Sandler, Martin W. Baseball’s Shining Season: America’s Pasttime on the Brink of War. Addl. Creator Craig Sandler. Bloomsbury, 04/2026. 184pp. Nonfiction. Trade $24.99. 978-1-54760-797-6. GRADES 5–12. OUTSTANDING.          

As the United States anticipated and dreaded the likely event of entering World War II, many people focused their attention on the 1941 professional baseball season as a distraction. The narrative does a great job of balancing the detailed descriptions of baseball news, such as the records set by Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams, with what was going on in the rest of the world (which was already at war). Social changes that take place are also discussed, including the achievements of both the Negro Leagues and women baseball players. There are photos (often large) or sidebars every other page which will help this interesting book attract a wide age range. By putting the history of baseball during this era in context with the war, readers will get an accurate picture of American culture during this critical time. Back matter includes an index, source notes, and list of further reading.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Arnold, Katie. Big Book of Useless History Knowledge, The: 250 of the Coolest, Weirdest, and Most Unbelievable History Facts You Won’t Be Taught in School. Liz Kay, Illus. Addl. Creators Lauren Grierson, Hattie Hearn, et al. Neon Squid, 07/2026. 208pp. Nonfiction. Trade $24.99. 978-1-68449-585-6. GRADES 4–8. ADDITIONAL.  

Although the facts covered in this book are unlikely to be on a test, this will please trivia fans and those who like books of world records and top ten lists. This contains brief, one-paragraph entries of facts throughout history, grouped by topics such as leaders, wars, places, and sports and games. Tidbits include Cleopatra hiding in a rolled-up carpet to visit Caesar and the origin of decorating a Christmas tree with popcorn (from the South American tradition of using popcorn to decorate headdresses and necklaces). The full-color, cartoonish illustrations resemble gouache and include jokes in dialogue balloons to add interest. Although this is not an essential library purchase, it will be great for the child who may not be interested in books or reading.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Markle, Sandra. Can Mud Be That?! Alexandra Colombo, Illus. Charlesbridge, 09/2026. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-638-0. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.          

When is mud more than simple mud? Apparently all the time, as this informative picture book demonstrates via a variety of animals who use different types of mud for various purposes, including elephants as sunscreen and Egyptian vultures as face paint. Each animal is introduced by showing a part of the animal and its mud, followed by a full explanation on the following page. Digital illustrations show the various animals (wide-eyed and happy looking) using their mud for homes, tunnels, skin coverings, nests, and more. A useful, interactive introduction to how animals use their environment to their advantage.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Long, Ethan. FUN! Ethan Long, Illus. Letter Setters; bk. 2. Holiday House, 1/2026. [36]pp. Reader. Trade $14.99. 978-0-8234-6032-8. GRADES Preschool–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.      

Four different breeds of setter dogs go to the beach, meet a pig and a pug, and make sand castles. Each spread has just one word, with each successive word changed by just one letter, such as “dig, big, bug,” and so on. Because the text is so brief, the cartoon illustrations tell most of the story, using slapstick humor. This entry in the “Letter Setters” series uses short vowel sounds, but this is not a boring phonics reader; it’s a real story. This series will be great for younger emergent readers who may be struggling, since they can “read” the pictures and easily sound out the limited number of words..

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Schocket, Anna. Heart That Found You, The. Carole Chevalier, Illus. Collective Book Studio, 11/2025. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $16.95. 978-1-68555-085-1. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. ADDITIONAL.        

In this rhyming picture book, a heart goes in search of someone to love: “Heart crossed many oceans and saw far-off lands, looked deep inside and did a lot of handstands.” Finally, Heart adopts a baby heart, declaring “No matter where your heart began to beat, because of you our family is complete.” The brightly-colored, cartoonish illustrations resemble gouache, showing the red Heart on two legs and the other members of Heart’s family in various colors. This would work for a Valentine’s Day storytime, but the best audience is families with an adopted child since it celebrates that occurrence. This would also work as a gift for families with a newly adopted baby.

Penny Peck— San José State University iSchool

Conroy, Kelly. Here a Creak, There a Shriek! Nikolas Ilic, Illus. Tiger Tales, 07/2026. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-66430-096-5. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.       

In this take on “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” three young white trick-or-treaters “explore a haunted farm. Eeek-I! Eeek-I! Oh!” Their journey includes a corn maze and a haunted forest until they end up at the barn where a Halloween party is going on. This fun, spooky version of the popular nursery song will take a little practice to smoothly read it aloud, but it will certainly grab an audience who will join in the repeated phrases. The cartoonish digital illustrations are also distinctive, set at night using deep greens, blues, and purples that almost glow in the dark. Sure to be a popular choice to read at storytimes or in classrooms in October.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Barr, Stephen. If This Were the World. AG Ford, Illus. Holiday House/Neal Porter, 02/2026. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8234-5719-9. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

While playing outside during recess, a racially diverse group of primary graders are inspired by an orange to discuss: “what if it was the world?” They decide it is too small, and offer a ball, a tree, and other items before deciding the current Earth is the best world to share. The concept will inspire children to use their imaginations, and the cartoonish colored-pencil artwork adds energy. The text is mainly a dialogue between the students, showing a cooperative group collaboratively working on a problem. The unusual story may need repeated readings for younger children to grasp, but overall this will work well for school-age children.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Martín, Pedro. Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir. Pedro Martín, Illus. Dial, 09/2026. 320pp. Graphic. PLB $24.99. 979-8-2170-0248-1. Paper $14.99. 979-8-2170-0249-8. GRADES 4–8. OUTSTANDING.     

The 1971 San Fernando earthquake uproots Pedro’s family, forcing them north to Watsonville and into a sharecropper’s life. Pedro, the seventh of nine kids, chronicles the hard work, hilarity, boredom, and drama of working in the strawberry fields, and the resultant determination of each of the nine to find a way out of manual labor. A ’70s vibe infuses the colorful, clear, comic illustrations. Full-page spreads, alternating with regular and asymmetrically-arranged panels, reference the music, fashion, and advertising of the period. More than a memoir, this deft portrayal of a family from a middle schooler’s perspective manages to be both a page-turning, laugh-out-loud story full of unforgettable characters and an illuminating education into the struggles of the legal and undocumented farmworkers who grow our food. Back matter includes updates on the post-sharecropping lives of the Martin family, a ‘your questions answered’ page, two pages of vintage photos, and an author’s note. Most characters are Mexican American or Mexican, with a mix of other ethnicities. Includes California-specific content. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Sheinkin, Steve. Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match that Changed the World. Thien Pham, Illus. Addl. Creator Maurice Ashley. Roaring Brook, 09/2026. 240pp. Graphic. PLB $22.99. 978-1-250-33477-0. Paper $14.99. 978-1-250-33476-3. GRADES 4–9. HIGH ADDITIONAL.           

For over a thousand years chess has been seen as the ultimate test of human intelligence, which is why the 1997 contest between Chess Grandmaster Gary Kasparov and the IBM computer Deep Blue drew worldwide attention. With the help of a contemporary commentator, Maurice Ashley, the first African-American Grandmaster, Sheinkin narrates the match, providing history and context while raising questions we face today:can machines think, and what happens if human-created machines surpass their human creators? Stylistically simple, the deeply colored digital-art cartoons contain loads of detail. Plenty of active sporting comparisons complement the cinematic pacing and exemplary research. The racial and ethnic diversity of the chess and artificial intelligence participants make clear the worldwide connection and impact. A thought-provoking history for those interested in artificial intelligence, chess, and big philosophical questions. Back matter includes both authors’ notes. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Hurme, Maija. Odds and Ends. Maija Hurme, Illus. Translated from the Finnish by Mia Spangenberg. Enchanted Lion, 04/2026. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-59270-479-8. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.        

What are lasts? Find out as this white girl (with black hair) presents a detailed, thoughtful collection that organizes and explains the many different types of “lasts” she has found. These lasts cover the gambit from annual lasts (last woolly hat day), lasts that are firsts (last diaper), last chances (last empty seat in a theater), and even lonely lasts (last player picked for a team).  The types of lasts are varied, thoughtful, sometimes funny or (more likely) sad, and all a bit introspective. Not for younger readers; more for readers who will understand what lasts are, as they find much to think about while moving along from one type to another.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Lune, Bonsoir. Watermelon Pool. Bonsoir Lune, Illus. Translated from the Korean by Frances Cha. Penguin/Dial, 06/2026. [54]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 979-8-2171-1178-7. GRADES Kindergarten–2. OUTSTANDING.

Summertime is here amongst an East Asian countryside of green rice patties, where a watermelon splits open with a “CRACK” to create a public pool for soaking, swimming, sliding, and playing that is popular with ages young and old. Bonsoir Lune tells an original whimsical story with minimal narrative text, short dialogues, and simple onomatopoeia paired with picturesque spreads and multi-panels of colored pencil drawings. This union of text and illustrations creates an innovative concept of a watermelon pool that conveys a typical, joyous moment in a world both familiar and fantastical: “The cloud seller’s cloud parasols and rain-cloud showers are as popular as ever this year.” This English translation allows readers to appreciate the original Korean bestseller, first published in 2015, with relatable vocabulary that still retains the flavors of Korea. Young readers will delight in this refreshing tale, whether gearing up for summer or anticipating the next.

Allison Law—Contra Costa County Library

Giles, Chrystal D. We Are Joy. Kitt Thomas, Illus. Random House, 06/2026. [31]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-64773-8. GRADES Kindergarten–8. OUTSTANDING.      

We Are Joy is an uplifting picture book for African American families that celebrates the simple moments that bring happiness. Through food, family, books, nature, blue skies, and butterflies, the book gently shows young readers what joy can look like in everyday life. Colorful digital illustrations highlight the children’s faces and body movements clearly on each page, celebrating diversity by showing children with brown and light skin tones sharing joy together. The repeated words “We Are Joy” make it fun and easy to read aloud. Each page shows love, warmth, and happiness; pictures of a butterfly also show change, growth, freedom, happiness, and joy. This picture book is outstanding because it explains joy in a simple, beautiful way that young readers can understand, with vibrant colorful illustrations that bring the story to life. With a few strong words and strong pictures, this excellent picture book is a great choice for young readers and for Black History Month storytime.

Eboni Weston—San José State University iSchool Student

Buchet, Nelly. Weather Keeper, The. Elizabeth Haidle, Illus. Enchanted Lion, 09/2026. [30]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-59270-495-8. GRADES Kindergarten–2. ADDITIONAL.           

See what it is like being a weather keeper: a person who lives far to the north, away from everyone, keeping track of and reporting on the weather?  Sparse text narrates what this life is like, and how it is better than life in the city, before revealing that the narrator is training with the weather keeper, her mother, to also watch the weather.  Sparse, simple illustrations incorporate simple colors with the mood, and weather features in the lyrical text. The few people shown are drawn with few details, but appear to be white. Includes a three-page spread of the Northern Lights that unfolds to show how beautiful it can be living away from everyone.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Keller, Tae. When Tomorrow Burns. Random House, 03/2026. 272pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-593-48558-3. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING.

Newbery winner Tae Keller pens a superb novel examining both literal and figurative fires burning in the lives of seventh graders Nomi, Vi, and Arthur. As the outskirts of Seattle burn, the characters investigate the origins of a mysterious book of prophecies while navigating the complexities of friendship, crushes, poverty, social media, and identity. Each narrator has a distinct voice, with Keller utilizing a Greek chorus of trees as omniscient narrator connecting the lives of Seattle residents, past and present, with the city’s unique history. A storyline about a semi-nude photo pushes the audience level to the older end of middle grade. Vi is biracial Korean and white; Nomi and Arthur are white. Minor characters are diverse, including Asian immigrants, Black, LGBTQ, and Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. This is a gem.

Kelly Pollard—Alameda County Library

Wynter, Anne. While We’re Here. Micha Archer, Illus. Clarion, 03/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-323829-9. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING. 

A Black mother and her look-alike daughter, wearing matching sweaters, go out for a jaunt in the city, hoping to attend a friend’s birthday party. The brief text uses the repeated phrase “Hurry, hurry,” to begin each phrase, such as “Hurry hurry, catch the train. We have somewhere to be!” Although this doesn’t rhyme, the repeated clipped phrasing gives the text a rhythmic beat. Vibrantly colored collage illustrations, constructed with handmade papers, pair perfectly with the energetic text. The location looks similar to New York’s Central Park but it isn’t named. The combination of dramatic artwork and a memorable, lively text make this a standout.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Guillory, Sarah. Wish with Wings, A. Roaring Brook, 05/2026. 288pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-250-34939-2.GRADES 4–7. OUTSTANDING.     

Twelve-year-old Evan believes a good day means coming home dirtier than when she left, a view not shared by her mother and great aunt, who worry about strong-willed Evan’s “feral” behaviors (including slinging mud with her best friend Ford). Minor disagreements aside, life is fine on St. John’s Island, Lousiana–until the day the salt-mine where Evan’s daddy works floods, trapping him inside. An engaging and well-rounded character, Evan faces a tough choice when she realizes that exposing the truth about the mine disaster threatens the well-being of her family, friends, and small-town community. Written in first person and steeped in the natural world, this richly atmospheric story includes a strong cast of supportive characters, as well as an endangered whooping crane egg that Evan finds and attempts to hatch. Although Evan’s voice occasionally sounds older than her years, the story’s dramatic arc and nuanced themes make for a riveting read. Characters present as white.

Jenny Andrus—Independent

Bidania, V.T. Year Without Home, A. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen, 01/2026. 409 [+14]pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-69720-7. GRADES 4–6. OUTSTANDING.         

Based on real-life experiences, Bidania’s novel-in-verse takes the reader to Laos following the Vietnam War as her multi-generational family flees their home country to find safety in a Thai refugee camp. Twelve-year-old Gao Sheng’s character development is beautifully rendered in lyrical verse throughout the book as the author’s words create an immersive experience from the perspective of a young Hmong refugee. The creative use of splitline poetry evokes a whole spectrum of emotions, including fear, exasperation, and heartbreak. By sharing the geography of her beloved countryside, the significance behind the meaning of family names, and the preparation and enjoyment of traditional food, Bidania offers us a glimpse into her rich cultural heritage. Attention is paid to the traditional gender roles, as Gao Sheng feels frustration that her brother, Yia, is given more freedom while she is expected to take on a more matriarchal role in the family. A Year Without Home is a powerful, semi-autobiographical middle-grade novel about grieving the loss of home but finding it anew and learning to balance family responsibilities with one’s own individuality.

Alicia Hulten—Palo Alto City Library