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PREMIUM
Wally Mammoth: Hide-and-Seek
A good book for early readers and for encouraging SEL conversations.
PREMIUM
The Art of How Dogs Sleep
A gentle, observational picture book that doubles as a bedtime wind-down for dog lovers; a strong addition to bedtime story collections or even quiet-down story hours.
PREMIUM
Story Rug
A warm, visually appealing story that celebrates creativity, cultural expression, and classroom community. Ideal for lessons on collaboration, heritage, and the value of collective storytelling.
An inspired and joyful boost to both new swimmers and those experiencing the ocean for the first time; a first purchase for picture book collections.
PREMIUM
Friends Are Like Stars
Packed with SEL content, advice, and an activity, this book is a great fit for a library audience looking for ways to cope with the topic of moving.
With no focus on the bike race itself and no background for Mr. Felix’s astonishing ability, the story serves as a goofy lark, offbeat but unfulfilling. An additional selection.
This winning, humorous title will delight on its own and even more so when paired with its predecessor. A first purchase.
A simple notion carried out with intention, effectively evoking compassion in children across many grade levels.
PREMIUM
Find the Sun
A whimsical morning lullaby, this SEL adventure will gently guide readers to find the sun amid their own fears.
Hand to fans of Mo Willems’s Elephant and Piggie, as well as those who love Yoon’s other stories. A first purchase for all libraries where little readers frolic.
PREMIUM
The Puddle Day
An inviting resource for all those hoping to bring more nature-based play into children’s lives, this is a recommended purchase, especially for collections supporting outdoor play, exploration, and early learning.
This is a strong sequel and suitable addition to libraries and classrooms alike.
PREMIUM
Today Is the Day
A thought-provoking ode to the multitudes each unique day contains, this story demonstrates the interconnectedness of all things near and far, and has plenty of potential for classroom and storyhour use.
PREMIUM
In This Classroom
With its bold colors and friendly forms, this is a must-purchase for elementary collections in need of a fresh back-to-school story to help students that are both fun but imperfect processes.
Drawn from the author’s childhood, this uplifting story pairs beautifully with the included puppet-making activity.
This factual and life-affirming book celebrates our ocean and reminds us to keep it healthy and wild.
PREMIUM
Baby Kraken
Suitable for most collections serving young children who may or may not have a fear of the water but will be rewarded with a gentle friendship story celebrating the beauty of the underwater world.
A good choice for libraries needing picture books featuring regional specialties, such as music and food or for use in the celebration of families.
PREMIUM
Poppy’s Question
A must-purchase for elementary collections where short and simple age-relevant stories about gender are needed.★Molk, Laurel. Lulu Didn’t Want a Dog. illus. by Laurel Molk. 40p. Random House Studio. Mar. 2026. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593709085. PreS-Gr 3–A charming look at what happens when a cat’s quiet life is upended by the addition of a new pet to the household. Lulu has everything she loves: sunny nap spots, favorite toys, and a predictable routine! But all of that is about to change. She’s getting “company,” and Lulu wants no part of it. To make matters worse, it’s a dog; not just any dog, but Gus, who embodies every chaotic trait Lulu dreads. Molk’s ability to tell a story shines as Lulu gradually has a change of heart after Gus unexpectedly comes to her rescue. The expressive illustrations elevate the narrative, adding warmth, wit, and personality to both characters. Lulu and Gus are so much fun, and it’s hard not to fall in love with the pair. Changes in the font when the owner is speaking add an additional layer of delight, while the opening and closing spreads first highlight what Lulu loves and end with what Gus loves, bookending the story with a delightful visual connection. VERDICT An enjoyable picture book perfect for dog and cat lovers alike. Molk’s artwork alone could carry the story, but paired with the playful text, it becomes an irresistible read-aloud about friendship, surprises, and learning to make room for someone new.–Virginia Brown
While not essential for libraries, the story is certain to be enjoyed by animal lovers who won’t want to put it out to pasture.
PREMIUM
Nighty Night, Dinos
The rhythmic text of this charming and effective story, along with its imaginative depiction of large creatures engaging in gentle rituals, will make this a great addition to anyone seeking soothing read-alouds for the young.
PREMIUM
While We’re Here
Gorgeous illustrations highlight the frenetic pace of life often faced by children, here paired closely with the gift of moments of calm and connectedness that might surprise anyone on a crammed day. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Are You Bored, Minimoni?
A simple story that prescribes playful imagination as the cure for the universal condition of occasional boredom; useful for units on balancing screen time.
PREMIUM
Leaving 4B
With its heartfelt exploration of change and thoughtful depiction of diverse characters, this story is a gentle, refreshing take on moving that will resonate with young readers and to have on hand for families navigating transitions.
In a nice change of pace from more serious storylines, Gunnar’s hardships in the quest for a delicious pizza for himself and for his community are wonderfully presented and entertaining.
PREMIUM
Princess Pete
A solid choice for those needing books about gender identity for young readers.
A recommended purchase, this lyrical picture book, full of joyful detail, is a lovely choice for sharing and a wonderful introduction to the rhythms of life in the Arctic.
Administering to children’s natural curiosity, this is a sweet bedtime book or for use in lessons on animals at night.
An excellent read-aloud for all children, this book will be a welcome addition to any elementary school library.
PREMIUM
The Toy Plane
A tender, imaginative exploration of grief and remembrance, with the bonus of spotlighting groundbreaking representation of Black female pilots.
PREMIUM
My Someone: A Pet Adoption Story
More than any direct appeal to altruism or compassion, the focus on emotions in this very simple episode is sure to spark empathy in younger audiences.
This paean to school will warm the heart of anyone who has ever worked in a school setting and is the perfect gift for Teacher Appreciation Day.
PREMIUM
Beginning, Middle, and End
This title is a first purchase for school and public libraries and is perfect for fans of Jan Thomas and Ethan Long. While it’s useful for supporting language arts curricula, it’s also plenty of fun on its own.
This is highly recommended for purchase, and especially useful for units on the Civil Rights Movement and civic engagement.
By inviting children to understand the teachings of animal brothers and sisters, this book works for units on nature, animals, and Indigenous culture, and is a compelling work for all collections.
A gentle, inspiring addition to classroom, library, and community collections, perfect for helping children reflect on their own stories and honor the stories of others.
There isn’t a kid alive who won’t respond to this book; libraries should consider buying multiple copies.
PREMIUM
Eres libre
This poetic picture book teaches children about diversity, freedom, identity, and respecting others; it’s a great addition to any SEL collection.
PREMIUM
There’s a Bunny in Your Book
Purchase where other books in the series are popular or where collections are in need of more interactive titles.
PREMIUM
This Superhero Needs Your Help!
A wonderful creative adventure, though inappropriate for library circulating.
A solid book to talk about the life cycles of bears, kindness to others, using pictures to make predictions, making pancakes, and seasonal changes.
PREMIUM
Just Right
Illustrating the importance of emotionally supportive caregivers, this heartwarming story is “just right” for every library collection.
PREMIUM
Cat’s New Book
Charming illustrations and an approachable story make this a worthy selection for school and public libraries.
PREMIUM
A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend
This is a helpful, jovial addition on camping for collections with its gentle guidance on friendship and how to cultivate it.
PREMIUM
Who Will Rule the Trees?
Libraries seeking modestly religious creation stories may find this a quiet, sturdy edition to add to the shelves.
PREMIUM
Go Bananas!
Pull this one out when the classroom or story hour needs a reset and some giggles.
PREMIUM
Spirit Shadow
An additional purchase for collections seeking more Indigenous representation.
PREMIUM
Turtle Slept In
Fans of this prolific author’s work as well as children who love nature and seashore life will enjoy this short, beautifully illustrated story.
PREMIUM
Planting Hope
A vibrant picture book, this would be a good selection for libraries, with a celebration of hope that is always welcome.
This wonderful book would be a solid addition to any library as a reminder for all ages to appreciate the small things.
PREMIUM
Home Away from Home
Sweet celebration of faraway family, the beauty of culture, and common experiences Nuha and Jadda share make this a standout. Recommended for all collections.
PREMIUM
Shrinking Violet
This title is a great addition to social-emotional learning collections, offering a dynamic and unique approach to discussing anxiety, inner strength, and resilience with young readers during a fun and compelling read-aloud.
PREMIUM
Sockflea: A Stuffie in the Wind
This book is a surefire hit for story hours, providing laugh-out-loud moments contained in an adorable bundle of elephant energy.
An excellent addition to any library’s poetry collection, and good for teaching about the gifts of the natural world.
PREMIUM
The Shy Book
A kind and gentle introduction to the challenges of being shy, this book will help those who are feeling those pangs and those who want to help them.
PREMIUM
Luna and the Night
Crafted with care, from texts to illustrations, this book will help young readers understand their fears.
PREMIUM
Miriam and Her Dancing Shoes
A nice addition to libraries where religious stories are of high interest.
This joyful collaboration will be equally enjoyed by children who already know about Hajj and by those who are learning of it for the first time.
PREMIUM
The Wildest Thing
An excellent read-aloud for young children at home with a parent or older sibling, this book inspires a love of nature and a healthy disregard for all that is prim and proper.
PREMIUM
How to Comfort a Monster
A poignant tale of friendship and feelings, and a relevant addition to picture book collections.
PREMIUM
A Black Girl and Her Braids
A great book for cultural education and appreciation. This book will be of interest to all collections.
PREMIUM
When We Were Snails
A touching celebration of the love between parent and child, even during time apart, and especially good for children who may be experiencing separation.
PREMIUM
Bing’s Cherries
A beautifully told and authentically grounded tale honoring the immigrant behind the famous Bing cherry and celebrating Chinese American resilience and contribution.
PREMIUM
The Worried Book
Overall, a very simple introduction to big feelings for the smallest listeners.
PREMIUM
Billie Builds a RoboCorn
This story packs a punch. It’s great for those looking to beef up their SEL sections.
A good segue to reassurance for the very young, but this may be too specific for a wider audience.
PREMIUM
Mousestache Moosestache
A fun addition to any humor collection. This is great for a lap sit, or for use in small groups.
PREMIUM
A Home on the Page
A powerful story with beautiful illustrations that not only calls out the hate that is in the world today but also provides a message of hope for those who are in search of a creative outlet to find their proverbial home. Recommended.
This book would be an excellent addition to any library’s collection, especially those needing stories of dealing with a loss.
PREMIUM
Who Are You?
Best shared with groups of older elementary children, or in quiet one-on-one readings with younger children.
An essential purchase; Mooradian and Yim have created a powerful book to share with care. It opens space for conversations about resilience, identity, and remembrance, and it shows how storytelling helps us honor the past while finding beauty in survival.
PREMIUM
Action Jasmine
A good choice for those looking to add to their collections, particularly the social-emotional learning shelves.
PREMIUM
The Mother Tree
A moving depiction of the importance of trees and forests, this is highly recommended for all collections.
PREMIUM
Hummingbird’s Big Trip
A heartwarming and informative story reassuring children that even the smallest creatures can overcome big challenges.
PREMIUM
Breathe Deep
A useful resource for programs that encourage mindfulness and self-calming skills for young children.
PREMIUM
La gran sorpresa de Pésaj
An educational read that introduces Passover through a child’s perspective while also teaching a valuable lesson about animal care. A great addition to bolster Jewish holiday representation.
Filled with humor and heart, this story about a unique little spider who discovers how much she can do is sure to inspire readers to new heights. A great addition to Spanish-language picture book collections.
Libraries may already own the English and/or Spanish editions, but this bilingual version is a strong addition for early elementary readers and bilingual collections.
This modern twist on classic themes will resonate with families looking for picture books that challenge traditional gender norms. This is a general purchase for any Spanish-language children’s collection.
PREMIUM
Maisy juega fútbol
This is a solid book that demonstrates good sportsmanship and friendship and is a good buy, especially where the character is popular.
PREMIUM
El viaje de Abril
This sensitive take on the realities of war and displacement is a strong introduction for families to discuss these topics. A good choice for every library’s young readers’ Spanish-language collection.
A great addition to Spanish-language children’s collections, especially where picture books for older readers are needed.
PREMIUM
Fly in the Chai
Whether to amplify cultural connections or intergenerational ones, this title is sure to be a story hour read-aloud hit.
PREMIUM
If This Were the World
This enjoyable picture book offers a great conversation starter about cooperative play wrapped in subtle undertones about the importance of taking care of Earth.
PREMIUM
Bookie and Cookie Turn the Page
This story teaches young children the importance of mindset and perspective, making it a first purchase for all collections.
PREMIUM
Little Passenger
While a truly sweet read, this book may be more suited for parents than for kids; regardless, the artwork is outstanding.
Picture books seldom get more entertaining than this, turning very spare material into a friendship saga. Recommended.
A delightful book about the life-changing magic of stories and the libraries that hold them, this Spanish-language picture book is a must-have for children’s collections
PREMIUM
When the Clouds Came
A fine purchase to build or refresh a collection of age-appropriate books dealing with death.
This enthralling story will captivate and open readers’ minds to trying new vegetables.
PREMIUM
Valentine’s Day in the Village
A community-oriented Valentine’s Day story to sweeten any library holiday collection.
PREMIUM
A Stickler Valentine
A whimsical holiday read with standout artwork, recommended for most collections.
PREMIUM
The Hoppity Wheels on the Bus
Add to collections where more secular Easter books are in demand.
A thoughtful, if uneven, resource for introducing a wider range of Jewish holidays to young audiences.
PREMIUM
Lucky New Year: Colors
This delightful introduction to colors, Mandarin Chinese, and Lunar New Year traditions is recommended for general purchase.
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