2025-2026 Picture Book List

VA READS Picture Book Selections 2025-2026

Cesaria Feels the Beat by Denise Rosario Adusei  ISBN: 978-1250824967

Cesaria feels the beat of the music through her feet and stands up for herself when the dance instructor insists that she wear shoes for an upcoming performance.

Emergency Quarters by Carlos Matias ISBN:  978-0063271456 

Ernesto is trying his hardest not to spend the quarter his mother gave him for emergencies, but he is presented with many tempting chances to use it.

Kadooboo!: A Silly South Indian Folktale by Shruthi Rao   ISBN: 978-1645677895

Kabir is making his way through the streets to bring home kadooboo, a sweet treat, but he gets distracted and can’t remember the name of the treat and tells each friend a different name.  

Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclear ISBN: 978-0593706084   

Children watch as the demae, or deliverymen, stack several orders of food and deliver them to people throughout the city by bicycle.  Inspired by an actual method of delivery in Tokyo from the 1930s-1970s.

Old Clothes for Dinner by Nathalie Alonso  ISBN: 979-8888590683

Magaly loves her abuela’s Cuban cooking until she discovers that Abuela is making ropa vieja, which translates to old clothes for dinner.  Magaly hides her clothes from her grandmother before they are used for food.

Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party by Anne Wynter  ISBN: ‎ 978-1499814460

Patrick likes everything to be done just the right way, so when a mistake is made on his birthday invitation, Patrick has to learn to go with the flow.

Perfect by Waka T. Brown ISBN: 978-0063280229

Miki Amelia Masuda wants everything to be perfect all of the time, but her grandmother shows her that there can be beauty in imperfections.

The Night Market by Seina Wedlick  ISBN: 978-0593563687

A young girl experiences all the treats and surprises that a Nigerian night market has to offer.

Tricky Chopsticks by Sylvia Chen ISBN:  978-1665921497

Jenny Chow cannot use chopsticks and vows to master using them before her family’s annual chopstick challenge.

Zuni and the Memory Jar by Aisha Saeed ISBN:  978-0593618950 

Zuni’s family tells her that she will have memories to contribute to the family memory jar when she grows up, but Zuni proves she is already finding ways to celebrate memories.