Go Bananas! story by A.B. Peele, art by Lala Watkins. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026. 9781665953566.
Bananas of all (and unexpected) varieties unite, dance, and when things go wrong. It’s the kind of insanity that would be catching at a storytime. Plus there’s a cat banana! I enjoyed this book’s incredible silliness.
Rumplestiltskin retold by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Carson Ellis. Orchard Books, 2026. 9781338673852.
You’d never have convinced me I’d love this book as much as I do. It’s a perfect combination of slightly unexpected storytelling and beautiful illustrations. My favorite illustrations are the black-and-white spot illustrations throughout, though I love the way Ellis draws Rumplestiltskin, too, particularly when he’s angry.
Lawn-Mowing Day! (Little Landscapers) by Breana Carzoo. Little Simon, 2026. 9781665973472. (board book)
A skunk, a fox, and a raccoon obsess about lawn mowing (with safety!), carving lines and diamonds and waves in grass. It took me right back to the way, when I was a kid, I’d obsessively cut shapes in my grandparents’ yard to earn money for comic books. (Luckily, none of the critters are allergic to grass as I was.)