Trouble by Katherine Battersby

When a very large bear moves in next door, Squirrel is sure he can only be trouble for her and her beloved pet mouse, Chamomile. He has terrible teeth, and knife like claws, and huge, horrifying hungers . . . at least that’s how Squirrel sees him. But where Squirrel sees trouble, Chamomile sees a new neighbor just trying to be friendly. Who is right…..and who is really causing trouble?

I Don’t Want to Go to School! by Lula Bell

It’s Mouse’s first day of school, and she is so nervous. She can’t eat her cereal, and she wonders what the children will be like. And it’s Dinosaur’s first day of school, too! He is so nervous that he can’t eat his toast. He is afraid that the teacher won’t like him. And the school looks so scary! But when Mouse and Dinosaur arrive at school, they’re both in for a big, happy surprise!

3. How to Spot a Best Friend by Bea Birdsong

On her way to school, a girl explains to her mother the differences between a friend and a best friend in this celebration of kindness and friendship.

The Alpactory: Ready, Pack, Go! by Ruth Chan

New experiences can be scary. It never seems like you’ll be 100% ready. 

Should Marley pack 2 pencils or 25 for the first day of school? How many pairs of underwear does Ralph need for a sleepover? 

Have no fear, the Alpactory is here to help! These alpacas will pack and pack and pack, until…WAIT! Nobody needs that much stuff! Maybe Marley and Ralph have been ready all along.

6. We Want a Dog by Lo Cole

We want a dog! What kind of dog…?

This hilarious rhyming texts takes us through twenty-seven unexpected and amusing varieties of dogs that one could have, like “one that begs, one that sheds, one that rips things into shreds.” And while the book is sure to delight any dog lover, the narrator’s choice at the end will make readers laugh out loud! See how many of these lovable and amusing pups you can recognize from your own life.

The Giggles Are Coming by Christopher Eliopoulos

Two best friends are so excited about the first day of school. They’re in the same class, their classroom is full of art supplies, and they’ve even made a new friend. But then it happens: Just as the teacher introduces herself, the GIGGLES show up! They’re everywhere and impossible to escape. And as if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, soon a GUFFAW shows up, and then the CHUCKLES! What will their teacher think if they can’t avoid laughing in the middle of her first lesson?

7. There’s a Superhero in Your Book by Tom Fletcher

Whoosh! There’s a Superhero in your book!

In this brilliantly interactive picture book, help your new Superhero friend take on the terrible Scribbler. Use the power of your imagination to unlock Superhero’s super powers. You’d better act quickly before the Scribbler ruins your book completely!

part of the Who’s In Your Book? series

Moon Camp by Barry Gott

What if summer camp was in outer space?

Summer is here! But Jake doesn’t want to go to summer camp. Even if camp is on the moon. Sure enough, he gets lost during the nature hike, his air canoe springs a leak, there’s scary noises at night, and he’s pretty sure he’s allergic to moon dust. The worst part? He misses home.

But then Sam arrives and maybe Moon Camp isn’t so bad after all?

1. Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale

Kitty thinks she might be a unicorn. 

She feels so perfectly unicorn-y! “Neigh!” says Kitty. 

But when Unicorn clop clop clops over, sweeping his magnificent tail and neighing a mighty neigh, Kitty feels no bigger than a ball of lint.

Can this unlikely pair embrace who they are, and truly see one another?

book 1 in the Kitty-Corn series

Spring Stinks by Ryan T. Higgins

Ruth the bunny is excited to share the smells of spring with Bruce, but Bruce thinks spring stinks!

book 6 in the Mother Bruce series

4. Let’s Taco about How Great You Are by Bob Holt

Hey, kid, let’s TACO about how great you are. DONUT how you do it. You always find a RAISIN to smile.

Advice, pep-talks, smiles, and silly puns aplenty are DISHED out (see what I did there?) in this bright, festive gift book that celebrates the reader on every page. Ideal for graduation, birthdays, and big milestones in a kid’s life, here is a picture book that tells your young superstar that you are hap-PEA to know them and they can’t be BEET. So LETTUCE all yell, Yay, you!

Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert, Is a Sports Superstar by Morag Hood

The ever-oblivious Sophie Johnson returns to tackle the world of sports using her incredible athletic abilities…or so she thinks!

Sophie Johnson is a self-proclaimed expert. She knows everything about unicorns and detective work, and now she’s sure she knows everything about athletics, too. Preparing for a fun run, Sophie is so busy with her Excellent Race Plan that she doesn’t have time to listen to anyone’s advice about how to prepare—or even where to run! Can she stay on course to win gold, or will her perfect plan go sideways?

part of the Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert series

2. My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain

From the winner of The Great British Baking Show and star of Nadiya’s Time to Eat comes a heartfelt story to help give children and parents the tools they need to talk about worries and anxiety.

A touching story about a little boy whose worry monster follows him everywhere he goes. It’s there when he gets dressed, when he wants to play with his toys, and even when his friends come over to visit. How can he escape his worries?

8. Toasty by Sarah Hwang

Toasty loves dogs–so much so that he’d like to be one. He knows there are some differences–most dogs have four legs, but Toasty has two arms and two legs. Some dogs sleep in dog houses, but Toasty sleeps in a toaster. All dogs have hair and fur, but Toasty has neither because he’s made of bread. In spite of these differences, he decides to go to the park to play with the dogs but runs into trouble when they want to eat him. Lucky for Toasty, he is rescued by a little girl who has always wanted a dog but can’t have one because she is allergic. Toasty is the perfect dog for her.

10. The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky by Jory John

Halloween is the Bad Seed’s favorite holiday of the year. But what’s a seed to do when he can’t find a show-stopping costume for the big night? Postpone trick-or-treating for everyone, of course!

Can he get a costume together in time? Or will this seed return to his baaaaaaaaad ways?

part of the Bad Seed series

How to Apologize by David LaRochelle

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone knew how to apologize? Luckily, this humorous guidebook is full of practical tips about when, why, and how to say you’re sorry. From a porcupine who accidentally popped his friend’s balloon to a snail who was running so fast he stepped on a sloth’s toes, hilarious examples and sweet illustrations abound. For both listeners who are just learning and older readers who need a refresher, this book will come as a welcome reminder that even though apologizing can be hard, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

The Whole Hole Story by Vivian McInerny

Zia is used to the hole in her pocket—she frequently fills it with frogs and other objects. And as it gets bigger and bigger, she starts to wonder what might happen . . . if she fell right through. Would she cover it with a blanket to catch an elephant, or dig a tunnel to the other side of the world? The possibilities are endless, and readers will love following Zia’s adventurous imagination from beginning to end.

Nerdycorn by Andrew Root

Meet Fern! She’s a smart, creative unicorn who prefers building robots and coding software to jumping through shimmering rainbows and splashing in majestic waterfalls. Even though Fern is a good friend and always willing to help others, the other unicorns tease her and call her a nerdycorn.

One day, Fern has had enough and decides to stop fixing her friends’ broken things. But then the confetti machine, the rainbow synthesizer, and the starlight bedazzler all go haywire during the biggest Sparkle Dance Party of the year! Fern can certainly fix them… but will she?

5. Duck Duck Moose by Mary Sullivan

Duck, Duck, and Moose are playing a quiet game of cards when their friend comes running to ask: Where is Goose? 

Duck, Duck, and Moose search high and low and get directions from some barnyard friends, but Goose is nowhere to be found. Calm, calm, calm, their friend tells them. Don’t freak out. But what are they to do when the day draws to a close and they are snuggling up for bed with no glimpse of Goose?

Cows Go Boo! by Steve Webb

On Farmer George’s farm, the pigs go “oink,” the sheep go “baa,” and cows go . . . wait, where did all the cows go?

These mischievous cows have taken to sneaking up on Farmer George and shouting “BOO!” Luckily, George knows just how to put his impolite herd to good use.

Follow That Food! by Christy Webster

Best friends Waffles and Mochi know that delicious food brings people together. So, when they start new jobs at a supermarket, they want to make a special treat for their coworkers. But what should it be? Their search for an answer will take them around the world as they investigate ingredients, find flavors, and make new friends. Featuring a special introductory letter from Michelle Obama, this full-color, hardcover storybook is sure to please girls and boys ages 3 to 7.

part of the Waffles + Mochi series

Elephants Do Not Belong in Trees by Russ Willms

Elephants do not belong in trees. It’s not natural. It makes other animals uncomfortable. This is the story of Larry, an elephant who wanted to live in a tree. This is a story about being the new kid and being a little bit different (okay, A LOT different). A story about acceptance and making friends.

When Larry decides he wants to live in the big bushy tree in the middle of the wide-open field, the current residents, Bird, Squirrel and Monkey, are not very welcoming. They throw nuts at him and peck at his head; they tell him to leave and are downright rude. But Larry persists–why can’t he live in the tree? When his new home is threatened by something much bigger than all the animals combined, Larry shows everyone that he cares just as much about the tree as they do.

9. Bear Can’t Wait by Karma Wilson

Patience might be a virtue but waiting is so hard! On a beautiful sunny afternoon, Bear can’t sit still because he’s got a surprise planned for his good friend Hare. He hustles and bustles and scuttles about. But when, in his excitement, he makes a mess of things, can he set it all right before Hare shows up?

part of the Bear series

Sheepish (Wolf Under Cover) by Helen Yoon

Hungry Wolf disguises himself as a sheep and nobody suspects a thing! (Or do they?)

Wolf dreams of tasty sheep–sheep sandwiches, sheep sushi, sheep tacos! In his clever sheep costume, he infiltrates the friendly neighborhood herd, blending in by helping with chores, reading bedtime stories to the lambs, and working up a sweat in sheep aerobics class. Wolf’s sneaky plan works so well, he becomes part of the family. And suddenly, the sheep don’t seem quite as tasty. . . .

Mustache Duckstache by Amy Young

When a mustachioed rabbit spots a mustache contest, he’s sure he has the competition beat. That is, until a pesky frog hops up with his own fine mustache. And a duck waddles up with a…duckstache? Soon, the competition is full of moosestaches and mousestaches, whalestaches and tailstaches–and every kind of ‘stache in between.