James, Anna. Alice With a Why. Matthew Land, Illus. Flamingo, 01/2026. 216pp. Fiction. Trade
$18.99. 978-0-593-69199-1. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING.

Alyce—Alice with a “why”—proves herself a worthy successor to her grandmother, the original Alice of Alice in Wonderland. For years, a skeptical Alyce has listened to her grandmother’s tales of a curious land filled with odd and wondrous creatures. But when a misplaced invitation to a tea party lands young Alyce in Wonderland, those stories spring vividly to life. There, Alyce meets her grandmother’s old friends, makes new ones of her own, and becomes embroiled in a feud between rival royals. This imaginative sequel includes clever wordplay, charming illustrations, and quirky characters while offering emotional depth as Alyce navigates her way through Wonderland in the shadow of her father’s death during WWI. Young readers are most likely to know the original Alice through Disney renditions; consider displaying this book alongside Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland (1865) and Through by Looking Glass (1871). Alice is portrayed as white.

Jenny Andrus—Independent

Gehl, Laura. Attack Bunnies. Julia Patton, Illus. Beaming, 02/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5064-9225-4. GRADES Kindergarten–1. ADDITIONAL.

A pair of spirited bunnies team up to protect the forest creatures from harm, and they are on high alert when Renard Fox moves into their forest. Their thwarting antics stop each of Renard’s attempts at a harmful meal, although each “attack” goes in unexpected directions. As fight scenes fill with schematics and food preparation plans, Renard ends up demonstrating a need that startles the reader and the bunnies. Digital color illustrations show off all the action, while the text provides explanations and details that readers may need (the “attacks” and the fox’s reactions turn out to be different than expected). Useful for discussions on standing up for yourself and others.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Powell-Tuck, Maudie. Don’t Do It, Doug! Duncan Beedie, Illus. Tiger Tales, 02/2026. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-66430-079-8. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.       

Doug the hamster can’t resist cautionary signs—if the sign says “Do Not Press,” Doug will press that button! This behavior causes Doug to get in trouble and become injured, such as getting stung by bees after touching a beehive. Although he learns to control himself by trying skydiving and roller coasters, the motivation for change isn’t really clear, so the lesson may not be relatable for the preschool audience. The full-color illustrations depict animals in the human world, similar to animated cartoon art, done using a variety of different colored backgrounds. A serviceable story about following directions, but not entirely memorable.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Rotner, Shelley. Let’s Camp. Lerner/Millbrook, 03/2026. [30]pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8-7656-7047-7. Paper $10.99. 979-8-7656-7048-4. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.   

See some of the activities that kids do when they go camping via this photograph-rich title designed to help young readers see what camping might be like before their first camping trip. Young children of various ethnicities show what they bring and share a range of activities, which include setting up a tent, hiking, swimming, boating, and cooking. Simple text states what the color photographs depict. A short back matter page offers packing and safety tips, camping guidelines and activities, and a s’mores recipe.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

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–Kindergarten. ADDITIONAL.           

Lola returns in this simple story, happily playing with her baby sister while also wanting a place for, and time to, herself. Digital illustrations show her creating a hideout with blankets in the living room, which she eventually shares with the whole family—some of the time. The large text keeps the story simple and easy to share with preschoolers, paving the way for conversations about both the importance of sharing and the importance of having alone time. All characters are Black.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Awan, Jashar. Loops. Jashar Awan, Illus. Simon & Schuster, 03/2026. [44]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6659-7494-3. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING.  

A young child (gender not specified) with tan skin and black hair describes how they learned to tie their new big-kid shoes in this book on having a positive attitude. Using some repeated phrasing, including “ta-da!” after an accomplishment, the child ties their shoes several times and demonstrates using the swings and slide at the playground. One spread shows the reader step-by-step how to tie one’s shoes. The digital illustrations use bright saturated colors and a folk art style, similar to Awan’s Caldecott Honor book Every Monday Mabel (2025). The text is just right for emergent readers with its simple vocabulary, relatable story, and affirming message.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Yim, Natasha. Luna Picks a Lucky Dumpling. Violet Kim, Illus. Storytelling Math; bk. 15. Charlesbridge, 05/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99.978-1-6235-4660-1. Paper $8.99. 978-1-6235-4661-8. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

Part of the Storytelling Math series, this story gives an example of probability and celebrates the annual Dragon Boat Festival holiday. Luna and her cousins help make sticky rice dumplings, with just three of the ten having a lucky egg yolk hidden inside. Can they manipulate the odds so their littlest cousin gets one with an egg yolk? The story shows how the likelihood of predicting the outcome changes each time a circumstance changes, like the number of dumplings left after one is eaten. The full color gouache-and-crayon artwork depicts a large extended family with members from different races, including white, Black, and Asian parents and children. Back matter adds information on probability as well as a section on the tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Gregory, Kim. Marcie and Giraffe. Kim Gregory, Illus. Tiger Tales, 03/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-66430-089-7. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.      

Marcie, a little red haired white girl, and Giraffe, a giraffe, paint pictures of each other but worry too much that the other person’s artwork is better than theirs. Luckily, they work out their conflict by making new paintings using their faces “smooshed” onto paper. The energetic illustrations appear to be done using deep watercolors on white backgrounds in a frantic style similar to the work of Quentin Blake. The plot is relatable but it is the artwork that is memorable, with splashes of paint on their paper, floor, walls, and themselves. This would be great to use at storytime when paired with a painting activity.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. Phoenix. Ride On, #1. Penguin/Dial, 03/2026. 116pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-5938-5986-5. GRADES 4–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

When Harper’s dad makes a choice that blows up her family, she and her mom pick up and move from the Knoxville, TN home she has always known to a horse farm in the country town of Sommer Springs. She leaves everything behind, including her best friend Cat, who has not spoken to her since her parents told her about the split. Harper doesn’t even know if she likes horses, but when a sickly horse she starts to call Phoenix is dumped at the ranch, he becomes her project. With her new friends Dante, Emma and Night, Harper pours all of her energy into healing Phoenix, and ultimately herself. Will Harper be able to save Phoenix? Can she forgive her father for breaking up her family? Will Cat and Harper be friends again? The first in a new series by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, this series will delight middle grade readers with its diverse characters and relatable situations. Harper reads as white, with secondary characters representing different racial and gender identities.

Rebecca Jelen—Prospect Sierra Middle School

Cooper, Elisha. Rare Bird, The. Elisha Cooper, Illus. Roaring Book, 02/2026. [35]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-250-36439-5. GRADES Preschool–1. OUTSTANDING.   

The Rare Bird is about a playful house cat whose imagination comes alive inside a suburban home. Through soft pencil drawings, vibrant watercolors, and intentional white space, Cooper visually portrays the cat’s fantasy of becoming different animals. The story highlights the bond between the cat and its owner, a light‑brown‑skinned young girl who nurtures imagination by reading animal stories aloud. With minimal text and vivid illustrations, the book encourages creativity, imaginative play, and self-expression, making it an ideal choice for storytime. This picture book is outstanding for its vibrant pencil illustrations, which vividly capture a cheerful house cat’s imaginative journey. The colorful, expressive artwork draws young readers into the cat’s playful world and creates a memorable reading experience.

Eboni Weston—San José State University iSchool Student

Sherman, Suzanne. Shell Seeker: The Life, Work, and Adventures of a Blind Biologist. Linda Olliver, Illus. National Science Teachers Association / NSTAKids, 01/2026. 46pp. Biography. Trade $19.99. 979-8-8997-7010-4. GRADES 2–4. ADDITIONAL.    

“See” how a young child who lost his eyesight became a marine biologist. Geerat Vermei grew up with parents who encouraged his inquisitiveness and exploration of the works around him, which helped him as he persevered and excelled in his seashell studies. This informative picture book depicts Geerat’s early life and interests. Watercolor-like digital illustrations depict his struggles and successes while helping readers think about the world around them. Back matter includes hands-on activities, a project, and a glossary.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Pinkney Barlow, Charnelle. Two Artists, Grandad and Me. Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, Illus. Random House/Doubleday, 01/2026. [29]pp. Biography. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5935-7122-4. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Written by the late artist’s granddaughter, Two Artists, Grandad and Me offers a snapshot of life with Jerry Pinkney. While lacking in traditional biographical details, the narrative style reads like a story, immersing the reader in a day in Pinkney’s studio. Younger readers will especially enjoy repeated onomatopoeia that create the atmosphere of his lively, often musical art space. The story captures Pinkney’s warmth and his encouragement to see oneself as an artist. Collages of cut paper, colored pencil drawings, and found objects craft the studio setting of the story. Pinkney and his granddaughter are both Black. Two pages of back matter contain sketches by Pinkney, information on his illustration process, family photographs, and more specific family stories.

Sicilia Smith—Alameda Free Library

Tonai, Minoru. Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp. Chris Sasaki, Illus. Addl. Creator Jolene Gutierrez. Abrams, 04/2026. [44]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-4197-7289-4. GRADES 1–5. OUTSTANDING.    

The experience of one Japanese American family who was sent to the Amache incarceration camp in Colorado during World War II is told using a fluid story-like text. Right after the Pearl Harbor attack, Min’s father was taken by the FBI while the rest of the family was sent to the Santa Anita Assembly Center and later Amache; they didn’t see him for three years. Reunited in their last year at the camp, Min learns perseverance by helping his father create rock gardens. The distinctive graphic illustrations use mainly dull shades of brown along with black to depict the desolate environment. This brief but emotionally resonant story is factual and will be clear to younger students first learning about this tragic chapter in U.S. history. Based on the experience of the Tonai family, there is back matter that spells out more information, including the terms used to refer to the camps which have evolved over time. Includes California-specific content.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Wechsler, Doug. What Good is a Dead Tree? A Science Mystery. Lerner/Millbrook, 04/2026. 40pp. Nonfiction. PLB $33.32. 979-8-3480-1053-9. GRADES 4–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.    

The death cycle of an oak tree is explained in an unusual, though interesting, manner.  Journey fifty years back in time, to when this tree first fell over, and watch nature turn it into a dark strip on the forest floor. Informative, descriptive text accompanies a plethora of color photographs showing the microbes, fungi, bacteria, insects, and animals that all take part in the decomposing process. Every few pages depicts time moving ahead, from one stage to the next, as the tree steadily disappears. Well worth reading and sharing with those interested in the decomposition process.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Lunde, Darrin. Who’s Making That Big Stink?! Erica J. Chen, Illus. Who Is That?; bk. 5. Charlesbridge, 06/2026. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-625-0. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

The fifth entry in Lunde’s series of factual picture books, this focuses on the smells certain animals (and one plant) make to repel threats or attract a mate. Each spread shows animals asking the title question; turn the page to find the answer and a short, factual paragraph. Animals featured begin with a skunk and follow with a stinkbird, musk ox, corpse flower, bombardier beetle, sea hare, and binturong. The digitally-created artwork resembles paintings and shows the animals in a realistic way except their humorous facial expressions, adding something that makes these books special. Great for storytimes, classroom sharing, simple animal reports, and recreational reading.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Coy, John. World Game, The: Soccer Circles the Globe. Phung Nguyen Quang, Illus. Carolrhoda, 05/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 979-8-7656-6798-9. GRADES Preschool–Kindergarten. ADDITIONAL.        

Action-packed digital illustrations demonstrate how popular football, or American soccer, is around the world. Readers follow what is written as one game, following the ball as it passes across time zones from player to player, flying down the fields and into a goal post. Each two-page spread features a new city, country, and time zone. Demonstrating the global reach of football, the displayed time changes in sync with the time zones and game play. Players’ ethnicities, clothes, playing fields, and backgrounds all change from city to city, showing some with fancy uniforms and fields and others with dirt fields and plain clothes. Useful to show how the game is played around the world and watched by billions, especially with the World Cup in the U.S. this year.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

McGrath, Raymond. Worm Turns Up, The: In Summer. Raymond McGrath, Illus. Bird! #2. Lerner/Graphic Universe, 05/2026. 47pp. Graphic. PLB $29.32. 979-8-7656-4809-4. Paper $12.99. 979-8-7656-4814-8. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.    

Bird, with the help of his friend Spider, is looking for a friend by singing and dancing, which attracts Worm as their new companion. This beginning graphic novel follows their developing friendship as they explore Worm’s underground home, and work together to hopefully attract a new friend for Bird, which this reviewer assumes is supposed to be a mate. This same process likely occurred in the first title, Along Came a Spider (2026), and may continue in future titles. Digital illustrations show the bird and spider as somewhat anime-like, circular shaped animals; this makes Spider feel friendly instead of scary and spider-like.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library