3 Picture Books for Finding Joy! – Fall 2026
By Lindsey Cornett
Englewood Press Managing Editor
My Curls Bounce Back
Shelia Burlock (Author), Patricia Grannum (Illustrator)
Hardback: Beaming Books, 2026
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My Curls Bound Back is the first picture book from writer and educator Sheila Burlock. In the story, we follow a young Black boy as he plays on the playground, walks through his city, and spends time at home with his sister. Along the way, he offers prayers of gratitude to God for his hair. “Thank you, God,” he prays, “for making my hair bound and curl, coil and twirl, shrink and puff, spring and stretch.”
This is not the first picture book written to help Black children appreciate their hair, with I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (published 2001) and Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes (published 2017) perhaps being the most well-known. But this is the first book I’ve encountered that approaches the topic from the lens of faith. Burlock’s character celebrates his hair for all its various characteristics, but also because it is a gift from God. His hair, like all of him, was created with love and intention. This is a truth all young children need reminding of, but especially children of color living in white supremacy and/or in environments in which they are a minority. (Of course, as a white woman, I must acknowledge that I am perhaps not the best person to be reviewing this book!)
The author is also an educator and former principal, and her experience with young children is clear. This book does not try to do too much, while remaining a worthwhile read. The text is concise and repetitive, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. It would make an excellent bedtime read aloud.
I love the joy woven through these pages, in both word and picture. It’s a delightful book.
Comida de Casa/Lunch from Home
Joshua David Stein (Author), Jing Li (Illustrator), Ariela Rudy Zaltzman (Translator)
Hardback: Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2026
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As this story begins, we see a diverse group of young children seated around a table, opening their lunch boxes. “On Monday,” the text says, “everyone had a sandwich for lunch. Well, almost everyone.” From there, we encounter several students from diverse backgrounds who eat lunches representative of their family’s culture, only to be met by skepticism, disgust, and dismissal from classmates unfamiliar with the food.
“Ewww. You’re eating seaweed!” says a boy to Mina, who had been excited to eat her gimbap.
As each child’s meal is rejected by their classmates, they go home and request a different lunch until, “By Friday, there were only sandwiches.”
The book was inspired by the experiences of four renowned chefs: Niki Russ Federman, Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, and Mina Park. It is a wonderful example of how to create children’s literature inspired by the lives and work of real people (or celebrities) without falling into pedantic language or simple chronological biography. It finds the themes in each person’s life–their unique cultures, diverse cuisines, and close family ties–to tell a compelling story.
But my earlier statement was incorrect: The book does not begin with the words, “On Monday…” Rather, it begins, “El lunes, todos tenían un sándwich para el lunch.” Because in keeping with its themes, this book is bilingual and, what’s more, the Spanish text is printed first on every page.
My favorite part of the book comes towards the end, when we are given a two-page illustrated spread to introduce us to each child’s home kitchen or, in one case, family deli. The colors are vibrant, the art is detailed, and these children and their cultures are brought to life with skill and beauty. There is diversity of language, skin tone, body type, gender, and–of course–food! Ultimately, the class of students learns to value and appreciate the diversity of food present at lunchtime and, by extension, can better love their classmates.
The book deserves attention because it is a good story well-told, but it also holds immense potential for classroom settings. Whether exploring immigration, language, food, acceptance, or friendship, the curricular connections are many. In church settings (in which many ERB readers are likely to find themselves), I could see this book being used in conversations about the eucharist, the parable of the wedding banquet from Matthew 22, or depictions of “every tribe and tongue” from Revelation. And parents trying to encourage their children to explore a diversity of flavors and foods will find this book worth reading with their families.
If you get your hands on this book in hardcover, make sure you remove the dust jacket for a thoughtful, hidden detail.
Jubilee Jumps for Joy
Brentom Jackson (Author), Alex Aldrich Barrett (Illustrator)
Hardback: Beaming Books, 2026
Buy Now: [ BookShop ] [Amazon][ Kindle ]
Jubilee Jumps for Joy is a lovely picture book from the author of Elijah’s Easter Suit. It tells the story of a young girl, Jubilee, whose grandmother has passed away. In the aftermath of this loss, church has ceased to be her “happy place.” What follows is a child-friendly and meaningful exploration of grief, joy, and memory.
The traditions and witness of the Black church provide the backdrop for this story. The Bible, praise and worship, and Sunday church services all play a prominent role in the story as both setting and drivers of the plot.
The illustrations are colorful and rich in detail, and the book’s design is excellent as well, making it a great choice for reading aloud. Readers young and old will delight in how Barrett portrayed Jubilee wearing her grandmother’s much-too-big heels, gloves, and hats. And while children may not pick up on this, I noticed the subtle ways the illustrations repeat a blue floral pattern throughout the story, creating a symbol of how the love and presence of family members can still be felt after they have passed away.
My only critique is that perhaps the story wraps up a little too quickly and neatly. Children may need a reminder that healing from grief is not linear and that Jubilee likely would, in fact, feel sadness over her grandmother’s loss again. But overall, I think the author and illustrator have done an excellent job portraying the ways joy and grief often exist side-by-side and done so in a way that will resonate with children and grown-ups alike.
Lindsey Cornett
Lindsey Cornett is a loud talker, obsessive coffee drinker, and lover of the written word who lives in downtown Indianapolis with her scientist husband, 3 kids, and crazy Bernedoodle. Most days, you’ll find her wrangling the dog, managing snacks, reheating her coffee, and trying to savor as much joy and gratitude as she can in the middle of these very full days. Lindsey writes a monthly-ish email newsletter about the intersections of faith, community, and curiosity at lindseycornett.substack.com.
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