Picture This : NPR

Letter poems to friends — of all kinds — in 'Dear Acorn, (Love, Oak)'

October 4, 2025 • What would an acorn write to an oak tree? Or a coat to her button? A child to his toes? A pebble to the river? Dear Acorn, (Love, Oak) is a new kids' book of letter poems to friends.

PICTURE THIS: Dear Acorn, Love Oak

Listen · 7:06 7:06

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Hitch a ride to the moon in a rusty old car and 'The Couch in the Yard'

September 7, 2025 • As the sun sets in a small town, a family loads up their rusty old car with the spare couch in their yard. When it breaks down in the mountains, what else is there to do but fly it to the moon?

PICTURE THIS: THE COUCH IN THE YARD

Listen · 6:56 6:56

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S&S Children’s Publishing

Squelch squerch! Stumble trip! Tiptoe! — 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'

August 23, 2025 • Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury revisit their classic story of a family going on a bear hunt (encountering many obstacles along the way) — and preview their new one, Oh Dear, Look What I Got!

PICTURE THIS: WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT

Listen · 9:29 9:29

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During an 'Island Storm,' two kids on an adventure ask — 'Do we try for more?'

August 9, 2025 • A storm is coming and two siblings pull on their boots and head to the sea. The waves crash and the rain starts to fall, but they go on in this quintessential summer adventure story.

PICTURE THIS: ISLAND STORM

Listen · 8:12 8:12

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Ben Clanton

From caterpillar to butterfly, 'Papilio' grows up in a new picture book

July 5, 2025 • Papilio is a picture book told in three parts about three stages of a butterfly's life (there are really four stages but egg time is pretty boring). It's also written and illustrated by three friends.

PICTURE THIS: Papilio

Listen · 9:45 9:45

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'Words with Wings and Magic Things' by Matthew Burgess and Doug Salati, published by Tundra Books

In 'Words with Wings and Magic Things,' poetry is beautifully illustrated — and fun!

May 25, 2025 • What do you get if you add poems that are "Shel Silverstein meets Rumi for kids" with pictures of yetis and primordial slime? Words with Wings and Magic Things, a book of illustrated poems for kids.

PICTURE THIS: WORDS WITH WINGS AND MAGIC THINGS

Listen · 8:29 8:29

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Kids notice everything — here's what one child sees 'Next to Me'

May 18, 2025 • When they became parents, Dragons Love Tacos illustrator Daniel Salmieri and artist Sophia Haas noticed that they were ... noticing more. So they wrote Next to Me, their first kids' book together.

PICTURE THIS: Next To Me

Listen · 6:38 6:38

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'Chooch Helped' this author and illustrator win the 2025 Caldecott Medal

April 26, 2025 • Author Andrea L. Rogers and artist Rebecca Lee Kunz met by chance at the Cherokee National Holiday. Then they won the 2025 Caldecott Medal for their story about a helpful little boy named Chooch.

PICTURE THIS: CHOOCH HELPED

Listen · 6:56 6:56

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Do what you can. A new kids' book shows how even 'The Littlest Drop' helps

April 13, 2025 • A brave hummingbird does what she can to fight a fire in Sascha Alper's new book. It was one of the last projects illustrator Jerry Pinkney worked on before he died. His son Brian finished it for him.

PICTURE THIS: The Littlest Drop

Listen · 7:13 7:13

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In a 'Still Life' painting nothing moves — but, wait! Was that a dragon?

November 23, 2024 • An authoritative artist has many rules for his still life painting. Too bad! Because the mouse, the dragon, the knight, and the princess are here to break them in this raucous new picture book.

PICTURE THIS: STILL LIFE

Listen · 7:51 7:51

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Abrams Books

Granny is going on 'The Walk' to the polls — and the whole town is invited

October 26, 2024 • "Leaders are not born," Granny says. "They're made through molding and modeling." That's why she and her granddaughter and putting on their hats and coats and walking to the polls.

PICTURE THIS: THE WALK

Listen · 6:42 6:42

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Penguin Young Readers/Viking Books for Young Readers

A little mouse sets sail on a big adventure in 'The Ship in the Window'

October 13, 2024 • Author Travis Jonker and illustrator Matthew Cordell talk about the real model ship that inspired their picture book about a man, his son, a mouse, and the voyage that brings them together.

PICTURE THIS: The Ship In The Window

Listen · 7:05 7:05

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Some babysitters are forever — just ask 'Señora Mimí'

September 8, 2024 • Ana is so excited that her abuela is coming to live with her — until it means saying goodbye to her babysitter. No More Señora Mimí is an ode to caregivers from Meg Medina and Brittany Cicchese.

PICTURE THIS: No More Señora Mimí

Listen · 7:25 7:25

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'The Dictionary Story' is a kids' book that defies definition

August 31, 2024 • Dictionary wants to bring her pages to life but then a hungry alligator chasing a donut crashes into a queen who slips on some soap and chaos ensues. Can Dictionary put herself back together again?

'The Dictionary Story' is a kids' book that defies definition

Listen · 8:51 8:51

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Hanna Cha / Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

To learn 'The Truth About Dragons,' go on a quest through this kids' book

July 27, 2024 • A little boy must go on a hero's quest — through woods full of oak trees and a bamboo forest — to discover "The Truth About Dragons" in Julie Leung and Hanna Cha's Caldecott Honor children's book.

PICTURE THIS: THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS

Listen · 8:48 8:48

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'Emergency Quarters' are for pay phones (remember those?) in a new book by '90s kids

June 30, 2024 • Ernesto's mom gives him a quarter every morning. "For emergencies," she says. "If you need me, look for a pay phone." Hey, it was the '90s! But how will Ernesto spend his Emergency Quarters?

'Emergency Quarters' are for pay phones (remember those?) in a new book by ‘90s kids

Listen · 6:59 6:59

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When Baby Sloth tumbles out of a tree, Mama Sloth comes for him — s l o w l y

May 25, 2024 • Did you know on average a sloth will fall out of a tree once a week for its entire life? It's true — and the inspiration for Brian Cronin and Doreen Cronin's new children's book, Mama in the Moon.

PICTURE THIS: MAMA IN THE MOON

Listen · 7:14 7:14

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Crown Books for Young Readers

George Takei 'Lost Freedom' some 80 years ago – now he's written that story for kids

April 20, 2024 • When actor George Takei was 4 years old, he was labeled an "enemy" by the U.S. government and sent to a string of incarceration camps. His new children's book about that time is My Lost Freedom.

George Takei 'Lost Freedom' some 80 years ago – now he's written that story for kids

Listen · 10:23 10:23

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'Buffalo Fluffalo' has had enuffalo in this kids' bookalo

January 28, 2024 • 'Buffalo Fluffalo' may seem big and intimidating, but it's all puffery. He really just needs some snuggalos from his friends in this rhyming book from author Bess Kalb and illustrator Erin Kraan.

'Buffalo Fluffalo' has had enuffalo in this kids' bookalo

Listen · 8:39 8:39

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Mop-mop-swoosh-plop it's rug-washing day in 'Bábo'

January 13, 2024 • Little Tato sneaks a few cherry plums before grabbing a mop and a hose to help Bábo — her grandmother — with a favorite chore.

Mop-mop-swoosh-plop it's rug-washing day in 'Bábo'

Listen · 6:57 6:57

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Inquiring minds want to know: 'How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?'

December 3, 2023 • "How does he do it?" Author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen squeeze, squash and generally put Santa through the wringer while trying to answer an age-old Christmas mystery.

Inquiring minds want to know: 'How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?'

Listen · 9:14 9:14

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Beware! 'The Baddies' are here to scare your kids — and make them laugh

November 25, 2023 • From the author and illustrator of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom now comes The Baddies: a witch, a troll and a ghost like being bad so much they compete to see who can be the very worst.

Beware! 'The Baddies' are here to scare your kids — and make them laugh

Listen · 7:54 7:54

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