Board & Picture Books
Adurable: Little Pups in Big Trucks
Bob Shea, illus. by Brian Won (Dial, up to age 3) $7.99
Recommended by Sally Morgan, co-owner, The Curious Reader, Glen Rock, N.J.
The rare board book that appeals equally to toddlers and their caregivers, Bob Shea and Brian Won’s first offering in the Adurable series is a deadpan delight. On the first day of puppy school, three well-intentioned but naive pups work together to free their teacher, who is stuck under some rocks, using big trucks and deductive reasoning. Shea’s wry narration, coupled with Won’s bright digital art, are the ideal vehicle for this tale of cheerfully indefatigable protagonists and construction equipment.
All Around Bustletown: Nighttime
Rotraut Susanne Berner (Prestel Junior, ages 2–5) $12.95
Recommended by Kendra Calitri, children’s book buyer, Village Books & Paper Dreams, Bellingham, Wash.
This one’s great for imaginative exploration: in cross-section illustrations, readers can see inside the buildings of a tiny town and figure out what the characters are doing in their homes and businesses. It’s an oversize board book that would have been my favorite as a child.
King Kong’s Cousin
Mark Teague (Beach Lane, up to age 8) $18.99
Recommended by Melody Wukitch, owner, Park Books & LitCoLab, Severna Park, Md.
Mark Teague really knows how to make a small kid feel big in this delightful tale of King Kong and his not-so-big cousin. From Kong’s cousin, Junior, we learn that small stature doesn’t preclude saving the day.
Lizzy and the Cloud
The Fan Brothers (Simon & Schuster, ages 4–8) $18.99
Recommended by Melody Wukitch, owner, Park Books & LitCoLab, Severna Park, Md.
The Fan Brothers do a lovely job with this sweet story about a girl who buys a cloud on a string from a Cloud Seller who offers a range of puffy mists in various sizes and shapes. It can be hard to let beloved things go, the book’s creators hint, but some things are simply not meant to be kept inside.
The Sea in the Way
Sophie Gilmore (Greenwillow, ages 4–8) $17.99
Recommended by Sally Morgan, co-owner, The Curious Reader, Glen Rock, N.J.
Delicately textured watercolors, exquisite pacing, and a poignant recognition of the pain of separation distinguish this remarkable tale. Badger, resentful of the sea that separates her from her friend Bear, bargains with the body of water: “Bring me something nice, and I’ll let you cross.” Further requests follow, including one that asks Badger to make an impossible choice, and ultimately, she finds another way to connect with Bear.
Middle Grade
Rain Rising
Courtne Comrie (HarperCollins, ages 8–12) $16.99
Recommended by Christopher Lutz, manager, The Curious Reader, Glen Rock, N.J.
Written in verse and bursting with humanity, this realistic-fiction story of an eighth grader’s trauma and healing is profoundly powerful and deeply enthralling, always trusting the reader’s empathy and understanding. Comrie honestly addresses teenage mental health crises and systemic racism, among other complicated themes, without a whiff of prescriptiveness. A nuanced and moving debut.
Those Kids from Fawn Creek
Erin Entrada Kelly, illus. by Celia Krampien (Greenwillow, ages 8–12) $17.99
Recommended by Olivia Morris, supervisor, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, Mass.
This book about a group of seventh graders in small-town Louisiana—and the new girl who changes their lives—cements Entrada Kelly’s place as one of the best middle grade writers working today. It’s bighearted and funny, and it doesn’t shy away from the complexities of friendship, community, and identity.
Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter
Zoraida Córdova (Scholastic Press, ages 8–12) $17.99
Recommended by Kendra Calitri, children’s book buyer, Village Books & Paper Dreams, Bellingham, Wash.
A magical middle grade novel that teaches about empathy, forgiveness, and love. It’s a great pick for kids who are into mythical creatures or even Pokémon: they can catch all the monsters along with Valentina.
Wingbearer
Marjorie Liu, illus. by Tenny Issakhanian (Quill Tree, ages 8–12) $22.99
Recommended by Olivia Morris, supervisor, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, Mass.
A girl raised by bird spirits embarks on a fantastical quest populated by goblins, wraiths, and griffins in Liu and Issakhanian’s utterly spellbinding work. Any kid who loves graphic novels and fantasy stories will eat this one up: it’s beautifully written and illustrated, exciting, and packed to the brim with magic.
