Ripples, written and illustrated by Katie Yamasaki. Norton, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"My toes toast in the sun. 

We tend to the river. 

As we curve around a bend, the singsong
notes of "Happy Birthday" float past, 
mixing with birdsong high above
and our own voices, splashing in the river."

An overhead view of the river that flows into a large pond is pictured on the front endpaper, in verdant color that enhances the water and its surroundings. Along the shoreline, readers will notice a number of rafts with oars at the ready. The title page shows Aunty Koko and the child narrator donning life jackets and preparing to head out in one of the inflated rafts. It is a magical day.

As they paddle forward, they notice the sparkle of sun on the water and smell the wet earth on the shore. Beavers, butterflies and turtles are out sunning themselves in the warmth of the day. As they paddle further, they continue to take note of the wildlife, and of friends enjoying a wondrous day at the river's edge. Both happy noise and moments of peaceful quiet fill the air.

Soon, the two paddle onto the pond where the amount of trash increases. It becomes almost too much to handle. Luckily, the people they have met along the river arrive to lend a hand. Together they create the ripples that improve the health of this natural habitat. The art is brilliantly colorful, and in keeping with the work being done together to improve their shared environment. 
                                                                              

Ferris, written by Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 9 and up

 

"'This here is on the house in honor of all 
the words you have given to my son and 
his friend Ferris Wilkey.' Because I had 
told Pop about how you and me felt about
those Mielk words - that it was terrible to 
memorize them, but good to have them, 
and how, in the end, we felt grateful to 
her. I had told that to Pop." 

I do so hope that you are a Kate DiCamillo fan. If you are, you will be happy to have this new book in your hands as quickly as possible. If you are not, this is a perfect way to learn about her incomparable storytelling, and meet just some of her most memorable characters. 

Ferris has finished her year in fourth grade, and is spending the summer in the midst of circumstances that prove the beauty to be found in love. It starts with her family and her best friend, Billy Jackson. Her grandmother is happy to repeat the story of Emma Phineas Wilkey's birth, which fully explains why she is called Ferris. Ferris's family consists of her father, mother, little sister Pinky, and her grandmother Charisse. Her Uncle Ted is living with them at the present time after leaving his wife to work on a history of the world in the Wilkey basement. 

Billy Jackson is her constant companion and has been since kindergarten. Billy plays the piano incessantly, as he hears the music of the world at all times. Charisse, her beloved grandmother, is teacher and sage. She tells Ferris she sees an unhappy ghost at her bedroom door. Pinky, her little sister, is a cantankerous annoyance whose dream is to be an outlaw; she does her best to become one. Boomer, their dog, is an equally indispensable part of their family. 

Ferris and Billy just spent fourth grade with Mrs. Mielk, whose daily vocabulary lessons help Ferris make sense of the noteworthy summer moments. In her matchless way, Kate DiCamillo manages to engage readers with each of these singular characters and the magic that love brings when a person is open to it. It is a gift to all. 

Every good story is a love story. 

The Little Mermaid, by Jerry Pinkney. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2020. $23.99 ages 6 and up

 

"Just then, Melody felt a sharp tug on her tail. Her heart beat wildly, until she was greeted sternly by the sea turtle. Though Melody longed to speak to the girl on the shore, she knew she must obey her guardian and return to her kingdom."

Jerry Pinkney chooses tales he loves, and then makes them his own. In doing so, he recreates this classic tale with an emphasis on friendship and family. Melody is the youngest mermaid in her family. Her collection of artifacts from ships she finds below the surface elicit questions no one can answer. She longs to know more about the world above her ocean home. 

As one so young, she has a guardian turtle. One day she follows it to the world above and sees a young friendly girl on the nearby shore. She has a strong feeling that the girl might be the answer to her longing for a friend. When the Sea Witch offers to give her legs in exchange for her beautiful voice, Melody abandons all warnings she has heard concerning the hateful, ugly creature. In doing so, she forges a strong friendship with Zion, the young girl she had earlier seen. Only when Melody discovers that the witch is using her now powerful voice to attack the Sea King's domain does she realize the havoc she has released. 

Her friendship with Zion is strong, warm and lovely. Ultimately, it is Zion who convinces Melody to leave Zion's world, regain her voice, and make things right. With resilience and bravery, she returns to her ancestral home to challenge the Sea Witch, and bring peace and order back to her family and friends. 

Fans of this old story will find comfort in the telling. Admiration for Mr. Pinkney's artwork comes from the beauty found in the watercolors that fill the many spreads with brilliant color and amazing detail. Through careful observation, readers are fully cognizant of each of Melody's worlds. 

"You should never give up your voice, for anything."