7 Reasons to Add Online Services to Your ALEX
June 27, 2024
Protected: Build Slideshows to Engage Readers PD Session
July 17, 202426 Picture Books That Will Thrill Readers + Bonus Ways to Engage
The best part of library time is the sharing of story. Here's a look at some picture books that are ready (or will be ready) to share this upcoming school year.
When selecting a read aloud, I look for rhythmic language, active engagement, themes relative to the times of year, and connections to stories, activities that can be included.
Today, we have access to online teaching guides and many top publishers are putting these out as well. A great library system like ALEX will provide a LINK to these tools, right from the book selection menu. In ALEX, link may be added using the OTHER tab while processing books in the ITEMS tab.
Here's a great list of 24 picture books to add in 2024-25:
1
A Military Salute
by Winsome Bingham (Abrams, Oct 2024)
Mamma's everything—
full of life and love—despite
her PTSD.
2
A Generational Hug
by Winsome Bingham (Beach Lane, Oct 2024)
Granny Dee is love,
three trains and day tripping fun
with her granddaughter.
3
A Nod to Dads
by Matthew Rivera (Neal Porter, May 2024)
Manny gets his first
plant and celebrates his very
best gardener: Dad.
4
A Plantastic Read
by Beth Ferry (Simon & Schuster, July 2024)
Born with purple thumb,
Prunella loves stickier,
scarier gardens.
5
When Opposites Attract
by Ame Dyckman (Two Lions, Aug 2024)
One Boobie is red.
Another Boobie is blue.
Will they be fast friends?
6
Ode to Camping
by Ame Dyckman (Two Lions, July 2024)
When a family
goes camping, they test drive their
own new way camp style.
7
A Sacred Space
by Linsday Ward (Two Lions, April 2024)
That perfect place
with that special someone makes
joyful memories.
8
Ocean Science
by Lynn Brunelle (Neal Porter, June 2024)
When a whale falls down,
down, down to the deep, dark depths,
and becomes a shelter.
9
Explore Book as Art
by Corey R. Tabor (Greenwillow, May 2024)
Ursula swims by
seeing up as down and turns
to find out what's new.
10
Celebrating Pet Ownership
by Ryan T. Higgins (Disney Hyperion, March 2024)
Not sure she wants one,
Mittens arrives full of fun—
600 pounds full.
11
Unicorn of the Deep
by Candace Fleming (Neal Porter, Oct. 2024)
Narwhal swift and small
points a six-foot tooth to sky
looking for a meal.
12
Speaking Out About Bans!
by Julia Patton (Sourcebooks, Sept. 2023)
This book is about
what is NOT allowed—
inside this picture book.
13
For The Worriers
by Rachel Morrisroe (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Feb. 2024)
When Alex worries
a full blown Llama appears
and grows and grows.
14
For Book Lovers
by Hayley Rocco (Little Brown, Oct. 2024)
Piper loves her books.
Hoards then until she gets her
own library card.
15
A Fantastic Flyer Series
by Kaz Windness (Paula Wiseman, Feb. 2025)
When a nonspeaking student
arrives and outflies Bitsy,
she rethinks her role.
16
Celebrating Books
by Kaz Windness (Flamingo, May 2024)
"A book is a friend"
that brings many surprises
in all shapes and size.
17
Animal Arithmetic
by Katie Howes (Sourcebook Explore, July 2024)
When reindeer pair up
there's one reindeer remaining—
who longs to fit in.
18
Surprising Sleeps
by Jennifer Ward (Beach Lane, July 2024)
When animals snooze
they curl, float, hold hands,
lay head on backside.
19
Engineering A Pet
by Curtis Manley (Roaring Brook Press, March 2025)
Grace cannot have dogs.
So she builds a robot dog
with perfect manners.
20
Floof-tastic Cats
by Heidi McKinnon (Algonquin, April 2024)
Floof is one floofy
hobbiest and hider who
love-loves his home.
21
A Greedy Who-Dung-It Tale
by Frank Weber (Disney Hyperion, May 2024)
A greedy beetle
saw his world as large, until
he wanted much more.
22
Ode to They All Saw
by Brendan Wenzel (Chronicle, April 2024)
Cat and dog journey
home by sight and smell and sound
and unexpected.
23
Great First Day Read
by Katrina Moore (Roaring Brook, Oct 2024)
On first day of school
a child finds her potential,
finds her inner star.
24
Celebrating Falatko
by Julie Falatko (Viking, June 2024)
Sheep and cow team up
to interview roosters to
cock-a-doodle-doo.
25
Cheering Power of Books
by Barry Timms (Tiger Tales, July 2024)
A lost key, a door,
the perfect book discovered
and the world opens.
26
Solving Dark Mysteries
by Lindsey Leigh (Penguin, June 2024)
Exploring caves and
the creatures down under our
feet that surprise us.
These are just a few of the many books you might integrate into your libraries this upcoming year. They are exciting reminders that learning is fun and language and investigative discovery—especially for what may be found between the pages of a book—make all the difference when it comes to student success.
Want to do even more for patrons? Consider adding Teaching Books or the unique k-12 content discovery engine that creates secure, personalized resource environments: Monarch.
