August 2025 Prime Picks
Reviewer's Choice
Reviewer's Choice
Beyoncé:
All the
Songs
Benoît
Cleric
Cassell
9781788405577
$60.00
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Music fans need have more than a passing interest in Beyoncé in order to appreciate the weighty All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track, which offers a deep dive into her music in a manner that will appeal to avid fans seeking a comprehensive guide.
Over five hundred pages explores Beyoncé, her creations and intentions, and their impact in this song-by-song survey of her career. From solo albums to visual projects and innovations, All the Songs not only profiles her finest creations, but the people around her who contributed to her inspiration.
Full-page black and white and color photos pack the pages, providing added attraction and value that will thoroughly delight her fans, reinforcing her connections to soul, hip-hop, and other notable genres and musicians.
Bold
Beanco: Full of Beans
Amelia
Christie-Miller
Kyle
Books/Octopus
9781804192979
$26.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Bold Beanco: Full of Beans packs delicious bean recipes into a collection filled with accompanying color photos for maximum attraction. While there are many, many bean cookbooks on the market already, this gathering focuses on expanding the perception and repertoire of bean cookery to new levels.
Organized by types of beans and including recipes for all kinds of occasions from quick snacks to entertaining, the showcase of variety ranges from a mushroom-infused Carlin Pea Stroganoff to a One-Pan Chickpea, Roasted Grape and Carmelised Carrot with Baked Feta and a Speedy Tuna & Borlotti Bean Salad.
Color photos on facing pages add attraction and interest. All that’s needed is access to a variety of beans, and cooks are good to go.
Larousse
French Cooking
Larousse
Hamlyn
9780600638582
$49.00
Larousse French Cooking: The Definitive Collection of Classic Recipes from the French Home Kitchen gathers over a hundred recipes from all regions of France, organizes them by specialties and seasonal ingredients, and is the only French cookbook a home cook needs, if only one were to be selected for home reference.
Classic, traditional French recipes are accompanied by step-by-step directions, color photos, and special features on local culinary traditions throughout country.
From Cider-Braised Gammon to Chicken Fricassée or Quiche Lorraine, these are outstanding basics every aspiring French cook should know and love.
The
Little Frog’s Guide to Life
Maybell
Eequay
Summersdale
9781837994731
$11.99
www.summersdale.com
The Little Frog’s Guide to Life will make a fun gift book for many as it translates the internet mushroom frog’s observations into a book filled with succinct pearls of wisdom.
Some 40 hand-drawn frog illustrations accompany daily lessons perfect for easy digestion, encouraging and uplifting reflection, and humor that pairs nicely with admonition such as:
If you want to add a little sweetness into the world, write a letter to a stranger, wishing good things for them, and leave it on a public bench.
This heartening collection is attractive and thought-provoking, all in one.
Mitchell
Beazley
www.octopusbooksusa.com
These excellent guides are recommended for general-interest libraries strong in recipe collections and fashion, offering information hard to find elsewhere.
Mimi Spencer and Sam Rice’s The Midlife Kitchen: Health-Boosing Recipes for Midlife and Beyond (9781480919646, $32.99) is for midlife eaters just beginning to recognize that healthy eating should be a priority, especially in the perimenopause and menopause years.
It features over a hundred creative recipes honed by Mimi Spencer and Sam Rice which are designed to restore and support health systems well past one’s forties, blending healthy ingredients with no-fuss recipes in dishes such as Red Lentil & Smoked Mackerel Kitchri, Slow-Roasted Lamb with Sticky Figs, and Hot Tapas Almonds with Honey and Cinnamon.
The dishes burst with flavor, feature unexpected combinations, and are introduced with color illustrations, health tips, and a ‘why we love it’ introduction that adds interest and appeal.
Raul Barragan Sanz and Jean-Sebastien Moisy’s Vintage Icons of Fashion from the Chanel 2.55 to the Rolex Oyster (9781840919653, $39.99) gathers under one cover some of the most collectable vintage pieces from the fashion world.
It juxtaposes clothing and accessories with a probe of the the vintage fashion market, surveying big name brands, discussing their characteristics and history, and considering both manufacturing and collectibles.
Full-page color photos accompany such articles as ‘The Jackie by Gucci’, ‘The Chanel Jacket by Chanel’, and ‘The Bar Jacket by Dior’, which details scandals, design intentions, the politics behind artistic creations and their marketing, and characteristics of different collections.
The Mixology Way: Classic Cocktail Recipes to Master the Art of Mixology by Lucas Tubiana (9781784729806, $39.99) blends drink mixing with coffee table embellishment as it pairs lovely color photos with some 100 cocktail recipes. It is recommended for home entertainment where lavish coffee table books are of special interest.
Other mixology books focus on recipes and include small color photos of results, but this survey attracts with rich illustrations, from color photos to diagrams of mixed drink appearances.
The recipes below them become the adjunct to, not the center of, attention, enhancing the finer art of drink mixing.
These are intriguing, unique books that deserve a place in any general-interest collection as well as in libraries strong in the arts and home economics.
The
Spirit of the Rainforest
Dr. Rosa
Vásquez Espionza
Gaia/Octopus
9781856755566
$27.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
The Spirit of the Rainforest: How Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Curiosity Reconnects Us to the Natural World comes from an author who grew up alongside the Amazon, learning about it from her native healer grandmother. Even though she pursued a career in science and gained a PhD in the US, Espionza remained connected to her Amazon home, returning to it as a leading biologist and writer to explore its unique attributes.
These Amazonian journeys are delivered with insights into ecology, healing, natural medicine, and biodiversity, contrasting Espionza’s scientific education with intimate knowledge of indigenous communities and insights.
The combined perspective juxtaposes worlds not often brought together so seamlessly, and will prove an attraction for libraries interested in blends of science, new age, natural medicine, and healing.
Young Adult/Children
Bear and
the Three Goldilocks
Patrick
Horne
Holiday
House
9780823455522
$18.99
www.holidayhouse.com
Bear and the Three Goldilocks turns a popular fairy tale on end when the Goldilocks family goes on a hike, only to find Bear crashing their campsite and stealing the s’mores.
“That’s how bears roll,” is the contention in a hilarious story in which the famished bear wrecks havoc on the Goldilocks family’s plan to enjoy the great outdoors.
How can they scare away a sleeping bear? Maybe they don’t have to...
This outstanding story will delight read-aloud adults looking for a different take on bears, opportunity, youthful folly, and traditional stories.
Climate
of Chaos
Cassandra
Newbould
Peachtree
Publishing
9781682637579
$19.99
www.peachtreeteen.com
Climate of Chaos takes place in dystopian Seattle, where storms have devastated the population, a new virus spreads, and the privileged live inside Domes built by a corporation.
Disabled teen Fox and her younger sister Rabbit join their fugitive aunt’s group on a mission to restore medical access for survivors, but impeding their mission is a hostage situation which tests Fox’s loyalties and resolve.
Teens seeking dystopian survival stories packed with social insights, family relationships, and action will find Climate of Chaos a powerful survey about two very different worlds that turn out to have more in common than Fox initially thinks.
Vivid in its journey and discoveries, Climate of Chaos is a hard-hitting teen read that’s hard to put down.
The
Heavenly Juggler
Demi
Wisdom
Tales Press
9781957670133
$19.95
www.wisdomtalespress.com
The Heavenly Juggler is the delightful picture book story of Barnaby, a poor juggler taken into a monastery where the monks are devoted to making beautiful works to honor the Virgin Mary.
Barnaby is saddened to think that he has nothing to contribute to this lofty effort until he begins to understand how his one special gift can prove a blessing to others.
Ages 4-8 and beyond will appreciate Demi’s lovely illustrations and this strong adaptation from a French legend which reveals how faith and service can intersect in unexpected ways.
Libraries will find The Heavenly Juggler a fine acquisition for any collection strong in stories of faith and better living.
Penguin
www.penguin.com
These new arrivals from Penguin offer a diverse selection of stories and appeal for elementary libraries and read-aloud adults alike.
Geena Davis’s The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page (9780593463963, $18.99) tells of Sheila, following the growth of a young girl who grows much faster than her peers until she doesn’t even fit into her own picture book story.
Sheila wonders how she will fit in, if her readers will regret learning about her, and how to best adjust to her unprecedented and unusual height.
The story brings to life a character whose evolution will please readers with its insights on being different, growth, and adaptation.
Luvvie Ajayi Jones’s Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name (9780593694251, $18.99) receives inviting illustrations by Joey Spiotto as it surveys a girl who is not doing well in her new school. She gets teased, but is scolded when she responds. Then she forgets her lunch, and her confession about hating her new school is exposed to the entire class.
How can Luvvie adjust to life when one thing after another goes wrong?
This fine story of anger and confusion will bring inviting discussions to the forefront about bullying, fitting in, and responses to adversity.
Nikko las Smith’s The History of We (9780593619681, $18.99) provides a sweeping review of humanity, with colorful acrylic paintings by author Nikkolas Smith helping celebrate connections between people around the world.
From learning about nature and other people to understanding African ancestry’s progression and growth, this survey of the first Africans to understand their world and thrive in it makes for a wondrous, vibrant celebration of history and roots that details how Africans explored, healed, and understood the world.
Daniel Salmieri and Sophia Haas’s Next to Me (9780593462003, $19.99) is a bedtime story about traversing a neighborhood. It features cut-paper collages by the husband-and-wife author team as it surveys the neighborhood from a first-person young narrator’s perspective.
From sneakers that are observed “next to dinosaurs” to looking up to see a puffy cloud next to an airplane, this child’s-eye view of many wonders opens up a world of possibilities for discussion.
Ruby René Always Gets Her way by Ashley Iman (9780593858882, $18.99) receives large-size, fun illustrations by Gladys Jose as it tells of a girl used to getting her way in everything – until she returns to school after a sick day to find that someone new has taken her place in the limelight of making morning announcements.
Forced to share her job, Ruby discovers many unexpected things about cooperation, learning valuable new lesson about working together with another person, dividing responsibilities and accolades, and becoming friends.
Paul Friedrich’s Zebra and Yak: The Backwards Alphabet Book (9798217002108, $19.99) begins not with the usual ‘A’, but with ‘Z’. As two hilarious characters roam the alphabet, kids will appreciate a mystery, a mess, and an alphabet conundrum that enlivens the entire process of alphabet memorization.
The result is a simple adventure blending educational opportunities with entertainment.
Neil Sharpson’s Don’t Trust Fish (9780593616673, $18.99) emphasizes that there are plenty of fish in the sea ... but many can’t be trusted.
Dan Santat provides a whimsical accompaniment to this contention, which features experts in fish who offer their own fun assessments. One example is Mr. Fisherman, who maintains: “YAR! Only fools and landlubbers trust them scurvy sea scoundrels!”
The read-aloud process becomes especially inviting with such evocative reflections.
These outstanding picture book stories are highly recommended for any elementary-level collection seeking quality additions.
Ruby
Tuesday Books
www.rubytuesdaybooks.com
These new arrivals from Ruby Tuesday Books provide elementary-level readers with exceptionally vivid, attractive discussions of daily life that are highly recommended for elementary libraries and home collections alike.
Alix Wood’s How to Grow Potato Chips (9781788563543) invites kids to move from planting to table with step-by-step, easy instructions pairing science with gardening insights.
This focus on growing potato chips covers all the basics of planting, understanding what is happening underground, and producing a crop which then translates into a child’s favorite food.
In 24 pages of colorful photos and facts, kids receive everything needed to produce a chip crop of their own.
Belinda Gallagher’s Helping Others (9781788564878) contains 32 pages of tips on how to help others, from family members to neighbors and friends.
Its focus on kindness, the practical tackling of life and community involvement, and insights on assessing and making the most of opportunities to help others offers read-aloud adults and kids an interactive experience that encourages kids to better understand how all of their choices make a difference in the world.
The result are two titles grounded in worlds kids are already familiar which. They promote take-charge action and better understanding and are perfect for helping kids integrate their desires with the bigger world around them.
Simon
& Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
These new arrivals are fun new picture books that are outstanding in entertainment value, promising attention-grabbing results from kids and read-aloud adults.
With its ‘explosions by Stephen W. Martin’ and ‘cuteness by Dan Tavis,’ Fluffy McWhiskers: Crunchazaur Ka’Boom (9781665956123, $19.99) presents a hungry Crunchasaur whose world-consuming appetite cannot be satisfied by “Pekapoos, porcupines, pangolins, even a pirate ship filled with peg-legged parakeets.”
How a monster can be convinced not to eat everything it sees makes for a hilarious, action-packed story filled with surprises and engaging, colorful visuals.
The Quacken by Justin Colón (9781665922487, $19.99) receives charming illustrations by Pablo Pino as it tells of a fearsome lake monster that swallows kids (and even whales) whole.
Despite rumors of danger, all Hector sees on the lake are cute ducks ... until he breaks a rule and finds out how dangerous the lake can really be.
This fine, silly story details a different struggle and lots of fun.
Ariel Bernstein’s Mabel Wants a Friend (9781665940405, $19.99) is a story of how to make and be a friend. It follows the efforts of Mabel, who is always determined to get what she wants from life, and her new friend Chester, who doesn’t always agree with her approaches.
The two bond, then break up – but getting back together involves some hard lessons Mabel may not be prepared to learn. This story gives read-aloud adults plenty of opportunities to discuss not just friendship-building, but life perspectives, with ages 4-8.
Jane Kurtz’s Clara The Triumphant Rhinoceros: A True Story (9781481467032, $19.99) is illustrated by Claire Messer, who brings to life the appealing tale of a little rhino who changes world opinion about wildlife and animals.
Her seventeen-year tour through Europe is as fascinating as the story’s underlying message of making a difference in the world by changing hearts and minds.
All are engaging standouts that librarians and adults will want to consider for picture book readers.