Ladybug 2025 Shortlist

The first round of Ladybug Picture Book Award voting closed earlier this week and we are ready to move on to round 2.

One hundred and eight people weighed in on the long list of nominees and we have eliminated from consideration any title that did not get at least 10% of the total votes cast. This left us with a shortlist of 16 titles from which NH librarians are invited to vote for the 9 titles that they think should be nominated for the 2025 Ladybug Picture Book Award.
 
The Final Round 2025 Ladybug Nomination Survey is now open and will remain open until Sunday, 3/23/2025.

PLEASE NOTE that you can only vote once from your device (phone, computer, whatever you use to browse the web) so don't preview the survey, as you will not be able to go back again to vote.

To help make sure as many people as possible in the NH library community have an opportunity to check out these books before voting for the final nominees, we have linked each of the titles below to a video of the book being read. We did not create any of these videos; they are from a variety of sources. Where there was a version available read by the author, we chose that, otherwise we chose the best depiction of the book that we could find.
 
2025 Ladybug Picture Book Award Shortlist 

• Ahoy! by Sophie Blackall
• The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz
• The Book that Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed and Hatem Aly
• Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb and Erin Kraan
• Dog vs Strawberry by Nelly Buchet and Andrea Zuill
• Flat Cat by Tara Lazar and Pete Oswald
• I am a Dragon! by Sabina Hahn
• I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff and Julie Kwon
• Lefty: A Story That Is Not All Right by Mo Willems and Dan Santat
• The Man Who Didn't Like Animals by Deborah Underwood and LeUygen Pham
• Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy Mandin
• Mr. S: A First Day of School Book by Monica Arnaldo
• No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons
• The Teeny-weeny Unicorn by Shawn Harris
• We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang
• The Yellow Bus by Loren Long

Book of the Week (2/24/2025)

A Secret Shared with Sirens by Ariella Isabella (Daggers & Diatribes Publishing, 2025)

“She was the endless darkness between life and death. Bitter, and consuming. A poison I couldn’t stop drinking, and a cold lake I wanted to drown in.”

Rescued by the bloodthirsty sirens after an elven shipwreck, Isolde finds herself in a world of monstrous creatures, including Achelous, the Father of Sirens, who seeks revenge on the Elf King. But as the darkness inside her grows louder, Isolde faces the devastating truths about her power, her past, and the blood-soaked battle ahead. With the treacherous Queen Athalia on the throne and war looming, Isolde must decide where her loyalties lie, even if it means sacrificing everything she loves.

Death knows the price of the deal she’s made, and he fears Isolde’s growing strength could be the end of everything. Now that she's finally in his arms, Death can't afford to lose the one thing that brings light into his endless world of shadows and phantoms. With treachery at every turn and the gods themselves pulling strings, Isolde’s fight for survival might cost her soul. In a world ruled by villainous gods and treacherous creatures, Isolde may become the greatest threat of all—if she doesn’t lose herself to the darkness first. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Living with her partner and an array of animals in New Hampshire, Ariella Isabella enjoys traveling the world and writing stories that make your heart hurt and question your morals. She was influenced by the rise of Anne Rice, dark southern gothics, and epic fantasies by Carissa Broadbent. 'A Secret Shared with Sirens' is her second book in the Gods from the Oblivion Series.

Join Ariella at Gibson's Bookstore on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 6:30 pm where she will be discussing her latest book!

Book of the Week (2/17/2025)

No One Has To Die: Inside the Longest Armed Standoff in the History of the U.S. Marshals by Steve Monier (Genius Book Publishing, 2024)

On January 12, 2007, what began as a felony tax trial for Ed and Elaine Brown in Plainfield, New Hampshire, spiraled into the longest armed standoff in U.S. Marshals history. Refusing to appear in court and surrender to federal authorities, the Browns transformed their home into a fortress, drawing support from militia groups and anti-government activists nationwide.

No One Has To Die offers an in-depth look at the tense and perilous nine month standoff that tested the resolve and tactics of the U.S. Marshals Service. Steve Monier, with contributions from Gary DiMartino and Dave Dimmitt, recounts the meticulous planning and tactical negotiations aimed at resolving the situation peacefully, against a backdrop of rising militia activity and public scrutiny.

This compelling narrative dives into the Browns' extremist beliefs, the challenges faced by law enforcement, and the strategies employed to prevent another Waco or Ruby Ridge. Through detailed accounts and personal insights, the book highlights the importance of communication, patience, and strategy in averting violence and ensuring that no one has to die. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Stephen R. Monier is a graduate of St. Anselm College, where he received his B.A. degree in 1974. Marshal Monier is also a graduate of the Delinquency Control Institute at the University of Southern California, and the National Crime Prevention Institute at the University of Louisville. He began his law enforcement career with the Goffstown, NH Police Department in 1969, rising through the ranks until his appointment as Chief of Police in 1984. He served as Chief until his retirement in January of 1999.

On April 15, 2002, President George W. Bush nominated Stephen Monier to serve as United States Marshal for the District of New Hampshire. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 7th, 2002. He served as the U.S. Marshal until November 1, 2009.

Join the author at Gibson's Bookstore on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 6:30 pm where he will discuss his new book.

Book of the Week (2/10/2025)

A History Lover's Guide to New Hampshire by Kathleen D. Bailey & Sheila R. Bailey (The History Press, 2025)

New Hampshire has always been fiercely independent, and its history, museums and festivals reflect that trait. Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe broke baseball’s color barrier with the Nashua Dodgers in 1946, and Holman Stadium is now a stop on the Black Heritage Trail. Three of the state’s historic mansions―the Fells, the Castle in the Clouds and the Saint-Gaudens historic site―remain as impressive today as when they were built. Portsmouth’s historic homes give a portrait of life in colonial and Revolutionary times. From the New England Telephone Museum in Warner to the Exeter UFO Festival, the state has a wealth of history on display.

Kathleen D. Bailey and Sheila R. Bailey lead a trip through the past and present of the Granite State’s most memorable sites. --Publisher's blurb

Join author Kathleen D. Bailey at Gibson's Bookstore on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 6:30 pm where she will discuss her newest book.

About the authors:

Kathleen D. Bailey is a journalist and novelist with forty years’ experience in the nonfiction, newspaper and inspirational fields. While she’s always dreamed of publishing fiction and has three novels in print, her three previous Arcadia projects―Exeter: Past and Present, New Hampshire War Monuments and Growing Up in Concord―made her fall in love with nonfiction and telling real people’s stories. 

Sheila R. Bailey was a freelance photographer living in Concord, New Hampshire. She recently co-authored Exeter: Past and Present along with shooting the contemporary photos for New Hampshire War Monuments: The Stories Behind the Stones and Growing Up in Concord, New Hampshire. She recently passed away from cancer.

Ladybug Longlist: School

Mr. S: A First Day of School Book by Monica Arnaldo

"This book is hilarious.  My kiddos crack up when reading how the students in the story think that the sandwich on their teacher's desk is their new teacher while readers can see all the crazy things happening in the parking lot with their actual teacher.  The ending had a funny twist that is sure to stay with readers for a long time." -- nominator

Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko

"Rick the Rock dreams of adventure away from the Nature Finds shelf of Room 214. He makes his dreams come true, but then realizes things aren't always greener on the other side. Told with humor and a dash of geology, I know I was rooting for Rick to find his way back home. " -- nominator

The Yellow Bus by Loren Long

"I loved the way the bus was "filled with joy" whether it carried people "from one important place to another" or not. Also, the impact of the color yellow from the bus on the black and white drawings was stunning. The simple text and detailed illustrations tells the story of the life of a school bus and the many ways it serves the community." -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 15 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2025 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

Ladybug Longlist: Nature

The Girl Who Built an Ocean: An Artist, an Argonaut, and the True Story of the World's First Aquarium by Jess Keating

"This book exposes children to narrative nonfiction and tells a really interesting story about the woman who created the first aquarium.  Shark Lady is a very popular book in our school, and this book will surely have the same impact on students.  These stories show children that every day normal people that work hard to follow their dreams can do amazing things and change the world for the better." -- nominator

Mermaids' Song to the Sea by Dianna Hutts Aston

"Gorgeous rhyming picture book with colorful, and magical, illustrations." -- nominator

Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy Mandin

"This book is about a weird little girl and her weird garden which eventually wins over the hearts of the townspeople who wanted to ban it. The unique plants and illustrations in this story are sure to be a hit and the sepia tones are appealing to readers who enjoy their calming nature." -- nominator

One Day This Tree Will Fall by Leslie Barnard Booth

"Vibrant and moving illustrations." -- nominator

This is Not My Lunchbox by Jennifer Dupuis

"Can you guess what animal eats from each lunchbox?  This nonfiction book features gorgeous illustrations of woodland animals, birds and insects and the foods they eat.  A feast for the eyes!" -- nominator

Trunk Goes Thunk!: A Woodland Tale of Opposites by Heather C. Morris

"Charming characters, carefully chosen color pallet that elevates a book about opposites." -- nominator

When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray

"Relatable for every child who can't resist picking up the perfect rock to take home." -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 15 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2025 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

Ladybug Longlist: Imagination & Creativity

Ahoy! by Sophie Blackall

"Wonderfully fun illustrations that are appropriate for such a fun imaginative book. A joyous tale that brings out the creative juices and inspires children to use their imagination." -- nominator

The Curious Why by Angela DiTerlizzi

"Beautiful illustrations with an amazing message to always stay curious will help set up children to be the life-long learners we hope they will be." -- nominator

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination by Brad Montague

"This book encourages children to use their imagination and share their amazing ideas with others.  The story is written in a unique way that stands out from other children's books and has illustrations that are appealing to children." -- nominator

Gifts from the Garbage Truck: A True Story About the Things We (Don't) Throw Away by Andrew Larsen

"This story is based on a real person with a gift for finding purpose in items others find value-less. It also recognizes a person's success and influence out of the limelight." -- nominator

Treehouse Town by Gideon Sterer

"What a fun book! Imagination at its best. How cool would it be to be a kid in a treehouse with tons of friends and animals! You can get lost in the illustrations and have such a fun time reading to children with all the funny antics the illustrator creates on the pages." -- nominator

The Truth About the Couch by Adam Rubin

"Great illustrations, ridiculously funny with sound effects (bleep machine), creative ending." -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 15 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2025 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

Ladybug Longlist: Identity & Self Acceptance

Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb

"Great illustrations and a story with a wonderful voice. It's adorable, and hysterical, and obnoxiously rhyming, and talks about handling big feelings ." -- nominator

Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo

"The artwork is delicious! In fact, the illustrations tell almost the entire story of a young girl's adjustment to school in America. The endpapers offer a prologue and epilogue; a peek underneath the dust jacket reveals a clever connection to the story. This one will tug at your heartstrings and cause your belly to rumble. Thankfully, the back matter will answer most of your students' language and menu questions." -- nominator

Masterpiece by Alexandra Hoffman

"This beautiful story encourages empathy and inclusion as well as sharing that everyone is beautiful in their differences.  Not many children's stories can depict autism in such an accurate way to ensure readers understand that others may think and feel in ways differently than they do or allow autistic readers to feel seen." -- nominator

Ready to Soar by Cori Doerrfeld

"What a great book for children and their self esteem. We often listen too much as to what others think of us and the ending of this story just makes you want to hug the characters." - nominator

Rory the Remarkable Dragon by Kathryn Rammell

"Delightful tale of a chicken that everyone thinks is a remarkable dragon. So warm and adorable and about seeing the best in people. " -- nominator

Scorch, Hedgehog of Doom by Cate Berry

"Funny and clever with adorable illustrations. You can’t help but love Scorch as you ride her ups, downs, and throughs in the quest for authentic self.  -- nominator

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn by Shawn Harris

"Every kid will relate to Teeny-Weeny Unicorn, as he figures out how to live in a world not made for his stature." -- nominator

Wallflowers by Mackenzie Joy

"To all the introverted kids this story speaks to them!" -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 15 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2025 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

Book of the Week (2/3/2025)

Bedrock: The Making of a Public Garden by Jill Nooney (Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2025)

“Cultivation is just another word for commitment. You think you are just pulling weeds, but what you are really doing is writing a love letter to your patch of earth.” – Thomas Rainer

This quote opens Bedrock: The Making of a Public Garden, a book that is a love letter from a woman to the garden she spent 40 years creating. Jill Nooney, a psychotherapist and graduate of the Radcliffe Seminars Program in Landscape Design, and her husband Bob Munger, a physician, developed their 30 acres in Lee, New Hampshire into an unforgettable garden.

Featuring more than 300 photographs of the garden and Jill’s artful sculptures, water features, and built structures that provide places throughout Bedrock Garden from which to contemplate the complete landscape, the book takes us from the garden’s origins as a private space to its present life as a public garden. The garden has slowly evolved through its creators’ deep love for the land -- and an indominable urge to experiment.

Rich with entertaining anecdotes of realizing improbable, visionary concepts that involved moving boulders, carrying trees and rocks on planes, ferreting out rare plant material, operating all manner of equipment, and managing thousands of visitors, this is a story of love, loss and generosity. The book takes the reader into a landscape that is green and wild, but also filled with a deep sense of peace. Just like visitors to the garden, readers will fall in love with Bedrock. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Jill Nooney grew up in rural New Jersey. She attended Bennington College, Smith College School of Social Work, and the Radcliffe Seminars Program in Landscape Design. She has had a lifelong interest in plants, art, and healing the human spirit. She lives with her husband, Bob Munger, in an old farmhouse in New Hampshire. Together, over the span of forty years, they created Bedrock Gardens and in 2023, they gifted the garden to the Friends of Bedrock Gardens to be enjoyed by all.

Ladybug Longlist: Grab bag

This collection of books are ones that didn't fit into any other category -- but sometimes the outliers are the ones worth watching!

Are You Big? by Mo Willems

"The bold bright illustrations appeal to students and the text is easy to follow. Love the idea that students are taken on a tour of the universe in terms that they can relate to." -- nominator

Lefty: A Story That Is Not All Right by Mo Willems

"Perfect pairing of author/illustrator! A very funny book with some history about left-handed discrimination." -- nominator

One Chicken Nugget by Tadgh Bentley

"This story teaches a great lesson of being careful what you wish for with vibrant pictures and intriguing characters. My students who have read it love it!" -- nominator

When You Have to Wait by Melanie Conklin

"I have recommended this book to so many families that have a loved one traveling and the child is struggling with waiting. Waiting is very hard for children and this is such a simple story to spark conversations with families." -- nominator

The Wrong Book by Drew Daywalt

"This silly book breaks the fourth wall and the kids love it.  A bookmark is the narrator, which is perfect for reading at the beginning of the school year." -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 15 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2025 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

3 on a Theme: Hotels & Inns

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

Falling Inn Love by Erin Branscom

A Last Resort by Mark J. Okran