Happy Earth Day!
Today we are celebrating Earth Day with titles from Penguin Young Readers. Many thanks to Penguin for letting me review some of these amazing titles.
Here are three of their Children's book releases that are out now or coming soon.
Take a look!
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
About the Book:
Rating:
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
About the Book:
For fans of Little Blue
Truck and Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site comes an adorable electric taxi cab who saves the day in this sweet picture book—with an eco-friendly twist!
Eco, the little electric taxi, and his driver, Charlie, work day and night—helping people get where they need to go. On the way to a school drop-off, Eco and Charlie find themselves stuck in a huge traffic jam—there are ducks stranded in the middle of the road! Will Eco be able to help lead them to safety?
With themes of environmental conscientiousness, rhyming text, and delightful art, Eco is perfect for Earth Day celebrations, or as a gift to any car-loving kid looking for a new read-aloud!
Review:
About the Author:
About the Illustrator:
Turtle Slept In by Jacob Grant
About the Author:
Axl the Axolotl is Not a Frog by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and John Paul Brammer;
illustrated by Vanessa Morales
About the Book:
Oscar and multi-Grammy, Tony, and Emmy winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are songwriters and producers best known for the films La La Land and The Greatest Showman and the musical Dear Evan Hansen. In 2024, they achieved EGOT status when they won an Emmy for Only Murders in the Building. Their screen credits include Trolls; Spirited; Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile; live-action Aladdin and Snow White, among others. They are the composers of Dogfight, James and the Giant Peach, the song cycle Edges, and A Christmas Story and co-producers of Pulitzer Prize winner A Strange Loop. Among countless songwriting honors, they won the Jonathan Larson Award and the ASCAP Vanguard Award.
This charming picture book introduces young readers to Eco, a little electric taxi with a big heart, while weaving in themes of noise and air pollution. The story is simple and sweet, making it especially accessible for younger children.The illustrations are so much fun, they are bright, detailed, and full of personality. Kids will likely be drawn to the expressive scenes and especially the adorable ducks. The sound effects sprinkled throughout make it engaging and interactive, encouraging children to join in as they listen or follow along with loud HONK!s or little beeps.The conflict is resolved quickly and gently, which makes this a great choice for a calming bedtime read. Overall, it’s a cute, eco-conscious story that combines an important message with warmth and playfulness, perfect for Earth Day and little ones who love vehicles, animals, and stories with a happy ending.
Deb Adamson (she/her) grew up exploring the Massachusetts shoreline and now lives along the Connecticut coastline.
She writes books with heart and humor to encourage curiosity. She was a former broadcast news journalist, freelance essayist, and
syndicated columnist for Gatehouse News Service. She was also a public relations director and spokesperson for a major US
aquarium. She is currently a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Illustrator and author Patrick Corrigan grew up in a cloudy town in Cheshire where he brightened up his life with various creative endeavors and activities—his favorite was cross-stitch! He studied ceramics at university before training as an art teacher. He then went on to become the art director of a busy design studio in London. In 2018 he made the decision to try his hand as a freelance illustrator and has never looked back. His work has been commissioned by numerous clients, including Walker, Flying Eye, HarperCollins, Penguin, Hachette, and Quarto.
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 28th, 2026
About the Book:
Turtle is the last to hatch, and her siblings have all left for the sea. Now she must venture across a busy beach and into the waves to find them. But the sea is big. REAL BIG.
Turtle slept in — and all her siblings already hatched and made it to the sea. Now she must journey across the beach and navigate shoddy sandcastles, stomping feet, and hungry seagulls to reach the water.
Lucky for Turtle, she's not alone. Bird will do her best to keep Turtle safe along the way, but it's not the dangers of the beach that worry Turtle. The closer Turtle gets to the sea, the bigger it looks, and the more she wonders if she can ever find her family in something so big.
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Review:
Such an engaging picture book! We follow a small turtle who hatches later than her siblings and must make her journey to the sea on her own. She is excited to have fun and the adventure across the beach to find the sea and her family. The book becomes a little more emotional as she gets closer with themes of fear, courage, and finding your place in a very big world.Turtle is an easy character to connect with she’s curious (like little readers) and wants to enjoy the fun, but underneath that is a very real nervousness about being left behind and facing something as large as the ocean. There is a Bird that serves as a wonderful companion, offering guidance and reassurance. Their relationship adds warmth and a gentle sense of humor to the story as Bird tries to be the voice of reason, while Turtle runs off.The illustrations are large, colorful spreads that emphasize just how small Turtle is in comparison to her surroundings. Everyday beach elements like sandcastles, people, and seagulls, feel oversized and sometimes intimidating, which is a clever way of showing perspective from Turtle’s point of view. So fun!Overall, it’s a thoughtful and visually rich story about bravery and taking that first big step, even when things feel overwhelming. Turtle’s journey across the beach and her decision to head into the vast sea make for a satisfying and encouraging read, and Bird continues to be her friend.
Jacob Grant is an author, illustrator, and dad who makes picture books. He is a winner of the prestigious 2024 Bologna
Children’s Book Fair Illustration Exhibition, and he’s also an okay kids' soccer coach. Jacob is originally from Cincinnati,
and now lives with his wife and two little ones near Chicago. He can be found in his home studio, drawing and writing
until something feels story-ish. Learn more at JacobGrantBooks.com.
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Publication Date: April 14, 2026
About the Book:
Introducing Axl the Axolotl!
On the first day of school, Axl the Axolotl finds where he belongs in this charming story about learning to love the things that make you different.
It was the first day of school in Flower Bed Lake, and every little creature knew exactly where to go. Everyone, that is, except Axl. The fish, lizards, and frogs all headed to their own schools to learn how to glub glub and ribbit, but there was only one of Axl. Will he ever find where he belongs?
From EGOT winners Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, the songwriters behind The Greatest Showman and Dear Evan Hansen, and written by critically acclaimed author JP Brammer comes a story of a brave and curious axolotl who is determine to find where he belongs. Brought to life by Vanessa Morales, this is a funny, delightful story about loving the things that make you unique and that finding the place you belong might look different than you expected. Complete with fascinating, kid-friendly facts about axolotls!
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Review:
AH! This was the cutest book! I love Axolotl's and am so excited for kids to learn more about them. In this story we are introduced to Axl the Axolotl as he figures out his first day of school and where he fits in. The story is playful and relatable, especially for kids who have ever felt a little out of place. Axl’s attempts to join the fish, lizards, and frogs, without much luck and it adds humor while also reinforcing the message of self-acceptance in the end.One especially fun touch is the interspersed Spanish throughout the text, which adds a lively, inclusive feel and makes the reading experience even more engaging. I felt like I learned a lot, both about a new animal and some Spanish.The illustrations absolutely steal the show here. They are vibrant, richly detailed, and full of personality. Every page feels alive with color and movement. The environments are just as thoughtfully crafted as the characters, giving readers so much to look at and explore. It’s the kind of book where you can linger on each spread and keep noticing new little details, which makes it incredibly fun to revisit. They are so bright and almost glowing.Beyond the story itself, the book also introduces kids to axolotls, which is probably a new and odd animal for many readers. The included facts throughout and at the end add an educational layer which is always a plus.
Overall, it’s a charming, visually stunning book with a warm message about embracing what makes you unique, wrapped in a fun and engaging reading experience.
About the Authors:
John Paul Brammer is an author and illustrator from rural Oklahoma currently based in Brooklyn, New York. He is the author of the popular advice column ¡Hola Papi!, as well as a memoir in essays of the same name, published in 2021 with Simon & Schuster’s flagship imprint. He is the winner of the 2022 Brooklyn Public Library Prize for nonfiction, as well as the Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and more.
About the Illustrator:
Vanessa Morales is a Mexican illustrator and character designer with a deep love for nature and all things whimsical. She is the illustrator of Diego Fuego the Firefighting Dragon by Allison and Rafael Rozo and Monster Baker written by Laura Lavoie. Vanessa also works in animation for companies including Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Kodansha VR Lab Japan. Vanessa was born and lives in the south of Mexico in Chiapas, and her artwork draws from the rich nature, culture, and legends of Mexico.
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