The Richest Cow in the World by Barroux

The Richest Cow in the World

In this delightful fable, Cow enjoys relaxing under her apple tree, watching clouds and listening to the wind. But Pig has a grand plan: sell the apples, make pies and applesauce, plant more trees, and maybe even start a huge food company! Cow listens patiently but instead of chasing fame and fortune, she has her own idea of what truly matters.

With simple, humorous watercolor illustrations, this charming picture book offers a modern take on the classic story about happiness and contentment. It’s a perfect read-aloud for classrooms and libraries, and it encourages discussions about money, career goals, critical thinking, and what really makes life meaningful.

The Pink Pajamas by Charlene Chua

The Pink Pajamas: A Story About Love and Loss

Charlene Chua tells a gentle, heartfelt story about love, loss, and remembering someone special. A young girl honors her aunt, Ah Yi, by wearing the pink pajamas her aunt sewed just for her. Ah Yi shows love through her sewing, making soft, perfectly tailored pajamas for her niece. The girl loves every pair—except the pink one, her least favorite color—but her aunt always knows how she feels and reassures her.

When Ah Yi becomes very sick and goes to the hospital, she never comes home. Through the customs of mourning, the little girl learns to treasure her aunt’s love in a new way—by wearing the pink pajamas that are now perfect for her. This tender story offers a gentle way to discuss love, loss, and remembrance, making it a thoughtful choice for classroom read-alouds or library collections.

Sharing by Rosemary Wells

Sharing

Author-illustrator Rosemary Wells brings a sweet and relatable story about friendship and sharing. Every night, Charles carefully puts his favorite toys to bed: his doctor kit, racing skates, space man, xylophone, magic stars, alligator, Lionel Messi football, and even his pecka-pecka chicken farm. One day, Charles takes his toys to the park and meets other kids who want to play. Can Charles learn that friends are even more fun than his favorite things?

With charming illustrations and a gentle message about kindness, sharing, and friendship, this picture book is perfect for storytimes, classroom read-alouds, and character-education lessons, and may be best suited for preschool-aged children.

Candy Corn Christmas by Jonathan Fenske

Candy Corn Christmas! (A Candy Corny Story)

This is a funny and heartwarming holiday story. The most underrated Halloween candies are ready for a brand-new adventure, celebrating Christmas! The candy corn crew is tired of being left out once Halloween ends. This year, they’re determined to join the Christmas fun with the other holiday sweets. But there’s a problem: the Christmas candies don’t think candy corn belongs in their holiday. Can these little candies find a way to share the joy and spirit of Christmas with everyone? With playful rhymes, bright illustrations, and a sweet message about acceptance and belonging, this story is a perfect pick for the holiday season!

Hap-Pea Halloween by Keith Baker

Hap-Pea Halloween (The Peas Series)

Keith Baker writes about cheerful pea pals in an engaging story for Halloween. In this playful picture book, the lovable peas dive into all the best parts of spooky season: costumes, candy, pumpkins, and plenty of fun. With its lively rhymes, colorful illustrations, and friendly Halloween excitement, this story is sure to be a hit with primary-aged students. Teachers and librarians will love sharing it as a read-aloud that celebrates imagination, friendship, and the joy of dressing up. A perfect pick for October storytimes and classroom celebrations.

Steve Born to Run by Kelly Collier

In this funny early graphic novel from Kelly Collier’s Steve the Horse series, Steve is sure he’s the fastest and best—until the annual “Race-a-thon” changes to a relay race! Now he has to work with a turtle, a duck, and a snail. How can he possibly win? Steve decides to become the Best Coach Ever and train his slow teammates.

Readers will laugh as Steve learns that teamwork and sportsmanship matter more than winning. With its humor, lively art, and positive message, this story is a great pick for classroom discussions on character, cooperation, and what it really means to succeed.

Ain’t it Funny by Margaret Gurevich

Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

Ain’t it Funny provides a story of family issues, awkward moments, and how life’s difficulties affect mental health. It follows a young girl named Maya whose parents have recently split in pursuit of business and dreams. She also struggles with OCD and intrusive thoughts, a problem amplified by the issues in her family. She aims to perform at her school’s talent show in order to bring together her family. Overall, this novel is an excellent read for teenagers who are also struggling with familial issues or mental health.

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar

Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

Across So Many Seas presents several unique perspectives on immigration, belonging, and familial difficulties. The novel has been split into four separate stories, within several diverse time periods, all detailing Jewish journeys through persecution, violence, and treks. The vast difference in years between the stories provides a position on the issues the girls face and their relevance to the world today. Overall, the book is an excellent read for people researching changes in Jewish culture today, or readers looking for a riveting story of travel and self-discovery.

The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose

Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

The trend of survival stories has been continued in Caroline Starr Rose’s novel, The Burning Season. A young girl named Opal lives on a mountain far away from society, where she longs to attend a regular middle school away from the wilderness. She had been training as a fire lookout, a job for which she must alert people of a possible forest fire. As someone who is afraid of fire, she questions whether the job is for her. When an emergency fire takes place when she is left alone, she must be brave and work fast under pressure. The novel is an excellent story of survival, belonging, and tenacity, and a fantastic read for readers interested in firefighting or who have enjoyed literary classics such as Lord of the Flies.