Picture Books October 2025
Recent Releases
If We Were Dogs
by Sophie Blackall

In this upbeat, energetic tale, an enthusiastic child -- the self-proclaimed “big dog” -- dictates the many canine capers they’d get up to with the assigned “little dog”...who turns out to have their own ideas for imaginative play. For fans of: If I Was a Horse, also by two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall.
 
Marianne the maker by Kelly Corrigan
Marianne the maker
by Kelly Corrigan

Marianne, a young maker with a wild imagination, tries to skip soccer practice to work on her creations, but must face the consequences of her actions when her dad finds out what happened
Cat Nap
by Brian Lies

After the determined Kitten chases a mouse into a poster for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, their pursuit takes on the styles of ten iconic masterpieces. Kids don’t need any museum knowledge to be fascinated by the hilarious, arresting illustrations (which include stained glass, ceramics, wooden masks, and more), all rendered in meticulous three-dimensional detail by Caldecott Honoree Brian Lies.
 
A Snow Day for Amos McGee
by Philip C. Stead; illustrated by Erin E. Stead

In this follow-up to A Sick Day for Amos McGee and Amos McGee Misses the Bus, the titular zookeeper prepares for winter weather, offering hand-knit garments to his animal charges (and frolicking with them once the snow finally arrives). Kirkus Reviews declares that this cozy tale is “an instant wintertime classic.”
 
Family Feast!
by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Frank Morrison

Told through lyrical rhyming text, this tale of Pops and Big Ma cooking up an intergenerational feast will resonate with family-oriented readers, right down to the refrain of "tastes like home when family meet; a bond so warm, so strong, so sweet." Elegantly exaggerated illustrations provide plenty of delicious details for kids to savor. Read-alike: Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham.
 
Cute and Creepy
The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz
The Bakery Dragon
by Devin Elle Kurtz

Gold-obsessed Ember the dragon is too cute to succeed as a scary thief, but with help from a kindhearted baker, he discovers a more satisfying kind of treasure. Glowing, jewel-toned illustrations bring visual appeal to this deliciously droll fantasy.
See the Ghost: Three Stories About Things You Cannot See
by David LaRochelle; illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

In this beginner-friendly read, the titular characters from See the Cat and See the Dog return for several laugh-out-loud encounters with mischievous invisible characters (who can be seen only via their speech bubbles). Featuring easy-to-read words and sophisticated visual humor, See the Ghost offers new readers a sense of both accomplishment and fun.
Why Did the Monster Cross the Road?
by R.L. Stine; illustrated by Marc Brown

Meet Hunny, a spiky monster who's feeling down-and-out, and Funny, a google-eyed monster determined to crack jokes until Hunny cracks as well -- a smile. Depicted in hilariously yucky collage art, the monsters are fun to look at, eye-rolling punchlines and all. Written by Goosebumps author R.L. Stine and illustrated by Arthur creator Marc Brown, this book is sure to be in demand year-round.
Boo Stew
by Donna L. Washington; illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler

Curly Locks loves cooking, but her neighbors in Toadsuck don’t care for her batwing brownies or lizard skin lasagna. But when the town is invaded by shadowy swamp creatures called Scares, Curly Locks’ culinary skills finally come in handy. Stylized artwork rounds out this not-so-scary fairy tale.
 
Little Ghost Makes a Friend
by Maggie Edkins Willis

Little Ghost, an adorably round specter who only goes out on Halloween, longs for a real friend. New neighbor Anya seems to have a lot in common with Little Ghost -- could they be kindred spirits? With soft, cartoony illustrations, this ghost story is heartwarming instead of horrifying. Read-alike: Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago.
 
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
The Public Library
501 Copper NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
505-768-5141

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