Grand Ledge Area District Library: Picture Books: February 2026

Recent Releases

Help Me Find My Hamster!
by Brooke Hartman

Readers, your help is needed--something terrible has happened! The narrator is missing their pet hamster, and the snuggable, huggable pint-sized pet was spotted in this book. Fuzzy floof ears, a nibble nubbin nose, precious peanut paws, and a bitty button tail seem to hint that it's somewhere nearby. But do itty bitty ears always belong to a hamster? When you spot a soft snoot or cute padded paws, will they be attached to a pocket pet, or something much wilder? Watch out! You never know what could be lurking around the corner. That tuft of a tail might just belong to a grizzly bear's behind! Prepare to laugh along as clues to the narrator's missing furry friend reveal ever larger and wilder creatures in this surprising story that encourages readers to stretch their imagination, make predictions, and always expect the unexpected.

Wiggling Words: Loving Language with Dyslexia
by Kate Rolfe

What if you really want to read a story to the end, but the words keep wiggling, jiggling, and jumping? If you're the child in this book, you might get very frustrated! But as the child keeps looking at the letters, they have a realization. And suddenly, they imagine a world where anything can be, a world where ideas are seeds to be sown, seeds that will bloom and grow. In ingenious illustrations, author Kate Rolfe visually conveys the experience of dyslexia or neurodivergence as a child invents a creative way to tackle a mountain of letters by using letter shapes to build a world of possibilities. Set in a dyslexic-friendly font ideal for boosting optimism among struggling child readers or the parents, teachers, or librarians who work with them, Wiggling Words ends with an author's note that includes some tips that have bolstered her love of letters, words, and stories.

Bored
by Felicita Sala

A very bored girl becomes less so when she starts to imagine all the bored people in the world floating away together to boredom-fueled adventures.

Ruby Maps Her World
by Jane Yolen

It's Ruby's first time drawing a map all by herself. She eagerly grabs her journal and markers and heads outside with her mama close behind. Down the street, under the railroad bridge, and through the park--her mapping has begun. With each step, Ruby draws key elements of her route, carefully adding details as she goes: bikers on the trail, birds in the sky, deer in the meadow. By the end of her special day, Ruby's map is bursting with interesting observations. This thoughtful picture book introduces the concept of mapping. It spotlights how a child's daily life is filled with small maps--whether inside or outside, on the sidewalk or in the park--and reinforces how those maps help us tell our stories.

Two Artists, Grandad and Me
by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

Step into the warm, jazz-filled world of a young girl and her artist grandad, as she learns about her grandad's paintings and discovers the joy of creating her own art. In this inspiring story, a very young painter learns there is no right way to be an artist, and that every brushstroke and every sketch is a unique expression of her imagination. With Grandad's gentle guidance, she draws, dreams, and lets her creativity flow, filling the studio with memories and masterpieces. As the day fades, the young artist realizes that time spent with Grandad is a treasure to carry in her heart forever. Based on her memories of time with her grandfather--beloved children's book creator Jerry Pinkney--Charnelle Pinkney Barlow's beautifully illustrated picture book will inspire young readers to embrace their creative spirit and cherish the moments shared with loved ones.

Retro Reads

Check out these awesome books from the not-so-distant past!

Bird Count
by Susan Edwards Richmond

An excited young girl and her mother carefully participate in the Christmas Bird Count as part of a team of citizen scientists, tallying birds found in different habitats near their home. Includes facts about birding and why the Christmas Bird Count is important.

Chooch Helped
by Andrea L. Rogers; illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz

Sissy, an older Indigenous girl, doesn't understand why her little brother Chooch gets away with everything! His so-called "help" only messes things up. As her temper flares, Sissy's family offers support and perspective. Book buzz: Featuring textured illustrations filled with Cherokee imagery, this relatable sibling story is the winner of the 2025 Caldecott Medal, as well as the 2026 American Indian Youth Literature Award for picture books.

The Color Monster Goes to School
by Anna Llenas

The Color Monster feels a little nervous. Today is his first day at school . . . and he doesn't even have a clue what school is! But, guided by his young friend, the Color Monster has lots of new adventures and makes new friends -- and looks forward to tomorrow.

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.

Ten Little Caterpillars
by Bill Martin

Ten little caterpillars are out and about in our big, wide world--come join them! You never know what you might find. . . . A butterfly, perhaps? Readers of all ages have celebrated the work of Bill Martin Jr and Lois Ehlert ever since their first collaboration on Chicka Chicka Boom Boom more than twenty-five years ago. Now these two picture-book geniuses are together again in this dynamic and visually stunning counting-and-natural history picture book that's just perfect for reading aloud--and comes complete with a glossary filled with intriguing information about all of the caterpillar stars!

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