Children’s

Arthur’s Cat / Johan Leynaud, Sarah Ardizzone (Translator)

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Arthur’s Cat
By: Johan Leynaud, Sarah Ardizzone (Translator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 40
Published: March 10, 2026
Publisher: Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: April 27, 2026
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9780802856586

Arthur absolutely loves his cat, Zeffo and wants to do everything with him. But Zeffo? No so much – he would love some space! But one day, Arthur gives Zeffo too big of a hug and gets scratched. The days after Arthur and Zeffo work to find a new way of loving each other.

A cute and adorably written children’s book about pets and boundaries to little ones.

I loved the artwork and how Arthur was orange and Zeffo was blue, since they are complimentary colors, it really shows how opposite the two were from each other.

One can also appreciate the portions where it says both hearts had to heal. Zeffo didn’t want to scratch Arthur I’m sure, but that’s the best way to show he crossed a boundary. 

Overall, it is an adorable and cute children’s book with beautiful illustrations.

Late Today / Jungyoon Huh, Aerin Park (Translator), Myungae Lee (Illustrator)

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Late Today
By: Jungyoon Huh, Aerin Park (Translator), Myungae Lee (Illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 40
Published: September 23, 2025 (1st Published January 1, 2025)
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: April 27, 2026
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9780802856494

One rainy morning on the Seogang Bridge in between all the cars is a tiny kitten. People mutter to themselves, but no one stops or slows down until one finally does…

As always, I’m going to grab a book with a cat, especially if it’s a children’s book but what do you mean this little kitten is stuck in traffic and no one stops?!

The crayon-like artwork is both bright and dark and shows the gloominess of the rain perfectly while still showing the cars moving about on the bridge.

Overall, super cute heartfelt story about a little kitten’s rescue from a car packed bridge.

The Fire-Breathing Duckling / Frank Cammuso

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The Fire-Breathing Duckling
By: Frank Cammuso
Genre: Children’s, Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 40
Published: August 5, 2025
Publisher: TOON Books
Dates Read: January 19, 2026
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9781662665332

In this retelling of the Ugly Duckling, instead of a swan, this little one is a dragon. And when their duckling siblings find themselves in trouble, this little dragon uses their fire-breathing skills to save the day.

I’m pretty sure I found this as an “extra” during a library catalog search and immediately put it on hold (thanks Bibliocommons!). Tell me you wouldn’t see this cover and immediately pick it up to see the illustrations?!

I may be thirty-three right now, but you can bet that I enjoyed this story about self-discovery and finding your own strength. This little dragon is adorable and the pond friends were funny in trying to help figure out what they were.

I mentioned before, the illustrations are definitely what made me pick it up, but it also kept me turning the page. Each panel was colorful and engaging and beautiful, perfect for those littles in first or second grade – though I think kindergarteners would also enjoy this with some help from a grownup. 

Overall, a charming and engaging book for all ages.

The House That Floated / Guojing

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The House That Floated
By: Guojing
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 40
Published: September 16, 2025
Publisher: Random House Studio
Dates Read: December 21, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

A wordless children’s picture book about saving a house on a cliff after the ocean’s water levels rise.

I haven’t read wordless children’s books too often, though I have read wordless, and nearly wordless graphic novels quite a few times. They are absolutely a different style of reading. There’s nothing really tying you to the characters except what’s happening in the scene around them.

As a kid, I think this would be the book I would have picked up and “read aloud”, inserting my own narrative and dialog, and then be proud of the story I just “read” to my parents.

Overall, beautiful and detailed snapshots of the story that doesn’t need any words to help move it along.

John the Skeleton / Triinu Laan, Marja-Liisa Plats (Illustrator), Adam Cullen (Translator)

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John the Skeleton
By: Triinu Laan, Marja-Liisa Plats (Illustrator), Adam Cullen (Translator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 64
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Yonder
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

When he retires, John the skeleton is adopted by elderly couple Grams and Gramps. On their farm he finds himself in amazing adventures with the two and their grandchildren.

This is a playful, older children’s picture book with unique, detailed pictures with a color pallet of pink, dark gray, and white. The adventures Grams and Gramps have with John the Skeleton are funny and imaginative. 

There’s a subtext in the story of both keeping humor/fun in your life, even at an older age, and accepting death.

Overall, a fun, silly read that could open the door for more imagination.

This Year, a Witch! / Zoey Abbott

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This Year, a Witch!
By: Zoey Abbott
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 40
Published: July 15, 2025
Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

A little girl has been every cute and adorable thing you could imagine for Halloween – but this year, she’s putting a stop to it and being the scariest, spookiest thing out there… a witch!

With just a little help from her dad, the little girl prepares hard for new costume. She works on her hair, brews, spells and enchantments, and the power to petrify! But, what happens when the night finally comes and she sees herself in the mirror?

A sweet story with vibrant, colorful pages about growing up and learning independence – and how asking for help doesn’t mean you don’t have any.

Aggie and the Ghost / Matthew Forsythe

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Aggie and the Ghost
By: Matthew Forsythe
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 64
Published: August 19, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Aggie is very excited to live on her own and have peace and quiet. Unfortunately, her new house comes with a ghost, who disturbs everything. Fear not, Aggie has a list of rules. But the ghost doesn’t like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe.

The art of this is unique and quirky. 

The overall story for kids is really how to adjust and live with someone who maybe drives you up the wall, and that maybe, when they live, you will miss them.

Cat Nap / Brian Lies

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Cat Nap
By: Brian Lies
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 48
Published: September 30, 2025 (1st Published January 1, 2025
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

A mixed media children’s book about when a cat’s nap is disturbed by a mouse, a chase ensues through time, art, and history.

This is a wonderfully crafted book where this cat comes alive in nine pieces of art throughout history. 

Those who love art and art history would love reading this to their littles. But, I found I enjoyed it myself as an adult with no children. I especially like the behind the scenes in the back of the book about how all the pages were made.

Froggy: A Pond Full of Pals / Paige Walshe

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Froggy: A Pond Full of Pals
By: Paige Walshe
Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Number of Pages: 132
Published: August 5, 2025
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Dates Read: October 21, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Froggy is out on his own and carving his own path through sticky situations in this hilarious children’s graphic novel.

This is aimed for children (upper elementary school just due to some context within the pages), but there is a little bit of older humor that upper lever readers/even adults would enjoy as well. One example being “my back is too young to be this angry”. But also, the illustrations are laugh out loud funny in some panels; Froggy’s “I’ve had enough” facial expressions made me snort aloud more than once.

Froggy ends up in some hilarious situations and the way he gets out of them and or plows through them made me turn the pages faster and faster. It’s a read I can see myself going back to again for the simple enjoyment of the stories.

Overall, this graphic novel is a hilarious, loud out loud read for all ages.

Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet / Beth Ferry, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)

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Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet
By: Beth Ferry, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 32
Published: July 8, 2025
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Dates Read: October 20, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Evelyn Witch has everything a witch needs, except a pet! She can only afford the mystery pet, which opens to be a plain white egg. Now, she must wait for it to hatch!

As a librarian, I loved that Evelyn went to the library to research things she didn’t know. I also loved her ambition to help get her egg to hatch. She was doing everything she could think of to finally meet her pet!

The overall moral of this story is patience of course – Evelyn does everything she can think of to speed up the hatching, but once she realizes she just needs to wait, the egg finally hatches!

This story has eye-catching illustrations, fun, rhyming lines, and a spunky, eager child who just wants to meet her pet.