GPLD 2025 Fall Favorites: Picture Books/Kids Nonfiction | Oak Park Public Library

Jan. 30: Library closed for Staff Learning & Engagement Day.

1) The day the books disappeared

Author

Description

"Arnold didn't mean for the books to disappear-not exactly. It all started because his liked his book about airplanes best and wanted everyone else to read it, too. He couldn't understand why anybody would want to read about tomatoes or ostriches or submarines. And suddenly. . . POOF! The books are gone. It's up to Arnold to figure out how it all happened--and what it will take to bring them back"-- Provided by publisher. In an attempt to share his...

2) Becoming Boba

Author

Series

Description

Mindy is the first baby in Milk Tea Town whose colors are different, but as more are born they band together to study history and learn what it really means to be "boba".

3) Fish fry Friday

Author

Bingham, Winsome

Description

A young African American boy joins his grandma's weekly ritual of catching and frying fish for a big family dinner.

Author

Description

Toy Story meets Traction Man Is Here in this picture book that offers a fresh spin on a universal premise: the secret action-adventure story of a toy. When Red, a game piece, is accidentally left out of the game box, nothing--not a hungry robot nor the ferocious family dog Lady Flufferton--will stop Red from reaching home. The unthinkable has happened! Red is alone on the living room floor, far from the safety of the game closet and best pal, Yellow....

5) Do you see the tiger?

Author

Description

"One rainy night, Penny and her daddy take an underground train packed with passengers. As they stand in the crowded car, Penny can't believe what she's seeing. A tiger's tail? A tiger's paw! No, that's just a person with a striped glove, assures Daddy. But when they find a seat and Penny has a clearer view, there's no mistaking the tiger's foot poking out from under a pant leg. And when this extraordinary tiger makes a sudden, marvelous leap across...

6) Are you a hungry monster?

Author

Karsten, Guilherme

Series

Your Scary Monster Friend

Description

Hello, monster friend! I have a monstrous snack for you! Can you smell it? It is so yummy (disgusting?). ! Open the book and share a feast with me.

7) A recipe for magic potion

Author

Henseleit, Jack, 1991-

Description

To make a magic potion, you will need these things: A friend (or two or three). A bucket or a pot (or a hole). And - ingredients. Celebrate childhood play and the enduring magic of our natural world.

Author

Martinez, Claudia Guadalupe, 1978-

Description

"Learn about the endangered Mexican prairie dog. Includes back matter with Spanish vocabulary and an author's note about conservation efforts"-- Provided by publisher.

9) Everyday Bean

Author

Graegin, Stephanie

Description

"A collection of vignettes showcasing the adventures of bean (a baby hedgehog) and her grandmother."-- Provided by publisher.

10) Over in the mangroves

Author

Gopal, Jyoti Rajan

Description

Rhyming text introduces various animals and their young that call the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest home.

11) Never take your rhino on a plane

Author

Description

A zany picture book packed with rhythm, rhyme, and rambunctiousness about the nonsense you might expect if you take your pet rhino on a plane. For fans of Mo Willems's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Aaron Blabey's Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas. You can take him on a ship, hail a taxi for the trip, waltz him gladly to the car or to the train-- but absolutely never believe it safe or clever to take your pet rhinoceros on a plane. A cautionary...

12) This is the crew that builds our school

Author

Fellores, Sherry

Description

Rhyming text follows construction workers and tradespeople, from bricklayers to painters, as they build a new school.

13) Chicka chicka tricka treat

Author

Series

Description

On Halloween, letters climb a creaky tree in disguise, but then they are startled by a spooky surprise.

14) We're different and it's totally cool!

Author

Description

Celebrates the ways in which we are all different.

15) Embarrassed ferret

Author

Riddiough, Lisa Frenkel

Series

Forest School of big feelings

Description

"Ferret spends a day at school full of embarrassing mishaps and new friends"-- Provided by publisher.

16) Millie Fleur saves the night

Author

Mandin, Christy

Series

Millie Fleur Saves the Night

Description

Millie Fleur bakes delicious moon pies and convinces the townspeople of Garden Glen to welcome the dark by visiting a fragrant moon garden and noticing beautiful night creatures.

17) When Isaac hears the rain

Author

Thompson, Julie, 1972-

Description

Isaac embraces the unexpected joys that a rainy day can bring.

18) Our pebbles

Author

Description

"Grandad always knows the best way to go to Pebble Beach. As they climb the dunes, he and his grandchild can smell the sea before they see it. There they meet a seal and find old pirate wood. They have melty ice cream. And every time, before saying goodbye to the beach, they each pick a pebble. 'Do you know this pebble is older than me?' Grandad says with a twinkle in his eye"-- Provided by publisher

19) The friendship guide

Author

Roberts, Jillian, 1971-

Description

"In this sweet picture book, respected child psychologist Jillian Roberts outlines the key building blocks of being a good friend. From welcoming newcomers to being patient and kind, this book will help set up readers for a lifetime of wonderful friendships."-- Provided by publisher.

20) To catch a ghost

Author

Wilson, Rachel Michelle

Description

"Show-and-tell isn't for the faint of heart, so grab your camera, flashlight, and backpack--it's time to catch yourself a ghost! Once you find a good one, spend some quality time together. This will provide all the information you need to build the perfect ghost trap. It will also probably complicate things. So, when the moment finally arrives, you may be confident you can catch a ghost--but can you catch a friend?"-- Provided by publisher.