Funny Picture Book: Even Steven

 

Even Steven: A Book About Sharing  

byh Carrie Finison

Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman

G.P. Putnam's Sons

an imprint of Penguin Random House

2026 

32 pages

ISBN: 9870583859001

Steven wants everything even. Everything! But some things can't be split up. What's Steven going to do about that? If things are not even, is it fair? 

Even Steven is a humorous book sure to make kids giggle as Steven tries to divide the slide on the playground or divide a nickel. Some things can't be separated. Friends tell Steven sharing is a great way to make things fair and even. Taking turns is fun and fair. Steven learns sharing and taking turns is actually better than fair and even, it's fun! This book must be read aloud with a group of young children. They will want to offer their own ideas about things that can be shared like walkie-talkies, and things that should not be shared like a toothbrush. 

Clever writing expertly teaches kids about what is fair and what is even while entertaining them. Illustrations are fun and funny with one caveat below....

The last illustration is bothersome to this career librarian. Once again, an artist has captured the librarian as a frumpy, older white woman wearing the ubiquitous librarian look: a cardigan, old lady pants, ugly shoes and wearing glasses, of course. It would be nice to see a male librarian represented. 

End pages are a pretty shade of blue, but it's a missed opportunity on the part of the design/publishing team. Funny illustrations tied to the story would put this book over the top. 

Highly recommended grades pre-K to 3. 

New YA: Shadow Visions

  "Gaslight" Meets Modern Coming of Age Story of Acceptance and Found Family

Shadow Visions 

Book Two

a Prequel to Dreamwalkers

by Leslie Rush

Midnight Tide

2026 

265 pages

Available November 4, 2026 

 Sixteen-year old Rory Winters watches her mother carted off for the last time, but this time it's not the EMTs or ambulance. It's the medical examiner and police. After giving her statement and meeting with an attorney, Rory finds out her mother has more secrets than even she imagined. A ranch Rory has never heard about sits halfway across the country, and with her mother's death, Rory inherits it. She settles her mother's debts and arrives in Arizona with her mother's ashes to scatter. What she doesn't count on is Cam, the live-in caretaker and his daughter Star. Another surprise is an aunt she's never met or heard about appears in the nick of time to help her with the estate. Aunt Joanna is kind, perhaps a little too "hands-on" and has no boundaries, but Rory accepts her as her only family.

Rory's visions are getting worse, not better. When she finds her mother's tarot deck, she finally seems to accept her own power. 

But the tarot cards are not the only trigger, Rory sees auras and begins to misplace things. The ranch house is a little creaky and spooky, even more so at night. The desert is too quiet. The sky endless. The stars closer. She swears she can smell the scent of roses on the patio, but Cam tells her the rose bushes her mother planted have been gone for a long time. Is she going crazy? 

After a truly terrifying incident in a canyon, Rory feels like she has been drugged. Someone doesn't want her at the ranch. Someone will stop at nothing to scare her off and keep the secrets safe. 

A satisfying teen read with a touch of new romance and a paranormal twist. A real page-turner of a book. Readers are likely to lose sleep over this one, reading long into the night. Shadow Visions is your next read. 

Highly, highly recommended grades 8 and up. 

Hilarious Pals: Zebra and Yak The Backwards Counting Book

 

Zebra and Yak: The Backwards Counting Book

by Paul Friedrich

Illustrationns by the author 

G.P. Putnam Sons

an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2026

48 pages

ISBN: 9798217002139

A backwards counting book: what a unique spin on the usual and is sure to delight young readers. Follow friends Zebra and Yak as they count backwards and go on hilarious hijinks to arrive ar number ONE. Their silly antics lead them to a huge bird nest, a herd of cows, and a rocket ship. Blast off with the pair as they count backwards. 

Zebra and Yak are two well-developed characters whose facial expressions tell their inner emotions captured lovingly and humorously by artist Paul Friedrich. Cartoonish (in the best way) and captivating, this is one book sure to become a favorite and your kids will clamor and beg, "Again! Again! Read it again!" (Word to the wise: You may have to hide it around bedtime).

If you buy one picture book, Zebra and Yak The Backwards Counting Book should be it. 

Highly recomended ages 2 and up. 

Middle Grade Pick: Little Bones

 

                                                        Mesmerizing, heart-wrenching, soaring! 

Little Bones 

by Sandy Bigna 

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 

2025

256 pages

ISBN: 9781665985086

After a tragic accident, eleven-year old Bones is lost, not knowing how to spend her time. She explores nearby adding to her collection of animal bones. Fascinated by the skeletons, Bones loves drawing them. She doesn't want to hang out with other kids and is at odds with her best friend, who has chosen a new girl over her. Her mum far away, working in the mines. Younger brother Nico, well...Nico is gone.  

Bones avoids the forest and the tree where it happened. She refuses to face the loss of her beloved brother. One night by the light of the full moon, Bones accidentally resurrects a baby bird skeleton. Bird lets her know right away he doesn't like being "alive." Bones must figure out a way to reverse the magic. 

A new kid named Tenny moves in, and soon becomes her unwanted, optimistic sidekick. Maybe with their help, Bones can find the book of spells, undo to magic and set Bird free, BUT Bones realizes she loves Bird. Why does she have to let everything and everyone go? 

A novel in verse that explores grief and loss, friendship and love, longing and letting go has never been this beautiful. This is a gift of a book. A kind hug. Bring tissues, there will be tears. 

Highly, highly recommended. A soaring story! 

Grades 5 and up.