Review

Charman, Katrina. Old MacPumpkin Had a Farm. Georgie Birkett, Illus. Nosy Crow, 07/2025. [22]pp. Picture Book. Trade $14.99. 979-8-88777-168-7. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.      In this reimagining of the classic nursery song “Old MacDonald,” the farmer [continue reading]

Stevenson, ND. Scarlet Morning. ND Stevenson, Illus. Scarlet Morning; bk. 1. Quill Tree, 09/2025. 426pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0-6321034-9. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING.    Teenage best friends Viola and Wilmur embark on adventures involving pirates, magic, monsters, [continue reading]

Sawyerr, Hannah V. Truth Is. Amulet/Abrams, 09/2025. 461 [+14]pp. Fiction. Trade $21.99. 978-1-4197-7683-0. GRADES 10–12. OUTSTANDING.           Black high school senior Truth Bangura uses her poetry journal to chronicle a difficult school year, one in which [continue reading]

McBride, Amber. Leaving Room, The. Feiwel & Friends, 10/2025. 224pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-2509-0808-7. GRADES 10–12. OUTSTANDING. Taking place over four minutes, The Leaving Room is the lyrically stunning, first-person narrative of Gospel, a Keeper [continue reading]

Cuevas, Mayra. My Abuela Is a Bruja. Lorena Alvarez Gómez, Illus. Knopf, 08/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5934-8063-2. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.     In Puerto Rico, a granddaughter creates lifelong memories with her abuela (grandmother). The [continue reading]

Crull, Kelly. Black Mambas, The: The World’s First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit. Kelly Crull, Illus. Millbrook, 04/2025. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. ‎ 979-8765627259. GRADES 1–5. OUTSTANDING.     Crull highlights the work of the Black Mambas, an all-woman [continue reading]

Lies, Brian. Cat Nap. Brian Lies, Illus. Greenwillow, 09/2025. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-267128-8. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.          Woken from a doze, a kitten pursues a fleeing mouse through an art exhibit poster and into [continue reading]

Bailey, Linda. Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur). K-Fai Steele, Illus. Tundra, 10/2025. [56]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-77488-013-5. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.  Lena is a hands-on-hips, take-charge kind of chicken, misunderstood by her fellow [continue reading]