Ponti, Claude. River, The. Claude Ponti, Illus. Translated from the French by Margot Kerlidou and Alyson Waters. Elsewhere, 03/2026. [52]pp. Picture Book. Trade $20. 978-1-962770-47-7. GRADES 1–3. LOW ADDITIONAL. On the river Longo lies two [continue reading]
Cindy Gullikson
Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game Review
Nelson, Kadir. Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game. Kadir Nelson, Illus. Little, Brown, 01/2026. 112pp. Nonfiction. Trade $21.99. 978-0-3162-0940-3. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING. From its origins as a game created by a Canadian PE [continue reading]
Lions’ Run Review
Pennypacker, Sara. Lions’ Run, The. Jon Klassen, Illus. Balzer + Bray, 02/2026. 288pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-2503-9281-7. GRADES 3–6. OUTSTANDING. Pennypacker delivers action, suspense, and emotional tension in her historical fiction, set in Nazi-occupied France [continue reading]
Korobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo Review
Onajin, Alaba. Case of the Missing Kolo, The. Alaba Onajin, Illus. Korobá; bk.1. Holiday House, 02/2026. 142pp. Graphic. Paper $14.99. 978-0-8234-6251-3. GRADES 3–6. OUTSTANDING. Solving the mystery of a missing “kolo”—a special piggy bank for [continue reading]
Goldfinches Review
Oliver, Mary. Goldfinches. Melissa Sweet, Illus. Viking, 03/2026. 40pp. Poetry. Trade $18.99. 978-05-9369-241-7. GRADES Kindergarten–5. OUTSTANDING. A visually stunning accompaniment to a poem by renowned poet Mary Oliver is filled with the ephemeral magic of [continue reading]
Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters Review
Nayberg, Yevgenia. Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters: A Graphic Memoir. Yevgenia Nayberg, Illus. Holiday House/Porter, 04/2026. 144pp. Graphic. Trade $24.99. 978-0-8234-6058-8. Paper $15.99. 978-0-8234-6278-0. GRADES 5–7. OUTSTANDING. This distinctive graphic memoir recaptures the atmosphere and [continue reading]
Barbed Wire Between Us Review
Wenjen, Mia. Barbed Wire Between Us. Violeta Encarnación, Illus. Red Comet, 03/2026. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6365-5192-0. GRADES 1–4. ADDITIONAL. Using the form of an illustrated reverso poem, Wenjen and Encarnación demonstrate parallels between [continue reading]
The Sweater Review
Theule, Larissa. Sweater, The: A Story of Community. Teagan White, Illus. Viking, 2/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5935-2894-5. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING. Raccoon Holly has just started a fall morning hike when she encounters a [continue reading]