Beautiful New Picture Books, November 2024
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I’m delighted to share my favorite picture books that are publishing around November 2024. You’ll read about animal rescue, kindness, homelessness, Christmas, and more. I’m particularly impressed by the gorgeous artwork in so many of these book. You’re in for a treat!
New Picture Books, November 2024
Tate’s Wild Rescue written by Jenny Turnbull, illustrated by Izzy Burton 
ANIMAL RESCUE / EPISTOLARY
I love this heartwarming book about a kindhearted, animal-loving girl named Tate who worries about all the wild animals. She invites one animal after the other to come and live with her instead of in the wild. But they write her informative, hilarious letters telling her that they’re happy where they are and wouldn’t like it with Tate. Tate is about to give up when she gets a letter from someone who doesn’t want to be alone in the wild. Can you guess what animal it is?
The Midnight Mitzvah written by Ruth Horowitz, illustrated by Jenny Meilihove
JEWISH VALUES / KINDNESS
You don’t want to miss this perfect picture book about kindness toward others. A chipmunk named Hanina wants to help others by doing a mitzvah. But one person doesn’t want her help, an older, proud squirrel named Mathilda. Can Hanina help Mathilda without embarrassing her? And what will she do when a predator owl sees her sneaking around in the dark?
Beanie the Bansheenie written by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by Steve McCarthy
FOLKLORE / FRIENDSHIP
This is a great Celtic folklore read aloud choice for older readers who want to hear something longer with more complexity. Beanie is a little banshee, a bansheenie, who loves her girl, Rose, even though she doesn’t know when Rose will die. When Beanie learns about a flood, it begins Beanie’s new job to protect Rose and her family from natural disasters. Magnificent emotion-filled illustrations.
A Visit From Santa Clops Or the Fright Before Christmas written and illustrated by Gig Wailgum
CHRISTMAS
In a monstrous twist on “A Night Before Christmas,” the frightful guy in the blood red suit who shows up is Santa Claus’s cousin, Santa Clops— the one-eyed cyclops who delivers coal and drives a sleigh led by penguins. Can the dad save Christmas for his kids? Clever fun!
I Know How to Draw an Owl written by Hilary Horder Hippely, illustrated by Matt James
UNHOUSED
Bell’s classmates are impressed with her lifelike owl drawing, but she doesn’t tell them why she knows how to draw owls. After school, we learn that Belle and her mom live in their car in the woods where an owl lives, too. Belle loves the owl’s nightly sounds and one day, sees the owl up close in person. When a new boy arrives at school in a similar-looking car, Belle welcomes him just like the owl welcomed her. A tender book about a child experiencing homelessness.
My Bright Shining Star written by Fatima Whitbread, illustrated by Rhian Wright
FOSTER CARE MEMOIR
I swallowed tears in this moving story about a girl living in foster care at Aunt Rae’s house. Aunt Rae took good care of the kids and always told Fatima that the North Star would guide her to her forever home and the little girl knows Aunty Rae is her North Star for now. Back matter shares more about Fatima’s journey to a forever family.
Little Hare Finds a Gift written and illustrated by Oleksandr Shatokhin
CHRISTMAS
Magical illustrations bring a cozy ambiance to this sweet story about a kindhearted hare searching the forest to find the owner of a mysterious present. When Little Hare meets Santa, she discovers that a terrible snowstorm has scattered Santa’s gifts So Little Hare helps Santa search the forest. Santa leaves her with a special sleigh to travel around the forest and a surprise gift on Christmas Day.
We’re Off to the Forest written and illustrated by Katarina Macurova
CONSERVATION
A squirrel kid and his dad take a walk in the forest to check on one of their acorns and one very special acorn they buried. This acorn is buried so it will grow into a giant oak tree that would provide new acorns for all the forest animals who have all been eating up the acorsn. Beautiful, beautiful artwork with a conservation message!
A Voice in the Storm written and illustrated by Karl James Mountford
DEPRESSION
Illustrated in gorgeous geometric patterns of deep purples and greens, an upset Rat flees from her friend Jackdaw into a storm. When she meets Bear, Bear comments that the storm has a voice, which helps Rat hear her own voice about the storm inside. This is a story about feeling heavy feelings and finding your way through the storm.
A Stickler Christmas written and illustrated by Lane Smith
CHRISTMAS
Stickler, a creature made of sticks with lots of eyes, has the BEST Christmas gift ideas. Can you guess? Yes. Sticks. But these sticks are special! And when his shy tree friend is distressed about being decorated with ornaments, Stickler figures out how to help. And it’s a weird but perfect Christmas!
Hooray, It’s Three Kings Day! written by Annette M. Clayton, illustrated by Jane Leal
THREE KINGS DAY
Are there any other Three Kings Day books? If there are, it’s not many. This valuable story explores a very important Latin American celebration! Sofi’s Abuela arrives in December with her wooden Three Kings that she lets Sofi move closer and closer to the nativity. Abuela tells Sofia about the wise men traveling to Bethlehem and arriving on January 6th. On Three Kings Day, relatives arrive to celebrate, and Abuela gives Sofia the three wooden kings to keep.
So many really beautiful books this month!
Amazing, right!? 🙂