July 2025 Prime Picks
Reviewer's Choice
Reviewer's Choice
The Akashic Records
Theresa Cheung
Goldsfield Press
9781841816142 $22.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
The Akashic Records comes from dream decoder Theresa Cheung, who reviews the history, spiritual meaning, and possibilities of the Akashic records. Her guide links self-awareness exercises with Akashic tools essential for understanding the connections between past and present lives and future possibilities.
The Akashic Records examines chakra work, the impact of initial Record readings, and different types of dreaming (including intentional dreaming), linking sources of growth with revelation in its full-bodied survey of Akashic potentials and applications.
New age and self-help readers interested in spiritual paths to discovery and change will appreciate how The Akashic Records promotes both.
Mitchell Beazley
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Enza Genovese;s Sicily: Recipes from an Italian Island (9781840919523, $32.99) gathers traditional dishes from Sicily, pairs them with nearly eighty photos of the island and its foods, and covers a diversity of flavors that can be found on the island.
From numerous risottos, including Artichoke and Pea Risotto (which may be perfect for vegetarians, if its anchovies are eliminated), to Tuna Carpaccio (which requires access to especially fresh tuna) or a traditional autumn Sweet and Sour Pumpkin dish, these varied dishes require no special ingredients. They make the most of Sicilian culture and culinary creations, making this cookbook a standout among similar-sounding Sicilian recipe books for its broader inclusion of Sicily’s culture and landscape.
Portugal:
Recipes and Ingredients
(9781840919400, $29.99) by Anaïs
Delon and Nicolas
Lobbestaël pairs artistic sprayed
edging and photos
with a cross-country survey of Portugal’s culinary history and
recipes, both traditional and modern.
Destination-bound visitors will also appreciate how it holds recommendations for restaurants, grocery stores, taverns, and other food-oriented places that will help with travel planning and understanding Portugal’s many culinary wonders.
Sabrina Ghayour’s Persiana
Easy (9781783256129, $34.99) employs many
shortcuts to
streamline the process of making Persian foods. It offers cooks
modern convenience in making traditional dishes that are easy for
feeding a busy family.
Recipe introductions clarify the origins of these dishes. One example is a Spicy Prawn and Spinach Kari Fry, which admits: “This is not an authentic recipe but a creative combination of two classics: a good old curry, but made quickly like a stir-fry and therefore great for midweek sustenance.”
Full-page color photos and tips on which dishes pair well together complete the easy access and appeal of this cookbook.
These wonderful titles promise to become staples in any serious culinary library, whether public lending library or private collection.
Ultra
Jen Benson and Sim
Benson
Cassell
9781788405775
$32.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons is the first atlas to review the world’s major ultra marathons. It pairs art, maps, elevation profiles, and photos as it assesses the widely contrasting environments of this marathon.
Each marathon includes intricate details of the race from start to finish, giving athletes with the specifics they’ll need for getting to the race, participating, and assessing its conditions.
From the Black Canyon Ultras, which take place in February each year in Arizona, to the unique Peruvian race The Jungle Ultra, held in Manu National Park and consisting of 143 miles of heat, river, and elevation changes, each race receives enough exact detail to allow assessments of which environment and marathon is most appropriate for participation.
The result is a reference that should be a mainstay in any serious ultramarathon participant’s collection, as well as in libraries catering to athletes.
Young Adult/Children
Candlewick Press
www.candlewick.com
At the Window by Hope Lim (9781536224788 , $18.99) is illustrated by Qin Leng. It follows a child’s daily stroll with the family dog, which introduces her to all kinds of neighbors.
One special relationship develops with a woman who is a writer—until one day the writer vanishes, prompting the child’s own reflections on friendships, their longevity, and new possibilities in life.
Hope Lim’s simple text and the warm illustrations exploring this relationship create engaging first-person insights about friendship and growth that kids need to know.
Boar and Hedgehog by David Elliott (9781536228717, $18.99) enjoys especially inviting, colorful illustrations by Eugene Yelchin as it tells of a cranky boar who fields an annoyingly cheerful Hedgehog’s many suggestions for building a better life by changing his home.
Boar’s dark cave matches his mood and seems the perfect fit, but Hedgehog thinks otherwise. And Boar doesn’t appreciate all his too-helpful suggestions for change.
It takes a crisis to form a different perspective on differences and friendship, two top themes in a story that is funny, thought-provoking, and perfect for picture book readers learning about friendship and discovery.
Fantastic Flora
Ann McCallum Staats
MIT Kids Press
9781536232837
$19.99
www.candlewick.com
Fantastic Flora: The World’s Biggest, Baddest, and Smelliest Plants receives lovely, artistic illustration by Zoë Ingram as it explores the amazing world of plants.
Young readers will be surprised to learn that seeds can explode, leaves can look like stones, plants can eat meat, and thorns can do more than stab plant predators.
The wealth of flora examples and the focus on botanical properties and how the plants stave off danger and grow makes for a collection of botanical examples that are compelling, eye-opening, and perfect for young students and leisure readers alike, from elementary into early middle grades.
Lone Wolf Goes to
the Library
Kiah Thomas
Neal Porter
Books/Holiday House
Publishing
9780823457809
$16.99
www.holidayhouse.com
Lone Wolf Goes to the Library features engaging drawings by K-Fai Steele as it explores Wolf’s love of books and the library, and how a late overdue notice almost quashes both.
Wolf’s mandate to return his book is stymied by story time, a slew of kids, and obstacles that prevent him from returning his book and gaining access to more.
The humor and lively exploits of a grumpy Wolf who confronts a stern librarian interested in ordering “one million new books...Make them the best books in the world” makes for an engaging, fun clash of very different personalities, purposes, and a shared love of books.
Music of the
Mountains
Sabrina Shah
Barefoot Books
9798888593677
www.barefootbooks.com
Music of the Mountains: A Story in Pakistan features exceptionally colorful, engaging ethnic art by Manal Mirza. It explores the life of Pakistani girl Roohi, who absorbs her grandfather’s lessons in playing music, but must perform at her school’s Eid concert without his help when he becomes ill.
Roohi is only beginning to learn how to reflect her culture and home via music ... so how can she possibly perform what she doesn’t know?
Gorgeous illustrations accompany a warm story of how Roohi finds her own rhythm in a book especially highly recommended for libraries interested in adding more ethnic picture book stories into their elementary-level collections.
The Ordinary Life
of Jacominus
Gainsborough
Rébecca
Dautremer
Post Wave
Children’s Books
9798895090107
$19.99
www.postwavepublishing.us
The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough made its debut in France in 2018, where it’s been selling so strongly that it’s appeared in 19 languages before its current English rendition.
Jacominus is a fluffy white rabbit who enjoys simple pleasures and is surrounded by family and friends.
His life may seem ordinary—but that doesn’t mean it’s nothing to write about. He faces changing seasons, grows older, and learns important lessons about life.
The warm animal drawings are exceptionally colorful and appealing, accompanying lessons that read-aloud adults will find especially inviting:
Jacominus wasn’t very big, couldn’t run very fast, and, let’s be honest, couldn’t jump very high either. But he didn’t dwell on it.
Penguin
www.penguin.com/kids
These new arrivals from Penguin are engaging, colorful picture books that deserve serious consideration from acquisitions librarians and adults choosing standouts for kids and collections.
Kiese Laymon’s City Summer, Country Summer (9780593405567, $18.99) receives vivid, realistic illustrations by Alexis Franklin. These are an exceptional draw to the story of three Black boys who spend the summer exploring nature and friendship.
This celebration of the outdoors, relationships, and contrasts between urban environment and rural attractions creates a gorgeous first-person gala about a very special summer.
Eliza Kinkz’s iMistaco!:
A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas
(9780593700235,
$18.99) outlines an embarrassing day at school in which Izzy just
wants to be left alone—despite the fact that Friday is
tortilla-making day.
Izzy keeps making mistakes until her friend Lito gives her words of wisdom which help her come to terms with her day, her perspective, and the opportunities she holds to change her daily life.
Large print and vivid, action-packed reflections lend to read-aloud drama and unpredictable excitement.
Tori and
the Muses by
Tori Amos (9780593750346, $19.99) is illustrated by Demelsa Haughton.
It will reach ages 4-8 with a lovely survey of how young musician
Tori finds inspiration in the world.
The biographical adventure explores various facets of being a young musician, from talent and inspiration to an early determination to play the kind of music she wants.
The lovely story of musical gifts and inspiration will prove a bright, attractive read for any child honing their own creative abilities.
Dr. Wellington García-Mathews
and Ross Mathews create Tío
and Tío:
The Ring Bearers
(9780593752586, $18.99), which chronicles a visit to Mexico to attend
Evan and Andy’s uncles’ wedding. There, the kids will experience
Spanish language, culture, and ceremony.
The kids initially just want to play games and eat, but when the boys witness how their two tíos love one another, they enthusiastically participate in the most meaningful celebration of all.
Tommy Doyle provides reinforcing, colorful illustrations that capture Mexico and the importance of family connections.
Adam Rex’s Echo
(9780593599324, $19.99) refutes the notion that real friends always
think you’re right as it tells of young Junior, who doesn’t need
any friends other than his echo, which repeats everything he says
about himself.
It takes a new neighbor to introduce him to the idea that friends need not mimic each other all the time – and to learn that friendship is about more than parroting admiration.
Not only is there nothing wrong in being wrong, but mimicry can be downright boring!
Read-aloud adults will welcome the opportunity to use Echo to reinforce the value of differences in friendships, support systems, and perspectives.
Weshoyot Alvitre’s
Brave
(9780593531600, $18.99) is a Native American story of a powwow,
traditions, and a grandfather’s hair that severs connections. It
considers how family ties are reinforced despite the impact of
colonization and change.
In Native culture, men traditionally wore their hair long. The young first-person observer considers how he will participate in and maintain traditions himself. The fine story revolves around how bravery is understood, taught, reflected in traditions, and how it can be self-taught.
The Day
the Crayons Made Friends
by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers (9780593622360, $19.99) tells of a
group of crayons who want to quit work and rescue another group of
lost crayons.
The problem is that young Duncan’s crayons just won’t stay in one place. When they go out and make friends with other toys, trouble erupts.
Colorful crayoned letters and drawings outline a zany dilemma in this appealing picture book story of crayons gone wild.
Tara Lazar’s Flat
Cat
The Class Pet (9780593404607, $18.99)
receives engaging
illustrations by Pete Oswald as it surveys a cat who is born flat and
likes it that way – until he accompanies young Willow to school,
where he is mistaken for paper and employed in all kinds of
challenging ways.
Who knew school could be so chaotic?
A fun survey of a very different cat whose appearance leads to trouble evolves a delightful picture book story that invites readers to celebrate and recognize differences.
Jim! Six
True Stories About One
Great Artist: James Marshall by Jerrold
Connors
(9780593859346, $20.99) tells of an artist who drew such characters
as Miss Nelson, Viola Swamp, and others. Here, he is the main
character in a biography inspired by Marshall’s own art, which
outlines the artistic and personal qualities that made Jim special
and his books outstanding.
Kids already familiar with Marshall’s art will be attracted to this survey of his life, which places his art and books in perspective and adds whimsical encounters and relationships for further enjoyment.
Papilio
by Ben
Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser (9780593693254, $19.99)
tells of three stages of growth between caterpillar and butterfly, is
narrated by three friends, and adds fun reflections and hilarious
moments to the natural history of the swallowtail butterfly.
An evocative character evolves from these changes as Papilo’s complicated life receives close inspection and lovely descriptions from the butterfly’s experiences and viewpoint, making Papilo attractive to leisure readers and elementary-level students alike.
Micha Archer’s Wind
Watchers (9780593616550, $18.99) surveys
windy weather,
inviting picture book readers to consider its science and impact.
Different kinds of wind and its effects are surveyed through experiences kids can readily understand, from a day at the beach to how wind can surprise (“Boom! Bang!”).
Read-aloud adults will find its color-packed pages of illustration and sound efforts to be delightful attractions.
Kelly Yang and
Xindi Yan’s Little
Bird Laila (9780593407110, $18.99) follows
Laila, who
flies between her parents, translating all kinds of signs for them
from English to Chinese.
Because her parents can’t afford English classes, Laila decides to become their teacher – even though she is still learning English, herself.
This fine story of family togetherness and effort will especially please elementary-level libraries gathering books to illustrate ethnic diversity, immigrant experience, and how children can support their families and origins.
Home
by Matt De La
Peña and Loren Long
(9780593110898, $19.99) celebrates
home in its many different incarnations in an assessment of different
concepts of home, love, and community.
Adults who choose Home as a read-aloud for kids will appreciate the evolutionary process of showing kids how the concept of home holds very different meaning and impact in different ways.
Gorgeous illustrations accompany serious discussions on the subject, offering a few surprises and much food for thought and insight:
“But a day may come when you learn how a home can be lost.”
See
Marcus Grow
(9780593406076, $18.99) by Marcus Bridgewater and Reggie Brown tells
of a boy who learns why the garden is his grandmother’s favorite
place.
As he helps her garden and learns how things grow and are cultivated, Marcus makes many discoveries that young people also will learn from:
“So will this seed really become a tree like that one?” Marcus asked. “It’s so small.”
“Yes! But it needs time. It took a lot of years for that tree to grow so big.”
“Amazing! Just like me!”
Adults will find See Marcus Grow the perfect interactive book for understanding not just gardens and growth, but interacting with one’s elders.
Corinna Luyken’s The
Arguers (9781984814425, $18.99) reveals a
king and queen
who find their kingdom riddled with arguments, from whether a brush
is better than a comb to bigger issues and choices.
The arguments grow until arguing itself becomes the instinct for responding to life. The kingdom is so rife with argument that the king and queen decide to hold a contest over who will be deemed the best arguerer in the land.
This fun fairy tale about conflict and discussion makes a wonderful reference for adults seeking to teach kids about conflict resolution and winning.
Carlos Aponte’s Precious
(9780593856802, $18.99) follows a boy who finds courage in music
after a hurricane hits his neighborhood and he’s forced to give up
his rescue dog.
The land is still beautiful, however, as the song ‘Precoisa’ reinforces during this time of struggle and strife on the island.
Lovely illustrations accent a touching story filled with important insights about recovery, connection, and the power of song to reinforce new avenues of healing.
Chastin
Buttigieg’s Papa’s
Coming Home (9780593698988, $19.99)
receives colorful
illustrations by Dan Taylor as it explores a father’s return from a
trip. His happy but anxious children make welcome home signs and
endeavor to involve him in everything he’s missed, packing the car
with all kinds of goodies before going to the airport to pick him up.
This results in a big problem...
This warm story of reuniting families will appeal to any young person whose parent is away, offering a toddler’s perspective and a two-daddy family that is warmly revealing.
Jon Agee’s George
&
Lenny Are Always Together (9780593857731,
$18.99) tells of
friends who are always together. But, what happens when they need to
be apart?
A very simple yet compelling quandary arises when one friend wants to be alone, confusing the other.
“What is it like to be alone?” Lenny wonders. He seeks answers that can only come from experience.
A fine story of friendship tested by the requirement for separation will give read-aloud adults plenty of discussion points for the very young.
All these books are standouts that deserve prominent display in any elementary-level library collection. They can be chosen as important dialogue-openers by read-aloud adults.
Penguin’s Egg
Anna Kemp and
Alice courtly
Simon &
Schuster
9781665963251
$18.99
www.simonandschuster.com
Picture book readers ages 4-8 enjoy a snowy story of birth and family in Penguin’s Egg, which tells of penguins who are separated when an ice patch breaks away from the family home.
Father Penguin tries to get back to his wife and egg, but neither train nor hot-air balloon work. How can he return home to his family?
Lovely illustrations mark a journey home that is heartwarming and fun.
Sea in My Cells
Laura Alary
& Andrea Blinick
Pajama Press
9781772783421
$18.95
www.pajamapress.ca
Sea in My Cells is a science-centric journey pairing free verse with inspections of water, oceans, and rain resources. It invites kids to participate in the discovery of all these things by observing the presence of water in their world, from sweat which is salty like the sea to how mist turns into raindrops that are perfect for play.
This link between scientific observation, personal experience, and better understanding of water in the world is an ideal introduction for adults looking to connect scientific concepts to everyday life in a way that picture book readers can readily understand.
Bright, colorful illustrations reinforce these experiences and lend appeal to the science.
Sleeping Bear Press
Sleeping Bear Press publishers consistently engaging, lovely picture books each season. These new arrivals represent some of their latest and best.
Amy Moore’s The
Bakers
Dozen (9781534113022, $18.99) features fun
illustrations
by Andrea Stegmaier as it surveys the work of twelve bakers at The
Bakers Dozen bakery and what happens when a thirteenth applicant for
the job shows up with a tempting offer.
Can the new chef break into a network convinced that a dozen bakers is more than enough?
The rhyming donut celebration is accompanied by a recipe and counting opportunities that read-aloud adults will find multifaceted fun, promising education and entertainment all bound into a delicious doughnut theme.
Molly Golden’s No
One
Told Sandra Day O’Connor What to Do: The First Woman to Serve on
the United States Supreme Court
(9781534113268, $18.99) is
a biographical sketch of O’Connor’s political trailblazing
efforts. Its approach gives picture book readers an introduction to a
range of themes, from women’s history and legal challenges to how
one woman opened the door for others to follow in her profession.
The biography gives lively embellishment to O’Connor’s life and her ideas:
“Many
women married right after
graduation, but Sandra had her own ideas about that, too. In the fall
of 1950, she enrolled as one of only five women in Stanford
University’s law school. Some people thought a woman shouldn’t go
to law school. Sandra disagreed.”
Vivid illustrations by Julia Breckenreid add color and interest.
The result will encourage many discussions among young people about women’s history, rights, and effectiveness.
Marsha Diane
Arnold’s Big
Boy 4014 and the Steam Team: The World’s Largest Steam Engine
Roards Back to Life! (9781534113145,
$18.99) reaches ages
4-8 with a lovely story of the 1940s and a steam-powered locomotive
that ws active through 1959, and then became a train museum fixture
in California.
Kids who love trains will relish the lively history, colorful illustrations by Adam Gustavson, and details of train restoration and recovery which follow how the Big Boys were not only part of the past, but are now part of present-day rail history.
Big Boy
4014 and the Steam Team
will reach a wide audience thanks to especially vivid connections
between past and present train activity and history and the efforts
of steam train preservationists to keep the engines running, all
depicted in this wonderful exploration designed for maximum young
reader interest.