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Spring 2026 Picture Books on My Radar

Spring 2026 Picture Books on My Radar

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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: Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu

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Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World
Pénélope Bagieu
First Second
Published March 6, 2018

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About Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World

2019 Eisner Award Winner for Best U.S. Edition of International Material

Throughout history and across the globe, one characteristic connects the daring women of Brazen: their indomitable spirit.

With her characteristic wit and dazzling drawings, celebrated graphic novelist Pénélope Bagieu profiles the lives of these feisty female role models, some world famous, some little known. From Nellie Bly to Mae Jemison or Josephine Baker to Naziq al-Abid, the stories in this comic biography are sure to inspire the next generation of rebel ladies.

My Review

This is such a fun collection! The women featured in the book come from all over the world and include a diverse spectrum of accomplishments from science to the arts to politics. Some faces and stories will probably be familiar to readers if they’ve read much about women’s history before. Other faces and stories may be completely unfamiliar.

I enjoyed learning bits of history with Bagieu’s signature humor and quick wit. Some of the panels had me absolutely cracking up. In the story of Chinese Emperor Wu Zetian, one panel relates that she caught recognition for taming what was thought to be an untamable horse. The expression on the horse’s face in that panel had me in stitches.

This collection is perfect for celebrating women’s history. It could also serve as a great starting point for someone wanting to learn more about contributions women have made to the world. Bagieu’s smart illustrations and the clever narrative accompanying them are so engaging. I highly recommend it.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Profanity used very sparingly.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to marriage and romantic partnership. Reference to a woman speaking plainly about her sexual experiences and feelings. Reference to a girl in danger of being abused by a stepparent.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril.

Drug Content
Reference to drinking alcohol.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

Review: Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout

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Song of a Blackbird
Maria van Lieshout
First Second
Published January 21, 2025

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About Song of a Blackbird

Fictionalized but based on true events, Song of a Blackbird has two intertwined timelines: one is a modern-day family drama, the other a thrilling tale of a WWII-era bank heist carried out by Dutch resistance fighters.

In the present day, teenage Annick is desperate to find a bone marrow donor that could save the life of her grandmother, Johanna. She turns to her family history and discovers a photograph taken by Emma Bergsma.

Decades earlier, Emma is a young art student about to be drawn into what will become the biggest bank heist in European history: swapping 50 Million Guilders’ worth of forged bank notes for real ones―right under the noses of the Nazis! Emma’s life―and the lives of thousands, including a young woman named Johanna―hangs in the balance.

In this stranger-than-fiction graphic novel, Maria van Lieshout weaves a tale about family, courage, and the power of art. Deeply personal yet universal, Song of a Blackbird sheds light on an untold WWII story and sends a powerful message about compassion and resistance.

My Review

I love that the narrator of the book is a blackbird representing the spirit of resilience and the power of compassion. The scenes alternate between two timelines: 1943 and 2011. In 1943, we follow Emma, a young woman who has just joined the Dutch resistance and agrees to help hide Jewish children scheduled for deportation. She winds up helping print forged ration cards and bank certificates as part of a heist plot.

In 2011, we follow a teenage girl whose grandmother has just learned she was one of the children hidden in Amsterdam and adopted by a non-Jewish family. Oma has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant, which makes it crucial that Annick, her granddaughter, help to track down her biological family.

Annick follows clues in a series of prints on her grandmother’s walls. Each section of the book begins with one of those prints and shows Annick’s research, as well as Emma, the artist who created the prints, and her work to hide Annick’s grandmother aid the resistance movement.

The use of the prints and the presence of artists in both time periods emphasize the importance of art as resistance and the powerful impact it has on its creator and viewers. Emma’s prints tell the story of her work, ensuring that history isn’t forgotten.

The illustrations are in grayscale except for a reddish-orange color. I love the way the author uses that orange to draw attention to certain elements. It also reminds me of sunrise, which made the color seem like a symbol of hope and resistance in and of itself.

The back of the book has some historical notes about each person who inspired characters in this graphic novel. Photographs of each person appear there, but Lieshout has also strategically placed photographs throughout the scenes of the book.

Concusion

I’m really blown away by how powerful this story is. I wasn’t sure I’d like the bird narration, but I really ended up loving it. The notes that piece together the truths that inspired the story are such a great addition. This is a story I’m not going to forget.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Allusion to the attraction between two people. One panel shows two teenagers kissing.

Spiritual Content
A priest helps hide several Jewish boys in his church.

Violent Content
References to deportations and rumors of execution at concentration camps. Mass arrests. Resistance workers know they can be arrested and interrogated or tortured. A man temporarily escapes soldiers, but has a gunshot wound that leaves his legs paralyzed. One scene shows a group of men (resistance members) executed by firing squad.

Drug Content
Panels show adults smoking and drinking alcohol in some scenes.

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.

Review: The Gender Binary is a Big Lie by Lee Wind

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The Gender Binary is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities Around the World (Queer History Project)
Lee Bind
Zest Books
Published August 6, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Gender Binary is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities Around the World

What if you discovered that the whole concept of a gender binary is an illusion?

While many people identify as men or women, that is not all there is. The idea that all humans fall into one of two gender categories is largely a construct created by those who benefit from that belief. The reality is that gender is naturally diverse, falling inside and outside of those boxes, and more expansive ideas of gender have always existed.

In the second book of the Queer History Project, The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities around the World, author Lee Wind uses historical evidence and primary sources―poetry, ancient burial sites, firsthand accounts, and news stories―to explore gender roles and identities. Gender identities and physical bodies are as diverse as the human experience. Get ready to shatter those preconceived notions of nothing but a gender binary and dive deep into expressions of gender―both past and present―that reveal the infinite variety and beauty of everyone’s gender.

My Review

Last year, I read the book Genderqueer by Maia Kobabe, and I feel like that left me with a lot to think about. So, when I saw a copy of this book available for review this year, I felt like it was great timing.

I’ve been increasingly aware of the fact that I live at a particular point in history and in a particular place. Lots of the rules and values I encounter are heavily influenced by this truth. It impacts even the way we interpret things like the Bible, and I think we don’t give enough thought to that.

At any rate. So. The Gender Binary is a Big Lie. Let’s talk about it.

The book begins with a lengthy introduction that gives readers a framework for how to talk about intersex and transgender people. This section defines terms and offers some insight into why certain words are not used anymore. It also gives a high view of some important historical discoveries that support the books core idea: that many cultures have not subscribed to a limited gender binary across history and the globe.

After the introduction, the book focuses on a few examples of cultures with well-defined outside-the-binary gender identities. I thought this was the coolest part of the book. References appear throughout the text. (The backmatter lists more than fifty pages of source material.)

The last chapter is also great information. One of the things I have had multiple conversations with people about is the existence of intersex people, so it is very helpful to have some references for myself to refer back to or to refer others to for more information.

Conclusion

While I’m sure this is not an exhaustive text, it’s a great introduction to thinking beyond our American, 21st century experience with identity and gender norms. Though the chapters are long, the text is broken down into shorter sections that make the information much easier to digest. I highly recommend this text for readers looking for more information on identities beyond the gender binary. I’m excited to read a few of the books listed in the backmatter as well.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to romantic relationships of real historical people. One chapter offers facts and information about intersex people (people whose genetic biology doesn’t fit a gender binary).

Spiritual Content
One chapter shows teachings from Classical Judaism. Another section offers some information about Australian First Nations traditions. A different chapter talks about Hindu beliefs and the hijra community. One chapter talks about Hawaiian and Tahitian traditions and identity.

Violent Content
Some explanation of how colonialism impacted indigenous communities and belief systems. In the chapter on intersex identities, the author explains that historically (and still sometimes currently) people are forced to have medical surgery to alter their bodies to fit a gender binary. This chapter also mentions death by suicide.

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: My Life: Growing Up Native in America edited by IllumiNative

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My Life: Growing Up Native in America
IllumiNative
MTV Books
Published October 1, 2024

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About My Life: Growing Up Native in America

A moving collection of twenty powerful essays, poems, and more that capture and celebrate the modern Native American experience, featuring entries by Angeline Boulley, Madison Hammond, Kara Roselle Smith, and many more.

With heart, pathos, humor, and insight, 20 renowned writers, performers, athletes, and activists explore what it means to be Native American today. Through a series of essays and poems, these luminaries give voice to their individual experiences while shedding light on the depth and complexity of modern Native American identity, resiliency, and joy.

The topics are as fascinating and diverse as the creators. From Mato Wayuhi, award-winning composer of Reservation Dogs, honoring a friend who believed in his talent to New York Times bestselling author Angeline Boulley exploring what it means to feel Native enough, these entries are not only an exploration of community, they are also a call for a more just and equitable world, and a road map toward a brighter future.

Edited by IllumiNative, an organization dedicated to amplifying contemporary Native voices, My Life: Growing Up Native in America features contributions from Angeline Boulley, Philip J. Deloria, Eric Gansworth, Kimberly Guerrero, Somah Haaland, Madison Hammond, Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, Trudie Jackson, Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Lady Shug, Ahsaki Baa LaFrance-Chachere, Taietsaró Leclaire, Cece Meadows, Sherri Mitchell, Charlie Amaya Scott, Kara Roselle Smith, Vera Starbard, Dash Turner, Crystal Wahpepah, and Mato Wayuhi.

My Review

This collection features everything from narrative essays recounting deeply formative experiences to poetry to advice for young readers on finding success and happiness. Some explore one’s relationship with oneself. Others unpack their experiences, examining internalized racism and prejudice directed at them.

Each piece differs in style, but the common theme running through them all is a love for Indigenous communities and hope and optimism about the future. The authors come from different tribes and geographical areas, and some share a snippet or two of history. This really highlights the differences in experiences that someone from one tribe may have from another, and yet simultaneously draws attention to the values and beliefs that run true across tribal lines.

I listened to this collection as an audiobook, and I really enjoyed it. I went back and reread some of the entries via the ebook version so that I could sit with the ideas a little more deeply in a few of the entries, especially the poetry.

While the intended audience of this book is young Indigenous readers, I would recommend that anyone read it. How often do we get a chance to listen to so many different Indigenous perspectives in one place? It’s a quick read and definitely worth checking out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Very few instances of profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to a romantic relationship.

Spiritual Content
References to offerings and traditions, beliefs, and rituals.

Violent Content
References to racism and indian residential schools. One essay explores an instance in which someone was bullied for their appearance. One essay briefly mentions that the author attempted suicide at one point in life.

Drug Content
References to alcohol use.

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 the public library. All opinions are my own.

Review: Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett

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Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day
Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett
Candlewick Press
Published May 13, 2025

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About Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day

An essential introduction to trans history, from ancient times to the present day, in full-color graphic nonfiction format. Deeply researched, highly readable, and featuring a broad range of voices.

What does “trans” mean, and what does it mean to be trans? Diversity in human sex and gender is not a modern phenomenon, as readers will discover through illustrated stories and records that introduce historical figures ranging from the controversial Roman emperor Elagabalus to the swashbuckling seventeenth-century conquistador Antonio de Erauso to veterans of the Stonewall uprising Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.

In addition to these individual profiles, the book explores some of the societal roles played by trans people beginning in ancient times and shows how European ideas about gender were spread across the globe. It explains how the science of sexology and the growing acceptance of (and backlash to) gender nonconformity have helped to shape what it means to be trans today. Illustrated conversations with modern activists, scholars, and creatives highlight the breadth of current trans experiences and give readers a deeper sense of the diversity of trans people, a group numbering in the millions. Extensive source notes provide further resources.

Moving, funny, heartbreaking, and empowering, this remarkable compendium from trans creators Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett is packed with research on every dynamic page.

My Review

I’m so impressed with this book. The authors do a wonderful job presenting historical information and clarifying the trustworthiness (or lack of trustworthiness) of their sources. Each chapter ends with a few questions in thought bubbles that invite readers to further digest the content and/or add context. For example, at the end of the first chapter on the ancient world, one thought bubble poses the question, “Why do certain stories from history get repeated over and over, while others are not remembered at all?” At the end of chapter two, which explores information about gender nonconforming people in European history, a thought bubble asks, “Why are some people given more freedom to transgress gender norms while others are given less?”

Throughout the book, the authors carefully qualify and contextualize the biographical information they share. An authors’ note at the beginning of the book clarifies that neither of the authors is a historian, so they stuck to the most well-known and documented research. They are careful to note that the individuals profiled in the book may not have identified themselves as transgender, but they focus on highlighting the ways that these people subverted or defied the gender norms of their time. The life stories they highlight are extremely compelling. The book well-establishes the truth that people have existed outside a rigid gender binary throughout the world and all of human history.

It might be tempting to think that because this book uses a graphic novel format that the information is thin or scattered throughout the pages. Combs and Eakett do a fabulous job creating dynamic panels packed with information. I sometimes went back and read a section multiple times. The information was clear, but there was so much that I wanted to remember.

Conclusion

Whatever topic this team takes on next, I’m absolutely here for it. They’ve cracked the code on creating well-balanced, informative and entertaining nonfiction in a graphic novel format. The book will be extremely accessible to teens both because of the age-appropriate way the authors present the content and the compelling presentation.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A few of the statements in the last chapter include swear words with an asterisk replacing some of the letters.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to romantic relationships. Reference to sex workers. Some information on the historical advancements of gender-affirming medical care.

Spiritual Content
References to a faith leader. References to spiritual beliefs.

Violent Content
References to political assassination. Reference to homophobia and police violence directed at LGBTQIA+ people. One interviewee in the last chapter makes a reference to murder (Specifically, reference to the fact that members of the trans community are more likely to experience violence/murder.). References to a person’s death by suicide. (Not shown in any way.)

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.