Picture Books
May 2026
Recent Releases
102
by Matthew Cordell

Sick with a fever of 102, young George goes on a surreal, imaginary adventure in a miniature world. Meticulously cross-hatched ballpoint pen illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell provide texture and atmosphere, as well as a wealth of details that reward close reading. For fans of: David Wiesner, Chris Van Allsburg, and Henry Cole.
Miles Ahead
by Minh Lê; illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao

After piling into the car for a trip to visit a new baby, a family realizes that they've misplaced the baby's gift. The ensuing search turns up an array of cherished mementos in this warm-hearted tale told through dialogue and sophisticated illustrations. Read-alike: On Our Way! What a Day! by JaNay Brown-Wood.
The Whale's Tale and the Otter's Side of the Story
by Kate Messner; illustrated by Brian Biggs

Whales or otters: which animal is "absolutely, positively cooler?" If you read this clever book front to back, whales are the clear winner, but otters triumph if you read from back to front. Funny and fact-filled, this unusual story highlights the power of perspective.
Hold
by Randy Ribay; illustrated by Zeke Peña

It's tough to get out the door with a toddler, and never more so than in this playful read. Daddy's request for his child to briefly hold a water bottle gets increasingly outlandish as the child asks to hold more items, from toys to the family cat to the rain in the sky. A twist ending and bold, stylized illustrations enhance this sweetly silly tale.
A Fish Like Me
by Jamie Sumner; illustrated by Devon Holzwarth

When using their wheelchair on land, the star of this picture book can zoom like a rocket. But in the pool, they experience a different kind of freedom, swimming like a variety of sea creatures. Fluid artwork buoys this inclusive, joyful story. Read-alike: I Hear the Snow, I Feel the Sea by Janice Milusich.
Dino Stories
Dino Poet
by Tom Angleberger

It's a classic Triassic tale: to avoid being eaten, a frog offers a Coelophysis...some notes on his poems? Scampering through various predicaments and poetry styles, the predator-prey duo in this goofy graphic novel make learning hilarious. Next in the series: Pen Pals.
Penny & Pip
by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric Rohmann

Compassionate Penny is the only person in the natural history museum who notices the dinosaur egg hatching -- which means that baby sauropod Pip immediately imprints on the girl. Sweet and simple illustrations keep the focus on these two small characters in a big museum. Read-alike: Mark Pett's Lizard from the Park.
How to Catch a Dinosaur by Adam Wallace
How to Catch a Dinosaur
by Adam Wallace

Determined to win a new bicycle at the upcoming Science Fair, a boy enlists his friends to help capture a living dinosaur in their own neighborhood.
Night Flight
by David Barclay Moore; illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

When his dads go out for the evening, a little boy imagines himself flying off to find them on the back of a pterosaur. Soft-edged illustrations in luminous shades of blue vividly conjure the snowy setting of this heartfelt nocturnal fantasy. Read-alike: Kelly Zhang's Take Me to Lăolao.
What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night: A Very Messy Adventure by Refe Tuma
What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night: A Very Messy Adventure
by Refe Tuma

From the creative parents who brought the world the web sensation Dinovember comes photographic proof of what toys get up to when the rest of the house is asleep. You might have noticed weird things happening in your house. Unexplainable messes. Food all over the kitchen floor. Who could the culprits be? Dinosaurs! Boasting bright and hilarious photographs, Refe and Susan Tuma's picture book documents a very messy adventure that shows just what the dinosaurs did last night. Don't miss the dinosaurs' other misadventures! What the Dinosaurs Did at School What the Dinosaurs Did the Night Before Christmas
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