Monarch & Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal by Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen

Monarch & Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal by Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen

Published March, 2026

Beech Lane Books

Nonfiction

Picture Book

48 Pages

Hardcover

Review copy provided by publisher

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Kirkus Starred Review

Goodreads Summary

A luminously illustrated and thoroughly informative picture book poetry collection by Sibert Honor–winning duo Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen that captures the beauty and complexity of monarch and mourning cloak butterflies.

Monarch and mourning cloak butterflies may seem similar on the surface; they are about the same size and common throughout North America. But following along at a butterfly’s-eye-view, readers will discover how they live in different habitats, eat different foods, and have different strategies for avoiding enemies and making it through winter. Because even though all butterflies have the same basic body features and life cycle, each species has its own special way of surviving.

Delightful and illuminating poems, informational sidebars, and lush illustrations will immerse curious young readers in the lives of these two fascinating butterfly species.

My Thoughts

In a letter to the reader, Stewart and Brannen describe this book as, "...a collage of poems and artwork that captures the beauty and complexity of butterflies while also revealing our creative process." 

It feels exactly like looking through a journal of a scientist or naturalist who has delved into studying the Monarch and Mourning Cloak Butterflies. The book is filled with poems about the butterflies that are illustrated to look like they are taped into the journal. The poems are accompanied by notes, sketches, diagrams, and timelines. There is so much to learn and explore. I found myself noticing something new with each reread. I can just picture my students poring over this book together. 

Reading Monarch and Mourning Cloak would be a great springboard into nature journals. Kids (and adults) will be inspired to start their own journals after reading and exploring this book. 

image from Amazon.com

Don't miss the back matter that could be a book by itself. 

Visit Melissa Stewart's website for more information and resources to deepen and extend the learning. 

I can't wait to add this book to my school library. 

Swapped: Ollie's BIG Adventure by Maggie Testa

Swapped: Ollie's BIG Adventure 

by Maggie Testa

Published April, 2026

Simon Spotlight

Boardbook

Publisher Summary
Based on Skydance Animation and Netflix’s upcoming feature Swapped, coming in 2026 and sure to be a beloved children’s movie for years to come, Ollie’s Big Adventure is a gorgeous and fun-filled board book!

Meet Ollie and Ivy. Ollie is a Pookoo, the smallest and most vulnerable creature in the valley. Ivy is a Javan, a beautiful bird species that eats the Pookoo’s main food source.

When they magically switch bodies, these two natural competitors have to learn to work together to survive in a world that is both awe-inspiring and very dangerous. In fact, both of their species’ survival depends on it. Come along for a soaring adventure that will delight readers and fans of the film.

The book makes a nice companion to the popular animated movie on Netflix. Kids will love revisiting adorable animated characters and scenes from the movie. 

Here is more info about the movie:

ABOUT THE MOVIE: A buddy comedy about a small woodland creature (voiced by Michael B. Jordan) and a majestic bird (voiced by Juno Temple)—natural sworn enemies of The Valley—who suddenly swap bodies and must team up (while walking in each other’s feathers and fur) to survive the wildest adventure of their lives.

Sounds of Trash from Steamworks

 

Sounds of Trash

by Tina Athaide

Illustrated by Neha Rawat

Expected Publication August, 2026

Charlesbridge

Fiction

Hardcover

40 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary From Publisher 

Join Pran and his friends in an exploration of sound and the engineering design process, because STEAM is everywhere and for everyone!

Part of STEAMWORKS, a series of fiction picture books for ages 4-7 that relate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to kids’ everyday lives.

When Pran and his friends learn that the neighborhood block party is moved to the park where it won’t have music, they are determined to find a way for it to be part of the celebration. After some trial and error, and more than a few prototypes made from recyclables, they are ready to engineer their way to a jazzy, bhangra-filled day!

Extend the learning beyond the story with expertly crafted back matter, including additional information about sound and the engineering design process and fun STEAM activities.

STEAMWORKS features children of all backgrounds and abilities using scientific and mathematical thinking to solve everyday problems and answer questions that matter to them. Playful stories and extension activities ignite excitement for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and empower children as thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.

My Thoughts

Teachers are always asking me for picture books that show examples of using teamwork to reach a goal. This is one I will be recommending. Pran and pals use recycled items to make items that make musical sounds. Throughout the book, readers are exposed to musical vocabulary such as bhangra, vibration, twang, percussion, and more. 

The backmatter contains a short glossary and information about the science of sound. A visual cycle of an engineering design process shows readers how engineers design and modify designs. Then, readers are given suggestions to expand on the content of the books by counting, playing, and exploring further.  

Characters are depicted with various skin colors and features, suggesting that they are different races and from various cultures. 

Image from Amazon.com

Sounds of Trash is a great book to read any time, but especially during units on recycling, Earth Day, neighborhoods, and music. 

Manny y el tiempo hacen juego~Manny Matches the Weather from Steamworks

Manny y el tiempo hacen juego~Manny Matches the Weather

by Jenny Lacika

Illustrated by Antonieta Muñoz Estrada

Published May 5, 2026

Charlesbridge

Board Book

20 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary From Publisher

SIMULTANEOUS IN ENGLISH AND BILINGUAL SPANISH-ENGLISH! Join Manny in an exploration of temperature and weather, because STEAM is everywhere and for everyone!

Part of STEAMWORKS, a series of fiction board books for ages 0-3 that relate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to kids’ everyday lives

Manny has style! But sometimes, Manny’s style does not match the weather. Can Manny learn to observe both the temperature and the weather to build outfits with fashion and function in mind?

Perfect for parents and caregivers of independent toddlers exploring the world of dressing themselves.

Extend the learning beyond the story with expertly crafted back matter, including additional information about temperature and weather and fun STEAM activities.

STEAMWORKS features children of all backgrounds and abilities using scientific and mathematical thinking to solve everyday problems and answer questions that matter to them. Playful stories and extension activities ignite excitement for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and empower children as thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.

My Thoughts

This bilingual book is perfect for very young readers who speak English, Spanish, or both languages. Manny faces a common and very relatable problem that kids face: how to wear clothes you like, but also dress for the weather. He learns to use the weather forecast and the weather he sees outside to decide how to mix and match his outfits. 

The sturdy pages are filled with colorful illustrations of Manny and his mother dressed in various outfits in different types of weather. The book invites children and caregivers to discuss the weather and various vocabulary to describe weather conditions. 

I would recommend this book to parents and teachers of young children. 

Summer and Autumn Pop-Up Books from Phaidon

 

Summer Pops Up!

by Aurone Petit

Expected Publication May 20, 2026

Phaidon Press

Fiction

Pop Up Book 

12 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary From Publisher 

Winner, 2025 Best Baby Book Prize from the French Ministry of Culture

From family trips to ocean dips, experience summer’s everyday magic in this sturdy, neon pop-up book. With playful illustrations, engaging text, and pop-up surprises that toddlers (and parents) will love!

Designed especially for little hands, this bright, bold pop-up book brims with the joy of summer in every turn of the page. Perfectly portable and shaped for toddlers’ hands, this sturdy board book features six playful pop-up scenes that leap from the pages with high-contrast neon images – the yellow of sunshine and the pink of summer sunsets.

Celebrate the magic of summertime, from a busy bee zipping between blossoms to a bumpy ride in the family van, from spreading sunscreen on our faces to enjoying bare feet on a beach, and from diving into sunset seas to counting the stars at night. This book brings all our most-loved summer moments to life in a way that’s both familiar and fresh, clever and surprising. Every page bursting with the warm wonders of the season.

With Aurore Petit’s vibrant, playful illustrations, simple, engaging text, and pop-up surprises that toddlers (and parents!) will love, this book is a sensory celebration of summer’s everyday magic.

This is the first title in Aurore Petit’s seasonal pop-up series, publishing alongside Autumn Pops Up! and to be followed soon by winter and spring-themed books.

Autumn Pops Up!

by Aurone Petit

Expected Publication July 29, 2026

Phaidon Press

Fiction

Pop Up Book 

12 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary from Publisher

From falling leaves to Halloween, experience the delights of autumn in this neon, sturdy pop-up book. With playful illustrations, engaging text, and pop-up surprises that toddlers (and parents) will love!

Designed especially for little hands, this bright, bold pop-up board book brims with the magic of autumn in every turn of the page. Perfectly portable and shaped for toddlers’ hands, this sturdy book features six playful pop-up scenes that leap from the pages with high-contrast neon images that brighten even the most dreary of days – featuring the orange of pumpkins and fallen leaves.

From autumnal walks through woods filled with mushrooms, to tucking into a steaming bowl of pumpkin soup, sharing an umbrella on a rainy day to Halloween costumes, admiring the falling leaves to watching birds fly away for warmer weather, each spread captures the joy and beauty of the season in a way that’s both familiar and fresh, clever and surprising.

With Aurore Petit’s vibrant, playful illustrations, simple, engaging text, and pop-up surprises that toddlers (and parents!) will love, this book is a sensory celebration of autumn’s everyday magic.

This is the second title in Aurore Petit’s seasonal pop-up series, publishing alongside Summer Pops Up! and to be followed soon by winter and spring-themed books.

My Thoughts

What is more fun than a pop-up book? I remember looking at pop-up books as a child and being mesmerized. I could read them over and over again. These adorable pop-ups are made for the youngest readers. I have not read them with toddlers or babies, but my kindergarteners really love them, and they have stood up to repeated use. 

Each book uses the colors of the season (bright colors for summer and muted earthtones for autumn). 

Images from Amazon.com

Young readers will love these fun seasonal pop-up books!

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea by Janet Lawler and James Weston Lewis

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea

by Janet Lawler

Illustrated by James Weston Lewis

Published by Pahidon

Expected Release April 1, 2026

Board Book

Nonfiction

12 Pages

In this nonfiction board book, young readers will learn about different animals through riddle poems. 

They will love guessing what the animals are and lifting the flaps to find out. 

The flaps are created in the shape of various ocean plants and creatures, such as anemone, kelp, and shells. The illustrations and backgrounds are colorful and show other animals and different parts of the ocean. 

Young readers will LOVE this book!

Lolly on the Ice by Sarah S. Brannen

Lolly on the Ice

by Sarah S. Brannen

Published 2025

Random House

40 pages

Hardcover

Fiction Picture Book

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary

Lolly loves to ice skate. She feels confident and happy on the ice when it is only her father watching. When anyone else is around, Lolly freezes, and is too scared to skate. When she gets an opportunity to skate in an ice show, she is unable to move when she is in front of the judges. But she is given a role as a snowman in the show because the snowmen didn't need to move. 

When a key performer is injured during the show, Lolly needs to decide if she will face her fear of performing in front of people and step up and skate in the girl's place. 

My Thoughts

This book could be helpful for children who experience performance anxiety or stage fright. It is not a common subject of many books in kid lit. 

In the beginning, it is clear how much Lolly loves to skate. When she becomes a snowman, her energy is different, and you can tell from her facial expression and body language that she really wants to skate like the main performers. Lolly ultimately overcomes her fear and performs in the show. I do wish there had been more development and conflict when she needs to decide if she will skate in the show, and more of a resolution and clear lesson at the end. 

The illustrations, created in watercolor and ink, have a softness about them. The characters have various skin tones. The book includes a combination of one and two-page spreads. 

Image from Amazon.com

Image from Amazon.com