Randolph Caldecott Medal

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess (text) & illus. by Cátia Chien. HarperCollins/Clarion. May 2025. 44p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780063216723.

 PreS-Gr 1–Imaginative and radiant, this title takes readers on a journey through a special hot summer day in the city, where the highlight is watching fireworks from the rooftop. Venturing out after breakfast, two children play in the water from a fire hydrant leak. There are several delightful stops afterward, including a walk to the bodega and through the park while gobbling up watermelon. The vocabulary evokes a strong sense of place with phrases like “steamy city sidewalks” and “in the thirsty afternoon.” The text makes it easy for readers to imagine being part of the story themselves: “Fireworks shimmer over the city before fading into ghosts, and in the air, the sharp charcoal sniff of a thousand matches extinguished.” Text and pictures work well together. For example, when it says, “as salsa music slips through wide-open windows, bouncing feet to the beat. Shooka-shooka Shooka-shooka Wa! Wa! Wa!” the illustration shows the children dancing. As they whoop it up, their arms fly up in the air. In the background, a fun design of pink, yellow, purple, green, and blue emphasizes that this is a high-energy, spontaneous celebration. Even after the fireworks are over, the children savor the beautiful experience of the day. VERDICT This joyful title will capture young readers and win the hearts of all ages. Highly recommended for public and school libraries.-Robin Sofge 

Randolph Caldecott Medal Honors

Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan (text) & illus. by Jashar Awan. S. & S. Feb. 2025. 48p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781665938150.

 PreS-Gr 2–“Monday is the best day of the week (according to Mabel, at least).” With tan skin, light brown hair in double ponytails, and purpose coursing through her, Mabel gets started on her day, pouring herself a bowl of cereal and heading somewhere to do the “cutest” thing, according to her mother. Mabel takes up her station to wait for the garbage truck. Vehicle buffs will love the next few spreads as the truck’s many moving parts make the most splendid crashes and booms (the typography supports this sequence fully). Her entire family is in on Mabel’s desire and need to get to her post on time; readers glimpse her sister Mira doing “boring” things like listening to music and reading a book and in a charming ending, discover that Mabel is not alone in her fascinations. Awan continues his streak of showing the purposefulness of humans in general and children in particular, through Towed By Toad, I’m Going To Build A Snowman, and other titles. How such simple, expressive illustrations convey the excitement that makes the arrival of a truck more like a Broadway show is a question best left to the artist. VERDICT Children will be empowered to declare their own special events each week, while educators and parents will see that even small moments are worthy of celebration.-Kimberly Olson Fakih

Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer (text) & illus. by Drew Beckmeyer. Atheneum. Mar. 2025. 40p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781665926638. 

 K-Gr 4–What did the stalactite nub hanging overhead say to the stalagmite nub below about a friendly ichthyostega who once visited but has not returned? “He’s probably extinct.” The retort? “Don’t say that. You don’t know.” Readers will be in suspense about the trilobite, too, who arrived but then needed to dip out to the water from whence it came and has not been seen since. Time passes, and a triceratops comes calling, and then the stalactite gets a licking from a giant ground sloth. In the ongoing patter between the always longer overhanging stalactite and friendly ever-taller stalagmite below, eras pass as they grow into the mysteriously beautiful forms we know. They and visitors converse over the meteor arriving that wipes out the dinosaurs. More time passes and humans draw on the surrounding walls; “We are getting closer together” heralds the modern age, and the two discuss what will happen when they inevitably join; this philosophical break in the action—as in Beckmayer’s demise of the main character in I Am a Tornado—keeps a childlike, matter-of-fact tone that will nevertheless have adults weeping. An incredibly accessible, fact-driven map takes readers from the “beginning” and the Archean Era to the present, a visual rendering that restates implicitly the mighty drip of minerals and water that have created this pair over eons. Back matter includes further enlightenment. VERDICT Spirituality and valuable STEM lessons in a genuinely sweet and funny package? Yes, please, to this essential purchase.-Kimberly Olson Fakih

Our Lake by Angie Kang (text) & illus. by Angie Kang. Penguin/Kokila. Mar. 2025. 40p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780593698235.

 PreS–A heartrending journey through grief and bravery unfolds in this beautifully illustrated story, where a young boy learns to navigate loss on a hot summer day. Gorgeous gouache illustrations bring to life the tale of two brothers embarking on a hike, with the opening lines subtly hinting at the theme of loss: “Today, Brother is taking me up to swim in the lake like Father used to.” The younger brother, eager to imitate his older sibling, faces an overwhelming wave of nervousness when it’s time to jump into the water. “Suddenly, my stomach is full of stones. How did I ever do this before?” As memories of their father flood back, the boy finds the strength to leap, symbolizing both personal growth and the strength of family bonds. The story concludes with the touching sentiment that, in the water, it feels as though the entire family has reunited. With lyrical descriptive language and breathtaking illustrations, this book tenderly explores themes of loss, bravery, and family. VERDICT A gentle and heartfelt exploration of grief, this book is a must-have addition to any library shelf.-Brooke Newberry 

Sundust by Zeke Peña (text) & illus. by Zeke Peña. Penguin/Kokila. Aug. 2025. 48p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780593700112. K-Gr 3

 K-Gr 3–Two siblings go out for a walk to investigate something that has fallen near their home. Just past all the concrete, the buildings, and the machinery, the kids find the desert, full of wonders and surprising discoveries. For non-desert dwellers, the book reveals how much life exists in this landscape, with plants and animals illustrated in a spectacular, almost graphic-novel fashion. As it starts to rain, the story becomes more fantastical—the children blend into the desert and are magically transported to space on the back of a hummingbird. They’re drawn back to reality by their mom’s whistle, but retain the magic of their desert experience once home. This book connects the magic of imagination, nature, and childhood beautifully. The gorgeous, high-energy artwork perfectly complements the lyrical text. This would work well for desert studies or comparing different environments, and offers opportunities to discuss the difference between fantasy and reality. VERDICT A first choice for every library—don’t miss this one.–Debbie Tanner