April 2026 list by K. Pearson |
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A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van
by Daniel Bernstrom
Everyone's favorite hungry bear is back This time Bear discovers a van full of donuts--YUM Bear climbs in the van, but the unsuspecting donut man doesn't see what's going on. Until... he looks in his rear view mirror, and OMG What should a donut man do when a bear is eating donuts in his van? Here is a road trip neither bear nor man will ever forget--with mooses, traffic jams, and a giant forest donut spill.
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Beatrix and the Unicorn
by Lita Judge
A lonely servant girl named Beatrix spends her days doing chores in a castle and her quiet moments dreaming over a tapestry of a unicorn in a garden. Certain a real unicorn must be out there—and hoping it might be the friend she longs for—she packs a small bundle one night and slips into the world beyond the castle walls, beginning a magical quest of her own.
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Bread Is Love
by Pooja Makhijani
A mother and her children have a ritual--every week they prepare a loaf of bread from scratch, kneading, baking and eating it together.
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Cantaloupe and Honeydo Take the Bus
by Mike Boldt
Cantaloupe and HoneyDo, two goofy melons, ride the bus for the first time. With one cautious and one fearless, they learn what’s not allowed (like tag) and what totally is—thumb wars, games, books, and making new friends. Trying new things is easier when you’ve got a melon buddy by your side.
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Don't Do It, Doug!
by Maudie Powell-Tuck
Doug the hamster struggles with self-control and has to deal with the consequences of his impulsive actions.
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The Dream
by Gideon Sterer
A wordless, eco‑fantasy where a girl who’s heartbroken over the state of the planet meets a mysterious wolf who feels the same. Together—with help from animals of land, sea, and sky—they set out to protect the Earth and show that real change happens when we work together.
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Exca-Gator!
by Brooke Hartman
Exca-Gator and his crew spend the day using their construction equipment to build and play, but when big mistakes get in their way, the team works together to save the day.
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The Great Escape
by Deborah Marcero
Evie loves magic, but her noisy, energetic younger siblings make it hard to find any. Escaping into the snowy outdoors, she discovers they’ve followed her again—until a wand and a few magic words open a portal to an upside‑down world filled with stars, dolphins, and adventure. When danger appears, the siblings must work together to save the day and prove that even wild little tagalongs can be heroes.
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It's Spring!
by Renée Kurilla
A celebration of warmer days, blooming flowers, and everything else the spring season has to offer.
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Kitty Caterpillar
by Annabeth Bondor-Stone
Kitty Caterpillar has the purr-fect life. She’s the queen of her kittydom, where she enjoys gourmet meals, catnaps, and the best hugs from her favorite human, Hazel. Then one day Kitty Caterpillar discovers an exciting new world: the outdoors! But as thrilling as it is, there’s no place like home – and nothing better than a best friend.
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Mister Norton's New Truck
by Huw Lewis Jones
When a bear borrows Mr. Norton's bicycle and breaks a wheel, Mr. Norton tries new, various ways of getting to work, with limited success, until he remembers his grandfather's old truck in the barn.
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Mungo on His Own
by Matthew Burgess
Young fox Mungo heads into the forest alone in search of the sweet red berries he’s been dreaming about—but exploring on his own turns out to be harder than he expected. As he gets more and more lost, Mungo must find the courage and resilience to keep going. This gentle, suspenseful picture book celebrates independence, bravery, and the comfort of finding your way back home.
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Plenty of Pancakes
by Carrie Finison
Opossum Topsy is cooking a Welcome Spring! pancake feast for her friend LouAnn, who’s just waking up from hibernation. She makes five perfect pancakes at a time—but every time her back is turned, they disappear. With squirrels, crows, and other hungry critters sneaking bites, Topsy races to whip up enough pancakes before LouAnn wakes. It’ll take all her animal friends working together to finish the feast in time.
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The Princess and the Grain of Rice
by 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.
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The Rare Bird
by Elisha Cooper
Caldecott Honoree Elisha Cooper returns with a unique and playful tale about an imaginative house cat who dreams of all the wild things it can be.
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There's a Bunny in Your Book
by Tom Fletcher
BOUNCE! BOUNCE! BOUNCE! Who's that hopping around inside your book? It's a fluffy bunny, and--uh oh! Bunny's eating Monster's carrots! You'd better stop that cheeky bunny! But wait...Monster is sharing! And look--Bunny has made a bunch of Easter Eggs appear! Could this bunny actually be... the EASTER BUNNY?
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The Unluckiest Leprechaun
by Alastair Heim
Opossum Topsy is making a Welcome Spring! pancake feast for her friend LouAnn, but every batch of five pancakes disappears the moment she turns around. With squirrels, crows, and other hungry animals sneaking bites, Topsy must team up with her woodland friends to finish the feast before LouAnn wakes from hibernation.
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Very Special You
by Emma Dodd
This sweet, rhyming picture book celebrates the joy a little one brings. A loving sheep marvels at the uniqueness of their lamb and cherishes every moment they share. With warm illustrations, foil accents, and an uplifting message about individuality and belonging, it’s a tender story perfect for snuggling up together.
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We All Love
by Julie Flett
This gentle picture book celebrates the many ways animals and humans show love. Baby bears, ducklings, foxes, and more remind us how care and connection are shared across the natural world. With Julie Flett’s poetic text, beautiful art, Cree animal names, and a heartfelt author’s note, We All Love is a tender tribute to the love that links us all.
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What a Small Cat Needs
by Natalia Shaloshvili
A sweet, gentle picture book about what a small cat needs—eyes, ears, whiskers, sunshine, milk, and most of all, someone loving to cuddle and hear it purr. With tender text and charming illustrations, Natalia Shaloshvili creates a cozy, relatable story that helps young readers see themselves in this irresistible kitten and feel the joy of being cared for.
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Whirby
by Molly Harris
Whirby the robot can’t wait for his school’s bot battles—but he’s so excited that he forgets to recharge and stays up practicing all night. When his big moment arrives, his battery hits 0%, and everything goes haywire. Can Whirby still find a way to compete? This funny, robo‑packed picture book is perfect for kids who love robots, big laughs, and a reminder to rest and recharge.
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