Category: picture books

Posted in picture books

Picture Book/Board Book Rundown!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I know it’s been a minute since I was posting regularly, so let’s get to the books that were published during my little break!

Good Night, Friends, by Lori Wieczorek/Illustrated by Keiron Ward, (March 2026, Scholastic), $9.99, ISBN: 9798225017675

Ages 3-5

With verse and cadence inspired by Margaret Wise Brown’s bedtime classic, Goodnight Moon, Wieczorek skillfully creates a rhyming bedtime story about Friends: “In the great New York apartment, there was a group of friends on a sunny afternoon and a home full of… Phoebe’s tunes!” Fans of the series will love reliving the sitcom as they read the book to littles. Memorable moments from the series, from the famous “Pivot!” to Monica, Phoebe, and Rachel wearing wedding dresses as they sit on a couch together, run throughout the book. Ward’s illustrations are adorable, featuring simplified versions of the characters. This one is too cute for fans not to have, and the series lives on in syndication, ensuring consistent pop culture life span.

 

 

Truckosaurus, by Karen Shapiro/Illustrated by Rachel Foo, (March 2026, Sourcebooks Wonderland), $12.99, ISBN: 9781464251641

Ages 4-7

There’s a secret land where the wackiest and most wonderful creatures live, and the most beloved of all is Truckosaurus, the cutest half-dinosaur half-truck you’ll ever want to meet. Truckosaurus rolls around town catching up with his friends: toucans and apes, laser-toothed tigers, glow-in-the-dark pythons, and so many more! Everyone is getting ready for a big party to celebrate their best friend, the kindest Truckosaurus who helps everyone! Told in rhyme and filled with imaginative and playfully wild illustrations, this colorful ode to friendship is perfect for dinosaur fans (and if you’re doing the CSLP Summer Reading program). If you haven’t added this to your storytime collection yet, give it some consideration.

 

 

How NOT To Make a Jelly Sandwich, by Ross Burach, (Apr. 2026, Scholastic Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781338877090

Ages 4-8

Frankie is a kid who has her own unique way of doing things, and she can’t wait to show you how she makes a jelly sandwich! This hilarious story will have kids giggling as they follow Frankie along on her quest to make a jelly sandwich. How do you get bread? Disguise yourself as a duck, waddle down to the nearest pond, and let folks throw bread at you, naturally! Frankie has a wild imagination and encourages readers to think outside – way outside! – the box to do things. (Maybe don’t organize a joust to get your pieces of bread to meet, though.) Bold outlines, bright colors, and clever details throughout are a delight, always giving readers something new to discover. Definitely a fun choice for storytimes (and if, like my library, you offer Summer Lunch, there’s your lunchtime program).

 

Posted in picture books

A Super Bowl champ’s inspiring new book: Super Duper Me

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Super Duper Me, by Malcolm Mitchell/Illustrated by Deise Lino, (Aug. 2026, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781338225334

Ages 4-8

Theo’s the new kid at school and has trouble fitting in until a new school librarian arrives. Mr. Burton sees Theo when he feels invisible and invites him to his “Treasure Trove of Knowledge”; his “fancy-schmancy way of saying ‘the library'”. Burton tells Theo that he is never afraid because books give him wings: “They lift you up and show you how far you can fly”. Mr. Burton leaves special quotes on the bulletin board every day, allowing Theo to draw strength and confidence from books. The words lift him up and empower him, enabling him to make friends and share his own stories. Bold and bright illustrations attract a reader’s eye, and characters’ expressive faces are friendly and inviting. There are moving illustrations that celebrate self-confidence and the power of words; Theo basks in the warmth of his teacher’s support and is lifted up by the words from books. A strong story that brings home the power of books, the power of words, and the benefit of a good librarian! Back matter includes a warm author note. A recommended add to SEL collections.

 

 

 

Malcolm Mitchell is the rookie who helped the New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI. He’s also the founder of an initiative called Read with Malcolm, which introduces book ownership to students, and works to improve literacy in schools. Malcolm’s Share the Magic Foundation promotes the benefits of reading to kids in underserved communities. As the New England Patriots Summer Reading Ambassador, he encourages summer reading. Malcolm lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Deise Lino is the illustrator of several picture books, including Abuelo’s Flower Shop by Jackie Morera, Future Hero: Battle for Sky Kingdom by Remi Blackwood, and Luna Wolf 2: Code Danger by Alesha Dixon. She holds bachelor’s degrees in digital design and animation film and lives in Lisbon, Portugal. To learn more, visit deiselino.com.
Posted in picture books

Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol es vida! A Ted Lasso fan favorite tells his story

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol es vida!, by Cristo Fernández/Illustrated by James Rey Sanchez, (July 2026, Scholastic), $19.99, ISBN: 9798225012274

Ages 4-8

If you’ve seen Ted Lasso, you know that tagline belongs to the one and only Dani Rojas, played by Cristo Fernández. Rojas lived and breathed fútbol – most Americans call it soccer – and his joy on the field was an absolute delight to watch. In this charming autobiographical and bilingual story, Cristo is a young boy for whom “fútbol es vida”. Forever attached to his ball, his mother claims that it is “stuck to you like bubble gum to a shoe”. Focused on his game and being seen by a scout, Cristo is a kid on a mission until he sustains an injury that sidelines him. After a period of moping, he accompanies his Abuelita to the market, where he discovers sights and smells he never had time for before and happens upon a new hobby: making tamales! The story is as upbeat and cheerful as Fernández’s famous character, with a love for the game feeding everything around him. The English and Spanish text are easy to read and make for a great readaloud in either (or both!) language(s). Back matter includes an author’s note and back endpapers include Fernández’s family photos.

In a life imitates art moment, Fernández has signed with the El Paso Locomotives to be a striker, and Ted Lasso is coming back to televisions in August! Add this to your World Cup booklists and watch your readers adopt the famous tagline. A recommended purchase for areas with sports fans.

 

 

Cristo Fernández began his professional life as a fútbol (soccer) player in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, until injuries challenged him to reinvent his dreams. With determination, he earned a BA in Communications and later an MA in Acting in the UK, dedicating years to study, discipline, and creating his own independent work to forge a new path as an actor and filmmaker. That perseverance led him to the life-changing opportunity of Ted Lasso, where in his audition he delivered what would become Dani Rojas’s now-iconic catchphrase—a moment that transformed the trajectory of both the show and his own life. From Ted Lasso to the new stories he is creating today, Cristo continues to bring positivity, joy, and global inspiration to audiences, while elevating Latin American representation around the world.

James Rey Sanchez graduated from the Academy of Art University with a BFA in Visual Development and
studies in Children’s Book IllustraHon. His work includes illustraHng the very popular children’s book Irving
Berlin, The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing.

Posted in picture books

A fairy tale and the story of a fairy tale master, all for you!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan, by Sandra Nickel/Illustrated by Calvin Nicholls, (Mar. 2026, Levine Querido), $18.99, ISBN: 9781646145768

Ages 4-8

Nickel and Nicholls create a breathtaking picture book biography about master storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. Focusing on his lonely childhood and young adulthood, Andersen’s life mirrored many of his fairytales: the ugly duckling who became a swan; the lonely outcast who became celebrated by society. Nickel draws empathy from readers by unfolding Andersen’s story as one would a fairy tale hero’s journey, using some of Andersen’s most famous stories to tell his tale: his inability to dance like a swan; his speaking and acting “like a country duck”; his singing voice becoming “more like a toad’s” when his voice changed. Nicholls’s low-relief sculptures, created with layers of paper, creates movement and texture that presents a feast for the eyes. Every single part of this book is a joy to read. Back matter includes an author’s note, bibliography, and citations. An excellent addition to picture book biographies. Display with some of Andersen’s tales and show readers how to create their own cut-paper masterpieces – start with a simple doll chain or this heart chain.

The True Ugly Duckling has a starred review from Kirkus.

 

 

Rumpelstiltskin, by Mac Barnett/Illustrated by Carson Ellis, (Feb. 2026, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781338673852

Ages 3-7

Barnett and Ellis go together like peanut butter and jelly, and they’re just as good. Their latest story is a phenomenal retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, the little guy who spins straw into gold for a price. Nothing comes close to Barnett’s joyfully incendiary voice: he describes the young girl’s father as a “poor miller… a nice enough guy, but he had a big mouth. ..,Here, I’ll give you an example”. The father and king play a game of one-upmanship that leads the poor miller’s daughter to the king’s castle, where she has to spin gold out of straw (thanks, Dad) or lose her head. Barnett’s storytelling is pure fun to read, and Ellis’s gouache paintings look like a medieval museum gallery: which is what influenced both author and illustrator. There are also sketches throughout. The historical feel of the artwork pairs beautifully with Barnett’s more updated prose to give readers a book they will return to again and again.

Do not miss this one: it’s got starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus, was an Indie Next Pick, and a Book of Distinction chosen by the Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books.

 

Posted in Non-Fiction, picture books

THREE gorgeous books for Earth Month!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Happy Earth Month, everyone! Enjoy two beautiful nonfiction picture books to share with your readers.

Monarch and Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal, by Melissa Stewart & Sarah S. Brannen, (March 2026, Beach Lane Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781665962711

Ages 4-8

Sibert Honor recipients Stewart and Brannen combine poetry, art, and facts to create a beautiful book about two types of butterflies: the monarch and the mourning cloak. Just looking at the two, they look similar – they’re butterflies, right? – but their differences make them as fascinating as their different colors. They live in different habitats, eat different foods, have different ways to ward off predators, and hibernate differently. Lovely, evocative poetry over watercolor, pen, and pencil illustration brings readers to the butterflies’ world. Using palette samples to show readers the consideration going into the colors used, we get a view of the artist’s and author’s journals, featuring a coffee stain here; a taped-down poem there; a drawing of a tree that takes life across the page. Stewart and Brannen explore the life cycles of each butterfly, accompanied by verses full of wonder and contrast: “Packed tight, / in plain sight, / monarchs hibernate”, and “Tucked tight, / out of sight, / a mourning cloak hibernates. / Shhhh”.

Back matter includes notes on creating a journal and sketchbook and notes on butterflies. Endpapers each sneak a peek at the butterflies’ life cycles and where they live. Get this book on a display and watch your readers flock to it, and for everyone thinking of summer reading programs, a nature journal sounds tailor-made for this book! Monarch and Mourning Cloak has a starred review from Kirkus.

 

The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents, by Karen Jameson/Illustrated by Marie Hermansson, (April 2026, Chronicle Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781797221977

Ages 5-8

Think you know jellyfish? This rhyming romp through the ocean is filled with fun facts about jellies that will astound and amazed. Paired with vibrant digital illustrations that bring action and movement to each spread, this is a book made for an ocean storytime: “See-through jellies, / bright ones, too- / colors in each shade and hue! / And in the darkness, down below, / they radiate a blue-green/ GLOW!” The fonts grow large to emphasize exclamations that punctuate each spread and readers will love seeing these colorful jellyfish dash across the pages, evading predators or travel with fish in their wake. Back matter includes fun jellyfish facts and identifies each jellie featured in the book. Endpapers show a diverse group of families marveling at tanks of jellies at a lively aquarium. Great for a STEM storytime or a fun summer storytime!

 

 

Awe!, by Chana Stiefel/Illustrated by Susan Gal, (March 2026, Scholastic Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781546150350

Ages 4-8

Okay, this isn’t SOLELY Earth-related, but it fits because it’s all about AWE – not ‘awwww’, like when you see an adorable kitten, as author Chana Stiefel so deftly points out, but AWE: that incredible feeling you get when you witness something incredible that leaves you speechless and filled with emotion. Or, as Stiefel puts it, “… an Awesome / Wondrous / Empowering emotion”! Gal uses pencil, ink, and watercolor to create awe-inspiring illustrations of a whale breaching, the Northern Lights, and a giant city. But awe doesn’t mean the things we witness are huge – the emotions are, but we can be awestruck by seeing baby turtles run for the water and by a religious ceremony, or by helping others. Awe is all around us, waiting to be discovered; it’s up to us to find it, and that is the message at the heart of this story: “welcome those chills traveling down your spine, / welcome those sudden tears in your eyes”. A perfect read-aloud that celebrates the large and small moments around us. If you haven’t purchased this for your collection yet, buy two. They’ll move, especially with a gorgeous gatefold spread showing the beauty of the Grand Canyon.

Awe! has a starred review from Kirkus.

Posted in Non-Fiction, picture books

Get ready for Women’s History Month with Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery, by Jane Kurtz/Illustrated by Giselle Potter, (Feb. 2026, Beach Lane Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781665955546

Ages 4-8

This picture book biography of one of the first female paleontologists, Mary Morland, asks thought-provoking questions of the reader. Mary, born “in a time of ribbons and lace”, preferred exploring outside to sitting inside like a “prim little miss”. When her mother died and her father sent her to live with childless friends, she turned to studying and journaling the world around her, ultimately marrying a fellow student of her mentor. Kurtz’s questions ask the reader to put themselves in Morland’s place and think about what they would do in her positions: would they feel sad if their father sent them off to live with friends after losing their mother? Would a scientific-minded child spend their days thinking about clothes, or giggling about being empty-headed? Much of the story centers on Mary being the silent partner, a woman in a man’s world to the point where her own husband didn’t credit her with illustrating his fossil collections, but she never emerges as a shrinking flower or a victim. Mary Morland takes up space in her world, whether helping her husband with his teaching or passing her love of fossils and science to her own children. Potter’s watercolor illustrations have a vintage feel and place the reader in the time frame. Back matter includes an author’s note, additional resources, and sources. A great choice for picture book biographies and STEM/STEAM collections, and an excellent choice for Women’s History Month.

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery has starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.

 

The Oxford Museum of Natural History has an online exhibition dedicated to Mary Morland. The History of Scientific Women webpage has a profile on Morland, as does the Geological Society of London.

★ “A delightful STEAM biography that spotlights a female scientist who deserves to be better known.” – Kirkus (starred)
 
★ “Wry interrogative narration energizes this engaging portrait.” – Publishers Weekly (starred)
Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but spent most of her childhood in Ethiopia. Jane speaks about being an author at schools and conferences and is the volunteer director of the bilingual book project at Open Hearts Big Dreams . She is the author of many books for children, including The Bone Wars, illustrated by Alexander Vidal; What Do They Do with All that Poo?, illustrated by Allison Black; The Clues Are In the Poo: The Story of Dinosaur Scientist Karen Chin, illustrated by Francisco Riolobos; Clara the Triumphant Rhinoceros, illustrated by Claire Messer; Oh Give Me A Home: A Mostly True Story in Verse; and the American Girl book Lanie. To learn more, visit janekurtz.com.
Giselle Potter has illustrated many books, including Once Upon a Fairy Tale House by Mary Lyn Ray, Try It! by Mara Rockliff, All by Himself? by Elana K. Arnold, and Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne, as well as her own Tell Me What to Dream About, This Is My Dollhouse, and The Year I Didn’t Go to School, about traveling through Italy with her parents’ puppet troupe when she was eight. She lives in Rosendale, New York, with her husband and two daughters. Visit her at GisellePotter.com.
Posted in Intermediate, Non-Fiction, picture books

Just in Case celebrates the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, by Megan Clendenan/Illustrated by Britany Cicchese, (Oct. 2025, Charlesbridge Publishing), $17.99, ISBN: 9781623544805

Ages 5-8

Located deep in a Norwegian mountain is the key to protecting the planet’s resources: the Svalbard Seed Vault. Just in Case tells the story of the Svalbard vault using clear and easy-to-understand language; Clendenan infuses her straightforward narrative with beautiful language, pairing with Cicchese’s digital landscapes to inspire awe: “Steel doors open and beckon into the belly of a mountain. Inside the air is as cold as the Arctic outside. Walls of ice shine like stars”. Clendenan and Cicchese show people from all over the world coming together to farm, plant, and eat together, thus creating a respect for nature and what the planet provides. Callouts throughout the book provide further context the importance of seeds and the vault’s creation. Frequent use of the phrase, “Just in case”, resonates with readers of all ages who hear – and say – the same phrase for everything from bringing an umbrella on a cloudy day to carrying a purse-sized first aid kit. It’s a phrase that speaks of importance, the need to be prepared, and creates a bridge of understanding. Back matter includes information on the need for seed safety, an author’s note, a bibliography and further resources. If you haven’t purchased this for your shelves yet, please do it now.

With Spring coming, this is the perfect time to discuss Just in Case: the Svalbard Vault’s anniversary is February 26th; Earth Day is April 22nd, and World Food Day is October 16th. If your library has a seed library, display the book with your library’s “seed vault” and encourage folks to add their seeds to the library’s collection. Find Seed Libaries at the Seed Library Network website.

Just in Case has starred reviews from School Library Journal, The Horn Book, and was a Shelf Awareness pick. It is also a 2026 Orbis Pictus Award Winner and is part of the 2026 Children’s Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Books and Children’s Book Council Best STEM Books.

 

Megan Clendenan studied sociology, English, and environmental planning and has worked for nonprofit organizations focused on environmental law, women’s empowerment, mental health, and urban food security. As a children’s book author, she loves writing nonfiction that explores the connections between history, society, and the environment. She is the author of Design Like Nature: Biomimicry for a Healthy Planet, Fresh Air, Clean Water: Our Right to a Healthy Environment, and Cities: How Humans Live Together. She lives near Vancouver, British Columbia, with her family and two fuzzy orange cats. This is her first picture book. To learn more, visit meganclendenan.com. Follow her on Instagram at @meganclendenan.

Brittany Cicchese enjoys capturing emotion above all else, from expressive portraits to moody illustrations. She is the illustrator of The Kitten Story: A Mostly True Tale and No More Señora Mimí. When Brittany isn’t sketching or writing, you can find her working at the library, reading a good fantasy or sci-fi book, or hiking around the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Brittany lives in Denver, Colorado. To learn more, visit www.brittanycicchese.com. Visit her Instagram at @cicchese.art.
Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

A drowsy bedtime adventure: You and I Are Stars and Night

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

You and I Are Stars and Night, by Kate Hosford/Illustrated by Richard Jones, (Feb. 2026, Beach Lane Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781665940382

Ages 3-7

A mother and child go on a playful and loving adventure in this rhyming tale beginning at bath time, where the two set sail on a magical journey with picnics at the shore, playtime with mer-children, and a fantastic flight over a mountain. Rhyming text emphasizes the warm relationship between caregiver and child, each a part that completes the other: “Dive into the ocean spray / and watch the baby mermaids play. / The tides will pull us to and fro. / You and I are ebb and flow”. The adventure concludes as the two return home, curl up with a good bedtime story, and fall asleep. Acrylic and watercolor paintings add a soft, dreamlike quality to the gentle rhyming tale to usher listeners to sleep. A solid addition to bedtime story collections and a great choice for pajama storytimes and bedtime reading.

 

Posted in Intermediate, picture books

Rise, Girl, Rise: A Call to Young Women

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Rise, Girl, Rise: Our Sister-Friend Journey. Together for All, by Gloria Steinem & Leymah Gbowee/Illustrated by Kah Yangni, (Feb. 2026, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781338888942

Ages 4-8

“We come to this place from worlds apart…”: Two women raised on different sides of the world come together to tell their stories as young women and what brought them together to work on behalf of women all over the world. Steinem muses on her childhood as an antique dealer’s daughter, traveling the country in the trailer that served as her home; as she grew, she saw more and more injustices faced by women and people of color. Gbowee recalls her peaceful childhood in Liberia until war broke out in 1989, when she saw the injustices foisted upon women and children in particular. When Steinem and Gbowee meet and become “sister-friends”, they become “WE”: united, “Sister-speakers. Sister-preachers”, joined in their crusade for equality and human rights. Steinem and Gbowee’s words inspire and rally readers; Yangni’s mixed media and digital illustrations are bold and colorful with texture and life. An excellent choice for collections, and an inspired choice for Women’s History Month displays. Back matter includes authors’ notes. Find activity sheets here.

 

 

Gloria Steinem is a political activist, feminist organizer, and the author of many acclaimed books, including the national bestseller Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem. She is a contributor to the classic children’s book Free to Be You and Me, which became a children’s entertainment project, conceived, created, and executive-produced by actress and author Marlo Thomas, produced in collaboration with the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Free to Be Foundation, both cofounded by Ms. Steinem, and most recently illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.

Ms. Steinem is also the cofounder of the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Women’s Media Center. In keeping with her deep commitment to establishing equality throughout the world, Ms. Steinem helped found Equality Now, Donor Direct Action, and Direct Impact Africa. To learn more, visit gloriasteinem.com.

Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist, social worker, and women’s rights advocate. She is Founder and President of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, based in Monrovia. As a writer, Ms. Gbowee is the author of the inspirational memoir Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War, and author of the children’s book A Community of Sisters, illustrated by Coleen Baik. Ms. Gbowee is perhaps best known for leading a nonviolent movement that brought together Christian and Muslim women to play a pivotal role in ending Liberia’s devastating, fourteen-year civil war in 2003.

Kah Yangni is the illustrator of Not He or She, I’m Me by A. M. Wild, a 2024 Stonewall Book Award Honor Book and the illustrator of The Making of Butterflies by Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi. Their art has been covered by NBC News, Ebony Magazine, Mic, and them, and their poster work is in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Kah lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Celebrate Passover in Argentina: The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana María Shua & Ángeles Ruiz

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Passover Pet Surprise, by Ana María Shua/Illustrated by Ángeles Ruiz, (March 2026, NorthSouth Books), $19.95, ISBN: 9780735846081

Ages 4-8

Jordanita and her family live in Miami, but head to Argentina to spend the Passover holiday with their family. Jordanita loves spending time with her Argentina family, Uncle Ariel, Aunt Verónica, and cousin Ilán; they have a big garden with plenty of places to play hide-and-seek, and they have so many pets! There are two dogs, a cat, two turtles, and two parrots named Tic and Toc. Who could ask for more? As the family spends time together, Jordanita notices Tic and Toc are in a cage while the other animals roam freely. After listening to the Passover story and her family talk about freedom, she decides that all living things should be free. A story of love, family, and faith, Shua’s writing is filled with warmth; Jordanita’s innocent mistake is based in a desire to do good. Ruiz’s illustrations bring an explosion of joyful color on each spread. The English language version of the book includes some Spanish vocabulary. A delightful story that also carries lessons on caring for pets. A recommended purchase for holiday collections.

The Passover Pet Surprise has a starred review from School Library Journal.