| This month we’re featuring children’s books that tackle abstract ideas and big, important questions. Find books about the history of science, the mysteries of the number Pi, the origins of humanity, and more mind-boggling food for thought for curious readers.
We’re also thrilled to highlight a Consortium title that was named a New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book along with our newly debuted Spring/Summer 2026 catalog—more below!
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For millennia, humans have been obsessed with the number Pi. But no one has ever found it—and no one ever will, because Pi is infinite and irrational. Readers will meet a man who memorized ten thousand digits, read about a Pi paradox and a Pi magic trick, and laugh at plenty of Pi jokes. Telling the story of mathematics enthusiasts from all over the world and from all eras, The Big Book of Pi is an extraordinary adventure to near-infinity.
In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews calls The Big Book of Pi “an astonishing, delightful, and illuminating celebration of mathe-magics.” The book is also a Junior Library Guild Selection.
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The First Peoples
by Maika Harper, illus. Kaja Kajfež
Inhabit Media • October 2025 • 9781772275650 • Ages 6-8 • iPage
Based on an ancient Inuit traditional story, this beautifully illustrated picture book tells of the appearance of the first humans on earth, and how from them, all the peoples of the earth emerged. Retold with loving care by Inuit author and actress Maika Harper, The First Peoples is both mythical and magical, an ancient tale brought to life for new generations.
School Library Journal notes, “Kajfez provides cool-hued, thick-lined illustrations, visually grounding the plot's miraculous elements, while Harper's spare, elegant writing evokes the wonder of myth. . . . This distinctive and thought-provoking adaptation will pair well with analogous tales from around the world and spur discussion on culture and gender.”
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Together, Right Now inspires readers to imagine what other people are doing at this exact moment across the world. Spanning scenes of tourists in Egypt, packed city streets, plants and animals in the jungle, and beyond, this picture book encourages empathy and exploring what connects living things all around the globe.
In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews calls the book “a brilliant, uplifting, and world-embracing tale to unite us in divisive times.” Publishers Weekly adds, “This philosophical work affirms how lives occur contemporaneously, ‘together, right now.’” Booklist further praises the title, deeming it “a meditative, inspiring musing about being part of a global community.”
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Look Up
by Azul López, trans. Shook
Transit Children's Editions • November 2025 • 9798893380286 • Ages 3-8 • iPage
Many years ago, a man was curious about the sky, and would spend all day looking up. But as time went on, his gaze was brought to earth, and he joined his neighbors in looking down, putting one foot in front of the other—until the passing days became a labyrinth that opened before him, leading him somewhere secret. From the illustrator of Giant on the Shore, this picture book is a dreamy retelling of a Mexican legend.
Look Up is the recipient of starred reviews from both Kirkus Reviews and Foreword Reviews. Kirkus says, “López’s text provides an elegant accompaniment to the author/illustrator’s arresting art.” Elsewhere, Publishers Weekly calls the book a “soaring celebration of the virtues of looking up,” and School Library Journal notes, “Acrylic paintings bring this Mexican myth to life, reminding readers bogged down with the here and now to look up to the sky.”
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This latest entry in the Big Ideas series introduces the history of science and its impact on the world today. Discover the most influential scientists throughout history and the amazing scientific breakthroughs that have changed the way we live, from the discovery of bronze to the invention of the microscope. With engaging facts and playful illustrations, readers are encouraged to follow their innate curiosity and look at the world in different ways.
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“This charming Spanish import explores intergenerational relationships. . . . This is a lighthearted but touching look at the strong connections formed between children and those lucky enough to have grandparents nearby. . . . Lots of lore and lots of love.” — Kirkus Reviews
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| | Moon Sailors
by Naomi Woodward, illus. Rachel Gregg
Blue Dot Kids Press • February 2026 • 9798989858859
“An imagination-filled lunar sail yields maritime delights in this fantasy from Woodward and Gregg. . . . Washed in pale, aquamarine shades, intricate drawings of beachy scenes seem at once familiar and otherworldly. . . . It’s a soothing story of ocean-driven dreaminess.” — Publishers Weekly
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“Minoglio covers Earth and outer space, geography, biology, and human-made structures, along with a grab bag of brain-bending cross-category comparisons. . . . The book’s realistic, colorful graphics in well-designed layouts are creative, attractive, and enlightening. Everything is relative in this numerically fascinating presentation of records of every kind.” — Kirkus Reviews
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Sunday Is a NYT / NYPL Best Illustrated Children’s Book!
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NEW! Consortium’s Spring/Summer 2026 Children’s Catalog
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