Brewer, Caroline. Anansi and the Talking Cloth. Ekua Holmes, Illus. Addl. Creator Kwasi Asare. Charlesbridge, 08/26. [36]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-421-8. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Anansi the trickster and his wife Aso both love Kente cloth, the traditional hand-woven cloth from Ghana, and are dismayed when cheap factory-made versions flood the market. Aso figures out a way to get both spiders and people to take up weaving again in this original story inspired by the folktale character Anansi as well as actual industrial occurrences. The rhyming text has energy, rhythm, and some repetition, and smoothly combines the real world with folkloric characters. The distinctive, brightly colored collage illustrations reflect the style of Kente cloth, with deeply saturated orange, yellow, red, and other colors highlighted with black. The book ends with a helpful author’s note on the origin of Anansi, Kente cloth, and other facts, and a brief illustrator’s note describes the weaving process.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Nelson, Kadir. Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game. Kadir Nelson, Illus. Little, Brown, 01/2026. 112pp. Nonfiction. Trade $21.99. 978-0-3162-0940-3. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING.

From its origins as a game created by a Canadian PE teacher at the International YMCA Training School in Massachusetts to its development into a professional career, Basket Ball chronicles the history of the remarkable sport. By highlighting the game’s racist beginnings at all-white athletic clubs, the creation of amateur all-Black basketball teams during segregation, and the prowess of female basketball pioneers, we learn basketball is a sport for everyone. Nelson focuses on Black basketball, a unique style of fast, no-look passes, fluid movements, and slam dunks that eventually led to the game we know today. He introduces us to the first Black professional basketball player, Harry “Bucky” Lew, and teaches how his inclusion paved the way to integration of the sport. This book is informative, educational, and entertaining, including facts about innovations like dribbling and the three-point line, to details about star players like Michael Jordan. The art style is breathtaking, featuring realistic oil painting illustrations with visible brushstrokes in deep, rich tones. Back matter includes a table of contents, author’s note, timeline, glossary, notes, sources, and index. An engaging look at American history from the basketball court for basketball newbies, longtime fans, and lovers of history.

Kazuko Rance—Contra Costa County Library

Fogliano, Julie. Because of a Shoe. Marla Frazee, Illus. Knopf, 02/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-593-70740-1. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Preschool. LOW ADDITIONAL.

This first-person description of a child’s tantrum from the point of view of the parent fails to honor the experience of the child by illustrating an exaggeration of their imagined depths of despair, mocking their stubbornness, and one-upping their defiance, without offering serious guesses about the strong feelings that surely motivated the outburst. The pale-skinned, red-headed, well-attuned duo express a full range of emotions, which is in itself a useful message to convey. Nevertheless, the assumption that the adult doesn’t know and doesn’t care if the shoe is too tight or too loose, yet makes declarative statements about the child’s thoughts and feelings, gives the entire work a feeling of patronizing condescension and accusation, especially when read aloud. Frazee’s realistic, soft-edge renderings in colored pencil on matte film start with an adorably upset child in a cheerfully-colored setting  but turn into a bleak wasteland where both parent and child are drawn in gray, brown and black. When the mood subsides and the colors return, readers will still have no idea what instigated the tantrum. While this may accurately reflect the lived experience of many parents and caregivers, and outwardly reflects the child’s experience as well, it is hard to imagine a child feeling truly seen in this hyperbolic depiction of their wordless, senseless, emotional distress.

Erica Siskind—Oakland Public Library

Albee, Sarah. Brontosaurus Is Back! A Dinosaur’s Name and Return to Fame. Chris Hsu, Illus. Charlesbridge,09/2026. [36]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-636-6. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.          

What is the history of the Brontosaurus dinosaur, where did the name come from, why did scientists change the name many years ago and then recently restore it? Oh, and why have people (and museums) continued to use the name for decades, long after scientists stopped using it? Albee answers these questions, and many others in this easy-to-understand, informative picture book via the paleontology and scientific process, including early ideas and changes to those ideas over time due to new discoveries. Hsu’s colorful digital illustrations enhance Albee’s text as the story unfolds across the United States and over the years (prehistoric dinosaur times, to the 1870s, to modern times). A small yellow bird continually pops up, adding a bit of comic relief to the detail-rich text and illustrations. A useful, informative, and engaging title which dinosaur fans will enjoy.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Preus, Margi. Case of the Pilfered Pearls, The. Junyi Wu, Illus. The Shrew detective; bk. 1. Abrams/Amulet, 05/2026. 120pp. Fiction. Trade $15.99. 978-1-4197-7802-5. GRADES Kindergarten–3. ADDITIONAL.        

In this moving-up mystery series opener, we meet Minerva, a pygmy shrew, urged to investigate a missing pearl necklace before the human owner brings in exterminators. Although Minerva lives under a tree at the edge of a forest, she is part of a large community of shrews, mice, squirrels, and chipmunks, many of whom live in the walls and attic of a nearby house, whose human inhabitants include a rodent-blaming mother (not shown) and her kind son, Rory, who is depicted as a light-skinned, dark-haired boy. Minerva is curious, observant, cautious, perpetually hungry, and also yearning for knowledge – represented by the pages of a recycled dictionary she uses for wallpaper and quotes often. Readers are likely to guess parts of the mystery before Minerva does, but her persistent interviews of all involved parties pull the pieces together and provide an avenue for reparation and a satisfying conclusion. Medium font size and frequent illustrations combine with dramatic illustrations in black pencil by Junyi Wu to show a cozy world, a solvable mystery, and an emotionally resonant story, just right for the intended audience.

Erica Siskind—Oakland Public Library

Granillo, Ashley. Choir Grrrl. Lerner/Carolrhoda, 02/2026. 336pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8-7656-7135-1. GRADES 5–8. ADDITIONAL.         

Alondra is lead vocalist and guitarist in an emo band with her sisters but secretly wants to stretch her voice in a different way, by joining the choir club. However, Alondra’s path to self-discovery is not a smooth one. She is dyslexic and predominantly relies upon her ear to hear and harmonize the music notes. Alondra constantly questions herself while trying to navigate everything and everyone around her, including her ace/aro identity as feelings arise when she meets someone new. At times the scene and mood changes can be abrupt, but it doesn’t get in the way of the overall message that comes across. This book highlights the strength and solidarity of women in rock, particularly the Riot Grrrl movement and Latine women in rock. A multi-layered personal growth narrative filled with heart, humor, and some amazing rock ballads. Back matter includes a discussion guide, a nice resource for classrooms or tween/teen book clubs.  

Alicia Hulten—Palo Alto City Library

Mason, Paul. Digging for Dinosaurs. Jess Bradley, Illus. Comic Strip Science Adventures. Charlesbridge, 09/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-793-6. Paper $8.99. 978-1-62354-832-2. GRADES 2–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.       

These series graphic novel imports from England present their individual topics with a touch of humor, as they educate and entertain readers about dinosaurs and space. Mason’s narrative text explains how dinosaurs are found, studied, and displayed; or the various ways humans have explored space over time. Bradley’s digital illustrations are comically simple while providing many supporting details to the humorous narration that readers will appreciate. The graphic novel format keeps the information and narration flowing, while aptly explaining the topic. Great for young primary grade readers and useful for readers exploring either topic.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Mason, Paul. Exploring Space. Jess Bradley, Illus. Comic Strip Science Adventures. Charlesbridge, 09/2026. 32pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-794-3. Paper $8.99. 978-1-62354-831-5. GRADES 2–4. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Digging for Dinosaurs by Paul Mason for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Williams, Sophie. Finding Life: A Prehistoric Search and Find. Sophie Williams, Illus. Addl. Creators Ziggy Hanaor and Rob Wilshaw. Cicada Books, 03/2026. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-80066-054-0. GRADES Kindergarten–3. LOW ADDITIONAL.

This “search and find” novelty book may entertain paleontology enthusiasts, who need only locate the six creatures from each “Can you spot…” sidebar key within its larger two-page spread. The opening two pages provide a surface-level introduction to Earth’s geologic periods and an overview of the development of life. The lively, vivid images with black outlines resemble completed coloring pages, but their busy appearance doesn’t hide the fact that the six objects were pasted into a landscape without care for foreground, background, or scale. Small, irksome errors of omission and context will not interrupt the game of finding objects, but they detract from the usefulness of the work as a whole. There are no source notes, references, further reading, nor pronunciation guides. The otherwise clear and colorful “History of Life on Earth” timeline at the front does not include the two epochs, Pleistocene and Holocene, within the Quaternary Period (misspelled as quarternary, which has a different meaning). However, the missing two epochs are included in the page spreads where Quaternary would be, and in the Glossary, which gives inconsistent tidbits of information on the creatures. This British import provides an amusing game, but is likely to be cataloged as nonfiction under prehistoric life, which will lend it more authority than it deserves.

Erica Siskind—Oakland Public Library

Klassen, Jon. House with Nobody in It, The. Jon Klassen, Illus. Candlewick, 07/2026. [16]pp. Picture Book. Trade $14.99. 978-1-53624-828-9. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. OUTSTANDING.           

A simple text describes a small house “with nobody in it” even though children will see a ghost-like figure on the front and back covers and in one spread in the middle of the book. Is the ghost named Nobody? The earthtone colors of the illustrations gradually darken as the story progresses, and die-cut holes in the board pages make it easy to distinguish each room. Also, the book’s house shape with a pointed roof will attract readers. The story has parallels to Brown’s classic Goodnight Moon, because both books name elements in each room, including a chair and a lamp. The layered story will appeal to a wide age range, from toddlers who can name the chair, to emergent readers who can guess the identity of the ghost. A clever board book that will motivate readers to examine it multiple times.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Gianferrari, Maria. Just One Oak: What a Single Tree Can Be. Diana Sudyka, Illus. Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster, 04/2026. 48pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6659-61041-2. GRADES Kindergarten–4. OUTSTANDING.          

The thoughtful design and comprehensive presentation of the many life forms and processes sustained within the ecosystem of a single oak will captivate a wide range of ages. Integrated visually with the illustrations and carried by a refrain (“Just one oak…”), the text flows gracefully for being read aloud, while also nestling more detailed information within paragraphs of smaller fonts. Full-bleed spreads of dynamic watercolor and gouache inspire curiosity for the small creatures as well as wonder for the all-encompassing nature of the oak tree. Back matter offers further information about the oak’s life cycle, ecology, planting tips, conservation efforts, bibliography, and resources.

Alexandre Petrakis—San Francisco Public Library

Paul, Miranda. Kaleidoscope of Hope: How Butterfly Life Cycles Reflect Our World. Harikrishnan Panicker, Illus. Addl. Creators Deepti Nair. Greenwillow, 05/2026. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-314410-1. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.       

In this book with a dual text, the life cycle of the butterfly is described, then elaborated upon with more information including environmental factors. The author begins with a simple rhyming text, then alternates with a page of information that goes into more detail, making this appealing to a wide age range. Illustrated with delicate paper sculptures enhanced with paint, the stunning artwork invites rereading due to the details. Both the text and artwork cleverly use the theme of a kaleidoscope (the collective noun for a group of butterflies), showing the complexity of the metamorphosis of a butterfly. The simpler text pages will make a great readaloud to a group, while the more in-depth sections provide material for research and reports. The book ends with a section on providing butterfly gardens and pools, details on how the artwork was constructed, and a list of recommended supplemental reading.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Hamilton-Davies, Will. Mole and the Mound and the House Underground, The. Kasia Fryza, Illus. Post Wave, 05/2026. [30]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 979-8-89509-067-1. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.        

Mole digs a home deep underground, while Bird, Bee and Beaver work on building what they each say is the best house – be it a nest, a lodge, or a hive. But when a storm comes along and makes a mess of their houses, they find safety in Mole’s mound, and discover how much they had not been able to see. The pen, ink, and digital illustrations convey how the aboveground animals dismissed Mole’s underground work as being inferior, and their surprise at what they find when they finally take Mole up on his offer to visit. A different way to say that not everything is at it seems, and looks can be deceiving when you cannot see the whole.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Leung, Julie. Navigating Night. Angie Kang, Illus. Anne Schwartz, 03/2026. 42pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-89769-0. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

A Chinese American girl helps her father deliver takeout from their family’s restaurant, as he recounts memories of the Cultural Revolution and his path to New York City. Leung’s text is well-paced with choice figures of speech that add imagery to the protagonist’s thoughts (“the night places a cool hand on my shoulder”). Kang’s mixed-media gouache, pastel and salt illustrations amplify tension with a blue stormy night and pops of illuminating colors. While the dialogue is primarily in English, Leung mixes in occasional Cantonese phrases (in Traditional Chinese characters) with moderate success. Those who cannot read Chinese will get a taste of the language barrier that immigrants face, with no pronunciation guide for reading the entire text aloud. Bilingual readers might find Baba’s first Chinese sentence awkward in Cantonese. The minimal amount of Cantonese dialogue makes the story accessible to English readers, but reduces the daughter’s role as the translator in the plot. Nevertheless, the emotional experience of many first- and second-generation American children as navigators for their parents is effectively depicted, further supported by the author’s and illustrator’s notes, making this a much-needed addition to diverse library collections.

Allison Law—Contra Costa County Library

Lindemann, Johanna. Once Upon a Pickup Time. Mareike Ammersken, Illus. Translated from the German by Christian Maclean. Floris, 06/2026. [24]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-178250-957-8. GRADES Kindergarten–1. ADDITIONAL.         

Ben loves playing with his friends at kindergarten, but is sad that they are always picked up to go home before his dad finally comes for him. He begins to use his imagination to tell stories (about his dad) which capture the attention of the other kids (and parents), keeping them there longer, so he ends up not being the last one left. The multicultural class enjoys the stories, asks to be picked up later tomorrow, and the friends get more time together. The overall story is imaginative, especially with things his dad is described to be doing, but local readers who pay attention may wonder why this kindergarten is so very different from the kindergarten they experience. In California, the free-flowing departure times are more likely for preschool than for the academic kindergartens (likely structured quite differently in the author’s home country of Germany). A great way to introduce imaginative storytelling to young readers.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Rosswood, Eric. Place to Dance: How Richard Lamberry Brought Change to the Ballroom, A. Vincent Chen, Illus. Addl. Creator Richard Lamberry. Charlesbridge, 08/2026. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-648-9. GRADES Kindergarten–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.          

Since he was a small child, American Richard Lamberry loved to dance, and he became an expert ballroom dancer and instructor. As an instructor, he could dance both the man’s and woman’s parts and was frustrated that he could not compete with a male partner. In the 1990s, he joined the Gay Games to compete in the ballroom dance division and went on to advocate for same-sex ballroom dance couples in other competitions around the world. The digital illustrations are colorful and adeptly show the movement of dance. This factual story told using a picture book format is easy to follow, with three pages of back matter adding more details, sources, and color photos of Lamberry dancing with male partners. This uplifting true story will give hope to young readers who will see an example of how one person can change customs and practices to be more inclusive, especially for the LGBTQ community.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Stead, Philip Christian. Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm, A: A Story Out of Order. Philip Christian Stead, Illus. Holiday House/Neal Porter, 04/2026. 319pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-08-2345809-7. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING.     

Like the unusual title itself, this tale is a sprinkling of magical components, curious ponderings, and unabashed delight in the absurd as a young goatkeeper minds twenty-four goats tasked with holding up a castle. When one of the goats goes missing, twelve-year-old Bernadette must bring him back safely. Clever wordplay (with misapplied adages and Latin phrases), enchantingly quirky characters, and resonating line drawings, convey an unmistakable sense of whimsy and wisdom simultaneously. After all, the world is arbitrary with the distribution of wishes and burdens. The peculiar antics and the highly unusual structure (chapters out of order, two endings, and a narrator aware of their role) suits the tale to a T. Whimsical grayscale artwork, fantastical characters, and laughter aplenty create a world of wonder in a beautifully bound stand-out debut novel worth waiting for.

Alexandre Petrakis—San Francisco Public Library

Sorrell, Traci. Riding the Trail: Cherokees Remember the Removal. Addl. Creator Will Chavez. Charlesbridge, 08/2026. 100pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-62354-314-3. GRADES 7–12. ADDITIONAL.

Follow the experiences of the nine Cherokee riders of the 2021 Remember the Removal memorial bicycle ride as they traverse nearly a thousand miles of the Trail of Tears route. The riders, from the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, apply to be part of the ride, then spend months training and learning more about their Nation’s past before completing the ride together, over several weeks. Sorrell and Chavez’s writing follows the riders as they prepare (physically and emotionally), then highlights the ride’s stops, lessons, and direct ancestorial connections with the riders. Readers who may be unfamiliar with the Trail of Tears will learn much about what led up to, during, and after the forced relocation of the Cherokee People, including the many who died along the way. Much more than a thousand mile bicycle ride, this journey connects the riders (and now readers) with the events of the past. Engaging, sad, informative, and at times uplifting, this work (and the Ride) is an interesting way to educate readers about the past and present.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Ponti, Claude. River, The. Claude Ponti, Illus. Translated from the French by Margot Kerlidou and Alyson Waters. Elsewhere, 03/2026. [52]pp. Picture Book. Trade $20. 978-1-962770-47-7. GRADES 1–3. LOW ADDITIONAL.

On the river Longo lies two floating villages – the Oolongs in one and the Kukichas in the other. Each culture expects to die and be reborn as the next newborn, often choosing a new gender. Thus, Lu Cha and Ali Roo are raised differently than their gender at birth – which does not seem to affect their lives or those around them. Life is carefree until a monster comes and threatens the parents, so Lu Cha and Ali Roo band together to defeat the monster, realize their true selves, and gain some of their former memories. Colorful, whimsical illustrations provide clues to the other world names of the villagers, plants, and animals. The “people” remind this reviewer of the stub nosed Arthur from Marc Brown’s books and TV series, with brown, robe-like clothes and pointy ears on top of their heads. While possibly useful for those exploring gender, the overall story felt confusing, with many unknown words, plants, strange references, and too many subplots to keep track of. 

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Graff, Lisa. Scar Like a River, A. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano, 02/2026. 400pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-3165-7080-0. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING.

Lisa Graff delivers a powerful and realistic portrayal of thirteen-year-old Fallon Little as she copes with the aftermath of sexual and violent assault. Fallon has three big secrets, including who sliced her face, permanently scarring her when she was five. The tipping point for releasing her secrets is when her uncle Steve, “Geebie,” dies, setting off an emotional cascade. Fallon is also dealing with starring as the lead in Hello Dolly! But when she vocally disagrees with the play’s message, she loses the part. Her mother is chronically ill, and her Aunt Lune, whom she has a troubled relationship with, comes to live with them. Fallon’s two best friends have suddenly become an item. And she finds a new friendship with an unlikely person, Stella, the beautiful mean girl. Fallon is a quick-witted, complex character. The story takes place in a fictional California town, Cedar Haven, nestled in the southeastern mountains. Graff shines an unflinching lens on trauma and the ways families grapple with the fallout. Reminiscent of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s Fighting Words (Dial Books, 2021). Content note and author’s note included. 

Yesica Hurd—Berkeley Public Library

Michno, Maciej. Still Water: The Wonders of Ponds, Pools, Wetlands, and More. Valentina Gottardi, Illus. Addl. Creators Danio Miserocchi. Translated from the Italian by Sylvia Notini. Eerdman’s, 08/2026. 64pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8028-5659-3. GRADES 4–6. OUTSTANDING.    

Still waters have a bad rap as places where diseases, pests and smells develop. This exquisitely illustrated, informative and accessible picture book seeks to correct misapprehensions and to shine a light on overlooked, underappreciated at-risk ecosystems. Enchanting, delicate, detailed illustrations, in pen, acrylic wash and tablet, draw readers in. Clear descriptions, compelling facts, and lovely and informative charts and diagrams demystify a variety of still water ecosystems, from puddles through bogs. Separate chapters cover each body of water, interspersed with chapters on the plants, amphibians, reptiles, insects, mammals, birds, and fish that make up the forty percent of earth’s life forms that thrive in still water. While first published in Italy, worldwide species are represented, making the book suitable for U.S. school reports or to pique interest in nature lovers anywhere. Back matter includes a glossary and link to a detailed online bibliography. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Stratton, L.S. Sundown Girls. Penguin Random House/Nancy Paulsen, 01/2026. 320pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8-2170-0494-2. GRADES 7–9. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Kidnapped as a baby, sixteen-year-old Naomi must come to terms with her childhood trauma and new family dynamics during an ill-fated bonding trip with her biological family. Set in the former Sundown town of Sparksburg, Virginia, Naomi is haunted by the town’s racist history and disturbing present. Readers learn about sundown towns, towns where people of color were excluded and subject to intimidation and violence through the perspective of a Black teen and her family. This story begins with an atmospheric description of Naomi, held by an unknown captor, among other girls in the dark. Unfortunately, the book’s supernatural elements fall flat, as it primarily focuses on Naomi’s trauma, her budding romance with Khalil, and family drama. There are content warnings for murder, racism, kidnapping, and lynching. This historical fiction mystery with some supernatural elements highlights an important piece of American history for younger teens. Back matter includes a detailed author’s note and a list of cited works for reference.

Kazuko Rance—Contra Costa County Library

Hardinge, Frances. Traitors’ Nest. Amulet, 09/2026. 400pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-4197-9414-8. GRADES 6–11. OUTSTANDING.            

Otherworldly lords, vying for power, move pieces on a board; in the real-world castles jump, upending lives. Fifteen-year-old Burr, his family and friends, made desperate by seasons of cruelty and lies, take the chance to move from a village of pawns to a castle of players. A layered world full of rich history, myth and magic serves as the backdrop for a dynamic fantasy that centers on friendship and the choices in a deadly game that truly matters. Most of the action takes place in a medieval setting that reads white, but an alliance with a culture that reads Asian plays a secondary role. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Thomas, Kiah. Two Turtles. Jake A. Minton, Illus. Charlesbridge, 09/2026. [30]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-840-7. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL.     

Turtles Frank and Terrence turn everything into a competition, even who can fall off a cliff and reach the bottom first (which just may end badly). This Australian import (2024, Little Book Press) features comically drawn turtles, with serious competition eyes, in differing shades of green and white, plus a small, puffy bird as their audience. Narrative text primarily speaks to the audience by describing their competitiveness to the reader, rather than the turtles (or bird) having direct speaking lines. Although the ending is a bit didactic  (everyone is a winner when we work together), the overall suspense of the fall keeps the reader’s attention.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Clarke, Emma. Where Is Pierre? Emma Clarke, Illus. Bloomsbury, 06/2026. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-54762-038-8. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.      

In this jaunty, rhyming, debut picture book, Bear is looking for his best friend Pierre, who is a penguin, because it is Bear’s birthday. Bear looks through the town and finds similar black and white animals but not Pierre, but it all works out when Bear gets back home. The plot has similarities to other birthday-themed stories, but children will enjoy searching for Pierre who can be found in some of the brightly colored cartoonish illustrations by observant readers. The title is repeated several times, making this a great choice for an interactive storytime.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

St. Jude, Jen. Where You’ll Find Us. Bloomsbury, 06/2026. 384pp. Fiction. Trade $20.99. 978-1-5476-1140-9. GRADES 9–12. OUTSTANDING.

Cal is graduating from their all-girls school with their beautiful and talented lesbian girlfriend Ramona by their side; she’s even set up a free, crowdfunded ride for Cal to join her at an all-girls college after Cal’s parents disowned them for being trans. But Cal isn’t out to anyone else as trans, including Ramona, until a storm brings them to Amaranth, where other queer and trans teens from different eras of the twentieth century live in a magical, time-stopped cottage where nothing heals, nothing grows, and time expands to give everyone the space they need to figure out who they are. They soon discover that nothing can stay frozen in time forever, and Amaranth’s gifts are more complicated than they seem. While some of the logistics of the time stoppage seem superficial, and the romantic storylines unfold with some predictability, this expressive book shines in its portrayal of queer and trans joy and love. Ramona is Brazilian American and Cal is white; the other teenaged residents of Amaranth represent a range of genders and races. A glowingly tender fantasy with thoughtful representation and honest, lyrical writing.

Mika Permutt—Alameda Free Library