Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Birdie is quiet and shy, preferring her books to the company of other kids.  But when Sunny shows up at school, Birdie is entranced, feeling her heart flutter and what she describes as dragonflies playing tag in her tummy.  She finds a big wishing flower and makes a wish to be brave.  Soon she finds the courage to play with the other kids, and before long, Sunny and Birdie are friends.  Birdie shares her wishing flower, and both girls blow on the white seeds before revealing that both of their wishes have already come true.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A beautifully written ode to friendship, with hints of a crush between the two girls.  The illustrations add touches of whimsy, with birds, butterflies, and stars showing the happy emotions between Birdie and Sunny.

Cons:  Would that wishing flower really survive a day in a backpack?

Published by Greenwillow Books

Summary:  When the narrator visits her Papa, they enjoy going to breakfast together, sharing a cup of creamy, sweet coffee.  Afterwards, they play their violins together in the park, where she meets Papa’s friend, another musician named Mister Blue.  Mister Blue lives outside, but that doesn’t stop him from making beautiful music, playing a makeshift drum set for people who are protesting in the streets and for those who like to dance.  Papa says he and Mister Blue go way back, and the illustrations shift to black and white, showing the two men in a war together.  The girl has questions about Mister Blue: is he safe? Is he scared? Is he lonely? Is he hungry?  Those questions inspire Papa to go out on a rainy night to find his friend, who is sleeping on a bench, and invite him back to the house. There, the three of them make happy music together.  Includes an author’s note about her father’s stories that inspired this book.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A touching story that humanizes an unhoused person and shows how truly seeing a person can lead to taking action.  

Cons:  Kids may need some help understanding what is going on with the flashback scenes showing Papa’s memories.

Published by Random House Studio

Summary:  When Muhammad gets a salat rug for his seventh birthday, he’s determined to pray five times a day like his father does.  It’s easy at home, but more challenging to do dhuhr, the prayer that comes in the middle of the day, when he’s at school.  He tries praying in the bathroom and the coat closet, but neither works out for him, and he ends up missing the midday prayer.  When he joins his father selling ice cream from his truck, he watches as Dad sets up his rug on the sidewalk and begins his prayers.  A woman and some police officers stop and stare, and with shaking hands, Muhammad gets out of the truck and joins his dad.  He notices that Dad is a bit shaky too, but they finish their prayers, and the policemen walk away.  The next day, Muhammad overcomes his fears and tells his teacher that he needs a place to pray.  Includes an author’s note with more information about salat and a glossary.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This empowering story encourages Muslim kids to live their faith and will show any reader how to find the courage to do what feels right.

Cons:  The story ends with the teacher happily agreeing to Muhammad’s request, but I was curious to see what would happen after that.

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Every year, Ravi’s extended family rents a house by the ocean and a lake.  He’s the second youngest of seven cousins, with two uncles, two aunties, Mom, and Dad.  The only other boy is his oldest cousin Dhruv, who has grown several inches and gotten a deeper voice since last summer.  Ravi feels shy around him, but Dhruv still enjoys hanging out with Ravi, helping him to learn to paddleboard and to find the courage to jump into the water from the rope swing for the first time ever.  In turn, Ravi enjoys the role of older cousin with baby Leela.  There’s mini golf, biking, shared cooking, and ice cream–lots of ice cream.  One night the cousins cook, and Ravi finds a way to create his favorite ice cream, banana, with help from the rest of the crew.  “Because,” he concludes.  “Summer is for cousins.  And ice cream.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Just like yesterday’s The Firefly Summer, this lovely picture book perfectly captures the simple joys of a summer spent with extended family. While the illustrations, names, and some of the food prepared indicate that the family is from India (like the author), the experiences of family and summer fun are universal.

Cons:  All the cousins were labeled on the first page, but I wish there had been more of a family tree to show parents and siblings.

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Noah is excited about his upcoming birthday, dropping lots of not-too-subtle hints about what he hopes to get.  But he keeps his greatest wish–to grow his hair–to himself, worried that it’s not acceptable for boys to have long hair.  At his pre-birthday haircut, the barber follows Dad’s instructions for “the usual,” causing Noah to burst into tears at the sight of his short hair.  Mom and Dad figure out what’s going on, and on his birthday, Noah’s favorite gift is a long purple wig.  A year later, he’s back at the barber, but now the directions are, “A little off the ends, please,” as Noah is revealed to have shoulder-length hair.  Includes a list of conversation starters about gender, identity, and self-expression.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The author of Teddy’s Favorite Toy has created another fun story with a likable narrator that facilitates discussions around gender norms and expectations and provides some excellent parental role models.

Cons:  I almost missed the list of conversation starters which is printed on the endpapers.