Picture Books
June 2026
Recent Releases
How to Catch a Bookworm by Alice Walstead
How to Catch a Bookworm
by Alice Walstead

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series comes a delightfully book-tacular new adventure...do YOU have what it takes to catch a BOOKWORM? Read alongside the How to Catch kids as they scour their books for the squiggly-giggly Bookworm that has escaped their local bookstore. It's up to the Catch Club kids to find this wiggly critter before class begins. Filled with STEAM concepts and an adorably bookish creature, this hilarious picture book is for parents, educators, and readers ages 4-10. Allow me to introduce myself. I am what is called a BOOKWORM. Books are what make me happy. I dive right in, wiggle and squirm. Also in the How to Catch Series: How to Catch a Unicorn. How to Catch a Mermaid. How to Catch Bigfoot. How to Catch a Dinosaur, How to Catch a Dragon, and more. Happy Birthday, How to Catch Celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary with How to Catch a Bookworm
I Will Not Walk to School by Naseem Hrab
I Will Not Walk to School
by Naseem Hrab

From award-winning author Naseem Hrab, an uproariously funny and totally relatable tale of a monster who loves school, but hates the commute! It's eight o'clock, Bird tells Monster -- time to walk to school. Monster stays in bed. It's not school he's resisting. He loves school! It's the getting there he hates. And, today, Monster declares, he will not walk to school. Will Bird's cajoling help? Nope. How about Bird's reminder that the pancake breakfast is today? Hmm. Will there be pepperoni and pineapple on those pancakes? Erm ... yes? With maple syrup on the side? Yes. Okay. Monster will drag himself out the door. But, no matter what, he will not walk to school!Author Naseem Hrab's hilarious story, told entirely in speech balloons, is sure to resonate with young children everywhere (and their grown-ups!). Who hasn't had one of those days? With an absurdity and nuttiness reminiscent of Mo Willems, this book will keep readers laughing out loud, unable to resist Monster's hilarious antics as he sticks to his promise! Kelly Collier's playful illustrations perfectly capture the emotional state of Monster and of Bird's growing exasperation. While books about going to school are perennial favorites, this one's focus on simply getting there sets it apart from other picture books about school readiness. It's just the right weekday morning story for children who are delaying their own walks to school ... and looking for ways to make them more fun!
The Case of the Disappearing Castle: A Gumboot Kids Nature Mystery by Eric Hogan
The Case of the Disappearing Castle: A Gumboot Kids Nature Mystery
by Eric Hogan

A celebration of nature, curiosity, discovery and mindfulness! Daisy has built a sandcastle on the beach. After she and Scout go for a walk along the shore, when they get back, she notices her sandcastle has disappeared. Where could it have gone? Join Scout and Daisy as they find clues to solve the Case of the Disappearing Castle. About THE GUMBOOT KIDS SERIES CBC Books, Best Books of the Year -- Canadian Picture Books A most charming and instructive collection of nature mystery books which encourages children to head outside and discover their natural world. -- Children's Book News Adapted from the award-winning TV show Scout and the Gumboot Kids, this outstanding series of nature mystery books celebrates the joy and wonder of mindfully exploring the natural world. Perfect for inquisitive young minds, The Gumboot Kids' nature mysteries feature beloved characters, Scout and Daisy, working through a series of clues in order to crack the case. In each mystery, Scout and Daisy confirm their findings with a trip to the library where they verify the evidence they've gathered in nature and solve the mystery before having a mindful moment to reflect on their journey. With beautifully rendered and painstakingly detailed art, Scout and Daisy's adventures are a visual feast that will have kids poring over the pages time and time again. Each book concludes with two pages of field notes on the mystery subject as well as a nature craft inspired by the mystery for kids to try at home. Praise for previous titles in the series: The felted wool mice and their miniature world are adorable and will invite children to savor the tiny details. Charming and informative picture books that will help young children discover nature. -- School Library Journal
The Day the Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard; illustrated by Dan Santat
The Day the Books Disappeared
by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard; illustrated by Dan Santat

Arnold can’t understand why his classmates bother reading books about anything besides the best topic: planes. Discovering that he can wish away all the other books, Arnold is delighted...until his beloved plane books disappear as well. Curiosity and empathy set things right in this “seamless mix of magic and relatable classroom drama” (Publishers Weekly).
This Land Is a Lullaby by Tonya Simpson
This Land Is a Lullaby
by Tonya Simpson

In this gentle picture-book lullaby, the sounds of the land soothe an Indigenous child to sleep on a stormy summer night on the Plains.
Retro Reads
Check out these awesome books from the not-so-distant past.
 
Everybelly
by Thao Lam

Some people may be self-conscious of their bellies at the pool, but little Maddie, who's eye-level with everyone's midsections, happily identifies her neighbors by their diverse variety of bellies, offering friendly anecdotes about each person. Read-alikes: Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins; Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder.
I need a hug by Aaron Blabey
I Need a Hug
by Aaron Blabey

Wanting to cuddle but rejected by animals who fear his prickly spikes, a lonely but outspoken porcupine finally meets an animal, a snake, who is perfectly happy to share a hug. By the award-winning author of The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon
It's Powwow Time!
by Martha Troian; illustrated by Hawlii Pichette

Through rhythmic words and rich onomatopoeia, readers can follow along with Bineshii as he absorbs the sensory experiences of his first powwow and finds the confidence to join the dancers. Try this next: Pasha Westbrook's Braided Roots, another lyrical story about a child's connection to their Indigenous heritage.
The Blue Canoe by Sheryl McFarlane
The Blue Canoe
by Sheryl McFarlane

This thoughtful book gently addresses a child's natural worries about shifting family dynamics as a mother and daughter spend the day on the lake, considering the way their paddling routine might change when a new baby arrives. Illustrations.
Mad at Dad by Janie Hao
Mad at Dad
by Janie Hao

In this highly engaging lift-the-flap story, a young girl gets very, very MAD at her dad. Her emotions take over, and the girl doesn't like the intensity and vastness of her feelings at all.
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
Cobourg Public Library
200 Ontario Street
Cobourg, Ontario K9A 5P4
905-372-9271

www.cobourg.library.on.ca