Author: Tasha

2 New Picture Books about Learning from Grandparents

| Tasha

A Knot Is Not a Tangle by Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Vesper Stamper 

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: November 25, 2025

Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley

ISBN: 9780593809693

An Iranian boy is woken up by his grandmother. They have breakfast together on the old frayed rug before taking a meal out to Grandpa in the field where he is herding sheep. The three start planning to make a new rug. They wash the wool and card out the tangles. They spin it into wool that is dyed with local flowers. Then the design is plotted out on graph paper. Next they start weaving on the loom, creating Persian knots to hold tight. The boy learns to create knots and not tangles, until midway his grandmother adds the Persian flaw to keep it from being perfect. The new rug is finished and ready for new memories to be made.

Nayeri shows the art of Persian rug making through the eyes of a child, making not only the art itself accessible but also showing the love of grandparents along the way. The boy learns the craft and also the heart of making rugs, with specific emphasis on the Persian flaw and the lack of perfectionism. The art in the book captures the colors of the wool, the beauty of the flowers, and the lovely designs of both rugs that the family uses. 

Family, warmth and art combine in a winning title. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Matt James 

Publisher: Tundra Books

Publication Date: October 21, 2025

Reviewed from e-galley provided by publisher

ISBN: 9781774882665

Jack lived with his grandfather in a house filled with music. There was music on the record player plus his grandfather played several instruments, including the guitar. Jack particularly loved it when his grandfather played the guitar, especially the song about the blackbird. Jack asked his grandfather to show him how to play the blackbird song, but first it took a lot of help and practice to even play a single chord. With encouragement from his grandfather, Jack kept at it and learned to play the guitar. As Jack got bigger and the guitar got smaller, he left home and played music all over the world. When he returned, his grandfather was different and this time it was Jack who showed him how to play. 

Throughout this book, I could hear the song about the blackbird in my head, haunting and lovely. Children will want to hear that song after reading this book. The touching relationship between the two characters comes full circle by the end of the story as the grandfather grapples with dementia. The power and connectivity of music is on full display throughout the tale. James’ art is deeply organic yet accessible, showing the two characters as their relationship evolves and changes in the small blue house. 

Sure to strike the right chord. Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Barnes & Noble Best Picture Books of 2025

| Tasha

Barnes & Noble have announced their Best Books lists for the year. Here are their picks for Best Picture Books:

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake by Devin Elle Kurtz

Buffalo Fluffalo and Puffalo by Bess Kalb, illustrated by Erin Kraan

The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat

Elvis & Romeo by David Soman and Jacky Davis

Firefly by Robert Macfarlane, illustrated by Luke Adam Hawker

Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Hedgehogs Don’t Wear Underwear by Marissa Valdez

The Humble Pie by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald

The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser

Snow Kid by Jessie Sima

There Are No Silly Questions: More than 200 Weird and Wacky Questions, Expertly Answered! by Mike Rampton, illustrated by Guilherme Karsten

The Trouble with Giraffes by Lisa Mantchev, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems

2 Helpful New Picture Books about Homes

| Tasha

The Moving Book by Lisa Brown

Publisher: Neal Porter Books

Publication Date: July 22, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9780823457182

The author of The Airport Book and The Hospital Book returns with another book about a turning point in a child’s life. Told by an older sibling, the book shares a list of the places that their family has lived in. Before the younger sister was born, they lived in a tiny apartment with their grandfather downstairs. They moved to a tall apartment building with lots of stairs. Next came a larger apartment in a building with elevators near the museum. Finally, their current house where they had their own bedrooms. Now it’s time for another move, this time to a place with their grandfather. 

Brown captures something I rarely see in picture books, the fact that many families move multiple times as children grow up. Each of the places they lived had something special about it from a child’s point of view: a great playground, warm bagels, a nearby museum, a grandparent right next door. The illustrations capture the packing and unpacking of boxes, the search for favorite toys, and the family working together no matter where they live. 

A warm and lovely look at more than one move. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Song for Two Homes by Dr. Michael Datcher and Charly Palmer 

Publisher: Random House Studio

Publication Date: October 7, 2025

Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley

ISBN: 9780593429365

When Auset’s parents divorce, her world splits into two. Happily, she has Sweet Honey in the Rock and Bob Marley to help her. Auset tries going to a therapist, but finds her stuffed dolphin a much better listener. Auset is doing OK at school, keeping up appearances and not showing how hurt and angry she is. Except that one time when she hit a kid at school and made him cry. Auset doesn’t tell her mother the truth, pretending to be OK. Luckily she can talk to her dad more honestly. It takes a lot of songs, love and honesty to try to get through suddenly having two homes.

Told in verse, this picture book beautifully shares the emotions of having parents divorce and the direct impact it has on a child. Auset is wonderfully both herself and also speaks universally of the journey involved in divorce and loss. The use of verse captures emotions and relationships, struggles and triumphs. The acrylic art is vibrant and depicts Auset’s feelings clearly. 

A moving picture book about divorce and families. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Amazon’s Top 20 Teen & Young Adult Books of 2025

| Tasha

Amazon has announced their lists of best books for 2025. Here are their picks for the top 20 YA books of 2025:

And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

Balancing Act by Paula Chase

Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray

Coldwire by Chloe Gong

The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause

Hekate: The Witch by Nikita Gill

Hour of the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd

I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin

Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan

Nightweaver by R. M. Gray

The Rose Field by Philip Pullman

Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi

We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart

When We Ride by Rex Ogle

Wake Your Friday Brain Cells – November 21 Edition

| Tasha

CHILDREN’S LIT

The Case for Child Liberation Through Children‘s Books – Lit Hub

Five questions for Laura Amy Schlitz – Horn Book

I don’t believe it! Dav Pilkey takes his first number one – The Bookseller

LIBRARIES

Baltimore County reinstates 14 part-time librarians after abrupt mass firings – CBS News

Missouri court strikes down book ban law that pushed libraries to remove hundreds of titles – KCUR

Under pressure, Maine Library Commission postpones vote to adopt new requirements for libraries – The Maine Monitor

YA LIT

From Young to Adult With ‘Six of Crows’: Your Favorite Books Are Being Quietly Re-Edited – The Harvard Crimson

Love that Chi-Chi! Ngozi Ukazu scores a different type of body checking with her new book, Flip – The Comics Journal

Amazon’s Top 20 Children’s Books of 2025

| Tasha

Here are Amazon’s picks for the 20 best children’s books of the year:

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

Casey’s Cases: The Mysterious New Girl by Kay Healy

Coach by Jason Reynolds

Dog Man: Big Jim Believes by Dav Pilkey

Dragonborn by Struan Murray

Girls on the Rise by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loveis Wise

The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo, illustrated by John Picacio

Little Blue Truck and Racer Red by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry

Millie Fleur Saves the Night by Christy Mandin

Mistaco by Eliza Kinkz

No More Chairs by Dan Gill,, illustrated by Susan Gal

The Pigeon WON’T Count to 10! by Mo Willems

Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate

The School of Thieves by Peter Burns

Seven Little Ducklings by Annette LeBlanc Cate

Skandar and the Spirit of War by A. F. Steadman

The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day by Raúl The Third

A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

National Book Award Winners Announced

| Tasha

The National Book Foundation has announced the 2025 winners of the National Book Awards. Here is the winner for Young People’s Literature:

The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri

Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Huy Voun Lee 

Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books

Publication Date: May 27, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9780316571753

This is the story of people who choose to become Americans. They come from around the world at all ages. Some come alone, others being family, most leave people they love behind. Some come to study and work while others are refugees fleeing their countries. They add so much to our country. They bring new music, food, and language. They do many jobs. They study hard and eventually take a citizenship test to formally become American. 

Written by an immigrant to the U.S. and illustrated by a refugee, this book is engaging and vibrant. It shares with children the many reasons people may come to live in the United States, emphasizing that they still remain part of their original culture, bringing those elements with them and not losing themselves in the process. The illustrations are full of diversity, capturing the many people from across the world coming to the United States to live. 

Ideal to share in classes learning about citizenship and immigration. Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Tea Is Love by Adib Khorram – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Tea Is Love by Adib Khorram, illustrated by Hanna Cha 

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed from copy provided by publisher

ISBN: 9780593618530

Celebrate the joy of tea as it is shared around the world. The book shows the power of tea in families as memory and between friends as gifts. It looks at learning about tea in various ways. Tea can also be shared online, in large gatherings or quietly for just one or two. Throughout all the ways to drink and share tea though, it is love. 

Through gentle poetic language, readers are invited to see tea as a universal pleasure and source of connection. This book, written by an award-winning author, is perfect for sharing aloud with very simple lines that are evocative. The illustrations, by a Caldecott Honor winner, have tea swirling across the pages in a variety of pots, cups and holders. She shares a vast array of cultures as the tea weaves new connections. 

A delicious delight of a book. Appropriate for ages 3-5.