6 picture books published in 2026 that we would recommend. Our daughter continues to love reading. The time and attention she can devote to books amazes me. It is nice to see her love of reading blossom and grow as well as her vocabulary, comprehension, sense of belonging and empathy for others. This year we have read a good mix of picture books that ranged from favorites from Mom and Dad’s childhood to books that weren’t written yet when we were kids. The books on this list are books that we all three enjoy. These books represent our love of God’s creation, love for each other, love of books and libraries, the need for belonging, laughter, curiosity, and the reminder that we all make mistakes. 1. I am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log by Lena Podesta, Published by Ten Speed Young Readers of Penguin Random House LLC, May 26, 2026. Ages 3-6. Non Fiction Picture Book Why this book caught...
Mo Willems' Books and Tips to Grow a Reader "No! Point with your finger!" Our daughter has been shouting at us these words as we read her books. I think it helps her stay focused and it is a way in which she is learning to read more words. Tracking the words as we read helps to connect the fact that what we are reading is what is on the page. An article from Learning Without Tears says: "And be sure to use your finger to point to letters and words, which helps kids connect print and speech." Lastly, pointing to the words as we read to our children shows them the pathway words take on the page; left to right and up to down. As I told someone this weekend when they asked if she could read, "Yes, she is quite the reader." So what am I doing to help her grow her reading skills and what books are we reading? Continue reading below to see some ideas we are doing to get her thinking about words. As far as what books we focus on, we read all sort of books an...