Floof  by Heidi McKinnon Illustrations by the author Algonquin Young Readers  Imprint of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. Hatchette Book Group, Inc.  32 pages 2024  ISBN: 9781523525867 Floof is a fluffy, floofy cat who loves mischief-making. He's very busy all day. He has tons of work to do: unrolling the toilet paper, spilling coffee on the laptop, teasing the dog--(who is not his friend, but Floof doesn't care), playing in an empty box, rolling the ball for the dog--teasing again!, napping in a plant, napping in the laundry, napping on a stack of books. He's VERY busy ..read more

  In and Out the Window  by Jane Yolen Illustrations by Cathrin Peterslund Philomel an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC 2024 208 pages ISBN: 9780593622513 From beloved author Jane Yolen comes In and Out the Window, a treasure of middle grade poetry sure to make readers want to share her poems and write ones of their own.  In "Hook in the Water," Yolen writes, "Each poem a hook/flouting in the tide./ An invitation/to open wide..." Poems featured in the book are about school, after school, hobbies, friendship, the seasons, sports, pets and all the things important to kid ..read more

Planting Hope: A Portrait of Photographer Sebatiao Salgado by Philip Hoelzel Illustrations by Renato Alarcao Atheneum Books for Young Readers An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 2024  48 pages ISBN: 9781534477650 Beautiful artwork in watercolor and pencil illustrate the story of an important couple of environmental pioneers from Brazil. Sebastiao Salgado grew up in a green space in Brazil surrounded by the nature of beauty. As a child, he ran through the hills, fields and forests and swam in the rivers near his home.  Later when he went to the city, he ..read more

  How Do Dinosaurs Say Trick or Treat? by Jane Yolen  Illustrations by Mark Teague  Scholastic Press 2024  48 pages ISBN: 9781338891980 Available July 2, 2024  How Do Dinosaurs Say Trick or Treat? is the latest edition of the talented team of Jane Yolen and Mark Teague. Any fan of dinosaurs or Halloween will love this picture book.  End pages are colorful and fun illustrations of various types of dinosaurs. Not only will children read a fun story, but likely true dino fans will memorize each dino name and locate them in the pages.  Winning, rhyming text by Y ..read more

  Moonlight Memories: A Story of Healing After Loss by Amanda Davis Illustrations by Michelle Jing Chan  Worthy Kids 2023 32 pages ISBN: 9781546003168 Piper feels empty after the loss of her mother. She doesn't want create art anymore until  she gets a telescope as a gift. Not only does Piper see stars in the skies, she sees her mother's face, "...a face that tucked her in at night...A face with cheeks that smelled of sweet vanilla..." Piper feels her creativity switch on; she draws again. Soon, her sketchbook and her room is filled with drawings of her with her mother.  ..read more

  Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renee Watson Art (collages) by Ekua Holmes  Kokila an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC 2024 96 pages  ISBN: 9780593461709 Black Girl You Are Atlas is a breathtaking triumph celebrating a young girl's thoughts as she grows up black and female in America. Watson uses autobiographical stories and captures moments in history and how she experienced them as a child. She includes poems about Michelle Obama, Rodney King and Breonna Taylor.  Magnificent does not do this book justice. It is the most powerful book of poetry since Maya Angelou or Lan ..read more

  Remember  by Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate Illustrated  by Michaela Goade, Caldecott Medalist Random House Studio Penguin Random House, LLC 2023 40 pages ISBN: 9780593484845 Remember is a poem by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo captured in full color illustrations by Michaela Goade. It is a poem of remembrance but more importantly, a tribute to the earth, the sky, and the universe which we are all a part of.  Animals have tribes and families and histories, so we should remember to, "Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems." Living poems! Aren't we all? It's a great me ..read more

 Dark Cloud by Anna Lazowski Illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee Kids Can Press 2023 32 pages  ISBN: 9781525306570 Abigail has a dark cloud that follows her everywhere. Sometimes it is a cloud or fog or a shadow, but everywhere she goes, the cloud is there. Everything she does, the cloud hangs about.  Illustrations by Penny Neville-Lee capture Abigail's feelings and mental outlook. When she goes to the library, she finds a book about a blue ocean and visits the beach afterwards. She traps her dark cloud in a sand castle. She realizes that she is not the only person who can have a ..read more

  In a Patch of Grass  by Fran Hodgkins Illustrated by Dan Tavis directed by Steven Spielbug starring David Antenborough Tilbury House Publishers  2023  32 pages  ISBN: 9780884484639 In a Patch of Grass is a clever "bugumentary" directed by Steven Spielbug and starring David Antborough. The two bug stars direct and narrate the makings of a small ecosystem populated by grasshoppers, ants, worms, spiders and other insects and creatures.  Steven Spielbug directs the action of each bug actor and David Antenborough hosts the film shoot until a nosy, friendly dog inte ..read more

  G Is for Gross A BabyLit Book  by Greg Paprocki Illustrated by the author  BabyLit 2023 32 pages  ISBN: 9781423664963 Hilarious illustrations and giggle-worthy text will delight both toddlers and adults. Author/illustrator Paprocki uses mid-century modern colorful illustrations in a throwback nod to cartoons and Mad Magazine comics.  Some of the gross whimsy included are: "D is for dirty diaper," "F is for fart," "O is for outhouse," and of course, "V is for vomit," In almost every page spread, characters are seen holding their nose, looking a little queasy, scre ..read more