Picture Books | Intermediate | Middle School | High School

Beginning Readers and Primary Grades

Suggested grade level for all entries: 1–3

How Sweet the Sound by Kwame Alexander; illus. by Charly Palmer (Little, Brown)

This reverent nonfiction picture-book celebration of African American music begins its tour in Africa, then honors the hymns and hopes of enslaved people, gospel music, the blues, jazz, soul, rock-and-roll, hip-hop, and rap. Lyrical free-verse text flows through different eras and genres of sound. Vibrant paintings burst with color and movement, making a rewarding connection to the music. A stunning homage to “the soundtrack of America / a symphony / of refuge and redemption.” 48 pp.

The Littlest Drop by Sascha Alper; illus. by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney (Schwartz/Random)

Animals flee to the river for safety from a brush fire — but one determined hummingbird releases drops of water on the flames from her beak. One by one, animals follow her example, coming together to fight the fire. Alper’s lyrical text, inspired by a parable shared by environmentalist Wangari Maathai, emphasizes the power of small actions leading to collective change. Jerry Pinkney’s sketches for his final picture book were lovingly completed by his son Brian Pinkney. 40 pp.

Beti and the Little Round House by Atinuke; illus. by Emily Hughes (Candlewick)

Beti lives with her mother, father, and baby brother in a “little round house in the green woods under the mountains,” with no running water or cellphones but with friendly farm animals and good neighbors nearby. In four brief sections, each set during a different season, readers follow this lively child’s small-scale adventures. The setting of this engaging and memorable chapter book is painted through homey, specific details in the text and illustrations. 128 pp.

Stella & Marigold by Annie Barrows; illus. by Sophie Blackall (Chronicle)

Eight tightly constructed, linked short stories, echoing and resonating with one another, follow sisters Stella and Marigold, ages seven and four, through events including a domestic plumbing disaster, a visit to the zoo, and more. The theme here is storytelling, and the chapter book is a little subversive in the best children’s literature tradition. Barrows and Blackall walk this tightrope with skill, cheekiness, and palpable pleasure. 108 pp.

Introducing Sandwina: The Strongest Woman in the World by Vicki Conrad; illus. by Jeremy Holmes (Calkins/Astra)

Born into a German circus family in 1884, Katie Brumbach dazzled audiences with incredible feats of strength. Conrad opens her nonfiction tale with Brumbach’s legendary win over strongman Eugen Sandow, after which she renamed herself Sandwina. Conrad adopts the tone of a carnival barker to reel off her subject’s many feats of strength, and Holmes matches this delivery with a poster-inspired picture-book design that leans into Sandwina’s charismatic stage presence. A rousing introduction to a larger-than-life figure. 48 pp.

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez (Roaring Brook)

Exuberant nine-year-old Gabby volunteers to start a social media account for her ocean-conservation club. After receiving a rude comment from an anonymous account, she begins to view everyone as a potential culprit. Gabby is an instantly endearing protagonist whose close relationship with her Mexican American family provides an affectionate, grounding presence in this chapter book. Vignette illustrations and/or comics panels on every page depict the protagonist’s imaginative perception of the world. 160 pp.

Night Light [I Like to Read: Comics] by Michael Emberley (Holiday)

Imaginative play brightens up bedtime rituals in this funny, sincere early reader–comic mini-adventure perfectly pitched for emerging readers. After selecting a bedtime story, a pink-and-green pajama-wearing creature and their parent are interrupted by a blackout. When the flashlight’s batteries begin to die, the parent gets creative with the stars. Emberley’s strict adherence to whimsical kid-logic reads as respectful of children’s fears, while the ever-changing panel configurations and layouts add welcome complexity to the reading experience. 40 pp.

How Elegant the Elephant: Poems About Animals and Insects by Mary Ann Hoberman; illus. by Marla Frazee (Tingley/Little, Brown)

Frazee’s delightfully energetic pencil and watercolor illustrations bring together verses selected by Hoberman, including eight new ones, into a cohesive new whole — she sets them at an animal hotel, complete with a spa, yoga classes, and a chocolate fountain. The poems themselves are full of whimsical wildlife observations and satisfyingly show off Hoberman’s facility with wordplay, rhyme, meter, and inventive line breaks. A hotel worth checking into — and a collaboration worth checking out. 88 pp.

The Gift of the Great Buffalo by Carole Lindstrom; illus. by Aly McKnight (Bloomsbury)

At the start of this engaging picture book, Métis families gather for the biannual buffalo hunt. When scouts, led by Rose’s father, are unable to find the buffalo, she sets off on her own. Her cleverness and bravery lead to success for the whole community. Lindstrom’s lively text is well paired with McKnight’s expansive, atmospheric illustrations to provide a Métis/Ojibwe perspective of life on the prairie. 40 pp.

Are We There Yet?: The First Road Trip Across the USA by Stacy McAnulty; illus. by Elizabeth Baddeley (McElderry)

In 1903, when Vermont doctor Horatio Nelson attempted the unprecedented feat of crossing the United States in an automobile in less than three months, he had yet to learn to drive, cars were still seen as a novelty, and the idea of an interstate highway system couldn’t even be dreamt of. Baddeley’s illustrations effortlessly convey the many ups and downs (and breakdowns) of the riveting trip while matching the jovial tone of McAnulty’s witty nonfiction picture-book text. 48 pp.

The Bad Idea and Other Stories [Earl & Worm] by Greg Pizzoli (Knopf)

In the first of three episodic chapters in this series debut, Worm is irritated by her new neighbor, Earl, a bird. Throughout the interactions that follow, Pizzoli generates humor with straightforward sentences that make bold statements (and emphasize Earl’s obliviousness). Language and design are pitched to children almost ready to leap into longer chapter books, and the art is a friendly and sophisticated blend of Roy Lichtenstein and Richard Scarry. 72 pp.

Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp (Annick)

Appealing heroine Beatrice incurs Bog Myrtle’s wrath by taking treasures from the forest. She and the spiderlike creature resolve their differences, but the encounter and a subsequent gift of a magic sweater leads to the creation of a sweater factory under the draconian direction of Beatrice’s scowling sister, Magnolia. Painterly illustrations lend a picture book–like accessibility to this unconventional graphic novel for budding young environmental and labor activists, with deadpan narration adding plenty of humor. 144 pp.

The Luna Sisters: Battle for the Moon Blossom [I Like to Read: Comics] by Dan Yaccarino (Holiday)

This comics-style beginning reader, perfect for speculative fiction fans, offers a sci-fi take on sibling rivalry. Lucy and Nera live on the moon in separate halves of their house. They both set their sights on picking the same Moon Blossom flower. But when a Galactic Groovy Green Goat that likes to “gobble up fancy flowers” shows up, Lucy and Nera call a truce. Vibrant, chromatic illustrations match the kooky text. 40 pp.

From the April 2025 issue of Notes from the Horn Book: Summer Reading. For past years’ summer reading lists from The Horn Book, click on the tag summer reading.