Gustavson, Adam. Aliens Do Not Want to Go Home, The. Adam Gustavson, Illus. Charlesbridge, 06/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-494-2. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.      

Alien kids repeatedly say that they are not ready to end their day on Earth, via insistent, familiar refrains like “It’s not even dark out!” or “they haven’t had dessert yet.” The varied types of  alien kids, depicted in many shapes and sizes, act just like human kids, with their creative ways of seeking more. More time can be had, up until a point, when parents have had enough and load every protesting kid up and head for home. Gustavson’s imaginative gouache and watercolor illustrations show readers the great lengths these aliens take to stay (and the destruction they cause) in the small farm town they are visiting. While no humans, or alien parents, are shown, a scattered assortment of farm animals have the joy of experiencing the chaotic alien visit, until the many tractor beams pull the kids back to their various spaceships and they leave. A different take on ending the day and getting ready for bed, which will work well for preschool storytimes.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Watson, Renée. All the Blues in the Sky. Bloomsbury, 02/2025. 182pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5476-0589-7. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING.

Thirteen-year-old aspiring pilot Sage is reeling from the recent and sudden loss of her best friend. Watson’s latest novel in verse skillfully traverses the uneven path of a teenager navigating grief without shying away from the messy moments. Convincing and authentic, the reader is transported to Sage’s tight-knit Harlem community, where members present as Black. A plot twist at the end leaves the audience with a deep faith in Sage’s resiliency, as well as hope that Sage’s story continues in a future volume.

Beth Gousman—Montclair Elementary School / Oakland Unified School District

Trapani, Iza. Born Inside a Nest So Small: Conversation with a Hummingbird. Iza Trapani, Illus. Charlesbridge, 06/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-584-0. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.

Experience life as a hummingbird through this informative picture book. A young child tells the story of a hummingbird’s life via narrative, rhyming verses, written as short paragraphs. Each spread’s detailed watercolor and gouache illustrations accompany the flowing narration and include a (differently sized) factual sentence or two. This quick-paced introduction to hummingbirds could be shelved in either nonfiction for early readers or in picture books.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Chung, Hannah. Bread Days. Hannah Chung, Illus. Astra, 09/2025. [34]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-66262-101-7. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.      

Nara loved baking sourdough bread with Papa, but one day he was no longer around. She sadly put away the sourdough starter in the refrigerator until one night when she thought about giving baking another try. This time, she and Mama fed the starter and baked bread. There is no explanation as to where Papa went, except everyone was sad, and the author’s note mentions the death of the author’s father. Aside from that confusing aspect, the story reminds children to be resilient. The softly focused, digital, cartoon-like illustrations depict the family as Asian. The only thing missing is a recipe. Review based on an ARC.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Fleming, Candace. Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown. Schwartz & Wade, 04/2025. 356pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-593-48006-9. GRADES 9–Adult. OUTSTANDING.    

In 1978, preacher and cult leader Jim Jones of the Jonestown People’s Temple led a group from California to Guyana, where more than 900 people were murdered or committed suicide. This detailed account begins with Jones as a boy, then as a preacher in Indianapolis, then his move to California, and finally to Guyana in South America. Fleming shows how he began with a message of civil rights and welcoming of the Black community but turned into a power-mad lunatic. The author’s award-winning narrative nonfiction style seen in The Family Romanov (2014) and Murder Among Friends (2022), includes first-hand interviews with Jones’s family members and other witnesses, making for a gripping, page-turning text. The details on the cult’s cruelty and the complexity of the story makes this best suited to high school students and even adults who will find it fascinating. Back matter includes an index, source notes, bibliography, and multiple b&w photos compiled in two sections near the end. Includes California-specific content.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Chin, Cherilyn. Dolphin’s Cry for Help. Tracy Nishimura Bishop, Illus. Lilly Lu to the Rescue. Lerner, 01/2025. 32pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8765619667. Paper $9.99. 979-8765619803. GRADES 1–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. 

SERIES REVIEW: This early chapter book series follows Lily Lu and her scientist mother as they travel to study wild animals. Each time her mother studies an animal, there’s a problem which the two end up helping with (and save an animal). This reviewer read two titles, one covering a trip to Florida to study dolphins and the other to Africa for penguins. In Florida they rescue a young calf caught in a fishing net, while in Africa they help clean oil-covered penguins after an oil spill. Each book includes an introduction to Lily and the animal being studied, four short chapters, and a few ending questions readers can use to reflect on what they just read. Color illustrations depict the animals, the trouble that arises, and the multi-ethnic humans (adults and kids) that help the animal. A useful introduction to wildlife rescues. Both the author and illustrator live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Lindstrom, Carole. Gift of the Great Buffalo, The. Aly McKnight, Illus. Bloomsbury Children’s, 02/2025. 30pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5476-0688-7. GRADES Kindergarten–1. OUTSTANDING.           

Rose experiences her first traditional Métis buffalo hunt with her pa in South Dakota, learning the true meaning of the indigenous buffalo way. This book reflects the rich history of the Métis buffalo hunt, a cultural practice that emphasizes the importance of community. The hunt was a way to foster bonds, uphold traditions, and transmit knowledge across generations, ensuring that both cultural identity and practical skills were preserved and celebrated. With roots in the indigenous Métis tribe and Anishinaabe heritage, the author brings a genuine and heartfelt authenticity to Rose’s voice. The colorful graphite and watercolor illustrations of the characters, plain land, and buffalo herd bring the story to life. Rose’s facial expressions capture the young reader’s attention and keep them engaged in the story. Give to young readers who want to explore their own family traditions.

Eboni Weston—San José State University, iSchool Student

Emberley, Michael. Night Light. Michael Emberley, Illus. I Like to Read Comics. Holiday House, 04/2025. [32]pp. Reader. Trade $14.99. 978-0-8234-5816-5. GRADES Kindergarten–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Part of the I Like to Read Comics series of early readers, the power goes out while a parent and child are reading a book that resembles Ed Emberley’s Go Away, Big Green Monster! (Little Brown, 1992). To deal with the problem, the parent gathers stars from the night sky and brings them indoors to illuminate their home. The parent and child are not human, but pajama-wearing beings with horns who live in a regular house. The book design features multi-paneled, digital, full-color artwork with dialogue balloons, reflecting the goal of resembling a comic book. This is the third book using these characters, including I Did It! (2022) and Let’s Go! (2023), and will serve as a stepping stone to graphic novels.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Guojing. Oasis. Guojing, Illus. Henry Holt / Laura Godwin, 02/2025. 151[+9]pp. Graphic. Trade $21.99. 978-1-2508-1837-9. Paper $14.99. 978-1-250-81838-6. GRADES 5–8. ADDITIONAL.          

Estranged from their mother, JieJie and DiDi, two young, isolated siblings wander a bleak desert to meet their daily needs. Full of exhaustion and sorrow, the children become distracted by a small fox while gathering water and end up at a dump. Amongst the trash, the children discover a human-like AI robot that brings experiences of joy and comfort, helping them forget their hardships. This haunting and deeply philosophical graphic novel uncomfortably captures the existential conflict parents often face when working tirelessly to provide for their children, while simultaneously wanting nothing more than to be with them. Guojing’s softly lit, heavily shaded illustrations support the text and cast a gloomy feeling, interspersed with a few hopeful pops of color. Despite the dark storyline and imagery, there are threads of hope and wonder as we watch humans and AI team up to create a successful hybrid parenting model to raise happy children. Best suited for preteens, the Oasis narrative provides insight into the parenting struggles that mistakenly manifest as child abandonment. The characters in the book appear Asian, and the race of the supporting AI is non-descript. 

Stacey Miller—South San Francisco Public Library

Chin, Cherilyn. Penguin Gets Cleaned Up. Tracy Nishimura Bishop, Illus. Lilly Lu to the Rescue. Lerner, 01/2025. 32pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8765619674. Paper $9.99. 979-8765619810. GRADES 1–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Dolphin’s Cry for Help by Cherilyn Chin for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Bird, Betsy. Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme. Andrea Tsurumi, Illus. Union Square Kids, 03/2025. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-4549-6046-1. GRADES Baby/Toddler–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.           

In this celebration of Mother Goose rhymes, a bird is reading the rhymes when a weasel interrupts by saying “Pop! Goes the Weasel.” This happens several times, interrupting the recitation of “Jack and Jill,” “Little Miss Muffet,” “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and a few others. Each time the bird admonishes the weasel in frustration, until the story’s surprise ending. The storytime audience can repeat the phrase “Pop! Goes the Weasel” which stops each rhyme before its last line. This is a fun way to introduce nursery rhymes to toddlers or to confirm them with older preschoolers who will appreciate the anarchy. The book ends with an author’s note on the history and at times unfortunate historical references in some rhymes. The pastel shaded cartoon artwork adds energy and charm, depicting all the characters as animals.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Hartman, Aubrey. Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, The. Marcin Minor, Illus. Little Brown, 02/2025. 313pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-316-57572-0. GRADES 3–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.       

Clare is a fox with the job of Grim Reaper for animals; he takes pride in ushering their souls to one of four afterlife options best suited to their personalities: peace, pleasure, progress, and pain, from his home-base cottage in the Deadwood Forest. The various animal characters rely partly on species’ stereotypes and some anthropomorphism, although they are unrelated to human identity groups. Readers will be drawn into the dramatic plot when Clare and a recently dead, unwelcome badger named Gingersnipes go on a dangerous quest to soothe Clare’s disquietude, and to stop the taunting by human children on Halloween. Side stories, such as the mushroom business Clare runs with local rats, add humor. Each chapter opens with a slightly creepy b&w illustration depicting an upcoming action, like a teaser for the storyline, which lets readers feel included. Captivating and thought-provoking, this would work as a readaloud for families with children ages five and up who enjoy the faintly macabre, seek stories that teach compassion, and are willing to wrestle with family teasing, parental abandonment, and of course, death and the afterlife.

Erica Siskind—Oakland Public Library

Cushman, Karen. When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea. Knopf, 03/2025. 230pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-593-65057-8. GRADES 4–6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Orphan Sally O’Malley is on her own in Oregon in 1894 when she decides it is time to see the ocean. She gets a wagon ride from an older woman named Major who is transporting an annoying little boy to relatives, and the journey begins. The rambling story includes comedic language such as “whippersnapper” and “dad blame it,” with Sally’s distinctive first-person voice. Sally exhibits persistence and determination, similar to Cushman’s previous characters seen in Catherine, Called Birdy (Clarion, 1994), The Midwife’s Apprentice (Houghton Mifflin, 1991), and The Ballad of Lucy Whipple (Clarion, 1996). Although it takes a while for the action to get going, this is an engaging story showing how females helped to settle the Pacific Northwest. Main characters present as white.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Jarrow, Gail. White House Secrets: Medical Lies and Cover-ups. Medical Fiascoes. Calkins Creek, 09/2025. 288pp. Nonfiction. Trade $24.99. 978-1-66268-103-5. GRADES 5–10. HIGH ADDITIONAL.           

Jarrow’s latest book on medical calamities in history describes how nine U.S. Presidents were able to conceal serious medical crises during their terms in office, from James Garfield to Joseph Biden. Each chapter delves into the person’s medical history, how it was covered up, and what the consequences may have been. For example, Woodrow Wilson had a devastating stroke that prevented him from governing, so many people believe his wife was really in charge for his final two years in office. The author’s writing style, similar to her previous book Ambushed! The Assassination Plot Against President Garfield (2021), is compelling, with just enough detail to inform and interest the reader but not overwhelm. The book contains photos or other illustrations on nearly every other page, and abundant back matter includes source notes, bibliography, index, glossary, and timeline. Review based on an ARC.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool