The Story of Barbie and the Woman who Created Her written by Cindy Eagan and illustrated by Amy June Bates is for 4-8- year-old readers and up about how Ruth Handler developed the Barbie doll after she saw her daughter playing with paper cut out dolls as if they were grown up dolls. Barbie was officially born when Ruth showed her grown up dolls at the International Toy Fair in New York City in 1959. Barbie had fashionable clothes and soon had workplace items that would allow girls to play with dolls that had careers. The Barbie Flight Attendant, Nurse, Astronaut and so many more walk beautifully across the pages of this book. (Random House) 2017.

Finch House written by Ciera Burch is an interesting and well-told ghost story for readers 9-12 years of age. The plot takes Micah into an old Victorian house that her Poppop has told her to never go near. She does not obey his off-limits rule. She and the new boy, whose family has just moved into Finch House, find stairs in the walls with secret doors, a heavy darkness and sounds that suggest people could be there! (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster) 2023.

Ten Dogs is a delightful counting book written and illustrated by Emily for children 3-5 years of age. The story hosts 10 dogs all wanting to eat the tasty sausages that are on the kitchen table. Some dogs are larger and taller than others and that makes all the difference to the dogs in this counting- romp! (Boxer Books/ Sterling Publishing) 2023

I Will Read To You written by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Charles Santoso is a touching picture book about the beauty of storytelling at bedtime. The little boy in this picture book wants everyone including the animals of the night to be given the opportunity to hear a bedtime story. With the okay of his mother, he calls ghosts, vampires, dragons, giants, and witches to come to him for a bedtime story. The illustrations are a delight. (Little, Brown and Company) 2023.

The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess written and illustrated with clever details and super- illustrations by Tom Gauld is about a King and Queen who want a child. The King asks for help from the royal builder who builds the King a perfect wooden robot and the Queen gets help from a clever witch who builds a little log princess. The King and Queen are very happy with their expanded royal family. However, this story has a complication-----as most fairytales do. Whenever the log princess falls asleep, she turns back into a log and cannot wake up until someone says, “Awake Little Log, Awake.” This picture book will delight readers 4-8 years of age(Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2021).

In the Night Garden written and illustrated by Carin Berger is a fascinating night trip by a cat through a beautiful garden filled with butterflies, crickets, a hoot owl, baby foxes and flowers filled with interesting paper collage materials such as musical notes, tickets and bank statements. From the first page, where the cat walks across the roof of the house, the young reader will be charmed by gorgeous shades of incredible blue. This picture book is designed for young children 3-6 years of age (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House) 2023.

Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone written by Amy Hest and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Philip Stead is about a young girl who understands the beauty of doing things alone as well as with friends. Philip Stead’s illustrations are full of touching details and lush colors. This thoughtfully written book is designed for readers 4-8 years of age( Neal Porter Books, Holiday House) 2023.

My Head Has A Bellyache and More Nonsense written by Chris Harris and illustrated by Andera Tsurumi is a fun-filled collection of poems and pictures that children 6 and up will thoroughly enjoy. The situations are funny and thought-provoking as the book takes on friendships, meteors, favorite words, siblings, and sausages! (Little, Brown and Company) 2023.

The Girl Who Heard the Music written by Marni Fogelson with Mahani Teave and illustrated by Marta Alverez Miguens is three stories in one---all brilliantly connected. A young pianist by the name of Mahani who lives on Rapa Nui becomes a world-famous pianist. She organizes others on the island to build a new Music School by using trash, plastic bottles, and old tires to make the walls of the school. At the same time the mystery of the Moai statues that cover the island are discussed. (Sourcebooks Kids) 2023.

I AM MADE OF MOUNTAINS written by Alexandra Hinrichs and illustrated by Vivian Mineker is an unusual picture book for readers 4-8 years of age about our beautiful National Parks. The stories are told through a series of odes and stunning pictures. There are very interesting commentaries from children who have visited some of these great Parks (Charlesbridge) 2023.