Board book pick: Mu Octopus Arms

My Octopus Arms 

by Keith Baker

Illustrated by the author 

Little Simon

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children;s Publishing 

2026

40 pages

ISBN: 9798347108688

Octopus has eight arms and they can do everything! Keith Baker brings this sea creature to life on the rollicking pages of this board book charmer. The perfect size for little hands and built to withstand toddler troubles, My Octopus Arms is a lovely rhyming tribute.

Because they have eight arms, Octopus can multitask: pulling on socks, unlocking locks, building a wall and play sports. The best thing about Octopus? It's their ability to grow their arms. They get longer and longer...long enough for hugs. 

The cover sells this story. Kudos to Baker for illustrations of Octopus interacting with other sea creatures; they can not only do it all, they do it with a smile for friends. 

Highly, highly recommended ages 18 months and up. 

 

Picture Book Pick: Aliens Love Underpants

 

Aliens Love Underpants

by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort

Illustrations by Ben Cort

Aladdin

An imprint of Simon & Shuster Children's Publishing Division

2026

32 pages

ISBN: 9798347111688

Funny, rhyming text by the incredible Claire Freedman  paired with hilarious, winsome illustrations by Ben Cort make Aliens Love Underpants a forever favorite. "You'll laugh your pants off" the back cover states. It should be a warning! No one wants to get caught without their pants!

Aliens don't want to conquer Earth or defeat the human race. They don't want our gold or silver and won't enslave us to work on their planets. They simply WANT (NEED) our underpants! The surprised look on the boy's face at the end is LOL funny (the alien hiding out in his underpants draweer gets the last laugh!)

This book is my favorite out of all the "Underpants" series. Highly, highly recommended. Children will likely recite the text by heart because they begged for Aliens Love Underpants to be read AGAIN, AGAIN. AGAIN. Ages 2 and up. 

If you have a little of your own or a baby shower to attend, be sure and pick up this fantastic, fun read. 

Picture Book Pick: Seahorse Is Furious and There Is Nothing You Can Do About It

 

Seahorse Is Furious and There Is Nothing You Can Do About It

by Morag Hood

Illustrations by the author

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2026

32 pages

ISBN: 97983347109272

Seahorse wakes up on the wrong side of the bed (sea), and the day is just getting started. They've had it with being wet all the time; the ocean is not fun. The seaweed is "ridiculous," and there's nothing anyone, not even their friend Octopus, can do to lighten their mood. They do not want food, not even cookies and does not want a soft blanket nor a cushy stuffed  bunny to hold. Octopus does everything they can think of to help, and sure enough! Eventually Seahorse is smiling again. 

Illustrations are spot-on with capturing the mood of Seahorse and the other ocean dwellers, Seahorse has a terrible frown on the cover while all the other creatures are enjoying their day. Everyone but Seahorse has a smile. After countless attempts by Octopus, Seahorse is smiling also. End papers are cute and colorful and add to this gentle read. The underlying lesson, never preachy, is: it is alright for you to be grumpy sometimes. Everyone is, but do not let that mood define you. 

Highly recommended ages 1 and up. A charming read that will likely become a reader's favorite. 

A. S. King's Pick the Lock--Young Adult Read

 

Pick the Lock

by A.S. King

Dutton Books

an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2025

400 pages

ISBN: 9780593353974

Bizarre and toxic, a tale of love and desperation, manipulation and power, domination a domestic abuse, Pick the Lock is compelling and fascinating, yet evil in the best ways. Like a terrible car accident on the side of the road, it's hard to ignore this book or look away. It grinds on the reader, demanding their full attention. Try to skip forward a few pages, I dare you. 

See? You're lost already. King is like that.

Jane is a sixteen-year old girl kept locked behind the gates since the pandemic. Homeschooled by her father, they live in a Victorian mansion with a system of pneumatic tubes that her father uses to imprison her punk rock queen mother. When her mother is touring with her band, she sends postcards home from all the interesting cities she visits. Jane struggles to understand why her mother listens to her father and allows him to dominate not only her but everyone else in the mansion, 

There's her awful Aunt Finch who is her father's new sidekick and sidepiece. Yes, it's her mother's sister who is cheating with her sister's husband. Then there's the mysterious gardener Milorad with his pet rat Brutus who manages to  escape his cage all the time. Younger brother Henry seems to be a pathetic copy of his father, obeying everything Father says. Jane begins writing a rock opera scream into the endless void. She deals with love and hate, outrage and RAGE, questions that have no answers, and a system in place to control her and her mother. 

The discovery of thousands of home movies is a treasure trove for Jane. As she watches her past, even from the time before she was born, she has more questions than answers. What happened to her beautiful, independent mother? How did she become the silent and docile prisoner in HER own home? 

Readers will be turning pages at a rapid pace, enjoying this dark story and trying to figure out answers for themselves. I found myself thoroughly immersed UNTIL the story takes such an unexpected turn, I had to reread a few pages back to see if I perhaps had missed something. Nope. 

I tried to go along where King was leading me, but I found the third act quite dissatisfying, Victims of domestic (even verbal) abuse react in different ways once they escape, but in this case, I found it unbelievable. Pick the Lock is hard to forget. It's a story I still have questions about. 

I appreciate the different ways King manipulated the text using stage directions and lyrics, but some readers may find it jarring. It stops the story, if you will, and reading becomes more of a chore than a relaxation. 

Recommended for fans of A.S. King and YA readers who like a strange story. If you're reading for fun and escapism, this is NOT the book for you. 

Grades 8 and up. 

Love, Panda

 

Love, Panda

by Elaine Su

Illustrations by Charlene Chua

Orchard Books

an imprint of Scholastic Publishing

2026 

32 pages

ISBN: 9781546179580

On sale date: July 7, 2026

Laugh out loud funny with a quirky, mouthy panda you'll want to meet! 

Older brother Benny gives his Panda to the new baby. Panda is NOT impressed. Baby is noisy and boring. Panda is bored with watching elephants go round and round above his head (a mobile) and the baby's crinkly book is loud and annoys Panda. Panda writes notes to Benny begging to be saved from this monster: BABY. 

Panda relies on a toy dumptruck to deliver his notes to Benny, yeat Benny doesn't show up. Time passes. Finally, Benny appears and picks Panda up. By this time, Baby loves Panda and Panda hates to admit he likes it in the nursery even though it's extra drool-y in there by now. 

Lovely sibling relationship and  a funny Panda with a tongue-in-cheek story delivery. You'll fall in love with Panda!

Ages 1 and up and for anyone who loves a true character with an attitude. 

Captivating, Gorgeous Illustrations and Timeless Story (bound to become a classic favorite!) Beatrix and the Unicorn

 

Beatrix and the Unicorn 

by Lita Judge

Illustrations by the author 

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2026

40 pages

ISBN: 9781665963916

Masterful Storytelling and Magical Illustrations

Beatrix and the Unicorn is evocative of beloved fairy tales with the magic we expect from a classic: a lonely young servant lives in a castle where she toils each day scrubbing and cleaning, the dining hall with its massive table weighted with pies, breads and meats, the great hall with tapastries woven with golden threads--her favorite by far is the unicorn--what a beautiful creature Beatrix thinks. It is the most beautiful thing she's ever seen. If only it was real and not a cloth hung on a stone wall. 

One night, Beatrix decides she must find a unicorn. Only then, will she be fulfilled and never lonely again. She sneaks into the night venturing into a forest where she saves a scared rabbit and scoops it up. Later, she encounters a hurt dog. She bandages its leg with her cap. As she continues her search, she gets tired and stops to rest. The castle cat has followed her. Attentive littles will notice the cat on almost every page though Beatrix does not notice him. Beatrix gives her food to her faithful new companions and soon settles in for a nap. She dreams of the unicorn who visits her. 

The magical creature assures her that she is not alone; many love her. Upon waking, Beatrix is saddened it was only a dream but a magical one that imparted wisdom and solace. The unicorn touched her with the knowledge to love precious creatures who love her back; she realizes she will never be lonely or alone again. 

Glorious illustrations make this my favorite picture book so far this year. The ornate border around the earlier pages are reminiscent of classic fairy tale books. The border disappears when Beatrix has her dream and never reappears once Beatrix is cognizant of the love surrounding her .

The Caldecott committee is likely to have this lovely picture book on its list of favorites, it not book of the year. Kudos to Lita Judge for sharing her talents and inviting all of us to believe in unicorns and magic once   again. 

Highly, HIGHLY recommended ages 2 and up. A must-have, must-read. Sure to become a classic!  

Board Book: How Do You Jew?

 

How Do You Jew? A Celebration of Jews Around the World

by Suzy Ultman

Illustrations by the author 

Rise x Pentuin Workshop 

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

2026

24 pages

ISBN: 9780593751978

Author illustrator Suzy Ultman celebrates Jewish traditions around the world. Although Jews may be scattered in many countries and might speak different languages, they share traditions, foods and celebrations.

Ethiopian Jews eat dabo on Shabbat while Polish Jews celebrate dancing at weddings to klezmer music. Jews around the world might celebrate differently but everywhere they live, they celebrate "home." 

Board books are sturdy for toddler fingers. Colorful illustrations by Ultman are a celebration! This little board book is perfect as a first read introducing Jewish celebrations and celebrating the diaspora of peoples who still share common ground. 

Recommended ages 2 to 4. How Do You Jew? 

The Smallest, Bravest Mouse: Bravepaw

 

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria

by L.M. Wilkinson

Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 

originally published 2024

192 pages

ISBN: 9781665986588

Titch Proudleaf is a young mouse who dreams of being brave like her storied hero Bravepaw who is said to have saved the world from all its monsters. Titch believes the old legends and pretends she is as brave and stalwart as Bravepaw. Her best friend Huckleberry offers the perfect sounding board and buddy throughout the story. 

Titch and Huckleberry are on an errand when they happen upon an injured warrior who needs their help. Titch is no Bravepaw, but she does what she can. She grabs the warrior's stick and yells, "Be gone" at the menacing wormlike monsters  as curseworms trying to kill the warrior. Magic happens. The staff in Titch's hand comes to life and kills the monsters. The warrior is amazed and thankful. Could Titch be the answer the world has been waiting for?

Once he is being cared for on the Plateau, the warrior thanks Titch and tells her that she has the magic. There is not one Bravepaw; there have been many  over the years. Clearly Titch yields the magic, so she is the next Bravepaw. The warrior turns out to be a prince who wants her to accompany him on his quest to return the heartstone to Alluria and mend the crack that is unleashing monsters and curseworms into the world.  

Bravepaw is the perfect series for younger middle grade. If readers love Titch, a savvy librarisn will lead them to Brian Jacques' Redwall books. 

Recommended grades 3 and up.  

Where There Is Love: A Story in AFrican Proverbs

Where There Is Love: A Story in African Proverbs 

by Shantay Grant

Illustrated by Letitia Moreno

Penguin Workshop

an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2025

32 pages

ISBN: 97805893659939

Beautifully told and illustrated with love, Where There Is Love follows a young girl on her visit to her Nana's (grandmother) for a large family gathering. Everyone pitches in, and Nana says, 
"Many hands make short work." 

There's a bustle inside in the kitchen and stories and dancing outside in the yard. Nana is inspiring and full of wisdom that she passes on to her grandchild. She says, "Having a good discussion is like having riches." The girl listens intently and knows Nana's words are truth. 

The author has included a map of Africa with countries identified and each proverb listed is attributed to its country of origin. This tool is excellent to introduce the continent of Africa to readers. Many adults in America probably cannot name four African countries correctly, and test scores show American children do not know much bout geography.

This little book of wisdom is a must-read for its message and its gorgeous delivery. Where There Is Love is one of my favorites for awards season. I suspect it will be on many state lists and even the ALA picture book recommendations.

Highly, highly recommended ages 2 and up.   

 

Non-Fiction Pick: Fascinating and Factual Must-Read: A World Without Birds

 

A World Without Birds: How To Save Our Planet, One Bird at a Time 

by Nick Lund

Illustrations by Asia Orlando

Workman Kids

Workman Publishing

Hachette Book Group, Inc. 

2026 

176 pages 

ISBN: 9781523518029

THE guide to helping birds bounce back and thrive. For hundreds, if not thousands of years, humans have built, overbuilt, decimated forests and wetlands to build homes and cities and birds have paid the price. Humans' reliance on electricity at night lights up the skies and sometimes confuses birds. Aircraft fill the skies both day and night, Birds' migration patterns have changed due to humans invading their spaces. This is all terrible news, but the more we know about birds and their behaviors and needs, the more we can help them. 

In concise easy-to-understand language and using different fonts for important points and boxes for interesting facts, readers glean paramount data that will change their behavior (hopefully) of exploiting  land to continue to pave the planet and ruin open spaces. 

Science now knows five major areas that have changed nature: Humans changing the physical landscape with building and farming, killing plants and animals through fishing, hunting and logging, climate change and chemicals in the atmosphere, pollution in water and air and adding alien organisms into environments they do not belong in where said new species disrupt flora and fauna already there. 

Your would think knowing this, humans would have fixed things long ago, but we can't lose hope. For the last century (or so) humans have been working to undo the damage we did. Whether it's saving one species of bird or blocking the destruction of forests, there are now movements to stop the damamge, and readers will want to do their part after reading this timely book. 

Divided into sections, you can choose to read the section that interests you most first: from tropical forests to the Poles to the deserts or islands, birds live everywhere. The author includes pages guiding readers to become involved: why not join a group, work with birds or simple things anyone can do: turn out your lights--which interfere with migration patterns. Plant native plants that will attract insects, giving birds food. Use less plastic which confuses seabirds into thinking floating plastic is something to eat. If we each do the little things and keep in mind the big picture, birds have a fighting chance. 

I loved this book, Although I'm not a bird expert nor scientist, this book gave me the knowledge to get angry and change how I think about birds and nature. It is up to every. Single. One. Of. Us. It is a call to action, 

A must-have, must-read for any science minded learner, any non-fiction aficionado, and any caring human. Grades 3 and up. 

ISBN: 9781523518029

Beautiful Illustrations and Lovely, Rhyming Text: You and I Are Stars and Night

 

You and I Are the Stars and Night

by Kate Hosford

Illustrated by Richard Jones

Beach Lane Books

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2026

32 pages

ISBN: 9781665940382

Thus far this year, You and I Are Stars and Night is the most beautiful picture book of the year. Ethereal illustrations transport readers to another world; a journey, if you will. A lovely bedtime book which is sure to become a nightly ritual, 

Highly recommended ages 18 months and up. 

Hilarious Time Travel:Short chapters make Future Me Saves the World and Ruins My Life a real winner!

Future Me Saves the World and Ruins My Life

by Leah Cypess

Illustrations Wes Molebash

Aladdin

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2025

192 pages

ISBN: 9781665964395

Time travel has never been more fun to read. 

Ethan Koslov is ten years old and just a "normal" kid until he meets his future self who is thirty-nine years old and wears weird clothes, worries about his health, has no interest in playing with slime and is a lot less fun. Future him visits and tells him he has a mission to save the world by making sure his substitute teacher keeps teaching because if she doesn't, she will become an evil dictator and start wars. 

Fourth grade is tough as it is, but pile on saving the world and it becomes intolerable. Short chapters and fun illustrations make this an easy read for even the most reluctant of readers. Cute premise, creative story and tons of fun!

Highly recommended grades 4 and up. 

 

Middle Grade PIck: Bad Cheerleader

 

Bad Cheerleader

by Alex Thayer

Aladdin

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2025

288 pages

ISBN: 9781665955270

Seventh grader Bag does not fit in. Her popular cheerleader sister Minerva who used to be a fun sister has never been more distant, and Bag knows she's hiding a secret. Minerva is downright rude, bratty and AWFUL, calling attention to Bag in front of the entire cheer squad. 

Worse, their mother has just landed a part in an off, off, off Broadway play and can no longer give Bag a ride to the library after school. She tells Bag to wait at cheer practice with Minerva to be picked up. 

This is the last thing either sister wants. Minerva's absences while the squad is warming up, concerns Bag. She asks the sponsor, Mrs. Yoh, where her sister is, and learns Minerva is "writing cheers." Curious, Bag goes in search of Minerva. 

She spots her with another cheerleader near the dumpsters which is very mysterious and secretive. Determined, Bag sets out to find just what her sister is up to. Meanwhile, things between their parents are broken as Dad has moved out and seems in a "bad" place. 

Bag wants to turn to her Bff Ridgeey but he, too, seems distant. 

Bad Cheerleader is a quick read. The characters are almost believable except Bag seems too naive for a seventh grader. She seems more like grade three or four. She has zero knowledge about smoking and marijuana. Even the most sheltered child has some knowledge from tv or the internet. 

Grades 5 and up. 

Future Astronaut Pick: The Astronaut's Guide To Leaving the Planet

 

Everything the future astronaut needs to know to become an astronaut. What classes to take in middle school, high school, what to read and study, what subjects the astronauts should focus on in school ( all of them, really), but with emphasis on sciences and math, especially advanced classes. 

Beautfifully designed and easy to read. Readers can easily read parts of each chapter and return to as a guide. Highly recommended for non-fiction readers who enjoy science. This guide would be a wonderful gift for kids who dream LARGE and "out there." Grades 3 and up. 

Dog Lovers' Pick: Elvis and Romeo Visit the Vet

 

Elvis & Romeo Visit the Vet

Ready-To-Read Level Two 

by David Soman and Jacky Davis

Text by Jacky Davis

Illustrations by David Soman

Simon Spotlight

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2026

32 pages 

ISBN: 9781665948005

For fans of dogs and readers who love Elvis and Romeo--the odd couple of dogs. The Ready-To-Read series is perfect for beginning readers and educates parents at each level of their child's reading progress. 

Elvis and Romeo Visit the Vet is the dog's side of the story: dogs must think that going to the vet is  "different" and scary, but two can handle anything. 

Recommended ages 4 and up.