A powerful book that celebrates the development of the female body over 200 million years, tracing our ancestral mothers and their unique contributions to humanity. Fascinating, fun and full of facts that will leave you amazed in a multitude of ways.
Eve by Cat Bohannon, (List Price: $20, Knopf, 9780345806208, October 2023)
Reviewed by Maggie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC
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Cora and Ada are excited to embark on a wonderful expedition of the nature surrounding them and make up playful words to describe their amazing experiences. Now it’s up to you, the reader, to see what amazing words you can create!
Wildspeak by Sangma Francis, (List Price: $18.99, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 9781464261299, April 2026)
Reviewed by Judith, Octavia Books in New Orleans, LA
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I was a few pages into this story, and I knew I would have ended up crying. What a beautiful story based on a real house in Cape Cod that stood in the sand dunes for half a century, then was taken away by a storm. I will keep on dreaming that the little mouse landed on a safe place and was able to still enjoy the house, and they had a lot of fun adventures. A tale of the power of Mother Nature and how fleeting possessions are.
The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk, Kristen Adam (illus.), (List Price: $18.99, Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9780593407776, May 2026)
Reviewed by Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA
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Goldfinches by Mary Oliver is a beautiful book with gorgeous artwork and a gentle, thoughtful tone. It’s a wonderful introduction for kids to a great contemporary poet, while still being meaningful and enjoyable for adults. The illustrations are stunning and pair perfectly with the poetry, making this a lovely book to read together or enjoy quietly. This is a great pick for families, classrooms, and anyone who appreciates nature, poetry, and beautiful art.
Goldfinches by Mary Oliver, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593692417, March 2026)
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This book really made me pause. It explores the deep connection Black people have to land, trees, and botanical knowledge, and how that connection is tied to both legacy and trauma. Nature has always been part of our survival and resilience, even when it was shaped by enslavement, displacement, and loss. When Trees Testify reminds us that trees and land have witnessed our history. Reconnecting with our botanical roots isn’t just about plants…it’s about healing, reclaiming what was taken, and working through the trauma we’re still carrying. Thoughtful, reflective, a bit heavy…but honestly necessary.
When Trees Testify by Beronda L. Montgomery, (List Price: $27.99, Henry Holt and Co., 9781250335166, January 2026)
Reviewed by Morgan, The Book Worm Bookstore in Powder Springs, Georgia
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This book is a delightful visit to the weedy garden, from birds, butterflies, and bumblebees flying about to animals hopping, scurrying, and slithering through. The playful text paired with the gorgeous collage illustrations will make the reader hope for a visit.
The Weedy Garden by Margaret Renkl, Billy Renkl (illus), (List Price: $19.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063432819, February 2026)
Reviewed by Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
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Anyone who has lived in North Carolina in the early months of the year knows this story well. Round these parts, Springtime arrives not in a great shower of blossoming color, but in a small sprinkling of brave little buds, little splashes of color against the brown; a few warm days followed by another month of frightful cold; the Warm Spring Sun peeking timidly through cloud fingers. This book uses simple language and gorgeous drawings to capture the strange push-and-pull of the changing season. Cozy and perfect for reading aloud!
Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes, (List Price: $21.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063469259, February 2026)
Reviewed by Charlie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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A fun way for kids to learn about nature and the passage of time. Not a subject that is written about a lot for kids, but this not only talks about geology, but also talks about evolution and great correlation for how long it takes for any change to take place in any environment.
Stalactite & Stalagmite by Drew Beckmeyer, (List Price: $19.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665926638, March 2025)
Reviewed by Jamie, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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I absolutely adored this book. Val is so vivid with her imagery that her recounting of childhood memories makes them feel like my own. You could really see her crime writer background come through in her painting of winter as noir, her romanticization of the darkness. I learned so much about Scottish culture, too! This book is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a short read to make you fall in love with winter.
Winter by Val McDermid, (List Price: $22, Atlantic Monthly Press, 9780802167811, January 2026)
Reviewed by Aidan, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL
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Absolute perfection. I am a sucker for a novel in verse, and Katherine Applegate is a master of the genre. She packs so much action, empathy, and emotional depth into those short passages. I’m in awe. And – I’M IN LOVE WITH WOMBAT. This charming story about a stray dog, a displaced boy, a small owl, and a lonely bat is one that will absolutely win you over. It will be a great ‘bridge’ book for kids moving out of early chapter books into more robust novels.
Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate, (List Price: $19.99, Storytide, 9780063221178, May 2026)
Reviewed by Kate, Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, Kentucky
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Such an amazing read, especially as a woman. My mom and I both read it and took away very different things, in the best way, given that we’re in different stages of life; we both felt seen. This is a project that could only be done justice by a woman, and Kat does just that: advocating for more recognition of the female sex and anatomy in the field of biology, evolution, anthropology, and medicine.
Eve by Cat Bohannon, (List Price: $20, Knopf, 9780345806208, October 2023)
Reviewed by Meghan, The Lynx in Gainesville, Florida
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This fascinating, accessible, and often witty book takes a fresh look at human evolution by tracing it from the female perspective. Starting with our earliest mammalian ancestors, author and researcher Bohannon outlines how women’s bodies developed to be both human and uniquely female, and how much of humanity’s evolution was itself spurred by our female ancestors. Despite clocking in at over 400 pages, Evewas a surprisingly quick read – or at least it would have been had I not stopped regularly to read passages out loud, each time proclaiming “I never knew that!”
Eve by Cat Bohannon, (List Price: $20, Knopf, 9780345806208, October 2023)
Reviewed by Jude, Square Books in Oxford, MS
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Perfect for fans of The Wild Robot. Kelly created a wonderful story about the friendship between a girl, Zuzu, and her guardian robot, Snap. The book, in only 176 pages, covers a lot of important themes, like AI, climate change, and class. In a dystopian future where the wealthiest control the population with the help of machines, a group of kids tries to get by until an old guardian robot is added to the mix. The book also teaches the power of human connection. A great read. I would not be surprised if Kelly gets another award with this one!
The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly, (List Price: $19.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063485952, May 2026)
Reviewed by Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA
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Trees transform our exhalations into parts of themselves, embodying the breath of those who live and work near them. Montgomery’s stories and observations, organized around eight species, show us what trees can teach us about ourselves, our histories, and our society.
When Trees Testify by Beronda L. Montgomery, (List Price: $27.99, Henry Holt and Co., 9781250335166, January 2026)
Reviewed by Chris, Shelf Life Books in Richmond, Virginia
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Can a book be cozy, loving, encouraging, compassionate, AND a threat to the brutal and cutthroat consumer capitalism of our era? I present to you Robin Wall Kimmerer’s first book since her surprise mega-bestselling sleeper hit Braiding Sweetgrass. The serviceberry is a bushy, underappreciated fruit tree native to Eastern North America that Kimmerer uses as inspiration to muse broadly on “abundance and reciprocity in the natural world.” The tree embodies the values of gratitude, interconnectedness, and mutual aid. Strikingly, the serviceberry’s broad and generous distribution of its wealth ensures its own flourishing! Let’s all read this small, beautiful, and powerful little book and talk about how we can reimagine modern economic life to be a little more sane and humane!
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, (List Price: $20, Scribner, 9781668072240, November 2024)
Reviewed by Josh, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia
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