Format: Picture Book Fiction

The Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the Story

The Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the StoryThe Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the Story by Brian Biggs, Kate Messner
ISBN: 0063372622
Genres: Animals, Humor, Informational, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction, Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a unique picture book that can be read from front to back, and then back to front. On the first reading, the Whale’s character is humorously boasting true facts about whales in comparison to otters. When you reach the end of the book, it instructs to read it backwards to hear the Otter’s side of the story. The text cleverly turns the boasted information around to make the Otter’s facts appear in favor to the Whale.

This wordplay makes this a fun read-aloud to kids, who will also learn real facts about both species. However, the wordplay makes the actual read-aloud somewhat stilted, and ruins any sort of fluidity of story-telling. Overall good, children will enjoy the humor. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

The Language of Birds

The Language of BirdsThe Language of Birds by Jon-Erik Lappano, Zach Manbeck
ISBN: 0593806654
Genres: Animals, Nature, Realistic Fiction, School
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The Language of Birds is a touching story about Mira, a girl who has since birth, loved birds. In contrast to the busy and chaotic word around her, her gentle nature and soft bird sounds attracted doves, starlings, and other little songbirds. Her gift allowed her to understand birds completely, but made it more difficult to relate to the other children around her.

When Jad, a new boy at her school, has difficulty speaking, Mira wishes she could be brave enough to try to start a conversation. She loves watching him draw trees with chalk at recess. Together, their love of birds and trees merge harmoniously, without the need of words. Mira draws birds in Jad’s chalk trees and he smiles at her contribution.

This is a special story about two kids with individual differences who find each other amidst the trickiness of everyday social life. Zach Manbeck’s illustrations really make this a beautiful story with his use of earth-tones and warm chalk-style art. Recommended for ages 4-8 and school and public library picture book collections. (2025)

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

four-stars

Saguaro

SaguaroSaguaro by Gaby D'Alessandro, Laekan Zea Kemp
Published by Neal Porter Books on 10/13/26
ISBN: 0823459748
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In this picture book, Abuelo teaches a boy about the miracle of the saguaro cactus, the giants on the family ranch that started as a small seed.  Readers are transported to the desert by the prominently peach and pink digital illustrations, the intermittent use of Spanish words, and the mixture of folklore and scientific facts about the saguaro cactus.  As Abuelo shares interesting facts about the saguaro, the unnamed boy starts to understand the connection he has with his family through these plants that have seen multiple generations.  Just like the cactus, the boy and his family have been on this land for a long time and are continuing to grow and thrive.  Backmatter includes more information about the saguaro cactus, including the importance to the local indigenous people.  This book would be a great addition to any library serving elementary students, as it offers a glimpse into the beliefs of those living in the Sonoran Desert as well as cool facts about the saguaro kids will enjoy learning.  This book is also available in Spanish.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten

The Day My Mom Came to KindergartenThe Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten by Maureen Fergus, Mike Lowery
on March 1, 2013
ISBN: 152531565X
Genres: School, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

This is a paperback reissue of a 2013 title. A humorous spin on the important social emotional learning that happens in kindergarten. Our narrator is a kindergartener who loves school, but things take a zany turn when she invites her mom to join her in the classroom for the day. And while you might think that a kindergarten alum like a mom would know just how to behave, it turns out that this mom has forgotten the basics: she speaks out of turn, cuts in line, and runs inside in her outdoor shoes, among other embarrassing transgressions. Our narrator is horrified, but gentle in her corrections of Mom’s behavior: “I’m sorry, Mom, but…” or “Don’t worry. Everyone makes mistakes at first.” After a quick check in with her teacher, the two decide to give Mom a bit more time to get used to the kindergarten rules, and she does make some improvements by the end of the day. Ultimately, though, Mom decides to stick to a job that plays to her strengths. Our narrator has a kind suggestion: “you’re really good at being a mom, Mom.” Lowery’s child-like illustrations amplify the humor, and select typography emphasizes Mom’s wrongdoings. VERY EMBARRASSING! A fun Freaky Friday where the kid gently and kindly guides the parent through their misbehavior. Main characters read as white.

Reviewed by Carolyn Gallmeyer, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta

Yeti is not Ready for Game Over

Yeti is not Ready for Game OverYeti Is Not Ready for Game Over by Leigh Anne Carter
ISBN: 059380810X
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Family, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Yeti is SO CLOSE to winning the snow cone chef game that she’s been playing on her tablet. She just can’t find the right flavor to please a picky snowman. She keeps getting interrupted for daily tasks (like eating meals and doing chores) – and then it’s GAME OVER and she loses! With some encouragement from her dad, she takes a break from the game and plays outside with her friend, Mira. During the time spent with her friend, Yeti finds the inspiration she needs to go back and win the game she was playing. After a while on her tablet, she also gets to enjoy some screen free time with her dad (he even puts down his phone!). Next time, when it’s “game over,” Yeti will be ready. This fun picture book is ready to meet kids and parents where they are at – acknowledging that screens and games are often a daily part of life, but showing that it can also be great to take a break once in a while. The digital illustrations are colorful and reminiscent of a video game. Recommended for ages 4 to 7 (Pre-K to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Duck & Goose: Honk! Quack! Boo!

Duck & Goose: Honk! Quack! Boo!Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo!: A Halloween Story with Fun Stickers by Tad Hills
Genres: Animals, Picture book/animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Duck and Goose are back – and learning all about trick or treating! Goose hardly recognizes Duck dressed up as a ghost. Their friend, Thistle, keeps her costume a secret, but advises to watch out for the swamp monster. When Duck and Goose head out trick or treating, a friendly Owl says that the swamp monster is looking for them! Will they hide from the swamp monster, bravely scare the swamp monster away, or learn that the swamp monster is actually a friend in disguise? This sweet Halloween story includes colorful illustrations and beloved characters. Originally published in 2017. Recommended for ages 4 to 7 (Pre-K to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

So Many Questions

So Many QuestionsSo Many Questions: A Picture Book about Family, Immigration, and the US Citizenship Test for Kids (Ages 4-8) by Belen Medina, Heidi Moreno
ISBN: 0063258951
Genres: Cultural / Latin America, Family Life, Immigrants
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Sandwiched between 128 practice questions and their answers is Belen Medina’s sweet story of a girl who helps her abuela study for the US citizenship test and ultimately become a citizen. Anita is always ready to help her abuela, whether at home, in the neighborhood, at the market, or even at the bakery. Wherever they go, she peppers her grandmother with practice questions for the US citizenship test – and Abuela answers every single one correctly. These are the same questions that readers can pore over in the endpapers of the book, which opens with 128 real USCIS practice questions for the citizenship test, and concludes with the corresponding answers. Finally, Abuela is ready to take the test, going in to the interview alone. Here Medina (Emilia Wishing, 2026) includes the lightest of indications that the process of becoming a US citizen is not always quite as straightforward and fair as answering test questions correctly, as Anita worries that Abuela’s accent will be scrutinized by her interviewer. “’Speak English please,’ others often instruct Abuela.”

But today fairness and persistence prevail! Abuela passes, and the glistening tears in her eyes effectively show the emotional weight of this moment. Heidi Moreno’s gentle rounded illustrations created from guache, colored pencils, and wax crayon underscore the sweetness of Anita and Abuela’s bond and the warmth of this major milestone. The author’s note and dedication reveal that the story is inspired by Medina’s grandmother, who became a US citizen after living in the states for 50 years. Spanish words are scattered throughout, indicating that the family is Latine. A warm hug celebrating persistence, family, and citizenship. A fantastic pairing with Leo’s First Vote by Christina Soontornvat and Some of Us by Rajani Larocca.

Reviewed by Carolyn Gallmeyer, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta

four-stars

Sage and the Snowshoe Express

Sage and the Snowshoe ExpressSage and the Snowshoe Express by Louise Bradford, Maya McKibbin
ISBN: 1525312960
Genres: Cultural / First Nations, Cultural / Indigenous, Family, Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Sage and the Snowshoe Express by Louise Bradford, member of the Batchewana First Nation, is a picture book that honors the author’s ancestor, an Indigenous mail carrier. In a time when there were few threads binding together disparate villages of northern Canada, mail carriers didn’t just deliver letters and packages; they kept families and loved ones connected, even in the darkness of northern winters. When her father leaves a package behind on his mail run, young Sage races into the woods after him to deliver it. By the time she catches up, a storm is threatening and she cannot go back. Sage must brave the dark and dangerous journey alongside her father and beloved sled dog Nimoosh.

Illustrations by Maya McKibbin are warm and engaging, deftly toggling comic moments with dangerous ones. Sage and her father feel like the kinds of people you might meet anywhere, yet they demonstrate the kind of wisdom and determination that feels extraordinary.

Recommended for school and public libraries, and a delightful addition to any unit dealing with Canada, northern climates, First Nations and Indigenous Peoples, community, or the bond between fathers and daughters.

Reviewed by Beth Almquist, Lewiston Public Library

four-stars

Free to Fly

Free to FlyFree to Fly: A Tender Picture Book about Native Resilience, Grandparent Love, and Dreams That Span Generations by Karina Iceberg, Steph Littlebird
Published by HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks on 2026
ISBN: 0063254905
Genres: Cultural / Native American, Family, History
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Free to Fly is a picture book that conveys the lasting trauma that Indian boarding schools had on the Alutiit people, who live on the coast of what is now called Alaska. A child, Qal, visits her Apaa (grandfather) who is a survivor of the schools. He is spending time in his treehouse–where he goes to recover when he is feeling the heaviness of the past. As he tells his story, he uses ravens, eagles, cages, and flight as metaphors for identity, oppression, forced assimilation, and freedom. Apaa imagines a safe nest within him that allows him to heal, have dreams, and hope again, despite the suffering of the past. He dreams of a future where he has a grandchild, just like Qal. The watercolor artwork is structured with bold lines that bring both the dreaminess of memories and the present day together. Younger readers would benefit from an adult to help guide a discussion and answer questions. This would be a fantastic book for upper elementary and middle grade readers to get a window into Alutiit culture, and to begin to understand the history of the colonization of North America. The Author’s Note at the end gives more detailed historical context and there is an Alutiiq (the language) glossary and pronunciation guide at the end of the book. This is a five-star, cream of the crop nominee. 

Reviewed by Antona Briley, Librarian, Dora Small School, South Portland

five-stars

A Room With a View

Published by Harper on May 26, 2026
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure, Emotions & Feelings, Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
four-stars

Young Oliver is reluctantly pulled into yet another camping trip because Mama’s decided it’s time for their next big outdoor adventure. Oliver is determined not to enjoy this trip and to make this adventure his last. But he begins reflecting on the moments he does enjoy, especially spending time with his mom. Mesquita’s strikingly colored illustrations with fun details depict the hiking/camping adventure in the unnamed southwest national park. Oliver and Mama are brown-haired and tan-skinned. There is an Author’s Note about national parks and a list of National Parks by state in the back of the book along with “Oliver’s tips for adventuring like a pro.” Recommended for ages 4-8.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars