Sweet Message: Bear Feels Sad

 

Bear Feels Sad

by Karma Wilson

Illustrations by Jane Chapman

The Bear Books 

 Margaret K. McElderry Books

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Divison

2025 

40 pages

ISBN: 9781665936576

This charming story of a "woe is me" bear and his busy woodland friends is sure to strike a chord with children. Rhyming prose and beautiful illustrations capture a lonely bear in his "deep, dark lair," who sits wondering where all his pals are. Each scurrying and flying creature is busy foraging, gathering, fishing, digging, and cerebral raven is writing poetry, "and cannot be disturbed." 

Bear tries hard to entertain himself. He builds a blanket fort, but it's no fun without friends to share. He goes and a long walk to pass the time and finds a beautiful field of flowers. Even sadder now since his friends can't see it, he decides to pick a flower for each of his friends. 

Hurrying home, Bear discovers his fort is full of his friends who have come to visit and share their gifts. All the animals laugh and talk for hours, and Bear is happy. 

Illustrations by Jane Chapman are colorful and gorgeous. Bear Feels Sad should be a frontrunner in any children's picture book award this year. Its positive message about friendship and sharing make this book a ten out of ten. 

Highly recommended for every bookshelf. Ages 1 and up. 

 

Halloween Pick: One Happy Haunted House

 

One Happy Haunted House

by Jeffrey Burton 

Illustrations by Neil Clark

Little Simon

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2025

14 pages

ISBN: 9781665973465

Who can resist a haunted house shaped book? The colorful cover features smiling monsters including a happy green hairy beast whose cauldron says "Shake me for surprises." If the book is tilted, monsters slide out. 

This board book is heavier than most due to the design where the surprise monsters are sandwiched between two panels. One Happy Haunted House is a great gift idea for any new parent and parents of toddlers. Halloween is a fun holiday for children, and this book will get them even more excited to plan their costumes. 

Recommended ages 1 and up. 

Graphic Novel Pick: Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys

 

The Raven Boys

by Maggie Stiefvater

Adapted by Stephanie Williams

Illustrations by Sas Milledge

Viking

an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
2025

256 pages

ISBN: 9780593621189

Available July 29, 2025 

It was only a matter of time before someone would finally create the graphic novel for The Raven Boys, which I believe might be Stiefvater's best work--better than the Shiver series. 

Four rich boys from Aglionby, an all boys' posh school, hire a psychic to figure out why one of them was on a tape recording he doesn't remember making. Blue Sargent lives and goes to school in the non-rich and privileged side of town. She comes from a family of psychics but has never had the "gift.' She is able to "amplify" spirits during her mother's readings, and attends the a session her mother asks her to sit in on: a reading booked by the boys. 

The boys are told they are looking for something and they are. Their fascination with finding ley lines, lines of sheer energy. gets them excited to imagine waking one of The Legend of the Sleeping Kings," King Glendower who it's said is buried right near their town in Virginia. 

The graphic novel format make Stiefvater's story accessible to reluctant and visual readers making this a must-have purchase. Buy multiple copies and put one in graphic novels and one on the shelf next to The Raven Cycle series of books. Highly recommended grades 7 and up. 

Halloween Pick: Eek! Halloween!

 

Eek! Halloween! 

by Sandra Boynton 

Illustrations by the author 

Boynton Book Works

An imprint of Simon & Shuster

2025

24 pages

2025

Sandra Boynton is always a child's favorite board book creator

. Frightened chickens cower and cover their eyes. They dare not peek: they might see a witch or a wizard or worse. It's scary outside, and their wide-eyed fright faces show it! 

It's not until a kind pig tells them to relax...it's just Halloween, that the chickens calm down. 

Boynton books are known for their fun rhymes and sometimes silly stories and Eek! Halloween! delivers. This is a lovely book for any toddler. It's easy to read, easy to hold and most of all: easy to love. 

Make this book your new favorite Halloween read for pre-school and ages 2 and up. Highly recommended Halloween fun.