forth once more, elderly Ruth moves into Maya's old house and regales him with stories of a cherry tree she once planted. Ruth is a great baker of oatmeal cookies which are consumed with regularity. A blossom appears on the peach tree, and soon he is writing a letter to Maya to tell her about it. She asks about the stick forest, which he says he continues watering. Unfortunately for Maya, Ruth is the one who gets to share a peach wedge. Together, they toast next year. One can only imagine what the future holds for that peach tree. 

Nice work, indeed! 

Louisa Learns to Write: Louisa May Alcott Creates Little Women, written by Kate Hannigan and illustrated by Sofia Moore. Calkins Creek, Astra. Penguin Random House, 2026. $25.99 ages 10 and up

"WRITE 

Louisa loved to climb trees and run 
through the woods, sometimes under
moonlight. On her tenth birthday, 
Mother presented her with a special 
gift. Opening the pages of a journal, 
Louisa let the words flow - from 
poetry to petty complaints and even 
private dreams." 

Louisa May Alcott wrote what she knew when she penned the story of 4 girls and their family in Little Women. Her family lived a similar life to the March sisters. Her father was a teacher who often changed jobs, leaving the family in a life of poverty with little food to eat and only used clothing to wear. The four girls loved the worlds they found in their father's books. Louisa loved being outdoors, and she loved to write in a journal from her mother. 

As they moved from place to place, the older girls worked to make the money the family needed. Their jobs were difficult and left Louisa dreaming of riches that would make life more comfortable for everyone. An inheritance left to her mother helped to ease the burden and let them buy a new home. Life became easier and Louisa could give herself over to the reading, writing, and dreaming that she loved to do. The family was happy using her writing to perform in the stories she told. 

Family friends Henry David Thorseau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Ralph Waldo Emerson were often present for meaningful discussions about important topics. The family home became a stop on the Underground Railroad. In a search for new jobs to improve their lives, they moved to Boston. After helping with many household chores and caring for children, Louisa began to write in earnest. She hoped that she would make enough money to improve their family circumstances. 

"I will do something by and by. 
Don't care what, teach, sew, act, write, 

anything to help the family; and I'll 
be rich and famous and happy before 
I die, see if I won't!"

Family circumstances changed dramatically when one sister died, and another got married and moved away. Louisa wrote more and more, despite setbacks. As a working nurse during the Civil War, she wrote Hospital Sketches, a hit with readers and critics. She wrote, and wrote, and wrote. Would she write for girls, she was asked. Yes, she would - and write she did. She wrote what she knew; she wrote about her own family. It wasn't long until Little Women became a huge hit. 

Back matter includes an informative author's note, archival photos of the four Alcott sisters, a list of ten habits for becoming a writer (all discussed in the pages of the book), a timeline, facts and fiction comparing her family and the March family, and a bibliography.  

The focus throughout remains on the similarities between Louisa's reality and the story she created for the March sisters. Many significant quotes are included. Mixed media artwork provides a setting for the time and the family, and for Louisa's perseverance as she pursues her dreams. This might just be the spark that shows an up-and-coming writer the key to success. 

Canada: We Are the Story, written by Richard Wagamese and illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. Swift Water, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 6 and up

"Listen. The Old Ones speak to all of us.

They tell us that we are in this together
and that we always were. 

Listen and you will hear them."

As the story opens, a teacher is passing out an assignment to a diverse group of students. The questions assigned asks: "What makes you proud to be a Canadian?" One student does not seem interested. Once home, she sits to think about what she wants to say when she hears another question from a speaker not seen: "Can you hear the voices of the Old Ones speaking to you in a language you've forgotten?' 

In his adaptation of "The Canada Poem" by Richard Wagamese, David A. Robertson keeps the words and spellings true to the original in every way possible. Asking a child to listen to the voices of those who came before them recurs often, while explaining the circle that includes everyone who stepped on this land. 

Richard Wagamese and Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley are honored Ojibway book creators. The poem is a celebration of Canada, its diversity, and beauty. It asks readers and all Canadians to stop and listen to the land and to those who came before. They speak many languages and talk to us from the spirit world where there is no color, no skin, no time, and no history ... only spirit. 

The voices ask readers and listeners to take pride in their country, a place where great things happen at every turn in every area. The story of Canada is woven in threads from our diversity, our industries, our jobs, and our families. Old Ones' voices, when heard, provide comfort and pride. They offer guidance for each and every one of us.  We are all the story of Canada. 

The poem speaks to a new generation of Indigenous children, while also welcoming everyone who has played a part in honoring the past, and belonging today. Community connections hold great importance for all Canadians, past and present. The more often I read it and pay careful attention to the words, the more pride I feel for my home, Canada. 

It's hard to do justice to the beauty of the remarkable art that accompanies Mr. Wagamese's words. Brilliant in both color and detail, it projects a true sense of the spirit world while also honoring the Canadian landscape. Its symbols of Indigenous culture for the child doing her homework, alongside images of many other people from different cultures ensure pride for those who find community here. The final spread shows all manner of people walking across a turtle's back in celebration.                                                                              

                           

                https://youtu.be/6yLJxMZvRGU?si=RbeQpL0lWFaGU0SO                                                  

Just One Gift, written by Linda Sue Park and illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng. Clarion Books, Harper. 2026. $24.99 ages 10 and up

 

"I can't explain it, but it's like dogs got some kind of
secret power that makes it easier to talk to people. 
Like they want the whole world to be friends with 
each other. 

Ever since school started last fall, I stop on my way
home to pet Percy - that's the dog's name - and throw
a stick for him, and the guy tells me what they done
together that day." 

Language arts teacher Ms. Chang has a new assignment for her students. As she did in The One Thing You'd Save (Clarion, 2021), she prompts them to draw a slip of paper from a hat. On that slip they will find one of three words: Family, Friends, or ? - a reference to the people in their lives. The question mark is for someone not in their family or a friend. 

"If you could give someone special in your life just one gift, who would you choose, and what would it be?"

There are a few rules: it cannot be monetary or fantasy, and it must be something they have never asked for. I found myself stopping to think seriously about how I would answer that question. It is meant to do the same for the students in her classroom. In an author's note that follows the text, Ms. Park explains she again based her writing on a traditional Korean verse form called Sijo (SHEE-zho) and how it is written. I find that in itself amazing and beautiful to read. 

The diversity in the classroom structure is evident in every response given. Ideas are carefully considered and explained in their responses. It takes a lot of critical thinking. The students reflect on the task at hand as they write and then share (or not) their appreciation for the people in their lives. They respect what others have to say and are empathetic to the stories of community they tell. Filled with heart and thoughtful connections, it affords an opportunity in classrooms hearing these stories for the students to tell one of their own.

"Sean

Friend
(journal entry)

I'm not going to share this out loud because it'd be dissing Kyle. 
Everybody knows how hard up his family is, 
but he doesn't talk about it, so we don't either.

I'd give him the Omni16 game system coming out next month. 
Voice control, VR projection, next gen cloud capable. 
He'd be the first to have it. Before anyone else. For once.

If you are teaching in a middle years classroom, and have not yet discovered Linda Sue Park's books, take a trip to the library and find yourself a few of them. I know you will be surprised, and happy to meet an author whose work you can again offer your students.