Flynn, Sarah Wassner. 1,000 Facts About Sharks. National Geographic, 06/2024. 96pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-4263-7174-5. PLB $24.99. 978-1-4263-7175-2. GRADES 4–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

Shark enthusiasts will find much to love about this factoid-filled shark book. National Geographic Kids squeezes a thousand facts into just eighty pages, providing lots of well-organized information in a fairly small package. Double page spreads contain between ten and seventy-five numbered facts, arranged thematically, interspersed with various sizes of photographs and often set aside in their own text bubbles. The dizzying array of facts, written as short sentences, move from one to the next as they present and explain the many types of sharks—usually adding to the previous fact with another which enhances the specific subject. The whole shark world is presented via similarities and differences between dozens of specific shark species, what and how humans are learning about these misunderstood creatures, and a few pages that explore sharks in the human world (products, TV shows, and myths). Back matter includes a detailed glossary and index, plus pages on shark taxonomy and anatomical diagrams. With so many more details and facts than most shark books, this title is great for those who enjoy taking time to pore over facts and reflect on them.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Garnier, Raphael. Art’bracadabra: Discover the Magic of Art with a Surprise on Every Page! Raphael Garnier, Illus. Translated from the French by Post Wave Children’s Books. Post Wave, 06/2025. [50]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $26.99. 979-8-89509-015-2. GRADES 2–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Based on Garnier’s series of short films, this unusual book defines art concepts such as line, color, shape, scale, composition, perspective, and other aspects that demonstrate related vocabulary for budding artists. Originally published in French and translated into English by Post Wave Children’s Books, this title is printed on thick cardstock pages; the illustrations are done using graphics in bright colors, with pop-ups, flaps, cutouts, and clear vinyl inserts. It will be most useful during art class or art lessons. Pair with the 1965 Academy Award-winning animated short film The Dot and the Line, which has similar graphics and tells a story of a blue line who loves a red dot.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Jreije, George. Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile. Harper, 05/2025. 275pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-338224-4. GRADES 4–8. ADDITIONAL.         

Just as his summer in his native Lebanon is ending, Bashir finds a mysterious ring, which he takes with him as his family returns to New Jersey. Strange things begin to happen because of the ring, starting with a being who lives in the ring talking to him and followed by various demonic entities attacking him to get the ring. This eleven-year-old quickly finds himself fighting to save himself and his parents with the help of two teenagers who are the only remaining members of a group called the Magi, which is dedicated to trying to stop Ali Adin, the most powerful demon, from taking over the world. Fast-paced action scenes, including portals to other worlds, mix with occasional humor to create a compelling mythology-oriented story based on the Arabian Nights. Readers of Riordan’s mythology-based series are likely to enjoy this world-hopping story.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Lies, Brian. Cat Nap. Brian Lies, Illus. Greenwillow, 09/2025. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-267128-8. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.         

Woken from a doze, a kitten pursues a fleeing mouse through an art exhibit poster and into a world of Metropolitan Museum treasures. A repeating refrain asks “Does Kitten follow? Of course he does.” The chase propels Kitten into a series of artworks—into medieval stained glass, past a Mblo portrait mask, and into a Georgia O’Keefe. In each encounter, Kitten’s appearance morphs to match the piece. Brief, alliterative, poetic text narrates the often humorous and occasionally dramatic interactions. The simple story leaves plenty of room for readers to marvel at the transformations. Each artwork was painstakingly created in three dimensions, then photographed. Substantial back matter, illustrated by photographs, describes the fun and challenge of the art-making process. All original works are pictured and described. An excellent choice for inspiring imagination and creativity in a school/library story time or home setting.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Alexander, Kwame. How Sweet the Sound: A Soundtrack for America. Charly Palmer, Illus. Little, Brown, 01/2025. 37  [+6]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-316-44249-7. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.   

How Sweet the Sound: A Soundtrack for America invites young readers to explore the roots of African American music and embark on a journey through its rich origins. Through highlighting a diverse array of influential artists, this book tells a powerful story about adversity, strength, hope, and joy. From rhythm and blues and jazz to gospel, spirituals, litanies, hip hop, and ragtime, each genre—shaped by the voices and talents of singers, poets, musicians, and songwriters—reflects a heritage that begins in Africa. The vibrant oil painting brings to life the singers, poets, musicians, and songwriters in the story. Every illustration is meticulously crafted, brimming with intricate details that convey the dynamic spirit and movement of each figure. Recurring phrases like “bom-dun, juba, amen, jazz, bop, and boom” make this a fun and satisfying readaloud. Alexander’s latest work stands out for its remarkably detailed artwork and its portrayal of the enduring strength and uplifting spirit found in African American music, further enhanced by a musical note guide at the conclusion.

Eboni Weston—San José State University iSchool Student

Bailey, Linda. Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur). K-Fai Steele, Illus. Tundra, 10/2025. [56]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-77488-013-5. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING. 

Lena is a hands-on-hips, take-charge kind of chicken, misunderstood by her fellow chickens and most of the humans on her farm. One clue to Lena’s hidden depths is her die cut eye on the cover, which opens to reveal a surprise. Those depths come in handy when her coop, and her chicken-livered chicken friends, need rescuing. Delightful, comic, pencil and watercolor-wash illustrations use a mix of speech bubble and printed text to tell Lena’s triumphant tale. A denouement, and a page of back matter, provide factual underpinnings and additional reading that support Lena’s belief—she really is a dinosaur.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Winans, Justine Pucella. Little Too Haunted, A. Bloomsbury, 09/2025. 259pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5476-1634-3. GRADES 3–6. ADDITIONAL.         

Daughter to professional ghost-hunting influencers, Luna Catalano dreams of living amongst ghosts. However, when her family moves into a house full of spirits warning her to get out at every turn, her ghost-hunting fantasies become a little too real. While working to connect with the ghosts in her home, Luna finds herself making friends after years of moving from place to place, repairing her connection to her moms, and maybe even developing a first crush. Luna is the white daughter of lesbian moms in an interracial marriage. The story features secondary characters who read as Latine, as well as a nonbinary child and a queer crush. Despite the title and subject matter, the story tempers horror with humor and will likely speak to readers looking for a spooky mystery. While the explored family dynamics do add depth, the book tries to cover too many themes, and the plot resolves too quickly to give the more intense topics the space they deserve.

Sicilia Smith—Alameda Free Library

Soltis, Sue. Moon Moved In, The. Sonia Sánchez, Illus. Chronicle, 07/2025. [24]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-4521-8071-7. GRADES Preschool–1. OUTSTANDING. 

When the moon descends from the sky and moves into the empty house next door, Stella is overjoyed to have found a new friend. The moon’s obsession with gardening provides a platform to weave interesting nonfiction facts about the moon into a fantastical story. Digital art that uses vibrant colors in an impressionist style adds a whimsical note to the story, even as the dire consequences of the moon’s absence from the sky escalate. In the end, Stella must decide if her desire for a friend outweighs the devastating consequences for the earth’s other creatures, who rely on the moon to survive. While playful in tone, the story offers a deeper discussion on social responsibility and personal sacrifice. Stella has light skin and dark hair. Back matter includes full paragraph answers that expand on the moon facts.

Sarah Mettler—San José Public Library

Kastner, Emmy. Outside In and the Inside Out: A Story About Arnold Lobel. Emmy Kastner, Illus. Viking, 09/2025. [40]pp. Biography. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-69250-9. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Award-winning author and illustrator Arnold Lobel, best known for the Frog and Toad beginning readers, is celebrated in this picture book biography. Lobel was a shy boy who loved to draw and tell stories to his classmates; he grew up to do the same thing with children everywhere. The text also describes his career, marriage, family, and later life with his partner Howard. Both the simple text and the cartoon-style gouache, pencil, and ink illustrations reflect the style of Lobel’s popular books, including Mouse Tales (1972) and Fables (1980). Back matter includes an author’s note where Kastner describes what inspired the book and offers more details on Lobel’s life, including a list of his books, and sources.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Applegate, Katherine. Pocket Bear. Charles Santoso, Illus. Feiwel, 09/2025. 263pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-250-90436-2. GRADES 4–6. OUTSTANDING.    

Refugees from Ukraine, Dasha and her mother start the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, a refuge for lost toys that they refurbish to sell or give away. The story is told from the point of view of their cat Zephyrina, who watches the toys come to life at night and talk about their past. Pocket Bear was the mascot of an American soldier in World War I and Berwon was a German teddy bear from that same era; there is a dispute over Berwon’s ownership that adds some tension to the story. The plot moves briskly in short chapters that smoothly weave together the various elements, with Zephyrina adding humorous comments throughout the story. The parallel between Dasha’s experiences with war and Pocket Bear’s experience add depth and poignancy to a well-crafted tale. Pencil drawings appear once every few chapters, adding appeal for younger readers.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Mitchell, Dora M. Puzzling Fate of Millicent Graves, The. Dora M. Mitchell, Illus. Little, Brown, 05/2025. 217pp. Graphic. Trade $24.99. 978-1-5235-2736-6. Paper $12.99. 978-1-643-75277-8. GRADES 3–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

After moving from a house to an apartment, twelve-year-old Millicent has trouble adjusting, but then she meets an elderly neighbor who has hundreds of magical jigsaw puzzles. Millicent uses the puzzles to change her real life by adding and removing pieces that change the behavior of her sister, classmate, and others. Should she continue, or will this result in tragedy? Mixing humor, fantasy, and mystery, this graphic novel is told with energy. The cartoon paneled artwork includes many dark scenes that do a great job of conveying the mystery, giving the setting a gothic quality, and depicting the father as white and the mother and daughters as brown-skinned. This is the first graphic novel written and illustrated by Mitchell, who is from Northern California.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Korman, Gordon. Snoop. Scholastic, 07/2025. 195pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-54612-608-9. GRADES 4–7. ADDITIONAL.      

Seventh grader Carter is stuck at home after breaking both legs, and is so bored with Zoom school that he starts watching his classmates over the police department’s public safety video feed. With similarities to Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rear Window and Louise Fitzhugh’s tween novel Harriet the Spy, this first-person narrative is a mix of mystery and humor that makes for a pleasant read if one can suspend disbelief and overlook plot points derived from those better-known sources. Carter and his family present as white but some of his classmates have names that indicate some ethnic diversity. Carter is at times unkind and definitely annoying but is relatable. Although not as compelling as Korman’s previous work Linked (Scholastic, 2021), fans of his many tween novels will find this enjoyable.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Rogers, Lisa. Woody’s Words: Woodrow Wilson Rawls and Where the Red Fern Grows. Susan Reagan, Illus. Calkins Creek, 09/2025. [32]pp. Biography. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6626-8029-8. GRADES 2–5. OUTSTANDING.

Although Wilson Rawls did not publish many books, he is a memorable figure in children’s literature because of Where the Red Fern Grows (Doubleday, 1961). This picture book biography contains an exemplary text that conveys both the facts about Rawls’s life of poverty on Cherokee land along with his emotional experience as a writer and his need to tell stories. Quotes from Rawls are gracefully woven into the text, adding authenticity and emotion. The dramatic watercolor illustrations offer further details, showing the Depression-era rural environment that Rawls grew up in, as well as his later years, where he often visited classrooms to speak to children about his books. Back matter includes a few photos of Rawls and his wife, an author’s note with more information and comments from his nephew and nieces, and a detailed bibliography.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool