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2026 CHILDREN''S BOOK COUNCIL HOT OFF THE PRESS PICKAn interactive board book adventure on the seas of ancient Greece, Brooke Jorden’s adaptation of The Odyssey is an epic journey that tells of heroism and homecomingHomer’s classic epic comes to life for young children! Wheels, pull tabs, and other interactive elements invite kids to outsmart mythical monsters, brave treacherous waters, and return home to Ithaca with Odysseus.Celebrating family and perseverance, this board book helps children understand that no matter how far you go, home is always worth the journey.Much more than a primer, Lit for Little Hands: The Odyssey tells the actual story in simple, engaging prose. Fans of the beloved novel will be delighted by the book’s attention to detail, clever use of original dialogue, and colorful illustrations by Olga Skomorokhova.And the book’s use of super-sturdy board means that everyone can enjoy this tale of wit, victory, and reunion over . . . and over . . . and over again!“I long for home, long for the sight of home.”

A boy’s innovative genius proves that machines can never replace writers in this picture book about creativity, imagination, and the writing processI need more books. I just can’t get enough. But how does one make a book? I’ve seen books at the school and the library. How do they get their books? They must use a book-making machine.What happens when a book-loving child can’t get books fast enough? He’ll build a machine that will produce an entire library, of course! With a doohickey here and a whatchamacallit there, he puts his book machine together and waits for the books to pop out . . . and waits . . . and waits. After checking to make sure there wasn’t a dragon inside the machine gobbling up all his books, he deduces that he must write his own story.Combining science with art and writing, The Book Machine introduces kids to creativity and critical thinking, teaching them to solve problems and utilize all their talents in order to reach their goals. With adorable illustrations that spark the imagination, every page will have kids falling in love with making ideas come to life. And a list of helpful, easy-to-follow steps at the end will walk kids through the writing process, encouraging them to begin writing their own stories with the book machines built right inside of them.

Send your child’s favorite dinosaurs off to bed—and your child, too!—with this rhyming bedtime story that teaches the value of sleepStomp and swim and fly and creep!Yawn . . . these dinos need their sleep.Now it’s time for nighty night.T-Rex pulls his blankie tight.Just like your little dinosaur, these dinos love to play. But unlike your little dinosaur, they also love to sleep! Velociraptor snuggles under a cozy fern, Brontosaurus hugs his bear, and pretty soon, they all fall asleep until morning. But shh, don’t wake them! They need sleep to stay healthy, big, and strong, and so does your little dinosaur.A sweet rhyming picture book perfect for your bedtime routine, Nighty Night, Dinos combines 11 of your child’s favorite dinosaurs (something they love) and the importance of sleep (something they, well, tolerate). But these gentle illustrations of dinosaurs tucked into bed will make bedtime seem exciting, and pretty soon you’ll have a snoozing little dino, too.

Write and draw your way to self-compassion through 50 simple creative exercises in this fully illustrated, research-backed journalHave you ever realized that we’re kinder to other people than we are to ourselves? Based on the psychology of self-compassion and built using human-centered design thinking, The Art of Imperfection is a guided journal that challenges negative self-talk and builds new ways of viewing yourself and those around you. With 50 short creative activities to choose from, you’ll write letters to your past and future selves, make a smoothie of your feelings, perform a Viking funeral, and learn to be more present in your life and relationships. Structured so that you can build up to emotionally charged exercises, with beautiful illustrations to keep you company along the way, The Art of Imperfection is a creative guide to self-compassion in a messy world.

2026 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL HOT OFF THE PRESS PICKA high-contrast board book full of farm animals designed for babies’ developing eyes by artist Janna SteagallBaby sees cows. Baby sees pigs. Baby sees chickens. Created for the youngest readers and their developing eyes, this high-contrast board book introduces all your favorite farm animals, including horses, dogs, and more! With simple text and trendy images and patterns by Janna Steagall, Baby Sees Farm Animals is a tummy-time companion that’s sweeter than cherry pie.

2026 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL HOT OFF THE PRESS PICKAn interactive board book for young readers, Brooke Jorden’s adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will take kids on an underwater adventure with Captain Nemo and the Nautilus“The sea is everything.”Jules Verne’s classic novel comes to life for young children! Wheels, pull tabs, and other interactive elements invite kids to steer the Nautilus, shoot harpoons, and unearth lost cities with Captain Nemo and his crew. Much more than a primer, Lit for Little Hands: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea tells the actual story in simple, engaging prose. Fans of the beloved novel will be delighted by the book’s attention to detail, clever use of original dialogue, and colorful illustrations by Olga Skomorokhova. And the book’s use of super-sturdy board means that everyone can go on an underwater adventure to explore the sea over . . . and over . . . and over again!

2026 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL HOT OFF THE PRESS PICKA rhyming primer for budding astrologists that introduces both astronomy and astrology to the youngest readers—and comes with a fun interactive coverHey, baby, what’s your sign? Learn each astrological sign and their associated personality traits and quirks in this beautiful board book. Spot the constellations within the illustrations and find your star sign. With simple text by Kelly Conroy and ethereal illustrations by Sadie Han, I See You in the Stars is the perfect introduction to astrology for little ones. And it comes with an interactive spinning wheel right on the cover!

“Yes, and . . .” Explore how the principles of theatre and improv can help parents engage in imaginative play with their children with actor and theater teacher Christopher Mannino. Just ask a certain animated blue dog we all love: Play-centered parenting is what every young child wants and needs, yet it’s hard to manage in today’s busy, hectic world. How can real-life parents with real responsibilities and stresses drop everything to be silly with their kids? You don’t need to be a trained actor to engage in your child’s imaginative world. It’s easier than it sounds, and far more powerful than you can imagine. With the techniques found in Making It Up, accompanied by playful illustrations from Cory Reid, you’ll have more energy, more confidence, and a stronger relationship with your kids in just ten minutes a day. And you might just find yourself having fun!

Filled with sweet and savory recipes from bestselling author Barbara Beery, this children’s cookbook is magnifiqueBonjour, aspiring chefs! Put on your aprons and get ready to master French cuisine. Mais oui! From delectable patisserie to savory soups, and from baguettes to the five French mother sauces—béchamel, hollandaise, velouté, espagnole, and tomato—Ooh La La! Kids Cook French is a child-friendly take on classic French cooking. Developed by bestselling children’s cookbook author Barbara Beery and filled with simple instructions and full-color photos, this cookbook is the perfect gift for kids who feel at home in the kitchen.

A playful board book for gaming families, filled with classic gaming references, famous game designers, and more Eat. Sleep. Game. Repeat. Raise those squeakers right with all the gaming references and terminology they need to be goated. Introducing 100 First Words for Little Gamers, a primer for gamer kids learning their first words from gamer and designer Carlos Guerrero. Forget apple and dog. Your little gamers are ready to move from ABC to CPU and other gaming-specific words like console, nerf, and the Duke (if you know, you know). Filled with Easter eggs every gamer should know, 100 First Words for Little Gamers is the perfect primer for gaming families. Those little n00bs will be pros before you know it!

Influenced by her classical art training, designer and artist Kimberly Collins Jermain makes color theory simple and understandable for the everyday reader Color is one of Mother Nature’s most elegant ideas and the most powerful visual tool to inspire human response. After teaching classical art and color theory for over 35 years, Kimberly Collins Jermain believes the visual skills we need to create art and to design interior spaces can be seen and understood best right outside your back door. Nature of Color is a field guide for exploring color theory on hikes, beach walks, while gardening, or when exercising outdoors. Jermain’s simple approach to color theory will train your perceptions and give you the tools you need to solve everyday problems and create with color confidence. Unlike most color theory texts, Nature of Color is an active practice of outdoor adventure. As you joyfully explore and experience color outdoors with Nature of Color, you will understand the importance of keeping nature’s exquisite lessons in mind as we navigate and share our natural world.

A high-contrast board book full of vehicles, designed for babies’ developing eyes by artist Janna Steagall Baby sees motorcycles. Baby sees cars. Baby sees trucks. Created for the youngest readers and their developing eyes, this high-contrast board book introduces all your favorite vehicles, including trains, planes, taco trucks, and even rockets. With simple text and trendy images and patterns by Janna Steagall, Baby Sees Things that Go is the perfect tummy time companion for babies on the go!

The newest addition to June Smalls’s nature series, They Work is a gorgeous nonfiction picture book about life for a hive of honey bees, complete with factoidsShe is the queen. She fought for that position from the moment she broke out of her cell. Her job is important, but she is not the leader. A hive is only successful if many, many bees are working. Experience the life cycle of the honey bee up close and personal with this striking picture book from June Smalls (author of She Leads, He Leads, and They Lead) and illustrator Yukari Mishima. Told in a poetic style along with fun facts on each page for older readers wanting a deeper dive, They Work is a beautiful exploration of life inside a beehive, as well as the dangers and predators bees face out in the world—including humans.

A lift-the-flap board book full of all your favorite monsters from author Annemarie Riley Guertin, featuring scare-tastic illustrations by Hannah Wood Some monsters are hiding inside of this book. Do you think you can find them? Go have a look! The monsters are coming out to play in this delightfully spooky lift-the-flap book! Open the sarcophagus to find the mummy inside. Peek inside the kitchen cupboards for a ghostly surprise. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, skeletons, zombies, and more haunt the colorful pages. Perfect for Halloween, but not holiday-specific, so you can read it to your monster-lover all year long!

She is the Queen. The matriarch. She leads her daughters and their daughters. Inspiring text and striking illustrations follow the empowering journey of an elephant matriarch as she leads her family through the wilds of Africa. With facts about African elephants on every spread and a message that will encourage young girls to be the trailblazers of their generation, She Leads offers an incredible story and an unforgettable tribute to the strength of a true leader. Open your eyes, princess. One day you will lead.