37-40. Four Board Books

37. Dinosaur Friends. Sara Miller. 2026. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board books, dinosaurs]

First sentence: Little Dino is lost. He wants his Mommy. "Are you my Mommy?" he asks Stegosaurus.

Premise/plot: Little Dino is searching for his mommy but not having much luck. This one is essentially a dinosaur themed, condensed version of the classic Are You My Mother.

My thoughts: It was okay. It was decent. I think the cut-out shape of this one is fun and gimmicky. Little dinosaur lovers may enjoy this one. It is a short read. It isn't overly tedious.



38. Gus & Sully: All Week Long. Steve Light. 2026. 16 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board books, friendship, concept book]

First sentence: Sully! I'm excited to spend the week together! All seven days! Can't wait!

Premise/plot: Two friends spend the week together. Different activities every day. The two friends don't always agree on everything, but fun is had.

My thoughts: I liked this one okay. Again, it was decent. I have not read any Gus & Sully books before. It seems like these two might star in several books. IF your young reader loves these characters, this one is definitely something to consider. I also think as far as concept books go for days of the week, it isn't bad.



39. Glow with Sounds and Lights. Nicola Edwards. Illustrated by Sophie Ledesma. 2026. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars, interactive board book]

First sentence: Moon's glow is so bold--she lights up the light! I'm supposed to shine, too, but I don't know how...

Premise/plot: Firefly isn't glowing. If he was, well, it would be a very short book. As he goes in search of his glow, little ones have things to press for glowing effects and sound effects.

My thoughts: This one is all about the gimmick of lights and sound. Thankfully there is an off/on switch. Though the existence of the off/on switch does not mean that little ones OR parents will remember to turn it off to save batteries. Try reading this one without the special effects and you'll see what I mean about this one being gimmicky. I also don't like the owl's eyeball glows.

It is okay. It is decent.

40. My Daddy is Everything (Board book) Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin. 2026. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, board books, family]

First sentence: My daddy is everything in my eyes. He's the answer to my hows and whys. Daddy's a tugboat that pulls me along. Daddy's a rock band playing our song. Daddy's the seeker whenever I hide.

Premise/plot: This book celebrates the love of a child and his father. The first sentence says it all. What you see is what you get!

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, love, love this one!!!!! Carole Boston Weatherford is a great writer. I love the story. I love the narrative. I love the illustrations. IT's just such a great read!


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

36. The Rare Bird

36. The Rare Bird. Elisha Cooper. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, cats, imagination, picture books]

First sentence: The Rare Bird flew through the forest, flying so fast he knocked the leaves off the trees.

Premise/plot: The Rare Bird is a quirky little picture book starring a cat with a vivid imagination.

My thoughts: This cat has SOME imagination. The whole book--except the last few pages--is written as if the book was about, you know, an actual actual bird. But it this CAT living his normal cat life but imagining a whole other world, whole other life. He never leaves the house but he's flying across the world and seeing it all.

I liked this one. It was quirky and whimsical.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

35. This Little Dinosaur (Board book)

35. Board book: This Little Dinosaur. Ingela P. Arrhenius (illustrations). 2026. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, interactive book, dinosaurs]

First sentence: This little dinosaur has soft shiny spines. This little dinosaur has big, pointy teeth.

Premise/plot: This board book is published by Nosy Crow. It is an interactive board book for the youngest of readers.

My thoughts: I can be VERY opinionated when it comes to interactive, touch and feel books. I am an overthinker. Many readers are not overthinkers. Most toddlers are not going to overthink this one. I would say all, but, there may always be young Sheldon Cooper's out there who would.

I did enjoy the texture of the dinosaur on the cover. This texture is repeated once in the book. (On the cover it is padded underneath. On the last page it is not.) Most of the textures are soft fabric, padded fabric, sparkly fabric. I cannot emphasize enough that SPARKLY and shiny are not things that you can touch and feel. They are just not. I also thought it weird that "pointy" teeth are soft fabric--padded. Teeth shouldn't squish. I also don't think spines would be soft.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

34. Board book: Buzz Like a Bee

34. Buzz Like a Bee (Board Book) Guilherme Karsten. 2026. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, activity book, interactive books]

First sentence: Spin like a spider way up high. Can you spin like a spider?

Premise/plot: This is an interactive board book with sliders to push and pull...and things to spin. It is focused on bugs? insects? bugs and insects?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I think it is probably best suited for home libraries. I think library copies that get frequently checked out may wear out quickly. Especially if checked out by a family with a young reader that becomes fixated on one activity. The pull out zooming bee, for example, may just prove too tempting for wee little hands. It is a FUN book.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

33. Dinos That Drive

33. Dinos that Drive. Suzy Levinson. Illustrated by Dustin Harbin. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, poetry]

First sentence: You've never seen a dinosaur
that's into driving cars?
You've never seen a dinosaur
that flies a jumbo jet?
You've never seen a dinosaur
that rockets to the stars?
Then buckle up! Let's take a ride...
YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET!

Premise/plot: Do you have a little one that loves, loves, loves dinosaurs? Do you have a little one that loves vehicles? Things that go, go, go!!! This themed poetry collection might be a great fit for you and your family.

Each dinosaur has a favorite vehicle. The T-Rex is a recurring character that keeps popping back up in the poems. There are dinosaur facts as well in the dialogue bubbles (or speech bubbles).

The style is very Richard Scarry-ish.

My thoughts: It's fun. It's whimsical. I don't think a love of poetry is an absolute must. I do think you need to like dinosaurs!


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers