Shout out to the book review writers in the world. While my review production is hovering at Nearly Nonexistent (and has for a while), I respect the folks out there putting in the work.
It was a challenge to narrow it down, but here are ten books I read, loved, and didn’t review in 2025.
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Deeply Dave by Michael Grover
Deeply Dave began life as a webcomic, and the print book has a really clever conceit: the binding is at the top, so pages turn from the bottom up, mimicking both the scroll of reading a webcomic on a device and the main character’s journey into the ocean depths. Take a look:
Oh, and also, it’s a funny, adventurous ride that will likely get checked out a ton at my school library.
Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi
If you’re a NBA loving child of the 80s and 90s, you might remember how Houston Rockets hall-of-fame center Hakeem Olajuwon would sometimes have playoff games during Ramadan, and Olajuwon would play a physically taxing sport, while fasting during daylight hours. I thought of this while reading Almost Sunset, a beautifully observed graphic novel in which the main character tries to balance school, friends, and sports while still taking part in the muslim holy month.
Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story About Sharing by Matthew Diffee
New Yorker cartoonist Diffee makes an auspicious debut with this read aloud winner. When Sheep and Goat feud over who gets to say “baa”, Goat comes up with something new to say. Problem solved? Nope. A visitor arrives, who throws a wrench into the plan. I’m planning to read this with my 2nd and 3rd graders, who I think will especially love it.
POP! Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird and illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
If you’ve read Betsy Bird’s blog, or spent any time with her, you know that the woman is like a walking read aloud – funny, quick-witted, endlessly interesting and surprising. So it makes sense that she wrote on of the best picture book read alouds of the year. Add in artwork by the always wonderful Andrea Tsurumi, and it’s a powerful package.
To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
No book this year brought that unique feeling of an all-engrossing class project to life better than this one.
How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares
In telling the story of his father’s escape from Cuba following Castro’s takeover, Miyares works wonders with potent source material.
Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke
This graphic novel hits on a topic rarely talked about in children’s literature: selective mutism. But Speechless stands out for the story itself, expertly brought to life by former teacher Steinke.
Casey’s Cases: The Mysterious New Girl by Kay Healy
Take Harriet the Spy and put her in a early-reader-friendly graphic novel series and you start to get a picture of what Healy’s debut is like.
Papilio by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser
Three exceedingly creative and talented friends decide to make a book together and they go and pick the perfect three-part topic: caterpillar turns to chrysalis turns to butterfly. Each creator handles one of the phases, resulting in a whole that blends seamlessly.
The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan
Reading like a Goldie Locks tale turned on its head, the (unreliable) main character breaks the fourth wall, imploring the reader to stay inside, safe from prowling bears. Another book that is tailor made for sharing out loud.
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