The Visit by Núria Figueras, illustrated by Anna Font, translated by Lawrence Schimel
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 14, 2026
Reviewed from pdf provided by publisher
ISBN: 9780802856555
Little Fox’s mother tells her not to open the door for anyone when she leaves, but Little Fox soon hears a knock. It is Silence at the door and Little Fox is curious, so she lets Silence in. Soon Silence fills every corner of the den. Little Fox is worried, but soon comes up with an idea. She and Silence share a snack together and then dance. But Silence says they will have to go away if any music is turned on, so the two dance in the quiet together once Little Fox can hear the beat of her heart. The two take a nap together too. Then Silence heads off and once again Little Fox can hear the sounds of the forest all around her. It turns out that even all alone, you can make a new friend.
This picture book makes being alone something to relish rather than worry about. Little Fox goes through all sorts of emotions as Silence fills her space, soon though she realizes that things like her heart beat, her thoughts that she can suddenly hear, and the quiet are special too. While the book has Silence as a main character, the illustrations keep Silence ethereal and ever changing. The illustrations are bright and vibrant, showing the fox den as a warm golden space and Silence as a white outline.
Perfect for children learning about meditation or those who may need to be alone for a bit. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
This nonfiction picture book begins with the printing of the first book, the Bible. It then turns to Germany, a place where many of these books were printed and a literate nation. When Hitler came to power in 1933, things changed and certain books were labeled as “un-German.” College students and librarians helped remove books that were labeled that way, tens of thousands of books. In Berlin, the books were taken to a public square, dumped near a pile of wood, and set alight. This happened in cities across Germany. Afterwards, authors were blacklisted and many fled to freer countries, like America. Now we all must be aware that freedom must be protected even in free countries.
Winter manages to take a very complex situation and create a book that children can understand without making it lose its power or darkness. His writing is crisp, direct and filled with empathy for those targeted and the books destroyed. Kelley’s illustrations are like stained glass on the page, angular and fierce. Yet they also have a lovely softness to them, a feeling of hope lingering nearby.
A look at one of the darkest periods in human history that is timely and important. Appropriate for ages 8-12.
Sweetly partially narrated by Pooh himself, this nonfiction picture book explores what it takes to make an idea into a book. The idea started with A.A. Milne and he wrote down words about a bear. The words needed pictures to bring them fully alive. An editor read the words and thought of the right illustrator for them, Ernest Shepard. But Milne was not a fan of his, so they tried different illustrators first, finally returning to Shepard. The two worked together to create a book where the illustrations danced with the words on the page, bouncing, stacked tall. The books were very popular thanks to the combination of story and illustration.
The tale of how Milne and Shepard created their books is a real treat. Both author and illustrator here capture the spirit of the original on the page, whether it is the play of words across the page or turns of phrase that are fun to find. The use of Pooh to help tell the story adds to the fun. The illustrations take the idea of the bear and then steadily solidify him as the book comes together. They manage to pay homage to the original without copying them directly.
A warm and marvelous visit to an old friend and how he became a book. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
Lakota author and illustrator, Nelson offers a look for children at the Lakota way and beliefs around animals. For those who pay attention, animals offer wisdom and a connected spirit line. The buffalo teaches sharing and generosity since he gave his life for people to have hides and food. With his transformation from egg to tadpole to frog, Frog shows you that you can expect changes in your life too. Bear teaches that you should protect those who are smaller than you, while Coyote enjoys playing tricks and teaches you not to just follow along. After many animals, the book ends with two-leggeds and that we are all related animals and people.
With translations to Lakota that share the names of each of the animals as well as pronunciation guides, this book celebrates Lakota traditions and beliefs. The number of animals and what they teach us is impressive, each accompanied by glowing illustrations inspired by traditional Lakota pictographs and ledger-book drawings. They are done in striking colors with layered elements that add depth and texture.
A celebratory look at Lakota culture that all children can learn from. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Chopsticks Are by Chloe Ito Ward, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: March 31, 2026
Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
ISBN: 9781797227368
This nonfiction picture book celebrates the humble chopstick. Immediately some readers will be shocked to see chopsticks used for cooking as well as for eating. The book explores the various shapes of chopsticks from around the world and how they are used with different cuisines. Traditions around chopsticks are also shared around celebrations, offerings and luck.
The book ends with an Author’s Note and more detailed information about how chopsticks were invented and additional rules around their use. The text is inviting, feeling like you are being invited to share a meal and learn along the way. The illustrations are bright and friendly, filled with colors, food and people.
A yummy and inviting look at chopsticks. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
When Mary Morland was a little girl, she was expected to be prim and proper. But she preferred to be outside. After her mother died, she was sent to stay with friends who had no children. The man of the family was a professor who encouraged her study of nature. As a teen, she exchanged letters with a famous French scientist who studied fossils. Rather than search for a husband, she found hers because she was reading the same thick book by that scientist. The two loved fossils and spent their lives together researching and traveling. She raised children to also be curious and learn, ignoring how clean her house was. She was a scientist her entire life, dedicating her studies to fossils and newly discovered dinosaurs.
Written as a series of questions and answers, this picture book biography is engaging from the very beginning. The format allows readers to quickly understand how unique Morland was during her life and how she didn’t pay attention to what society might want a lady to and followed her own path. The watercolor illustrations show the fossils and shells that Mary studied as well as her throughout her life out in nature and learning.
A grand biography of an unconventional life well lived. Appropriate for ages 6-10.
Exploring the twilight parts of the day starts with dawn when darkness is going away. Squash bees visit the garden before other bees are up and moving. The skunk and her kits head home. Hummingbirds visit morning glory flowers as they open. Tired animals head to their dens to sleep the day away. Dusk arrives and bird calls like the whippoorwill’s fill the forest. Deer scavenge for berries, bats leave their roosts and hunt insects. Fireflies flash, evening primroses open and moths come to visit them. Rabbits eat in the garden, watching for foxes.
The book ends with more information on twilight as well as the creatures that come out during the time. A bibliography completes the end pages. The poetic presentation of information captures the beauty and unique qualities of these transitory times between night and day. Readers are sure to learn about plants and animals they didn’t realize were active during these times of day. The illustrations show the quality of light as it changes from yellows of day to pinks to blues and then to the purples before night falls.
A lovely look at twilight sure to have children wanting to explore this time of day and night themselves. Appropriate for ages 4-8.
From loss and a cancer diagnosis comes this lovely pair of board books in a new series. Written to reflect the walks the author takes with her daughters as well as her mother’s love for gardens, these two board books shine with wonder and a joy at gardens and nature. The first book, Good Morning, Garden!, takes small children directly into the garden, under the earth and getting their hands dirty. The second book, Peekaboo, Flowers!, focuses on the beauty of the blooms and the butterflies they invite. With bright and fresh illustrations and simple words, these board books are just right to help welcome spring.
Just right for a springtime snuggle outside. Appropriate for ages 1-3.
This board book uses calming strips to encourage small children to take a breath. Each double-page spread offers both a mood and then a new breathing exercise to do while running your finger over each strip. The strips are offered in a variety of shapes and textures from ribs to dimples to stars. A rainbow design is offered if you feel like a thunderstorm, a flower if you are stuck in the mud, an ocean wave for whirling worries. Filled with bright colors and very effective tactile moments of calm, this board book will work well in public library settings.
Take a breath with this meditative board book. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
I Am Here by Kim Hyo-eun, translated by Aerin Park
Publisher: Scribble
Publication Date: May 5, 2026
Reviewed from pdf provided by publisher
ISBN: 9781964992419
Told in the most basic of words, this gentle board book starts with the baby looking up at the sky. They are under the sun, under the clouds, under the rainbow, under a bird. It moves closer. They are under their mother’s hat and then under their mother in a carrier. The book then turns, and looks at what is beside the baby. There is Grandpa, a cat, ants, a leaf, a stick. Finally, there is me! Smartly crafted, this board book shows the meaning of under and beside while exploring a baby’s world. Children will love seeing similar things around themselves as they and their family look around too.
A quiet baby-sized adventure. Appropriate for ages birth – 2.
The first in a new series of board books, this one focuses on lawn mowing. Three big-eyed animals, a fox, skunk and raccoon find that the grass has grown too tall. Time to mow the lawn! There are all kinds of equipment to use, each with its own prep and sound. Then you can make shapes with the stripes in the lawn. When you are done, smell the cut grass. Then take a nap, play some more and wait for the grass to grow tall again. Filled with a lot of energy and a joy for doing a job well, I don’t know of another board book about mowing the lawn.
Sure to be loved by little ones with their own toy lawn mowers. Appropriate for ages 1-3.
This new board book series from two major children’s book creators is a reason to celebrate every season. With one volume per season, the books are simple enough for even the smallest child to enjoy. Barnett keeps his language limited, sharing small elements of a child’s world, including a cat, a red wagon, a sweet treat and a perfect hat. Klassen’s illustrations keep it simple too with a wry sense of humor that shows how each season differs even as Barnett’s words repeat from book to book.
A small triumph perfect for small children. Appropriate for ages 1-3.
Nadine doesn’t know anything about her Armenian family’s history except that they survived the Armenian genocide. Her parents refuse to share the stories with her and her brother. Then one day, her mother begins to share about Armaveni, Nadine’s grandmother and the incredibly impossible choices that had to be made for survival as the genocide closed around them in Armenia and Turkey. When Nadine is given the opportunity to visit what used to be Armenia with a school group, she and her brother also include a visit to their relatives who live in Turkey. Along the way, they learn about their homeland, and continued racism and bigotry, which Nadine discovers is very close to home. Learning from her grandmother, Nadine finds the courage to stand up for her family in new ways.
This is one of those books that opens an aching hole in your center as you read it. Through the graphic novel format, Takvorian brings readers into Nadine’s family and alongside her we learn about the Armenian genocide from the perspective of one family while also realizing how many people were murdered, displaced and lost. Seeing that this is a debut graphic novel is just amazing, particularly done by a solo artist/author. It is based on the author’s own experiences and family, which resonates through the entire book.
A shining example of what graphic novels can be. Appropriate for ages 13+.
Twin sisters, Sloane and Ash, no longer look alike thanks to different hairstyles and colors. They do share a love of art and animation. The two of them decide to spend their summer vacation attending Ormidale College’s animation program for high school students. Ash is excited to start, certain of her skills and sure she is going to love being taught by one of her animation heroes. Sloane is more hesitant, unsure of the new environment and making new friends, and not quite as sure of what she wants to do in the future. The two girls must navigate challenging assignments, others being better at animation than they are, sexism by one of the teachers, and finding out that animation is more than just Disney movies.
Hicks is a master of the graphic novel format for middle schoolers and teens. Here she deftly shows how two very different sisters find their way and discover more about themselves through learning animation. Particularly nice is the fact that the confident Ash is not the one who makes the first connections and friendships with others. The clear sexism on display by one of the teachers is clearly shown and then explained by one of the other adults as an ongoing issue in animation studios.
Charming, fresh and full of animation tips and art love. Appropriate for ages 12+.
Violet lives in a castle by the sea with her friend Bird. Violet stayed at home, caring for the castle while Bird flew outside and sang. But every now and then, Violet got scared by something like a spider. And when Violet was frightened, she shrank smaller and smaller. After she shrank, she had to work to grow bigger again by thinking soothing thoughts and forgetting what scared her. At night, Bird stayed with her which made her less scared. But then one night, Violet woke up and Bird was gone. As Violet left the castle to find him, she got smaller and smaller. What can one tiny girl do to save her best friend?
Two award-winning children’s book creators come together to tell this relatable story about fears and overcoming them. Readers will appreciate the lack of lecture here, with the book focused on telling a great story and offering small tips about handling fears along the way. Snyder’s writing is brisk and strong, telling the story and carrying the reader along. Pham’s illustrations show the castle, Bird’s nest on the window sill and then capture just how small Violet becomes when truly terrified.
A magical story about fears and heroism. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Waking Brain Cells 