New & Noteworthy: Picture Books

By Lynn Ann Lobash, Associate Director, Readers Services and Engagement
July 11, 2019

Picture books are amazing! I’m not sure who loves them more, kids or adults. Here are some exceptional new ones coming to a library shelf near you. 

A Kite for Moon

A Kite for Moonby Jane Yolen

A young boy feels the moon is lonely and send a kite up to keep her company. That boy grows to be the first human to visit her. Dedicated to Neil Armstrong and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. 

Sweet and quiet.

A New Home

A New Home by Tania De Regil

Parallel scenes depict a girl in Mexico City and a boy in New York City.

Own voices, leisurely-paced, and feel-good.

A Plan for Pops

A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith

A child helps their grandparents after an injury. 

Grandparents and me, LGBTQ, cartoony. 

Another

Another by Christian Robinson

A girl and her cat take an imaginative trip to another world.

Wordless, whimsical, big and bold illustrations.

Grandpa’s Stories

Grandpa’s Stories by Joseph Coelho

A young girl copes with the death of her beloved grandfather. 

Coping with death, grandparents and me, moving, and uplifting.

How to Two

How to Two by David Soman

A child begins his day at the park alone and ends it with nine new friends.

Counting book, making new friends, feel-good.

Most Marshmallows

Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins

Most marshmallows are happy to live a quiet life, but some marshmallows dream of more. 

Anthropomorphic, funny, inventive.

My City

My City by Joanne Liu

Max sets out to mail a letter and has a fresh look at his neighborhood.

Big and bold and colorful.

The Farmer

The Farmer by Ximo Abadía

Paul works hard on the farm and the villagers help out when he needs a hand.

Being a friend, spare, feel-good.

This Book Is Spineless

This Book is Spineless: (yes, yes, I am) by Lindsay Leslie

A wary book uses its parts (jacket, endpapers) to become braver. 

Funny, metafiction, participatory.

Little Guys

Little Guysby Vera Brosgol

A cautionary tale about a team of “little guys” in a forest who create an army and try to amass more than they need. 

Funny, feel-good, cartoony.

Because

Becauseby Mo Willems

A series of little events lead to a girl attending a life-changing concert.

Music makers, feel-good, inspiring, quiet.

Carl and the Meaning of Life

Carl and the Meaning of Lifeby Deborah Jane Freedman

Carl the earthworm tunnels around to meet his fellow forest creatures and realizes his purpose in the ecosystem.

Detailed and textured illustrations.

Hello I am Jumbo

Mama Loves Little Jumbo: Hello I am Jumbo by Yasushi Muraki

Little Jumbo’s mom’s love is as big as she is, and she is a giant in his mind.

Sweet, bright and bold.

The Not-so Great Outdoors

The Not-so Great Outdoors by Madeline Kloepper

The story of a reluctant camper who eventually comes around.

Funny.

My Papi Has a Motorcycle

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero

Daisy Ramona sees her community quickly changing from the back of her Papi’s motorcycle. 

Daddy and me, own voices, feel-good.

Paws + Edward

Paws + Edward by Espen Dekko

An old dog dreams about the rabbits he used to chase before he died leaving his owner to dream about his dog chasing rabbits.

Coping with death, sad, sweet.

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!