Grand Ledge Area District Library: Picture Books: April 2026

Recent Releases

Hummingbird's Big Trip
by G. Brian Karas

Hummingbirds love summertime, flying and having fun! But when the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, that means one thing - the big trip is coming. All the hummingbirds are talking about the big trip...except for one who can't help but worry. While his friends are busy preparing for the journey, this little hummingbird is too anxious. All he can think about are the long days flying alone. What if I get lost? What if my wings get too tired to flap? Will I be able to find my winter home? he wonders. Luckily, his friends are there to reassure him, letting him know that he CAN do it--he has done it before! But when the day finally arrives, the hummingbird has a choice to make: will he stay, or will he spread his wings and fly south?

Because of a Shoe
by Julie Fogliano; illustrated by Marla Frazee

It's a familiar scenario: a parent wants a child to put on shoes, prompting an epic tantrum. Even as patience frays on both sides, unwavering love remains beneath the conflict. Strategically colored illustrations help to convey the changing moods in this cathartic and ultimately reassuring slice of life.

The Princess and the Grain of Rice
by Tina Cho

A sweet, funny Korean Princess and the Pea retelling, written by critically acclaimed Korean American author Tina Cho. A new classic in the making! In the mountains of Joseon, Jeongsoon has a heart as gentle as jade, but she might just be the clumsiest girl in the kingdom. She wants to be a princess, so she enters the grand princess challenge where she must complete the Manners Test, the Wisdom Test, and finally--the Sleep Test. Throughout each examination, Jeongsoon is far from flawless but in staying true to herself, wins the favor of the queen and the competition itself. Includes backmatter on the real-life Korean princesses of the Joseon period.

We All Love
by Julie Flett

Snuggle up! Animals love--like you! Join baby bears, little ducklings, curious foxes, and many more adorable creatures as they remind us of all the ways, big and small, that we show love and care. We All Love is a poetic and beautifully illustrated reminder of the interconnectedness of the natural world--demonstrating how care, protection, and love are experienced by all living things. We All Love features: A glossary of Cree animal names used throughout the text; A letter to the reader from Julie Flett. Part of the We Do Too! series, following We All Play, We All Love is a celebration of the love that connects us all--big and small, near and far. We love too! / kistanaw mina

Cat's New Book
by Nathalie Belhassen

Celebrate the joys of reading and sharing with Cat and all the friends he makes through the magic of stories. Cat's brand new book has the cleanest cover and the smoothest pages. It even smells good! He can read it whenever he wants to because it's all his, and he plans to keep it looking new forever. But then Mole asks to read it. And then Frog. And then Turtle. After so much sharing, Cat's perfect new book is sandy and stained and...not so new anymore. This makes Cat sad. Will a new perspective from Squirrel be enough to teach Cat about what really make a book special?

Oops!

Snake's Big Mistake
by Sarah Kurpiel

For weeks, Snake has looked forward to sculpting the most spectacular clay pot in art class. But when his pot breaks and his teacher confuses Snake's pot with Turtle's, Snake takes home Turtle's masterpiece to show his family and pretends that he made it. Now, Snake will have to craft a way to repair a broken pot and a broken friendship.

Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party
by Anne Wynter

Patrick likes everything to be just-so, which is why he likes to cook. The meals he makes are always exquisite, delicious, and absolutely perfect. So when his birthday rolls around, Patrick knows exactly what he wants to do. However, Patrick's big brother, Russ, is not perfect. When Russ makes a mistake on Patrick's party invitation, Patrick thinks his birthday is ruined. But is it?

Squash, the Cat
by Sasha Mayer

Squash, who looks a lot like the vegetable, is an early-breakfast, lots-of-naps kind of cat. Maggie is a wake-up-late, wild-playdate kind of girl. Despite their differences, they are the best of friends. That is until one day Squash confuses Maggie's new toy for a dangerous beast and makes a terrible mistake. An unbelievably BIG MISTAKE. Now Squash is a can't-face-Maggie kind of cat, and Maggie is a wishes-she-had-her-toy kind of girl. But the thing about best friends is, one way or another, they always a way back to each other.

How to Pee Your Pants The Right Way
by Rachel Michelle Wilson

Though this playful picture book about pants-wetting focuses on an anthropomorphic owlet, it also provides matter-of-fact reassurance to readers: "We've all been there." The suggested coping techniques -- such as starting a food fight as a distraction or repurposing a lampshade as trousers -- may be outrageously silly, but the overall message of genuine empathy is sure to resonate.

Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival
by Kat Zhang; illustrated by Charlene Chua

In this sweet and relatable 5th volume of the Amy Wu series, Amy is excited to celebrate the Lantern Festival of the Lunar New Year -- until she accidentally smashes her family's heirloom lantern. Devastated, Amy needs reassurance from Dad before accepting that traditions can evolve and repair doesn't have to be perfect. Read-alike: Broken by X. Fang.

Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!