Format: Picture Book Fiction

Night Flight

Night FlightNight Flight by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, David Barclay Moore
Published by Candlewick Press on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 1536223263
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

As a little boy is tucked snugly into bed for the night in his safe, warm home, sleep continues to escape him. He’s missing his dads who are out for an evening together. As he stares groggily out the window into the winter evening his imagination soars bringing to him a pterosaur, like the mobile in his room, to fly him out over the nighttime city scenes until they come home to him.

Gorgeous illustrations bring to life this story. We are at once cozy at home and also out on an almost mystical nighttime journey.

4-9 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Wiggling Words

Wiggling WordsWiggling Words: Loving Language with Dyslexia by Kate Rolfe
Published by Candlewick on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 1536244554
Genres: Learning Disabilities
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Learning to read can be a challenge for anyone.This book focuses on a child learning to read with dyslexia. We follow along as they work through their book, anxious to find out the ending. They struggle and work doggedly, focusing on how they best deal with words seemingly piled on a page in front of them until they achieve success!
The illustrations are just as powerful, if not more so than the words, bringing the emotion our main character is feeling to us as we read his story. This is an important book to allow kids to feel seen and raise understanding among others.

4-9 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Floor It!

Floor It!Floor It! by Bex Tobin Fine, Federico Fabiani
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593904990
Genres: Adventure, Babies/Infants
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Preschoolers, kindergartners, and/or anyone who has a crawling sibling will enjoy this fast-paced, rhyming, picture book chronicling a baby’s quadrupedal race across the house. Wearing a helmet for good measure, the baby explores it all while we get to enjoy seeing the house and family from their perspective. The illustrations are fun, the race car themed rhymes flow nicely, and the momentum stays strong throughout. All family members are described in nonbinary terms (i.e., sibling, they/them, parent).  A great choice for story time.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Found Things

The Found ThingsThe Found Things by Petr Horáček
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 153624130X
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Follow Rabbit as she searches for a missing sock, only to be excited by what she finds in unlikely places (her scarf in the bathtub, for example). Assisted by friends, she is reunited with the sock, having thoroughly enjoyed the search process.

Vivid, scribbly illustrations and cute cut-out windows that tie each page to the next add to the joy of this picture book for young children. We can all relate to losing something we need, and it’s a nice approach to reframe it as an opportunity to delight in whatever else might we find during the search.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Yours, Mine, Ours

Yours, Mine, OursYours, Mine, Ours: A Celebration of Service and Community by Andrés Landazábal, Arun Gandhi, Bethany Hegedus
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233447
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Channeling his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi, the late author Arun Gandhi created a partner to his 2023 book You, Me, We: A celebration of peace and community.  This new book is a great introduction to community service and, while the text is simple, it is largely question-based, with each page offering plenty of opportunity for discussion. The illustrations are bright and happy, and help to show how fulfilling volunteering to support one’s community can be. An excellent choice for any classroom or family preparing to participate in any form of public service.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Bear and Bird: The Cave and Other Stories

Bear and Bird: The Cave and Other StoriesBear and Bird: The Cave and Other Stories by Jarvis
ISBN: 1536239429
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Children's Beginning Readers, Short Stories
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Bear and Bird: The Cave and Other Stories

Author/Illustrator: Jarvis

This book of 4 short stories is book 6 in the Bear and Bird series by Jarvis. Bear and Bird are best friends. They sometimes misunderstand one another, but they ultimately want to make each other smile.  Their humorous endearing mix-ups are reminiscent of another unlikely pair of friends, Mo Willem’s Piggie and Gerald. This book is for ages 5-9 and is a great bridge book between picture books and chapter books. The illustrations are charming in their simplicity and whimsy.

5 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Library, Jay

five-stars

The Greedy Wolf

The Greedy WolfThe Greedy Wolf by Jean Jullien, Timothy Knapman
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536240699
Genres: Folklore, Humor, Suspense
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

A humorous adaptation of a classic tale starts with a very hungry wolf knocking on the door of a family of goats. The mother has left her ten baby goats alone in the house, and the wolf is impatient to get inside to eat them up. When the goats let him in, he is surprised at the amount of food the goats have cooked up. “Try my pizza! Try my pasta! Try my cake!” When the wolf goes to eat a goat, he’s stuffed with the baked goods from the goats instead. He’s eventually too full to eat the goats, and then it is revealed that it is the goats who want to eat HIM! Kids will undoubtably enjoy this book despite the far-fetched plot. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath 

three-stars

A Fall Day for Bear

A Fall Day for BearA Fall Day for Bear (Bear and Mouse) by Bonny Becker, Kady MacDonald Denton
ISBN: 1536229490
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Bear and mouse are back and headed out to enjoy a picnic on a nice fall day. The only problem? Mouse (who is usually quite upbeat) is really sad about the changing seasons, and about the leaves, birds, and flowers leaving. Concerned for Mouse, Bear steps out of his typical curmudgeonly role, doing everything he can think of to cheer up his friend. The pair get wet from the rain, and find some laughs slipping and sliding through mud puddles. Wonderfully messy, the friends head home for warm baths, and tea, pickles, and cookies by the fire. The watercolor illustrations are warm and soft, like a beautiful fall day. This story would be a good tool to explore feelings of sadness, expressing feelings, empathy, and friendship. Recommended for ages 4 to 7 (Pre-K to 1st grade).

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

four-stars

Gather Grateful

Gather GratefulGather Grateful by Alexandra Finkeldey, Megan Litwin
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233382
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Nature, Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Lyrical prose welcome the arrival of autumn and a season of thanksgiving. As fall progresses, animals begin gathering items—squirrels their acorns, crows their treasures, raccoons and skunks hunker down for warmth and affection. Likewise families gather for sharing of food, stories, and thanksgiving.

With poetic prose, Megan Litwin follows the transition of animals and humans as they prepare for the coming winter. Alexandra Finkeldey’s striking limited palette captures the preparations both outside and in, although some illustrations are quite dark which may make this a troublesome readaloud. The family is an extended interracial family, and it is free of references to specific holidays, making it suitable for all readers.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Elmore and the Christmas Rescue

Elmore and the Christmas RescueElmore and the Big Christmas Rescue (Elmore the Moose) by Dev Petty, Mike Boldt
Series: Elmore the Moose #2
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers ISBN: 0593518055
Genres: Animals, Holiday, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Elmore the Moose is back for book 2. This time Santa Claus falls sick a week before Christmas, and Mrs. Claus sends him on vacation leaving Elmore in charge. Elmore finds it harder than he thought so writes Santa for advice. Santa helps Elmore grow into his new role. On Christmas Eve, Elmore takes the reins  to deliver presents before Santa’s return to the North Pole.

The story is a bit chaotic much like the accompanying artwork making it quite humorous. The letters exchanged between Elmore and Santa are the true gems in this story. Children will learn about problem-solving and that there is more than one way of doing things at the North Pole. This book will make a fun readaloud for 4-7 year olds.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

four-stars