10 to Note: Winter Preview 2025

I started with 1172 books coming out this winter. From there I pared it down to just 10 titles that I’m most looking forward to. Let’s take a look . . .

Picture Books

The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi, illustrated by Monica Arnaldo

January 21 | Kokila (Penguin) | Grades K-3

Sometimes you see a book and you think “Yes. This is a topic that needs to be turned into a picture book.” That’s what I thought looking at The Interpreter – a story about a girl who translates for her parents. You see this situation all the time working in education, and this is a book that will resonate with a lot of kids.

Shark Girl by Kate Beaton

February 25 | Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan) | Grades K-2

After the wonderful King Baby and The Princess and the Pony, I’ve been waiting for Kate Beaton to make her picture book return. This winter she has a new one, about, well, you see the title right?

Early Reader

Cool Buds: To the Rescue! by Barbara Lehman

January 28 | Clarion (HarperCollins) | Grades K-2

I love it when excellent children’s book creators try out a new format. Caldecott Honor winner Barbara Lehman is coming to the early reader world with Cool Buds, a new series about three arctic friends. I’m ready for it.

Chapter Book

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Lenny Wen

February 4 | Candlewick | Grades 1-3

I’m always looking for new shorter chapter books. It’s a format that kids are eager for, but one that often seems ignored. Judy Moody author Megan McDonald knows this world, and she’s back with a chapter book series about a girl who can access the fairy world right from her bedroom.

Middle Grade

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

February 25 | Little, Brown | Grades 3-6

An underrated category: middle grade macabre. This story about an undead fox who guides souls to the afterlife looks like the perfect about of creepy fantasy for middle grade readers.

No Purchase Necessary by Maria Marianayagam

January 14 | HarperCollins | Grades 3-7

What if you win a million dollar prize in a stolen candy bar? That’s the moral dilemma Ajay faces in this book, and I love the “golden ticket” concept turned on its head.

Graphic Novel

The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day by Raúl the Third

January 28 | Little, Brown Ink | Grades 2-6

Raúl the Third has a new early graphic novel series featuring a crew of crime-fighting, mystery solving barbers. This one looks to be zany and action packed. A good combo.

Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi

February 18 | HarperAlley | Grades 3-7

What happens when a muslim American middle schooler tries to do it all – soccer, grades, friends, gaming – during the month of Ramadan? I think this book, while not a memoir, has that memoir-ish vibe that will connect with readers.

Casey’s Cases: The Mysterious New Girl by Kay Healy

February 11 | Neal Porter Books (Holiday House) | Grades K-3

The publisher is calling this Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Nancy Drew meets Amelia Bedelia. A rare triple “meets”! I love the idea of a mystery comic with humor that will work for lower level readers. This is also the first book in a series, so I’m ready to get in on the ground floor.

Nonfiction

George Washington’s Spectacular Spectacles by Selene Castrovilla, illustrated by Jenn Harney

January 21 | Calkins Creek | Grades K-3

I am a sucker for little known stories from American history, and that’s exactly what this one is. When Washington’s officers are on the verge of confronting congress for their pay, Washington intervenes, and his reliance on his reading glasses changes the course of history.

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