James Marshall is one of the best-known children’s picture book creators and this picture book biography of him captures exactly why. Through six short stories, Marshall’s approach to his work, his collaborative nature, and his personal life are shown with a suitable style. The stories begin with how Miss Nelson Is Missing started. They move on to his dislike of the words “cute” and “zany”, share how he met his partner Billy, show him alongside other children’s picture book creators that readers will know, The book ends with Miss Nelson Is Missing in just the right way.
Funny and heartfelt, this picture book biography approaches a biography of Marshall by using his own illustration style and his signature small blurbs of text. The result is a merry and lovely book that captures Marshall’s life and his impact on children’s literature while always keeping the audience of young children at the forefront.
You just know that Marshall himself would have loved this. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
This picture book biography of the beloved book creator Arnold Lobel captures the spirit of his work. It begins with wet socks, offers a myriad of potential silly reasons for wet socks, and then moves on to Lobel as a child who loved stories though his classmates didn’t appreciate them. It’s the story of a boy who loved the absurd and became a man with a gorilla suit in his closet and a plastic goose on his wall. Lobel tried to do corporate work but soon started listening to the stories in his head. He became an illustrator of other people’s work first and then began to write his own. Some of them were illustrated by his wife while others like Frog and Toad he did himself. Soon his inside was being shared outside with everyone.
Kastner has done such a marvelous job of capturing the spirit of Lobel on the page. She offers a nod at his new love later in his life while not lingering there but rather on the stories that he created for us all to love. Her art style echoes his, offering us glimpses of beloved characters.
A true homage to a master storyteller. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Publishers Weekly has announced their picks for the best books of 2025. The juvenile picks are broken into three categories. Here are the picture book selections:
Turning the pages of this book activates a space portal that lets readers be the first to interact with alien creatures! As the portal opens, the readers can see an orange and a yellow alien, who are just as surprised to see the reader and just as shocked that aliens are real. The aliens worry that the reader might eat them, but relax after the reader shares how small their teeth are. They have the reader make all kinds of faces which then scare some other aliens who respond much better to a big friendly smile. As the portal closes, there is an invitation to return.
This book begs to be shared aloud and with a group of children as long as you enjoy a bit of nonsense and noise resulting. I read this both in physical form and digitally and there is something about the physical page turns that make this book really engaging. The gloriously loud and simple illustrations of the aliens add to the chaotic fun of the book.
A portal worth visiting. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Return to the world first shared in The Hidden World of Gnomes with this second book set in The Pocket. When a new mushroom circle is discovered, the gnomes know that a new gnome is about to arrive. It is Grolly Maru, a fuzzy brown gnome with stand up ears. The gnomes fall asleep under the stars, preparing to share their love of the world with Grolly Maru the next day. And my, do they share! They try various hats, scramble with squirrels, look at leaves, follow ants, make animal sounds, learn songs, bake a treat, and count all sorts of things. By the end of the day, the gnomes aren’t sure what sort of gnome Grolly Maru will be, until Grolly Maru demonstrates.
This entire book is wonderfully organic and infused with small natural wonders. The pages are warmly tan and show quiet moments of plant growth, bird song, spiders spinning, and fall weather. The stories and information shared by the gnomes will have children wanting to explore their own yards to find small things happening there or greet the worms at the start of the day themselves. The book reminds us to look around, learn about nature and find our own bits of magic.
Merry, quiet and abundant, this picture book is a celebration of nature in small and large ways. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
When the hedgehog came to their yard at night, the little girl’s father woke her up. This had happened before. They tiptoed out barefoot in the garden to watch. Silent and still, the two watched as the hedgehog came out of the bushes. Then they quietly went inside to fill a pan with water. Back to waiting silently in the dark and then they saw an entire hedgehog family come out for a drink. After drinking, the baby hedgehogs followed their mother to the “hog hole” which would lead them to the next yard. Then it was back to bed full of sighs and smiles for the special night.
This quintessentially English rhyming picture book offers American readers a glimpse into the joy of having wild hedgehogs in your neighborhood. Readers will love the coziness of the story, the wonder of going outside in the dark and then the joy of not only seeing hedgehogs but providing for them in different ways. The illustrations add to the joy of the special yet quiet night with their warm golden light and cool blue night.
Just right for bedtime or an adventure to spy your own wild night creatures. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Rose Valland lived in Paris and was the curator at the Jeu de Paume Museum. She loved all kinds of art, but Hitler and the Nazis did not approve of modern art and destroyed it in their war across Europe. When they reached France, they used the Jeu de Paume Museum as a staging area. All the staff of the museum left except for Rose. She stayed, quiet and shy, often unnoticed by the soldiers. But Rose could understand the German they spoke and soon started taking notes about their plans to move precious art via train. Rose became a spy, sharing her knowledge with the French Resistance and allowing many pieces to be saved. When the war ended, many art pieces were missing, and Rose still had her many notes about where that art had been sent, saving even more.
Told in a way that children will understand the preciousness of the art, the violent hate of the Nazis, and the importance of standing up for what is right, even in a quiet way. This book celebrates the reserved heroes who made a huge difference simply by noticing what was happening and being brave enough to share information. The art in the book celebrates art but also celebrates Rose Vallard, quiet and drab, courageous and integral.
A timely nonfiction picture book of resistance and the importance of art. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
Waking Brain Cells 