54. Cat's New Book

54. Cat's New Book. Nathalie Belhassen. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, cats, friends]

First sentence: This book is new. I just got it, but it's already my favorite! I love hugging its clean cover and stroking its smooth pages. It smells so good. I can read it whenever I want, because it's all mine. But I turn the pages gently so the book will stay new forever.

Premise/plot: CAT has a new book. It's a FAVORITE new book. It's a most treasured and beloved new book. But Cat lends her new book out and makes friends and more friends and even more friends. They all agree that Cat's book is FAVORITE. The book may not stay new and clean, but friendships are forever.

My thoughts: I love, love, love CAT'S NEW BOOK. It's a great book celebrating friendship AND reading. I love the text and the illustrations.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

53. Fox Catches a Wave

53. Fox Catches a Wave. Corey R. Tabor. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, I Can Read Book, early readers]

First sentence: Fox is going on a trip. Is Fox going to catch a bus? No. Is Fox going to catch a train? Nope. Is Fox going to catch a plan? No.

Premise/plot: Fox has returned for another misadventure/adventure in Corey R. Tabor's Fox Catches a Wave. What will Fox "catch" in this one?

My thoughts: I have absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED some of Fox's past books. I still really enjoy the character. I do think for an I Can Read book it is entertaining and fun. BUT I've enjoyed other books in the series more than this one. I do think if your little one LOVES the character Fox and wants to binge read the entire series, it is definitely WORTH it.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

52. Zathura

52. Zathura. Chris Van Allsburg. 2002. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, fantasy]

First sentence: "Mom!" Danny Budwing yelled. "Mom!" Walter and Danny's mother stopped at her sons' bedroom door.

Premise/plot: Walter and Danny are brothers who fight and bicker and fuss all the time, ALL the time. But will a board game bring them together????

My thoughts: I watched the movie adaptation, Zathura. I loved it. I had never read the picture book. I've never seen Jumanji. I had low expectations for the movie, but, I found it GREAT fun. Perhaps if I'd had extremely high expectations and a preconceived notion of what it should be and should not be, I would have felt differently.

This picture book is much more "basic" and "contained" than the movie. The game is still adventurous but it doesn't seem SO intensely dangerously dramatic and a fight for survival. And the ending is quite different.

I personally love the movie more. But I can see how the book is creative and could work for young readers.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

51. Rebecca the White House Raccoon

51. Rebecca the White House Raccoon. April Genevieve Tucholke. Illustrated by Dave Szalay. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, based on a true story]

First sentence: The President was supposed to eat me. I was packed into a slatted box on a sunny November day in 1926 and shipped to the White House with a note that said: EAT ME FOR DINNER.

Premise/plot: Rebecca, a raccoon, the White House raccoon, narrates this historical picture book based on a true story. Is Rebecca reliable narrator? Maybe. Maybe not. But according to Rebecca she was the FAVORITE pet of the President and First Lady. But readers do learn about other pets as well. Pets that may have been slightly less problematic. Many of these 'pets' were a bit 'wild' in addition to the more traditional pets.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I definitely learned new things while reading it. It's good to have a "political" picture book that isn't divisive. There's plenty of action in this story as well! Overall, I think it would be a fun book to share with young readers.

Text: 4 out of 5 stars
Illustrations: 5 out of 5 stars
Total: 9 out of 10 stars



© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

50. Next Door There Is a Dinosaur

50. Next Door There Is a Dinosaur. Saskia Gwinn. Illustrated by Leanne Coelho. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Next door there is a dinosaur. I saw its sneaky, scaly claw. It whipped out quick, then shut the door of Mrs. Shaw's at eighty-four.

Premise/plot: A young boy is CONVINCED that the next door neighbor, Mrs. Shaw, HAS a dinosaur. Day after day after day, he tries to convince his family that it is TRUE. He's collecting all the evidence. Finally he decides he just has to KNOW for sure, for sure. So he goes and asks her directly.....

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. It celebrates the imagination, or does it?!?! Maybe there are dinosaurs attending parties in your neighborhood! I love the rhyming. It is just SO much fun.

I climbed our tall green sycamore.
You'll never guess the THING I saw,
sitting in the yard next door...
...a POO so big it blocked the door!
It smelled so bad that I am SURE
the pooper was a dinosaur.
And not a friendly herbivore!
NO, a whiffy, sniffy CARNIVORE!





© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers