Little Messy Marcy Su written by Cherie Fu and illustrated by Julie Kwon is a delightful picture book for readers 4-8 years of age about one child’s inability to keep her bedroom clean. When her mother asks her to pick up her room because her grandparents are coming, she gets busy. However, everything she does to clean her clothes, her muddy dog and her room makes yet another mess. Finally, her room is clean, but the house is not. Young readers will be surprised when grandma praises her for her clean room and wonders why the rest of the house looks so bad! The back material includes ten Mandarin words used throughout this story (Little Brown and Company, 2021).

The Ramadan Drummer written by Sahtinay Abaza and illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova is a beautiful story full of joy, celebration, and gorgeous illustrations about the need to wake up and eat before the sun rises to take part in Ramadan. Children 5-8 years of age will enjoy watching Adam meet this loved drummer and learn how to fulfill the beauty of Ramadan (Reycraft) 2024.

The Door That Had Never Been Opened Before written and illustrated by Mrs. and Mr. MacLeod is a truly delightful picture book for children 4-8 years of age. It is told in rhyme and is full of action, fun and a well-designed secret involving a certain door (Union Square) 2024.

10 Dogs written and illustrated by Emily Gravett is a delightful counting book that tells the story of ten dogs trying to get the ten sausages that are on the kitchen table! They try everything as they all are determined to grab the treat. This counting book is designed for young readers 3-5 years of age.( Boxer Books/ Union Square/Sterling Publication) 2023.

Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds and illustrated by Ekua Holmes is a very graceful telling in both words and pictures of the life of Coretta Scott King. The material is adapted from King’s adult memoir. This picture book speaks to readers 5-9 years of age as well as the whole family. (Henry Holt and Company/ Macmillan Publishing Group) 2024.

KIN: Rooted in Hope written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford is a striking account of their family’s past. The interesting research, brave stories and skillful scratchboard illustrations are perfect for older readers 10 years of age and up. (Atheneum Books/ Simon and Schuster) 2023.

I Lived Inside a Whale written and illustrated with great insight, understanding and imagination by Xin Li is a beautiful picture book for readers 4-8 years of age. The little girl in this story learns a great deal about reading, sharing, and trying something new such as sharing stories out loud! (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) 2024.

Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis is written with great skill by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated beautifully by James E. Ransome. This book, designed for children 4-8 years of age, follows John Lewis from his childhood helping his parents pick cotton in Alabama to his meeting with others who were working for Civil Rights. The book beautifully tells the development of John Lewis and his idea that change could only come with love. (Paula Wiseman Books/ Simon and Schuster) 2024.

Ten Little Rabbits written and illustrated by the late but never forgotten Maurice Sendak brings his wonderful talent to a new group of children. This counting book is designed for children 4-8 years of age and tells the story of Mino, a magician, who pulls rabbits out of his hat. However, the colorful rabbits do things their way. This book is a gift to a new generation of children, parents, and grandparents (HarperCollins Children’s Books) 2024.

The National Music Museum has one of the world’s largest and most significant collections of historical instruments — a sort of musical Smithsonian. But it’s far away from the museums on the national mall. It’s in Vermillion, South Dakota.