Fall is for Beginnings: This book explores the valuable lessons that come with the fall season. When a new girl joins Ravi’s school and begins spending time with him and his best friend Joe, their duo becomes a trio—something Ravi isn’t sure how to feel about, especially since Ellie does things differently. As the story unfolds, Ravi discovers that fall might just be the perfect time to start a new friendship. I love this story, and children will be delighted with the characters!
The Wishing Leaf is a heartwarming, cozy picture book about a lovable bear who eagerly waits for the last leaf to fall—believing that if you make a wish on it, it will come true. Along the way, Bear learns the value of patience as he anticipates this magical moment. Perfect for bedtime reading, the story ends with the sleepy bear curling up with his mom to begin hibernation. This gentle tale also encourages children to notice and appreciate the natural wonders around them, like the changing colors of autumn leaves. Children will love Bear!
National Adoption Month is a time to amplify the many layered and emotional stories of adoption—the longing, the waiting, the heartbreak, and above all, the love. This November, The Heart That Found You (The Collective Studio/November 4, 2025) brings a fresh, inclusive, and deeply resonant voice to this important conversation.
Written by debut author Anna Schocket and inspired by her personal experience as a single adoptive mother, The Heart That Found You is a tender picture book for children that delicately honors the complexities of adoption. Told through the perspective of “Heart,” a character who journeys through hope and discovery to find the child they were meant to love, this book offers a moving narrative for adoptive, two parent, blended, LGBTQ+, and single-parent families alike.
“This is the book I searched for and couldn’t find,” says Schocket. “I wanted something that reflected my experience—a solo parent choosing adoption—while also honoring the birth mother’s decision and communicating to my child how fiercely she is loved.”
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With luminous illustrations by French artist Carole Chevalier, The Heart That Found You balances gravity with whimsy, creating a gentle, affirming reading experience for children and the adults who love them. Whether introducing the idea of adoption, foster care, surrogacy, or exploring the unique path of embryo adoption through IVF, this book opens the door to meaningful conversations about the many ways families are built and shares a heartfelt, enduring story. This is a book to look for in November!
Anna Schocket, a single adoptive mother, embarked on a heartfelt journey to pen The Heart That Found You as a way to open a dialogue about adoption with her young daughter. With a career as a senior executive in talent development, Anna leveraged her learning background and her belief in the power of teachable moments to create a meaningful resource for other adoptive and nontraditional families. Anna and her daughter thrive together in Oakland, California. For more information visit, www.AnnaSchocket.com.
About the Illustrator:
Carole Chevalier is a French illustrator whose vibrant, heartfelt art brings warmth and magic to children’s books around the world.
The Heart That Found You By Anna Schocket
Illustrated by Carole Chevalier
The Collective Book Studio/ November 2025
ISBN: 978-1685550851
Hardcover/$16.95
NYT Bestselling creator of Not Quite Narwhal is back with a wintertime tale following Twig’s journey of self-discovery. Jessie Sima is a staple in the picture book space and SNOW KID just adds to their already impressive body of work!
SNOW KID brings Jessie’s iconic illustrations wrapped in a wintery palette and layers Twig’s story with lessons of growth and change that everyone can identify. Readers can enjoy the wintery backdrop and get into the holiday spirit while layering a deeper meaning for those looking for more. I loved the story and the illustrations!
Smartphones are here to stay — but so is the rising tide of tech stress, screen-time battles, and digital burnout among kids and teens. Enter Do Not Disturb , the first book on the market specifically designed to help young people understand and overcome the toll that phone overuse can take on their mental and physical health.
Written by trusted psychologists Brad Marshall and Lindsay Hassock — both with decades of experience treating phone addiction in young people — Do Not Disturb is a judgment-free, science-backed, and empowering guide that gives readers the tools to reclaim their attention, focus, and peace of mind, and create a healthier relationship with their phones.
What makes this book essential right now:
- First of its Kind – While adults have shelves of screen detox advice, Do Not Disturb is the first guide for kids and teens to address the real impact of smartphone overuse — and offer real tools to take control.
- Trusted Experts – Brad Marshall and Lindsay Hassock are highly respected doctors who’ve spent over 20 years helping young people and families manage screen dependence.
- Accessible and Actionable – Organized into 10 practical steps, each chapter includes a toolkit with simple techniques readers can actually use — no tech-shaming, just real change.
- Educational and Engaging – Readers will learn how phones affect their brains and bodies, and how to build a balanced, healthy relationship with technology — on their own terms.
- Visual Appeal – Full-color illustrations by Lauriane Bohémier add energy and approachability, making even complex topics relatable and age-appropriate.
Cynthia Erivo has always been a powerful performer with a voice as big as her dreams. How did she achieve the radiant life of singing and acting she’d hoped for? From her very first performance of “Silent Night” at a school Christmas pageant to her Tony Award–winning role as Celie in The Color Purple on Broadway to starring as Elphaba in Wicked and Wicked: For Good, Cynthia has raised her voice and inspired millions. Her iconic style, artistic flair, and confidence all make her shine. Find your own glow in the same way by believing in yourself, celebrating your individuality, and never missing your chance to fly.
This is a delightful book for young children!
Ariana Grande was a little girl with a big voice who grew up to dazzle on stage and screen. How did she make her dream come true? From her early days uploading singing videos to YouTube to her Grammy win for Best Pop Vocal Album for Sweetener to starring as Glinda in Wicked and Wicked: For Good, Ariana has stayed true to herself and brought her love of performing to the world. Her fashion sense, passion for singing, and devotion to her family all make her shine. How can you shine like Ariana? Never forget where you came from, set a goal and stick with it, and always use your talents for good. With glitter on the cover, this book shines, too!
BOOKS ON BIKES by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illus. by Brizida Magro
Clarion Books | 9780063285125 | Picture Book Fiction
Also available in Spanish: LIBROS LIBRES, SOBRE RUEDAS |9780063444072
Inspired by the many real-life book bike programs rolling around the country and the world, this companion to the award-winning Maybe Something Beautiful celebrates how one child’s small act can transform communities.
Lía loves books, and she reads all the time—even while walking her trusty bike through town. But sometimes books can be hard to come by. When Lía discovers her neighbors are as eager for books as she is, she takes a page from the heroes she has read about and pedals into action!
Inspired by the many real-life book bike programs across the world, Books on Bikes celebrates the kind hearts and innovative acts of everyday people who spread community through the magic of reading. A delightful story and I found it so unique!
F. Isabel Campoy is a poet, playwright, songwriter, storyteller, and educator. She has authored numerous children’s books, both in English and Spanish, on the art and culture of the Hispanic world.
Brizida Magro is an illustrator originally from Portugal who now resides in Boulder, Colorado, with her two cats and partner. She graduated with a BFA in illustration from Brigham Young University and an MFA in graphic design from Utah State University and has illustrated several books, including Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Saturday at the Food Pantry. She is passionate about rock climbing, wandering the world, and bringing stories to life.
Theresa Howell began her career in publishing as a children’s book editor at Rising Moon, where she helped to establish the bilingual imprint Luna Rising. She is the author of several children’s books with an artistic and cultural focus.
THE CAVE DOWNWIND OF THE CAFÉ by Mikey Please
HarperCollins | 9780063345508 | Picture Book Fiction
Hilarious, surprising, and delightfully disgusting, the latest picture book from co-director of the acclaimed stop-motion tribute for Over the Garden Wall’s 10th anniversary, BAFTA Award–winning, and Oscar-nominated animation director Mikey Please expands the outrageously irresistible world of the smash hit, The Café at the Edge of the Woods.
In Glumfoot’s cave, there’s only one item on the menu: booger stew. But he dreams of puff pastry and sweet sorbet.
Then one day, a human named Rene builds a nearby log cabin smelling of all the delicious foods one could eat.
But a local ogre thinks Rene smells rather tasty too! Can Glumfoot save Rene—and his chance at a decadent meal—with his quick thinking?
This riotously clever addition to The Café at the Edge of the Woods world will thrill fans of the first installment featuring Glumfoot, Rene, and the monstrous clientele of the café.
Mikey Please is a BAFTA Award–winning and Oscar-nominated animation director and writer based in London. He is an alumnus of Wimbledon College of Arts and the Royal College of Art and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Café at the Edge of the Woods, his picture book debut, has received astounding praise from booksellers around the globe and has landed on many best-books lists. He is also the author of the upcoming adult novel The Expanded Earth. You can visit Mikey at mikeyplease.co.uk.
Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books. Information and cover images were also provided.
