A Celebration of a Life of Joy and Activism: One Day in June

 

One Day In June

by Tourmaline

Illustrated by Charlot Kristensen

G.P. Putnam and Sons

Penguin Random House 

2025

40 pages 

ISBN: 9780593525371

This oversize picture book truly represents the oversize life and activism of Marsha P. Johnson, a striking, unforgettable, and yes, larger than life individual who embraced their own life and used their personality, wit and joie de vivre to unit people, to show love and acceptance for all and to embrace their situation no matter how tough it was. 

Marsha ignored cross dressing laws and rules. They were authentically them. 

A true actor, singer, dancer, entertainer and a friend to all, stranger to none, Marsha became known as Saint Marsha. They knew that accepting all people as they are is the  key to love and acceptance and HAPPINESS. Times Square became Marsha's living room. It was not a beautiful place back then. Tourmaline paints it as a, "hustle bustle place. git and grime. Shimmer and shine." Known for their loving personality and crowns made of flowers, Marsha decided since the whole world was her stage, they should get their message out. Accept all others no matter what "package" they come in. They believed and fought for Black trans lives and equality. The author writes, "The legacy of Marsha's life is a gift." 

End papers are illustrated with flowers signifying Marsha's many crowns of flowers. Unforgettable Marsha helped change the way people accept others. The back cover statement, "The spirit of Marsha has never been more alive and present in what we do." Perhaps we all need a bunch more Marsha in our lives. Let's accept each other as we are. 

Additional information and helpful numbers to The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline and GLAAD are included after the story. 

Highly recommended grades 2 and up. 

Sticker Fun for Toddlers--NO CLEAN UP!

 THE LATEST RAGE: art/ paint by number sticker books! Immensely popular and fun for young learners. There are so many topics covered by sticker books, including construction sites and nursery rhymes. 

Both books are published by Workman Kids

A impring of Workman Publishing

A division of Hachette Books. Inc. 

2025

ISBN: Construcion Site 9781523532537

 Nursery Rhymes 9781523532520

Inside Author/Illustrator/Graphic Novelist Extraodinaire Raina Telgemeier

Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier

Based on the exhibition at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum

by Raina Telgemeier

Illustrations by the author 

Grapix

An imprint of Scholastic Inc. 

2025

240 pages

Ever wonder how cartoonists and artists come up with their creations? If you're Raina Telgemeier, you go back to your childhood and those cringe-y teen years. Full of early cartoons and sketches, including interviews with the author, this interesting AND  ENTERTAINING  look at an artist's thought process is a must for future cartoonists and graphic artists; really, any creatives will gain knowledge on how to "prime the pump."

Pages are devoted to each of Telgemeier's graphic novels (Smile, her HUGE breakout hit) and later Sisters and Guts.  

An excellent gift for wannabe artists, today's doodlers and dreamers. Today's doodlers are tomorrow's graphic stars! 

Highly, highly recommended for art students, cartoonists cosplay groups, really, anyone grades 4 and up. 

Little Free Library is Now Open

 The LIttle Free Library in Winter Park Estates is now open. 

The newest picture books, middle grade reads and Young Adult literature for you. Stop by. Check in on our guestbook online. See you Soon! 

New Christmas Picture Books for Kids!

 

Most Creative: Candy Corn Christmas

Candy Corn Chrisetmas!

by Jonathan Fenske

Little Simon

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 

2025

40 pages

ISBN: 9781

By far, the newest idea, Candy Corn Christmas is splendid! Halloween's forgotten candy corn lingers on in the cabinet and dares to insert itself into Christmas. The candies are awakened by a sugar plum who tells them it's Christmas. The candy corn fights for their spot as a Christmas confection and wins! Candly corn Christmas from now on! Clever illustrations on end papers are eye-catching. Author/Illustrator Fenske knocks it out of the park. 

The Muttcracker

by Anna Kemp

Illustrated by Sara Olgivie

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

2025

32 pages

ISBN: 9781665981033

For the dancer, The Muttcracker is a laugh-riot. When the Miss Polly announces that the class is goint to put on The Nutcracker, Biff is excited! He's the kind to dog who loves ballet. Chase a ball? Not Biff. He's so excited and wants to be the Sugarplum Fairy. Sadly, not everyone can be the Sugarplum Fairy. Some people (and dogs) have to be bon-bons instead. But Biff, unshakingly, steps into his new role, to become the BEST bon-bon. There's a surprise on opening night, and Biff gets to take over The MUTTCRACKER. 

What a Beauty! Jingle Bells

by James Ford Pierpont

Illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo

Little Simon

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

2025

40 pages

ISBN: 9781665974837

The most beautifully illustrated book this year is Jingle Bells by James Ford Pierpont with illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo. Caparo captures a sense of innocence and nostalgia. Characters are incredibly life-like and seem to dance off the pages. The Christmas song is, of course well-known, but maybe not to a newer generation of parents and children. The devil is in the design and the design team opted to go cheap on end papers: plain blue. It's a missed opportunity for the best artistic book of the season. 

Dork Diaries NOW IN COLOR

 

Dork Diaries #1

in full color

by Rachel Renee Russell

with Nikki Russell

Aladdin

Simon & Schuster

2025

376 pages

ISBN: 97871665988384

From the mother/daughter team who taught us all to "squeeee," is the new, colorful, updated Dork Diaries for a new generation of tweens. 

Full color illustrations are sure to catch the eye and send this book off the shelf into shopping bags. If you have a tween and don't know Dork Diaries, you're way behind. The brand is always a best seller and highly circulated book in middle school libraries. If you're buying for a library, you should buy multiple copies. 

Join the fun https://dorkdiariesbooks.com/

Highly, highly recommended with CAUTION. LOL, once your tween reads the first Dork Diaties, expect to purchase all of the brand. 

Poop Happens: Don't Waste the Poop

 

Poop happens! There is no doubt about it, but while humans may find poop smelly and disgusting, some animals actuallly LOVE it!

Don't Waste the Poop!

Ready-To-Read  Level Two

By Marilyn Singer

Illustrations by Heather Fox

Simon Spotlight

An imprint of Simon & Schuster

 2025

32 pages 

ISB: 9781665971997

Clever cover design features "Poop" front and center in all its glory with an exclamation point to boot, and being held in the air by a dung beetle (who happen to LOVE poop!) Kids will laugh, and parents will appluad when they read the back cover "Level 2 Reader" which is a superstar reader. That is enough to make this book flly off the shelf, but as the infomercials say, but wait! There's more!

Brilliant placement of the glossary in the beginning of the story will help readers along. Be sure and read the glossary first to understand all the words used for poop: scat, dung, feces, manure, guano, and in some cases, pellets. 

Rabbits eat their own poop! Ewwwwwwww! They eat hay and grass all day which is hard for them to digest, so their pellets stick together (once pooped) to make a sort of "poop soup" easy for them to digest. 

Some animals use their own poop as a defense. A sparm whale will release a "poopnado" to disguise where they are hiding. The male hippo spreads his poop out all over his territory. It keeps away other males and also may llure females who like the "stench." 

Brimming with fascinating facts about poop, kids wil absolutely love Don't Waste the Poop! 

Highly, highly recommended for reluctant, yet emergent readers. This might ber THE book that turns reluctance into joy! 

Ages 5 and up. 

Cute Rhino: Meet Reba

 

Meet Reba

By Stephanie Wheeler

Illustratrations by Annika Chambers

Spinning Wheel  Stories

2025

42 pages

ISBN: 9781967113002

Reba is an adventurous, spunky rhino who loves to try new things. She can do them “all by herself.” She takes great pride in doing hard things and drawing on her inner strength. She can swing so high it seems like, “her hooves hit the clouds.” She can read books by herself even when the words are new because she can sound them out. She can even play frisbee all by herself (which is an incredible feat! Throwing it and then running fast enough to easily catch it?) Reba is truly an amazing rhinoceros.

One day, Reba decides it is time to ride a bicycle. This is a true test for the unstoppable Reba. She tries to balance but crashes. She tries to get a running start and jump on. BAD idea. Olive, a little bird and Reba’s constant companion tries to help. Reba tries again and again and finally listens to her friend Olive. 

Meet Reba is a picture book with a huge heart that embraces friendship and knowing when to ask for or accept help. Even independent rhino Reba learns it’s okay to listen and learn. 

Savvy young readers will point out that Reba is not alone. Olive is clearly a part of of her world. New words like “momentum” and “haunch” are introduced. Laugh out loud giggles will erupt when kids hear about Reba’s rhinoceros rump and kids will feel for her when she tries to ride a bike but continues crashing.

 Whimsy and fun are celebrated in award-worthy illustrations by Annika Chambers; psst, get ready for picture book awards season. Kudos to publisher and author for beautiful endpapers showing Reba trying all the things and doing them all by herself.

 A special page follows and explains how some animals co-exist and help each other. The symbiotic relationship between rhinos and ox-peckers benefits both animals.  

FIVE huge stars for Meet Reba. Highly, 

Highly recommended ages 1 and up!,

Non-Fiction Picture Book Biography: Through the Telescope: Mae Jamison Dreams of Space

 

Through the Telescope: Mae Jamison Dreams of Space

by Charles R. Smith, Jr.

Illustrated by Evening Monteiro 

Orchard Books

an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.

2025

40 pages 

ISBN:9781338815290

Publication Date: December 2, 2025

A little girl named Mae Jamison discovers her life's dream looking through a telescope. Inquisitive, curious, intelligent young Mae dreams of seeing the stars up close someday. Some day. She is inspired by a television character: Lieutenant Uhura of "Star Trek" who plays an important role in space. The character is a strong Black female. Some day, Mae thinks. 

Mae enters Stanford at age SIXTEEN and earns two degrees. She goes to medical school at Cornell and earns an M.D. before serving in the Peace Corps. 

Taking every opportunity to learn, she becomes a fluent speaker of Swahili, Russian and Japanese. NASA chooses her as one of fifteen potential astronauts out of a pool of 2000 entrants. 

Mae becomes the first Black female astronaut in space in 1992. This woman who was a little girl who stared through the telescope and thought, "some day" succeeded in fulfilling her childhood dream. Her life comes full circle when she appears on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," becoming the first real astronaut to appear in the show.

 May Mae be the inspiration for the next generation of little girls and dreamers! 

Her timeline follows the story on a page titled "Mae Jamison Countdown." Brilliantly illustrated by the talented Evening Monteiro, this is one perfect picture book to inspire creatives and artists. 

Highly, highly recommended for the dreamers out there ages 2 and up. A must have for every child's bookshelf. 

Gorgeous Design and Great Much-Needed Message!

 Together, United 

An All Because You Matter Book

by Tami Charles

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Orchard Books

an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.

2025

40 pages

ISBN: 9781338752052

Third in this important series, Together, United, like its predecessor, All Because You Matter, provides, "...a most urgent, healing message for Back and Brown children far and wide." (from the publisher). 

Gorgeous illustrations by Caldecott Honor Winner Brayan Collier accompany the powerful words of Tami Charles, "You matter. Today and always." The rhythm of the text is important and must be read OUT LOUD to hear the rhythmic (reminds of) rap beat. The author lets children know that, "Together, we are a revolution." Powerful alone, yet better together. Kids can see the possibilities of a much better and brighter world. 

Together, United is a book that will stick with you long after reading it. A must-have, must-read, must-act, must cause good trouble, must-create-change book! 

Highly, highly recommended for every collection and every Black or Brown kid--well, for EVERY kid because we are better together. 

Grades 1 and up. Together, United looks like a front-runner for awards season. Trust me: Caldecott is calling! 

Christmas Paint by Sticker Fun! Ages 3 and up!

 

My First Paint by Sticker: Happy Christmas

Workman Kids 

An imprint of Workman Publishing 

Hachette Book Group, Inc. 

Design by Lourdes Ubidia

Illustrations by Jeremiah Shaw

2025

44 pages

ISBN: 978152356

Oh, what fun kids will have creating their beautiful paint by sticker paintings! For ages three and up, the stickers are the perfect size for small hands developing fine motor skills. No muss, no fuss. There's no paint or glue or glitter to clean up. 

Best of all, the book and its art is portable. Chidren can take it along for a long plane ride or car trip, even a trip to the doctor's office becomes less scary when kids keep busy with art. With ten pictures to complete, kids can frame their art to keep or to give as Christmas gifts. A helpful page opens the book explaining how to paint by sticker. Adults can read it out loud or help kids do the first few stickers until they get the hang of it. So easy to do: kids simply match the numbers and apply the stickers to create Santa coming down the chimney or a delightful cup of steaming hot chocolate or eight other art pieces. 

Silly dad jokes accompany each picture; for example: "How do reindeer decorate their Christmas trees?

With horn-aments!" 

Sticker magic for everyone and great idea to have kids create Christmas art to give to friends and family. This Christmas, let's paint by sticker! 

Highly recommended ages 3 and up. 

A Must Have, Must Read! Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts in One Big Fat Notebook

 Everything You Need To Ace Etnglish Language Arts in One Big Fat Notebook

Workman Kids

Workman Publishing 

Hachette Book Group.

by Jen Haberling 

Illustrated by Kevin Jay Stanton and Nialleycat

2025

512 pages

ISBN: 9781523526055

This lifelong English teacher wishes this book existed when I had classes. Everything you need to know and much, much more! Perfect for reluctant readers and English class haters, with illustrations and colorful text boxes with important text highlighted. 

This kids' (wink, wink) notebook  on which the cover states, "Notes borowed from the smartest kid in the class" is the difference between a mediocre grade and an A+ in English Language Arts. In fact, it should be on every English teachers' bookcase, but even more so, a must for every backpack in the class. 

From parts of speech and their jobs to writing complete sentences and later writing complete papers, this little (512 pages) notebook explains it all. Types of writing are explained and explored including opionion pieces, essays, and arguments. This is NOT a book you hand a kid and ask them to read. It IS a book that you can help kids navigate and LEARN. Each section has a check your answers or check you knowledge questions to help focus and restate learning. 

If you know kids in middle school or teach them, please race to buy a class set of these problem solvers. This edition is one of seven in the "ace all of middle school! series. 

So highly recommended! Every wannabe author needs this book as a shelf staple in their writing arsonal, 

Grades 5 and up. 

A Spanglish Counting Book: Menudo Sunday

 

Menudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting Book

by Maria Dolores Aguila

Illustrations by Erika Meza

Dial Books for Young Readers

an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2025

40 pages

ISBN: 9780593462256

 Menudo Sunday celebrates the family tradition that happens every Sunday when primos (cousins), tias (aunts), tios (uncles) and extended family gather at abuelitos' casa (grandparents' house). And what a celebration it is! 

Cover art shows a large family gathered over a huge bowl of menudo. Even the family pets have a spot!

Counting in Spanish and English is a bonus to this lovely story of family, tradition, love and the beloved recipes passed down through the generations. Menudo brings this family together as they sing, visit, play and share. When the first giant bowl of menudo crashes to the floor (no thanks to the family dogs and the kids underfoot), Abuelito (grandfather) says take a breath and we'll start another pot. 

While the male relatives cook, the cousins continue to play until it's menudo time. The family bows their heads for grace and share a wonderful meal. This story isn't about the food: from the illustrations depicting sheer joy and love to the charming grandpa who teaches patience and grace through his actions, Menudo Sunday is the best counting book of the year, but it's not about the counting either. It's about the character of the content. 

Added content is a glossary of Spanish words, a note from the author and helpful tips for hosting a menudo Sunday of your own. 

Highly, highly recommended for every collection. A true keeper. Grades 1-5. 

Healing the World One Mitzvah at a Time!

 

It's A Mitzvah: Small Deeds With Big Heart

board book

by Suzy Ultman

Rise

an imprint of Penguin Workship

2025

24 pages

ISBN: 9780593751954

It's a Mitzvah! is truly heartwarming and precious--entertaining and fun without being preachy.A smiling yellow heart teaches that a mitzvah is steeped in Jewish tradition and is used for doing good deeds. It reminds people that good deeds bring "kindness, connection, and peace to the world." When you save an earthworm forom the hot sidewalk, its called  takkun olam which means repairing Mitzvahos are important and if more people worldwide would embrace the idea, the world would heal. It takes good humans who are helpful, kind, giving and loving. 

Each type of mitzvah is written in Hebrew and then translated below it. For example: "....give food to people who need it" and is considered "giving righteously, being fair, and thinking about ethics."  

Highly recommended ages 3 and up. Excellent and sturdy book to teach children kindness and working to save their world. A first book of ethics!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Wordless Picture Book: A Place for Us

 

A Place for Us

by James E. Ransome

Illustrations by the author  

Nancy Paulsen Books 

An Imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2025

32 pages

ISBN: 9780593324882

Gorgeous watercolors tell the story of a young boy who attends school and at the end of the day, is picked up by his mother. They go to a fast food restaurant and eat then  walk through what appears to be a big city, and they arrive at the library. It's dark outside by then. They sit at a library table while the boy does his homework. The mother reads a book. They stay at the library until it closes, and the librarian is seen motioning them to the door, 

It appears to be a normal day that any child could have, but the reader learns as they arrive at a park, they are homeless. The boy sleeps on a park bench, his head in his mother's lap. Morning comes, and the boy changes clothes and brushes his teeth using water from a park fountain. His mother walks him to school. As he enters the building, he looks over his shoulder at her--a very powerful last painting that will be etched into the reader's memory. 

Though homeless, the bond between mother and son is unbreakable. No matter how hard things are, they love each other. 

In the author's note, Ransome reports that about half a milllion people are homeless in America, and half of them are children. It is Ransom's hope that when people (and kids) see someone who is homeless, they "pay attentioon, and (to) do the work of finding the much-needed solutions. 

He asks the question: "In a country of vast resources, what is our responsibility to those without access to the basic necessities?" This question is never asked. Politicians have no answers and offer no help. There must be a way to solve this terrible situation. 

A Place for Us is that book that will stick in your mind. It'll make you think and question. Will it make you act to help? 

Highly, highly recommended

Grades 1 and up.