School for Woodland Creatures, written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 7 and up

 

"Hedgehog stayed up late thinking about 
Annika Mae and her new friends. She 
wanted to be happy for her, and yet she 
couldn't help feeling left out. But soon 
she would be in school, too. And that 
could be fun ... 

She was going to have to embrace 
this change, whether she wanted to 
or not." 

It's Annika Mae's first day of school and her birthday. Her woodland friends meet her in the Friend Fort before she must catch the bus. Once she is gone, the friends make a plan to have their own school since they can't go with her. It's a pretty exciting idea. Each will teach what they know best to the others. Upon arrival home after her first day, the friends are eager to know about her day. She tells them she has two new friends, Julia and Jessie. Hedgehog is worried that things are changing, and she must come to terms with that. 

The following day, Hedgehog spends time worrying about what she will be able to teach the others. She makes visits to each of them to see what they are planning to do. Still, she lacks any idea for what she will teach with confidence. As school begins the next day, Owl takes the role of teaching compound words with artistic help from Hedgehog. There are a few distractions; in the end, it is a successful lesson and Beaver offers the next lesson.  As the others continue to teach, Hedgehog persists in worrying. She knows she loves art which is never perfect. Is she good enough at it to teach a lesson? 

Seeing a light on in the Friend Fort one evening, Hedgehog enters to find Annika Mae crying about what happened at school. Her story about her woodland friends made the other students laugh when one of the boys said her friends were not people, so they could not be real friends. Mole and Hedgehog offer support and Mole leaves Annika Mae thinking about a piece of advice: BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

Hedgehog takes that lesson to heart and spends the rest of the evening preparing for the next day's teaching. She tells her friends about her worries, and not knowing what she might teach. They all praise her artistic ability, letting her know that she is a great artist. The lesson is a success, only made better when Annika Mae arrives home to add a finishing touch. 

This is an inspiring addition to a very successful and appreciated series: well-developed characters, engaging art at every turn, and minor clashes that are realistic and add real personality to the telling. 

Everything is better when you are doing what you love. 

Sockflea: A Stuffie in the Wild, written by Laura Dockrill and illustrated by Eve Byrne. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

""WHY DIDN'T YOU MAKE ME 
BRING MY STUFFIES?"

My grown-up flicks on the flashlight, 
is a little bit annoyed, unzips a bag, 
huffs and puffs about, and then ... 

     magic happens ... "

Our young elephant narrator can't believe her great good luck. The family is going camping! So many wonderful experiences to share: campfire songs, roasted marshmallows, sleeping under a starry sky. A parental suggestion to bring a stuffie is met with the assurance that none is needed. What follows is a summary of all of the favorites she will leave behind. Her parents are worried about bedtime; she is not. 
She's 5, after all. The first day is filled with adventure and discovery. As day fades to night, worries begin to mount. Her parents are right there to reassure her, offering the warmth of hugs. Nothing helps to assuage the need for her stuffies. Her rant about leaving them behind is one often heard by parents, I am sure. 

Out of desperation comes ingenuity and invention when the parents fashion a pair of socks into an alternative charmer, aptly named Sockflea. The initial suspicions concerning its ability to soothe are soon outweighed by the need for comfort. Learning that her other stuffies have sent the very cute Sockflea to keep her company while camping leads to acceptance. Sockflea is a welcome addition to the camping adventures, offering fun and comfort for the rest of the trip. Once home with her stuffies, she can accept that Sockflea was some kind of magic and has disappeared until ... 

I will leave you to appreciate the surprise ending!

So funny and entirely typical of family drama, this is a book that will resonate with many young children and their parents. Eve Byrne's engaging digital art is filled with emotional expressions, movement, and great amusement. Be prepared to read it again and again ... it is a great deal of fun for both reader and listener. 

Jayden Noticed, written by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 20226. $24.99 ages 3 and up

"He had lots of rocks - a homework rock, 
a thinking rock, a fort-building rock. 

But his favorites were his wishing rocks. 

He made wishes for snow days, perfect
pumpkins, and chocolate cake for dessert. 

Once, on the first day of school, he had 
wished for a friend, and he got two!" 

Packing rocks is only one of the jobs Jayden must do in preparation for the family's upcoming move. Jayden, a noticer, especially notices rocks. Rather than packing as his father suggests, Jayden spends time organizing his rock collection. His wishing rock jar is the first to be packed. His many rocks might be ready to move; Jayden is not. 

There is much about the new house Jayden doesn't like. His mother thinks he should give it a chance. Instead, he worries about the home they are leaving: the old tree, his many friends. Will he find new friends? The very next morning, Jayden finds a rare wishing rock. He wishes his wish, and puts it in his pocket. On a bicycle trip through his new neighborhood, Jayden hears a rustle on the other side of a white fence. It's a boy.

Jayden introduces himself, only to recognize that Alex is also a noticer who likes bugs. The two are off on a journey of discovery before lunch. That night, Jayden adds his new wishing rock to his collection, and finally fills the jar. What an opportunity to get started on a brand-new jar in a brand-new home! 

Mixed-media artwork is textural and filled with emotion. The images fully reflect Ms. Crimi's warm storytelling. The feelings of uncertainty Jayden experiences with all the changes wrought by their move are clear for readers, as is the joy found in a new friend. 

Mary Oliver, Holding On To Wonder, written by Erin Frankel and illustrated by Jasu Hu. Calkins Creek, Astra. Penguin Random House, 2025. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"But what Mary really wanted to know
was how to take this place with her - 
wherever she might go. This place where
she felt free. This place that sang to her like
the poems in her books.
Maybe poetry was the key." 

Mary Oliver loved to spend time in the forest near her home. There she basked in the quiet wonder of it all, with pen and notebook in hand.  Always wondering about nature, she was filled with questions. On a quest to take it all in and carry it with her, she turned to poetry. It was her love for words that afforded the opportunity to consider the works of Edna St. Vincent Millay; in so doing, she contacted Edna's sister and asked if she might visit their family home. 

As she worked organizing the work Edna left behind, Mary continued to venture into the natural world where she was always excited about the thoughts and questions it inspired. The mysteries of this natural world were recorded in her notebooks. Reading those notes would take Mary back to the feelings that inspired her many poems. Only then did she share het gift with the world; publishing books, teaching her craft, and never missing the chance to be in nature on her daily morning walks. 

"Notebook in hand, Mary set out each morning in 
search of wonder. She hid pencils behind trees to she
would always be prepared. 
Foxes and moon snails; black bears and owls,
snow crickets and goldfinches; sunflowers and ponds - 
Mary wrote on and on." 

Her poems, written over her long life, were for everyone, in hope that others would hold onto the wonder she had found in this beautiful world. That world is highlighted in wondrous digital artwork by Jasu Hu. Back matter includes an author's note, a timeline of Mary's life, a note on the craft of poetry, and a select bibliography.                                                                                          

The Cow in the Dark at Night, written and illustrated by Jess Hannigan. Quill Tree, Harper. 2026. $25.99 ages 5 and up

"I think I was always meant 
to be awake at night. 

Maybe I'll become a nocturnal cow from now on. 
You can call me Queen of the Nightlife. 

Or Child of the Moon. 
       Maybe Lord of Twilight?"

A plan has been in the works for ages. Finally, the barnyard denizens are soundly sleeping and the cow is 'on the loose', having always wondered about the night's happenings. Tonight is the night to make many discoveries for herself. It isn't long until the cow recognizes that the black cat is alongside. The cow offers assurance that she is completely capable of caring for herself, and her adventure. Her plan is to be home before the farmer realizes she is gone. 

Meeting her first night person (a scarecrow) is a revelation. Though quiet, this person wears a jaunty hat and shows an admmirable style. Next up are two masked robbers, obviously stealing a television set after a break-in. They do their best to avoid her questions and move on. Next up is a vampire whose upside-down position doesn't deter. 

Moving forward, it isn't long until Cow comes upon a 'fellow nocturnal' who turns out to be a space creature with a plan to kidnap the cow, What a mistake! Luckily, the cat has continued to accompany its wayward friend, and is part of the space trip. What is their destination? A big red planet that welcomes them. Is it to be their new home? 

The final scene shows the farmer awakening, preparing for the coming day, and making a terrible discovery. I will leave it to you to get the last laugh! 

Both vibrant and silly, this is just the book that kids will ask to hear on repeat. They may even shout warnings to the cow as it makes its way around the barnyard. Such a goofy cow, and a nighttime adventure that offers up giggles galore. A black cat adds expression, humor, and a certain sense of protection for the meandering cow. As in her two previous books, Spider in the Well (2024) and The Bear Out There (2025), Ms. Hannigan uses cut-paper collage to create her wonderful artwork, this time in oranges, purples, and greens. 

Bob Is The Biggest, Strongest, And Smartest, written by Jean Reidy and illustrated by Amy Jindra Hodgson. Rocky Pond Books, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"No one questioned Bob. As a matter of fact, 
no one could. Because Bob did all the talking. 

Until the day Bill came along. 
Bill wasn't big. He hardly looked strong, 
and ... "

Bob is very sure of himself; he is 'the biggest, strongest, and smartest bear in the whole wide world'. He is very happy to share that news with everyone he meets, repeatedly. No one really gets much of a chance to talk as Bob is continually holding court with his many attributes. 

When Bill comes along, he is full of questions for everyone he meets. He wants to know what they are doing, and offers compliments for their many accomplishments. At first, Bob is not impressed at all. He does notice that when Bill shows interest, the woodland animals are happy to talk with him. They even ask questions of their own. 

No one seems to notice, as Bob does, that Bill is 'small and slight'. Instead, Bill wantes to know more about them. Everyone seems delighted to be getting to know him. Bob is quite perturbed by those who are no longer interested in what he has to say. When Bill shows an interest in what Bob has to say about his physical training and then asks a further question, Bob realizes he is feeling quite happy with their conversation. 

"Bob found that they 
were quite different
in some ways, 

and quite alike 
in more." 

Pretty cool, indeed ... and a great way to mentor another toward a change in perspective. Isn't that what friends do for each other? 

Where Are You, Eddie? Written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Gill Smith. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 5 and up

 

"When I got home, Meg was taking a nap.
I stood in the kitchen making a sandwich. 
I could hear Eddie saying, "The first bite
is with the eye, Dad." 

Meg looked up and said, "Do you know
where Eddie is?"
I thought about it.
I said, "Eddie hasn't gone, has he?"
He's here, isn't he?"

This companion book to Michael Rosen's Sad Book (2005) continues the story of losing his son Eddie. As a tall, grey-haired man walks into the kitchen, then stands silently there, he wonders where Eddie is, and if he is somewhere nearby. As the cat Meg walks toward him he speaks to her, asking the question that haunts him. 

"Eddie's not coming back, is he, Meg?"

Meg gently reminds him that it isn't the end; rather, it is the beginning. She suggests he always look for Eddie. Though he won't be as he was, he will still be there. The man's daily travels carry many strong memories of Eddie and the wonderful times they spent together. He meets people who knew Eddie and they also share thoughts of their time with him, and what was so special about him. Returning home, he tells Meg what he has learned on his day out. 

While Eddie is no longer here, he lives in the memories of all who knew and loved him, including Meg. This book is a look at the grieving process through a first-person voice, accompanied by mixed-media artwork that is emotional and bittersweet, yet hopeful. Memories are powerful reminders of those we have loved and lost. Michael Rosen's own experience is shared honestly with readers in hopes they will find some solace as they adapt to a life that is markedly different, but ultimately filled with moments of joy.