Picture BooksSeptember 2025
Recent Releases
Fall is for beginnings / :  A Picture Book by Rajani LaRocca
Fall is for Beginnings
by Rajani LaRocca

For Ravi, fall brings cool weather and time with his best friend Joe, but when a new girl named Ellie joins their class, Ravi struggles with the changes until he learns that fall can be the perfect time to start a new friendship
All that you are by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
All That You Are
by Smriti Prasadam-Halls

A celebration of different heritages and identities, showing how families can be made up of diverse ethnicities
Sundust
by Zeke Peña

Following a blazing pink streak of sundust into the desert outside their city, two siblings marvel at the wonders they find there. Illustrated in sun-soaked earth tones, this tale blends fantasy with real-life beauty to create a "surreal exploration of the way the natural world endures and transforms" (Publishers Weekly).
Scarecited on the first day of school by Alliah L. Agostini
Scarecited on the First Day of School
by Alliah L. Agostini

"It's the first day of school for Afua! There's no one word to name her feelings. Is she scared? Excited? Oh wait, she's scarecited! Her own combination of both. Why should she have to choose?"
Bob the Vampire Snail
by Andrea Zuill

For kids who enjoy spooky vibes seasoned with supremely silly humor comes the story of Bob, a snail who mysteriously sprouts wings, fangs, and a taste for tomato juice. A sprinkling of snail facts and illustrations in Halloween-inspired colors round out this quirky tale. Read-alike: Aaron Reynolds’ Creepy Tales! series.
Retro Reads
Check out these awesome books from the not-so-distant past!
 
Let's Go! Haw Êkwa!
by Julie Flett

With expressive illustrations and a dynamic sense of motion, only sparse words are needed to tell this story of a beginner skateboarder’s perseverance. From the first tumble to the exhilaration of finding community at the skatepark, each step of the process is punctuated with a Cree and English refrain: "haw ȇkwa! Let's go!"
Cookie Time
by Jessie Sima

To bypass the waiting period while Grandpa’s cookies bake, Kat and Ari build a time machine, leading to unexpected visits to the past and the future, as well as a newfound appreciation for the present and the people who share it. Candy-colored pastels heighten the energy in this zany yet sweet story.
This Is How We Play: A Celebration of Disability and Adaptation
by Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp; illustrated by Kayla Harren

Bouncy, rhyming words underscore the joyful tone of this own voices story about disabled families. Each page turn reveals a different activity with a different family -- each with their own experiences of disability -- and a repeated affirmation: "With love and adaptation, this is how we play!" Read-alikes: This Is How We Talk, also by authors Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp; Rebekah Taussig’s We Are the Scrappy Ones.
The Night Market
by Seina Wedlick; illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

In this dreamlike, enchanting tale, readers are invited to follow along with the main character as she experiences the sensory delights of a Nigerian night market. Inky shadows and jewel-bright colors distinguish the illustrations, which are packed with plentiful details for children to pore over.
Sketty and Meatball
by Sarah Weeks; illustrated by Alex Willmore

In this easy reader, kids can explore a dog show -- as well as some amusing, beginner-friendly wordplay -- alongside shaggy-haired Sketty and round little Meatball. For further easy readers featuring a charming canine duo, check out David Soman’s Elvis and Romeo series.
Don't see what you're looking for in our catalog? You can always make a purchase suggestion, or check our Interlibrary Loan system!
Phillipsburg Free Public Library
200 Broubalow Way
Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865
908-454-3712
http://www.pburglib.org/