Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children, written by Mac Barnett. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2026. $26.00

 

"The children's writer must have the same talents
that all writers, in varying amounts, possess - control
of language, a sense of rhythm and pace, appreciation 
of beauty, a knack for character, a strong point of view - 
and, on top of all that, the ability to connect with kids. 
It's this last skill that's most mysterious. We know what
makes a writer good, but what makes someone good at 
writing for children?

All the great children's writers I've met have had either
a direct line to their own childhood or a deep sympathy
with actual kids. Some have both."

This essay collection celebrates children and all the smarts they bring to the books they hear and read. Mac Barnett wants children to see books that speak to who they are, not who or what they should be. He doesn't see books that are written from an adult perspective as important to the reading lives of children; rather, he wants their books to fuel their imaginations and offer fantastic stories that entertain and require thinking on their part. He loves and honors their genius, and wants them to have books that give their lives meaning. 

He suggests that there are good books for bad children, and bad books for good children. Only by sharing them, and listening to the children as you do, do adults learn about their reasoning and the joy that books bring. Great books should contribute to their social development. This book reads like a welcome conversation between friends, and offers plenty of opportunities to take the time to stop to think carefully about what he is saying. Panning didactic literature as having value only to "the adults who buy them and who find themselves flattered, and their rules reinforced, in the books’ pages.” I positively agree with that sentiment, having read hundreds of books to children and watched their reactions to some bad books. Their enthusiasm is non-existent and the brave ones will ask: 'is that really a book!?' Assuring them that it looks like a book, they are quite certain it doesn't talk like a book. Astute, indeed. 

“Since the invention of the printing press, children’s books have been a battleground between those who want to tell kids what to do and those who want to tell them stories.” 

Mac Barnett is a storyteller. His personal anecdotes here prove that. His goal, through these essays, is to convince those who read this important and significant book to grace kids with joy in their reading. I love it! 

What was your favorite book as a child? Why do you remember it so vividly? 

Houdini's Library: How Books Created the World's Greatest Magician, written by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mar Delmar. Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 8 and up

 

"He never failed to escape. 

And he never failed to shop for books. 
Harry wandered antiquarian bookshops
in London. He browsed bouquinistes in 
Paris. Harry tracked down retired 
magicians, bought entire collections - 
pounds of posters, prints, and playbills.
Crates of books, thick and thin, small 
and tall, older and newer."

Harry Houdini was only four years old when he and his Hungarian family emigrated to the United States for a better life. His name was immediately changed from Erik Weisz to Ehrich Weiss; his family affectionately called him Ehrie. Settling in Wisconsin, it didn't take long before his father lost his job, and the family was forced to make their first move of many. His father arrived with an extensive book collection. Ehrie loves those books. 

After his father lost yet another job, the children had to quit school and find what work they could to help support the family. There was little money; Harry's father was forced to sell his books in support of his family. Ehrie was distraught and lost without them; he worked at tedious factory jobs to help put food on the table. In his free hours, he explored used bookstores. 

He found a book on magic and began to dream of a different life. He changed his name, in honor of the book's author, and his life's path. He studied magic for endless hours and bought as many books about magic as he could possibly find. It was the beginning of a long and famous life, along with his wife Bess and the books he continued to collect at every opportunity. He spent endless hours reading, eventually owning close to 15, 000 books in his library in Harlem and hiring his own librarian.  

While there ae many books to read about Houdini and his magic, this book by the brilliant Barb Rosenstock focuses on the reading that assured his success. It was a passion that lasted his entire life; books were how he learned to be the famous magician he became. It conveys an important lesson to readers about making the effort to keep trying to do something really well. 

The noteworthy illustrations were created using cut paper, acrylic, gouache, and glue. The collages, dioramas, and gouache paintings offer a cohesive and bold setting for this story that is indicative of the many successes experienced by Harry in his lifetime. Harry's love for books and reading is evident on almost every page. An illustrator's note in back matter explains the lengths she went to in the year and a half she spent creating Harry's world and his library, which is a true masterpiece. It is fascinating stuff, to be sure. 

In her author's note, Ms. Rosenstock adds further details concerning the library and what happened to it following Harry's death.     

"Books are Harry's greatest escape. They spark imagination. 

They bring the past to life. 

They make home feel like home."                                                                              

How To Read a Very Serious Book, written by Mireille Messier and illustrated by Kelly Collier. Owlkids, 2026. $22.95 ages 4 and up

"Next, make sure to choose 
a place where other people 
will see you. They will be 
IMPRESSED! Buses, 
libraries, schoolyards, and 
parks are fantastic spots to 
be seen reading a serious 
book."

Readers open the first page to find two children; both engaged with the book each is reading. The covers are a gray tone, without any illustrations to invite a reader in. An unseen narrator is quick to opine that both books look BORING and HO-HUM. Questioning the readers about number of words and text size, the answers given are worthy of a hearty compliment. 

"Well then! You are OBVIOUSLY reading some VERY SERIOUS BOOKS!
You should be proud."

Wanting the readers to show the world the earnest nature of the books being read, the narrator is willing to provide instructions. A stick-on mustache, glasses on the nose tip, and a pencil behind the ear should be remarkably convincing. The place for reading is also important ... a bus, the library, a schoolyard and a park are perfect choices. Be sure the nose is tucked inside, and try to show how invested a person can be in what is being read. Flip to each new page with a sweep of the hand. 

Every child in the park is sure to notice the attention being paid to the reading, and to the laughter and exclamations for what the book is teaching. When the books are done, it's important to think about what has been read: time for a spot of tea to help with that 'pondering'.  Then it's right back to the reading until a pair of rambunctious squirrels create chaos and reveal what the children have hidden inside the boring, gray covers. Their serious enjoyment of the books shown is evident, as is so for the narrator who happily joins them on their picnic blanket. 

Kelly Collier fills the pages with graphic style panels in a book that pokes fun at those who think only serious books are what children should be reading. In fact, the final spread shows that kids should be reading what leaves them keen to read another. 

The Rare Bird, written and illustrated by Elisha Cooper. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2026. $25.99 ages 3 and up

"When the day opened up and he was left 
on his own, the Rare Bird explored the corners
of his forest home. 

He caught a worm,

                               and another. 

He found bugs and hid them 
among the flowers for later. 

Flitted here

               flitted there."

Have you ever considered what cats might imagine when left to their own devices? I have not; luckily for those who see and share this book, Elisha Cooper has done exactly that. In fact, his cat shows a decided interest in a book about marine life on the title page! That is not the only reading matter to spark interest. Birds and trees also capture attention. 

A decision is made. A flight through the forest and over the trees is front of mind. In the reality of this cat's existence, readers can see that his experience in the forest is matched by quite normal household actions: swinging on the draperies, checking out slippers, rolling in a blanket, splashing in the shower, and using the toilet for a bath and a drink. Flying across that whole world brings great joy. 

A rock the cat lands on is the dog, the song sung has everyone paying attention, food is eaten, a quick bath is taken in a basin, and a nest made in a cardboard box. All that hard work leads to the need for a rest. The cat considers previous stories heard in thinking about the world outside, and settles by the window to sleep and dream. What wonder in a dream of being a small white bird that follows two bluebirds as they settle in a nest together. Upon waking, the cat stretches its wings and continues with the day. In the evening, the cat settles in with a reader and the dog to hear amazing tales of other animals of the world. 

"And he became an elephant. 

A small and sleepy elephant, lying on top of a patient hippopotamus.
As they lay there together, the Extraordinary Elephant closed his eyes
and listened, dreaming about his wild home, 

which he could explore tomorrow."

I share a love for dual narratives with young children, who hear the story being told while it shows a totally different story in signature watercolor images from the very talented Mr. Cooper. The book begs for careful consideration of every image and spread, and will be requested for reading multiple times. Well deserved, to be sure.                                                                                              

                                                                                    

Mouse and His Dog, written by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. Illustrated by Wallace West. Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2024. $12.99 ages 8 and up

 

"I'm an expert at hiding. All mice are, so there 
was no way she'd spotted me. But the fact that 
she'd ask about me was terrifying. 
And thrilling. 
I didn't want to be seen, and yet I was surprised 
how good it felt to be recognized."

Chelsea was right! The Dogtown books are great. It took me no time at all to get back to reading after I had finished the first one. Because things can change so rapidly in dog shelters - and Mouse lost his first best friend Chance to his forever family - he finds a new, and unlikely, pal to champion for adoption. Buster is a force to be reckoned with, beloved when first met and unable to control his actions wherever he is. He is often returned to Dogtown for the mischief he attracts. 

Mouse knows Buster has a good heart. He feels the same about Stewie, a huge dog whose owner drops him off with the warning that he is mean. It is untrue and Mouse knows it. Last, but not least, there is Smokey, another robot dog. Smokey's problem is having a smoke alarm he cannot control. Imagine the distress that can cause. How on earth will a tiny Mouse find the perfect home for his three 'unadoptable' friends?

Short chapters, plenty of action, appealing characters, terrific descriptions, and a familiarity that comes with reading the first book and loving it, augers well for any interested reader to move forward to the next as Chelsea did. She already has her eye on Book 3, due for release in September. 

Outside In and Inside Out: a story about Arnold Lobel. Written and illustrated by Emmy Kastner. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 5 and up

 

"He listened. 
He watched everything. 
And Arnold read a lot. 

It was a downhill sprint to the library. 
Then back home, uphill, with five new 
books that were his for two weeks. 

What were his favorite stories?
The ones that made him laugh."

A most inventive beginning line for a picture book biography starts not with a birth date, but with 'a boy and a pair of wet socks'. Promising readers that they may find within its pages a bit of a different take on sharing a famous author's life. That pair of wet socks led to a severe illness for the young boy, and hospitalization for many months.

Following his recovery, Arnold entertained his classmates with his stories and the worlds he imagined through his art while in recovery. Impressed in the beginning, the children soon tired of those stories and Arnold became an outsider, which can be a very hard thing to be. He did like watching and listening, and reading a lot of books. They provided inspiration for the young boy that led to a fairly absurd collection of items as an adult. He loved those silly things; still, he was determined to live out his hopes and dreams through his writing. He lived life as he wanted to live it, with a wife named Anita, also an artist. Working in the business world was not fulfilling. He quit. 

"With brushes, his paints, and a pen, 
Arnold Lobel set out to find his way
as a professional daydreamer."

The works he created for himself, his own children, and the many children who loved them, were not always easy for him. They were stories of himself and his life and the observations made every day. Then came Frog and Toad, award-winning, perpetually loved, and truthful in their interpretation of true friendship. 

"In his books, 
the inside came out
and the outside came in." 

In later years when Arnold was terminally ill, he made the decision to spend his final days making 'his very last book in a very clever way'. Look for The Turnaround Wind at your public library or a used book store. 

In a letter to her readers, Emmy Kastner makes clear her admiration of and love for Arnold Lobel, the storyteller, the artist, the family man, and writer who showed us his world from both the outside in and the inside out. It is one of my favorite books of 2025, and a spectacular picture book biography. 

P.S. Check back and find Arnold's signature easter eggs hidden on every page. 
                                                                                   

The Day The Books Disappeared, written by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard and illustrated by Dan Santat. Disney*Hyperion, Penguin Random House. 2025. $25.99 ages 4 and up

"Arnold tried everything. 
"I wish all the books would reappear. 
Except for the submarine one."

"ALAKAZAM!"

He even tossed a penny into the 
classroom frog tank. 

Nothing worked. 
What had he done?"

Arnold has a very difficult time finding that his classmates are interested in books about tomatoes and ostriches; Arnold's full attention is given to his favorite book, The History of Flight. He has learned a great deal about propellers, wings, even landing gear. He is sure his friends would be fascinated if they gave his book a chance. He is perturbed at Naomi's passion for submarines. They are the polar opposite of everything he loves. 

As he looks around the classroom, he becomes more irritated and buries his head deeper into learning as much as he can about planes and flight. He even whispers about getting rid of the tomato books. To Laila's surprise her book disappears. Arnold did not see that happen. Next, his wish includes ostrich books and POOF! one disappears from Milo's hands. 

"Who needed those other books anyway? 
Arnold was flipping and flying, 
ooooohing and ahhhhhing. 
He could practically feel 
himself lifting off!"

His wishes eliminate every kind of book, but the ones about flying and submarines. One more wish; in quick time, all books in his classroom disappear. Arnold sees what he has done. What a disaster! Arnold does his level best to restore order. It is not to be. When he apologizes to Laila for the missing tomato book, and she tells him it reminds her of her amah, the book reappears to Laila's great delight. As he visits with his friends to talk about their books, the strangest thing happens; the books reappear. 

Now, everyone can spend time together reading their favorite books. Who doesn't love that? 

Dan Santat does what he does so well with digitally colored ink drawings, filling the pages with color, perspective, and humor. I like the change in color that happens when things go from the real to the imagined. Be sure to check under the jacket cover and take close note of opening endpapers.

This book points to the importance of reading in our lives, and how we make connections through sharing them. 

Book Comes Home: A Banned Book's Journey, written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Micah Player. Random House, 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"That someone carried Book 
through one door
and then another. 
All the way to a closet 
in the back of the library. 

Book was slid into a different spot, 
on a different shelf. 
The lights were turned off. 
The door was closed. 
Book was alone.

At least that's what she thought."

Book is very happy with life in the library. She spends her days with friends on the library shelf, and is excited to be loved and borrowed by many children. She has a place of importance once returned, where she waits for the next child to take her home. That all changes one day; she is not replaced on the library shelf from the return box. Instead, someone picks her up and puts her at the back of the library in darkness. 

Thinking she is alone, Book is surprised to hear the voices of other books. They explain that Book is now part of the Banned Book Closet, and suggest the reasons for why they are all there.

""Someone didn't like me."

"They thought I was too scary."

"They said kids wouldn't understand me."

"They worried I might make people think.""

It is a dreary and sad place to be. The days pass slowly as Book wonders about her best reader friend who loves her so much. Young readers learn, on the following spread, that a lot is happening. The children are making posters in protest, and talking about how they feel about books being banned. It isn't long until she and her friend are reunited. Others enter the Banned Book Closet to find their own favorites and return them to the library shelves. 

A happy ending that is not always the case in these trying times. Book banning is not new, and will not go away. Children will appreciate knowing that they can have a say when it comes to what they read. 

Here Is A Book, written and illustrated by Elisha Cooper. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025. $23.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Over here is the artist's studio overflowing 
with papers, pencils, watercolors, brushes, 
sketches, drafts, a wastebasket, a light, a 
desk, a chair, music, tea, days, nights, art,
and wonder."

There has never been an Elisha Cooper book I did not love! He is just brilliant at creating books to savor for all that he includes in his stories and illustrations. He does that same thing again in this one, as he pays homage to picture books in a way that takes readers from the flicker of an idea in the artist's head to a book in their hands. 

He sets the mood immediately with an introductory image of a solitary house beneath a mostly cloudy night sky. A turn of the page shows that same house on a double page spread that shows it in early morning light, and its setting on a wide expanse at the edge of water. Someone is looking out over the water, sketchbook in hand. The title page brings readers closer to the artist's hands, the sketchbook, and the sky full of clouds being sketched. 

As the artist sits and looks, a variety of images emerge as ideas. The garden offers produce to be taken in to the house. A close look at the kitchen where food is prepared, the artist' studio where materials needed provide a chance to work and rest and work again. Once the work is done, she pedals her bike to a seaside town where she leaves her art at her publisher's office. 

Her work is done, and the next part of the process is handled from layout to printing. A truck transports the finished copies through rural wonder to the streets of an urban center where the books are delivered to a school for its library and the children who use it. Finally, one student takes the book home to be share with family, and independently for days to come. 

A facing page to the final spread shows the child reading said book, while surrounded by reminders of other favorites from past encounters. In the end, a sketchbook in that child's hands shows promise for the making of a new book. Don't pass up checking under the dustjacket to see what is there. 

"Here is a book. Look. It is made with care, 
warmth, color, rhythm, teamwork, time, 
beauty, adventure, grit, inspiration, curiosity, 
action, structure, humor, wonder, and love."

Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers's Rights. Edited by Ashley Hope Perez and illustrated by Debbie Fong. Holiday House, Penguin Random House. 2025. $26.99 ages 14 and up

 

"60% of the 1000 book challenges were 
submitted by just 11 people. One man 
alone was responsible for 92 challenges. 

These 11 people seem to have made 
submitting copy-cat book challenges 
their full-time hobby. Their opinions 
are having an outsize ripple effect 
across the nation. 

WE NEED TO MAKE THE VOICES
SUPPORTING DIVERSE BOOKS 
AND OPPOSING BOOK BANS 
EVEN LOUDER."

This is a valuable and impressive resource for young adults wanting to explore book bans, why they are happening, and how challenges can be effective in having them reversed. The entries are edited by Ashley Hope Perez who knows a lot about the subject as her book Out of Darkness is often banned in the United States. In this carefully curated collection, award-winning authors and illustrators have contributed personal thoughts on the subject. They are written as essays, poems, graphic art, and story. They have an impact for readers. 

The introduction provides alarming statistics concerning bans at both state and school levels. Documents from 2021 to 2023 show 'a total of 5,894 book bans across 41 states and 247 public school districts. These book bans restricted access to the work of 2,598 authors, illustrators, and translators.' That number is on the rise. This book was created to say NO to the book banning that is impacting young people across America. 

Debbie Fong has provided a portrait of each of the sixteen artists prior to their contribution to the whole. A brief bio is also added. Readers will find the works both appealing and thought-provoking. Often moving and full of heart, they evoke compassion for their personal experiences. For those wanting to know more, they are numerous suggested resources for follow-up learning on a variety of weighty topics. A Teen-To-Do List to Fight Book Bans suggests ways for readers to get involved in having their opinions, considering this is something that so directly affects them. There is a lot at stake and these entries offers tools needed to have a say in their right to read what they choose. Ms. Perez also introduces teens who are making a difference in their own way to fight book banning where they live. 

The authors discuss how what happened when they were younger has impacted their writing today, and they encourage their readers to take up the fight for freedom to read. Ample resources offer extensive lists of banned books. 

"Knowledge is power. And that is what they fear. Regardless of your upbringing, of where you live, or how you're otherwise pigeonholed, you'll find the knowledge you need in books. "  Ellen Hopkins, 2025.

Dear Bookstore, written by Emily Arrow and illustrated by Genevieve Godbout. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.50 ages 3 and up

 

"On my next visit, I brought a friend. 

The bookseller gave us a big smile and a big book. 

"Do you believe in magic?" my friend asked. 
"Because I think this place is full of magic." 

And she was right!"

The little girl who narrates this praise for bookstores has my heart. We share a love of the comfort books bring and the connections books make in our lives. Lead me a soft chair in a well-stocked bookstore and I am there for the long haul. 

In her letter to the bookstore, she recalls her first visit and what happened as she walked through the front door. There was a pup to make her feel welcome, books for her to read, and a 'big cuddly chair' to hold her close as she read quietly. She had found her happy place. It was not her only visit. The next time she brought a friend, and met a bookseller who helped them see that this place was filled with magic. What more could two friends want? The next time, the bookseller met her at the door, made her feel welcome, and asked what she would like to see. 

"That day, I was looking 
for some twinkle ... 

But the next time, 
I wanted a mystery ... 

or an adventure!"

She found them all. Every time after, she saw how all visitors were finding exactly what they were looking for ... no matter what the request. The years flew by as she continued to visit. She gives the bookstore credit for changing her life, and for so many other reasons as it has done for countless others. When bookstores began closing because most people weren't reading books anymore, she ran back to check on her favorite one in a panic. Luckily it was the same as it had ever been!

In a note to readers, Emily Arrow explains her love for Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee. The shop was her inspiration for a song, and for this book. She includes a QR code for readers who want to hear the lyrics. Genevieve Godbout created the magic of the store in pastel, colored pencil, and gouache. The warmth and comfort are evident throughout, and she illuminates the magic those books contain for all readers who visit. 

Ruthie Rose's BIG IDEA, words by John Schu and illustrations by Holly Hatam. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2025. $23.99 ages 4 and up

 

"An idea she cannot wait to share with ... 

Ms. Alexandria, 
           a book-talking, 
                   idea-loving librarian. 

Together, they'll find the perfect space to put
Ruthie Rose's idea in place." 

Ruthie Rose begins her day with an idea in her head she can barely wait to share. She knows the people at school she needs to see as soon as she gets there. The librarian is first, and agrees to find the perfect place for Ruthie Rose's fascinating idea. Next, she talks with the art teacher, who supplies 'paper, paints, and plenty of pizzazz' for making that space inviting and exciting for all. Her own teacher loves ideas, and she helps Ruthie Rose list all the materials needed in the new space to make sure the idea thrives. Finally, it's up to her friends who love poetry and reading as much as she does to gather students throughout the school to visit The Poetry Place. They will soon learn it is a destination for POETS, POETRY, and POSSIBILITIES! What more can one small girl ask? 

Digital images burst with bold color and movement as the idea fires up great excitement. Filled with lines from poems, it follows Ruthie Rose from the onset of the project to the culmination. Wherever she goes, it sparks interest and community. A final scene from the Poetry Place shows readers and writers busy and productive, with bookshelves lining the walls, tables, chairs and comfy spots for working, and a Poetree for displaying student work. What fun! 
                                                                                     

The World of Maxime, written by Lucile de Peslouan and illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn. Aldana Libros, Greystone Kids. 2025. $24.95 ages 7 and up

"But Matilda is a book. It's not real life. 
The proof of that is when Maxime's mother 
comes into her room and says, "There's 
school tomorrow. It's time to brush your teeth."

But Maxime doesn't want to brush her teeth. 
What she wants to do is read. So when she 
comes back from the bathroom she hides under
her covers with her favorite book."

What an engaging introduction to a young girl named Maxime. She is ten, and loves books and cats. That is about all you need to know to really enjoy her story. Oh, her cat's name is Turmeric. There are some things she doesn't like much: bedtime, adult talk, brushing her teeth, accepting a kiss from Uncle Martin, and hurrying are a few. 

Mostly, she wants to be left alone to read whenever and wherever. Her favorite book is MATILDA by Roald Dahl; she feels like the two of them have a lot in common. The adults in her life hold sway for what she should be doing, and always have rules for behavior and how she spends her time. They even suggest the books she should be reading. 

"That's a crazy idea because no one likes the things
they are forced to do. The proof is that Maxime, who
loves books more than anything, can't stand required 
reading."

When the teacher asks her students what they want to do with their lives, Maxime is quick to consider that she wants to read every book on earth, to cuddle Turmeric, and to play with him as much as possible. And then maybe have a friend. That friend will need to have similar interests and wants. Walking home one day, Maxime notices dishes full of cat food placed at strategic places along the lane. The next morning the dishes are empty! What is happening here? It calls for investigation. Solving the mystery requires careful attention to detail. She will be ready tomorrow.

Tomorrow dawns free and clear of her mother's attention, and Maxime is off to ply her trade. She and Turmeric visit with the neighborhood felines, while also checking on the food dishes. Only when she sees something on a bike does she watch as an older woman arrives. Maxime realizes she has unearthed the culprit. The old woman is not impressed with Maxime's interrogation, and scares the young girl. 

After getting to know each other better, the two agree to meet in the afternoon and Catmamou will show Maxime the stray cats she cares for because no one will. It is quite the education. They teach what the other doesn't know. It is a splendid friendship. Catmamou even offers advice to Maxime about how she might approach a new girl at school.

"Open your heart, Maxime. Don't be scared.
Don't be like me. Make an effort. Friendship
doesn't hang around, waiting."

The time comes when Catmamou must move on to help other needy cats. She leaves with a promise that she will return for a visit. Maxime spends the evening following that sad goodbye writing a paper that explains to her teacher what she wants to do with her life in the future. Brava, Maxime!

This will be the first book I share with my granddaughters after their arrival in June. It is brilliant, and has so much to offer that will appeal to them. It reads like a graphic novel for the world that is created in both text and illustration. There is much to see, and a world of comfort created in the friendship between the young girl and the older woman. Readers will pore over the artwork, enamored of all it has to offer in the telling. Getting to know these characters is filled with affection and understanding. The more often I read, the more I see and feel.                                                                                       

Octavio and His Glasses, written and illustrated by Marc Gonzalez Rossell. Translation by Susan Ouriou. Kids Can Press, 2025. $23.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Now, with the just dim glow
from his lamp ... 

... he can experience things 
in the dark that he couldn't 
before."

A pointer lands on the capital E at the top of the eye chart. Readers who have visited an optometrist will recognize the test being administered. A turn of the page, and they learn that a young boy named Octavio has been struggling with his sight for some time. Today is the day that will change. 

The many options shown for new glasses are quickly rejected for a pair that are round, big, and rimmed in black. What a difference for Octavio! He can see things from great distances (including an alien speaking an alien language), and things close up (an ant on the ground in front of him). He sees things he has never seen before ... and it's all so clear. 

That's in the light. What will it be like when it's dark? His bedroom lamp helps him see what he has never seen. They are the good and bad in a world that is brand new to him ... in the countless stories he is now able to read. Even when he takes off his glasses and turns off the light, he uses his awakened imagination to discover so much more. What power is unleashed through story! 

Emotions are conveyed in his eyes, letting readers know how he is feeling before having the glasses and once he is wearing them. Young readers are sure to want to read this book on repeat, paying careful attention to all that is shown on its pages. 

Let's Be Bees! Written and illustrated by Shawn Harris. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House. 2025. $25.99 ages 2 and up

"I'll be wind. I'll WAIL.

You be rain. You PATTER. 

I'll be waves. I'll CRASH!

You be lightning. You THUNDER!

I so wish I had a toddler in the house; if so, I could read this book out loud without feeling ridiculous. So, I will continue to feel that way for the not being able to read this book in my head. It's far too enjoyable for that. 

It opens with an adult reading this very book to a little one sitting at his side. They begin with buzzing as happens when reading about bees! A loud BUZZ has bees popping up through their collars in happy surprise. Turn the page, and they are birds. Not just birds; chitty, chatty birds that love to CHIRP!

I hope you can feel the fun as they rustle like trees, and make all the sounds of a passing storm. Or when they adapt the peaceful quiet of a snow-filled wonderland. It engenders a big surprise. Concluding spreads encourage echoing the sounds that animals make. In the end, the little one and other listeners are asked to make the sounds of Earth ... all together and all at once! 

The ending is a lovely surprise, and will be a delight to all those listening in. 

 

Bright crayon illustrations grace the endpapers and every other spread in this wondrous readaloud for little ones. It encourages mimicry, noisemaking, and joining with an adult in a fun-filled exploration of imagination and sound. Comical crayon illustrations set the tone for a boisterous game of pretend and its noisy cacophony. Is it possible to make a realistic sound for every creature and image found on the captivating endpapers. Once started, where will the fun end? 

Orson and the World's Loudest Library, written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson. Astra Young Readers, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"At first, the quiet makes Orson feel better. 
Now he can read his book. 

Except ... 

... instead of focusing on the page, 
Orson's eyes are drawn to the window. 
Nobody is making noise ... but nobody 
is reading either."

Orson needs all of his favorite places to have books. Those rooms in the house include his bedroom, the kitchen, and his playroom. Anyone who loves books as he does will completely understand. As well as the place, Orson also loves the quiet. 

Since the Grand Reopening at the public library, there has been an alarming change. It is always filled with people ... and noise! That is not music to Orson's ears. Parents are reading with their kids, the librarian is reading to a small group, couples are reading together, books are being exchanged, and some kids are reading out loud to themselves. It's too much for a small bookworm to handle! 

When he asks Ms. Lana to control the noise, she offers ideas for Orson to get involved in the various activities that are bothering him. Maybe he could read to the child who is making words with alphabet letters, or sit and share the comic that a little girl is reading. Orson wants the talking shushed. If Ms. Lana won't do it, then Orson will do it himself. His shushing works. He loves the quiet that envelops the library. It doesn't take him long to notice that now there is no happy laughter, no animated conversation, and NO reading. 

"It's time to
un-shush the library!"

Night Light, written and illustrated by Michael Emberley. Holiday House, Penguin Random House. 2025. $20.49 ages 3 and up

 

"How is that?

Too bright!

You're right. 
Here. 

Better?"

The main characters are clad in pajamas, and wearing bright noses and hats with pointy ears to match the pjs. They are preparing for bed by looking for books to read together. (I love that the last one chosen is Go Away, Big Green Monster, written by Michael's father Ed in 1993 and one of my all time favorites to read to kids). 

Once settled in bed, the reading begins. All too soon, a blackout makes it impossible to continue. What will they do? A flashlight makes a difference for mere moments as its batteries are dying and the light is fading. A long ladder will work for climbing out into the sky to capture as many stars as possible. Whoa! Now it's too bright. Sunglasses help with the shine, and the reading continues until the last book is read. 

While settling in for sleep, the little one hears sobbing coming from outside his window. It's the moon lamenting the darkness created when the stars disappeared. What to do? Easy peasy ... gather them up and send them back to the sky. Wait! Now, it's too dark inside again. Taking the one star left in the bag, two pillows and blankets, Papa implements the perfect plan. 

Using minimal text and artwork filled with warmth and charm, Michael Emberley has created another winner for emerging readers. What an adventure! If this sounds like a book you would like to share with your favorite beginning reader and want more like it, check the library for I Did It! (Holiday House, 2022) and Let's Go! (Holiday House, 2024).

Clara and the Man with Books in HIs Window, written by Maria Teresa Andruetto and illustrated by MarinaTrach. Translated by Elisa Amado. Aldana Libros. Greystone Kids. 2025. $24.95 ages 5 and up

"The man leaves the money outside the door,
under the mat. 

He never goes out. 

He always stays inside." 

Opening scenes show dwellings, horses, trees. A reader's attention is drawn to the house with the red roof, where a woman is doing laundry while a young child runs toward her. As the mother scrubs, the child plays nearby in the dirt with a stick. Once done, the laundry is piled in a basket and the child is sent to deliver it to the man in the big house. Her mother's instructions ensure the child is mindful of the task at hand. 

She knows the money will be under the mat when she gets there. While she is at the step, the man reaches around the curtain and talks to her from inside the house. He asks her name, while she asks why he stays inside. He says he will tell her another time, then asks if she can read. Home she goes. When she returns another day, there is a book under the mat along with the money he owes. 

So, it goes. The child delivers the laundry, and returns home reading her newest book. One day she is invited inside. The man wonders what book is the one she likes best. From his massive bookcase, he chooses another book for the child. Now, as they spend time together, the man is open to answering the questions she asks. 

"When I was young, I had a love, a young man who worked in the garden. 
Sometimes we would walk down to the stream together. 
In those days I wasn't afraid of the light ... 
but he went away, and I didn't have the courage to go with him." 

The child wants to know about courage. His explanation sets her on a path to having courage for herself. Clara is on her way home again when she hears him calling. She has forgotten her book, and he follows her outside to give it to her. What courage! What a blessing is true friendship! 

Beautifully told, in few words so carefully chosen. The artwork enhances the telling at every turn. With color on some spreads and only outlines on others, it captures the feelings of both characters at different times in their lives. It is a true story about the author's mother and the laundry work she did for a reclusive man named Juan. How wonderful it is that we have such meaningful books to share with our children.                                                                                     

     

All the Books, written by Hayley Rocco and illustrated by John Rocco. Little, Brown and Company. Hachette, 2024. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"As Piper grew, so did her collection of books. 

But bringing all her books with her 
everywhere she went was becoming 
more and more difficult."

We tell a story in our family that comes from the time when my son Bret lived in Halifax. Bret was a reader, and loved all kinds of books. Like Piper in this story, he was voracious about his reading. He called home one day, with a bit of a chuckle in his voice. Teasing me about my need to 'have' all the books, he explained that he had just discovered the concept of a library. He clarified that you could go there to 'borrow' (not buy) any book you wanted to read. Hahahahaha! When I first read this book, it took me straight back to that memory. 

Piper Waterstone, a young chipmunk, absolutely cannot let any of her treasured books out of her sight. She loves them far too much to do such a thing! Those books offer travel, comfort, and all else that she needs. To that end, she takes them everywhere she goes. If a friend asks to borrow one, Piper is quick to make an excuse that she needs it at the moment. When told they will get it from the library, Piper does not understand. Why go to the library? 

Although she has never been there, she is sure it was not the place for her. Her collection continues to grow, making it increasingly more difficult to transport the books wherever she goes. On the day that  her bike rolls too quickly down a hill and spills the books onto the ground around her, the final straw is a rainstorm. Every book is soaking wet. 

A kind mole stops to help, and brings Piper and her books into the protection of a nearby building. 

"The building was warm and dry and 
smelled cozy, like wood with a hint of 
vanilla. When her eyes adjusted to the 
light, she gasped." 

You may have guessed that the amiable mole offering Piper safety from the elements is the librarian. He provides an enlightening tour, much to Piper's astonishment and invites her to sign up for a library card. Now, she will have access to ALL the books! 

"They're everybody's. We all share them. 
Having this card means the library and 
all the magic contained in these books 
are now yours."

John Rocco used pencil, watercolor, and digital color to bring this story to life with the detailed coziness to be found in a library ... a place anyone can visit to borrow the books they need to foster their love of reading. The telling endpapers clearly show the growth and change that comes with learning for Piper; at the opening, she is constantly in conflict over keeping her books to herself, while the closing images show the joys that come with sharing. 

Library Girl, written by Polly Horvath. Puffin, tundra, Penguin Random House. 2024. $22.99 ages 9 and up

"This is why people like to act and also read, 
she thought. You get to be the people who 
are not you. You get to find different ways to 
live and think. You get to borrow other people's 
lives. And if you're King Lear, you get to be 
really loud and angry."

When a baby is found on a library shelf by the four librarians who work there, it is quite the surprise. The four wait for whoever left her to return. That doesn't happen. The four women, who are each childless yet yearn to be mothers, decide they will raise the baby together in the library. Improbably, they do just that for 11 years, caring for her as best they can. Each takes their turn at staying with Essie overnight, and keeping her fed and clothed by day. 

Essie has unconditional love for her mothers, a deep love for books and reading, and an understanding that she must be as inconspicuous as possible to library patrons, and especially to Ms. Matterhorn, a woman sent to oversee the administration of library matters. At 11, she longs to see more of the world she has read about in her books. To that end, her mothers offer an allowance and a chance for her to visit the nearby mall on her own. Those Saturday visits are not always successful, but Essie adapts. Return trips to one of the department stores have her meeting G.E., a boy who looks a lot like her. 

Essie's love of books and stories have her imagining that G.E. is, in fact, her twin who has been living a kind of parallel life with the four men who are his friends in the store. She longs for a larger family than she already has, and quickly falls into a scheme concocted by the boy. The twist and turns that result are what makes this a fascinating read for middle graders who like their stories unexpected and quirky. There is so much here for kids who love reading and books, and the impact those books have on them. 

It is no surprise that the characters are well-drawn and memorable. Essie is a grand character: kind, thoughtful, loving, and full of hope. Her mothers' love for her is endless and each offers a strong role model for her, though they are very different from one another. It is a tale both warm and humorous, as we have come to expect from this talented and expert storyteller.

I enjoyed an interview Ms. Horvath did with Betsy Bird at Fuse #8 Production when she shared this: 

"Library Girl is a story about families, books, reading and libraries.  It is also about how all our stories are individual, unique and important.  It’s a story with a lot of twists and turns, secrets and surprises.  And it is the only book I have ever set in Kalamazoo, Michigan where I grew up. There’s always something behind a book that is its motor driving it forward.  Yes, this is a book about libraries but I think I was also trying to work out how we deal with the world and all its mad occupants.  Essie chooses a life in books because in books she hopes to understand more than she could alone what makes people do the things they do.  We can all only experience one life but with books we can jump into someone else’s experiences and perspective and conclusions and this can be helpful."

https://youtu.be/O92mm0-oUCI?si=Pw9MRzjABu8s91NW