(“Big Tree, Big Personality,” photo by Rawley/use only with permission, please and thank you)

Hello, dear readers,

I hope you had an awesome Halloween/All Souls’ Weekend, and here we are, ready for a new week.

• First up for review is auther/illustrator Kaz Windness’s newest book, “Time-Traveling Chickens: Nugget and Tenders’s Eggcellent Adventure.” (Simon Spotlight/Simon & Schuster; scheduled for release Nov. 24, 2026; ages 5 and up; 112 pages; $18.99.) Here are our heroes now, on the bright and thrilling cover, riding in on some kind of wild carnivorous dinosaur. They’re surrounded by stars, the constellations, and baby dinos. Looks like that’s a triceratops, woot! Where is Waffles, the baby? MISSING. This is a great graphic novel series, full of whimsy and adventure, and I hope lots of kids discover it. OK, let’s go.

• And now for a more serious book, “Sisters Alone,” by Shifa Saltagi Safadi. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers/Penguin Young Readers, 2026, ages 8 and up, 311 pages, $18.99.) Two sisters, Rama and Leena, fire and ice, stranded in a storm and mourning their mother’s death. Written in free verse, this is a deep, thoughtful book by the award-winning author of “Kareem Between” and the Amina Banana series. Safadi, Syrian-born, immigrated to the United States as a young person. She now lives outside of Chicago with her four children and her husband. I greatly appreciate this beautiful book.

• Here is a cool set of three beginning chapter books, about one Venus Washington, by author Maisha Oso and illustrator Courtney Lovett. Presenting: “Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama,” “Venus Washington and the Birthday Blowout” and “Venus Washington Eye Spy.” Our new friend Venus kind of has a kooky sense of humor, and she occasionally gets in over her head. Way over her head. So that’s fun. And her BFF (best friend forever) and WEF (worst enemy forever) are twins: Summer and Winter Rivera. So that’s extra fun. Check these out, they’re engaging, well-written and yes, kind of inappropriate and wild at moments. I’m predicting they will be a hit with the kids. (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2026, 96 pages, grades kinder and up, $7.99.)

• My pick of the week is… “I (heart) Pickles,” by Suzy Ultman, because it’s so flipping cute. (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Books Ltd.; 2026; board book, all ages, though; $8.99.) “Sweet, sour, and everything in between.” It’s true, lol. And the book, ta da! is shaped like a pickle.

Disclaimer: All of the books included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

Bon appetit.

WM