That is NOT a Dog! Written by Bea Birdsong and illustrated by Charlie Alder. Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Ollie was glad to have friends with him
as the sun slipped lower in the sky, 
and he invited them to dinner. 

He was happy they 
didn't see any dogs
along the way. 
Not one."

Everything Ollie had ever heard about dogs terrifies him. Being a cat, it is not a surprise. Is all that he has been told the truth? Ollie thinks so; he chooses friends he knows are not dogs, then stays away from dogs at every opportunity. It's their mean eyes, giant teeth, and loud barks that make him quake with fear. The first quick reaction from young readers will happen when Ollie meets a creature (obviously a dog) with kind eyes and black-and-white fur. Ollie knows immediately it is not a dog; it must be a cow whose dog tag says it's name is Mildred. They spend time together watching the birds, and then walk on. The next animal they meet is described as a hippo named Finchley. 

Their adventure continues through the park where they come upon more dogs that do not meet the criteria Ollie has in his head. I can hear (as you can if you have ever spent time in an early years classroom, or with kids of your own) the laughter and the constant cries to let Ollie know each new friend is really a dog! The happy, action-filled illustrations are consistent in telling a very different story - one that contradicts everything Ollie believes to be true about the dreaded dog. There is no scare in any of them. They are friendly, helpful, and fun. They have a wonderful time together and share a lovely meal. All the while Ollie is delighted to be spending his day with any animal but a DOG!  

Aya Has Never Seen A Bear, written by Geretchimeg Blackcrane and illustrated by Jiu'er. Translated by Paul Qiao. Adapted by Helen Mixter. Aldana Libros, Greystone Kids. 2026. $25.95 ages 6 and up

 

"Aya understands that this garbage must be 
completely burned. If the bears get used to 
it, they might be attracted to the human world. 
That would be dangerous for them and for humans.

This is how the Oroqen share the forest with 
bears. Respect them, be in awe of them, and 
keep away from them."

I cannot imagine any child not wanting to know more about this book from their first glance. How can you possibly not want to know more about the bear that graces its cover? 

The opening page explains:

This book takes place among the Oroqen, an ethnic group 
who live in the forests and mountains of Greater and 
Lesser Khingan, in northern China. They are hunters. 

Aya is sound asleep when Grandma calls for her to get up. Grandpa is back with food for breakfast and plans for the day. He wants to take his granddaughter with him in a search for bears. Aya has been longing for such an adventure; she has never seen a bear. The two mount their horses, leaving the noisy dogs behind them. Grandpa has always been Aya's guide to the beauty of the woodlands and all it hides. 

As they ride, they take note of all that is happening in their natural surroundings: changing colors, trees, migrating birds, a hare family enjoying the sunshine, and roe deer watching them pass by. As owl passes too closely, causing Aya and Grandpa to bend their heads and hurry away. Moving on to the wetlands, they notice that the fox family they have been watching all summer now has grown kits who are ready for their own home. Many animals share the land with the Oroqen people. 

A river valley is next. They leave the horses there and walk on to the pine woods where the bears live. Once settled in the thick bushes, they sit silently ... waiting! A mother bear and her three cubs eventually come out of forest, leaving Aya breathless. They watch as the bears play together, and finally rest. Later, when Grandpa whistles, the bears quickly depart. Before they head home, the two gather the garbage left behind by forest visitors, and light it all on fire. Grandpa does not want the bears to become accustomed to the presence of humans. 

Once the fire has been extinguished, the two head back the way they came, gathering berries along the way, a gift from the autumn forest. The bears will find no scent of humans, and will then search to find their own food as they prepare for a long winter's sleep. 

A final few pages offer further information about the Oroqen, and the way their lives have changed through the years. 

In keeping with the patience required to catch her first glimpse of a bear, the text moves clearly and quietly as it describes the shared adventure. Warm and absolutely stunning natural surroundings are shown in artwork done with mineral pigments. It is a lovely book!                                                                             

Our Gracie Aunt, written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Monica Mikai. Nacy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Sometimes we helped our 
Gracie aunt cook. 

She let us throw spaghetti 
against the wall. If it stuck, 
it was done. 

On Saturday nights, she made popcorn
and let us watch scary movies with her."

Beebee and her younger brother are alone in their house when Miss Lee comes to the door asking to speak to their mother. Readers quickly learn that Beebee has a worry about foster care, as their mom is often away for different periods of time. When Miss Lee returns, Beebee does open the door and Miss Lee explains she is taking them to be with their mother's sister. 

Johnson's first-person narration is full of questions about what will happen to the two of them. As they drive away from their home, Miss Lee explains she has talked with their aunt. She is their mother's sister. It is a very quiet ride. Upon arrival, Johnson becomes quite excited at how things look. 

"I couldn't believe it either. Her yard was big and had a tire swing
hanging from a tree, And pretty flowers everywhere."

Their Gracie aunt is delighted to welcome them and does everything she can do to make them comfortable. Beebee is not as amenable to the situation and attention during the day, or at bedtime. Their aunt answers the questions they have, explaining to Beebee that she and their mother had an argument once that left them not speaking to each other. 

It is not an easy transition; it takes time for the children to accept their new reality. The love shared begins a healing process that leads to their having a visit with their mama, who tells them how much she loves them and explains that she cannot take care of them right now. Their excitement as they return to their Gracie aunt leaves them in a hopeful place until the family can be reunited. 

Tender and moving, with warm digital artwork that adds understanding for the circumstances the children face, and the constant love that surrounds them whatever family might look like. 

A Fly In The Chai, written by Zenia Wadhwani and illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"I stop for a pistachio kulfi before we get to 
Mr. Sharma's chai stall and Nanu gets a big 
steaming cup. He leans in, about to take a sip. 

"STOP! THERE'S A FLY IN 
      YOUR CHAI!""

Nanu and his granddaughter are visiting the market where Nanu has many, many friends. Each merchant is honored with a greeting in their own dialect as the two move toward Mr. Sharma's chai stall. Nanu loves a big steaming cup. As he leans in to take a sip, his granddaughter shouts out a warning about a fly in his chai. 

Despite encouragement, the fly is going nowhere. Onlookers each have a suggestion for getting rid of it. They also have opinions about why the fly is even there. Only then does the fly have a say, offering her name and the fact that her love for chai is very strong. 

"I love the smell of cardamom. 
I love to watch the steam rise. 
I love the cozy way it makes me feel. 
I love EVERYTHING about chai!"  

Nanu shares his own love for chai and its many wonders. An argument ensues; the fly angrily returns to the cup of chai. Nanu is now also furious, and does what any sane person would do. He drinks it down in a huge gulp. Does that work? I wonder. 

Bright bold colors offer a look at a traditional Indian bazaar with great characters and many items of interest. Final pages provide a pronunciation guide for the varied greetings, a glossary to explain any unfamiliar cultural words, and a recipe for Zenia's family chai recipe.  
                                                                                  

The World Entire: A True Story of an Extraordinary World War II Rescue, written by Elizabeth Brown and illustrated by Melissa Castrillon. Chronicle Bo;oks, Raincoast. 2025. $29.99 ages 8 and up

 

"Aristides hugged them more 
tightly than ever before and 
sent his sons and nephew 
home to Portugal. 

The radio announced the news -
German troops were only miles 
from Bordeaux."

This is a story I had not heard in any of the many books I have read about WWII. Aristides de Sousa Mendes worked for the Portuguese government, living as consul general in Bordeaux, France when the Nazis started pushing through that country. Always kind to his neighbors in need, Aristides turned his attention to helping refugees fleeing to safety in Portugal where they thought they would be safe and protected. The Portuguese government was not in favor of helping them. 

When faced with hundreds of travelers wanting visas, Aristides disobeyed government orders to hold them back. Over a period of 23 hectic and terrifying days in the summer of 1940, he worked endlessly to provide visas for as many people as he could. With help, he granted visas to everyone who asked, even setting up a table in the street to accommodate their requests. His disobedience led to conviction and a guilty charge. He was stripped of his job, and his home, his prestige and other repercussions for his family. At a soup kitchen where his family was being fed, he met some of those he had helped and others who had escaped. What a legacy he left.

"Over a period of 23 days, Aristides de Sousa Mendes rescued many thousands of people, including the painter Salvador Dali; the writers Margaret Rey and H. A. Rey; the entire Belgian cabinet; professors of medicine, biology, and physics who would go on to teach in America; and thousands of others whose lives are less known but no less precious." 

His story is told with honor and simplicity to hold attention and inform young readers interested in heroic people from history, and WWII specifically. What a rescue mission he commanded. It is estimated he helped upwards of 30,000 people, Digital pencil crayon illustrations offer a realistic setting and inspiration for the fine work he did. An extensive author's note provides further context, along with a timeline for the 23 days, a list of quotes and sources, and a bibliography. 

Take Me Out To The Ball Game, words by Jack Norworth and pictures by Gary Clement. Greystone Books, 2026. $23.95 ages 6 and up

 

"LET ME ROOT, 
ROOT, ROOT, 
FOR THE 
HOME TEAM,

IF THEY DON'T
      WIN IT'S
      A SHAME."

Written in 1908 and not heard at a ball game until the 1934 World Series in St. Louis, this song has become an iconic anthem for many baseball games, including ones played in packed MLB stadiums. It's a fun song to teach in early years classrooms, and is one of those books that young readers will soon be reading for themselves. 

What Gary Clement has done is create an illustrated story for the familiar words. An eager young fan does his best to have his father leave the endless pile of work on his desk so that the two can head out to enjoy a ball game together. The father is not sure he has the time, what with all the work facing him. The child is not willing to give up on his dream. 

By singing the song, he entices his father to consider all they will see while there: the crowd, the food vendors, the perpetual action as the game begins, and the joy that comes from rooting for a favorite team. Soon Dad is joining in the song, and the two are in the car and on their way to a packed stadium full of ardent fans. A home run makes their day. 

Watercolor, gouache and ink artwork shows the child in different roles within the ball game experience. The bond between parent and child at a venue they love will certainly help it find fans who will want to sing it again and again. It is a beloved tradition of summer baseball.                                                                                           

Frog: A Story of Life on Earth, written by Isabel Thomas and illustrated by Daniel Egneus. Bloomsbury, Raincoast. 2026. $26.99 ages 8 and up

 

"But if frogs come from eggs, 

and eggs come from frogs, 

where did the first frog 
come from?"

Beginning with the life cycle of the frog, and a child observing a frog's eggs in the pond visited, the author poses the question that will lead to sharing the history of the universe based on a frog's life. That story begins before frogs and everything else, including people, plants, Earth and stars. In fact, it begins with a very hot speck impossible to imagine. 

A BIG BANG happened when that speck expanded and created a universe. Small and energetic, 'there were no frogs yet'.  Going back billions of years, Ms. Thomas shares how stars and planets formed, followed by life ... but still no frogs. It took eight billion years to form the Sun and eight planets. The best of all of those was Earth, where life could develop because of its perfect atmosphere. 

The accuracy of the storytelling allows young children to understand complicated ideas of how life today came to be. Repeating the phrase 'but there were no frogs yet' keeps readers looking ahead to a time when there will be frogs. Ther progression is laid out clearly and enhanced by mixed-media illustrations that are stunning in their scope, filling spreads with scientific accuracy as stars explode, and the world moves toward what children know today. 

Text circles back to the origin story of amphibians: 'the ancestors of every living animal with four limbs, whether legs, or flippers, arms, or wings, including ... the very first frog!' Long after dinosaurs, frogs survived throughout the world. One exceptional spread shows many colorful species found around the world. As their ancestors, a frog's life cycle remains as it has always been. 

"Next time you see a tadpole, egg, or frog, 
marvel at this animal like any other, 
formed from stardust scattered through
space, created by chemistry, conditions, 
and chance.

Not just a frog, 
but the story of the universe, retold."

As they have done in two previous books, Moth (Bloomsbury, 2018) and Fox (Bloomsbury, 2021), this incredibly talented team uses an animal familiar to readers to examine a life cycle, and offer an accessible look at evolution in a way that is perfectly understandable for their target audience. Backmatter tells The Story of Everything in a double-page spread that offers context for the awesome and wondrous story of evolution. For those kids always wanting to know more, this is sure to be read again and again. 

"You are a whisper of the past.

You are a wonder of the universe."