A 2026 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL HOT OFF THE PRESS SELECTION
Perfect for growing families, baby showers, and everyday reading, this sweet board book celebrates the enduring bond between parent and child—and the joy of making room for one more.
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| Available Everywhere Books are Sold |
What happens when a family welcomes home someone tiny and new? Mama’s Home (and Baby Too!) tenderly captures the moment a family changes with the arrival of a new sibling. Written by Dawn Babb Prochovnic and illustrated by Adèle Dafflon, this lyrical board book offers comfort, reassurance, and joy as families navigate one of childhood’s most meaningful transitions.
Told through rhythmic, poetic text, the book follows a brother and sister as they navigate the everyday moments of missing mama—meals, chores, playtime—while preparing for her to come home. But when she returns with a new baby, the story beautifully reflects both the excitement and adjustment that come with welcoming a sibling. With warm, expressive illustrations and a focus on family connection, Mama’s Home (and Baby Too!) helps young children process feelings of separation, build emotional understanding, and embrace their evolving role within the family.
FIND BOOK ENRICHMENT RESOURCES HERE.
REVIEWS of Mama's Home (and Baby Too!) can be found here:
*****
A multigenerational story about a young girl who learns from her grandmother about the enduring nature of love, the strength in rejecting labels, and the wisdom in standing with those who are different.
The town’s annual flower contest is coming soon, and a young girl puts her heart into growing a lively bunch of flowers she finds in a meadow. As her grandmother guides her in nurturing a garden, the girl learns that winning isn’t the true reward—it’s the special love found in caring for something or someone. Lucy’s Blooms celebrates the joy and happiness that the world has to offer, through the beauty of nature, the kindness and love of family, and the unique specialness in the most unexpected places.
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| Available Everywhere Books are Sold |
The town’s annual flower contest is coming soon, and a young girl puts her heart into growing a lively bunch of flowers she finds in a meadow. As her grandmother guides her in nurturing a garden, the girl learns that winning isn’t the true reward—it’s the special love found in caring for something or someone. Lucy’s Blooms celebrates the joy and happiness that the world has to offer, through the beauty of nature, the kindness and love of family, and the unique specialness in the most unexpected places.
"A nurturing, affirmative, happy tale...Pervasive theme of love." ~Kirkus Reviews
"This gently encouraging tale will inspire young readers to garden--and maintain optimism while learning new activities." ~Publishers Weekly
"In this grandmother-granddaughter story from Portland author Dawn Babb Prochovnic, little Lucy takes up gardening with relish, eager to win a flower contest. When the judges see her precious plants differently than she does, she wilts—but only for a moment. Alice Brereton provides delightfully vivid and expressive illustrations." ~The Oregonian
"This lovely and lyrical story is the perfect read aloud for themes of family, love, persistence, empathy and resilience." ~Writers' Rumpus
"When my kids were little, they didn't understand why dandelions were considered "weeds" and bad/unwanted. They thought dandelions were beautiful and actually more magical than other flowers. After all, you can't wish on just any old flower! In Lucy's Blooms, Prochovnic's lovely prose and Brereton's cheerful art combine to tell the tale of a little girl who displays flexibility, persistence...and the ability to rise above other people's judgement. Lucy's Blooms is the story of figuring out what is truly important. It also highlights the bond between a grandmother and granddaughter and the fun of gardening. The final illustration cleverly hints at how love and joy, like dandelions, can grow and multiply." ~Laura Gehl, Goodreads
"As much as adults want to rid the world of dandelions, children love them. Lucy decides to nurture her dandelion blooms until they are ready to enter a flower contest. Using cues from her Grandmother, Lucy learns how to provide her blooms with what they need to flourish. The relationship between Grandmother and Lucy overflows with comfort and love. Lucy may not reach the goal she was striving for, but she experiences the joy of caring for something beautiful. The lovely prose is enhanced by delightful illustrations full of humor and details that will catch a young reader's eye. I did a fun virtual read of this with a three-year-old and a five-year-old. They loved it, and the story brought up many connections for them around gardening and grandmothers. I appreciate how Lucy's journey demonstrates perseverance and resilience, all in a funny, warm, relatable story about the life of weeds." ~Claire W. Horowitz, Powells.com
*****
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| Available Everywhere Books are Sold |
When a cowgirl’s got to go, she’s got to go! As she walks through open pastures and deep canyons, she learns where the bison, hawk, coyote, and other animals go. But time’s a-wasting, so where in the whole West can this cowgirl go potty?! With great humor and playfulness, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty? will be sure to delight kids over and over again.
This book is a companion to Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?
REVIEWS:
"Privy privations lead a desperate cowhand on a wild goose chase. A cowgirl finds herself in quite a pickle when she feels the urge to take care of some necessary business. Trouble is, all the critters she encounters give her bad advice. A hound dog suggests she go in a grassy pasture, but a horse dispels that myth right quick ('This is where a pony goes potty!'). The horse suggests a canyon, but the coyotes rebuff her intentions, saying that's their potty place. On and on it goes, each animal suggesting a location only to have another lay claim to the spot. The poor cowgirl is fit to burst when at long last she spies the rancher's well-appointed indoor toilet. The animals are aghast, but clearly that is the right place to go. While some potty trainees may enjoy the malarkey, this book is clearly aimed at the older set, for whom toilet misadventures are the height of humor... Potty humor—not instruction—with goofs and gaffes galore." ~ Kirkus
"Howdy, potty user! Good golly, this here book is the darn tootin' funniest potty book in all the land. You'll bust a gut laughin' and you'll learn somethin' too. I reckon adults and kids and cowpokes will love this book! Recommended By Christine R., Powells.com"
*****
“Ahoy thar, matey! Where does a pirate go potty around here?”
"Privy privations lead a desperate cowhand on a wild goose chase. A cowgirl finds herself in quite a pickle when she feels the urge to take care of some necessary business. Trouble is, all the critters she encounters give her bad advice. A hound dog suggests she go in a grassy pasture, but a horse dispels that myth right quick ('This is where a pony goes potty!'). The horse suggests a canyon, but the coyotes rebuff her intentions, saying that's their potty place. On and on it goes, each animal suggesting a location only to have another lay claim to the spot. The poor cowgirl is fit to burst when at long last she spies the rancher's well-appointed indoor toilet. The animals are aghast, but clearly that is the right place to go. While some potty trainees may enjoy the malarkey, this book is clearly aimed at the older set, for whom toilet misadventures are the height of humor... Potty humor—not instruction—with goofs and gaffes galore." ~ Kirkus
"Howdy, potty user! Good golly, this here book is the darn tootin' funniest potty book in all the land. You'll bust a gut laughin' and you'll learn somethin' too. I reckon adults and kids and cowpokes will love this book! Recommended By Christine R., Powells.com"
*****
“Ahoy thar, matey! Where does a pirate go potty around here?”
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| Available Everywhere Books are Sold |
This little pirate’s got to go potty! He wanders around sandy beaches and dark caves, discovering where the sea lion, the pelican, and even the octopus go potty. But where in the seven seas can a pirate go?! A hilarious adventure filled with playful anticipation and fun, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty? guarantees a good time and laughter.
This book is a companion to Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?
REVIEWS:
"A hilarious adventure filled with playful anticipation and fun, WHERE DOES A PIRATE GO POTTY? guarantees a good time and laughter...very highly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 5-8." ~ Children's Bookwatch
*****
A celebration of all things Oregon!
The twenty-five stories in Oregon Reads Aloud are written and illustrated by authors and illustrators in my local children's literature community and celebrate all things Oregon. My contribution to the collection, First Day Jitters, is about the anxiety and excitement of starting school...in Oregon!
The book is a tribute to twenty-five years of SMART’s (Start Making a Reader Today) work empowering Oregon children for reading and learning success. A portion of proceeds from book sales benefit SMART.
Winner of Oregon Spirit Book Award for Best Anthology.
Click here to download a free, curriculum-aligned activity guide for Oregon Reads Aloud.
*****
A literacy-based, finger-play experience sure to engage students and teach signing!
Bring a new, dynamic finger-play experience to your story time! Story Time with Signs & Rhymes offers a variety of rhythmic, playful stories for read-aloud fun. American Sign Language (ASL) signs are incorporated into the book design, inviting children to sign along with the story.
See individual titles here, and access a variety of learning extensions and resources here. Contact Dawn directly (via contact form to left, DM on social media, etc) to order these titles.
REVIEWS and AWARDS:
“A simple, clear introduction to key ASL vocab for nonhearing and hearing alike.” ~ Booklist, May, 2012
“The text is lively, and Bauer’s colorful illustrations crackle with cartoony energy. . . . The signs themselves are well chosen for the target audience, and the structure of the stories provides a great way to introduce and reinforce basic ASL vocabulary for hearing children.” ~ School Library Journal, January 2010
“Children who are interested in learning sign language will find the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes series an intriguing place to start.” ~ Booklist, October, 2009
One of the titles in the series, The Nest Where I Like to Rest, was an Oregon Book Awards finalist.
*****
Need more info about Dawn or her books? Contact Dawn directly, using the contact form on the left side of this page, or access Dawn's Press Kit here.
"A hilarious adventure filled with playful anticipation and fun, WHERE DOES A PIRATE GO POTTY? guarantees a good time and laughter...very highly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 5-8." ~ Children's Bookwatch
*****
A celebration of all things Oregon!
 |
| Available Everywhere Books are Sold |
The book is a tribute to twenty-five years of SMART’s (Start Making a Reader Today) work empowering Oregon children for reading and learning success. A portion of proceeds from book sales benefit SMART.
Winner of Oregon Spirit Book Award for Best Anthology.
Click here to download a free, curriculum-aligned activity guide for Oregon Reads Aloud.
*****
A literacy-based, finger-play experience sure to engage students and teach signing!
 |
See individual titles here, and access a variety of learning extensions and resources here. Contact Dawn directly (via contact form to left, DM on social media, etc) to order these titles.
REVIEWS and AWARDS:
“A simple, clear introduction to key ASL vocab for nonhearing and hearing alike.” ~ Booklist, May, 2012
“The text is lively, and Bauer’s colorful illustrations crackle with cartoony energy. . . . The signs themselves are well chosen for the target audience, and the structure of the stories provides a great way to introduce and reinforce basic ASL vocabulary for hearing children.” ~ School Library Journal, January 2010
“Children who are interested in learning sign language will find the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes series an intriguing place to start.” ~ Booklist, October, 2009
One of the titles in the series, The Nest Where I Like to Rest, was an Oregon Book Awards finalist.
*****
Need more info about Dawn or her books? Contact Dawn directly, using the contact form on the left side of this page, or access Dawn's Press Kit here.
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