The Old Sleigh is a tale of family, a celebration of movement, a story of changing and staying the same. Beautiful illustrations highlight a delightfully cozy tale.
The Old Sleigh by Jarrett Pumphrey, (List Price: $18.99, Norton Young Readers, 9781324054122, November 2025)
Reviewed by Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
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A quiet, warm tale of seaweed soup, of haenyeo divers, of birthdays, of mothers and daughters. Hyewon Yum’s story and illustrations are a celebration of motherhood and the deep connection between women and nature, all through the tradition of birthday miyeokguk. A Spoonful of the Sea is perfect to share on birthdays, between mothers and daughters, and amongst families for whom mealtime is the most important part of the day.
A Spoonful of the Sea by Hyewon Yum, (List Price: $18.99, Norton Young Readers, 9781324053699, September 2025)
Reviewed by Mikey LaFave, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia
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We get to see Little Ghost Quilt in another adventure, this one during the Christmas season. I love how Little Ghost Quilt is different, and so are his ghost friends, and that is OKAY, more than normal. This story isn’t about changing to be more similar, but finding ways they can all experience the magic of the holidays. Little Ghost Quilt comes up with an idea to bring the holiday spirit to his friends.
The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise by Riel Nason, (List Price: $18.99, Tundra Books, 9781774885376, August 2025)
Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Choosing a Halloween Costume is a big deal, especially to the little ones. Sometimes this is the biggest decision of their young lives. I loved learning about the why’s. Sparks creativity and decision-making skills.
This Year, a Witch! by Zoey Abbott, (List Price: $19.99, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 9781665956024, July 2025)
Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina
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I can’t remember seeing a picture book about the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet). I love the gentle representation throughout and how it’s really a story about a young girl’s dreams of one day being a star. And yet, there’s such beautiful affirmation and support coming from the adults in her life and love for celebrating their Vietnamese heritage.
Mai’s Áo Dài by Thai Nguyen, (List Price: $18.99, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 9781665917346, January 2025)
Reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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An astonishingly gorgeous rendering of the significance of light in the cultural lives of communities around the world. It is a celebration of the natural rhythms that unite us all and the cultural practices that make us unique.
We Celebrate the Light by Jane Yolen, (List Price: $18.99, Rise x Penguin Workshop, 9780593752296, October 2024)
Reviewed by Damarius Johnson, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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I never thought about how Santa celebrated Christmas Day. Well for years he couldn’t, he had to start to make the toys for the next year. One year, the elves decide to change all that and create a special day just for Santa. This is my new favorite book. So funny and creative
Santa’s First Christmas by Mac Barnett, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593524978, October 2024)
Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina
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At Our Table is a must-buy for your Thanksgiving displays and deserves a permanent spot on your bookshelves. A story about family, home as a safe space to be yourself, and gathering around a table that has room for everyone, all in a way that honors Indigenous Peoples and land. I can’t recommend this one enough!
At Our Table by Patrick Hulse, (List Price: $18.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316537056, October 2024)
Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina
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Like many of my stories, Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden started with something I read about that made my brain light up – a real life poison garden in England! You see, I myself am wonderfully weird and a poison garden would’ve been just the kind of place I would’ve wanted to visit as a child. From a very early age I was multi-passionate, interested in all manner of things. But my unquenchable curiosity and varied interests often made me feel like I didn’t quite fit into any one box. And being curious and questioning sometimes put me at odds with the grown-ups in my life. I wasn’t satisfied with “because it’s always been that way” or “because I said so.” And I especially wasn’t interested in the words “you can’t.” In that way, Millie Fleur and I are alike.
― Christy Mandin, Letter to booksellers
What booksellers are saying about Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden
About Christy Mandin
Christy Mandin is the author and illustrator of multiple picture books. She’s grown many interesting plants in her garden over the years but, so far, none with teeth or tentacles. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and four children. Visit Christy online at christymandin.com.
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OOOh La La! Escargot, the adorable French gastropod, is back for another adventure. Today is Snailentine’s Day, and Escargot is (slowly) on the way to a tres bonne fete with canapés, crudités, dancing, and beautiful cards to exchange with the one who makes you feel magnifique! Silly, fun, and just a little French, Escargot is sure to become a giggle-inducing read-together favorite.
Love, Escargot by Dashka Slater, (List Price: $8.99, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 9780374391492, November 2023)
Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina
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Gorgeous illustrations, visible occasionally thru clever cutouts – what a sweet birthday tale!
The Little Tiger by Nicola Killen, (List Price: $17.99, Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 9781665940986, December 2023)
Reviewed by Alissa Redmond, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina
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I was aware that although my own Christmas situation is currently very happy with my wife and boys, a lot of people are not so lucky. I would be willing to bet that most people have had really low Christmases due to grief, illness or that curse of loneliness, so I wanted to portray main characters who are suffering through sadness or desperation or the feeling that their lives have drifted off course and show that maybe things will change or there could be a way back.
― Eoin Colfer, Interview, Reading Zone
What booksellers are saying about Juniper’s Christmas
About Eoin Colfer
Eoin Colfer is the best-selling author of the children’s fantasy series Artemis Fowl. His other notable works include The Dog Who Lost His Bark, illustrated by P.J. Lynch, and the novels Half Moon Investigations, Airman, and The Supernaturalist. The recipient of many awards, he lives in Ireland.
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I constantly have various characters chatting away inside my head. For me, most of my time “writing” doesn’t involve writing down anything at all. By the time I’m able to sit down and type out a manuscript, or even just a few lines of text, those characters have existed in my mind for a good long while. Especially when it’s a character from a series. It’s really kind of bizarre to put into words, but I have spent so much time with Gilbert, in my head, that it’s less about me deciding what Gilbert will say or do, and more about imagining him in any given situation and “seeing” how he reacts. I guess there was some point, when I first thought of these stories, where I created his character, but at this point I feel like he’s steering his own ship.
― Alex Willan, Interview, Children’s Bookroom
What booksellers are saying about Elves are the Worst
About Alex Willan
If it was Alex Willan, and not Gilbert the Goblin, who was in charge of writing the stories, he’d make a book called Anchovies Are the Worst!. Alex is the author-illustrator of Unicorns Are the Worst!, Dragons Are the Worst!, Yetis Are the Worst!, and the Jasper & Ollie series, as well as the illustrator of Got Your Nose, written by Alan Katz. Alex lives in Chicago with his dog, Harley, who is the absolute best. Visit him online at AlexWillan.com.
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After reading Sleepless in Dubai, you will be itching for a trip to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi! Nikki and Yash have been best friends since birth. But this last summer, their friendship blew up and they’ve been avoiding each other since. Now their families have a trip planned together to Dubai for Diwali and they’re going to have to find some way to get along.
Sleepless in Dubai by Sajni Patel, (List Price: $30, Amulet Books, 9781419766961, October 2023)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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For a very special few days each October, young witch/skater Gwen gets to hang out with her best friends: a werewolf and vampire from the monster realm who can only cross over right around Halloween. Together, they do spooky things like go to the mall and haunt normies! A super fun series opener (I hope), perfect for whatever the Zoomer/Alpha version of Hot Topic tweens is.
Hellaween by Moss Lawton, (List Price: 22.99, Razorbill, 9780593524299, August 2023)
Reviewed by Talia Smart, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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