Cinderella — With Dogs! by Linda Bailey

A hilarious picture book featuring a dog-loving kingdom and the most fabulous, far-out fairy DOGmother ever!

Here is a Cinderella story like no other. When Cinderella wishes for a fairy godmother, she’s not expecting one that barks! And this fairy dogmother has a different agenda. Yes, Cinderella will have a new dress, but made of a cozy dog blanket. Yes, they will go to the ball, but they will run there and chase squirrels along the way.

There’s nothing like a canine companion to get a girl out of the house and her mind off her troubles! Yes, indeed, dogs do make everything better—and are a reminder that you don’t need “happily ever after” when you have the joy of now. Readers will get a kick out of this retelling with its lovable cast of characters and refreshing ending.

Have You Seen Dinosaur? by David Barrow

Best friends boy, dog, and elephant are VERY good at hide-and-seek. There’s a missing dinosaur in the city―who better to spot this elusive giant? They search the skate park, the museum, the subway . . . No one in the city can spot the dinosaur, not even this expert hide-and-seek team. But delighted readers will be pointing “There it is!” from the first page.

This absurd, laugh-out-loud picture book is richly illustrated with David Barrow’s trademark beautiful use of light and color and dramatic cityscapes―a guaranteed hit with dinosaur-loving toddlers. With clues, surprises, and humor, this game-inside-a-book celebrates imaginative play and is perfect for sharing with children who will love being better at finding the dinosaur than their adult reader.

1. Bluey: Sleepytime by Joe Brumm

It’s sleepytime at the Heeler house! Bingo wants to do a Big Girl sleep. As she drifts away into a dreamy adventure with Flopsy, will Bingo make it through the night and wake up in her own bed?

part of the Bluey series

The Library Fish Learns to Read by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Library Fish returns in this charming picture book about the unusually literary fish learning to do what everyone around her loves—read!

Library Fish is very happy in her bowl on Mr. Hughes the librarian’s desk. From there, she listens to story time and watches Mr. Hughes teach children the alphabet. He says the alphabet is made of letters, letters make sounds, blending those sounds together makes words, and words make stories.

Library Fish wants to read, too! She starts jumping out of her bowl to practice when the library closes at night. Can Library Fish become a reader all on her own?

5-Minute Nature Stories: True tales from the Woodland by Gabby Dawnay

Down by the meadow that blows wild and free,
There’s a world full of wonders I want you to see . . .

Written in engaging rhyming text, each real-life tale in this ten-story collection introduces one of nature’s wonders. And at the end of each story, children are invited to explore an informative “All About” page to discover more facts about the topic. Stories include:
The Mystery of a Mushroom
The Woodwide Web
The Song of the Deer
The Flight of the Blackbirds
The Magical Metamorphosis of Frogs
The Hidden Great Horned Owl
The Stag Beetle’s Seven-Year Feast
The Dance of the Honeybee
The Little Rabbit and the Green Machine
The Moth and the Moon

These make perfect bedtime stories for kids with curious minds!

The Crayons Go Back to School by Drew Daywalt

The crayons are getting ready to go back to school, and each crayon has a subject they’re looking forward to the most. They’re also ready to meet new friends. . . and let loose during their very favorite time of day: art class. A humorous back-to-school story from everyone’s favorite school supplies.

part of the Crayons series

4. Pete the Cat: Show-and-Tell by Kimberly Dean

Pete the Cat and his friends show off their favorite toys in this super cool storybook from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator team Kimberly and James Dean.

Pete the Cat can’t wait for show-and-tell. He knows just what to bring—his baseball glove! But when he sees what everyone else is sharing, he starts to worry. Is his glove actually cool enough?

Join Pete the Cat and his friends as they learn the true meaning of cool!

part of the Pete the Cat series

Oona in the Arctic by Kelly DiPucchio

Oona is on a mission! A baby beluga whale has lost her way from her family and needs help getting back to her icy arctic home!

But Oona and her best friend Otto have never traveled from their warm ocean waters before. Will old ship maps and a compass be enough to lead them through the dangerous storms ahead

Oona may be a little mermaid, but she is determined to see this big adventure through! With a bit of bravery and help from some new friends, they’ll do all they can to reunite this baby whale with her pod once more.

book 3 of the Oona the Mermaid series

8. Llama Llama’s Little Lie by Reed Duncan

When Llama Llama accidentally breaks Mama Llama’s favorite picture frame, he decides to tell a little lie about how it happened. In the end, Llama Llama learns a powerful lesson about telling the truth, even if it’s hard to say.

Told with Anna Dewdney’s signature sweet rhyme, this newest installment of the Llama Llama series is timeless and can be used as a tool to educate readers in social and emotional learning.

part of the Llama Llama series

How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide by Ame Dyckman

In this “safety guide,” a child in a museum asks their parents how the dinosaurs all became extinct. Well, their father has some theories. Gallimimus? Ran with scissors. Ankylosaurus? Tipped in their chair. Spinosaurus? Swam after eating. Tyrannosaurus rex? Didn’t change their underwear. By the end of the story, the child vows to never do any of these “dangerous” things again. Those dinosaurs should have been more careful!

The Umbrella by Beth Ferry

In a dreary town where it always rains, a little girl and her dog discover an unexpected way to spread the light.

Told with surprise and humor, here is a story of generosity, perseverance, and the way that happiness can be contagious—all it takes is one person and a bright idea. This gorgeously illustrated story is a feel-good classic in the making for all bedtimes and story times.

In Every Life by Marla Frazee

In every life, there is love and loss, hope and joy, wonder and mystery. With glowing art and spare, powerful text, Caldecott Honor–winning creator Marla Frazee celebrates the moments, feelings, and experiences, both big and small, that make up a life.

5. Party Hearty Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale

Kitty has a grand idea.
“Let’s throw a kitty-corn party!”

But when newcomer Puppy messes up Kitty’s perfectly laid plans and steals Unicorn’s attention and affection, Kitty is NOT pleased. When jealousy takes hold, can Unicorn help Kitty see that nothing will ever threaten a friendship as strong as theirs?

The magical, bestselling team of Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham reunite for another heart-bursting story featuring an utterly adorable kitty-corn pair—plus Puppy, too! ARF!—reassuring readers that true friends never run out of love for each other.

book 3 in the Kitty-Corn series

3. Daniel Says I’m Sorry by Haley Hoffman

Daniel and his friends are having a great time playing pretend cars at preschool. But when Daniel keeps accidentally crashing into Katerina, she gets very upset. Daniel learns an important lesson: genuinely saying “I’m sorry” goes a long way to make friends feel better!

part of the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood series

2. Dive into Puplantis! by Matt Huntley

An all-new storybook featuring Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol—and new merpup named Coral!

Are you ready for an underwater adventure in Puplantis with Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the rest of the PAW Patrol? When Mayor Humdinger causes deep-sea chaos it’s up to the heroic pups and their new friend, a merpup named Coral, to save the day. Boys and girls ages 3 to 7 will love this exciting new storybook.

Get on the case with Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol! Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the rest of the pups are always ready to save their friends and protect the community of Adventure Bay using their vehicles, tools, and teamwork.

part of the PAW Patrol series

Dinosaurs Don’t Exist by Mark Janssen

Two brothers set off on a pretend expedition to find dinosaurs. Of course, everyone knows dinosaurs don’t exist, so there’s no need to be scared—or is there? The brothers see rocks and mountains, but as each page unfolds the landscape reveals itself full of dinosaurs!

In his signature bold, sparkling style, renowned author and illustrator Mark Janssen plays visual tricks with scale. Proceed with caution and look closer…that tree or hill might be a dinosaur, too.

10. Got Your Nose! by Alan Katz

What happens when a good-natured game of “got your nose” goes too far—and one little girl’s nose runs free.

Becky loves Grandpa Max. When he visits, they have a lot of fun together. But when Grandpa Max pulls his favorite prank on Becky, he accidentally takes her nose—for real! OH NO! Now Becky and Grandpa Max have to chase Becky’s runny nose all over town—or else, who nose what will happen?

The Monster Mac and Cheese Party by Todd Parr

We all know kids love macaroni and cheese. But who knew monsters do too?

In this story, the monsters hold a mac and cheese party (no humans allowed) and share all their creepy twists on this favorite food. What do zombies like? Mac and cheese with eyeballs! How do sea monsters eat their mac and cheese? In the bathtub, of course! The party is going fine until the monsters are surprised by the unexpected arrival of HUMANS at their party.

Milo’s Monster by Tom Percival

Milo loves spending time with his best friend, Jay. But when a new girl named Suzi moves in next door, Milo starts to feel left out. The jealous feeling gets stronger and stronger–until suddenly, a GREEN-EYED MONSTER pops up beside him! Soon, the monster is twisting up all of Milo’s thoughts and making him sad. It won’t leave him alone!

Can Milo find a way to free himself from the monster and repair his friendship?

Warm and uplifting, Milo’s Monster is an ideal starting point for helping children to build strong friendships and say goodbye to jealous feelings.

The Three Little Guinea Pigs by Erica S. Perl

Once upon a time there were three little pigs… three little guinea pigs!

Their names were Rosie, Minty, and Pumpkin.
They lived with their mama in a cozy little house.
Then they bid her a fond farewell and set off on their own.
So far, so good….

But what will they do if a hungry fox comes along?
Will they go wheek, wheek, wheek all the way home?
Or can they find a way to save their fluffy behinds?

A laugh-out-loud retelling of The Three Little Pigs, perfect for fans of fairytales and guinea pigs alike. This clever story by prolific children’s book author Erica Perl makes a perfect read-aloud and includes nonfiction backmatter with additional fun facts about guinea pigs.

Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza

If we could put on a pair of magical invisible glasses and see all the feelings, ideas, and other invisible things that populate our world, what would they look like? Could you see an itch? Could you describe hope? From the sound of a dog barking to the rainbow-MAGIC taste of a lollipop, from gratitude to grit, this book will help you meet the many interesting sensations that follow you every day, even if you can’t see them.

Explore the way a sad song can sometimes make you happy and discover that laughs—even fake ones—can multiply faster than you’d imagine. As readers give these unknown forces a name, they’ll also find a gentle invitation to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on the invisible things at work in their own lives.

Molly, Olive, and Dexter Play Hide-and-Seek by Catherine Rayner

Meet Molly the hare, Olive the owl, and Dexter the fox, three friends who live near the oak tree at the edge of the meadow. Hide-and-seek is Molly’s favorite game, but things aren’t going her way. For starters, Olive and Dexter don’t seem to know the rules. And when Molly shows her friends how to play properly, they hide a little too well.

Set in a delicately rendered pastoral world of soft color and shimmering line, here is a picture book that tackles outsize toddler emotions with sensitivity and whimsy. Make way for the singular Molly, Olive, and Dexter—ready or not, here they come!

Nubby by Dan Richards

Nubby the stuffed rabbit is his owner’s favorite toy, but you wouldn’t know it from the way he’s treated. He’s been dropped, dragged, and even used as a nose wipe. He decides to strike out for a fresh start, and his adventure takes him across the realm—or at least around the cul-de-sac—in search of treasure, fame, and glory. But these rewards aren’t as sweet as Nubby hoped they’d be. What’s missing?

As Nubby travels through the neighborhood, his owner’s family begins to search for him. Nubby’s journey might not have taken him far, but it does teach him one no amount of glory could replace the love of his owner.

Max and Moonbean by Rob Scotton

It’s the night before the big show-and-tell, and Max isn’t sure what to bring. He’s shy and worried that it will all go all wrong. But when a space creature named Moonbean crashes into his room, Max discovers all he needed was a friend to help him find his confidence.

Heartfelt and whimsically illustrated, Max and Moonbean is an empowering picture book story about friendship, bravery, and daring to dream big.

Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance! by Hervé Tullet

Read, play, and DANCE on the pages of this interactive and definitely out-of-the box picture book.

Hervé Tullet invites you to a joyful dance where your hand is the star and the book your stage. A gentle glide to start things off, a few little leaps, then big bouncy jumps–growing in complexity and animation finally building to a crescendo of color, action, and movement!

A Very Dinosaur Birthday by Adam Wallace

What if dinosaurs showed up at your birthday party? From prehistoric presents to games crashing out of control and your snacks going extinct, it’s a dino disaster! Dinosaurs are big, and strong, and scary, and farty, So do you really want them coming to your birthday party? Watch out!

Birthdays will never be the same with this silly picture book adventure featuring lively rhymes and hilarious illustrations!

How to Catch a Bookworm by Alice Walstead

Join the How to Catch kids as they try to catch a magical Bookworm!

part of the How to Catch series

6. Tooth Fairy Helper by Christy Webster

Ride along with Uni on a magical adventure to help the Tooth Fairy! Are you a helper like Uni the unicorn?

When someone you love gets a wiggly tooth, it may be cause for excitement or anxiety. Ease any fears and bring on the joy with this humorous story focusing on the magic and delight of the Tooth Fairy–and Uni the unicorn, of course!

The little girl has a wiggly tooth! Soon the Tooth Fairy will come and give her a prize. But there’s one problem . . . the Tooth Fairy is soooo tired! Luckily, Uni the unicorn is always ready to help. They’ve got a long night ahead, and shhh, they’ll need to be quiet! It just might take a little Uni magic, too. . . .

part of the Uni the Unicorn series

Every Dreaming Creature by Brendan Wenzel

Welcome to a magical world of endless curiosity. You are a sleeping salamander. A dancing octopus. A speeding falcon…even a sneaking tiger and playful human child. As one dream slips into another, every page turn immerses you in the sensory wonder of the world and all its creatures, from the ocean depths to soaring skies, and everything in between. Each creature dreams and experiences life in a different way. Each is connected despite their differences.

7. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—for driving a sleigh! ’Tis also the season—for driving a sleigh! Oh, and joy to the—driving a sleigh! The Pigeon has made a list and checked it once. Can his holiday dream come true? Or will The Pigeon be left out in the cold?

You’ll share some HO-HO-HOs and HA-HA-HAs finding out in three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems’ ninth Pigeon book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!

part of the Pigeon series