by Paula Holmes

I’ve started to read the lists of children’s books coming out in 2025, and I am totally overwhelmed. Thankfully, the only collection development I do is for myself. I was spoiled in past years attending conferences at least twice a year, going to exhibits, talking to publishers and meeting the authors. There’s the thrill of someone putting a book in my hand and saying with excitement in their voice, “I think you are really going to like this book.” It is as if they are introducing me to a new friend, one that we can share.

For now, I rely heavily on the wonderful WorldKidLit Translation List and WKL reviews, conversations with publishers and librarians, and social media. I have curated a list of favorite publishers, authors, illustrators, and translators whose forthcoming books are on my radar. I am on heightened alert when it is a series. Series build anticipation like reuniting with an old friend, and finding comfort in the familiar. There is a risk in falling in love with a translated series. I learned this when reading the first two books of the Moribito series written by Nahoko Uehashi and translated by Cathy Hirano; Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit and Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness. Although they won a Batchelder Award and Honor respectively, sadly, the rest of the eight-book series was never published in English. As a result I am determined to champion translated series to their completion and committed to sharing that love far and wide.

Have a Good Trip, Mousse!

I am delighted that Mousse from A Day with Mousse is returning in Have a Good Trip, Mousse! In the first book, we meet Mousse who has a blue-green and white watercolor striped body, with skinny ink legs and feet, that are often covered by bright red socks. He lives alone by the sea, and at high tide, when the sea flows into his house, it provides treasures to sell in his online business. We are also introduced to Barnacle, a walrus, who becomes Mousse’s friend.

In Have a Good Trip Mousse, Mousse goes on vacation and invites his friend Barnacle to join him. Don’t we all wish that we could email our dearest friend and they would show up right away? Conflict arrives when gregarious Felix strikes up a friendship with Barnacle and Mousse feels replaced. Barnacle and Mousse have different personalities. Friendship does not come easy to Mousse. When Felix arrives, you can feel Mousse’s jealousy and appreciate Barnacle’s patience. The work that goes into friendship is what elevates the Mousse series into something special. I am excited for what comes next in this series.

Many of the translations that reside upon my shelves are picture books, middle grade novels, or graphic novels. The early chapter books are much rarer in my translated-into-English collection. Claire Lebourg’s watercolor and ink illustrations share a similar soothing color palate and style to the growing collection of picture books published by Transit Children’s Editions. Stand alone picture books Like This and How Dreadful! are also by Lebourg, translated by Sophie Lewis. The exposure to art alone is worthwhile, but I also have immense respect for the text, because it respects the reader and does not trivialize feelings of loneliness and jealousy. It is a rare ability to put emotions into concise text.

Good Morning, Space

I have been pondering what makes a good bedtime story. Maybe the title Good Morning, Space doesn’t suggest it belongs in the stack of books to read at night, but I encourage you to snuggle up and find delight with Sweetie Pie and family in this follow up to Good Night, Earth.

In the first title, Good Night, Earth, Sweetie Pie’s family struggles to get her to sleep. In the second book, one cannot help but laugh at Sweetie’s antics around routines like eating, bathing and getting dressed. I was especially delighted to see the return of the owls. The art is whimsical, filled with texture and pattern, colorful aliens and animals, and the playful text encourages engagement.

Both are picture books that hold up to the demand to be read again and again. I find the color palate, the marbling and collage techniques to be joyous. I also feel great sympathy (and a vague remembrance) for Sweetie’s very tired parents. I reviewed a PDF, but it appears that in the physical book there will be ways for the reader to interact just as they could tuck the axolotl under the covers in Good Night, Earth.

Recently, I had a total fan girl moment (among many) when I was in Helsinki. I met Linda
Bondestam at an event hosted by Marika Maijala on an island filled with angry birds. An award
winner in both Finland and Sweden, Linda Bondestam should be on your radar. I encourage you to seek out My Life at the Bottom: The Story of a Lonesome Axolotl which she wrote and illustrated and My Little Small by Ulf Stark which she illustrated.

Now more than ever, I feel strongly about championing translated works for children and
supporting WorldKidLit. I cannot thank the translators, small independent publishers, librarians, and booksellers who work tirelessly to bring the voices from around the world to children in the US. And to WKL that have allowed me the opportunity to part of this wonderful community that has no borders. Happy Reading Dear Friends!

About Paula Holmes

Paula Holmes has served in a variety of volunteer capacities for the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association), USBBY (The United States Board on Books for Young People) and currently as a University of Alabama MLIS National Advisory Board Member. Paula is known to create tiny collage art, support translations of children’s literature, practice ballet, and is on a quest to learn Finnish.