independence

3 New Picture Books Filled with Personal Growth

| Tasha
Book cover for Home Away from Home by Nazneen Akbari, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh. A grandmother and granddaughter sit together on a bench looking at the sea in Oman as the sun sets. A boat floats on the water, seagulls and a plane are in the sky. A black cat sits near them and the girl's luggage and doll are with them.

Home Away from Home by Nazneen Akbari, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh

  • Publisher: Barefoot Books
  • Publication Date: February 3, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9798888598962

When Nuha visits Oman with her mother, she isn’t sure that she’s going to like it at all. Her grandmother feels like a stranger since they haven’t seen one another for three years. When Nuha accidentally leaves her favorite doll behind, her grandmother takes her to the souk to see if they can find a new doll together. Nuha isn’t thrilled to go and rejects the first dolls they find since they don’t have golden hair like her favorite doll. But soon she finds herself drawn into the souk, tasting some food, getting henna, making music, and watching the sun set over the sea. Nuha just might be ready for a brand new doll who looks like her and her grandmother. 

This picture book is will speak to every child visiting a forgotten grandmother after some time away. Jadda’s patience with her reluctant granddaughter is beautifully shown and Nuha’s changing attitude happens organically and is very believable. Readers will also get to glimpse a souk and Akbari shares many of the sensory experiences to be had there. The illustrations are bright and friendly, filled with beautiful fabrics and colors of Oman. 

A book worth visiting. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Book cover for Mungo on His Own by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Julie Benbassat. A fox leaps across the cover above white flowers with a smile on its face.

Mungo on His Own by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Julie Benbassat 

  • Publisher: Clarion Books
  • Publication Date: January 27, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780063216716

Mungo the fox cub is still hungry after dinner, so he asks his mother if he can go out in the dark and go to the berry bush. This would be the first time he ever foraged on his own before. It was a windy night and sometimes the bushes looked like big animals. He had to cross the river using slippery stepping stones, and oops he was suddenly all wet. Then there was the road to cross with its large beasts that roared past. Hearing a frightening noise, Mungo hid in a hollow tree. He thought about going back home but then remembered all that his mother had taught him and started using his nose. He reached the berry bush when it started to snow, making his trip back magical. 

This story will inspire children to head on their own adventures with their parents’ blessing. It is particularly important that Mungo faced not only imagined dangers but real ones like cold river water and cars. The mix of the two makes the book all the more effective as does Mungo’s mixed success at the variety of challenges that face him. It’s not perfect but he’s successful indeed. The illustrations celebrate night in the woods, offering just the right amount of darkness lit effectively by Mungo’s own red coat. They are a delightful mix of cute animals and potential danger.

A grand adventure with a sweet ending. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Book cover for Suuban’s First Day by Shugri Salh, illustrated by Àlàbá Ònájìn. A Black girl marches with a stick and a goat in her arms in front of a parade of camels and goats.

Suuban’s First Day by Shugri Salh, illustrated by Àlàbá Ònájìn

  • Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
  • Publication Date: January 27, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9781250340207

Suuban woke up and checked to see if her front teeth were loose, but they didn’t wiggle at all. Her mother wouldn’t let her herd the goats by herself until she lost her front teeth, probably four more months from now. Time passed slowly, but eventually four months passed and Suuban had practiced taking care of the goats and sheep in their yard. One of her teeth was still in her mouth, so Suuban solved it herself using a butting goat. Now she was ready! Suuban headed out to the termite mound, the farthest she was allowed to go. She kept a lookout for danger but eventually drifted off to sleep. Luckily, she woke up in time to save her baby goat from a wily fox. What will Suuban do next?

Set in the Somalian desert among the nomadic tribes, this picture book shows a different way of life than we have in America. The book shows the respect Suuban has for her parents, following their rules for what she is allowed to do. Yet she is still a child, learning from her mistakes and choices. The book takes its time as Suuban must wait for her teeth to loosen, sharing patience with the reader. The illustrations are key to understanding the lifestyle of the nomadic people, from their movable homes to their herding animals. It is captured with respect and beauty.

Patience, responsibility and a glimpse of a different way of life. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Review: Little Red Henry by Linda Urban

| Tasha

Little Red Henry by Linda Urban

Little Red Henry by Linda Urban, illustrated by Madeline Valentine (InfoSoup)

Henry’s family does way too much for him. They dress him. They feed him. They bring him anything he needs. But they haven’t noticed that Henry is getting much more independent and wants to start doing things himself. So Henry starts to insist on doing things entirely on his own. Henry feeds himself. Henry brushes his own teeth. He gets himself dressed, refusing all of their suggestions for things to wear. Then he headed next door to his friend’s house to play. His worried family peers at him from behind trees and other objects, but Henry does just fine on his own. At first Henry’s family doesn’t know what to do with themselves with no Henry to take care of. Slowly though, they start to find their own way again. When bedtime comes, Henry gets himself ready for bed, but he just might still need some help going to sleep.

A perfect story for children in the age of helicopter parenting and a reminder for parents to give their children the space and opportunities they need, this picture book has a snappy tone that is great fun to read aloud. It plays homage of course to The Little Red Hen who asks for help and gets none. Nicely, this book is the reverse and echoes the flip at the end of the traditional story with one of their own as well. It’s a great riff on a beloved tale, modernizing it and changing it so that young readers may not even realize the connection.

Valentine’s illustrations add to the pizzazz of the book. The worried and overbearing family is filled with doting love. Henry is vividly independent, standing on chairs and being entirely himself. There are great moments of activity where Henry tries on different outfits and where the family tries out new activities. This echoing of each other adds to the pleasure of the read.

A modern riff on a classic tale, this picture book is sure to support independent kids and send helicopter parents spinning. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: All by Myself by Emile Jadoul

| Tasha

all by myself

All by Myself by Emile Jadoul

Leon is potty trained, but at night he still wants his parents to help him get to the bathroom.  So when he has to use the bathroom, he calls to his parents from his bed and waits for them to take him to the potty.  Then the next morning, his parents are exhausted.  So his mommy tells him that big boys go to the potty by themselves at night.  Leon decides to try it.  So that night when he has to use the potty, he climbs out of bed.  He considers calling his mother…but ends up going all by himself!  Then comes the clever bit at the end that I won’t spoil, but that makes the book all the more enjoyable to read.

Jadoul perfectly captures the later part of the pottying process, when there is still a little help to be given.  Told in very simple words, it is a quiet story of a loving family.  The writing level is just right for preschool children to enjoy.  The ending twist will have everyone giggling too.

The art in the book is done in black pencil and oil paints.  The rough darkness of all of the penguins plays nicely against the finer lines of the backgrounds in the story.  The addition of the little purple teddy bear emphasizes the youth of the main character and his need for security.

This book will nicely encourage almost-trained children to continue to do things on their own.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Book Review: Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson

| Tasha

leapbackhometome

Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Matthew Cordell

A little frog takes his first small leaps over a ladybug, over a bee, and over the clover before returning to his waiting mother.  His leaps get bigger and he leaps over the creek and over the beavers.  Then they get even bigger, leaping over trees and hills!  After every outing he returns to his mother who is waiting for him with either a book to share, food to eat or a hug.  Soon the little frog is leaping out into space and the stars, but no fear, his mother is still there for him.

Thompson has created a picture book that is very simple with just a few lines on each page and a gentle concept.  Her text has an infectious rhythm to it, adding to the jaunty tone of the book.  The humor of the book builds as the little frog leaps over larger and larger things.  Children will love the humor and will delight in the final pages as the little frog enters outer space. 

Cordell’s illustrations echo the jaunty tone of the text and add a friendliness, warmth and plenty of color to the story.  The little frog soars into the sky with a joyous freedom, his froggy legs and arms waving merrily. 

An ideal book for toddler story times featuring frogs, this is sure to become a favorite of young listeners.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Also reviewed by 100 Scope Notes.