Books Read and Reviewed in 2025

Books read and reviewed at Young Readers

January

 1. The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah. Jane Yolen. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]
2. Mr. Fox's Game of "No!" David LaRochelle. Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 4 stars]
3. Sabrina Sue Loves the Mountain. Priscilla Burris. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, animal fantasy, ready to read, chickens and farms, 3 stars]
4. Mustache Baby. Bridget Heos. 2016. HMH. 36 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Pizza and Taco #9: Coolest Club Ever! Stephen Shaskan. 2025. 72 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, graphic novel, early chapter book, series book]
6. What-a-baby First Words Book. (Whataburger). Blue Star Press. 22 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, novelty book]
7. Lefty: A Story That Is Not All Right. Mo Willems. Illustrated by Dan Santat. 2024. [December] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars, picture books, nonfiction]
8. Silent Movie. Avi. Illustrated by C.B. Mordan. 2003. 64 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 4 stars, historical picture book, immigration]
9. Chooch Helped. Andrea L. Rogers. Illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz. 2024. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, siblings, family, picture book]
10. A Mouse Family Christmas. Deborah Underwood. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, holiday, Christmas]

February

11. Noodles on a Bicycle. Kyo Maclear. Illustrated by Gracey Zhang. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, Caldecott Honor, historical picture book, picture book]
12. Gnome and Rat First Snow (Gnome and Rat #3) Lauren Stohler. 2024. [November] 80 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, graphic novel, early chapter book]
13. Pasta! These Names are Fun To Say. Felice Arena. Illustrated by Beatrice Cerocchi. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

14. Ratnip: Lost and Found in the City. Cam Higgins. Illustrated by Allison Steinfeld. 2025. [February] 128 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, animal fantasy, early chapter book]
15. Trouble Finds Plum. Matt Phelan. 2023. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, animal fantasy, early chapter book, j fiction]
16. Toto. Hyewon Yum. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]
17. Big Changes for Plum. Matt Phelan. 2025. [January] 128 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, animal fantasy, early chapter book, j fiction]
18. Towed by Toad. Jashar Awan. 2024. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, early reader]
19. Gnome and Rat: Time to Party. Lauren Stohler. 2024. 80 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, early chapter book, early graphic novel]
20. Lone Wolf Goes to School. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. 2024. 56 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, animal fantasy] 

 March
21. George Washington's Spectacular Spectacles. Selene Castrovilla. Illustrated by Jenn Harney. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book biography, history, j nonfiction]
22. Lone Wolf Gets a Pet. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai Steele. 2024. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, humor, animal fantasy]
23. Bruce Saves the Planet. (Mother Bruce series). Ryan T. Higgins. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, series book, 3 stars]
24. Hi, Cat. Bye, Cat. Jade Orlando. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [board books, cats]
25. Squash the Cat: Stuck in the Middle. Sasha Mayer. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, cats, jealousy, toys, picture book]

26. I Have Three Cats. Michelle Sumovich. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, cats, pets, 3 stars]
27. How To Make a Bedtime. Meg McKinlay. Illustrated by Karen Blair. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, bedtime books]
28. The Baby Who Stayed Away Forever. Sandra Salsbury. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, bedtime book, humor, family, 5 stars]

29. Bouncing Bunnies! Fiz Osborne. Illustrated by Tim Budgen. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]
30. Will the Pigeon Graduate? Mo Willems. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book, gift book, inspirational, humor]

April

31. Wrong Time Rooster. Michael Parkin. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 star, picture book, telling time, concept book, farms]

32. Monti and Leo: A Mystery in Pocketville. Sylvie Kantorovitz. 2025. 80 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early chapter book, friendship, animal fantasy]

33. Board book: Runaway Blanket. Nancy Deas. 2025. 22 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, bedtime book]

34. Board book: This Dog. That Dog. Jade Orlando. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [dogs, pets, board book, 5 stars]

35. Touch and Feel: Baby Animals with tactiles for toddlers to explore. (Board book) DK. 2025. 12 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [interactive, touch and feel]

36. Board book: Richard Scarry's Bunnies. Richard Scarry. 1976/2025. 26 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, bunnies, board book]

37. Little Freddie Two Pants. Drew Daywalt. Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book, humor]

38. Snarky Sharky. Bethan Clarke. Illustrated by Nikolas Ilic. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, humor, animal fantasy]

39. Umbrella. Taro Yashima. 1958/1977. 40 pages. [Source: Bought]

40. The Saggy Baggy Elephant. Kathryn and Byron Jackson. Illustrated by Gustav Tenggren. 1947. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book, golden book, children's classic]

41. The Kitten Who Thought He Was A Mouse. Miriam Norton. Illustrated by Garth Williams. 1951. 22 pages. [Source: Bought [4 stars, Little Golden Book]

42. It's Hard To Be a Baby. Cheryl B. Klein. Illustrated by Juana Medina. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book, babies]

43. You're a Poet: Ways to Start Writing Poems. Sean Taylor. Illustrated by Sam Usher. 2025. [March] 72 pages. [Source: Library] [nonfiction, poetry, 5 stars]

May

44. Orris and Timble: Lost and Found (Orris and Timble #2) Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. 2025. 80 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, animal fantasy, j fiction]
45. Anything. Rebecca Stead. Illustrated by Gracey Zhang. 2025. 56 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]
46. Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend. Bob Shea. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]
47. Cats in Construction Hats. Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, construction, cats, picture book, rhyming books]
48. Echo. Adam Rex. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, friendship]
49. Just a Banana (Board Book, Lift the Flap) Barney Saltzberg. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, 4 stars]
50. Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! Yuko Ohnari. Translated by Emily Balistrieri. Illustrated by Koshiro Hata. 2025 (2018). 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 5 stars]

51. Leo the Late Bloomer. Robert Kraus. Illustrated by Jose Aruego. 1971/1994. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book]

52. Board book: Mog and Me. Judith Kerr. 1984/2025. 16 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, 3 stars]

53. Our Gorgeous Baby. (Board book). Smriti Prasadam-Halls. Illustrated by Eve Coy. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, babies, 5 stars]

54. Can't Stop Kissing That Baby. K.L. Going. Illustrated by Fiona Lee. 2025. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]

55. The Peddler of Puddles. Beth Ferry. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book]

56. Thunderland. Maggie Edkins Willis. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]

June
57. Piggle the Pig #1 The Perfect Pigsty. Dudolf. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, 5 stars]
58. The Monster At The End of This Book. Jon Stone. Illustrated by Michael J. Smollin. 1971. Golden Books. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

59. Rosemary Long Ears. Susie Ghahremani. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, dogs, 4 stars]

60. A Thousand Years. Christina Perri. Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture books, 3 stars]

61. Squid In Pants. Kaz Windness. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, ready to read, leveled reader, easy reader, 4 stars]

62. Here is A Book. Elisha Cooper. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, book about books]

63. How Elegant the Elephant. Mary Ann Hoberman. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. 2025. 88 pages. [Source: Library] [poetry, children's poetry, poetry collection, j poetry, 3 stars]

64. His Fairytale Life: A book About Hans Christian Andersen. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, picture book biography, j nonfiction]

65. The Man Who Didn't Like Animals. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [picture book]

66. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2011. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio AND library] [4 stars]

67. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio]

68. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio and picture book]

69. Board book: This Is My World:  High Contrast Touch and Feel Book (Board Book). Hannah Eliot. Emily Spikings Illustrator. 2025. 14 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book]

70. We Are Sneetches. (Board book). 2025. 26 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, Dr. Seuss legacy]

71. Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme. Betsy Bird. Illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, humor, fractured nursery tales, 5 stars]

July
72. Mouse and Spoon: Owlets and Tarts. (Ready to Read Level 2) Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, early readers, children's books]

73. This Book is Dangerous! Ben Clanton. 2025. 44 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]
74. Board book: Let's Giggle. Caroline Jayne Church. 2013/2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars, board book]
75. Lone Wolf On Vacation. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, early reader]
76. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, series book, animal fantasy]
77. Cool Buds To the Rescue (I Can Read Comics Level 3). Barbara Lehman. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early graphic novel]
78. Zebra and Yak The Backwards Alphabet Book. Paul Friedrich. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]
79. The Wild Robot on the Island. Peter Brown. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, audio book, picture book]

 80. Board book: Cute Cats: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, cats, pets]
81. Board book: Cute Dogs: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, dogs, pets]
82. Who Meows? A Book of Animal Sounds. Robin Page. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, concept book]
83. A Scrub in the Tub. Jan Thomas. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, humor, 5 stars]
84. The Elephant's Birthday (Mouse and Spoon). Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, ready to read level 2, animal fantasy, series book; 5 stars]
85. George & Lenny Are Always Together. Jon Agee. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, friendship, picture book]
86. [Board book] I Will Love You Till the Cows Come Home. Anne Matheson. Illustrated by Kim Crumrine. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, parental love]
87. [Board book] Grumpkin. Nicola Edwards. Illustrated by Sian Roberts. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, Halloween]

88. Kitty vs. Kindergarten. Martha Freeman. Illustrated by Eda Kaban. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, pets, school]
89. Do You See the Tiger? Philip Ardagh. Illustrated by David Melling. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]
90. Norman and the Smell of Adventure. Ryan T. Higgins. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

91. Frog and Toad Are Friends. An I Can Read Book. Arnold Lobel. 1970. HarperCollins. 64 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, early chapter book, children's classic, animal fantasy]

September

92. Days with Frog and Toad. An I Can Read Book. Arnold Lobel. 1979. HarperCollins. 64 pages. [4 stars, animal fantasy, early chapter book]
93. Board book: The Feelings Book: A Touch-and-Feel Playbook. Mike Henson. Miguel Ordonez. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, touch and feel, interactive]
94. Rabbit Tea (Mouse and Spoon) (Ready to Read Level 2). Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, early reader]
95. Bob the Vampire Snail. Andrea Zuill. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]
96. Elvis and Romeo Visit the Vet. David Soman. Illustrated by Jacky Davis. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [animal fantasy, early reader, ready to read level 1, three stars]
97. Elvis and Romeo Go To Dog School. David Soman. Illustrated by Jacky Davis. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library]  [animal fantasy, early reader, ready to read level 1, four stars]
98. Magical Map #1: Pirates of the Caribbean. Ridley Pearson. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, children's fantasy, j fantasy]
99. Magical Map #2: Jungle Cruise. Ridley Pearson. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, children's fantasy, j fantasy]
100. The Crayon Stub. Marcus Cutler. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, cats, art, creativity, picture book]
101. Elvis & Romeo. David Soman and Jacky Davis. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, dogs, friendship]

October

102. Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town. Li Chen. 2025. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [j graphic novel, animal fantasy, 5 stars]

103. Tuck Me In. Nathan W. Pyle. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, science, bedtime stories]

November

104. I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935. Lauren Tarshis. 2025. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical fiction, series book]
105. Mr. Willowby's Head Over Heels Christmas. Robert E. Barry. 2025. 40 page. [Source: Library] [christmas, picture book, 4 stars]
106. The Dog and Pony Show: Dance Pants. Jeff Mack. 2025. 64 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, if the Cybils exist in 2026 which is questionable, this one would be eligible] [early reader, early comic]
107. Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas. Russell Hoban. Illustrated by Lillian Hoban. 1971. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, Christmas, picture book, animal fantasy]
108. BOARD BOOK: First Festivals: Christmas (Lift-the-Flap). Ladybird Books. 2025. 12 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]
109. Board book: There There Little Kitten. Anna Milbourne. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars]

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers