Bin, Xu. Picking Tea with Baba. Yu Yin, Illus. Translated from the Chinese by Shan Chen. Charlesbridge, 05/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-62354-623-6. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL. Baba brings the two kids, plus mom, up the mountain to their tea farm in China, where the kids are excited [continue reading]
Sea Legs Review
Bakes, Jules. Sea Legs. Niki Smith, Illus. Scholastic/ Graphix, 02/2025. 247 [+7]pp Graphic. Trade $24.99. 978-1-338-83588-5. Paper $14.99. 978-1-338-83586-1. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING. Living at sea on a sailboat built by her parents, Janey finds adventure and confronts her fears. She and her family sail from Florida around the [continue reading]
Meena and the Microbiome Review
Osman, Dr. Majidi. Meena and the Microbiome. Teresa Martinez, Illus. MIT Kids, 02/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5362-2759-8. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING. Simple but detailed illustrations of a dark-skinned mother and child gardening, harvesting, and [continue reading]
Mission Moon Review
Muhlebach, Sarah. Mission Moon: An Illustrated Guide to Space Exploration. Sarah Muhlebach, Illus. Translated from the German by Marshall Yarbrough. Helvetiq, 05/2025. 73pp. Nonfiction. Trade $22.95. 978-3-03964-082-9. GRADES 3–6. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Space has always fascinated [continue reading]
Ant Party Review
Montgomery, Ross. Ant Party. Sarah Warburton, Illus. Walker, 04/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-3953-9. GRADES Preschool–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Andy the Ant decides to celebrate his birthday by inviting a few friends, which grows and [continue reading]
¡Mistaco! Review
Kinkz, Eliza. ¡Mistaco!: A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas. Eliza Kinkz, Illus. Kokila, 04/2025. 40pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5937-0023-5. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Kinkz’s authorial debut picture book follows Izzy, a young Latine girl [continue reading]
I’m a Dumbo Octopus Review
Lambelet, Anne. I’m a Dumbo Octopus: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods. Anne Lambelet, Illus. Graphic Universe, 03/2025. 72pp. Graphic. Trade $29.32. 979-8765603055. Paper $12.99. 979-8765661376. GRADES 2–5. OUTSTANDING. A personality-packed dumbo octopus named Grimpy introduces itself, and its whole class of cephalopods, in an engaging nonfiction graphic [continue reading]
Island Storm Review
Floca, Brian. Island Storm. Sydney Smith, Illus. Candlewick/Neal Porter, 07/2025. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8234-5647-5. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING. Powerful, painterly watercolor and gouache illustrations capture the energy, atmosphere, and shifting light of a monumental island storm. Rhythmic poetic text speaks in an older sibling’s voice, “Now [continue reading]