By Conley Kakabeeke

Thanksgiving and the holiday season are upon us, and what better way to celebrate with books that bring the whole family together? From fun picture books with themes of gratefulness and compromise to cookbooks, this month’s spotlights will bring the whole family together to joyfully celebrate the fall season!

The Official Spongebob Squarepants Cookbook

Recipes developed by Jarrett Melendez

For Spongebob lovers of all ages, this fun cookbook brings all of the fun dishes featured in the show to life. Readers (or should I say, cooks?) will feel like a part of the Bikini Bottom community with recipes from all their favorite characters. The book includes classics from the series like Karen’s Holographic Meatloaf, the Triple Gooberberry Sunrise from Goofy Goober’s, and maybe even the Krabby Patty Recipe! Will Mr. Krabs finally reveal the secret recipe he’s kept hidden for so long? Let’s hope Plankton doesn’t get his hands on it! These creative recipes will have the whole family cooking together and laughing at all the silly under-the-sea quips included throughout the book!

Ten Speed Press. September 22, 2026, 9798217273454 Hardcover, $28

Tot the Toad Makes a Mess

By Jim Benton

Tot the Toad is a very grumpy toad. Not very many things make him happy—except cooking, apparently. Tot wants to make his friend Zoggy some of his signature dishes, but Zoggy doesn’t have the heart to tell him his food looks pretty yucky. The clever rhyme scheme and vibrant pictures will have kids giggling at every page. This is a great book for picky eaters and their parents alike, teaching kids how to be kind when they don’t like a food and to make compromises.

Scholastic. October 6, 2026, 9798225071479 Hardcover, $15, Ages 4-8

Some Body, Every Body!

By Roz MacLean

We all have bodies, but they don’t all look the same! This colorful picture book reminds kids that not everyone has the same shape or size, and that’s okay. The book includes representations of many body shapes and sizes, as well as mobility, medical, and sensory needs. With eye-catching illustrations and a bouncy rhyme scheme, this book beautifully captures the many differences in shapes and abilities everyone has, and reminds us that we should love our bodies and be grateful that they allow us to be together!

Bloomsbury Children’s Books. September 15, 2026, 9781547618880 Hardcover, $15, Ages 3-6

Have You Seen Axel?

By Adam Jay Epstein; illustrated by Ruth Chan

A fun twist on the classic seek-and-find book, this book takes kids on a fun adventure searching for a spunky and silly pink axolotl named Axel, who is very excited to have her own book—but wants to keep it all to herself. And Axel is also very good at hiding! But soon she finds this hiding is tiring. With the help of her friends including the narrator, Axel finds a compromise so everyone can have fun with her book. Fun and funny writing and interactive illustrations invites rereads, and new things to find with every time.A beautiful picture book teaching kids it’s okay when someone changes their mind, and how to work together so everyone has fun.

Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. October 20, 2026, 9781665970792 Hardcover, $20, Ages 4-8.

From Have You Seen Axel

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way, by Julie Abe

One lucky winner will received a hardcover, deluxe 1st Edition.

Givesesy made possible by Bloomsbury Children's Books.

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Conley Kakabeeke

Childress Ink Editorial Intern, Fall Semester 2026

Conley Kakabeeke is a senior English Major at Taylor University, graduating in the Spring of 2027. She has served on staff for the Relief literary journal and is currently helping with Parnassus, Taylor's student literary journal. In her free time, you can find her curled up with a book and a cup of tea, thrifting, playing piano, crocheting, or playing euchre. After graduating, Conley hopes to work as a book editor for a publishing company.

“A snowball to the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship." -Markus Zusak, The Book Thief