(Cafe au lait/photo by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley/use with permission only, please)
Hello and welcome, one and all, to my new/old blog. Here are a few book reviews of some newly-released picture books for the kiddos.
First up, from father and daughter team Phil and Lily Rosenthal, we have the next book in the “Just Try It!” series, aka “A Phil and Lil Book.” (Dad, btw, is the guy who brought us the TV show “Everybody Loves Raymond.”) This sweet and cheerful picture book is called “Just Try It! Someplace New,” and has kooky, colorful, cartoony pictures from illustrator Luke Flowers. Dad is trying to convince his girl that a trip to Grandma’s house will be super fun, but she’s a homebody, our hero. She needs her bunny Hilda, and her own bed… and what if Grandma tries to feed her broccoli or something? Great way to work with kids who need a little coaxing before trying something different. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026, ages 4-8, $19.99.)
It’s pretty unusual to find a book authored by three generations of the same family. That’s just what we find with “Lucky & Norman,” a new picture book from the Cain family: Grandma Bobbi and Grandpa Al, Susan and Kenneth, and Sam and Eli joined together to write this sweet and touching story about two donkeys and the kids who befriend them. Or is that the other way around? Stella Lim hit it out of the park with the beautiful illustrations. This one will be loved by many readers, not just animal lovers. (Rocky Pond Books/Penguin Random House; 2026; all ages; perfect for grandparents and their grandkids and everyone else, too; $19.99.)
My pick of the week is “Just One Oak,” an exquisite and informative non-ficture picture book. This new release was written by Maria Gianferrari, with illustrations by Diana Sudyka. (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2026, all ages, $19.99.) Oak trees are everything, for a lot of creatures, not just the humans who stand in awe of their beauty and size. Cool fact: “Marcescense (mahr-CESS-ense), when a tree’s leaves brown and wither in autumn, but still remain on the tree, may be a tree’s defense against browsers like deer.” Look forward to extraordinary art and lots of facts and info.
See you next time! Happy reading.
— Nancy