Spring 2025 Picture Books On My Radar
Spring is here, and the time when my littlest prefers picture books feels shorter than ever. She still brings them home from the library at school, but when she can, she prefers chapter books or graphic novels these days.
While I still have the chance, these are some titles I’m looking forward to snuggling up to read with her. She has pretty wide-ranging taste, as you can see from this short list. There are some books about history as well as social experiences and relationships.
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. Thanks go out to Simon & Schuster and Bloomsbury for sharing these titles with me.
Spring 2025 Picture Books On My Radar
A Cup of Quiet
Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson
Bloomsbury
Published April 15, 2025
This charming story follows a grandmother and child through a garden, where they share an imaginative experience gathering garden sounds to fill Grandma’s “cup of quiet.” This story gently teaches about the need for quiet and a creative way to appreciate nature and its sounds as one recharges with a cup of tea. A perfect celebration of the relationship between grandparents and children.
Maybe Just Ask Me
Katie Mazeika (Author/Illustrator)
Beach Lane Books
Published April 22, 2025
When wild rumors spread about why Mazie wears an eyepatch, she looks for the courage to set the record straight and bring the conversation about her disability into the open. This smart, uplifting story based on the author’s childhood experiences reminds readers that it’s okay to acknowledge differences and that they’re worth celebrating.
Are You a Friend of Dorothy?
Kyle Lukoff
Illustrated by Levi Hastings
Simon & Schuster BFYR
Published April 29, 2025
An award-winning author and celebrated illustrator join forces to tell the story behind the question, “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” This vibrant book introduces readers to a time when people had to hide who they were and the clever way they used to forge a community anyway. I love that a children’s book shares this incredible history with the next generation.
Where Are You, Brontë?
Tomie dePaola
Illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Simon & Schuster BFYR
Published May 6, 2025
Celebrated children’s book author Tomie dePaola shares this poignant story about the life and loss of his beloved dog in his final completed book. The simple story recounts special moments from Brontë’s life and the author’s reaction to those memories. It’s such a sweet, heartfelt book. I wouldn’t limit sharing this with kids experiencing loss, though it would be comforting then, too.
The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei
Jeanne Walker Harvey
Illustrated by Khao Le
Simon & Schuster BFYR
Published May 27, 2025
This book bridges the space between the biography of an architect and the beautiful building he created. The illustrations connect the construction of the Louvre Museum with Pei’s idea process in beautiful pictures. There’s a little more text on each page, so this is a great book to share with first- or second-grade readers. Backmatter is filled with rich information on some elements mentioned in the book, the architectural problems Pei had to solve during building, for instance. I could see aspiring architects or kids who love history really getting into this one.
What Spring 2025 Picture Books Are On Your Radar?
Do you read picture books? I find that I still pick them up now and then, even if just at the library or while I’m browsing at a bookstore. It’s fun to see how the book’s text and illustrations come together to be more than the sum of their parts. If you still follow picture book releases, what books are on your radar this season? Let me know what you’re looking forward to so I can add it to my list!
