SERIES REVIEW. Please see: 34 Amazing Facts About Dinosaurs by Hannah Gramson for series review.
Walker, Tracy Sue. 34 Amazing Facts About Aliens. Updog Books: Unbelievable! Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-8971-4. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2947-0. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: 34 Amazing Facts About Dinosaurs by Hannah Gramson for series review.
Gramson, Hannah. 34 Amazing Facts About Dinosaurs. Updog Books: Unbelievable! Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-8972-1. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2948-7. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Most of these Unbelievable! series titles focus on nonfiction topics like dinosaurs, space, soccer, sharks, football or even Minecraft, while other titles focus on less factual topics such as aliens and ghosts. This series covers all these topics and more by presenting an organized trail of facts, each connected to illustrations or photographs, that explore the topic. Facts are typically a single short sentence, the illustrations will catch the reader’s attention, and each title includes a couple of pages of lists on aspects of the topic. Good for collections looking for introductory subject updates.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Walker, Tracy Sue. 34 Amazing Facts About Ghosts. Updog Books: Unbelievable! Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-8973-8. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2949-4. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: 34 Amazing Facts About Dinosaurs by Hannah Gramson for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Peters, Katie. All Kinds of Families. Pull Ahead Readers: Let’s Look at Families – Nonfiction. Lerner, 01/2026.16pp. Reader. PLB $27.99. 979-8-7656-8986-8. Paper $8.99. 979-8-3480-2858-9. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Families in Our Neighborhood by Lucie Miller for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Gehl, Laura. Attack Bunnies. Julia Patton, Illus. Beaming, 02/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-506-9225-4. GRADES Kindergarten–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Bunnies Carrot Cake and Pufftail are the defenders of the woodland creatures. They go on the attack when Renard Fox moves to their neck of the woods and seems to be causing chaos with the chipmunks, Agatha Owl, and even Sammy Squirrel. Clever text placement and lively illustrations in warm red, brown, green, orange, and yellow use all parts of the pages from edges to gutters, propelling the story with dramatic and humorous effect. When the bunnies attack, a two-page spread is used, highlighting a bunny in action, vivid with superhero-style lettering, exploding with colors. The bunny attacks are no joke: their use of a “hypnotic” rhyming letter and mouthwatering baked goods are direct hits on the fox. The bunnies do repel Renard Fox, but then overhear the fox’s despair: he just wanted to make new friends. Ultimately a story about mistaken first impressions and how to make things right, the narrative concludes with the bunnies using their attack mode to bring Renard Fox into the woodland community. This book is a great addition to classrooms and library collections in need of books that cover misunderstandings and anti-bullying situations.
Pauline Harris—San Francisco Public Library
Chin, Cherilyn. Axolotl’s Safe Place. Tracy Nishimura Bishop, Illus. Lilly Lu to the Rescue. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-6049-2. Paper $9.99. 979-8-7656-6053-9. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: This early chapter book series follows Lily Lu and her scientist mother as they travel the world studying wild animals. Each time her mother studies an animal, there’s a problem which the two end up helping with. This reviewer read two titles, one covering a trip to Mexico to study axolotls and the other to Hawaii for manta rays. In Mexico, they help create new habits for rescued axolts to be released into; in Hawaii, they figure out how to remove a fishing hook from a manta ray. Each book includes an introduction to Lily and to the animal being studied, followed by four short chapters, and ending with a few questions that 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. As an added bonus, both the author and illustrator live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Scott, Cavan. Candy Crisis. Abby Ryder, Illus. Lerner Stories: Adventure Park. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-4874-2. Paper $9.99. 979-8-7656-4880-3. GRADES 1–2. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Quick-paced stories feature five short chapters that follow a girl, her friend, and a hamster as they try out wild new rides at her grandpa’s amusement park. Digital color illustrations propel each story along, assisting the half pages of text with background of the amusement park and the characters. Each story introduces the new ride and then follows them on the ride and the unexpected places they end up, until finally returning to the park and Grandpa. In the three books this reviewer read, the trio ended up running from dinosaurs, befriending aliens in a strange space station, and barely escaping from a land made up of candy—including the residents. Humorous and silly, these tales are a welcome break from realistic stories, with unexpected jumps into fantasy.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Goldstein, Margaret J. Connected: America’s Role in Building the Internet. American Achievements. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8-7656-8885-4. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2870-1. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: The eight titles of the American Achievements series highlight parts of American life and culture. Listed topics include hip-hop music, the race to the moon, the World Trade Center’s legacy, communication innovations, and the three this reviewer read: the polio epidemic and vaccines, the development of the internet, and Motown music. Although the topics in each title are not usually connected to the other titles in the series, together they work to show important developments that led to today’s America. Each short title succinctly explains the topic by looking at its history and showing how things are today as a result. For example, Conquering Polio explains why the epidemic was a problem, how it was addressed via vaccines, and how it continues in some areas today. Relevant, informative photographs abound (historical b&w and more recent ones in color), working to enhance the short paragraphs. A timeline, index, glossary, and additional resources help readers contextualize and understand the topic.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Goldstein, Margaret J. Conquering Polio: America’s Fight to End Polio Epidemics. American Achievements. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8-7656-8889-2. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2874-9. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Connected by Margaret J. Goldstein for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Scott, Cavan. Cosmic Chaos. Abby Ryder, Illus. Lerner Stories: Adventure Park. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-4875-9. Paper $9.99. 979-8-7656-4881-0. GRADES 1–2. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Candy Crisis by Cavan Scott for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
O’Brien, Cynthia. Could AI Develop Emotions? Searchlight Books: What-If Science. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8-7656-8899-1. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2919-7. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: What-If Science titles explore some of the science fiction-like questions that children may be curious about. Each title explores why the topic comes up and what it might mean if it were to be possible, all while looking at what is known about the title’s subject. Series subjects include: time travel, tornado taming, using power from black holes, bringing dinosaurs to life, living forever, and AI emotions. While this reviewer only read three of the titles, each is informative, thought-provoking, engaging, and full of color photographs or digital illustrations. Useful for libraries looking to enhance collections with thoughtful titles on these what-if topics.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
O’Brien, Cynthia. Could Humans Live Forever? Searchlight Books: What-If Science. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8-7656-8897-7. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2917-3. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Could AI Develop Emotions? by Cynthia O’Brien for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
O’Brien, Cynthia. Could We Bring Dinosaurs Back to Life? Searchlight Books: What-If Science. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8-7656-8898-4. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2918-0. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Could AI Develop Emotions? by Cynthia O’Brien for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Sheinkin, Steve. Diamond Fever!: A True Crime Story in the Wild West. Jon Chad, Illus. Roaring Brook, 05/2026. 256pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-250-26574-6. GRADES 4–8. OUTSTANDING.
Sheinkin has done it again, delivering a beautifully-written, fast-paced, cinematic true story packed with fascinating historic details. Gold fever had ebbed, fortunes had been made, and San Francisco was a boom town in 1870 when two small-time miners stepped into the office of an investor, needing his safe to store a sack that must be locked up and keep secret. Poured out on the desk were a pile of rough stones—diamonds! Chad’s deft, greyscale cartoons engage and ground readers. A visual cast of characters helps keep the complex story straight, and multi-page comics introduce each of the six parts of the story. Sheinken’s exemplary research and framing deliver both a rip-roaring adventure and the momentous moments in U.S. history that set the stage for diamond fever. Readers learn how the transcontinental railroad, the mapping of the frontier, and the glittering Gilded Age were all essential to the diamond-hunting frenzy that gripped the country. Back matter includes an epilogue, author’s note, source notes, and bibliography. Most characters are white, but African Americans and Native Americans are part of the story. Includes California-specific content. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Scott, Cavan. Dinosaur Danger. Abby Ryder, Illus. Lerner Stories: Adventure Park. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-4876-6. Paper $9.99. 979-8-7656-4882-7. GRADES 1–2. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Candy Crisis by Cavan Scott for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Chang, Victoria. Eureka. FSG, 01/2026. 260pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-374-39353-3. GRADES 5–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Twelve-year-old Mei Mei lives in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1885, where her parents run a store. After threats of violence and kidnapping in the community, they send her 300 miles away to the small Northern California town of Eureka to work and hopefully go to the integrated school. Based on the true story when the Chinese population was driven out of Eureka, this is told in free verse from Mei Mei’s point of view. Although the story is engaging, the reader never really gets a clear picture of what occurred and what Eureka was like, because we only see what Mei Mei experiences and find out later about other important actions that occurred. Back matter fills in some of the gaps, expanding on the historic incident. Includes California-specific content.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Wagner, Zelda. Explore Ancient China. Lightning Bolt Books: Early Civilizations. Lerner, 01/2026. 24pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-8926-4. Paper $9.99. 979-8-3480-2895-4. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Explore Ancient India by Candice Ransom for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Wagner, Zelda. Explore Ancient Egypt. Lightning Bolt Books: Early Civilizations. Lerner, 01/2026. 24pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-8924-0. Paper $9.99. 979-8-3480-2893-0. GRADES 2–4. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Explore Ancient India by Candice Ransom for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Ransom, Candice. Explore Ancient India. Lightning Bolt Books: Early Civilizations. Lerner, 01/2026. 24pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-8932-5. Paper $9.99. 979-8-3480-2901-2. GRADES 2–4. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: These series nonfiction titles give readers a fast, broad overview of the titled civilization. Combining a few sentences of text with photographs and drawings, each title features highlights of the history, people, culture, and artifacts from the civilization. Each title includes a short index and glossary, a facts page, and where to find out more.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Miller, Lucie. Families in Our Neighborhood. Lisa Hunt, Illus. Pull Ahead Readers: Let’s Look at Families – Fiction. Lerner, 01/2026. 16pp. Reader. PLB $27.99. 979-8-7656-8992-9. Paper $8.99. 979-8-3480-2852-7. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: The Pull Ahead Readers series consists of sets of paired titles. Half of the set’s titles are designated as fiction, with color digital illustrations, while the others are nominally nonfiction with color photographs. Designed as pairings on the same topic, each title is straightforward, with one or two short sentences per page, targeting early readers. This twelve-book set focuses on families, showing a variety of family configurations, types of homes, and ways to travel to school. Each title is diverse, including people and families from all over the world. The color photographs in the nonfiction titles show real people and families, while the digitally-drawn, fictional illustrations also depict diverse families participating in similar activities as in its companion nonfiction title. These simple readers can be read on their own, in pairs, or as a complete set.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Peters, Katie. Family Homes. Pull Ahead Readers: Let’s Look at Families – Nonfiction. Lerner, 01/2026. 16pp.Reader. PLB $27.99. 979-8-7656-8985-1. Paper $8.99. 979-8-3480-2857-2. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Families in Our Neighborhood by Lucie Miller for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Sanders, Rob. Family of Readers, A. Gabbie Benda, Illus. Charlesbridge, 01/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-647-2. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
The library has something for everyone in this celebration of all that libraries offer the community. Using a Seuss-like rhyming text, the story centers around a family that visits the library and sees older men reading newspapers, tweens building robots, children enjoying a storytime, chefs of all ages baking, gardeners planting, and a group playing Dungeons and Dragons, all while one child reads undistracted. The digitally-created cartoon-style illustrations depict people of various ethnicities, ages, and abilities, including someone using a wheelchair, to show how a library is often the definition of inclusion. Both the jaunty text and the artwork show a suburban library that many communities will recognize as similar to their own, with a small child in overalls in each spread. A great choice to read to primary grade classes visiting the library on a field trip.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Miller, Lucie. Family Time. Jeff Crowther, Illus. Pull Ahead Readers: Let’s Look at Families – Fiction. Lerner, 01/2026. 16pp. Reader. PLB $27.99. 979-8-7656-8993-6. Paper $8.99. 979-8-3480-2853-4. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Families in Our Neighborhood by Lucie Miller for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Miller, Lucie. Going to School Around the World. Lisa Hunt, Illus. Pull Ahead Readers: Let’s Look at Families – Fiction. Lerner, 01/2026. 16pp. Reader. PLB $27.99. 979-8-7656-8991-2. Paper $8.99. 979-8-3480-2851-0. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Families in Our Neighborhood by Lucie Miller for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Morall-Baker, Dr. Monica B. Hits That Changed History. American Achievements. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8-7656-8888-5. Paper $10.99. 979-8-3480-2873-2. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Connected by Margaret J. Goldstein for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Clayton, Annette M. Hungry Troll, The. Paula Zamudio, Illus. Lerner Stories: Magical
Protection Agency. Lerner, 01/2026. 69pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-6276-2. Paper
$11.99. 979-8-7656-6281-6. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL.
Luisa and Leo return in another Magical Protection Agency tale, this time venturing through the magical door to access the magical land of Moonstone without being summoned, so they can pick flowers for their abuela. Things don’t work out quite right, and now they have a mission to protect a troll that escaped into the human world. This fast-paced tale shows the duo problem-solving to fix their mistake, learning how to outsmart the troll, and ultimately returning him to Moonstone. This early chapter book features various b&w illustrations that accompany the brief, quick paced story. Reads as simpler than Magic Tree House titles, and similar to Rainbow Magic books, with limited descriptions and a feel-good adventure.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Hicks, Faith Erin. Inbetweens. Faith Erin Hicks, Illus. First Second, 03/2026. 240pp. Graphic. Trade $22.99. 978-1-2508-3875-9. Paper $14.99. 978-1-250-83874-2. GRADES 5–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
When a pair of self-acknowledged “crazy art twins” earn the chance to attend Canada’s most prestigious animation school’s summer session, it is the realization of a shared dream. But dreams often throw unexpected curves. Richly-colored and patterned frames reveal the fourteen-year-old twins’ differences: dark-haired, boyish Ash’s vibrant energy and passion for animation, contrasted with red-haired, bohemian Sloane’s quieter introspection. The tough reality of pre-professional expectations, the obstacle of an unsympathetic mentor, and the forging of new friendships are shown in dynamic and varied panels that are a master class in cartoon and animé styles. The in-betweeness of middle-school growth and struggle is richly represented in a warm, humorous and satisfying story of siblings pursuing their passion and dealing with reality. Characters are white and Indian-Canadian. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Henkes, Kevin. Is It Spring? Kevin Henkes, Illus. Greenwillow, 02/2026. [24]pp. Picture Book. Trade $21.99. 978-0-06-346925-9. GRADES Baby/Toddler– Kindergarten. OUTSTANDING.
In this joyful introduction to the concept of spring, the title question is repeated several times with different answers, depending on if it is sunny, windy, snowy, or if there are flowers budding in the garden. The brief text has a poetic quality that is great for toddlers. The watercolor and ink illustrations, done in Henkes’s signature style, are framed, often facing a page with one sentence set on a pastel-colored background. Many of the illustrations feature small animals, including birds and cats; only two children are pictured; one a baby with tan skin and one a child drawn from behind, bundled in winter clothing. Readers can search for the polka-dotted scarf seen throughout the story, making this fun for repeat readings.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
McQuinn, Anna. Lola’s Perfect Hideout. Rosalind Beardshaw, Illus. Charlesbridge, 05/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-384-6. GRADES Preschool–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Lola loves playing with her new baby sister and younger brother Leo, but she is a big girl who needs a space for herself. Lola uses a blanket, an old yellow parasol, a string of lights, and some of her favorite toys and books to create her hideout. With the help of her Daddy, a sign is created to let everyone know that this space is for “Big Girls Only.” She shares the space with her cousin, Hani, who is also a big girl, as well as with Makeda, the family cat. With McQuinn’s gentle storytelling and Beardshaw’s warm and colorful illustrations, the hideout becomes a respected part of family life. Lola’s hideout is a welcoming place for small people, where Lola can play, imagine and invite others in. Lola and her family have brown skin and black curly hair. A wonderful addition to the Lola collection of books.
Pauline Harris—San Francisco Public Library
Chin, Cherilyn. Manta Ray Swims Free. Tracy Nishimura Bishop, Illus. Lilly Lu to the Rescue. Lerner, 01/2026. 32pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-6046-1. Paper $9.99. 979-8-7656-6050-8. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Axolotl’s Safe Place by Cherilyn Chin for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Miller, Chanel. Moon without Stars, The. Chanel Miller, Illus. Philomel, 01/2026. 256pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-5936-2455-5. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING.
Luna Noon, a seventh grader living in California with her white dad and Chinese American mom, considers her world simple and predictable as she begins a new school year. She’s got her best (and only) friend Scott and her love of writing—what more could she need? When Scott and Luna pair her writing with his art to create zines to help their classmates with problems from acne to romantic advice, Luna catches the attention of the popular kids. Soon Luna’s talent for observation and advice turns her predictable world upside down, driving a wedge between her and Scott. Can Luna stay true to herself or become what others think she should be? With the perfect blend of middle school drama, a little bit of romance, friendship, body issues, and realistic characters and situations, Chanel Miller has knocked it out of the park with this solid middle grade book that readers will find highly readable and relatable. Includes California-specific content.
Rebecca Jelen—Prospect Sierra Middle School
Hoffman, Jilanne. Ocean’s Heart, The: The Tiny Creatures Essential to Life. Khoa Le, Illus. Lerner/Millbrook, 03/2026. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8-7656-4346-4. GRADES 2–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
The tiniest, most important life forms in the ocean are poetically described, explained, and shown in this digitally-illustrated journey through the ocean’s twilight zone. Zooplankton’s importance to all life, along with their basic daily cycle of feeding, is explained with only a few words per page. Le’s colorful illustrations, in a pencil and line art style, show off the wide variety of shapes and types of these microscopic creatures, along with the many animals that depend on zooplankton for their own parts in the ocean food chain. Includes back matter with more information about these tiny creatures, why they are important to the ocean’s food web, and how readers can help zooplankton, plus resources and websites. A fascinating title for young readers to learn about the ocean’s tiniest life forms.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Li, Xingming. Otter’s New Neighbors. Xingming Li, Illus. Translated from the Chinese by Shan Chen. Charlesbridge, 05/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6235-4755-4. GRADES Preschool– Kindergarten. ADDITIONAL.
After Otter moves into a new house, he is quickly visited by his new neighbors: Beaver, Mrs. and Mr. Antelope, the Sheep family, Goose’s children, and finally Bear. Each comes bearing gifts and easily joins Otter in the house—except Bear, who is so big that the door breaks as he pushes his way in. Detailed colored pencil-style illustrations focus on the guests, the gifts, and everyone working together as they pitch in to help repair the house and enjoy their time together. A brief author’s note explains what the animals represent to the author and various human connection concepts. A simple way to depict working together and getting along.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Gledhill, Carly. Pass the Parcel. Carly Gledhill, Illus. Post Wave, 02/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 979-8-8950-9039-8. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.
Follow Parcel’s postal journey across the country and around the world, with many animal postal workers passing Parcel along, through the many forms of transportation that mail may utilize. Digital Adobe Photoshop illustrations depict the brightly colored animals as they pass Parcel, a box wrapped in brown paper and string, between mail workers, who use primary-colored vehicles to travel from place to place. The final recipient and the contents, revealed on a fold-out page, are likely to surprise and amuse readers. Although the story and illustrations do not depict a specific mail system, the concept of packages traversing long distances is likely to resonate with today’s young readers, who see packages arriving at home all the time—instead of the letters which traversed the world in the past.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Thompson, Ruby Amy. Rock and Roll. Ruby Amy Thompson, Illus. Tiger Tales, 01/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6643-0092-7. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.
A rock and a bread roll are compared side by side; one is strong and one is soft, but they also have things in common. The two are portrayed as friends, although we don’t learn where or how they met. The cartoonish artwork may have been achieved with gouache or watercolors and is similar to the work of John Jory, as in The Bad Seed (Harper, 2017), with a rock and a roll with eyes and stick arms and legs. Some of the comparisons are unclear: “Rock can swim. Roll can fly,” but the rock just sinks and the roll has been thrown, and a thrown rock could “fly” too. This could be used to talk about comparisons.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Green, Debra. Rules for Liars. Lerner/Kar-Ben, 02/2026. 276pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 979-8-7656-3979-5. GRADES 3–6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Nikki and Rebecca’s very different worlds collide and slowly begin to change after they meet and eventually become friends. Nikki has recently reluctantly moved from a wealthy neighborhood in Portland to a less well-off area, ending up in a small apartment next to Rebecca. Both preteen girls are struggling with believing in themselves, which readers will quickly realize is more important than the expensive clothes Nikki is used to wearing or the bat mitzvah that Rebecca is preparing for. Only after they both stop telling lies (or partial truths) to the other can their friendship, and their lives in general, become better. Nikki reads as white, Rebecca is Jewish, and the neighbor boy that Nikki likes and who helps both girls is Black. An intriguing look at developing friendships and being truthful to yourself and others.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Stemple, Heidi E.Y. Snowy Owl Rescue: Raptor Recovery. Natasha Donovan, Illus. Avian Adventurers, The; bk. 1. Charlesbridge, 02/2026. 135pp. Fiction. Trade $16.99. 978-1-6235-4470-6. Paper $12.99. 978-1-6235-4797-4. GRADES 2–5. ADDITIONAL.
Michael is walking over to the soccer field on his way to practice when he finds an injured snowy owl. Jet, a nonbinary schoolmate, is head of the Junior Birders and eagerly shares many facts about the bird with Michael, coaxing him to help with the rescue the next day. Will Michael and Jet rescue the owl and make it home before an expected snowstorm hits? First in the new Avian Adventurers series of transitional chapter books, this title has grayscale pencil drawings sprinkled through every few chapters that will add interest for readers too young for longer adventure novels. In the illustrations, Michael appears to be Black and Jet white, but it is never mentioned. Although it takes a while for the rescue to get started, the last half of the book is compelling and action-packed.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Peters, Katie. What Families Do. Pull Ahead Readers: Let’s Look at Families – Nonfiction. Lerner, 01/2026. 16pp. Reader. PLB $27.99. 979-8-7656-8984-4. Paper $8.99. 979-8-3480-2856-5. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Families in Our Neighborhood by Lucie Miller for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Mühle, Jörg. Tomorrow I’m In Charge! Jörg Mühle, Illus. Gecko, 02/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 979-8-7656-7053-8. GRADES Preschool–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Badger visits Weasel and Bear, both of whom proceed to argue over who gets to play with Badger and who is in charge of what they are going to do. Watercolor and pencil illustrations playfully depict the bickering, the games and activities they propose to each other, and the cozy children’s-bedroom-like forest setting. Parents will easily identify the unfriendly but typical children’s behavior, while young listeners will laugh at the antics and wish that Bear and Weasel would just get along. Fun to read aloud and share with others, pointing out the many details and behaviors.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Weatherford, Carole Boston. Troubled Waters: A River’s Journey Toward Justice. Bryan Collier, Illus. Bloomsbury, 01/2026. [36]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $20.99. 978-1-6811-9818-7. GRADES 2–5. OUTSTANDING.
In this unusual book on the U.S. Civil Rights movement, the Alabama River is the narrator, describing the original indigenous Choctaw and Cherokee people, enslaved people from Africa, sharecroppers, and others who later crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge to seek equal rights. The text has a poetic quality, including phrases from spirituals such as “Wade in the Water,” lines from famous speeches, and brief paragraphs giving historical context. The deeply-colored illustrations have a three-dimensional quality, using acrylics with watercolor paintings collaged on top (according to a note on the verso), depicting many Black subjects close-up, showing serious facial expressions. Back matter includes a timeline and illustrator’s note that add helpful factual details. Teachers could find this useful to inspire a school assembly for the Dr. King holiday or similar cultural celebration.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Bajaj, Monisha. Year of Kites, A: Traditions Around the World. Amber Ren, Illus. Bloomsbury, 02/2026. [36]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-54761-224-6. GRADES Kindergarten–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Bay Area author Bajaj describes twelve different kite celebrations held around the world, showing the universality of this toy that appeals to both children and adults. Beginning with the festival of Uttarayan in January in India, the lively text uses just a few paragraphs to describe each celebration, including when and where it is held. Created in Photoshop with ink wash, the full color illustrations depict ethnically diverse people, shown wearing both modern clothing as well as traditional dress, and depicting a variety of different types of kites. Generally, there is not enough information to make all the kites that are mentioned, but there are instructions for making a simple paper kite at the end of the book. Other back matter includes a glossary of kite-related terms in various languages, an author’s note outlining the history of kites, and a world map that could benefit from adding the names of the featured countries. This will be particularly useful for teachers and recreation leaders. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool