Santa Baby by Jonathan Stutzman; illustrated by Heather Fox

Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox, the duo behind Llama Destroys the World, take their trademark hijinks up to the North Pole in this laugh-out-loud, heartfelt Christmas-themed picture book.

Santa is feeling old, and being in the business of Christmas for centuries is . . . well, it isn’t all milk and cookies. In hopes of regaining some of his pep, Santa asks the spirit of Christmas to give him something for a change: skim off a couple of years and make him younger.

But Christmas magic is powerful, and Santa gets more than he wished for. Instead of a fresh new outlook and boundless energy, he needs diapers and a nap—stat. With Christmas only a few days away, the elves rush to teach Santa Baby the basics. But will there be enough time to prepare their new bundle of holiday joy for the job?

“Plenty of laughs…playfully complemented by Fox’s child-friendly illustrations.” —Horn Book

The Runaway Belly Button by John Flannery; illustrated by Mika Song

In the charming and lighthearted picture book, The Runaway Belly Button, John Flannery and Mika Song bring to life the sweetly goofy Belly Button as she reminds you how nice it is to be sparkling clean.

Grace loved to get dirty. But she was also pretty good at getting clean—she took proper care of Hands, paid extra attention to Feet, and even remembered to scrub behind Ears. There was just one body part she tended to forget: Belly Button.

Day after day, Belly Button got dirtier… and stinkier… and filthier. Until after one particularly neglectful bath, Belly Button decides she’ll have to get outie there to look and smell great again.

“Both solid entertainment and useful hygiene instruction.” – Publishers Weekly

A Little Space for Me by Jennifer Gray Olson

With clever, inventive art and universally relatable themes, A Little Space for Me by Jennifer Gray Olson is a heartwarming picture book about the importance of mindfulness, understanding, and finding a moment of peace within a big, busy world.

Sometimes, when it’s too loud, too crowded, too messy, too smelly, or for no reason at all, you might just need a little bit of space to feel like yourself again.

“Inventive compositions will transport readers into the thoughts and emotions of the protagonist. Both text and art show familiar experiences, but Olson also leaves them open to interpretation, showing people can interact with the world in different ways . . . Ripe for discussion.” —Kirkus

“A thought-provoking rumination on mindfulness . . . Olson’s art is gorgeous . . . An excellent choice for a bedtime book as kids wind down from their chaotic days.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Let’s Get Sleepy by Tony Cliff

These cats are on an adventure to find that darn mouse named Sleepy.

But Sleepy is a sneaky mouse—he’s hard to find. The cats will have to look everywhere: all over town, out by the beach, up in space, and even back in time with the dinosaurs! Can the cats catch that mouse? Even if they don’t, at the end of the day, they may just get “sleepy” after all.

While seek-and-find elements are at work in the adorable artwork, the rhyming text reminds readers that the journey is more important than the destination—and that the most valuable treasure is a day richly lived with friends.

“Only confirmed ailurophobes will fail to enjoy sharing this kitty’s day.” – Kirkus