(2) K-3 This picture book's front matter offers an immediate hook: "When will I find you?" Narrator Janie, a young birder with a particular affinity for owls, is searching a wintry wooded area; careful viewers will notice that she has just passed an owl camouflaged in a nearby evergreen tree, underscoring the elusive nature of these creatures. Janie reads about owls; draws illustrations of them; keeps an owl journal; makes a map of the places she's looked; and eagerly seeks information from her teacher, a fellow birder. But she has never spotted one. Throughout the seasons, she and her mother silently walk the woods and visit the shore and even a cemetery, but no owls in sight. Cordell's tranquil landscapes, rendered in pen and ink and soft watercolors, reinforce the character's quiet determination as she continues her search. Her physical characteristics (particularly while bundled up in a puffer jacket, hat, and mittens, with binoculars) resemble those thrice ascribed to owls -- "Perfectly stout. Large, round eyes. Silent, knowing faces" -- giving a visual reinforcement to her connection to these "birds of the night." Both compelling and informational, the story of Janie's quest, like the experience of finally sighting a pair of owls, is "magic."

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) K-3 This picture book offers an enchanting reflection on the interconnectedness of Earth's living things and the sun's vital energy. The story in the illustrations unfolds through a cyclical sequence: the sun rises, illuminating a flower, which attracts a bee. The bee makes honey, enjoyed by a bear; a mosquito bites the bear and is eaten by a bird; the bird's egg falls and is taken by a mouse, who is chased by a fox; the fox's excrement feeds the soil and creatures below; and the pattern continues through various animals and natural elements. At the end of the day, the sun sets and the child narrator sings a song -- illustrated as radiant stardust -- to the sun as night approaches and the moon appears. The well-paced, rhythmic, and question-filled text evokes a sense of wonder and immediacy. It also connects to and extends the visual narrative. For example, on the page reading, "Good golden sun, does your belly ever ache? All the world is filled with sweetness. Would you like a little taste?" a bear is shown enjoying golden honey dripping from a hive. The vibrant, collage-like illustrations are digitally enhanced to create glowing, illuminated effects. Light, shadow, and perspective are thoughtfully employed, emphasizing the transfer of energy from one living being to another. A memorable contribution for readers pondering the universe and their place in it.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) K-3 "Toto" isn't the young protagonist's name but rather what she calls the large birthmark on her forehead. Opening lines read, "Sometimes I wonder how I would look without Toto." Despite loving support from family who ascribe positive meaning to the birthmark -- it means she has superpowers, or that an angel kissed her, and it is her grandmother's favorite spot to kiss -- the girl can tell that "sometimes people only see Toto, not me." Yum's limited palette of sepia, gray, black, and white in the mixed-media illustrations effectively reflects this worry by contrasting with the pink of the birthmark, making it stand out. Before school starts, the girl's mother gives her a haircut with bangs, covering Toto. Once at school, she quickly befriends a girl named Niko, and all is well until she hangs upside down on the monkey bars and her bangs fall aside. At this vulnerable, climactic moment, Yum slows the story's pace to devote several spreads to the narrator's anguished embarrassment and Niko's kind response. "The birthmark on your face means that you have another life!" Niko exclaims, sharing something that her aunt (who "knows everything") told her. Niko's excitement and wonder allow the narrator to adjust her perspective, rightly concluding that Toto makes her "extraordinary" and that without it, "I might not look like ME at all."

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Monica Arnaldo. Cecilia, a Latine girl, juggles two jobs: kid and interpreter. Text bubbles in yellow for Spanish and blue for English differentiate the languages spoken by Cecilia's "clients" (i.e., her parents) and by those at "grown-up places," including the doctor's office and the DMV. As Cecilia dutifully translates questions, concerns, and instructions, Arnaldo's colorful watercolor and pencil-crayon illustrations elaborate on Abtahi's metaphor -- Cecilia appears to work in an office, wears an oversized suit and tie, and gulps down coffee -- while conveying, through her frizzing ponytail and rumpled jacket, the pressures of "working overtime." When Cecilia is asked about her feelings during a parent-teacher conference and admits the truth, her mother and father console her and promise to get more help. Abtahi, who took inspiration from her own multilingual childhood, strikes an important balance in her resolution: the necessity of interpreting for immigrant parents is not dismissed or shamed, while the pressure it can place on their children is addressed with empathy. After other family members step in to "pick up shifts" for Cecilia, she's able to continue helping her family while prioritizing her primary job: being a kid.

Reviewer: Ed Spicer | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Brizida Magro. This tender, deeply empathetic story, narrated by a child grieving the loss of a sibling, offers a moving exploration of grief's many layers. "There's a hole in the bottom bunk where my brother, Matty, used to sleep," the narrator reflects on the first page. The illustrator visualizes this hole as a black scribble drifting throughout the house, a metaphor for grief that captures its persistent, all-encompassing nature. The hole appears beside Mom and Dad as they try to carry on and, affectingly, over their hearts as the family sits together at dinner. "I hate these holes," the narrator confesses, as classmates react in varying ways: some ignore them, some fail to notice. A friend, Nora, takes a different approach. Curious about the hole, she stays by the protagonist's side as her friend descends into it, spotlighted in the emotional illustrations by a warm yellow light. The story reaches a cathartic turning point when the child collapses in sorrow, shouting out, "I miss you, Matty." In the quiet that follows, Nora encourages her friend to share stories. These recollections bring them to vivid life, later brightening the mood at the family dinner table and offering a sense of connection and healing amidst their shared loss.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(3) K-3 A newly hatched sea turtle must face her fears to join her siblings in the ocean. Nellie tries several times to enter the water, but each time the big surf sends her back. Finally, she decides to climb to a high spot to get a different perspective. “It was exciting, beautiful, and so much bigger than the parts that were scary.” Seeing this gives her the courage to jump. While some of the digital art is less inspiring, the book's overall message about being brave is admirably presented.

Reviewer:

(2) K-3 The teeny-weeny unicorn is back, just as small, just as smudgy, and just as pink as he was in his original appearance in Thew Teeny-Weeny Unicorn (rev. 1/24). His goal in life remains unchanged -- get bigger -- but this time he has a genuine fairy-tale quest to undertake. A fairy princess charges him with a task: "Find for me something that grows teeny-weeny-er than you." On his epic travels our unicorn encounters a stork (foreshadowing!), a hairy leprechaun, a fierce dragon, and a wise old tree. As with many classic heroes, after a dark night of the soul our unicorn eventually finds his answer close to home. The cover teaser promises that we will discover where baby unicorns come from, and we do, but we also find out the answers to other vital questions such as what do leprechauns say to get attention? and do unicorns blush? An irresistible read-aloud if only for the pleasure of saying "teeny-weeny-er" five times. Fine-tuned wackiness, and an original, deadpan addition to the body of literature celebrating new siblings.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III. Narrated in the style of a personalized guidebook, the story unfolds as a series of maps, introducing a child to a new home and its environs within a vibrant community. Aerial and wide-angle shots highlight varied neighborhoods in the town -- from the elementary school and a little farm to its public library and park -- creating a sense of a thriving space and setting all the town's residents in their respective establishments. Vivid watercolors and hand-drawn images on double-page spreads encourage repeated viewings to absorb all the details. Deviating from a linear narrative sequence of events, similar to the panoramic style of cartoonist Chris Ware, this cartographic tour invites readers to engage their observational and spatial relational skills in an interactive format. At the same time, its welcoming tone (from a narrator who may just have personal experience with what the child is going through) delivers an uplifting message that beckons the newcomer, allaying the character's -- and maybe some readers' anxieties and mixed feelings about moving to a new home.

Reviewer: Jerry Dear | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(1) K-3 Illustrated by London Ladd. Hudson introduces young readers to the African American spiritual through descriptions of a young girl's emotions and associations accompanied by relevant spiritual verses. "When I hear spirituals, / They make me proud / To think of the strength / Our people have always had" is matched with an excerpt from the spiritual "Oh, Freedom," while the art shows enslaved people engaging in a historical uprising. As the girl remembers the civil rights movement, the text reads, "When I hear spirituals, / ...I sing with freedom fighters / I stand straight-shouldered with ancestors," and is accompanied by a chorus from "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" and a painting of a civil rights march. Other images include a church congregation, praise dancers, a riverbank baptism, and a train heading north during the Great Migration ("Get on board, little children"). Hudson's illuminating text and Ladd's expressive double-page spreads rendered in acrylic, colored pencil, and cut paper capture each aspect of the spirituals devoutly and respectfully. Extensive back matter includes an author's note, a glossary, and a list of resources.

Reviewer: Pauletta Brown Bracy | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2035

(3) K-3 After their parents' separation, mixed-race siblings Poppy and Robin adjust to living in two homes. Through the changing seasons, they navigate their feelings, seek comfort in familiar routines, and grow sunflowers together. Despite the challenges, they discover that love conquers all, and with time, change becomes easier. Vibrant digital illustrations with lots of natural outdoor scenery and a touch of nostalgic warmth create an optimistic mood. Back matter includes a psychologist's note for caregivers, online resources, and recommended reading.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh. A child takes the titular expression (perhaps less familiar to American readers) literally, imagining what it would take -- cranes, boats, a helicopter -- to pick up the family home and move it to a new location. The child is disappointed to find out the truth but concludes that “no matter where we live...we have each other.” The retro-style mixed-media illustrations, in a palette of pink, mint green, and orange, humorously bring the child’s vision to life.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(3) K-3 On a “beautiful, blue sky morning,” Eunny wakes up, eats breakfast, and walks to school with Mama. During the walk, Eunny takes the time to notice and appreciate the world around; the childlike second-person narration gently instructs readers to do the same (“You’re not in a hurry today. Stop for a moment, and look up”). Delicate watercolor and pencil illustrations depict a bustling neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea, and, in the middle of it all, a child and mother enjoying each other’s company.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ken Daley. On a Saturday morning, a young Black boy’s mother drops him off at the barbershop. Eager for the outing, the boy narrates the lively rituals of the Black men and neighborhood sons who gather there. Amid laughter, music, games, peddling, and storytelling, the barbershop serves as a hub for community, entertainment, oral tradition, and wisdom. Prismatic digital illustrations capture the barbershop's dynamic, multi-purpose nature, making this ode to Black barbershop culture truly shine.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) K-3 Rose's grandfather is a rug weaver, working mornings in a factory and weaving in the afternoon for friends and family on his at-home loom. Rose loves watching Baba joon's deft hands tie thousands of knots that become a beautiful garden of wool. Taking inspiration from their own garden, Rose draws a design for a rug, which Baba joon cheerfully agrees to teach her to weave. The two make colorful dyes from the garden -- using poppies for red, saffron for yellow, roses for pink, and indigo for blue. Then they dry the dyed yarn in their sunny courtyard. They work side by side, day after day, Baba joon knotting "quickly, quickly" and Rose "slowly, slowly," until one day he falls ill. Rose decides to finish the half-done rug, envisioning the two of them having tea in the garden together, sitting on the rug after it is completed. When Baba joon gets better, roles reverse as Rose now ties quickly and Baba joon more slowly. Kheiriyeh's affectionate narrative of intergenerational love, learning, and appreciation of beauty is based on her own experience with her beloved grandfather in Iran and the artistry of his craft. Textured illustrations in oil and acrylics lean into the natural color palette, while details such as furnishings and architectural elements add atmosphere.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 Pungent, salty, silky soy sauce takes center stage in this playful picture book honoring the centuries-old condiment and the time and care taken to make it. Follow along while Luan, Haru, and Yoo-mi express their love for it as they share meals with their relatives. The tasty rush of the sauce and the happiness the kids experience creating it pop on pages bursting with energetic text and imaginative illustrations. In one picture, the trio goes on a wild rafting ride in a sea of the savory sauce; in another section, they dream and dance amid a forest of bubbles as the liquid brews. The abundant pictures of dishes that use soy sauce -- dumplings, noodles, sushi, kimbap, tofu -- enhance the visual feast. Back matter provides a short history of the condiment with information on regional differences by country and fermentation techniques. A great read-aloud for budding foodies and fans of Hot Pot Night! by Chen, Bee-bim Bop! by Park, and Dim Sum for Everyone! by Lin.

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Aly McKnight. Rose, her oshiimeyan (younger sister), and their parents gather with other Métis families for the biannual buffalo hunt. This time will be different both because Rose's pa is one of the hunt's captains and because "the settlers and their iron horses had eliminated most of the buffalo"; the accompanying illustration shows Rose saying a "prayer of gratitude to the buffalo" while a train churns out black smoke, turning the blue sky gray. When scouts are unable to find buffalo after a week, Rose decides to look for them on her own. Her cleverness and bravery lead to success for the whole community. Lindstrom's (Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior, rev. 11/23) engaging text is well paired with McKnight's expansive, atmospheric watercolor and graphite illustrations. Back matter adds useful context; for example, in her appended note, Lindstrom says: "Rose's story is my version of the Little House series. So readers will know that before there was a little house on the prairie, there was a little tipi on the prairie...on the same land where the Little House stories were set." Important terms are defined, and a history of the buffalo hunt is provided. This Métis/Ojibwe perspective of life on the prairie by two Native creators is a moving tribute to a culture and people.

Reviewer: Nicholl Denice Montgomery | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by E. B. Goodale. Throughout the year, a child collects various objects from nature, finding comfort and creative inspiration in them. This endearing account begins in winter when the protagonist collects rocks. Deftly employing a second-person narration ("You can do a lot with a pocket full of rocks"), Mahoney introduces a pattern she follows throughout the book. The kid's parents and sister express skepticism, but the youngster pays them no mind. After all, these stones make perfect chairs for the fairies living in the child's imagination. In the ensuing sequences, the child pockets flower petals in spring, shells in summer, and acorns in autumn. The story has an effective cumulative quality to it as the protagonist places the objects into a jar at the end of each season. Mahoney carries the narrative to a satisfying resolution when the young one repurposes the finds as special gifts for each family member. Goodale's striking mixed-media illustrations perfectly convey the child's curiosity about worlds both natural and fantastical, as well as evoking the essence of each season. In a playful touch, Goodale often gives readers a see-through view inside pockets. A quiet yet vibrant celebration of nature, art, imagination, and individuality.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Yana Popova. A child comes to terms with her parents’ separation and subsequent remarriages, experiencing both joyful and sad family moments. With the support of Mom and Dad and new family members, the child discovers that love prevails and learns emotional acceptance. The illustrations are largely rendered as cutouts against blank, textured, watercolor paper backgrounds, and become grayscale when the child’s father leaves. The resulting non-finito effect perfectly complements this story about navigating divorce with imperfect grace.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Cinzia Battistel. It’s 1660, and young Yeshiva student Samuel is a part-time apprentice to famous painter Rembrandt. Rembrandt needs inspiration for a Purim scene, but finds none of the models as “courageous, faithful, and modest” as Queen Esther. Samuel recruits his sister, pleasing both his father and Rembrandt, who both newly see how the student’s faith and art can coalesce. Well-composed, inviting illustrations capture the period dress, decor, and architecture of seventeenth-century Amsterdam. Short, factual spotlights on the Purim holiday and Rembrandt’s life are appended and emphasize the Christian artist’s real-life collaboration with his city’s Jewish population.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel Ramirez. In this welcome story about an Indigenous child’s gender expression, Raven loves joining in the round dance and wishes for a ribbon skirt (usually worn by women). After some thought, his grandmother makes him a rainbow one: “I’ve lived for a long time, Nosesim, and I’m lucky to see beautiful things that I’ve never seen before.” Acrylic illustrations make creative use of ribbons, often combining them with images of dance and sewing. Author and illustrator notes pay tribute to Indigenous dance and to Two-Spirit people.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax