Children’s & YA Reviews
FEBRUARY 2, 2026 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 107
A Fish Like Me Jamie Sumner, illus. by Devon Holzwarth.
so much more than that”). As affirma- tions evolve, a multigenerational story unfolds: “I am the plane that carried my parents/ to a new world.... I am long journeys back to India.” Sensorial details—“shiny silks, soft cottons,” “the crack of a coconut”—richly illuminate the speaker’s experiences, while closing passages present the protagonist as gaining confidence from a heritage of “fierce warriors, beautiful minds, and bold heroes.” Mhasan’s soft-edged illustrations gently move between seasons and settings, and conclude with depictions of Southeast Asian historical figures introduced in back matter. Ages 4–9. (Apr.) Do You See Me? LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss, illus. by Reggie Brown. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-250-84305-0 Confidence-boosting rhymes by Gardner Middlemiss model nurtured self-assurance in this warmhearted story. Beginning dialogue prompts recognition, with a child’s refrain elic- iting encouraging appreciations from their caregiver: “Do you see me?// Yes, of course./ I see you’re driven—quite a force.” Eventually, the adult speaker returns the question (“But now I ask:/ Do you see you?”), and the youth’s exuberant responses (“I see myself, strong and proud./ I will live my life out loud”) powerfully reveal the posi- tive echoes of earlier praise. Providing an additional layer of storytelling, Brown’s mottled digital renderings have a sandy texture that supports beachy scenes of the protagonist and adult companion, both depicted with brown skin, exploring the seaside. Amid sunset’s golden hour, the child looks forward with optimism in this shining picture of a child’s developing self-positivity and -reflection. Ages 6–8. (Apr.)
handcrafted quality to the visuals, mirroring the Viking’s artisanal piz- zaiolo quest. When Gunnar perfects the dish, even old enemies arrive peacefully to try it, and the pizzeria becomes a beloved gathering place. It’s a savory tale about trading stale goods to feed personal passions— and community, too. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–7. (Apr.) Claire and the Cathedral Pam Fong. Greenwillow, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-336000-6 In a wordless picture book whose grayscale architectural illustrations incorporate hints of glorious full color, Fong ( The Clock ) explores a child discovering life’s glimmers on their own terms. Rain seems imminent in a Paris-cued city as a child, pre- sumably Claire, heads outside with a caregiver. Amid intricate mono- chromatic linework, a golden coin and a busking violinist’s melody that’s depicted as a jewel-toned ribbon draw the youth’s attention, but the tune disappears as the child and adult, whose skin tones reflect the white of the page, enter a huge cathedral that resembles Notre Dame. As the grown-up gestures enthusiastically to the magnificent Gothic sur- roundings, Claire wilts into a bored, dramatic slump. But when sunlight breaks through the cathedral’s rose window, it transforms the space into a kaleidoscope of colored light, and an ecstatic Claire dances through the sparkling beams. Though clouds and rain soon interrupt the bright moment, Claire realizes that it’s pos- sible to nurture the things that enliven their world. Sharing the found coin with the busker, the child splashes in a rainbow-tinged puddle, then heads to play instruments with their caregiver at home, where shimmering light pours from a window. Wonder isn’t only something to be found, this winking work firmly communicates— it’s something that can be made, too. Background figures are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. Agent: Abigail Frank. Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (Apr.)
Atheneum, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-6659-4257-7
An unnamed protagonist who uses a wheelchair on land rolls “under the deep blue water” of a swimming pool “like I roll under the deep blue sky with grace at a pace set by me” in this lushly imagined picture book. Through comparisons to various sea creatures, the child narrates their experience as “a starfish cartwheeling across a universe, my burble of bubbles the only sound when I breathe out” and “a catfish with legs that swish like fins.” Describing their mobility aid as “my other starfish limb and just as much a part of me as my toes” and the swim therapy coach who helps them move through the water, the voice explores different kinds of movement on land and in water, noting that in both places, “I can be silly and free.” Making her picture book debut, Sumner employs direct adjec- tives (“fearless and brave except when I’m not”) to demonstrate the narrator’s perspective, while gouache, colored pencil, and collage illustrations from Holzwarth ( A Flicker of Hope ) render the fluid underwater motions of the brown-skinned child alongside undu- lating flora and fauna. The result is an expansive portrait of bodily autonomy and movement. Secondary characters are portrayed with various body types and skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Apr.) The Giant Orange What-the-What?! Nicole Michels. Clarion, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-0634-3668-8 In this playful parable about collabo- ration, ingenuity, and persistence, a solo debut from Michels ( Giraffe and Jackal Are Friends (Again!) ), the titular object—a house-size, spectacularly intrusive ball of scribbled orange string—lands suddenly in a young, pale-skinned protagonist’s yard. “It’s a dilemma, a quandary, a pickle, an obstacle, a can of worms” the buoyant narrative voice frets, a cascade of descriptors that capture that sinking feeling that can arrive when problems loom large. But after hauling up a ladder and having a good think atop the tangle, the child hits on a strategy:
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