Melissa McAvoy

Lam, Thao. Everybelly. Thao Lam, Illus. Groundwood, 04/2025. [36].pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-77306-764-3. GRADES Preschool–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.            At the community pool, Maddie observes many shapes and sizes of bellies. Every belly tells its own story and carries its own significance. Maddie’s observations set the stage [continue reading]

Vail, Rachel. You and Me, Anemone: A Story About Friendship and Personal Space. Chris Raschka, Illus. Greenwillow, 06/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99.  9780063414723. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.             Caldecott winner Raschka employs gesso on fabric, and embroidery floss and yarn, for brightly colored illustrations that appear textured on [continue reading]

Uzu, Tonka. Peggy Goes Gardening. Tonka Uzu, Illus. Translated from the Italian by Post Wave Children’s Books. Post Wave, 4/2025. [16]pp. Picture Book. Trade $15.99. 979-8-89509-006-0. GRADES Baby/Toddler–1. ADDITIONAL.           In this simple, sweet translation from original Italian, one or two sentences per page show little Peggy and [continue reading]

Tallec, Olivier. Is It Asleep? Olivier Tallec, Illus. Translated from the French by Lerner Publishing Group. Lerner/Gecko, 08/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 979-8765670521. GRADES Preschool–Kindergarten. ADDITIONAL. Pock and I (a mushroom and a squirrel) look for the blackbird who sings every morning, only to find it lying [continue reading]

Sekaninova, Stepanka. Poops and Farts: The Bottom Line. Miroslava Gomolcakova, Illus. Addl. Creator Daniel Handak. Translated from the Czech by Graeme and Suzzane Dibble. Albatros, 06/2025. 47pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.95. 978-80-00-07440-5. GRADES 2–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.          Who doesn’t appreciate a bit of humor when discussing bodily functions like pooping and [continue reading]

Yelchin, Eugene. I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir. Eugene Yelchin, Illus. Candlewick,09/2025. 432pp. Graphic. Trade $22.99. 978-1536215533. GRADES 9–Adult. OUTSTANDING.   Packed with power, this gorgeous and compelling follow-up to Yelchin’s graphic memoir, The Genius Under the Table (2021), is pitched at older [continue reading]

Kelly, Erin Entrada. Your Turn Marisol Rainey. Erin Entrada Kelly, Illus. Maybe Marisol. Greenwillow, 08/2025.146pp. Reader. Trade $18.99. 978-0-0633-3721-3. GRADES 1–4. OUTSTANDING.      Over spring break Marisol and her best friend Jada decide on a personality reset – time to leave anxious, B-minus Marisol behind and embrace new, [continue reading]

Lambelet, Anne. I’m a Dumbo Octopus: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods. Anne Lambelet, Illus. Graphic Universe, 03/2025. 72pp. Graphic. Trade $29.32. 979-8765603055. Paper $12.99. 979-8765661376. GRADES 2–5. OUTSTANDING. A personality-packed dumbo octopus named Grimpy introduces itself, and its whole class of cephalopods, in an engaging nonfiction graphic [continue reading]