Hold by Randy Ribay, illustrated by Zeke Peña

• Publisher: Kokila
• Publication Date: April 21, 2026
• Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
• ISBN: 9780593856987

When leaving the house in the morning, a father asks his small son to hold the water bottle. Hold? Now the boy wants to hold everything! Starting with some toys, then the cat, then he asks to hold a tree. The father hands him a leaf. How about the rain? Cupped hands fill with water. Can he hold the plan overhead? The truck going by? The father figures out how to match toys to those requests but soon there are tears as the cat escapes. Time for one last thing to hold on to before they leave. 

This picture book cleverly captures the effort of leaving the house with a toddler and how one small request can create all sorts of chaos. Taken to an extreme, it  never loses sight of reality even as the child’s requests get wilder. Both parents and children will see themselves reflected here and enjoy the merry ending as they successfully leave the house. The illustrations add to the fun as the stack held by the child grows impressively. Wonderfully modern, they depict a Latino family’s connection. 

Hold on to this one. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Robin and the Stick by E. B. Goodale

• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
• Publication Date: April 14, 2026
• Reviewed from e-galley provided by publisher
• ISBN: 9781419780837

Robin always had a stick. There was one for bed, one on the couch and many in a container in the hall. The big tree outside dropped lots of sticks, so there were always some new ones around. One day, a big stick had fallen from the tree. It was the best stick Robin had ever seen. Robin tried to pick it up, but Mama said it was a branch not a stick and Robin wasn’t strong enough. But Robin kept on trying to lift it, day after day. Until finally, one day Robin could lift the big and best stick and bring it inside. 

Told in very simple phrases, this picture book is just right for toddlers and preschoolers. Throughout the book, Robin’s gender is not shared, showing that both girls and boys might be deeply into their sticks and other collections from outside. The illustrations are done in monoprint and oil paint with Robin’s red jacket popping out from the otherwise black-and-white images. The illustrations play with hazy vs. clear parts, adding a dynamic element. 

A great book for toddlers looking to branch out. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Sockflea: A Stuffie in the Wild by Laura Dockrill, illustrated by Eva Byrne

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication Date: April 21, 2026
• Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
• ISBN: 9781536245103

A little elephant is going camping for the first time with his dad. His father asks him over and over again if he’s sure he doesn’t want to bring a stuffed animal along. The little elephant insists that he doesn’t need one, even for bedtime, because he’s five, after all. The two of them have a great time camping, the little elephant not thinking about stuffies at all. But when night comes, things change. Suddenly, he can’t fall asleep, the noises, the itchiness, it’s all too much! But now they are out camping without any stuffies to use. His father has an idea though, enter Sockflea! 

Dockrill writes with a merriment even as the little elephant is struggling without a stuffie. The language is both empathetic and also funny and reads aloud well. The explanation for Sockflea, who happens to be made out of the father’s socks in desperation, something readers will immediately see, is magical and good hearted. The ending adds a nice little moment after Sockflea has magically disappeared when they return home. The illustrations are filled with bright colors and add to the inherent joy of the book. 

Stuff this one into your camping bag. Appropriate for ages 3-6.