Picture Books
July 2025

Recent Releases
George & Lenny Are Always Together
by Jon Agee

Anxious brown bear George and curious gray rabbit Lenny are BFFs who do everything together. So what will happen when Lenny wants to try a bit of solitude? This sweet and simple story offers expressive art to explore a timeless question about friendship. Read-alikes: I Am Going! by Mo Willems; Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel.
My Friend May
by Julie Flett

Margaux, a young Cree girl, is upset that her nitôsis (auntie) is moving away. Then Margaux's beloved black cat May disappears, making the child even more distressed…until nitôsis comes through for her in an unexpected way. This gentle, thoughtful story is best shared one-on-one, and it includes a guide to the Plains Cree terms used.
A century for Caroline
by Kaija Langley

On her one hundredth birthday, Great Grandma Caroline shares her secret for living a long life with her great granddaughter Jasmine
Good luck, ice cream truck!
by Sorche Fairbank

"Neighborhood friends greet eight different trucks until the truck they are really waiting for, the ice cream truck, finally arrives"
You and Me, Anemone
by Rachel Vail; illustrated by Chris Raschka

Charming wordplay and enticingly textured embroidery art combine in this read-aloud ready tale of a kid and an anemone with a shared aversion to being "booped." Whether you're looking to share a fun story about sea creatures or start a kid-friendly discussion of boundaries, you'll want to check out this affirming book. 
Retro Reads
Check out these awesome books from the not-so-distant past.
 
I'm Afraid, Said the Leaf
by Danielle Daniel; illustrated by Matt James

Through the observations of one curious child, young readers (or listeners) can join in the appreciation of nature's interconnectedness, from the leaves supported by the tree to the creek that cools off the overheated bear. Inventive perspectives in the artwork heighten the quiet yet thought-provoking tone of this picture book. Read-alike: Monique Gray Smith's You Hold Me Up.
Do You Even Know Me?
by Reem Faruqi; illustrated by Ani Bushry

Adorable cartoon illustrations underscore the kid appeal of this story about Salma, a kindhearted Muslim American girl, and Luke, a bullying classmate who's heard misinformation on TV. Sensitively told, Do You Even Know Me? offers a message of peace, empathy, and living into your beliefs. Read-alike: The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad.
Emergency Quarters
by Carlos Matias; illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Beginning with a note about the pre-cellular days of pay phones, this detail-rich peek into the past follows city kid Ernesto, proud to be a "niño grande" allowed to walk to school on his own. His mom gives him a daily quarter in case he needs to make an emergency call -- but with a bustling neighborhood full of tempting treats, how's a kid supposed to resist?
Kwesi and Nana Ruby learn to swim
by Kobina Commeh

Kwesi doesn't know how to swim and discovers his grandmother, Nana Ruby, doesn't either, so they turn to the West African legend of Mami Wata to face their fears, in an intergenerational story about the importance of naming, acknowledging and facing fears
Orson and the world's loudest library
by Laura Gehl

"When Orson visits his local library, he likes to sit and read quietly by himself. However, not everyone is on the same page. One day, when the library is buzzing with activities, Orson decides he's had enough! But as he cools off after an emotional outburst, Orson begins to understand how much the library and its sometimes not-so-quiet community have to offer . . . and decides to turn things around. Here's a picture book about sharing a passion for books with friends, learning to cope with big feelings,and the joys of libraries"
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
Avon Lake Public Library
32649 Electric Blvd.
Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
440-933-8128

alpl.org