For me, and likely many of you, books are comforting, cozy lights on dark days. Americans are no strangers to darkness in 2026, and I have personally struggled in recent months as well. I wrote my debut children’s book in autumn 2025, and I read countless other picture books in my research, bringing up nostalgia for the book-filled childhood I was privileged to have. Lately, children’s books are the only ones I could finish, and their vivid illustrations, digestible prose, and gentle explanations of real-world issues are just what I need. I hope my recommendations can shed their soft glow on your bookshelf too.

Sunny and Oswaldo(2023)

Nicole Melleby, a longtime favorite author of mine, writes middle-grade novels about queerness, family, and mental health (sound familiar to my own work, those who know me?). Her picture book Sunny and Oswaldo follows a little girl who does not get along with her dad’s emotional support animal, a cranky cat, until he goes missing and she must learn to appreciate their relationship and bring him home. This story, with its humorous characters and cheerful illustrations by Alexandra Colombo, helps young readers understand mental illness through a sweet animal story. This 2024 Nautilus Book Award winner served as a comparable title, for those in the industry, and a huge inspiration for my book, The Zoo in Me.

Abuela (1991)

I recently discovered Abuela by Arthur Dorros and illustrated by Elisa Kleven, author and illustrator of my childhood favorite The Apple Doll. The book, which received a Parent’s Choice Award, is narrated by a young girl who flies over her beloved New York City alongside her Spanish-speaking grandmother. The book is written in English but scattered with Spanish phrases, and the detailed illustrations show the city as a tapestry of color, pattern, and people. Young readers can stare at this simply beautiful book for hours, and I love how it teaches them a few new phrases and encourages them to imagine their own homes from a bird’s-eye view.

Little Witch Hazael: A Year in the Forest (2021)

This is a longer multi-awardwinner consisting of four stories, one for each season, with characters and themes carried throughout. Phoebe Wahl is the author/illustrator of several other books including the upcoming Little Witch Hazel sequels and an adaptation of her own teenager diary geared towards young adults, Phoebe’s Diary. She is my favorite author and dream illustrator for my own picture book. Little Witch Hazel is her most popular work for good reason. Wahl’s lush enchanted forest is full of body, gender, ability, and even magical species diversity. Children will get lost in the adventures and celebrations of this woodland world while learning about friendship, rest, kindness, and acceptance.

These books are only a few of the heartwarmers I have enjoyed. I regularly find out about new picture books from the children’s librarians in my life (shoutout Taylor and Meredith!) as well as The Read Aloud Home podcast, a wholesome Australian show on children’s literature from a parent’s perspective. Of course, the newsletter from An Unlikely Story introduces me to picture books and beyond, and lets me know when my favorite authors are in town. Whether you read one of the titles above, an old childhood favorite, or something else altogether, I hope it brings you the joy that these books brought me.