What’s Good in Picture Books, May 2025
This post may contain affiliate links.
I read over fifty fiction picture books this month and chose my top fifteen to share with you. (Some are from April, but most are from May.)
Incidentally, this month’s selection of picture books prompted my rant about those other books on Instagram. I may write more extensively about this in the future. I simply do not understand why there are mediocre books that are not kid-friendly being published. However, there are always good ones, too.
Here are this month’s picks. Happy reading!
New Picture Books, May 2025
Kittybunkport written by Scott Rothman, illustrated by Zachariah OHora
HUMOR
Kids will crack up through this adventure about two reluctant scardy cats, Chowder and Crackers, who are elected by Kittybunkport’s harbormaster to visit the lighthouse to see why the light is off. The humor is sublime, as is the witty dialogue in which we get false bravado from Chowder and complete terrified honesty from Crackers. Delightfully illustrated with pizazz and personality, matching the playful humor of the story.
Is it a Book or Is it a Plane? written by Mike Henson, illustrated by Katie Vernon
INTERACTIVE
This book takes interactiveness to a whole new level. Which, at first, I was skeptical about because shouldn’t we be revereing books and treating them with utmost white-glove care? But after I read it twice, I decided that the concept is fun and playful in an engaging way. Okay, so what’s in this book? Well, it can be a hat on your head, a monster mask, or a paper airplane. Will kids like it? I think so!
What’s Love All About, Minimoni? written and illustrated by Rocio Bonilla
LOVE
FINALLY! A book about an abstract concept, love, that WILL MAKE SENSE TO KIDS! In this darling story with charming illustrations, Minimoni and her dog Max try to figure out what love means. She explores, she questions, she learns, and she finds a definition of love that combines everything she’s discovered.
The Glasshouse written and illustrated by Hélène Druvert
GARDENING & GROWING THINGS
Holly loves exploring to find treasures. One day she finds a beautiful glasshouse hidden behind bushes filled with plants and books about them. Holly spends time in the glasshouse each day, caring for the plants. When one boy finds the glasshouse and begins to help, it grows into a community of people cultivating the green world and changing their gray lives. Gorgeous illustrations with laser cut pages make this an extra special, and delicate, masterpiece.
A Surprise in the Wood written by Cosetta Zanotti, illustrated by Lucia Scuderi, translated by Angus Yuen-Killick
UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING LOVE
In this heartwarming story about unconditional love, Mama Bear and Papa Bear are excited for their new baby. But instead of a bear cub, they get a fish. What do they do? They ignore the grumbles of other woodland animals, leave their home, and take their son Fin to the water where they dive, and swim, and play. in other words, they adapt to Fin!
Time for Bed, Little Owls! written by Katja Alves, illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier
BEDTIME / META
Mama Owl calls the owls in for bedtime, but she leaves you in charge of getting them to bed. Will you help? You may need to sing a lullaby, find the hidden owls, softly call the outside owls, or count them all, to get the owl babies ready for bed. Interactive, bedtime fun.
The Fearless Storyteller written by Cassie Silva, illustrated by Ana Zurita
COURAGE / ADULT LITERACY
The little girl’s dad feels scared to read the bedtime story. The girl thinks he’s scared of the unicorns and giraffes in her bedtime books, but he’s really scared he’ll mess up reading the big words. He encourages his daughter when she’s scared, and she encourages him when he’s scared. It’s a loving relationship that shows them both being brave, as well as an example of an adult learning to read.
Six Little Sticks written by Tiffany Stone, illustrated by Ruth Hengeveld
COUNTING STICK BUGS
Mama Stick Bug has six little sticks. She wants to teach the sticks how to stay safe outside, but each time she counts her babies, she’s missing one more. Where did they go? Spot the sticks, count with Mama, and learn about stick bugs!
Night Walk written and illustrated by Jason Crockcroft
GRIEF
As the sun rises, a boy and his grandfather walk past the places that Grandma loved. As they do, they remember her with both sadness and joy. Their walk culminates with the sunrise at Grandma’s favorite place. This is a heartwarming grief story showing a meaningful way to process and honor a loved one after their death. Gorgeous blue-toned illustrations!
The Salt Princess retold and illustrated by Anoosha Syed
FOLKTALE
Readers will adore the colorful, detailed, eye-catching illustrations that accompany this captivating retelling of a princess named Amal who enraged her father when she said that she loved him like salt. Banished, Amal slept in the woods and was found by a kind prince. When they fell in love, Amal found a way to reunite with her father. A lovely reading experience.
How to Catch Some ZZZs written by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Jade Orlando
BEDTIME
What do you do when the zzzs go missing? In this clever bedtime story twist, get advice for your bedtime routine step by step because the zzzs can’t resist a good bedtime routine! The zzzs can’t get enough of bedtime stories and lullabies, either. Then, when it’s time to visit dreamland, you’ll fall fast asleep because the zzzs have returned…to you!
The Littlest Drop written by Sascha Alper, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney
FABLE
Outstanding artwork from the father-son duo illuminates this meaningful story about doing whatever you can to make things better. When a fire starts, the animals all run and hide, except the hummingbird, who gets a drop of water from the river and uses it on the fire. Her small act of bravery inspires the other animals to join her in putting water on the fire.
Punch! A Story About Kindness written and illustrated by Michael Hall
KINDNESS / EMOTIONS
With messages of empathy and kindness with punny surprises, readers will be shocked at what happens after Badger is mean to his friends. Instead of his friends being mean back, they make a plan to surprise Badger with acts of kindness. Bear gives Badger a PUNCH (to drink). Elephant gives Badger a SLUG (as a pet). The ending explains why Badger is feeling upset, and will make readers empathetic for what Badger is going through. Cool geometric artwork.
Me & Lavender written by Melody C. Peugh, illustrated by Eve Farb
IMAGINATIVE PLAY
Ella and Lavender, a large purple elephant, are supposed to stay clean, but their leisurely stroll turns into hide-and-go-seek, a bike ride, a water fight, and a big mess. Nothing a little bath won’t take care of– for them both. (Lavender is a stuffie.) A cute, relatable adventure story with decent rhyming and lovely illustrations.
My Book of Firsts: Poems Celebrating a Baby’s Milestones written by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Bruno Brogna
BABY SHOWER GIFT
Sweet free verse poems memorialize baby’s firsts — from the first day to the first outing, first friend to the first haircut– with soft, muted illustrations of anthropomorphized animals. This would make a lovely gift for a new parent!
