I often suggest that people of all ages take a look at modern picture books. Read a stack of thirty-two- to 48-page stories, and one may grasp a sense of what a very short book can do: inspire, teach, question, amuse, and more. And how some may do the job better than others, at least for a particular reader.
Let’s look at new work from Joren Cull, Alana Tyson, Ebony Glenn, Britt Hawthorne, Tiffany Jewell, David Wilkerson, Daisy Hirst, Naomi Woodward, Rachel Gregg, Scott Rothman, & Tom Tinn-Disbury.
Order or pre-order the following books by clicking here or by visiting your favorite local bookstore.
Two standout picture books from 2025
Joren Cull’s Lap Cat (Penguin Workshop, Oct 2025) considers the disasters that may be created when someone is on a very focused (& selfish?) quest. In this case, a cat needs the perfect lap.
Alana Tyson & Ebony Glenn’s Devin’s Gift (Philomel Books, Sept 2025) offers a great way to decide on the perfect gift for a best friend.
Four worthwhile picture books for 2026
Britt Hawthorne, Tiffany Jewell, & David Wilkerson’s Main Street: A Community Story About Redlining (Kokila, Jan 2026) makes personal the ongoing effects of withholding financial services from some neighborhoods while servicing others.
Daisy Hirst’s There Is Not Usually a Hole (Candlewick, Jan 2026) highlights beloved stuffed animals to capture a sense of adventure and resolution larger than this book’s number of pages.
Naomi Woodward & Rachel Gregg’s Moon Sailors (Blue Dot Kids Press, Feb 2026) gently depicts the artful wonder of dreams as sleep arrives.
Scott Rothman & Tom Tinn-Disbury’s Sorry, Sammy (Happy Yak, Mar 2026) offer an epistolary, found-document album from which a clever story of apologies, robot innovation, and love arises.
Order or pre-order the above books by clicking here or by visiting your favorite local bookstore.
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