Amazing Theatre of Physics. Awesome Physics in Your City, The. Tomas Kopecky, Illus. Translated from the Czech by Graeme Dibble. Albatros, 06/2025. 45pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.95. 978-80-00-07439-9. GRADES 3–6. ADDITIONAL.       

Physics is all around us, which this title strives to demonstrate and explain. Starting with a map of a town, readers visit different city areas and learn tidbits about applicable physics topics which readily affect and can be understood by kids. For example, “In the Street” explains blaring sirens, rainbows on the street, how reflectors work, plus tire traction on wet roads; while the section “At the Amusement Park” covers various rides like bumper cars, the typical pirate ship ride, and swing carousels. The scientific explanations connected to things readers know makes physics more real and understandable. Digital illustrations bring a comic-like feel to the explanations, with every page keeping the reader busy conceptualizing, understanding, and connecting with what they already know. This reader did find at least one factual error (probably due to translation) saying “there are 12 ounces in one pound as there are 12 inches in one foot,” when there are actually sixteen ounces in one pound. Mistake aside, the title presents physics as interesting and demonstrates real world applications that anyone can understand.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Marino, Max. Balancing Act. Amanda Erb, Illus. Addl. Creators Elliott Smith and Roman Diaz. Lerner Sports Stories. Lerner, 01/2025. 71pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8765619698. Paper $11.99. 979-8765619742. GRADES 2–4. ADDITIONAL.        

Sports can be a big part of kids’ lives, which these two entries in the Lerner Sports Stories series demonstrate via short, easy-to-read stories that middle elementary readers are likely to enjoy. Basketball can be all absorbing, which Max does not recognize until his health is affected. Ava loves to dance, especially ballet, which also seems to translate to gymnastics, but there’s trouble with a bully and self-doubt. These quick-paced stories show off the fun, and the problems, in either basketball or gymnastics specifically, as well as sports in general. Limited b&w illustrations break up the text to help demonstrate the story’s action and characters. Useful for readers in middle elementary, especially reluctant readers due to easy-to-understand sentences, plot, and characters.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Marino, Max. Basketball Break. Amanda Erb, Illus. Addl. Creators Mari Bolte. Lerner Sports Stories. Lerner, 01/2025. 71pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8765619711. Paper $11.99. 979-8765619728. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Balancing Act by Max Marino for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Ralphs, Matt. Beasts from the Deep. Kaley McKean, Illus. Nosy Crow, 05/2025. 93pp. Nonfiction. Trade $22.99. 979-8-88777-171-7. GRADES 4–8. ADDITIONAL.        

First published in the UK in 2024 in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, this describes animals that live in the deepest part of the oceans. The text begins with information on the zones of the oceans, then devotes a spread to each of the animals highlighted in the Twilight, Midnight, Abyssal, and Hadal Zones. Each profile includes four or five brief paragraphs on the animal, describing where they live, what they eat, and how they reproduce. Large, dramatic full-colored illustrations are the prominent feature of the book, almost looking like they could glow in the dark. In a few cases, there is black text on deep blue backgrounds which is difficult to read; most of the time the text is white against a dark background. Back matter includes an index and glossary. Although the information on each creature is too brief for a report, this is a solid supplementary resource and a pleasant recreational read.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Peter, Katie. Celebrating Holi. Let’s Celebrate Holidays (Pull Ahead Readers, Nonfiction). Lerner, 2026. 16pp. Nonfiction. PLB $27.99. 979-8765668726. Paper $8.99. 979-8765684399. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW: These simple, appealing introductions to celebrations and observances pair colorful photos of happy participants or items with first-person, short, declarative statements: “I throw blue. It is for courage,” shares the narrator of Celebrating Holi; “We have our own food,” shares the narrator of Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Rather than many facts, these very early readers share a visual and selective gist of the chosen holiday; while satisfying as toddler/Pre-K overviews, they’ll serve as launching pads for older readers to learn more. Each title includes a table of contents, index, and “Did you see it?” section for simple reflecting on the reading. Recommended for educators or families introducing the included celebrations to their littlest readers for the first time.

Riva Pollard—Sausalito Public Library

Peter, Katie. Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Let’s Celebrate Holidays (Pull Ahead Readers, Nonfiction). Lerner, 2026. 16pp. Nonfiction. PLB $27.99. 979-88765668733. Paper $8.99. 979-8765684405. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Celebrating Holi by Katie Peter for series review.

Riva Pollard—Sausalito Public Library

Peter, Katie. Celebrating Lunar New Year. Let’s Celebrate Holidays (Pull Ahead Readers, Nonfiction). Lerner, 2026. 16pp. Nonfiction. PLB $27.99. 979-88765668740. Paper $8.99. 979-8765684412. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Celebrating Holi by Katie Peter for series review.

Riva Pollard—Sausalito Public Library

Peter, Katie. Celebrating the 100th Day of School. Let’s Celebrate Holidays (Pull Ahead Readers, Nonfiction). Lerner, 2026. 16pp. Nonfiction. PLB $20.99. 979-8348013509. Paper $8.99. 979-8765684375. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Celebrating Holi by Katie Peter for series review.

Riva Pollard—Sausalito Public Library

Rescek, Sanja. Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Say Good Night: and Other Bedtime Rhymes. Sanja Rescek, Illus. Tiger Tales, 05/2025. [28]pp. Poetry. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6643-0057-6. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. ADDITIONAL.      

Originally published in the UK in 2019 in board book format, this collection of new nursery rhymes is based on popular rhymes but with dinosaur characters. For example, “Rock-a-bye Dino” uses the pattern of “Rock-a-bye Baby” but replaces the baby with a baby dinosaur. There are twenty rhymes, and nearly all of them could work well in a dinosaur-themed storytime, including “Dinosaur, Dinosaur” which is based on “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,” and “Five Little Dinosaurs” which works as a fingerplay. Overall, this is a pleasant collection but in some cases the rhymes have very little original content, changing just a few words from the original. The full-color artwork has an airbrushed quality, depicting the dinosaurs as sweet stuffed animals.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Gabor, Nicole. First Day of School with Ji-Young. Sesame Street Firsts. Lerner, 08/2025. 24pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8765661048. Paper $9.99. 979-8765684825. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW: Sesame Street and Lerner’s six-title series explores some of the first experiences young children have, including topics like: starting school, getting a library card, riding a school bus, losing a tooth, and visiting the dentist or doctor. These titles use engaging, simple, direct, and easy-to-understand sentences, paired with appropriate color photographs and character dialogue (directed to the reader for engagement) to inform and help young children and early readers. These topics have been covered many times before, but the full-size photographs, reader-directed dialogue, and inclusion of child-friendly Sesame Street characters make for useful replacements for older titles on these subjects. Each title includes information that helps the reader (or listener) understand the topic, plus an engaging activity, a simple glossary, index, and other suggested titles. A variety of Sesame Street characters are spread throughout each title, one per double-page spread, often paired with an ethnically diverse cast of human children. Useful titles for parents helping early readers understand these topics.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Sanderson, Whitney. First Library Card with Big Bird. Sesame Street Firsts. Lerner, 08/2025. 24pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8765661079. Paper $9.99. 979-8765684856. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: First Day of School with Ji-Young by Nicole Gabor for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Gabor, Nicole. First Lost Tooth with Gabrielle. Sesame Street Firsts. Lerner, 08/2025. 24pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8765661062. Paper $9.99. 979-8765684849. GRADES Preschool–Kindergarten. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: First Day of School with Ji-Young by Nicole Gabor for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Taylor, Sean. Five Little Friends: A Collection of Finger Rhymes. Fiona Woodcock, Illus. Candlewick, 08/2025. 61pp. Poetry. Trade $19.99. 978-1-5362-4291-1. GRADES Baby/Toddler–2. OUTSTANDING.           

Thirty-five original poems that can be used as fingerplays make this a great choice for storytime presenters or fans of nursery rhymes and poetry. Many of these rhymes involve topics familiar to toddlers, including food, bubbles, trees, weather, and animals. For example, “Get the brush. / Squeeze the paste. / Freshen your mouth / with the minty taste.” The mixed media illustrations include culturally diverse children acting out the rhyme, which can inspire the movements to bring the verse to life, or you can make up your own. Most of the earth-toned artwork gives enough examples of the hand movements to make this easy to copy, adding more fingerplays to the classics most toddlers already know.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Godwin, Jane. Found You! Sylvia Morris, Illus. Charlesbridge, 09/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-618-2. GRADES Preschool–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

Preschool age Archie has fun playing hide-and-seek with his friends inside the house until maybe it’s not as fun as he thought. Observant readers will notice where he hides, as well as his peeking out to see if others have noticed his hiding spot. However, the longer Archie is not found, the more he is scared that he’s been forgotten. Readers will feel his palpable fear rising, which almost cost him his hide-and-seek win, plus his relief upon realizing that everyone is still searching for him. This Australian import (2022, Affirm Press) demonstrates the fun of the game, the fear of being forgotten, and the happiness to be remembered, which the watercolor and digital illustrations bring to full life.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Sosa, Daniela. Giant Parsnip Soup. Daniela Sosa, Illus. S&S/Paula Wiseman, 05/2025. [36]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6659-6196-7. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING.   

After finding a giant parsnip, an ethnically diverse group of children gather other vegetables to make soup in this counting book. The bouncy text allows readers to count the number of each item, such as “two sacks of potatoes, three crates of carrots” as they begin to collect the ingredients. The collage, paint, pencil, and ink illustrations use pastel tones and white backgrounds to depict the children bringing the ingredients and preparing the soup, with both the numeral and word for each number included. The book concludes with a chart depicting the things that were counted and a recipe for the soup. This would be a great book to pair with Stone Soup and The Enormous Turnip, two classic folktales with similar themes.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Barnes, Derrick. I Got You: A Brother’s Promise. Shamar Knight-Justice, Illus. Nancy Paulsen, 08/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-11145-1. GRADES Kindergarten–2. OUTSTANDING.           

Rasheed shares his heartfelt gratitude for his older brother Anthony, who is always by his side. The story’s refrain, “I Got You,” resonates throughout the book, making it perfect for reading aloud and highlighting the the vital role of sibling bonds within African American communities. The illustrator vividly portrays Anthony guiding Rasheed through life’s little lessons, from learning to ride a bike, to building and toppling Lego towers, soaring high on swings, buttoning shirts, splashing on cologne, and simply doing things the right way. The rich oil paintings breathe life and emotion into every page. A surprising twist comes when Anthony and Rasheed discover they will soon welcome another sibling. By the story’s end, Rasheed steps into the role of a big brother himself, offering the same care and protection he once received. This outstanding book is a heartfelt tribute to sibling relationships.

Eboni Weston—San José State University, iSchool Student

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 readers. Set in the early 1980s in the Soviet Union, four sections are divided into short, titled chapters. Charcoal grey and inky black illustrations employ dramatic framing, deft use of pattern, digital period photographs, and a carefully considered small cast of characters. A particular standout is Yelchin’s Jewish grandmother: too old to be afraid, her mordant humor is chillingly apt. At the center is young, idealistic Yelchin, full of artistic promise and half in love with the enigmatic American girl from the forbidden Leningrad art show. Subtle expressions combined with droll, straightforward text bring to life the claustrophobic, totalitarian Soviet nightmare seeking to swallow each character’s courage, wit, and promise. A cinematic page-turner full of art, love, friendship, family, and oppression, this unforgettable memoir will entertain and educate. Characters are Jewish and white. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

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 on the forest floor. After many attempts to see if the blackbird is simply resting, they decide it must have died and give it a simple funeral. Somber gouache, acrylic, and pencil illustrations depict the careful thoughts of the two friends as they decide how to proceed.  A bit different from other books on death, focusing more on the what and the why, making it a useful addition for collections helping those experiencing loss.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Raij, Emily. Just Say Welcome! Nathalia Takeyama, Illus. Kar-Ben, 08/2025. [21]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 979-8765619919. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.

One day Tilly’s mom tells Tilly and her brother Adam that a family from Iraq will be staying with them for a week, while a home is readied. Although Tilly has lots of friends in the neighborhood, having someone new staying in her house feels a bit different. Raij’s writing shows how being kind and helpful to others, especially strangers, can show the many ways people are similar and create new friendships. Digital looking illustrations show everyone happy, getting along, with new friendships blossoming as everyone works together. Both families are depicted with a single parent (mothers). Tilly’s family celebrates Shabbat, and the neighborhood kids appear to be a variety of ethnicities. A great book to use for discussions about immigrants, friendships, and getting along with others.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

McAlister, Caroline. Line Can Go Anywhere, A: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa. Jamie Green, Illus. Roaring Brook, 02/2025. 40 [+6]pp. Biography. Trade $19.99. 978-1-2503-1037-8. GRADES 2–5. OUTSTANDING.

This picture book biography of artist Ruth Aiko Asawa uses the metaphor of broken and twisted lines as a stand-in for the hard times in Asawa’s life. Green’s graphic style and mixed media illustrations reflect the mood of each part of this largely California-based story. Kids will relate to the idea of Ruth not being able to envision herself as an artist. McAlister is unflinching in the portrayal of the limits that Ruth is subject to during World War II as an American of Japanese descent. Asawa’s message of inclusivity in art shines through. While this book would not work as a standalone source for a student report, it is full of rich details about one of California’s most famous contemporary artists and provides a bibliography to supplement. Includes California-specific content.

Beth Gousman—Montclair Elementary School / Oakland Unified School District

Dexet, Hector. Little Seed. Hector Dexet, Illus. Post Wave, 03/2025. [24]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 979-8-89509-003-9. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.      

Originally published in French in 2022, a sunflower seed describes its journey to become a flower: “I wait patiently for the arrival of a new season, for just the right moment. Suddenly, there is a gust of wind, and… up I go!” The story continues through the seasons until it changes from a seed to a large sunflower. The illustrations add interest and more information, using gatefold pages, die-cut holes, and flaps, which may not last long due to library usage. The graphic style art uses bright colors on white backgrounds, featuring small animals and insects close-up. The mechanics of the folds and flaps make this a better choice for one-on-one sharing instead of storytime. The adult reader may need to fill in more information on how a seed germinates.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Yim, Natasha. Luna and the Case of the Missing Mooncakes. Violet Kim, Illus. Storytelling Math. Charlesbridge, 08/2025. [30]pp. Picture Book. Trade $16.99. 978-1-62354-466-9. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.        

Luna visits her cousin Mina as their multiracial families gather to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival. Mina brings special mooncakes, which begin to disappear, even before they are allowed to eat them. So the two girls dress up as detectives and set out to find who is taking the mooncakes. Their use of deductive reasoning to cross out possible suspects seems to work, but does it give the right answer? Observant readers will notice clues in the gouache, crayon, and pencil illustrations that give away the culprit long before the girls finally catch them in the act. A useful introduction to solving mysteries by counting suspects, clues, and seeing what fits or doesn’t fit.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Go, Jung-soon. Okchundang Candy. Jung-soon Go, Illus. Translated from the Korean by Aerin Park. Levine Querido, 03/2025. 128pp. Graphic. Trade $21.99. 978-1-6461-4514-0. GRADES 10–Adult. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

This is Jung-soon’s love letter to her grandparents, recounting her sweet memories of visits to her grandparents’ house, “filled with summer lingering.” Okchundang candy is a traditional Korean candy given to children after honoring their ancestors. She observes the love between her grandparents in sharp contrast to her parents, who always fought. The pencil and watercolor illustrations are mature yet look like a sketchbook, giving it a free-form feel to match Jung-soon’s feelings. Color is used sparsely throughout. This book is the same size as a standard picture book, but it is a graphic novel, which, along with the maturity of the story, makes it unclear as to what age group it is for. This book is intended for ages ten to fourteen, yet it feels too mature in its illustration style and narrative to appeal to this age range. It would appeal more to adult readers with aging parents.

Alva Fong—San José State University, iSchool Student

Holm, Jennifer L. Outside. Scholastic, 10/2025. 240pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5461-3814-3. GRADES 4–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.      

Twelve-year-old Razzi describes what it is like for kids like her to live at the Refuge after an apocalyptic war that resulted in The Great Poisoning. Their parents and the other adults protect the children and provide for their needs, but many of the children have trouble coping with their new reality. When Razzi decides to go outside the walls of the compound, will she be safe, and what will she find? This briskly told science fiction/mystery novel clearly sets up the circumstances and action of the Refuge, with relatable characters. Their ethnic backgrounds are not spelled out but Razzi presents as white and others have names indicating they are people of color. The author builds a world clearly with just enough detail, although Razzi makes several unsafe choices after running away, which seems out of character. This would make a great book for a tween book discussion group or tween classroom readaloud. Review based on an ARC.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Ruiz-Flores, Lupe. Pecan Sheller, The. Lerner, 04/2025. 256pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8765610527. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING.            

Life in Texas in 1937 is tough for Petra, a Mexican American girl, whose family faces financial hardship after the death of her father. An excellent student, the thirteen-year-old’s dreams of graduating are quashed when her stepmother tells her she must leave school to work at a pecan shelling factory. The conflict between the two well-drawn characters intensifies as Petra joins other workers to protest for better pay and safer working conditions, an action her stepmother feels places Petra in danger and the family at risk. Petra is a sympathetic, believable young teen whose nuanced relationships with former school friends, fellow factory workers, and family members add interest to the story. Divided into short chapters and written in a straightforward style, the book provides a fascinating window into a seminal event in the fight for worker rights, with endnotes providing information about the actual six-week pecan sheller strike of 1937, and the ground-breaking Fair Labor Standards Act that set a minimum wage. Recommended for students interested in historical fiction and for middle school book groups.

Jenny Andrus—Independent      

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 her cat “helping” Mom to plant, water, weed, and pick in the family garden. “I can do it!” is Peggy’s refrain, as she spills, overpicks, and gets distracted in charmingly recognizable toddler ways. Mom is encouraging, Peggy is delighted, and a final spread of Peggy and the cat basking (and batting a butterfly) in the sunny grass leave the reader with a peaceful acceptance of the joys of toddlerhood that rings true. Expressive watercolor and pencil vignettes invite the reader in with plenty of white space to emphasize a little one’s focus on the tasks at hand. Recommended where simple stories for our littlest readers are sought and a delightful pick for a toddler/preschool garden-themed storytime. Peggy has brown hair and white skin.

Riva Pollard—Sausalito Public Library

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 farting? The targeted elementary-aged audience certainly will. The humor improves as it mixes with the wide range of facts and sketched illustrations, as the author and illustrator explain the topics. Although originally written (and illustrated) in Czech, readers all over are likely to appreciate and understand the explanations regarding bodily functions, as well a brief history of toilets, toilet paper, and pooping in various places like Antarctica or outer space. Great coverage for an often overlooked topic.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Lopez, Paloma Angelina. Popo the Xolo. Abraham Matias, Illus. Charlesbridge, 08/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-457-7. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.     

This soft-spoken title relates how this family’s beloved Nana transitions from life to death, with her small xoloitzuintle dog named Popo acting as a guide as the two journey through the nine levels of Mictlan, in order to rest. Based on Indigenous Mexican cultures, this transition from life to death is portrayed via cut paper and digital media, which reflect this Mexican family’s love for their Nana and their grief when she passes. An emotional portrayal of a difficult topic, effectively showing this culture’s traditional view, with back matter that explains what was shown in the story and defines the Spanish words used throughout the text.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Rebellion 1776. Atheneum /Caitlyn Dlouhy, 04/2025. 405pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-4169-6826-9. GRADES 5–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Just as the Patriots finally liberate British-occupied Boston in the spring of 1776, the city finds itself stricken by a deadly smallpox epidemic. As everyone around her is affected by these life-altering events, thirteen-year-old hired servant Elspeth Culpepper narrates her experiences and chronicles the class and gender disparities that are revealed through them. Halse depicts a wide range of believable and compelling characters, mostly white, from a variety of different economic, educational, and social statuses. Those looking for a more action-packed war story may be disappointed that the American Revolution does not feature as prominently as one might expect, but readers will find much to learn from this well-researched and detailed account of life during a Colonial epidemic. Additional pages include source materials and a map of Colonial Boston.

Jennifer Taylor—Palo Alto City Library

Allenby, Victoria. Red Canoe Shows Up at Two! Big, Little Concepts. Pajama, 06/2025. [22]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.95. 978-1-77278-344-5. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Preschool. LOW ADDITIONAL.         

This inventive concept title strives to show young listeners different types of boats, colors, and time. Starting with one o’clock, readers are shown a progression of small boats, aligned with an hour on the clock and a unique color – boat and clocks. Full-page, engaging photographs show off the various boats (mostly small pleasure watercraft), while accompanying text repeats “I spent the day on the dock,” before introducing the specific boat type, color, and time. Four of the ten boats shown have kids and adults pictured, but all appear to be white, when a diverse cast would be expected. Brightly colored clocks (both analog and digital) help readers understand the written time in the text. The concept part of the book misses the mark by ending at ten o’clock (leaving out eleven and twelve), not using a.m. or p.m., having dusk at seven o’clock (according to the darkening sky), then reverting to bright daylight for the three hours after it. Fun to read, fun pictures, but an incomplete look at time.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Blumenthal, Karen. Revolutionary Mary: The True Story of One Woman, the Declaration of Independence, and America’s Fight for Freedom. Elizabeth Baddeley, Illus. Addl. Creator Jen McCartney. Roaring Brook, 02/2025. [40]pp. Biography. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6267-2311-5. GRADES 3–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.    

“No women were in the room when our Founding Fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence…But one woman did sign,” begins Revolutionary Mary, a picture book biography about Colonial printshop owner Mary Katharine Goddard. This powerful opening is unfortunately a bit misleading – Mary did not actually sign the Declaration, though she proudly stamped her full name in the broadside of the copy she’d printed for Maryland residents. Although very little is known about Goddard’s life, Blumenthal and McCartney manage to convey her historical significance as an independent working woman who used her position to support the Revolution and to promote a free press. Baddeley’s mix of watercolor, gouache, and digital illustrations greatly enhance the text through use of color and action-oriented images; her incorporation of onomatopoeia into her depictions of the printing process is especially effective. Back matter includes further historical details, a selected bibliography, and an author’s note.

Jennifer Taylor—Palo Alto City Library

Allen, Peter. Rise and Fall: Great Empires That Shaped the World. Peter Allen, Illus. Addl. Creator Ziggy Hanaor. Cicada, 04/2024. 79pp. Nonfiction. Trade $22.99. 978-1-80066-048-9. GRADES 5–8. ADDITIONAL.        

Nine early civilizations, arranged chronologically from the Minoan to the Kingdom of Ayutthaya (Siam), are described in this diverse world history book. Each is profiled in eight pages, from origin to decline, with information on culture, religion, and other notable aspects. The text is relatively brief, with just a few paragraphs per spread and a few facts sprinkled throughout the illustrations using a small text. The folk-art style, full-color cartoonish illustrations show each culture’s architecture, clothing, and racial makeup; most of the human figures are small. In a few cases, the black print is on deeply colored backgrounds which can make it difficult to read. This serves to introduce the nine civilizations, but many middle school students will need more detailed sources when writing reports. Back matter includes a useful glossary but a map showing the locations of these civilizations would have been helpful, too.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Wolfer, Dianne. Scout and the Rescue Dogs. Tony Flowers, Illus. Walker, 06/2025. 211pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99.978-1-7616-0049-4. GRADES 3–6. ADDITIONAL.        

Eleven-year-old Scout’s Christmas break features her joining her dad in his truck as he delivers pallets of donated dog food to shelters along the Australian coast. After a year of upheavals – her mom died and she started at a boarding school – she is happy spending time with her dad, while trying to convince him that she does not need to be at the boarding school. All that sounds like enough, but Scout also really likes dogs and hatches several schemes to help the dogs they see at the shelters. Oh, and Australia is burning, with many huge wildfires, causing lots of smoke and worry everywhere they drive – including at home. Readers may find it hard to understand the Australian setting, terminology, and place names, but will root for Scout, the dogs, and everyone fighting the fires. Wonderful dog rescue ideas may encourage readers to help rescue a pet of their own.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Mason-Black, Jennifer. Sometimes the Girl. Lerner/Carolhoda Lab, 05/2025. 294pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-7284-9329-9. GRADES 10–12. ADDITIONAL.

Holiday’s life-altering problems include her brother’s recent suicide attempt, a breakup with her longtime friend/girlfriend, a new friend (or love interest?), old friends mysteriously reappearing, and a problem with her now former mentor at the local college. This eighteen-year-old’s life gets even more complicated as she begins working for a dying, elderly lady who wrote one super famous book decades ago. Now she’s dredging up memories and complications, including ethical issues with the author’s family.  As a result, Holiday’s life is probably more complicated than most recent high school graduates, only some of which resolves by the end of this complicated plot and its many tangential issues. This reviewer was engaged with the story, but hard to tell if younger readers will be. Holiday presents as white.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Abbott, Zoey. This Year, a Witch! Zoey Abbott, Illus. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy, 07/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6659-5602-4. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.    

Sometimes the way we see ourselves doesn’t match what the mirror reflects. This seems to be the case for the aspiring witch in Abbott’s latest picture book. The story follows a girl (who presents as Asian) as she prepares to shed her “adorable” Halloween costumes of years past, and embrace the witch she is by “growing out witchy locks… [and] whipping up spells” with her cat. The true allure lies in Abbott’s boldly sketched illustrations, which contrast dark, thick lines with bright colors to depict various Halloween endeavors among a diverse cast of characters. The images, created using multimedia and Risograph illustrations, often enhance the straightforward narrative, providing opportunities to ask what is happening. Abbott’s book makes a fun Halloween read, best enjoyed with a little in your lap.

Alexandra Pantazes—Mountain View Public Library

Ketchum, Liza. Turtles Heading Home. Addl. Creators Phyllis Root and Jacqueline Briggs Martin. Charlesbridge, 07/2025. [47]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-62354-586-4. GRADES 2–5. ADDITIONAL.        

Kemp’s ridely turtles are the most endangered sea turtles, mostly due to human activities and changing water conditions. This title demonstrates how these turtles are being rescued after becoming stuck in cold water, washing ashore, and nearly dying. A volunteer rescue network, which includes aquariums, veterinarians, and even small plane pilots, all work together to help these turtles survive and hopefully increase in numbers. Detailed color photographs show the whole rescue process, along with other aspects of their life. Medium font-sized text moves around the action photographs while explaining what is happening, along with a few pages at the end with more details and ways readers can help. Those interested in turtles, veterinary work, or marine life are likely to find this title helpful in their quest to learn more.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Harastova, Helena. Underwater Park: Learning about Sea Animals. Justyna Hotubowska-Chrzaszczak, Illus. Translated from the Czech by Andrew Oakland. Albatros, 05/2025. [26]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.95. 978-80-00-07441-2. GRADES Preschool–3. LOW ADDITIONAL.      

Thirteen cartoony, double-page spreads take the reader into different locales within an imaginative underwater amusement park of rides and activities, where scattered text boxes describe in brief, sometimes awkwardly translated statements, the antics and attributes of many labeled sea animals. While some statements are fact,  others are whimsical invention. Do jellyfish actually interact with other species in a friendly manner? This book won’t tell you; with no back matter or further reading, young readers will be left to guess about the true habits of most pictured creatures. While many may delight in identifying favorite theme park attractions in the immersive and appealing illustrations, this won’t satisfy those looking for more accurate content, especially if placed as suggested in nonfiction collections. A giant fold-out park map will surely rip immediately. Cute, but perhaps better as a novelty gift than a school or public library acquisition.

Riva Pollard—Sausalito Public Library

Foster, Kate. Unlikely Heroes Club. Candlewick, 04/2025. 198pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-3904-1. GRADES 3–6. ADDITIONAL.     

Eleven-year-old, brown-skinned Oli joins a group of other autistic kids in a weeklong program meant to help them learn social skills and coping mechanisms. During the week, he becomes fixated on an apparently abandoned dog in a nearby lot, whom he endeavors to rescue, even if his parents and the other adults don’t believe that there is a dog at all. Venturing inside Oli’s thought processes shows what he, and likely many other autistic kids, deal with every day as they struggle to be heard. Originally published in Australia, Foster’s writing brings Oli into the reader’s head, promoting empathy with him and the other characters, and getting readers to understand why Oli did what he did.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Lunde, Darrin. Who’s Making All That Noise? Erica J. Chen, Illus. Charlesbridge, 08/2025. [30]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-626-7. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

Kids love to make noise, which this title capitalizes on, by having the book’s audience guess what animal is making various noises, as well as the reader’s performance of the various sounds. Though the book is short in height (and length), each page’s real estate is well used with colorful digital illustrations, actions, and sounds. Seven groupings of animal sounds each use a double-page spread to introduce a noise and who is hearing it, before then using the next double-page spread to show which unexpected animal is making the sound. Fun to read aloud and to guess at what animal is coming up next.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

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 the page. Rhyming text features vocabulary far exceeding the level of the audience (“assertively,” “resplendent,” and “entreaty” are all included as part of the limited text.) The subtitle is “A Story About Friendship and Personal Space,” but the illustrations are so dazzling and the text so limited that this message is liable to go right over children’s heads. Respect for the environment may be a more likely takeaway. An author’s note offers more detail on what children can do to build necessary boundaries of personal space.

Beth Gousman—Montclair Elementary School / Oakland Unified School District

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, confident A-plus Marisol. But an assignment to craft a nature haiku, and recite it in front of the class, throws new Marisol off her game. Kelly deftly interweaves poetry, big feelings, and cozy household routines to explore Marisol’s struggle to overcome fear and accept herself. Many expressive, childlike spot art cartoons add charm and humor. Fourth in the series, this satisfying, standalone, transitional chapter book would make an excellent classroom readaloud during a poetry unit. Marisol is Filipino American and Jada appears Black. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired