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UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Name: UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Author: Christine Hartman Derr
ISBN: 9780063395992

DONADAGOHVI

by Christine Hartman Derr ; illustrated by Morgan Thompson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 22, 2026

A sweet celebration of linguistic preservation.

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Derr and Thompson, both members of the Cherokee Nation, tell the story of a young girl remembering her grandfather and his life’s work.

Millie was born after her grandfather, her Eduda, died. “He went home… / to a place beyond the clouds, where he watches over those he loves from above.” Her family describe his intimate qualities. “He smelled of mint and pine.” “He loved to learn and think and make big breakfasts.” His influence is still felt all around; he taught and spread the Cherokee language, Tsalagi, “once forbidden—by colonists and settlers.” Cherokee words are woven gently through Millie’s visit to a coffee shop: osiyo (a greeting), wado (a note of thanks). Images depict a community of ancestors forming a long line, hand in hand, which connects young Millie’s experience to the Native creation story. The persistence of their language becomes a “waterfall of love, / linking those on Turtle Island / to those already gone home.” Thompson’s artwork deftly, dreamily, incorporates tribal motifs into landscapes, animals, and backgrounds. Glowing swirls of the Cherokee syllabary encircle Millie and her mother as they read a book together, “in their own circle of light.” An author’s note highlights the tremendous challenges of preserving Cherokee language, noted as “definitely endangered” by UNESCO; a glossary of terms used in the book is included, too. Native characters have diverse skin tones and wear a range of traditional and occupational dress. Millie, the central character, has pale skin and dark brown hair.

A sweet celebration of linguistic preservation. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2026

ISBN: 9780063395992

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Heartdrum

Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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THE PUMPKIN THIEF

From the Leaf Thief series

by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2026

More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.

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Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.

Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.

More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: July 28, 2026

ISBN: 9781464268076

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SUN THIEF
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater

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THE SNOW THIEF
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater

- BOOK REVIEW
THE BISON AND THE BUTTERFLY
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK LOST AND FOUND

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 18, 2026

Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.

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Beep! Beep! Beep! Toad and Little Blue Truck get ready for a hayride.

After the titular vehicle is loaded with hay, Toad is nowhere to be found. “Beep! Beep! Beep! Where are you, Toad?” asks Little Blue Truck. All the barnyard animals look for him. Sheep searches the meadow. Goose and Duck check the pond. Others pitch in, too, but Toad seems to have disappeared…until Hen hears snoring coming from the pile of hay in the back of Little Blue Truck. Although the text’s scansion is imperfect in places (adults may want to pre-read to ensure a smooth read-aloud), the bouncy meter and rhyming text nevertheless capture the energy of the search and the farmyard community’s concern for Toad’s safety, making this a solid storytime choice. Eye-catching illustrations with rich, fully saturated colors balance the right level of detail while still highlighting the animal that is the focus of each verse. By introducing one farm animal at a time, Schertle also helps the youngest readers begin to identify barnyard animals by name and understand their unique farm homes. Traditional animal sounds are part of the text, and listeners will add them to their vocabulary. It all ends with the promised hayride, bringing the tale to a joyous ending.

Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed. (Picture book. 4-7)