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Spring 2026 Picture Books on My Radar

Spring 2026 Picture Books on My Radar

Spring 2026 Picture Books on My Radar

There’s something about springtime that draws me toward picture books. I don’t know if it’s the optimism or the cheery or soothing illustrations, or simply a hunger for art following the cold winter days. Whatever the reason, I am ready for some picture books to bring in the spring!

Not all of these titles are published in Spring 2026, but they are all on my reading list this month, so I’m sharing them all at once. There are a few nonfiction titles here that I found energizing as well as some sweet, uplifting stories and even an unusual alphabet book listing instruments from all over the world.

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

Spring 2026 Picture Books on My Radar

Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver
Sara Holly Ackerman
Illustrated by Naoko Stoop
Beach Lane Books
Published April 1, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

I heard about this book during the ALA awards announcements. I believe this title received a Stonewall Honor. The soothing color palette and beautiful images are filled with the forest creatures Oliver celebrated in her poems. The narrative highlights Mary Oliver’s love of nature and offers snippets of her life, including details about her partner, Molly. The backmatter has a more substantial biography for older elementary-aged readers. As a fan of Oliver’s poetry, I really enjoyed this one.

We Are American, Too
Kirsten Mei Chase
Illustrated by Jieting Chen
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
Published June 10, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

A family celebrates their history, honoring relatives who journeyed to the United States as they visit places important to their history. They end at a rally where other Asian Americans point out their own American experience and heritage. Mei shares her family’s history, reminding all the attendees that they are American, too. The illustrations are absolutely stunning in this bold, beautiful book. The characters’ faces are so expressive, and the message is so timely. Shelve this next to Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho.

Notre-Dame: The World’s Cathedral
Lynn Curlee
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

This informative text offers a look at the history of Notre-Dame Cathedral, including the 2019 fire and the long rebuilding process. Illustrations highlight the architecture and history of the building as well as its cultural significance. Bold colors make the illustrations pop and draw readers deeper into the world of the Cathedral. Backmatter also includes sources, a glossary, statistics, and interesting facts. A must-have for older elementary school-aged readers interested in French history or architecture.

Just One Oak: What a Single Tree Can Be
Maria Gianferrari
Illustrated by Diana Sudyka
Beach Lane Books
Published April 7, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

This adorable book offers a wealth of information about the ecosystem surrounding oak trees. Each illustration highlights one aspect of an oak tree’s role in the environment. Animals and insects in the illustrations are labeled. At the bottom of the page, a glossary term related to the image may be defined. Gianferrari has included so much information here, and it’s presented in such an accessible way. Readers will want to peruse each page before turning to the next. This is a perfect companion to a project or unit on seasons or the environment.

Saif’s Special Patches
Humera Malik
Illustrated by Ravan Sader
Soaring Kite Books
Published March 4, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

Saif’s mother makes a special patchwork quilt with pieces of shirts he wore on special days. As he ventures into new experiences, he wonders if today will be the day his mom adds a new patch to his quilt because he has learned something new. Though the adventures don’t always turn out the way Saif expects, his quilt reminds him that the experience and the memory matter more than performing a new activity perfectly the first time in this warm, inviting story.

Instruments of the World
Kricket Moros
Kricket Press
Published March 1, 2025

Amazon | Goodreads

This unusual alphabet book, written in verse, highlights instruments found all over the world. I love the bold illustrations and the fact that the author chose both familiar and unusual instruments to highlight here. This would easily benefit an elementary school music classroom or program, and young readers interested in music would enjoy it as well. My mom picked this up at a dulcimer conference earlier this year, and I’m really glad she passed this copy on to me. I’m excited to share it with the little musicians in my life.

From the Fields to the Fight: How Jessica Govea Thorbourne Organized for Justice
Angela Quezada Padron
Illustrated by Sol Salinas
Bloomsbury
Published April 15, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

I’m so excited to see this book on the shelf. It tells the story of a young girl who spoke up about injustice and pressed for change, even though it took years. This part of American history isn’t something we always highlight, but it’s so important. For kids to have stories like this, about leaders who made a difference, who began their work as children, is so powerful. The bright colors on each page emphasize the story’s urgency and draw attention to the expressive faces in the illustrations. I wish this had come out in time for Women’s History Month, but it publishes in plenty of time to add it to your Hispanic Heritage reading list.

I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy
Mychal Threets
Illustrated by Lorraine Nam
Random House
Published February 3, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

Is there anyone who brings more joy to readers than Mychal Threets? I haven’t caught the new episodes of Reading Rainbow yet, but I have followed him on social media for years and can’t imagine a better ambassador for books. This book is packed with cheerful illustrations and large-print text. It has just a line or two on each page, making it perfect for a read-aloud or beginning independent reader. It briefly highlights some activities and reasons someone might visit the library and encourages readers to get a library card.

What Picture Books Are on Your Radar?

Have you read any picture books lately that stood out to you as new favorites? What’s coming out soon that you’re looking forward to reading?

Review: One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram

One Word, Six Letters
Adib Khorram
Henry Holt & Co
Published March 17, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About One Word, Six Letters

Two teen boys grapple with identity and accountability and set off a ripple effect within their community after a school assembly is disrupted by a shouted slur.

Freshmen Dayton and Farshid couldn’t be more different—or so it seems.

When Dayton takes a dare and shouts the f-slur at a visiting author during a school event, it sets off a chain reaction that forces both boys to face parts of themselves they’d rather ignore.

Dayton, grappling with the fallout of his actions, faces rejection from his friends, disappointment from his parents, and a growing awareness of the harm he’s caused. Meanwhile, Farshid is left to untangle his own feelings—about himself and about the quiet struggle of coming to terms with his queerness in a world steeped in heteronormativity.

As their lives unexpectedly intersect, Dayton and Farshid must reckon with what kind of men they want to become and whether they have the courage to defy toxic masculinity and societal expectations.

Timely, raw, and deeply thought-provoking, this novel is perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone.

My Review

I think the way that the author chose to write this book is really interesting. First, it’s in second-person point of view (“You do this; you do that…”), which is an uncommon choice. Here, it really works to keep the narrative feeling immediate and to bring the reader as close to the story as possible. We are the protagonists, and the narrative never lets us forget that.

Additionally, the story alternates between Dayton and Farshid’s perspectives. We see both the circumstances that led Dayton to make a terrible choice and the harm that it causes.

I like that the story also highlights Farshid’s interest in boxing, a sport that not a lot of middle grade books explore. We also witness his battle with dysmorphia and how entangled that is with his identity and his fears about being outed.

I imagine it wasn’t easy to write Dayton’s perspective. While his viewpoint offers a deeper understanding into his behavior and his deep regret afterward, we are never asked to excuse what he did.

This is the kind of book that will start meaningful conversations about language and bullying and the harm that can come from using words carelessly. One Word, Six Letters is the first book by Adib Khorram that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
References to a slur. The slur itself never appears in the text.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to a crush.

Spiritual Content
References to faith and Muslim prayer practices.

Violent Content
References to a homophobic slur. Some homophobic comments and behavior. Bullying behavior.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: El Deafo by CeCe Bell

El Deafo
Cece Bell
Amulet Books
Published September 2, 2014

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About El Deafo

Starting at a new school is scary, even more so with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here she is different. She is sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends.

Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in school — in the hallway… in the teacher’s lounge… in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different… and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend?

This funny perceptive graphic novel memoir about growing up hearing impaired is also an unforgettable book about growing up, and all the super and super embarrassing moments along the way.

My Review

I read this book as part of a search for graphic novels for my littlest, who is seven and already beginning to read middle grade books. She loved this one. It brought up a few questions about what being Deaf means, which is great– it was a good thing to talk about. For the most part, she took the story at face value and easily engaged in the story about Cece’s quest for friends, her embarassment about the ways in which she is different, and her shyness about her first crush.

The writing has the perfect balance between kid sensibilities and adult reflection. There are a few scenes that made me laugh. The scenes captured how kids are but with a nod to the adults reading the book or acknowledging the irony or silliness of the situation from an adult perspective.

Cece discovers over and over that people react differently to her hearing aids and her hearing impairment than she expected. Sometimes this is annoying, as with her friend Ginny, who overpronounces everything and refers to Cece as her “deaf friend.” At other times, this is a welcome difference, like when her classmates learn about Cece’s ability to hear where her teacher is at all times.

This is one of those books that I hope finds its way into classrooms everywhere. I really enjoyed the smart, poignant writing. The illustrations are charming, with a simplicity that keeps the focus on Cece’s emotional journey. I loved this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 7 to 10.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
One instance of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Cece has a crush on a boy in her neighborhood.

Spiritual Content
Cece imagines herself as a superhero named El Deafo. Her superhero alter ego can bravely confront others who make her sad or uncomfortable.

Violent Content
One panel shows a dog biting a girl’s lower leg while she frowns. Another shows a girl hit in the face with a stick. She covers her eye with one hand, but there’s blood on her face.

Drug Content
One mom smokes cigarettes. One scene shows moms with wine glasses.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. All opinions are my own.

February 2026 Reading Recap

February 2026 Reading Recap

LOL. After a couple of months of perfectly timed recap posts, here I am, nearing the end of March, finally looking back at what I read in February. Falling behind was bound to happen eventually.

February was a busy month. I ended up starting a new job, which has required some reorganizing in the other areas of my life. It’s been really cool, though. Prior to this, I worked primarily from home doing freelance writing. This puts me in an office and in connection with a lot of people for 10-15 hours per week. The change in what’s required of me in terms of social energy has taken some time to acclimate to, but I find I really enjoy the work. I’m also enjoying connecting with new people.

I still managed to do some reading in February, though I think more of it was graphic novels and audiobooks than usual. Still counts!

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

February 2026 Reading Recap

The Lion’s Run by Sarah Pennypacker

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I love when authors examine a familiar moment in history (World War II) and then hone in on a part of it that is less frequently explored. I learned so much from the author’s note in this book. This is an incredibly compelling story that I didn’t want to put down until I’d read the last page.

Published February 3, 2026 | My Review


Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I am always a fan of a story about a magical carnival, and this one was no exception. The friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope also hooked me pretty easily here.

Published February 3, 2026 | My Review


Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I’ve heard about this book for years, and I’m so glad I finally got a chance to read it. I love the voice in this one. It’s very conversational. The framing of this as a story told to her grandparents during a road trip works really well here. I am a fan.

Published October 6, 2009 | My Review to Come


The Poisoned King (Impossible Creatures #2) by Katherine Rundell

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I enjoyed Impossible Creatures (despite the death of a favorite character), so I was excited to continue the series with this new adventure. I loved seeing more of the characters from the first book, and the new characters were amazing as well.

Published September 11, 2025 | My Review to Come


Legendborn (Legendborn #1) by Tracy Deonn

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This series has been on my reading list for years. I love the way that Deonn uses the King Arthur legends here and connects the story to southern culture and history in the US. I’m eager to see where the series goes.

Published September 15, 2020 | My Review


City Spies: Forbidden City (City Spies #3) by James Ponti

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I’m thoroughly hooked on this series at this point. I love how the stories rotate through the cast of characters. Each book centers a specific mystery while revealing clues to a larger story. It’s a lot of fun.

Published February 1, 2022 | My Review to Come


Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I found the back cover copy of this book a little confusing, but once I got into the story, the magic system and societal issues/norms made more sense. I think it’s one of those that’s hard to describe in a few paragraphs. I thought going in that this would be a standalone, but I’m looking forward to seeing where the series heads next.

Published February 3, 2026 | My Review


I’m Still Here: Loving Myself in a World Not Made for Me (Adapted for Young Readers) by Austin Channing Brown

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I’m not the target audience for this book, but I so appreciate its message. I think taking time to listen and think about the author’s experience as a Black student and professional is important. Some of the things she talked about were familiar ideas, but others gave me more to think about. I have a feeling I’ll return to this book again in the future.

Published April 4, 2023 | My Review


This Wretched Beauty: A Dorian Gray Remix by Elle Grenier

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: My only complaint is that I wish I’d read the original story before reading this. I suspect it would have given me a larger context for some of the scenes here. That said, I found this to be a really compelling novel and an interesting take on the original premise. A nice addition to the Remixed Classic series.

Published February 10, 2026 | My Review


Chris Makes a Friend by Alex Gino

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I love Alex Gino’s books, so it was a given I’d read this one. Their books are always so wise. I love that the stories make space for the character to experience and work out their feelings without the author intruding to judge them. I also love the reading list the story creates, and that appears in the backmatter.

Published November 4, 2025 | My Review to Come


Table Titans Club: Sneak Attack by Scott Kurtz

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This adorable summer camp story had me from its first pages. The tabletop references and gameplay scenes are such a great nod to DnD and other tabletop games. It’s such a fun story, especially for readers interested in summer camp stories.

Published March 10, 2026 | My Review


Serendipity by Gabbie Benda

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This graphic novel is sneaky in the best way. It’s a quirky, fun story that explores what to do when you overcommit and how to set boundaries and expectations. It explores these topics with humor and charm, making this one entertaining, thoughtful experience.

Published February 10, 2026 | My Review


Korobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo by Àlàbá Ònájìn

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I love that the author wrote a mystery set in a Nigerian town to show kids elsewhere what life is like. The mystery is well-paced, and the story’s cultural elements are accessible.

Published February 24, 2026 | My Review


Chernobyl, Life and Other Disasters by Yevgenia Nayberg

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Fans of Eugene Yelchin will not want to miss this sharply observant, artistic memoir set in Kyiv during the Chernobyl disaster. The humor runs a little bit dark, but still totally appropriate for the audience. I highly recommend this one.

Published April 14, 2026 | My Review to Come


The Greenies by Emma Mills

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I’ve loved novels by Emma Mills, so I was really curious to see how her writing translated to this story format. Turns out, it translates beautifully! This tale is packed with rich relationships and memorable characters. I’m eager to read more of this series.

Published March 3, 2026 | My Review


A Better World is Possible by Meera Subramanian

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Part memoir, part informational guide, this book introduces readers to the climate crisis and the work of some remarkable young people and organizations. The hopeful tone and encouraging information about getting involved will energize more people to help.

Published March 3, 2026 | My Review


Postscript by Cory McCarthy

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: It’s been a while since I’ve read McCarthy’s writing, so I forgot how incredible it is. Omg I ate this book up in one night. The story is beautifully written. Fans of They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran will not want to miss this one.

Published February 17, 2026 | My Review


Bloodmarked (Legendborn #2) by Tracy Deonn

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I am continuing to read the Legendborn Cycle, so this one was up next. It’s a long book, and a little slower-paced than the first. We do get a lot of background information on how the Legendborn group’s leadership operates and how racism and the allure of power have warped the institution. I still want to read the third book, so look for that in the coming monthly wraps!

Published November 8, 2022 | My Review to Come


The Dragon’s Apprentice (The Dragon’s Apprentice #1) by James Riley

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I picked this book up at a book sale recently, and my daughter and I read it together. She really enjoyed the playful humor and the relationship between Ciara and Scorch, the dragon. She wants to continue the series, but we don’t have the second book yet.

Published April 1, 2025 | My Review to Come


What did you read in February 2026?

What books were on your February 2026 reading list? I’d love to hear about them. Have you read any of the titles I listed? Leave a comment and let me know if you enjoyed them.

Review: Sidequested by Ale Presser and K.B. Spangler

Sidequested: Book 1
Ale Presser
Illustrated by K. B. Spangler
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Published March 17, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Sidequested: Book 1

The course of true love never did run straight…For fans of The Owl House and Critical Role comes the first volume in the lighthearted and epic adventure SideQuested!

Magic makes the world go ’round, but no one in Charlie Goldskin’s world knows precisely where magic comes from. This isn’t Charlie’s problem. She’s the adopted daughter of a woodcarver and is training to be a librarian. It’ll be a quiet life, but that’s fine with Charlie as magic is summoned through conflict and she would like to avoid that, thank you very much!

Then her birth father shows up to take her from her village and bring her to the King’s court.

Prince Leopold is gifted in the noble arts of diplomacy and combat, but he’s never met anyone like Charlie. Falling in love with her wouldn’t be an issue, except he’s already engaged, and his fiancée is the daughter of a very powerful evil witch. Charlie, panicking, decides to break the news to Princess Robin…but then she finds love at first sight, too. To resolve this love triangle, the teens are sent on a quest to discover the source of magic! So much for Charlie’s plans for a quiet life…

My Review

This was so much fun to read! I love that it starts out as if an NPC (non-playing character) has gone on a quest in a tabletop adventure. The early scenes especially seemed to harken back to role-playing game rules and expectations. I loved the playfulness of that approach, and the fact that the first other character Charlie meets is a vulture who thinks Charlie is about to be eaten.

The story takes some common fairytale tropes and turns them upside down while still delivering stakes and great characters. I’m a huge fan of this book. It looks like it began as a webcomic, and now I even want to look that up and find out more about that, too.

Dungeons and Dragons fans and readers who enjoy upbeat fantasy graphic novels will not want to miss this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Romantic tension between characters.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can do magic. Some animals can talk. Dragons exist.

Violent Content
Situations of peril.

Drug Content
An adult character drinks wine.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

MMGM Review: Hafsa’s Way by Aisha Saeed

Hafsa’s Way
Aisha Saeed
Nancy Paulsen Books
Published March 10, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Hafsa’s Way

In this inspiring stand-alone companion to New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound , Hafsa defies her family’s patriarchal expectations by pursuing her dreams and insisting that her married sister pursue hers.

Hafsa intends to be a doctor one day, so she’s thrilled to be accepted into Bukhari Summer Science Camp for kids who share her dream. Her parents, however, do not share her enthusiasm. They don’t support the idea of girls being doctors, the camp is expensive, and they don’t want to send her off to the big city of Lahore unsupervised. But when her brother-in-law offers to pay, and he and her sister invite her to stay at their house instead of in the dorms, her parents grudgingly give in.

Hafsa couldn’t be more excited, but things get off to a shaky start when it immediately becomes apparent that she accidentally signed up for the wrong program. And since she’s the only one not staying in the dorms, her fellow students treat her like an outsider—and a country bumpkin. On top of all that, she’s worried about her sister, who seems to have set aside her own career goals to please her in-laws.

But Hafsa’s way is to forge ahead, whether that means finding ways to pursue her medical studies, immersing herself in the climate studies program, or taking a pivotal field trip to the zoo—where an encounter with an elephant leads to several unexpected outcomes. It’s not easy to negotiate being part of a community—and a family—that doesn’t support her dreams, but Hafsa’s never been the type to take no for an answer. She’s determined to grab any chance she can for a better future, no matter what the odds are stacked against her.

My Review

I had no idea where this story was headed as I read the first few chapters. Hafsa has big ideas, and I love that there were people in her life who supported her dreams. I like that her dreams shifted a little bit as the story progressed, too. That feels very relatable to me, and definitely something that seems relatable to a lot of young readers.

The story includes many different types of characters. I think readers who aren’t very familiar with life in Pakistan will appreciate that. Some scenes showed Hafsa with her family in their small town. Other scenes showed Hafsa walking through a big city. Still others showed her experiencing a privileged life in a fancy house with hired help.

Yet, in all those places, she faces different kinds of challenges. Some of the girls at the camp were less invested in the curriculum than she was. Others were even more interested. Hafsa made judgments about some of the people she met. She had to reevaluate those ideas as she learned more about each person.

I also really appreciated the relationship between Hafsa and her older sister. While Shabnam’s life was more complicated than Hafsa realized, she still felt a strong connection to her sister, and a desire to see her sister happy. I like that the story made them consider each other’s perspectives more, and to lean into one another’s strengths.

One thing that’s interesting to me is how gradually the plight of the elephant emerges as a central component of the story. At first, Hafsa doesn’t even realize she’s made this connection with the animal. That relationship grows as the story moves forward.

I also really appreciate that the effort to help the elephant wasn’t limited to Hafsa’s labor. What made the experience so powerful was that it brought to fruition all the relationships that Hafsa had invested in throughout the story. It celebrated the power of community and working together.

The author’s note at the back of the book relates the real-life story that inspired Hafsa’s Way. I love the book even more knowing that it was inspired by real events. If you liked The Elephant’s Girl by Celesta Rimington or The Boy Who Met a Whale by Nizrana Farook, be sure to check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Hafsa spends time at her newly married sister’s house and watches her sister interact with her new husband. She hears them laugh, sees them hug one another, and is glad they’re happy.

Spiritual Content
References to Muslim prayer practices.

Violent Content
A devastating storm sweeps through the town where Hafsa is staying, damaging buildings and homes. Some people are left carrying belongings through floodwaters.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.