Books that Came My Way in July 2023

This is my monthly roundup of books that came my way in the last month. I also share updates with you on other things in my and my family’s lives.

Family and Life Update

Our family took a vacation to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. My husband used to go there a lot as a child but the last time we were there was when our oldest was 6 months old, nearly 23 years ago. The location was the driving distance we were looking for and our condo on the lake was perfect. This was a nice relaxing vacation full of pool time, mini golf, family game nights, and a boat day on the lake. Plus it was the first one where we had an extra passenger, our daughter-in-law!

While on our family vacation, I found out about the chance to take another trip to my cousin’s cabin with some of our other first cousins. Even though it was short notice, we were able to make it work. So, after returning home, off to NE Minnesota I went. It was the perfect week of peaceful views, raucous laughter, games, and reliving old memories. So. Much. Fun.

Pat and I also took a day to tour our own state with some of our oldest and dearest friends. We traveled over 320 miles to visit the Basilica of St. Francis and Field of Dreams in Dyersville, rode the Fenelon Place Elevator in Dubuque, tried The Best Tenderloin of 2022 in Iowa at Lid’s in Waukon, and a quick stop at my parent’s home to surprise them. So many laughs were had and memories were made. I don’t want summer to end! Next month, I’ll be sharing how we moved our daughter, our last child, off to college. I can’t even think about that right now!

Now on to the books! 

In July I read five books! Compared to June’s fifteen books it seems a little sad. But, July was so full of other joyous things I can’t be disappointed. Three of the books were audiobooks and I also read one eBook and one physical book. While packing and cooking, I’ve been watching a little TV including Season 4 of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I still haven’t finished The Last Thing He Told Me and Dear Edward but I will soon! I’ve also been listening to a lot of podcasts lately including The Retrievals and The Coldest Case in Laramie. I’d love to know what you are watching and any good podcasts you’ve been listening to lately.

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Adult Fiction

THERE’S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS

A Novel

By: Ann Garvin

Published: August 1, 2023

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Fiction

Format: eBook through Amazon First Reads

This was a free eBook by being a member of Amazon Prime, I can choose a free eBook from Amazon First Reads every month. For some reason, the author stood out to me, almost like I knew her. But, when I looked through her book titles, none of them stood out to me. So, I’m not sure why she is so familiar to me. But this one sounded like a great read.

“The show must go on” takes on a whole new meaning for one single mom in a witty and emotional novel by the USA Today bestselling author of I Thought You Said This Would Work . It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS. After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It’s a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy’s a capable person—how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It’s not like she has a choice; her life couldn’t get any worse. Even so, this midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue. As a single mom, she’s rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn’t sew, and she doesn’t know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy’s unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom. When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who’s at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown. Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she’s always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.

THE PARIS DAUGHTER

By: Kristin Harmel

Published: June 6, 2023

Publisher: Gallery Books

Historical Fiction

Format: Hardcover

I have been wanting to read several of Kristin Harmel’s books because they all sound like something that I would love. I have THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE on my shelf waiting to be read. I bet this one would be great for book clubs to discuss.

Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change.

When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it.

More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

HAPPY PLACE

By: Emily Henry

Published: April 25, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

Romance

Format: Hardcover

I’ve heard this is Henry’s best book so far and I’ve also heard that it is the one people dislike the most. But, when my daughter said she wanted to read it, I said to go ahead and get it and I’ll give it a shot.

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week… in front of those who know you best?

THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN

By: Tracey Lange

Published: August 1, 2023

Publisher: Celedon Books

Fiction

Format: Hardcover

This was my Book of the Month choice. I love a good family drama. This is from the author of WE ARE THE BRENNANS which has been suggested to me as a book I would like.

When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile facade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now.

While she works to build a new career and hold her family together, Tara finds a chance at love in a most unlikely place. But when the Connellys’ secrets start to unravel and threaten her future, they all must face their worst fears and come clean, or risk losing each other forever.

The Connellys of County Down is a moving novel about testing the bounds of love and loyalty. It explores the possibility of beginning our lives anew, and reveals the pitfalls of shielding each other from the bitter truth.

Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction

BABY BASICS: MY CUDDLY BUNNY

A Supersoft Cloth Book for Baby

By: Lucie Bruneliére

Published: August 8, 2023

Publisher: Twirl

Fiction

Format: Cloth Book/Stuffed Animal

Like MY CUDDLY FOX, this book is perfect for gifting to a newborn.

This super-soft, durable cloth book is the perfect companion for babies and little ones. The gentle, reassuring story offers baby and caregivers the chance to bond in a warm and loving way.

PURRING, ROLLING STRETCHING

By: Chihiro Ishizu

Illustrated by: Nanako Matsuda

Published: August 1, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

This is a children’s book in translation, originally published in Japan in 2020. This is great for kids that have a cat for a pet or wish they did. I’ve already reviewed this one, HERE.

Purr and play the day away with a new feline friend! This adorable board book is a celebration of all things cat. Each whimsical spread invites the littlest readers to experience a day in the life of a house cat, encouraging opportunities to imitate feline behaviors and reflect on the rhythms of their own days—from stretching to playing to eating, and more!

ONE BROWN BEAR: THE WORLD OF NUMBERS

By: Anne-Marie Labrecque and Mélissa Coalier

Illustrated by: Mathieu Dionne St-Arneault

Published: August 15, 2023

Publisher: Twirl

Fiction

Format: Large Board Book

I love a good counting book for kids especially one by Anne-Marie Labrecque.

Puppies, penguins, bees, and many more cheerful animals help children recognize numbers and learn to count. With the help of words and pictures, children can easily make the connection between the numbers and images from 1 through 20.         

HAVE YOU SEEN MY SOCK?

By: Colombe Linotte

Illustrated by: Claudia Bielinsky

Published: August 15, 2023

Publisher: Twirl

Fiction

Format: Board Book

I think toddlers will love this one! Claudia Bielinsky always has the cutest illustrations.

A colorful and amusing simple whodunit! Engaging, rhyming text tells about socks that have mysteriously disappeared: socks of all colors, shapes, and patterns. Just where could they have gone? Readers will squeal with delight when they find out!

BABY MUSHROOM

Finger Puppet Book

By: Yu-Hsuan Huang

Published: August 29, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Interactive Board Book

You already know I love these Finger Puppet Books. This one is so cute!

Bursting with color and charm, this adorable finger puppet book lets inquisitive babies and toddlers touch, feel, and explore their growing world.

BABY RED PANDA

Finger Puppet Book

By: Yu-Hsuan Huang

Published: August 29, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Interactive Board Book

Newborns will love snuggling up with this sweet baby animal friend! Follow Baby Red Panda through the gentle rhythms of its day as it explores the treetops and nibbles on bamboo. Featuring a plush finger puppet that peeks into each lovingly illustrated page, this latest entry in the bestselling Finger Puppet series offers parents and children a fun, interactive way to play and read as they build a lifelong love of books together.

MY HAIR IS LIKE THE SUN

By: St. Clair Detrick-Jules

Illustrated by: Tabitha Brown

Published: September 12, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

Celebrate the natural beauty of black hair in all its styles and textures at an early age!

My hair is like the sun . . . the stars . . . the ocean! From curls that wind like rivers to coils that shimmer like stars, this book featuring photographs of real children and their natural hairstyles encourages little ones to see themselves reflected in the wonders of nature. Tenderly written and stunningly photographed by St. Clair Detrick-Jules, and with vibrant illustrations by Tabitha Brown, this timeless book shares a sweet and powerful message of self-love.

FLORA AND FRIENDS ABC

By: Molly Idle

Published: October 10, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Interactive Board Book

Inspired by the Caldecott Honor-winning FLORA AND THE FLAMINGO, the same author hopes kids will enjoy learning the ABCs and interacting with Flora and her friends.

A bird lover’s alphabet! Learn the ABCs with Flora and meet an abundance of new feathered friends, from A to Z!
 
An instant hit upon its release, Flora and the Flamingo now marks its ten-year anniversary in print. Flora, its beloved star, takes center stage in this vibrant new ABC book that celebrates all kinds of friendships. From imaginary friends to those who are there for you in fair weather and fowl, Flora has bird buddies for each letter of the alphabet. 

Featuring big flaps to play with, this interactive board book will delight young children as they learn simple concepts in the charming company of Flora and her friends.

BEGINNING BABY: A DAY FULL OF FEELINGS

A Book of Emotions and Opposites

By: Nicola Slater

Published: October 17, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

The friends are back to help kids understand feelings in this new board book by Nicola Slater.

New in the Beginning Baby board book series: Join an adorable group of animal friends for a day at school that’s full of feelings! Whether they are sad or glad, shy or excited, the friends know it’s important to express their many emotions.

GHEE HAPPY GODS

A Little Board Book of Hindu Deities

By: Sanjay Patel

Published: October 24, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

I’ve got three books from Sanjay Patel this month including two board books and a picture book.

In the world of Sanjay Patel, creator of the Oscar-nominated Pixar short Sanjay’s Super Team, the bold, bright colors of India leap off the page and screen. In his new children’s book, drawn from Indian mythology, you’ll meet the many faces (and arms) of the mighty Hindu gods!

With dynamic illustrations and colorful tabs for each god, this eye-catching board book introduces the youngest readers to Hindu gods Ganesha, Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Rama, and Krishna. Get them together, and anything is possible.

GHEE HAPPY GODDESSES

A Little Board Book of Hindu Deities

By: Sanjay Patel

Published: October 24, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

In the world of Sanjay Patel, creator of the Oscar-nominated Pixar short Sanjay’s Super Team, the bold, bright colors of India leap off the page and screen. In his new children’s book, drawn from Indian mythology, you’ll meet the many faces (and arms) of the mighty Hindu goddesses!

With dynamic illustrations and colorful tabs for each goddess, this eye-catching board book introduces the youngest readers to Hindu goddesses Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganga, Parvati, and Kali. Get them together, and anything is possible.

NORTH POLE VILLAGE

By: Sabrina Makhsimova

Illustrated by: Dinara Mirtalipova

Published: October 3, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: 3 Novelty Board Books Set

Perfect for a stocking stuffer or to get your child excited about the upcoming holiday.

Step into a pocket-sized winter wonderland with this whimsical Christmas village . . . made of books! The trifold case opens up to reveal three cleverly disguised books nestled into a magical wintry village with three charming locations just waiting to be explored.

Warm up inside Mr. Klaus’s cozy cottage, share cocoa with a friendly polar bear, and take a peek inside the toymakers’ workshop to meet Mr. Klaus’s tiniest secret helpers on their busiest night of the year. Each gorgeously illustrated book contains a fun-to-read holiday story, while the pocket-book sleeve can act as a festive backdrop for play when open or snap shut into a satisfyingly compact, easy-to-shelve package.  

Created by a talented mother-daughter duo, this beautifully crafted North Pole Christmas village is a unique delight for holiday read-aloud or stocking stuffers for kids.

DO YOU KNOW? MUSIC AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

By: Julie Delas

Published: August 8, 2023

Publisher: Twirl

Non-Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

This Do You Know? series has already been a favorite of the kids in our family.

When did people start making music? What types of music are there? How are musical instruments made? The Do You Know?™ series provides in-depth looks at a wide range of popular subjects. Appealing to children who want to know everything, each thought-provoking book features:
• 96 pages of engaging and educational answers to many popular questions
• Hundreds of labeled full-color illustrations
• An index to key terms

THE POP-UP GUIDE: CITIES AROUND THE WORLD

By: Maud Poulain

Illustrated by: Sandra de la Prada

Published: August 15, 2023

Publisher: Twirl

Non-Fiction

Format: Hardcover Pop-Up Book

Maud Poulain creates amazing pop-up books.

A unique look at some of the world’s most beautiful cities: The iconic landmarks of New York City, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, London, and other international cities fill the eye-opening pages of this Pop-Up GuideTM. Featuring the Empire State Building, Copacabana Beach, Big Ben, and many more attractions, the multilayered 3-D scenes encourages children to explore further!
• Descriptive text and labeled illustrations for quick and easy learning
• Built-in elastic bands that allow readers to prop open and display their favorite scene
• Sturdy construction that’s perfect for at-home or on-the-go.

ULTIMATE SPOTLIGHT: CARS

By: Sophie Dussaussois

Illustrated by: Pierre Caillou

Published: August 22, 2023

Publisher: Twirl

Non-Fiction

Format: Interactive Book

Pop-ups and interactive features make reading this Ultimate Spotlight series fun and engaging.

Interactive and engaging, Ultimate Spotlight: Cars gives children a closer look at the ins and outs of this beloved vehicle! Explore what’s inside a car, how a car is made, and even get in on the excitement of a race track.
• Flaps! Pull-tabs! Pop-ups! Lots of interactive and moveable parts
• Detailed illustrations that beg to be pored over again and again 
• Educational content reviewed by an expert

OUR UNDERWATER WORLD

A First Dive into Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers

By: Sue Lowell Gallion

Illustrated by: Lisa Feng

Published: August 24, 2023

Publisher: Phaidon

Non-Fiction

Format: Large Board Book

Kids love this series which includes OUR WORLD and OUR SEASONS and how they open into a globe.

The youngest readers are invited to explore and experience our blue planet’s amazing underwater ecosystems through rhyming verse and lush illustrations: from freshwater ponds to the deepest depths of the ocean, streams, and rivers, to coral reefs and polar waters. Secondary text offers more detailed, curriculum-focused facts and encourages readers to learn about different plants and animals found in various watery habitats across the globe. This informative homage to our blue planet is sure to inspire readers to go outside, explore the water worlds around them, and to learn more about our planet. This sturdy and gorgeous book, which, like others in the same series (Our World and Our Seasons), opens out into a 3D freestanding globe, is the perfect gift for young readers, encouraging them to explore our globe’s vital water ecosystems through its artful and engaging pages.

SPECTACULAR MIRACLES OF NATURE

By: Philippe Nessmann

Illustrated by: Alex Asfour

Published: September 19, 2023

Publisher: Twirl

Non-Fiction

Format: Large Hardcover Picture Book

This is really quite an amazing book!

Discover Earth’s amazing beauty! Pink lakes, giant crystal caves, ice flowers, and polar lights are some of the spectacular natural phenomena featured in this large format book. The stunning illustrations are accompanied by fascinating facts about the phenomena and the science behind them.
• Supersized spreads with eye-catching illustrations that capture readers’ attention
• Bite-sized explanations about each phenomena
• Educational content reviewed by experts

THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF DINOSAURS AND OTHER PREHISTORIC CREATURES

By: Sandra Laboucarie

Illustrated by: Benjamin Bécue

Published: September 26, 2023

Publisher: Twirl

Non-Fiction

Format: Oversized Interactive Book

A must-read for the dinosaur fan in your house! I have really loved Sandra Laboucarie’s non-fiction books for kids.

Discover the fantastic world of dinosaurs! The giants of the prehistoric era come alive in this highly interactive book, which includes flaps, pop-ups, wheels, and pull tabs to introduce the different types of dinosaurs and other creatures that lived millions of years ago. This comprehensive overview provides readers with informative and engaging text about how and where they lived, what happened to them, and much more!
• Supersized spreads feature detailed illustrations that just beg to be pored over again and again
• More than 50 interactive flaps, tabs, pop-ups and more for hands-on learning
• Educational content reviewed by experts

THEY HOLD THE LINE

Wildfires, Wildlands, and the Firefighters Who Brave Them

By: Dan Paley

Illustrated by: Molly Mendoza

Published: October 3, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Non-Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

My cousin’s husband just returned from fighting the wildfires in Canada. I can’t wait to share this book about the important job our National Forest Firefighters are doing.

A lone figure stands on a tower, watching and waiting. Lightning strikes. Tree bark sparks. A wisp of white smoke rises in the distance. It is time to act.
 
Frightening images of raging wildfires top the daily news. On the ground, smoke fills the air as people prepare to flee their homes ahead of encroaching flames. Who helps to get this crisis under control? And what do these heroes do? They hold the line.
 
They Hold the Line delivers a dramatic inside look at the work of the highly trained first responders who risk their lives to fight wildfires. From hotshot handcrews to those who support them, wildland firefighters serve as stewards of the land, managing the health of our forests and the safety of our communities.

Powerfully written by Dan Paley and brought vividly to life by artist Molly Mendoza, this compelling and informative book explores wildland firefighters’ complex jobs in a fascinating and approachable way. Thoroughly researched and packed with graphics, labels, sidebars, vocabulary, scientific concepts, historical facts, and so much more, They Hold the Line is an outstanding resource for young readers, families, communities, classrooms, and libraries.

WHO MADE THIS MESS?

By: Laura Gehl

Illustrated by: Aleksandar Stojsic

Published: July 31, 2023

Publisher: Capstone Publishing

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

You know I love anything Laura Gehl writes! I’ve already read and reviewed this one, HERE.

Mud splattered everywhere, tangled-up wool in huge piles, and carrot tops strewn about–what in the world is happening in this animal village? It’s quite a mystery! But thanks to rhyming clues, everyone will be able to easily guess the animal culprits–or will they? In this laugh-out-loud, expectation-defying picture book, Laura Gehl (May Saves the Day and The Hiking Viking) uses a rhyming mystery to help readers adjust their outlook, keep an open mind, and learn not to make assumptions.

TWO NEW YEARS

By: Richard Ho

Illustrated by: Lynn Scurfield

Published: August 8, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

This one is perfect for multicultural families celebrating Rosh Hashanah and the Lunar New Year.

For this multicultural family, inspired by the author’s own, two New Years mean twice as much to celebrate! In the fall, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, offers an opportunity to bake challah, dip apples in honey, and lift voices in song. In the spring, Lunar New Year brings a chance to eat dumplings, watch dragon dances, and release glowing lanterns that light up the sky.

With bright, joyful prose and luminous illustrations, Richard Ho and Lynn Scurfield invite readers of all backgrounds to experience the beauty of two New Year traditions, paying homage to the practices that make each unique while illuminating the values of abundance, family, and hope that they share.

Full of opportunities to reflect on the rich blends of cultures and traditions in our lives, this moving picture book is a beautiful reminder that, at heart, our celebrations might not be so different after all.

TOGETHER WE SWIM

By: Valerie Bolling

Illustrated by: Kaylani Juanita

Published: August 15, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

You may remember Bolling’s previous book TOGETHER WE RIDE which I really enjoyed last spring.

Jumping into the water can be more than a little scary! But with Mom’s steady arms there’s no fear of sinking. With a kick, a splash, and his family’s cheers of encouragement, one determined boy finds his groove, making waves in this fun-filled day at the pool.

Embrace the feeling of accomplishment in this joyous, reassuring story about perseverance and new experiences. With lyrical rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, Together We Swim is destined to become a family read-aloud favorite!

LITTLE MOLE GIVES THANKS

By: Glenys Nellist

Illustrated by: Sally Garland

Published: August 22, 2023

Publisher: Beaming Books

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

This is the fourth book in the Little Mole series.

Pinecone pie, acorn stew, mushroom soup! Little Mole’s big table is all set for his fancy fall feast, and he can’t wait to welcome three very important guests. But when each of these guests delivers the news that they won’t be able to attend, Little Mole doesn’t know what to do. Who will fill his table? Disappointment turns into gratitude as his community shows Little Mole what true friendship looks like, just in time for the big feast he and Mama worked so hard to prepare.

NOTHING EVER HAPPENS ON A GRAY DAY

By: Grant Snider

Published: September 5, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

Snider’s ONE BOY WATCHING was a favorite of 2022. I can’t wait to check out his newest story.

The sky is gloomy and the world feels like it’s asleep . . . but perhaps all that’s required for adventure is a bit of curiosity and patience. After all, an everyday stroll can become an adventure in the blink of an eye. 

On a day when even the rain is too bored to fall, ride alongside a girl on her rickety bicycle through the familiar scenes of her neighborhood as she rediscovers the colors—a splash of yellow, a flash of red, a flutter of blue—that can be found even when all seems monochrome. In this artful picture book that celebrates do-nothing days and solitary adventures, readers learn how embracing quiet stillness with openness and curiosity can make space for unexpected encounters, meaningful detours, and some of life’s most unforgettable moments. With luminous illustrations that practically glow on the page, Grant Snider takes readers on a visual journey they’ll want to return to again and again.

GO-GO GUYS

By: Rowboat Watkins

Published: September 19, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

A silly bedtime story that will be loads of fun!

New from the beeping brain of Rowboat Watkins, award-wining author of much-loved children’s picture books including Rude Cakes, Mabel: A Mermaid Fable, and Big Bunny. This comic-style adventure follows the Go-Go Guys from beep-beep-bed to the Moon and beep-beep-back again.

So . . . what do Go-Go Guys do best?

Well . . . GO-GO-GO! They never rest

Because their brains go

BEEP!

BEEP!

BEEP!

They simply will not go to sleep.

Will the Go-Go Guys ever STOP? Kids and parents who know how hard it is to wind down for bed will enjoy every moment of this zany rhyming read-aloud that will elicit endless giggles!

I CAN OPEN IT FOR YOU

By: Shinsuke Yoshitake

Published: September 26, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

If you have a little one who wants to be bigger, stronger, or wants to “do it himself” this is the book for them.

Akira has a problem: He is too small to open packages by himself. He still needs grown-ups to help him.

But one day, perhaps one day soon, he’ll be able to open so many things without anyone’s help—and not just packages. When that time comes, he’ll make amazing discoveries and maybe even save the day with his new skills. There is so much to look forward to!

With humor and wit, acclaimed author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake explores a child’s feelings about growing up: the push and pull of relying on parents while striving to learn and do things by oneself. The youngest of readers will relate, while discovering the many ways that they can open up exciting new experiences at this very moment!

CONSTRUCTION SITE: TAKING FLIGHT!

By: Sherri Duskey Rinker

Illustrated by: AG Ford

Published: September 26, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

I have an airplane-loving nephew who will be so excited about this book.

When an airport needs an expansion, the Construction Site crew is on the job! With help from fun new vehicles from the airport, they’ll build new roads and runways, prep planes for their trips, and clean up after a surprise snowstorm.

The airport is a busy place—Belt Loader, Tractor, Snowplow, and many other vehicles pull the planes, pump the fuel, move the luggage, maintain the runways, and much more. Working together, the team will get all the planes in the air in time for a sweet and sleepy goodnight.
 
Sherri Duskey Rinker and AG Ford, the author-illustrator team behind many bestselling Goodnight Construction Site books, bring their playful rhyming text and vibrant illustrations to another exciting tale of teamwork, sure to satisfy construction fans everywhere.

THE TIME MACHINE

Because It’s Never too Late to Apologize

By: Pauline David-Sax

Illustrated by: Melquea Smith

Published: October 2, 2023

Publisher: Cardinal Rule Press

Fiction

Format: Paperback Picture Book

Saying “I’m sorry.” can be hard for kids (and adults) but this story will help kids get the courage to say it.

Bailey’s building a time machine… not to visit ancient Egypt or King Arthur’s court, but to take her to last Thursday. That’s the day she said the Thing that made her best friend so mad. But when it’s complete, Bailey discovers the only thing harder than building a time machine is having the courage to revisit a moment you regret.

GRIEF IS AN ELEPHANT

By: Tamara Ellis Smith

Illustrated by: Nancy Whitesides

Published: October 24, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

It’s so hard to find great books on grief for kids. But this one that uses animals to describe feelings of grief is pretty spot on.

When Grief first arrives, it is like an elephant—so big that there is hardly room for anything else. But over time, Grief can become smaller and smaller—first a deer, then a fox, a mouse, and finally a flickering firefly in the darkness leading us down a path of loving remembrance.

This lyrical work is an empathetic and comforting balm for anyone who is experiencing grief, be it grieving the loss of a loved one or losses in the world around us.

GANESHA’S GREAT RACE

By: Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes

Published: October 24, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

The third of Patel’s books all to be published on the same day.

From the creator of the Oscar-nominated Pixar short Sanjay’s Super Team and the animated series Ghee Happy!

In Sanjay Patel’s world, the bold, bright colors of India leap off the page and screen. Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth introduced a fresh and funny picture book retelling of how Ganesha came to help write the epic poem of Hindu literature, the Mahabharata. Now Ganesha is back in a delightful new adventure!

When his brother Kartikeya challenges him to a race around the world, Ganesha knows he cannot win with speed. He may not be as fast as Kartikeya, but clever Ganesha knows that every problem has more than one solution! A celebration of the dynamic bond between siblings and a loving tribute to family, Ganesha’s Great Race is the story of their most famous contest and will delight readers with a tale of muscles, mangoes, and the meaning of the world.

TOMFOOLERY!

By: Michelle Markel

Illustrated by: Barbara McClintock

Published: November 14, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

A fun biographic story of Ralph Caldecott whom the famous Caldecott Medal is named after.

Quick! If you don’t move fast, you’ll miss him—there he goes—Randolph Caldecott, future famous illustrator. His sketchbook is full of hurly-burly: wild weather, frisky animals, and people so sprightly they can barely hold onto the pages. But in the 1850s, there were no children’s books like that. Not yet.

Many books are published, but their pictures look stiff, full of pretty poses and cluttered scenery. No one has imagined how much fun an illustrated book could be because the future hero of children’s book illustration is still just a lad. Join Michelle Markel and Barbara McClintock for a riotous adventure through the seminal history of children’s books—their art, their joy, and the man who changed them for good.

THE STORY OF GUMLUCK THE WIZARD

Book One

By: Adam Rex

Published: August 15, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Middle-Grade Fiction

Format: Hardcover Chapter Book

This chapter book with illustrations is a cute story about a wizard who wants to be someone’s hero. I loved Adam Rex’s, DIGESTION: THE MUSICAL! so I have high expectations for this one. Lots of fun illustrations in this chapter book too.

This is a story about magic, if you like that kind of thing. It is also a story about a ghost with amnesia, an unpopular fairy, an ungrateful little town, and an extremely wise and helpful raven (who happens to be a pretty talented storyteller). But mostly, it is about a friendly little wizard who lives inside a big hill and really, really, really wants to be a hero. His name is Gumluck, and he is a bumbling noodlehead.

In this tall tale about a short wizard, celebrated author Adam Rex proves once and for all that the biggest heroes often come in the smallest nightgowns.

POLLY DIAMOND AND THE TOPSY-TURVY DAY

Book 3

By: Alice Kuipers

Illustrated by: Diana Toledano

Published: August 22, 2023

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Middle-Grade Fiction

Format: Hardcover Chapter Book

I shared Book 2 in this series last spring, HERE. Diana Toledano also illustrated THIS BOOK that I shared last November.

Polly Diamond is back in the third book about the magical mix-ups of Polly and her notebook, Spell!

In this delightfully funny and magical chapter book series, Polly and Spell have all kinds of adventures together because whatever Polly writes in Spell comes true! But when they join forces to help get the best class pet ever, they get more than they bargained for. Can Polly come up with the right words to save the day?

Which one (or two or three) of these books will you be adding to your list?

Click HERE to see all the posts featuring new books on my shelves.

So many books, so little time!