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April 26, 2025

Where Every Family Matters

New Books Kids & Parents Can Snuggle Up to This Fall

The 2021 harvest yields a bounty of great, new titles for babies, toddlers and everyone! Read up and read often.

Reviews by Editors Susan Swindell Day (ssd) and Michael W. Aldrich (mwd).

AGES 0 – 2

 

 

BLANKIE
By Ben Clanton
Tundra Books
$6.52

The witty duo Narwhal and Jelly discover all of the different things Narwhal’s blankie can be. Power to the imagination!  — ssd

 

 

COUNT TO LOVE
By Andrea Pinkney
Cartwheel Books
$8.99

Count the love with Baby from his fingers to his toes! — ssd

 

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
By Erin Jang
Mudpuppy Books
$11.99

Lift the flaps to see emotions; use the mirror on the last page to show your own. Bright colors; sturdy board pages.  — ssd

 

 

THE NIGHT IS DEEP AND WIDE
By Gillian sze
Illustrated by Sue TODD
Orca Books
$10.95

Use a soft, sleepy voice when reading this poetic and lovely board book. Just as the tulips close, your little one’s eyes may, too. — ssd

 

 

PAPER PEEK: ALPHABET
By Chihiro Takeuchi
Candlewick Studio
$14.99

A book to help little ones learn letters. Each picture has a cut-out shape, then Baby can find other animals that emerge turning pages.   — mwa

 

 

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
By Isabel Otter
Tiger Tales
$14.99

An interactive book featuring tactile, inviting textures and plenty of lift-the-flaps that give you clues to guess what’s inside. — mwa

 

AGES 3 – 5

 

ARE YOU A CHEESEBURGER?
By Monica Arnaldo
Katherine Tegen books
$13.99

Friendship grows for  a lonely, cheeseburger-loving raccoon and a seed and hilarity ensues. — ssd

 

 

BRAVE
By Kathleen Davis
Illustrated by Rehka Salin
Self-Published
$12.99

Two young superheros ward off imaginary bedtime monsters. A sweet tale of courageousness and unity with awesome illustrations. — ssd

 

 

THE CHRISTMAS PIG
By J.K. Rowling
Little Brown
$15.78

One boy and his favorite childhood toy are about to embark on a magical journey that changes everything. — mwa

 

 

DRAGON BOY
By Fabio Napoleoni
Little Brown
$14.99

A new series about a curious, imaginative, little boy and his band of lovable stuffed animal friends. — mwa

 

 

GRANDUDE’S GREEN SUBMARINE
By Paul Mccartney
Penguin Random House
$15.49

Grandude’s inventions are the stuff of legend, and his new green submarine doesn’t disappoint. — mwa

 

 

WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER? AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT SCIENCE & NATURE
By Rachel Ignotofsky
Penguin Random House
$13.89

This gorgeous book — launching a new nonfiction nature series — will intrigue your nature-lovers while answering questions that often stump parents. — ssd

 

AGES 6 – 10

 

DAUGHTER OF THE DEEP
By Rick Riordan
Disney/Hyperion
$15.99

The trademark humor, fast-paced action, and wide cast of characters are on full display in this undersea adventure that puts a new spin on Captain Nemo and the submarine Nautilus.  — mwa

 

 

DOG MAN
By Dav Pilkey
Scholastic Graphix
$12.99

Dav Pilkey is the solution to many kid’s reading hesitancy. It’s another adventure for Dog Man and Pete in this terrific story of hope. — ssd

 

 

FRANKIE & BUG
by Gayle Forman
Simon & Schuster
$14.39

A poignant and powerful coming-of-age story that follows a young girl and her new friend as they learn about finding common ground in a complicated world. —  mwa

 

 

THE ROCK FROM THE SKY
By Jon Klassen
Candlewick Press
$18.99

Deadpan humor is found in this story of friendship and fate. Author Jan Klassen is a Caldecott Medal-winner for the I Want My Hat
series.  — ssd

 

 

SONG FOR JIMI: THE STORY OF GUITAR LEGEND JIMI HENDRIX
by Charles R. Smith
Penguin Random House
$20.49

Hendrix’s talent was epic, and so is this 56-page lyrical account of his life, with spectacular artwork. — mwa

 

 

WHAT THE ROAD SAID
By Cleo Wade
Illustrated by Lucie de Moyencourt
Macmillan Publishers
$18.99

This affirming read lets kids know that it’s human to make mistakes. The important thing is to persevere. Lush illustrations.  — ssd

 

PARENTS

 

ADVENTURE DOGS:
Activities to Share With Your Dog From Comfy Couches to Mountain Tops

By Fern Watt
Chronicle Books
$19.95 

The unconditional love of dogs is celebrated in this delightful book that elevate’s your pet experiences. Here’s how to make life a shared adventure with your fur babies.  — ssd

 

 

THE EXPECTANT FATHER
By Armin A. Brott
Abbeville Press
$15.95

Men’s issues (and expectations of men) are unique when a baby is on the way. This excellent handbook details month-by-month advice. — ssd

 

 

MOM BRAIN
By Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco
The Guilford Press
$14.95

Subtitled, “Proven Strategies to Fight Anxiety, Guilt and Overwhelming Emotions of Motherhood — and Relax Into Your New Self,” says it all! — ssd

 

 

WHERE THE DEER AND THE ANTELOPE PLAY: THE PASTORAL OBERVATIONS FOR ONE INGNORANT AMERICAN WHO LOVES TO WALK OUTSIDE
By Nick Offerman
Penguin Random House
$23.49

Nick Offerman always brings the wit and the heart. — mwa

 

 

THE WORKING MOM BLUEPRINT
By Whitney Casares
American Academy of Pediatrics
$16.95

Working moms give it all they’ve got and it’s no joke. A pediatrician shares real insights and solutions to help you keep your head above water in the never-ending quest for balance. — ssd

 

More Great Stories!

Kids Can Read Alongside a Trained Therapy Dog

Print Books Are Best When Reading With Toddlers

Why You Should Read Out Loud to Your Kids Every Night

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