Once again publishers, authors, and illustrators have landed on zeitgeist subjects and themes and taken a flyer with them. The number of books that affirm a parent’s love for a child, whether animal or human, is high; so is the number of books about rules—the very bossy titles Don’t Read This Book and Don’t Draw in This Book among them. Meanwhile, the original rule-breaker reigns in The Pigeon WON’T Count to 10! Not every idea in this roundup is actually board-book worthy. The preverbal, pre-reading audience may not understand the contradictions between title and story; they will absolutely miss the irony aimed at busy educators or worn-out parents. It’s just more fun to pretend to be a race car driver than to read about a toddler pretending to be a race car driver. The illustrations of one book are poppin,’ but is the board book crew the right audience for hip-hop legends?

The books that shine here keep it simple, are all heart, and let babies be babies and preschoolers be preschoolers. We’re the ones who know what it’s like to be adults; maybe the long march toward growing up could use a slower pace and just a little more grace?

Fiction

Alexander, Lori. Vroom, Baby Driver, Zoom. illus. by Nancy Goulet. 24p. Charlesbridge. Oct. 2025. Board. $8.99. ISBN 9781623546625.
Toddler-PreS–This energetic board book follows Baby Driver through an action-packed day of vehicular adventure. Alexander’s rhythmic text captures the excitement of imaginative play as the baby transforms everyday activities into high-speed racing scenarios, from “guzzling fuel” (bottle time) to navigating living room racetracks with a loyal canine co-pilot. Goulet’s bold, graphic illustrations perfectly complement the racing theme with vivid colors, dynamic motion lines, and sound effects right out of a comic book. The baby’s joy radiates from every page as mundane moments (like a diaper change) become thrilling pit stops and victory laps. Celebrating the boundless go-time of toddlers, who turn almost anything into an adventure, this book is just long enough: dawn to dusk. The racing metaphors work particularly well for bath time, and the satisfying conclusion brings this little speedster safely home to sleep. VERDICT A peppy read for vehicle-obsessed toddlers and anyone who appreciates childhood imagination.

Beer, Sophie. Baby, You’re a Rainbow! illus. by Sophie Beer. 24p. Dial. Nov. 2025. Board. $12.99. ISBN 9798217111992.
Toddler-Gr 2–Two cool moms-to-be and partners arrive at their baby shower, where a diverse group of joyful friends and family await. “You’re a rainbow, baby!/ And I’ll tell you why./ You came after showers/ and lit up the sky./ You’re a sunrise, baby!/ Fresh, rosy, and new! We can’t wait to discover/ the things you will do.” There are mishaps in the subsequent pages, all of which feature families and their babies: a father with twins squirts himself in the eye with the baby bottle; sometimes groups of babies are inconsolable and other times they are dreamy sleeping bundles. All of it’s here in a few short pages, but no child will listen without feeling represented and just a little more beloved. VERDICT Poring over the details and finding themselves in the pages makes this a mirror-and-window title with reach beyond the usual demographic.

Chen, Vincent. Hot Pot Night! illus. by Vincent Chen. 22p. Charlesbridge. Sept. 2025. Board. $8.99. ISBN 9781623546663.
PreS-Gr 1–Chen deploys an autumnal palette in a board book that has more in common with Stone Soup variants than any cultural or historical lesson. A child in an apartment window invites the other residents to hot pot night, contributing the pot and assigning broth to one woman with deep brown skin and long black hair, and commenting on the gray-haired pink-skinned woman bringing meat and the brawny Black man juggling fresh veggies. It’s a vibrant gathering with an array of items that are hot-pot suitable, and a festive atmosphere from end to end. VERDICT Classroom hot pot, anyone? A book that will leave readers and listeners hungry, but the whole family will want to institute hot pot nights.

Cotter, Bill. Don’t Draw in This Book! illus. by Bill Cotter. 24p. Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky. Sept. 2025. Board. $8.99. ISBN 9781464220715.
K-Gr 1–Book etiquette is no joke, unless you’ve put Cotter in charge. Larry, a purple horned monster, introduces himself to viewers/readers and promptly repeats the eponymous rule: “Don’t Draw In This Book!” Bright white blank pages of a spiral-bound notebook tempt a closer look. Of course, the first to cave on the rule is Larry, with just one little circle drawn with a finger. He praises readers for (with their fingers) drawing a blue circle, and invites them to trace, swipe up, swipe right, and more. The lines become wavy, then water, and the quick-thinking Larry has readers draw a drain to save him. There’s more. Whether this book works for libraries will depend on whether children take the finger-drawing route literally, or search out a Sharpie. VERDICT This amiable and funny book offers motor skill development along the way.

Hanson, Sydney. Like Water, Little Otter: My Love for You Goes On and On. illus. by Sydney Hanson. 22p. Cottage Door Pr. Oct. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9798890192707.
PreS-Gr 1–“I love you, little otter,/ More than you will ever know/ I waited for you, darling,/ Like winter waits for snow./ I knew you were out there,/ But I didn’t quite know when/ You’d be here, safe and cozy,/ In our soft and snuggly den.” This quietly reassuring book may welcome a baby otter to the family, but babies and toddlers will respond to the soothing words and soft snug illustrations of the otter family at home. Singing, frolicking, and swimming are but some of the tender scenes of parent and baby, growing together. That the child will one day leave home is addressed, but that, too, is presented as a normal part of the circle of life. VERDICT A lovely version of such childhood classics as Runaway Bunny, and for sugar-free readers, a vast improvement over I’ll Love Your Forever, this certainly belongs on early childhood shelves.

Larsen-Jonasson, Theresa. Our Little Sharing Circle. illus. by Jessika Von Innerebner. 24p. Medicine Wheel. Sept. 2025. Board. $12.95. ISBN 9781778540769.
Toddler-K–Larsen-Jonasson, a Cree/Danish Métis elder, offers a gentle introduction to community values through woodland animals who model positive social behaviors. Helpful to parents and educators is the clear messaging about healthy relationships; the animals demonstrate how to handle disagreements constructively and welcome newcomers into their group. Innerebner’s warm illustrations effectively show diverse forest creatures interacting peacefully, reinforcing the inclusive “we all belong” theme. The text may be somewhat formulaic in its approach, but the core message about building supportive communities resonates. VERDICT This is a useful tool for introducing concepts of empathy, belonging, and peaceful problem-solving to young children, addressing important SEL concepts without being preachy.

Lourenço, Estrela. Peek & Boo Day at the Zoo! illus. by Estrela Lourenço. 24p. (Peek & Boo!). Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky. Mar. 2026. Board. $8.99. ISBN 9781464224737.
Toddler-K–A jovial white rabbit, Peek, is looking forward to her day at the zoo with her friend Boo, a small brown guinea pig. As Peek moves through her day, she may be seeking Boo, but lapsitters will be pointing him out on the pages. He’s small, and maybe Peek is distracted, but this is a charming way to play hide-and-seek, with a lot of animals to name and discuss and a happy reunion to bring the high jinks to a close. VERDICT A simple search-and-find that also carries a warm message of friendship, this board book works for large groups and one-on-one readings.

Magsamen, Sandra. Auntie Loves Little One: a love letter to you. illus. by Sandra Magsamen. 24p. (Welcome Little One). Sourcebooks/Wonderland. Dec. 2025. Board. $8.99. ISBN 9781464222726.
Toddler-Gr 1–One large blue elephant, one small blue elephant, and clunky rhymes in the tradition of fawning generic sentiments all star in a book that has nothing to do with aunts. That could be a good thing; any caretaker can be the surrogate for the auntie. “You’re my precious little one, and I want you to know, I love you from your head to your sweet little toe!/ Somedays we’ll snuggle and read for hours, then believe we’re superheroes with superpowers!” The art is upbeat with the look of stitched-edge pieces in watercolor, but the mood is one long greeting card—imperfect, cute enough, earnest. VERDICT Good intentions can’t turn this into an essential purchase, plus there is a fill-in page that caps the usefulness of this book in libraries.

Mangal, Mélina. Wind Whirls. illus. by Stella Lim. 24p. (Outside Our Window). Free Spirit. Nov. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9798885544573.
PreS-Gr 2–Lovely language and scenes of a windy day create an homage to the power of wind. Two Black siblings head out for a walk, accompanied by an adult. They pass a soul food restaurant and walk through swirling leaves, then are greeted by a crossing guard before arriving at an apartment complex where grandparent-like figures greet them. The feeling of community and the diversity of the people provide a neighborly background for this sensory exploration of the wind. Back matter includes a note to caretakers on ways to observe and appreciate wind and the weather with children. It could be used as an introduction to a discussion of the seasons in classrooms for the very young. VERDICT A simple, winsome stroll will inspire lapsitters and emerging readers alike to get outdoors and look around.

Nelson, Natalie. Dog Loves Baby. illus. by Natalie Nelson. 28p. (Dog and Cat’s First: Bk 5). Penguin/Quirk. Dec. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9781683694526.
Baby-PreS–“Hello. I am Dog. This is Baby. Today we are celebrating love.” The narrator pauses. “What is love? Is it something to sniff?” This is pitched as a Valentine’s Day book, so there will be heart-shaped cookies at the bakery, boxes of candy delivered, garlands of hearts. But there are scenes of family meals and walks in the neighborhood, plus subtle signs of love—like the sound of keys jangling at the door, indicating homecoming in a pleasantly understated manner. For pulling childlike observations into a philosophical meditation without becoming heavy-handed, this book can slip into various story hours. Dog’s family has brown skin. VERDICT A bite-sized reverie on the meaning of love, this can be added judiciously to the holiday shelves.

Parker, Jo. Let’s Play Football!: A Touch-and-Feel Book. illus. by Ahra Kwon. 10p. Grosset & Dunlap. Sept. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9780593659595.
Toddler-K–Five spreads from opening to victory in a board book that promises to have “all the excitement and fun of football.” The football, included as a touch-and-feel texture, peeks through all the pages via cutouts as the game begins with a kickoff, a quarterback’s pass, blocking, a fumble, and the home team win. The players, though hulking, are a diverse lot, and the style of illustration will make the gameplay plain for toddlers and older children. It’s just so short. The wording is so terse that those sharing the book will do a lot of explaining to help children understand the game. VERDICT Baby’s first football game may not be a topic for necessary purchase, but it works as an introduction to the sport.

Patricelli, Leslie. Spring! illus. by Leslie Patricelli. 26p. (Leslie Patricelli Board Books). Candlewick. Mar. 2026. Board. $8.99. ISBN 9781536230031.
PreS-Gr 1–“Clovers! Dandelions! Leaves on trees!” are just a few of the delights found in the first days of spring—along with mud and puddles to splash in. Four adults—two with brown skin, two with light skin—accompany two joyful, ungendered diaper-wearing toddlers into a hopeful, what-will-happen-next outing. The pinkish child wears a red slicker and red spotted rainboots, while the Black child has green froggy boots with a yellow slicker. They hang from a low branch, roll down a hill, check out the butterflies, and plop in the mud. A rainstorm cleans them off, and the adults happily brought food. Patricelli’s young characters have unvarying expressions of glee on their faces, except during that fall in the mud. This is not a drawback; the toddlers utterly encompass the anticipation of spring and it will translate for readers, too. VERDICT A nearly perfect board book in tone and content. Bring it on, story hour.

Piu, Amandine. Hello Little Ones. illus. by Amandine Piu. 40p. Annick. Oct. 2025. Board. $15.99. ISBN 9781773219820.
Toddler-K–“Splish, splash, splosh! I jump up and down in puddles!” shows a small child crouched like a frog on a lily pad. Opposite that child is an illustration of a frog. “I am small, but I have a big appetite!” On the left, a mother bird feeds a worm to three baby birds. On the right, a baby in a high chair is spoon-fed. A child is shown snuggled under a parent’s arm, while a chick is just as protected by a hen. The comparisons are fair and funny, and small children will love pointing out the differences and the details. VERDICT A board book for the early animal shelves, but also a text full of writing prompts at the early elementary level.

Rossner, Rose. Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I Love You! illus. by Katherine Castano. 24p. (Punderland). Sourcebooks/Wonderland. Mar. 2026. Board. $8.99. ISBN 9781464235573.
Toddler-Gr 1–This board book delivers exactly what its title promises—a collection of animal-themed puns expressing love and affection. Rossner’s text pairs each creature with wordplay like “I’m not lion—you really rule!” and “Toucan do anything!” Castano’s vibrant illustrations feature cuddly animal families in tropical settings, from snuggling monkeys to playful elephants. The message of unconditional love will resonate with very young children and parents seeking a simple read; for older readers, the reliance on obvious puns becomes overly cloying. However, the straightforward rhyme scheme and basic vocabulary make it accessible for toddlers. VERDICT As a gentle bedtime or bonding read, this fits the bill, but it lacks any deep emotional layers to keep children coming back after one pass.

Sturgess, Elena. Don’t Open This Book! illus. by Katya Zolina. 10p. (Don’t Lift the Flaps!). Taffy Tales. Sept. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9781998211722.
K-Gr 2–The Lost World, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, The Jungle Book, and Treasure Island are the titles that tempt “you,” as addressed by a bespectacled owl who narrates. But no matter the admonishments, you just keep reading the next book, represented by highly exaggerated and very condensed versions of what happens in each title (a house twirling through a tornado for Oz in cartoon-style illustrations). At the end, readers/you are told “You must really love reading,” and that’s it. It’s an artificial construct, not very carefully laid out; the book is more like an awkward movie trailer of titles children won’t encounter until middle grade. VERDICT This may acclimatize children to the names of great books to save for a somewhat distant future, if it holds their attention in the present.

Tassopoulos Wehner, Eleni. The Clean-Up Monster. illus. by Danamarie Hosler. 20p. (Roscoe & Ivy). Barefoot. Nov. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9798888596715.
Toddler-Gr 1–Mama, with blue and brown hair, tan skin, and eyeglasses, warns her two small busy charges that it’s time to clean up. Ivy and Roscoe, both with tan skin and different shades of brown hair, are overwhelmed by the task. Roscoe puts away dough in a way that Ivy doesn’t like; Roscoe seems a little put out that Ivy insists on placing the correct lids on the containers. Signs on storage use pictures to tell both children where the blocks and the stuffed animals go. Mama shows up with the “clean-up monster,” aka the vacuum cleaner. These organizational techniques were devised when the neurodivergent author learned that “caregiving strategies did not work for her neurodivergent family” and developed her own. The illustrations include clues as to what the strategies are for clean-up time. The subject matter is so familiar, but this take on it is refreshing and candid. It’s not just for neurodivergent families, but for anyone looking for tidy tips. VERDICT Board books don’t always come with an “essential” stamp, but this one does.

Willems, Mo. The Pigeon WON’T Count to 10! illus. by Mo Willems. 24p. Union Square Kids. Sept. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9781454964407.
Toddler-Gr 1–Every young child will fall in love with the pigeon’s version of events. Like a child who refuses to go to bed and falls asleep in place, this pigeon has so many excuses, enumerated one at a time up to 10. The crushing admission is that the pigeon hates counting to 10 because number nine is elusive. Emboldened by success, the pigeon counts to 11. Children will find their own excuses to keep on counting even after the book is closed. VERDICT The pigeon will count to 10 in classroom counting units; children can certainly take it from there. Bold and funny.

Dora the Explorer ¡Hola, Soy Dora! illus. by Erik Doescher. 16p. (Dora the Explorer). little bee/BuzzPop. Aug. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9781499817706.
PreS-Gr 1–Everyone’s favorite bilingual explorer is back, introducing fans and board book readers to her home. Sentences are occasionally punctuated by Spanish—“The best adventures are with best friends. !Mejores amigos! Come on! Let’s find the others. Vámanos!” She presents Boots, the monkey, and Backpack, and others who are part of Dora-world. Fans will be pleased to have a Dora they can carry around for repeat viewings, even if they don’t yet read. VERDICT A sweet look at Dora’s home, as upbeat as she is, with pics that closely resemble the show.

Nonfiction

Billet, Marion. My Little Music Book: I Love the Four Seasons. illus. by Marion Billet. 12p. Scholastic/Cartwheel. Oct. 2025. Board. $14.99. ISBN 9781546171720.
PreS-Gr 1–“By Vivaldi,” as it says on the cover, might be a stretch, but this board book conveys in toddler-level language an approximation of what the “Four Seasons” is about. “Spring/Allegro” opens the piece, which features dancing, smiling flowers, snails, and ladybugs (and one grasshopper): “It’s spring! The colorful flowers begin to bloom.” “Summer/Presto: Welcome, summer! Does this music sound like a busy bee?” shows a sailboat, a busy bee, and a curious bear. A scene of mice collecting food stores represents autumn. Winter’s spot, “Allegro non molto,” is “Brrr . . . it’s so cold outside in the snow!” A seek-and-find game includes a sound button to push for five animal noises; it seems sturdy enough for repeat use, which surely it will get. To be clear, there’s no sign of Vivaldi anywhere, not a note, not a peep. VERDICT Not a must-have, but a toddler-pleaser, and perhaps a minor introduction to classical music.

Christensen, Vanessa Lee. Baby Go! France. illus. by Audrey Lee. 22p. (Baby Go! Bk. 5). Gloo Bks. Nov. 2025. Board. $11.95. ISBN 9781962351287.
Toddler-K–A few words (bonjour, joi de vivre, counting to cinq, along with places like Versailles and the River Seine, and famous spots (Tour Eiffel, Notre-Dame, etc.) are swirled like a dash of salt into an otherwise cheerfully bland text in tiny type and bright cluttered illustrations about France. It’s a part of the “Baby Go!” series (a separate title takes on Mexico) but the countries are mostly indistinguishable. What use this has should be left to individual caretakers, but its role in libraries is limited. VERDICT Board books are inherently inviting, but this title does not inspire travel, language skills, or even reading to the end.

Ken, Pen. Legends of Hip-Hop: Kid ‘n Play: A Rhyme Time Biography. illus. by Saxton Moore. 24p. HarperCollins. Oct. 2025. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9780063234314.
Gr 1-2–Chibi bodies (small frames, large heads, big eyes) show Christopher from the Bronx and Christopher from Queens meeting for the first time, and within a couple of lines (“they spit rhymes and spread love the New York way”) a new hip-hop group is formed: the Fresh Force Crew. By the next spread, their hi-top fades on full display, they rename themselves Kid ‘n Play and become forces for positive messages in the lyrics. In short order they star in comic books, Saturday cartoons, and movies, too! These two really are legends, and parents and children are bound to bond over this one. VERDICT Bold illustrations and pitch-perfect rhythm make this bio-book a great pick for the shelves.

Roberts, Jillian. Feelings Come, Feelings Go. 20p. Orca. Aug. 2025. Board. $10.95. ISBN 9781459841352.
Baby-PreS–In the classroom or at home, this board book resembles bound flash cards to help pre-verbal and pre-literate children articulate their feelings. Full-color photographs of toddlers with all the feels written across their faces appear next to reassuring text: “Little one, you have big feelings. Some are easier than others. But all of them matter.” A small girl with light tan skin appears sweaty from her play on the swing, and she’s beaming. A Black child in Mama’s arms is joyful. Two children with light skin tussle over sharing and appear angry. The interpretations of the text aren’t important. Children will point to the faces that resonate for them, and caretakers will have a Rosetta stone to decode all the emotions going on in those small humans. VERDICT The pictures pull in viewers, while the text offers a direction for discussions; this could be useful for group sharing or one-on-one.

Shearer, Clea & Joanna Teplin. Messy or Neat? illus. by Hsinping Pan. 22p. (Home Edit for Kids). Random. Jul. 2025. Board. $8.99. ISBN 9780593712207.
Toddler-K–“Can you point out what’s messy and what’s neat on each page?” The creators of the streaming show The Home Edit use a squiggly line to clue children into a messy picture of a child at play, and a boxier looking line for the the neat scene. In flat perspectives, Pan has shown a table after a messy meal, then a picture of a tidy kitchen. Crayons are scattered across blank pages on one scene, and out of sight on the next, as a child with black hair and brown skin cleans up, observed by an orange cat. The spreads feature paintbox-bright colors; the participants are diverse; the point is simply made but clear as the joy on the faces of the last two children: “Look! Everything here is neat!” For children who have watched the show, there are hallmarks of the organization tricks shown: bins for toys and books on shelves organized by color. VERDICT An ideal book to acclimate kids of all ages to the notion of clean-up; this book could not be more welcome and cheerful.