Monster Mender, written by Christine Baldacchino and illustrated by Ilona Iske. Groundwood, 2026. $21.99 ages 5 and up

 

"Dot took armfuls of fresh new
ingredients back to her cottage. 
The prickliest peels from the prickliest
fruit in the swampiest swamp. The 
shimmering bark of silver trees from 
the highest mountaintop. And the softest
flower petals from a garden three valleys
down and two lakes over."

Dot is a small, but capable, doctor for her mythic patients. She awakens early each morning to provide care for a dragon, a chimera, a gryphon, and a kraken, to name a few. She travels far and wide to visit with them when she is needed. Their ills are many: Dot is a conscientious and kind caregiver. 

All goes well until a Sea Serpent stops by. The Serpent explains that he is sad ... so very sad. Some days he doesn't want to show himself above the ocean and on other days, he wants to fly into the clouds where he cannot be seen. It's hard for him to know for sure what he really wants; it is always so different. Dot carefully looks him over. She sees no evidence of illness. The Serpent explains again that he is very sad. Serpent looks fine. 

Dot knows she is a good mender. She takes on the task of fixing him. She wants to make something that will cure the sadness. Nothing works. After numerous attempts to make him feel better, Dot realizes that he likes her company. They spend time together, quietly. When asked if he wants to go with her to see Jackalope, he refuses. As the two spend time together during mender visits, Sea Serpent becomes more comfortable and occasionally shows affection for Dot. Dot worries that she is not very good at her job, and tells him so. 

Sea Serpent explains: 

"It's when you sit and have tea and 
bread with me. And we talk about silly
and not-so-silly things," he said. 

"And it's when you ask me how I'm feeling 
today. And today I feel like telling you that 
you're the best monster mender a monster
like me could have.""

Amen! It's the little things that don't seem so little, even to a huge Sea Serpent. 

Do you make someone feel like that? 

Hummingbird's Big Trip, written and illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Random House Studio, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Naptime is over and I'm hungry!
I stop by all my favorite places
for lunch. I have a long list and 
remember them all. 

All that flapping, flying, and 
feeding. 
Time for bed."

A tiny hummingbird shares its own story. Its summer has been filled with flight, flora, and enjoyment. As the season turns toward cooler weather and shorter days, it recognizes that the time for the long journey is fast approaching; that knowledge gives the poor wee bird a real sense of dread over what's to come. If you are one of those people who prefers to ignore what needs to be done when the anticipation for a task is worrisome, you will feel real empathy for him.

There is much to be done before the journey can be taken; all thoughts of that lead to avoidance. The exact date is unknown. Many lonely days will be faced on his own as hummingbirds do not fly in groups. Each one flies alone, mile after solitary mile. Every thought is wrought with questions about staying focused, food, exhaustion, and finding its winter home. His friends try to be helpful, offering wise advice and reminders that he does the same worrying every year. They know he will be okay. Days pass slowly, offering time to continue fretting. At last, the day comes. He takes to the sky with strength and knowledge. For many full and exhausting days, he flies. Does he really know the way? Will he arrive at his destination? Yes, he will! 

In familiar artwork that is detailed and emotional, G. Brian Karas offers his readers a story of worry, resilience, and science. As the story is told, young readers will take in information about the bird's yearly journey that is determined by seasonal changes. An endnote supplies further facts.

"I never seem to get lost.
I’m always able to fly the whole distance by myself ... I can do this!"                                                                              

Flowers for Mama, written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Ooh ... Making sounded 
beautiful to Tulip. 

So, she picked up her orange 
and made a slow O, just like 
Mama had taught her.
Tulip added C shapes - "

It will soon be Mama's special day ... too soon! Oleander is having a time trying to make a decision about a gift he can make that will truly celebrate his brilliant mama. The other three kittens have ideas, but none seem to be just right. Would flowers work? All they can find are weeds that are prickly and unappealing. Oleander is busy with a package of seeds. When asked for help, he suggests that they make flowers of their own to give to Mama. 

Tulip likes that idea. She begins with orange and does her best to draw some lovely flowers. As Tulip adds more of Mama's favorite colors, Oleander only has brown. Herbie uses his saved-up bits and scraps, working tirelessly to collage something wonderful. Oleander makes wet dirt from his brown. Blossom's imagination runs away with her and she pens a song. Oleander's seeds in brown dirt are not very inspiring. Everyone is excited, wanting to see Oleander's flowers since it was all his idea. Nothing is happening there. 

When the kittens wake Mama to show the flowers they have made for her, Mama couldn't be more delighted. Poor Oleander ... so sad that his flower is late. His mother's love wraps around him as she explains that flowers take their own time. Besides, she already loves his ... and all the others. 

Deborah Freedman's welcome description of the art she created to tell this heartfelt and endearing tale is inspirational. Her explanation that she did a lot of experimentation as she worked helps readers see that there are many different ways to explore their own creativity. She describes how each of the kittens used their own artistic leanings to find the perfect gift for Mama.                                                                                  

Rumpelstiltskin, retold by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Carson Ellis. Orchard Books, Scholastic. 2026. $27.99 ages 5 and up

"Once upon a time, 
a girl grew up in the woods, 
climbing trees and whittling sticks and 
catching tadpoles with her bare hands. 

Her father, a poor miller, was a nice enough guy,
but he had a big mouth. He told wild stories
and bragged all the time."

That girl ends up being the main character in one of her father's elaborate stories. When he meets the king by chance one day, the miller tells him that his daughter can spin straw into gold. What king would not want to grow his wealth? The rest of the story, for the most part, follows the path of the original fairy tale. 

Of course, she cannot do such a thing. While she sits alone in a room full of straw bemoaning the promise of certain death if she fails to complete the task, a tiny man pops up through an unseen door. She quickly shares her tale of woe. The little man explains that he is up to the task, but will need to be paid for his trouble. She promises her necklace. 

The same thing happens the next night; she gives him her ring. On the third night, the king promises marriage; the little man demands her first born child. Terrified and unsure of her future, she agrees. When she marries the king and has that child, the tiny man comes looking for his reward. Upon seeing her tears, he gives her one last chance: if she can guess his name in three days, he will forget they made such a deal. It is an almost impossible task, as one would expect. Twice she fails. Her love for the outdoors is her saving grace. While walking with her son on the dark final evening, she happens across the tiny man singing and dancing around a fire; his song reveals his name. At his next visit, when the queen reveals what she has learned, he stomps himself into a puff of smoke and disappears forever. 

This is an old story told through many childhoods. I love that Mac Barnett has given it a contemporary vibe that will make it very appealing to today's readers. It is chatty in its presentation with a subdued humor. Shared alongside his earlier The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Orchard, 2022), it is promising to think that the many children who have never heard an old fairy tale will have a chance to hear these new ones. Bring on more, please! 

Ms. Ellis enhances the storytelling with her gouache color palette and the castle setting. The wall tapestries and the floor patterns give it a historical feel. Listeners will very much enjoy the meandering lists of names created for the queen as she tries her best to come up with Rumpelstiltskin. 

https://youtu.be/bIozA8_AdW8?si=-3wmgrpiq4_eJeZw

We Can Hear Without Ears: And Other Things You Didn't Know We Plants Could Do, written by Lisa Westberg Peters and illustrated by Danielle Ridolfi. Astra Young Readers, Penguin Random House. 2026. $25.99 ages 8 and up

 

"You think we plants do nothing -
just stand around all day with our
roots stuck in the ground. 

We’re like green lampposts, right?
Well! We’d like to set a few things straight."

It should be obvious to each one of us that we could not survive without plants. The conversation given over to the friendly, though at times a touch brusque, plant narrators here has much to teach readers about the role that plants play in life on the planet. Plants and people need many of the same things, starting with food. People are mostly able to get around to get the food needed, while plants like tulips have to make their own. They start with water from below ground, carbon dioxide from the air, and the sun's energy; all help to create the sugar they need to grow. It makes plants renewable energy machines ... quite the 'superpower', 

This conversational text provides easy to understand information for young readers. Added facts are placed on each double-page spread in a smaller font to further allow for more learning. If water is hard to find, plants use tricky business to find what they need. Like us, they need water to survive and they have many different ways to ensure they find it. Readers are then shown ways that plants know to defend themselves from their enemies and communicate one to the other. 

"Plants have even more senses than animals do. 
They need to be sensitive to their world because they 
can't run away if they are under stress. But plants don't
concentrate their senses in one place like a nose or an ear.
Their sensory parts are spread out all over their bodies -
leaves, stems, flowers and roots. If a deer nips off a leaf, or
a gopher chews on a root, it's not so bad. The plant has more." 

The mix of accurate facts and humorous material makes for a very engaging read while also providing new learning for many. The author advises that we must all be more attentive to the world around us and do our best to use more renewable energy if we want to live in a better world as we move into the future. Mixed-media artwork adds much appeal in colorful and detailed collages that cross multiple landscapes, and the brilliant plant life that lives alongside we humans who depend on it for our existence. 

We are all connected. 

We All Belong, written and illiustrated by Gianna Marino. Philomel, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Then Deer saw someone else. 

"That slender nose is similar to mine," said Deer. 
                   "It must be another deer!"

Fox looked at all the animals. 
"I am a fox," said Fox. 
"We are all similar 
in some ways.""

Ms. Marino's story of acceptance and understanding begins with a lonely mule. Mule no one around, until he hears a chittering sound. Noticing the ears poking out of the ground, Mule wonders if it might be another mule. Rabbit pops up to assure Mule though the ears are similar, these definitely belong to a rabbit. When Rabbit hears a new sound, she notes that the teeth look familiar. Beaver debunks her claim by announcing that he is not a rabbit, but a beaver. 

From one animal to the next, six animals are quick to note the similarities shared one to another. After Beaver, then Duck, Deer, and Fox. While chatting about the ways in which they are similar, a further animal provides a distraction for Mule. 

""WHO IS THAT?" said Mule."

A double-page spread introduces a large, brown, furry animal unknown to the rest. What they do know about the new arrival is the ears, teeth, feet, tail, and slender nose are decidedly different from their own. Bear agrees she is different from everyone, and wanders off to find someone like her. Mule quickly stops her to explain that, although the rest have one similar trait, there are many things about them that are not the same at all. 

As they study Bear carefully, they find many things to like: round ears, fluffy fur, big paws, and big eyes. In fact, they quite love Bear. They may look different from one another; they know they 'all belong'. 

This makes for a wonderful readaloud and is perfect for starting conversations with kids of all ages. The charming artwork is a lovely complement to the story's tone and offers lots of details for little ones to observe and enjoy. 
                                                                                        

Where I Grew, written by Jashar Awan and illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. Norton Young Readers, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"To reach this land

In search of the 
   perfect place 

To put down 
        our roots 

And call home."

Oh, the setting is so gorgeous. Endpapers are filled with a detailed look at the forest, its flora and fauna. Bright colors accompany forest greens to invite readers to turn the page to see what is next. A hook, hung with a soft cap and a tote bag suggest outdoor adventure. The title page shows the owner with a satchel, all alone on a gray day.

The opening page returns readers to the forest, and two people venturing in where animals leap and birds sing. The older of the two, presumably a grandparent, is wearing the hat and carrying the tote bag, while a young girl holds his arm. She explains 'we come from all over'. As they walk on, there is joy in their being together in the beauty of their natural surroundings.

As they explore their environment, she tells how people got to the place they are now. In the past, they needed transport, and help to arrive safely in search of a new home. This is where she grew daily, through the seasons, and the years that have passed. She is proud to talk about community, her neighbors and their growing families, and wonders what the future holds for all. 

"As for me, 

This is where 
       I grew.

This is 
where I 
will stay. 

This is 
my home."

Ms. Jomepour Bell’s wondrous illustrations reveal the slow passage of time. Observant listeners will take note of the many details, including the pink beret and glasses the now adult has been wearing since childhood and her grandfather's tote bag that she carries so closely.