Nani and the Lion by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by Anna Cunha

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication Date: February 3, 2026
• Reviewed from copy sent by publisher
• ISBN: 9781665914222

A very grumpy Lion lived near a village. He did not like noise of any kind except for when he used his own voice to shout about no one else making noise. Nani lived in that village and loved to drum. She could make her drum sound like all sorts of animals or use the rhythm to get people dancing. But the others were afraid of Lion and told her to stop drumming. Nani tried moving farther and farther out to play her drum, and eventually Lion followed her back home. No one knew what to do when Lion roared at them about noise. Nani knew what to do, playing a Lion rhythm on her drum that captured his grumpiness and grandness. She got Lion dancing to his own beat until he was too tired to dance any longer and agreed to no longer menace the village about noise. 

With the natural rhythm of a traditional tale, this picture book and its African setting are ideal to share aloud. Children given their own rhythm instruments at a story time can work to make their own music with Nani and lull Lion into submission. The book takes the concept of the angry neighbor who complains and crafts a tale where the community wins out. The art by Cunha reflects that same traditional feel with a modern vibe. The playful animals in the jungle are done in pinks, maroon and orange while other pages are filled with deep blues and teals. Lion himself is dazzling as he fills the page with his protests and then his dance. 

A picture book full of music and rhythm. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Yulu’s Linen by Cao Wenxuan, illustrated by Suzy Lee, translated by Helen Wang

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication Date: February 3, 2026
• Reviewed from copy sent by publisher
• ISBN: 9781665931199

Yulu wanted to be an artist and her father supported her, even getting her tutors when she was eight. Then he decided that she was ready to try making a self-portrait and purchased her a piece of yu-la-ma linen, the highest quality. Yulu loved the linen and Yulu’s parents helped stretch the canvas on a frame and pick out the picture of Yulu to use. But Yulu worried about spoiling the beautiful canvas. Finally, she picked up her paints, but the paints would not stick to the canvas, running down and smearing every night. Her parents finally took away the canvas after she had tried 7 times to make her portrait. When Yulu rescued the canvas, she took one last try at making her art stick. 

This picture book is filled with magical realism that speaks directly to young artists being pushed before they are ready to create works of art even when it is done with love. Readers will recognize the pressure being placed on Yulu and the way the canvas responds by rejecting the work entirely. The design of the book extends to the texture of the page, which feels like canvas as does the cover. The illustrations by Lee are primarily done in limited colors except for Yulu’s art. Readers don’t get to see her various failed attempts at a self portrait until the final successful one, which is incredibly satisfying to see.

A clever look at young artists and their artistic process. Appropriate for ages 3-5.