Meet the Smushkins

February 3, 2026

Meet the Smushkins by Claudia Rueda
Published by Candlewick Press on 12/2/25
ISBN: 1536236586
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The Smushkins are adorable creatures who are looking for a house. They would like their house to have many things that young children would want in their house, like a wall they can paint on, a path that leads to a playground, and a bed perfect for bouncing. But most importantly, they want a house where they can all be together. The book ends with all of the Smushkins reading together in bed as they fall asleep.

This gentle picture book would be great for a caregiver to read with a child or for a toddler storytime. The text is simple and honors the wishes and dreams of the Smushkins because there are no adults to tell the Smushkins they can’t have what they want or that what they want is wrong. The illustrations add to the calm feeling of this book with its pastel color palette. Kids will love the large expressive eyes which add a touch of humor to the already subtly silly illustrations. This book is also available in Spanish.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

100 Goats and Granny!

February 2, 2026February 8, 2026

100 Goats and Granny! by Atinuke, Lauren Hinds
ISBN: 1536238767
Genres: Animals, Cultural / African American, Humor, Nursery Rhymes
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Granny’s got a goat! Granny’s got a goat!” This catchy refrain is the start of a gallivanting goat story by Atinuke. Our Granny character keeps collecting mischievous goats and causing chaos in the neighborhood. “Not one, not two, not three, not four, but more and more and more and more!” Granny makes her way up to 100 goats, with her very favorite one being number 100. They get into the aunties’ panties, the salon, and even into the wine collection. When goat number 100 goes missing and starts dancing in the street, Granny comes to scold the police officer for scaring her goat. Granny is highly respected in the community and leaves with her chin held high and her goat by her side, and they count all their goats once again.

A catchy counting book for learning up to 100. The rhymes are quite strained in places, making it a tricky read-aloud. The goats getting into wine and appearing drunk is borderline inappropriate for a nursery rhyme/counting book. Otherwise, it is delightfully silly with very engaging illustrations. Ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

Hockey in the Wild

January 31, 2026

Hockey in the Wild (Volume 7) (Life in the Wild, 7) by Nicholas Oldland
Series: Life in the Wild
Published by Kids Can Press on 2025
ISBN: 1525314238
Genres: Sports
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

This breezy, funny picture book celebrates the joys of pond hockey and friendship. Readers will be giggling at every visual joke played by the juxtaposition of the text and the illustrations from the opening pages when Beaver tests the weather conditions for his morning dip while sporting a Speedo, and finds that the lake has frozen over.

Beaver calls Bear and Moose and they all lace up to skate but the ice is too thin. Pond skaters will empathize with that interminable wait for the ice to thicken up enough for skating (and hockey) and the hilarious ways they entertain themselves in the meantime (competitive napping, karaoke, comfort food marathons) until the weather is perfect. But wait! Now they have to get into condition. Once that’s done, the friends are finally out on the ice enjoying skating and shooting on net until after dark and the story ends so satisfactorily, with the promise of more hockey to come.

Oldland’s energetic and entertaining collage-like cartoons capture the grace of hockey players in action (even if they’re actually woodland creatures) and will make many readers eager to lace up their skates.

Recommended for school and public libraries in any community where pond skating still happens.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

BALLy the Amazing Wonderball

January 29, 2026

BALLy the Amazing Wonderball by Jordan Morris
ISBN: 1525312626
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

BALLy the Amazing Wonderball is putting on a show tonight. Our narrator tells BALLy not to be nervous, even though the show is sold out to a group of dogs. “They seem very well-behaved. Just roll with it, okay?” The dogs must sign a contract to stay in their seats. When the ball performer rolls onto the stage, the dog audience cannot resist the temptation to run up and bite BALLy. One dog will not put BALLy down, and so the narrator has no choice but to unveil himself. He’s a squirrel! Chaos ensues and the squirrel runs to escape.

Though this book is very silly, the writing is lacking and tiresome. The illustrations are interesting and colorful, but the font is not ideal. Recommended for PreK-Early Elementary.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

Camping in the Wild

January 29, 2026

Camping in the Wild (Volume 8) (Life in the Wild, 8) by Nicholas Oldland
ISBN: 1525313630
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Humor, Nature, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Camping in the Wild is the eighth book in the “Life in the Wild” series featuring Bear, Moose, and Beaver. This book uses humor to teach important lessons on how to properly set up for a camping trip. When Bear, Moose, and Beaver arrive at their campsite, they are exhausted! Instead of securing their tent, and properly setting up their food, they jump in the lake and take naps–only to find that a storm is brewing. Their neglected campfire starts to spread and animals have gotten into their food. Worst of all, their tent has blown up into a tree. The friends are frustrated with the situation and with each other. How will they put their camping trip back on track?

This is a book that teaches an important lesson on how to be prepared in nature using humor and cute digital illustrations. Maine library patrons, students, and teachers could find this series, and especially this title, to be helpful for learning about camping. The last page includes an image of Bear, Moose, and Beaver urinating on the campfire to ensure the fire is out. This might not be appropriate for certain audiences. Recommended for ages 3-8.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

Enchanted Beach

January 25, 2026

Enchanted Beach by Emma Chinnery, Esther Freud
Published by Candlewick Press on 2025
ISBN: 1536243620
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

For families with a magical place they return to again and again, this book will resonate. Enchanted Beach is a story of a year in the life of a young family as they gather at the beach and appreciate big and small moments. Told in simple rhyming couplets — sometimes lovely (“Listen to the seabed roar, flutes and bells below the shore”) and occasionally clunky ( “Next year,” Mom says, “when you’re bigger.” “Next year,” Dad says, “in the summer.”) as the family celebrates and enjoys activities at Enchanted Beach through all the seasons.

The mixed media (watercolor, gouache, crayons) line drawings are charming and reflect the action in the text. The multi-generational family with grandparents, mother, father, and older sister, is pale skinned. The narrator is a small boy with light brown hair, wearing a red baseball hat or knit cap, depending on the season.

Not recommended as a story time read-aloud but Maine families will connect with the idea of visiting the shore no matter the weather and will appreciate the family’s seaside activities (crabbing, polar bear plunges, flying kites, etc) depicted in the appealing illustrations. For story times celebrating a life’s big and small moments, read A Year of Everyday Wonders (2020) by Cheryl Klein.

Recommended for school and public libraries.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

The Peddler of Puddles

January 25, 2026

The Peddler of Puddles: A Heartwarming Story About an Inventor, Friendship, and Home for Children (Ages 4-8) by Beth Ferry, Tom Lichtenheld
Published by HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks on April 8, 2025
ISBN: 0063318342
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The Peddler, an affable looking turtle, pushes his puddle-making machine (equal parts wheelbarrow and Rube Goldberg contraption) along, creating puddles that become homes and play areas for delighted animals in the forest and children wherever he goes. Everyone he assists is left happy and fulfilled and it seems the Peddler is too, sporting red rain boots, a fetching straw hat and a friendly smile.

The Peddler has many friends but a nomadic life that seems an unremarkable part of his job (peddlers seldom “(stay) in one place very long”). Then one day, the Peddler makes his way to the seashore, and is astonished by the sight of the ocean. There he meets a little girl with brown skin and brown hair in a polka dot swimsuit. She is sandy from head to foot, and the Peddler tries to assist. His puddles all disappear into the sand but no matter, the new friends go down to the water’s edge and enjoy the wonderful experience of playing in the waves.

When it’s time for the little girl to leave for home, the Peddler is despondent with the knowledge that he does not have a place to call his own. Ferry’s description and Lichtenheld’s illustrations work well together here to share the Peddler’s overwhelming feeling of being untethered and alone, as he tries and fails to push his puddle-making cart through the sand.

The Peddler has given up and sits defeated in the sand, when all the animals with whom he has shared his marvelous puddles, appear at the shoreline. They help him move his machine through the sand, and lead him back to the forest, where they have dug a large hole just right for a puddle-making contraption to turn into a pond and a home.

The Peddler dismantles the machine and converts it into a charming cabin, and the pond becomes a place for the Peddler and all his friends to share. Maine families will appreciate this sweet story that ends with the Peddler and all his friends swimming, playing cards, etc. at a pond and cabin that will remind many of “camp”. A gentle reminder that sometimes our friends might need something they don’t know they’re missing.

Recommended for school and public libraries.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

Little Red and Big, Bad Fred

January 24, 2026

Little Red and Big, Bad Fred by Ashley Belote
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593902432
Genres: Fairy Tale
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Follow big, bad Fred’s emotional growth journey from terrifying predator to snuggly best friend in this funny retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Fred is continually exasperated with Little Red, who first labels him a kitty, then obliviously thwarts all of Fred’s attack plans, all while showering the wolf with love. Fred’s frustration leads to confusion, acceptance, and finally love as he realizes how much Little Red adores him. This will be a hit with young fairy tale fans, and would be a fun read aloud choice.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

Lolly on the Ice

January 24, 2026

Lolly on the Ice by Sarah S. Brannen
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593711815
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Sports
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

As much as Lolly loves ice skating, the minute she gets in front of a crowd she shuts right down. After working up the muster to try out for a skating show, Lolly is disappointed that she gets cast as an unmoving snowman. When another skater hurts her ankle, Lolly steps up and gets her chance to shine as the skater she knows she can be.

Setting aside the discomfort of Lolly’s opportunity appearing thanks to another child’s injury, this book would be helpful for children who are feeling any kid of performance anxiety, or are worried about attempting something new.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

Oh No, Ojò

January 23, 2026

Oh No, Ojó! by Alaba Onajin
Published by Random House Studio on July 15, 2025
ISBN: 0593805720
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Ojò loves to draw and his mama thinks his drawings make their home a more beautiful place. Ojò needs to learn where he can color and where he can’t when his Papa brings him a new set of markers and Ojò thinks the walls make a wonderful canvas for his art and he draws everywhere in and around their home!
In their search for a solution big sister Oge brings him a pad of paper and Mama can hang his art on the walls.
Based on the author's own childhood.

Ages 4-6
Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.