Starred titles are books of special distinction. See the archives for selections from previous months.
Amini, SaraMixed Feelings: A Graphic Novel; illus. by Shadia Amin. Graphix/Scholastic, 2026 [240p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781338797411 $24.99 Paper ed. ISBN 9781338797398 $14.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 4-6
Ellison, Joy MichaelWilli Ninja: Vogue Legend; illus. by Nabi H. Ali. Candlewick, 2026 [48p] (Rainbow History) Trade ed. ISBN 9781536230086 $19.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. K-3
Figueras, NúriaThe Visit; illus. by Anna Font; tr. from the Catalan by Lawrence Schimel. Eerdmans, 2026 [56p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780802856555 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* 4-7 yrs
Horwitz, Sarah JeanFalling to Fairyland. Little, Brown, 2026 [336p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781643752808 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780316595957 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 3-7
Lumsden, KateConfessions of a Mango; by Kate Lumsden and Nate Pieplow. Little, Brown, 2026 [224p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780316586078 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780316586092 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 4-6
Wynter, AnneWhile We’re Here; illus. by Micha Archer. Clarion, 2026 [40p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780063238299 $19.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* 4-7 yrs
See this month’s Big Picture, below, for review.
While We’re Here
Written by Anne Wynter and illus. by Micha Archer
Between playdates, school activities, homework, and errands, modern families are on the go all day long. So much to do leaves so little time to take a break or pause in stillness, and stopping to smell the roses is, more often than not, canceled, doubled-booked, or simply not thought of at all. Sometimes, however, the universe conspires against all those grand plans, upending the calendar in a bit of chaotic good that gives everyone a chance to breathe. Such is the case for the mom and daughter in this month’s Big Picture, While We’re Here, when a missed birthday party lands the two in a city park with a suddenly open afternoon. Both rush and calm are fully realized in the combination of tight text and gorgeous illustrations, thematically emphasizing the story’s message to readers young and old.
Sporting a puffy pink skirt, fancy red Mary Jane shoes, and two adorable afro puffs, our young protagonist clearly has somewhere to be as she tugs her mother out the door and onto the city streets. Dashing to catch the subway, the girl loses one of those snazzy shoes, and though a good Samaritan returns it to her in the subway car, there’s no time to dawdle too long for a thank-you. Mom and daughter are quickly off again: into the park, around the pond, over the bridge, and up the hill . . . only to discover the party they were in such a hurry to reach had actually happened yesterday. The little one is devastated, but mom has a few ideas for impromptu fun to turn the day around. Soon, the two are rolling down hills, watching ducklings, wandering through tunnels, and happily enjoying the fact that they have nowhere to be and nothing to do.
While the text is sparse and repetitive, its brevity perfectly captures both mom and daughter’s impatient desire to get going—there’s no time for details, just an insistent “hurry, hurry, jackets zipped. Hurry, hurry, out the door. Hurry, hurry, catch the train. We have somewhere to be!” The structured rhythm feels akin to Rosen’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (BCCB 9/89), especially when the early, harshly punctuated sentences are replaced later with breezy, cheerful suggestions from mom that center the present moment, each beginning “We’ll head back home, but while we’re here . . .” The tone thus becomes less of a directive and more an invitation to simply be with each other and notice the beauty around them: “We’ll sit awhile beneath a tree. We’ll wander off, just you and me.”
The reminder to be present is underscored by the absolutely stunning art from Caldecott honoree Archer (most recently seen in Wind Watchers, BCCB 3/25), who offers a kaleidoscope of textures and shapes over which kids and adults alike will want to linger. Layered tissue papers mimic the pieced geometry and textured color of stained-glass, while translucent acrylic washes suffuse scenes with a pleasant airiness. Stamped papers of varying weights shift in aesthetic with the tone of the story, as patterns initially structured and defined give way to a riot of organic lines, winding curves, and delicate forms when mom and daughter finally stop to take in the natural world. The lush green leaves of the park’s tall, slender trees and the blue-green water of the sparkling pond shimmer with energy, lending a sense of reflective wonder to scenes in which the two meander through the pastoral spaces. Skillful composition evokes both a sense of intimacy and expansiveness as tiny human figures—children and adults—walk, sit, and pause amidst glorious full spreads, emphasizing the quiet sort of community and connection that can come with stillness.
There are a lot of lessons here—patience, gratitude, adaptability—but the book never becomes didactic, instead letting the mother and daughter’s adventure speak for itself. And while it’s unlikely that a picture book will cut back families’ overstuffed calendars, the core idea that interrupted plans can be the best sort of fun is one to remember when schedules go awry.
