Picture books! Picture books! Here give ‘em a look.
Night Flight by David Barclay Moore and illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (due late September/early October 2025) Why talk about a book so far out? Because it is something that will be worth the wait. It is a lovely illustrated bedtime story that is sweet, inclusive and modern. The use of a prehistoric animal we do not usually get is a nice touch as well. We have a same sex couple of dads, and the family is of color. We have the worries a child has when their loved ones are “missing” or away (dads have gone out for the night). There are rich, deeply colored, dreamy illustrations. They support the story, fill in the blanks of the text and are both strong and gentle.
One Diwali Day: Festivals of the World by Dev Kothari and illustrated by Aditi Anand (due later September 2025). Another book that would be worth the wait is this book celebrating family and culture. Our young narrator is waiting for their older sibling to come to the celebrations, but worries that she will not be able to make it in time to enjoy all the goodness. It is not a WOW book, but a nice, cozy, straight shot story. We not only have the celebration itself, but also a bit of “letting our worries go” to the side. It is a cute mixture of things and the illustrations are good support for them. Colorful and both detailed and minimalist, with a bit of dreamy imagery for good measure, brings it all together.