Zoey's Cheer-me-up Chest, written by Anne Renaud and illustrated by Gabrielle Gimard. Peanut Butter Press, 2026.$19.95 ages 4 and up

"Their father eagerly 
unwrapped his gifts: 
a knitted scarf from Mathilda
and gingerbread cookies 
from Matthew.

Then it was Zoey's 
turn to give her father 
his birthday gift."

Twins Mathew and Mathilda are plenty excited and want to surprise their dad with a birthday breakfast. In the kitchen, they find Zoey, their little sister. Her gloomy face and grumpy attitude are related to her inability to make anything very special for him. Her siblings are full of praise for the card she has made; Zoey will not be comforted. Mathilda shares a memory from school that she thinks might make Zoey feel better. Both twins remember the fun they had making a cheer-me-up chest. 

Zoey loudly reminds them she is only in kindergarten and has no way of making the kind of box they are describing. Off she goes in a snit to explain her feelings to her teddy bear. As she talks, she begins to think seriously about all the things she CAN do. Though she can't do what her siblings do, she can make a cheer-me-up box full of drawings that refect her many accomplishments so far. 

The children wake their father with their gifts. Zoey has her card ready to give him. He praises her for her creativity, bringing a wide smile to Zoey's face. Before bedtime that evening, Zoey takes a careful look at all the drawings she made earlier to put in her cheer-m-up chest. Lovely ... and it workded!

Ms. Grimard’s gentle and appealing artwork complements the story, allowing readers to feel empathy for Zoey's dilemma while also watching as she works to create a personal chest of memories. 

Muriel and the Mystery, by Charlotte Parent. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Muriel suddenly feels like she is being watched. 

She walks more briskly than usual on the way home. 

Back at her burrow, she finds a mystery in her 
flower box!"  

Muriel lives a life governed by habits. She knows her forest home 'by heart', and her days are mostly spent foraging for snails. One morning, while on the lookout for her next snail, she lifts a leaf to notice a tiny mystery under it. Not to worry, Muriel is ready to press on. In the afternoon, on her way home, she is not thinking about the mystery at all; rather, she is thinking about the soup she will make for supper. 

After a pleasant evening, she retires to her bed for a good night's sleep and wakens to another normal morning. Off she goes in search of snails; again, she spies a mystery - bigger than the other. It gives her an eerie feeling of being watched. She hurries home where she spots yet another mystery.  And another ... and another. She sweeps each one out the door. In her anger, she steps outside only to discover mysteries everywhere she looks. Another surprise is the entrance to a tunnel she has not seen previously. She suspects it might house the mystery. 

Back home she goes. Her sleep disturbed by what has happened, she heads into the dark (not her habit) to return to the tunnel. Upon entrance she realizes she is right. In the darkness she shares a cup of tea, and once again returns home. After a deep sleep, she begins her day in the usual way. For the first time, she acknowledges the mystery with a warm 'hello'. Life goes on, as usual ... or does it? 

Fred Rex, written and illustrated by Joaquin Camp. Kids Can Press, 2026. $21.99 ages 5 and up

"Elvira had a good point. Fred Rex had
spent so much time roaring, he hadn't 
considered what else he might like to
do. It was time to try new things. He 
discovered he enjoyed dancing and 
meeting new people. 

And catching up with old friends."

Fred is a T-Rex whose mission in life is to frighten as many as he can. It is his calling, and he takes it seriously. He's following in his family's footsteps. His education at the School of Fear holds him in good stead for going out on his own to practice all he has learned. He enters the real world with anticipation for hearing plenty of screaming and causing much mayhem. 

None of his lessons are working; Fred is ignored by all. Meeting Elvira and telling his story, he is amenable to following her best advice. She suggests he find other ways to enjoy life. Fred soon realizes that he likes to dance and to meet new people. To his great surprise, he discovers a passion for the opera that leads to trying his hand at singing. 

Not wanting to disappoint his parents, Fred regales them with exactly what they want to hear from Fred Rex the Terrible. Soon, they call to let him know they are planning a visit to see him in action. What will Fred do? He turns to Elvira for further advice. She shares her plan with the cityfolk, who agree to cower in fear when Fred appears. Imagine everyone's surprise once Fred breaks out in song, evoking much admiration from all who hear him. 

Mixed-media illustrations are very appealing for those who love stories about dinosaurs. They will admire Fred's size, strength, and talents as he discovers for himself who he wants to be and what he wants to do with his life.

Duel, by Shawn Harris. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House, 2026. $27.99 ages 4 and up

"Then, from each castle came a crowd 
to cheer and hiss and jeer; to hip and 
hoop and woot. 

They sissed and boomed and bah'd, 
and they bibble-babble-booed.
(Legend also has it that they jibble-
jabbled, too.)"

Two castles on a hill, ruled by two queens who share that hill. Neither like the circumstances and decide that a duel shall determine the true ruler of the hill. Only their bravest knights will do battle. The knights prepare. Silk-clad steeds will carry them to victory. A noisy crowd gathers to shout their encouragement. Trumpets call for the duel to begin. Racing forward, they urge their trusty horses toward a loud and dangerous meeting. One knight wins for his queen. What she does as a result of that triumph is the stuff of fairy tales. 

That tells the tale in a nutshell. Yet, you have no idea until you actually have the book in your hands for the true brilliance of the telling. Shawn Harris has taken an art project idea from his kindergarten teacher to show each and every spread in mirror image, reflecting on the dilemma that begins with two queens and two castles on one hill. Using thick tempera and acrylic paints, the artist creates these images with precision and perfection. The strong colors and his ability to pair the tension of the reading with the action on the page ends with a final impressive "CLASH! CLANG! BANG! THUD." Just exactly what readers want from a duel. 

The ingenious solution following the win is a delight. There will be no end to the reading this book on repeat. This is exactly the book I would have read first with no illustrations shown, before reading it once more while showing the incredible artwork. Be sure you have paper and paints ready for students of any age to try their hands at blot painting themselves. Endpaper 'butterfly paintings' provide a clear and enticing invitation. 
                                                                                         

The New Girl: First Crush, written and illustrated by Cassandra Calin. Scholastic. 2026. $20.99 ages

"SLAM!

Are you hurt?

Quick! Help me up
before Julien sees. 

Nice to see you, 
everyone! Ca Va, Lia?

Julien! 
A-Allo ...  

I saw you fall. 
Are you okay?"

In this second The New Girl graphic novel, Lia is more comfortable in her new Montreal home. She has a loyal group of friends and her first year of learning French is helping her become fluent in a new language. She knows she must pass the class before she can move forward. Her life changes as she faces new challenges. 

She has a crush on Julien, who seems to return the feelings. Self-doubt has her worrying about the prettiest girl in her class who also seeks Julien's attention. When her friend Wan Yin comes out to her, Lia promises to keep her secret before accidently telling their friends. Wan Yin is angry and hurt, and breaks ties with her. Lia's mother is concerned about Lia's unusually severe period pain; the doctor declares it normal and suggests pain relievers. It is no solution to a real problem. Her workload at school is heavy, leaving Lia to worry about her grades and her future. 

Fans and new readers will appreciate Ms. Calin's digital artwork with its bold lines and emotional expressions. Lia and her friends are all learning through their experiences, despite making mistakes along the way. The story told is realistic and compelling, offering readers characters who support each other at school and at home. Lia is a great lead character who retains ties with her best friend in Romania, and turns to her to share what is happening in her life while also seeking advice when needed. There is drama, as would be expected; there is also an honest and ongoing attempt to find true and lasting friendships. Lia learns, with help from her family and friends, to believe in who she is and what she can accomplish with determination and understanding. 

Go, Crow, by Tjitske Kamphus. Random House Studio, Penguin Random House. 2026. $26.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Dawn breaks. 

A crow waits. 

The wind blows. 

Away she goes!"

Crow's day begins as the glow of sunrise colors the dark sky. Glow is the first presented word, and from there each turn of the page adds a new rhyming word that describes a day's adventure in this crow's life. The sun rises; the crow also rises up through the clouds when daylight suggests she 'go'. 

Through blowing winds, she makes her way over treetops to a farm where a variety of crops are grown. Her bird's-eye view encourages her to take it slow and take a careful look at all she can see alongside a tilled field. The lower she gets, the more aware she is of the farmer sowing seeds in furrowed rows. Keen eyesight offers a chance to land and pluck seeds from one of those rows, while the farmer gives chase. The crow has 'no' business stealing from that farmer's field. 

Into the sky she again goes and flies back the way she came ... straight to the tree that she left earlier in the day. What an eye-opening surprise readers experience as three tiny heads pop up with gaping beaks, eagerly awaiting their mother's return. Darkness finds the family tucked in, fed, and ready for a good night's sleep. Their day is done. 

Word choice and a willingness to bring a brilliant idea to her audience makes this a book to be savored each time it is read. Accompanied by splendid digital art which offers fluid lines and a bold setting, listeners will delight in scenes that capture attention through careful observation. 

What a treasure!                                                                                       

young cat, old cat, by Jillian Tamaki. Groundwood, 2026. $23.99 ages 3 and up

"playful cat

growing cat

nice cat 

naughty cat"

What an ingenious book Jillian Tamaki has created to tell the story of a cat's life, and its owner's love through the years. Using perfectly chosen adjectives to accompany her tale that begins with a tiny kitten, alone at a shelter, finding the small child there with her mother to find a new pet. Nose to nose, the child asks, 'be my cat?' The choice is made, the family travels home with a mewling cat in the car and all supplies needed to provide for it. Once home, the two begin a lifetime of being together through the years. 

Every spread chronicles the growth and love the two share; the child matures as the kitten does. Short phrases trace their life from adoption to the heartbreak of old age and the death of a beloved pet. The art is compelling and remarkable, using color choice to indicate playfulness, growth, old age, and  grief. Young readers are sure to respond to the cat while dreaming of all the things she thinks she can do, and of the aging process that takes the kitten from early exuberance to wobbly oldtimer. Final spreads show the girl waving goodbye as the car moves through a celestial world before a new shelter kitten is welcomed with great happiness. What a gorgeous and heartfelt story this is! 

I here share with you a note about the art journey Ms. Tamaki took to bring her story to full life. 

"The art for this book was created entirely by hand over the course of eighteen months. The fabric is both new and thrifted materials (in some cases, bedsheets) stretched on wooden frames. The paint is acrylic ink, embellished with crewel wool embroidery. Crewelwork was developed in England and is typically used for decorative furnishings; the Bayeux Tapestry is the oldest known example of the craft. The art was lit and photographed in the artist's studio in September 2025.".  

What a gift to all cat lovers who will read and share this book!