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

11. Noodles on a Bicycle

 

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]

First sentence: When the deliverymen set off in the morning, we sit outside
and watch
and wait
for the flicker of pedal and wheel.

Premise/plot: Noodles on a Bicycle is a historical picture book set in Tokyo, Japan. Soba deliverymen are the star of the show--the scene stealers. 

My thoughts: This one left me speechless-mostly. This was my first introduction to the subject! It would be an understatement to say I was captivated and in awe--at the whole concept let alone the execution. I loved learning something new. I loved the story. I loved the WRITING. Such a beautiful narrative style. I enjoyed the illustrations.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

8. Silent Movie

  

 

8. Silent Movie. Avi. Illustrated by C.B. Mordan. 2003. 64 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 4 stars, historical picture book, immigration]

First sentence: One hundred years ago people from all over the world are moving to the United States of America. Some want adventure. Some are fleeing hardship. Others come because they believe America is the "Promised Land." Among those who seek a better life is a family from Sweden. The first to go is Papa...

Premise/plot: Silent Movie is not a wordless picture book. However illustrations--told within black and white frames--do the heavy lifting in terms of story telling and characterization. The words assist the artwork.

The premise is relatively simple: A mother and son who have recently arrived in America--New York City, I believe--struggle to find the "Papa" who came before. Relatively alone and without resources, the pair struggles to find a way to make it. A chance--oh so fortunate--encounter with a movie maker (director?) leads to a happy ending! The boy is cast in a silent movie and the father recognizes his son on screen and the family is able to reunite!

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. The illustrations and text pair wonderfully together to convey the story of immigration experience at the turn of the twentieth century. (The story is set circa 1909.) 

This one might be appreciated more by readers who have seen at least one or two silent movies and understand the concept. However, there's no reason why this picture book couldn't come first and serve as an introduction to the early days of movies. 

Some/many silent movies are "shorts" and are about twenty minutes in length. There are silent movies for just about any genre. 

This one could be read by a wider range of ages.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

1. The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah

1. The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah. Jane Yolen. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]

First sentence: The first problem Rochel-Leah had was that she was a girl. 

Premise/plot: This picture book is set in a small Russian village--a shtetl--in the 1830s. Rochel-Leah, our heroine, wants more than anything to learn to read. But there are many, many, many obstacles standing in the way. She has spunk and determination, but will that be enough???

My thoughts: This picture book is based on a story passed down through many generations in Jane Yolen's family as happening to a cousin of a cousin of a cousin or some such like way back when. Regardless of its origin, the story celebrates gumption and a LOVE of words, of stories, of the power of such. 

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers