Quacken by Justin Colón (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). When Hector and his family arrive at Cucumonga Campground, they’re immediately warned: don’t feed the ducks. Signs are posted, and the other kids tell Hector, don’t look at the ducks, don’t think about the ducks, and above all else, DON’T FEED THE DUCKS! But the ducks are so cute and look so hungry that Hector can’t resist. When he runs out of bread, a shadow blocks out the sun, and the fearsome Quacken emerges from the lake. A chase ensues, filled with classic horror movie references, until the monster captures Hector! But it turns out…children taste terrible, and Hector is saved, as the Quacken regurgitates all the other things it’s eaten. There’s plenty of monster action in this fast-paced tale with cartoon-inspired illustrations reminiscent of Dan Santat. A perfect late summer read-aloud.

I Am La Chiva! The Colorful Bus of the Andes by Karol Hernández, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gómez (Dial Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). La Chiva is a colorful bus that winds its way through the Andes Mountains, picking up farmers and their wares to take to the market. Soon it’s packed both inside and out with men, women, children, animals, and fruits and vegetables. A flat tire can’t slow La Chiva and its crew down, as they all work together to get the bus back on the road. Readers get a tour of the market and various sellers before everyone packs up and heads back home again. Includes a brief author’s note indicating that the story is based on his childhood memories and a glossary of the Spanish words used in the text. If Titlewave is to be believed, a Spanish language version of the story will be available in a few weeks. The spectacular colors of the illustrations and bouncy rhyming text will appeal to kids who love vehicles and give them a nice taste of Andean culture and food. I saw in a review that this story takes place in Colombia, but I couldn’t find that information in the book.

Sour Apple by Linda Liu (Henry Holt and Co., 40 pages, ages 4-8). A small green apple wonders why it hasn’t been picked when its rounder red neighbors are fulfilling their apple destinies. In rhyming text, the apple asks questions, “Am I not shiny enough to sell at the market? Or not tiny enough to be used as a target?” The apple suffers further indignities when it’s carried off by munching insects and buried underground: “No use in playing pretend. Looks like this is the end.” But as the seasons pass, an amazing transformation takes place, and the apple is stunned to turn into a tree! “Maybe falling behind isn’t finishing last. Maybe your season has just yet to pass.” The short rhyming text, big colorful illustrations, and a message that it can be tough but ultimately okay not be chosen first make this a winning choice to read aloud. Kids may need some explanation of references to William Tell, Isaac Newton, and expressions like “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but even if some go over their heads, they’ll still find a lot to enjoy.

Touch the Sky by Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic, illustrated by Chris Park (Carolrhoda Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Vern goes to the playground almost every day and loves to lie on his stomach on a swing, or spin around until the chains are twisted. What he really wants to do is swing as high as the other kids, feeling like his toes can touch the sky, but Vern doesn’t know how to pump. When a girl named Gretchen offers to teach him how, Vern is ready. He watches and listens as Gretchen shows him how to lift off, straighten your legs on the upswing, then tuck them in to go back. “It feels hard until you get it, and then it’s not,” Gretchen wisely tells him. Vern tries and tries, but he winds up falling on his butt or at the very least not moving. Then, just as he may be beginning to get it, Gretchen has to leave. Vern considers giving up, but he knows Gretchen would want him to keep trying. And then…Vern gets it! His toes touch the sky! A new kid sits on Gretchen’s swing, looking on admiringly. “It feels hard until you get it, and then it’s not,” Vern tells him. “Do you want to learn how?” The message of persistence will resonate with kids, both on the micro level of learning how to swing and the macro one of not giving up on your goals. What really makes this book amazing is the illustrations, a rainbow of color and movement that capture both the frustration of not getting it and the thrill of finally succeeding, with a joyous feeling of flying. It’s gotten a well-earned place on Betsy Bird’s Caldecott 2025 prediction list.

Jump for Joy by Karen Gray Ruelle, illustrated by Hadley Hooper (Astra Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 3-7). Joy, a girl, loves dogs and wants one of her own. Jump, a dog, loves kids and wants one of his own. Each believes they will know their dog/kid when they see them. Through the seasons, on facing pages, each one creates what they want: a dog named Tulip out of flowers and a kid named Fern out of ferns in the spring, a dog named Shelby out of shells and a kid named Sandy out of sand in the summer. Nothing lasts, though, through a whole year. The next spring, Joy and Jump discover new tulips and ferns respectively and call out with excitement. And those cries (or woofs) alert them to each other’s presence, and “Joy jumped for joy and Jump jumped for Joy.” I can easily imagine reading this to a pre-k or kindergarten class, going through the seasons, getting a kick out of Joy and Jump’s amazing creations, and a happy ending at last. This is another one on the aforementioned Caldecott prediction list, and the illustrations are mostly black and white line drawings with the final spread in glorious color. A note at the end says the black and white pictures are inspired by art from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, “collaged together to create something new,” and it does have a very unique and interesting look.