Non-Fiction Picture Book: Who Nests Here?

 

Who Nests Here? Twenty-Four Extraordiary Animal Homes

by Karen Jameson

Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzski

Beach Lane Books

A imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2026

48 pages

ISBN: 9781665975407

Beautifully illustrated and charming rhyming text make this little gem a must-have for every non-fiction collection. Young readers will be surprised that birds are not the only animal that builds nests. Children will discover animals they may never have heard of before like mudskippers, Siamese fighting fish, and voles plus twenty-one other animals. 

A helpful guide is included discussing which animals nest in mud or water or trees, and a page about nest safety and what readers can do to insure animals and their nests are not damaged. 

Gorgeous illustrations on end papers make this book a real treasure. Ramona Kaulitzski is likely to be in the running come awards season. 

This picture book is a lovely Christmas gift for the kid who loves animals. 

Highly recommended ages 2 and up. This book is great for introducing a unit about animals and their habitats.

Monster Picure Book: Monsters Are the Worst!

 

Monsters Are the Worst!

by Alex Willan

Illustrations by the author

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 

Simon & Schuster, LLC

2026

40 pages 

ISBN: 9781665988599

Every book by Alex Willan is clever, colorful and carefree! For all readers who love his first books and a great introduction for newbies, Monsters Are the Worst! will make readers smile and giggle at Gilbert the Goblin and his pal Chicken and their new problem child: a little stowaway monster they accidentally brought home from their camping trip. 

Gilbert knows monsters are the worst; sure, they are cute when they a little, but monsters grow fast and monsters grow HUGE. They have to be taught that friends are not food, books are not food and neighbors are not food. Their table manners are atrocious and oh, my goodness, their poop! 

Nope. Gilbert is not amused. It's hard to sleep with a growing monster under his bed, he can't get any of his goblin work done and the monster loves to sit on his lap!  Monsters really are the worst, but there's one thing worse than them. It's saying good-bye. Once in awhile, they get together for a pickle roast, and it's great to be around old friends. Even a giant, heavy friend who still insists on sitting on your lap. 

Highly, highly recommended ages 4 and up. Great fun. Colorful, engaging illustrations and quirky goblin habits truly make this book a must-read. It will likely  become a favorite bedtime read. 

Christmas Pick Gift: Hands-On Christmas Countdown

 

 

Christmas Countdown: 25 days of Sticker Activities

(Includes a fold-out advent calendar + 335 stickers)

text by Deanna F. Cook

Illustrations by Matthew Scott

Workman Kids

Workman Publishing

Hachette Book Group, Inc.

2026

28 pages

ISBN: 9781523535750

Sparkly glitter cover invites readers inside a fun adventure in counting the days up to Christmas with an entertaining activity for each day including family movie night, building a gingerbread house, baking cookies, trimming the tree and decorating your "jolly jammies." Stickers in the back correspond to each activity. (You may choose to do the activites in any order that fits your schedule). 

Kids will love to decorate their book and the fold-out advent calendar (included). There are easy-to-follow instructions at the beginning of the book. Christmas Countdown is the perfect idea for the month of December for ages 5 and up. Older kid csn help younger siblings. Adults csn help by introducing the book and overseeing the first few attempts at sticker choice. Even if the child is wrong, it will be fun!

A solid choice for families. Get yours before the season begins. 

Ages 5 and up.  

Fun Picture Book: I'm Busy

 

I'm Busy

by Michael Ian Black 

Illustrations by Debbie Redpath Ohi 

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Simon & Schuster 

2026

40 pages

ISBN: 9781665915243

A very busy girl has an excruciatingly busy schedule she feels she must complete every waking hour. Her friend, a flamingo, asks if she can take a break and play or stand on one leg or hang out. A talking potato wants her to play in the mud with them.The girl shows Flamingo and Potato her very busy schedule. Flamingo can't read but the girl tells them what's on her upcoming schedule. 

Young readers will see her calendar for the month of September, and it's full every single day. There's trumpet practice, her jazz band concert, Spanish club, her math test and even more challenging endeavors like writing a play, learning to speak French, and working on a comedy routine. It's great to have goals, but she realizes with her friends' input she might be too busy! She agrees to save some time for herself and her friends, realizing she needs BALANCE. Balance is one thing Flamingo knows a lot about! Frolicking in the mud with her friends is the best therapy for busy. 

End pages are illustrated with the word BUSY starting out small and growing larger on the page. This mirrors the stress of the character. The front cover shows the girl balancing a huge stack of books and papers. As she walks, there is a trail of papers and notebooks in her wake while two very distressed looking friends look on. 

Illustrations by Debbie Redpath Ohi put this picture book over the top. Brilliant and fun, the illustrations capture the tone and most importantly, the reader. Five HUGE stars!

Highly, highly recommended ages 2 and up. What fun!