Goldfinches, writing by Mary Oliver and art by Melissa Sweet. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 5 and up

 

"One more thing
I want to mention 
before the pages
actually begin.
Writing poems
for me but not
necessarily for 
others, is a way 
of offering
praise to the 
world.

            - Mary Oliver"

This poem is but one example of Ms. Oliver's love for the natural world. It is the first shared in a book for children. In it she pays tribute to goldfinches, thistles, and their relationship, each to the other. While exploring open fields, a woman and her dog (presumably Mary) relish the beauty of their surroundings. There are goldfinches in the trees, and a marsh where brilliant pink thistles grow with wild abandon. It is said the finches are waiting for the long days of midsummer when the thistle head is filled with black seeds.  

Only then do the birds 'drop from the sky' to gather the silver down that explodes from those thistle seeds. How else to line their nests? Others join the woman and her dog to watch as the finches build a home for their carefully laid eggs. It happens every year. Once hatched, those tiny new birds fill their protective basket as parent birds provide food and safety. The woman sits against a tree with her dog, a pencil and her notebook, sketching and adding words that might someday become a new poem of praise to the world. 

What a perfect pairing to have the incredibly gifted artist Melissa Sweet illustrate Ms. Oliver's words. She does so in the most beautiful way; using watercolor, gouache, pencil, vintage and handmade papers, mixed media collage, thistle down, and a bird's nests. The compositions are skillfully placed on each page to ensure careful observation that invites all readers to stop and pay attention, as Ms. Oliver would want us to do the same anytime we spend time in nature. The text is clearly placed within uncluttered space for her words to shine. The palette of rich yellows and pinks is inherent in the goldfinch feathers and the richness of the thistle pods.  

It has the feel of the notebook an avid observer of nature's wonders would keep. The collages are lovely in every way; they showing setting, color, scientific information, nest building, a bird's life cycle, and the joy found in exploring nature. 

"Have you ever been so happy in your life?"

Back matter includes the full text of the poem, Ms. Oliver's bird list from 1991, and a valuable author's note. 
                                                                                       

Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe, written by Amy S. Hansen with Wanda Diaz Merced. Illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza. Charlesbridge, Penguin Random House. 2025. $22.99 ages 8 and up

 

"By high school Wanda knew she wanted to go 
to college. There wasn't much money, but her 
parents told her if she worked hard, she could 
study anything she wanted. 

Wanda wanted to understand the universe."

This picture book biography that introduces a young Puerto Rican girl who knew from the moment she saw her first meteor shower that she was destined to 'aim for the stars'. She had so many questions. When her family could not answer them, she was filled with wondering. Reading helped her learn; it did not answer many of her questions. 

Things were better in high school. She was able to study and find out more about the science she loved. When she was able to enrol in college, her interest in physics satisfied her thirst for knowledge. That is, until she lost he sight due to the diabetes she had lived with since childhood. Advice from her roommate had Wanda learning to live independently. But, how could she continue to study the stars, her forever dream?

Another friend Emilio came to her rescue, teaching her about radio waves from space. Unexpectedly, Wanda could hear the sound transform as Emilio continued explaining what was happening. Persistence and patience led her to a program at NASA, where:

"A computer turned data into sounds
like drumbeats and chimes. Wanda 
listened for patterns in the sounds. 
She was finally studying the stars!" 

She had to work differently than other scientists; much of her work resulted in the same conclusions.  Today, Wanda shares what she learned while pursuing her doctorate by explaining that science is for everyone. She proves it by inviting people to join her on a 'galactic audio tour'. She helps them hear what she hears and tells them the secret she heard in the stars that no one else had ever heard. What wondering! 

Back matter includes a glossary, a list of the Spanish terms (with pronunciation guide) for words used in the writing of Wanda's story. A note from Wanda is included about her path to listening to the universe, and another from Amy, her co-writer. Further information is provided about Radio JOVE, her work to become independent, Wanda's journey as a scientist, a list of resources and a selected bibliography. 

Fascinating and accessible for readers, and complemented by vibrant digital illustrations created by Ms. Mendoza, this is another of those picture books biographies that introduces someone readers may not be familiar with ... a woman facing almost incomprehensible odds to live her life pursuing her dreams. Well-known in the world of astrophysics, and for her advocacy for those who learn differently, Wanda is someone to greatly admire. Her story is well worth hearing.                                                                                   

How To Have A Thought: A Walk With Charles Darwin. Written by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Hadley Hooper. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House, 2026. $26.99 ages 5 and up

 

"Every living creature, even within the same 
species, is slightly different, Darwin realized. 
A difference that makes it easier to survive 
is a difference that a creature is more likely 
to pass on to its offspring, simply because it
has survived to have offspring. And so that 
slight difference gets preserved. 

Why did the finches have different beaks? 
Because each differently sized beak helped
crack a differently sized nut." 

What an intriguing look at Charles Darwin and his daily walks! His ability to think creatively is set out for readers in a series of actions taken as he begins each one. It starts with a rock. For the reader, it won't be Mr. Darwin's rock; it can be any one that appeals. One could even take a few (or more), or a box, or a jar ... anything will work. Next, a stick is needed. Again, not the one Mr. Darwin carries every day. Your choice. Finally, a loop. Mr. Darwin walked the same one every day. As he walked, he would knock one rock off the pile with his stick, and keep walking the loop over and over again, if he needed the time for thinking. 

There is much to know about Charles Darwin. He lived in England in the 19th century and was a naturalist and scientist. As a young man, he travelled around the world on a ship he called the Beagle. Upon his return to England, he set about studying all he had collected on his journey. There was much to remember and consider. Every day, from then on, he did the same thing. As he walked, he let his mind wander. If it was not much of a concern, it was a one-rock problem, and so on. The most important problem of all was about the trip he had taken, and the wonders he had seen. It lay in knowing all creatures are not exactly the same; there must be a reason for even these slight differences. In a book as creative as Charles Darwin's mind, readers are offered a final piece of advice: 

"Here is how to have a thought: 
Stack your rocks high. 
Hold your stick firm. 
Throw your loop over the land. 

And step." 

Wonderful text, written in a conversational tone with unconventional advice given, sitting alongside dazzling digital illustrations make this a book that suggests readers can be just as creative in their thinking as Charles Darwin was in his. Additional context and insight into Mr. Darwin's life and thoughts are provided in an extensive and welcome author's note.                                                                                            

Worm on the Job, written by Maureen Fergus and illustrated by Paul G. Hammond. Kids Can Press, 2026. $21.99 ages 4 and up

"Then he splatted against the 
front door of the convention 
center. Plopping to the ground,
he hastily stretched across the 
door frame. 

Seconds later, as the thief
was trying to make his 
escape, he tripped over 
Worm and went sprawling."

How often have you told yourself that you cannot do that. Or, have you heard your kids and students say the same thing? Confidence and persistence in the face of fear and uncertainty can make all the difference in the world. So, once Worm has finished reading every book in the library, he gives up his job as head librarian and makes the decision to take a new path. Lifeguarding is not for him; nor is deep-sea fishing. While washing windows, he grows concerned with the attention being paid to him by nearby pigeons. 

His hopes are raised when he notices the convention center is looking for a brave security guard to protect the incredible inventions being shown at the newest gathering of inventors. Many are interested in employment; none look anything like Worm. The manager is not impressed with Worm's appearance and says so. Worm's anger gets the best of him as he describes but one of the attributes that make him perfect for the job. 

""Can you survive being cut in half,
eat your own weight in soil every day, 
and turn kitchen scraps into valuable 
fertilizer?" asked Worm."

Worm gets his chance to prove his mettle; he does his job to the best of his ability.  Coming face-to-face with the dastardly criminal he is to be on the lookout for, Worm uses every trick in the book to take the crook down and hand him over to the police. What impressive work he has done; it wins him thankful praise. But ... by now, Worm has another goal to pursue. NASA won't be sorry to have such a capable and determined new astronaut recruit. Worm has every confidence in himself! 

So many details to consider in Paul G. Hammond's digital, humorous artwork. It perfectly accompanies this creative and very 'punny" story.                                                                                    

Hogbert, written and illustrated by Briony May Smith. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 3 and up

"Hogbert lifted his nose in the air
and took a big sniff. No wolf? 
He smelled leaves, sunny puddles, 
and in the distance ... 

a herd of deer?"

On their first foray into the forest with their mother, six boar piglets are offered important advice; they are told to steer clear of the Big Bad Wolf and to stick together as they forage for truffles and other treats on the forest floor. With his snout to the ground, Hogbert does just that. To his surprise, when he lifts his head from the prolonged search, he is all alone. 

Hearing a 'rustling' nearby, he remembers his mother's warning about the BBW. Before he has time to panic, Red, a small squirrel, pops down from the branches of a fir tree, on the lookout for nutritious food. Hogbert shares his worry about the wolf and explains that he is lost. At this point, young readers have another reminder of a familiar fairy tale, when the squirrel explains that her granny is not well and would love some of the food from the tasty treat trail Hogbert is following. 

The two wander on, good company for one another. A 'rumbling and grumbling' noise has both worrying once again about the presence of the BBW. Instead, they find a snoring fawn under a tree's branches. The tiny doe realizes she is also lost; she can use their help to find her family. They move on together, following the trail and enjoying each other's company until they discover a cave housing two tiny bunnies. One is the maker of the trail. A lonesome and too-close howl has all shaking with fear and moving deeper into the safety of the cave. With Hogbert's sense of smell, they find their way out at the spot right next to the tall tree Red remembered ... the assigned meeting place for finding family when all seems lost. 

And they lived happily ever after ... we can only hope. 

The warm and charming art will keep young listeners busy with observations during the reading. I especially loved the spread of a mama wolf howling for her little one above them, while Hogbert and his followers make their way through the cave below ground. This tale works and will be much appreciated at story time. Discussions concerning the many references to fairy tale lore will require that readers are familiar with the fairy tales themselves. 

An aside: did you happen to notice the 'frog prince' on a lily pad as the new friends pass a pond in the rain?           

Extreme Birdwatching: Measuring Change on a Galapagos Island, written by Loree Griffin Burns and illustrated by Jamie Green. mit Kids Press, Candlewick. Penguin Random House. $23.50 ages 8 and up

"What exactly do finches do all day?

The answer depends on what time of year it is. 
In the rainy season, the island comes alive 
with plants and insects, making it suddenly a 
rather excellent place to raise baby finches. 
So adult fortis and scandens get busy with the
hard work of doing that. They find mates, 
build nests, lay eggs, and then feed and care
for the baby finches that hatch from those 
eggs."

We have just begun to welcome the birds back. I have even seen a robin or two. An Alberta clipper, set to dump an unwanted amount of snow on us, is in the forecast. That may have those birds wondering what they are doing here ... as we so often do ourselves at this in-between time of year. Birdwatchers will continue to keep their eyes to the sky in coming days, in hopes returning birds will find places of refuge to wait out the storm and once again enjoy warm sunshine and spring temperatures. 

For Rosemary and Peter Grant, birdwatching is an entirely different kind of pursuit. The two spent decades researching the birds that make their home on the Island of Daphne in the Galapagos Islands. The thing about Daphne is that it is the top of an ancient volcano that is very hard to access if you want to study the thousands of finches that make their home there. Looking down on the inside of Daphne, there are no sandy beaches, and no humans live there. 

The Grants have been visiting the island since the 1970s, and have done amazing research time after time. Nine short chapters, written brilliantly by Loree Griffin Burns, discuss their work from the very first visits. They have carefully studied the two kinds of finches who make their home on Daphne, and nowhere else in the world. It is thoroughly absorbing description of the finches, the lives they live there, the food they eat and how that has impacted the changes they have undergone, and what happened when an unexpected drought forced adaptation in their beaks. There is also a clear discussion in one of the final chapters of natural selection, and finally how their research helps guide today's scientists as they further explore natural selection today. Though the Grants have been retired since 2012, their work on Daphne lives on.

Back matter includes an author's note, a glossary, several lists of resources for those who want to learn more, a list of source notes, and a bibliography. Very impressive and perfect for the stated target audience. 

Hold, written by Randy Ribay and illustrated by Zeke Pena. Kokila, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"HOLD, PLEASE.

       "HOLD?"

HOLD."

What a concept! I will be forever amazed at the ideas talented writers think to share with readers. The game that happens between father and toddler in this very funny book is not the first time that such a thing has happened. Randy Ribay makes it feel absolutely original, and therefore captivating. 

The two are obviously preparing to go somewhere: both are wearing coats and shoes; the father is readying a backpack; the child is shadow-watching. A water bottle lies on the floor nearby. The backpack flap flies open spilling needed items on the floor. The father hands the bottle over with a HOLD, PLEASE request. The child does so, adding a further request to hold a stuffed sloth, appropriately named Speedy. Clearly a touch exasperated, the dad agrees while also dealing with other items. Next up is Dino, and so it goes until a leery cat is added to the pile. You can hear the giggles, can't you? 

Once outside the requests continue ... a tree, rain, a plane flying high above them. There are even more. Back into the house they go where Dad finds a plane, a truck and a baby to be held tightly. Overwhelmed, the child can no longer control the ever-growing tower. Dad resets the tower and asks about readiness to leave. The heartwarming answer is to throw it all aside with a singular wish to hold Daddy! Only now are the two ready for their adventure together. 

Zeke Pena's mixed-media artwork is a perfect match for the charm that shines in the eyes of the characters. Attention is fully focused on the two as they negotiate getting out the door, with or without a menagerie of companions. The colors are bold, the expressions telling, and the joy shared make for a lasting memory and a very happy ending.