Books Added to My Shelves in February 2026

This is my monthly roundup of books that I added to my shelves in February 2026. Some of the books came directly from authors or publishers, others were purchased, or were given to me as gifts. You’ll find books from all kinds of genres, including adult and children’s books. I’ll even share a few updates from our family’s life in the last month as well.

Family and Life Update

As I’ve mentioned tons of times here on the blog, I’m a huge Survivor fan. Well, last month, I ran into Denise Stapley, Survivor 25 winner in 2012. She is from Cedar Rapids and I ran into her in a bookstore, of all places. She was so genuine, and we chatted about all things Survivor 50, and I even gave her a few book recommendations. We don’t have many celebrities here in Iowa, but this was a fun surprise!

For the last several years, we have hosted a Super Bowl party. This year, sickness hit a few of our family members, so our party was much smaller. But, we still had a blast watching the game, playing Shuffleboard, and hanging out with our niece’s family.

A couple of weeks ago, we went bowling with some friends and had so much fun that Pat and I went again. Even though I used to bowl in a league, I was pretty rusty. At least in our area, bowling is a pretty cheap date, and it gets us out of the house and off the couch. On nights at home we’ve been watching Modern Family together every evening. With 11 seasons and over 20 episodes/season, it will take us a while, but we just finished season 1 and have been enjoying it.

I’m writing this post from my Airbnb in Florida. I brought my mom here for the month, and I am loving the sun, the sand, the 80s, and a relaxing schedule.

I finished 5 books in February, including a historical fiction novella, a suspense thriller, a non-fiction, a romance/historical fiction, and a mystery. This month’s book stack is small but includes some new 2026 titles as well as some upcoming 2026 children’s books. My current reads include WOMEN OF A PROMISCIOUS NATURE for review, IF THE CREEK DON’T RISE for book club, LITTLE PIECES OF HOPE for my 2026 challenge reading the books I received as gifts, and I’m listening to THE SNOWBIRDS.

If you have missed any of my recent book reviews, you can see them all by clicking HERE.  Or you can stay up to date with my monthly Quick Lit Roundup.

Clicking the photos of each book will take you to a link to purchase. If you choose to purchase through any of the links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.

Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction

KISSING THE SKY
By: Lisa Patton
Published: March 1, 2026
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Historical Fiction
Format: eBook purchase

This was one of the free Kindle choices in the monthly Amazon First Reads. It reminds me of DAISY JONES AND THE SIX, THE PEOPLE WE KEEP, or THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES, all books I loved.

t’s the summer of ’69. While her peers revel in free love and rock and roll, Suzannah is home from college, sequestered inside her conservative Southern home. Her domineering father has condemned rock music and driven away her best friend. She’s counting the days until fall.

But everything changes when her free-spirited best friend, Livy, resurfaces, urging Suzannah, a talented singer, to join her for three days of peace and music in upstate New York. Fed up with her father’s rules and fearful for her brother’s fate in Vietnam, Suzannah agrees to the road trip, sneaking off without her parents’ knowledge.

Miles outside her comfort zone, the electrifying bedlam of Woodstock jolts her into a journey of self-transformation. But it’s not all incense and peppermints. Suzannah’s falling hard for Leon, a boy she meets at the festival, and the seductive bud of first love conceals a thorn of heartache. Lies uncover betrayal, and Livy’s wild behavior leads to a startling revelation.

A nostalgic trip through the turbulent ’60s, this is the story of a lovable heroine who lets go of the girl she was to embrace the woman she’s becoming while she learns to lift her voice—for herself and perhaps for the world.

THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU
By: Libby Page
Published: February 3, 2026
Publisher: Berkley
Romance
Format: Hardcover purchase

This was a Book of the Month choice. This sweet romance involving book stores was an obvious choice.

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago…
The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.

Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?

A GOOD ANIMAL
By: Sara Mauer
Published: February 24, 2026
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Fiction
Format: Hardcover purchase

This was also a Book of the Month choice. This is a coming-of-age story with young love and it’s set on a sheep farm. I had to get it.

In the farm country outside Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan—a border town where life moves slow and dreams run fast—most kids want out. Not Everett Lindt. He’s set on staying put, rebuilding his family’s sheep farm, and carving a future from the land he loves.

Then he meets Mary, a new girl in town with restless energy and bigger plans. When their relationship reaches a crossroads, Everett sees a life together; Mary, however, is desperate to find a way out. Together, they make an impulsive choice—one that will change everything.

Tense, lyrical, and deeply felt, Sara Maurer’s unforgettable debut breathtakingly captures the ache of first love, the beauty and brutality of rural life, and how one decision can echo through generations and shape who we become.

DISH & TELL
By: Sarah Peterson
Published: February 17, 2026
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press
Non-Fiction?Cookbook
Format: Paperback purchase

I found out about this cookbook on Instagram and couldn’t resist it. I love the vintage look and that Sarah is sharing family recipes that she loved from her childhood.

Every family has certain recipes they treasure, the beloved foods that show up at potlucks, holidays, or other special occasions. Often these dishes are tied to a childhood memory or remind us of a loved one whose signature dish has brought joy to the table through the years.

Author Sarah Peterson points to Grandma Hilma’s Swedish almond rusks, Aunt Ede’s meatballs, or her mom’s chocolate chip shortbread cookies as cherished recipes she turns to over and over again when she cooks for family and friends. 

Dish and Tell: Recipes from the Heart highlights celebrated dishes from Peterson’s recipe box—and collects stories from other passionate home cooks who opened their kitchens to share their own tried-and-true recipes. Peterson takes readers along as she visits, cooks, and bakes with friends old and new to present a smorgasbord of family favorites. She serves up stories about the people behind the dishes and offers special tips and tricks from the keepers of these recipes. 

From straightforward comfort food like church egg dish or meatloaf muffins to special-occasion dazzlers like sandwich loaf or potica, this collection invites readers to embrace the opportunity to “dish and tell”—and discover why these vintage recipes deserve a spot at the table.

Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction

WHERE ARE YOU, BABY?
By: Elena Selena
Published: February 24, 2026
Publisher: Twirl Books
Fiction
Format: Interactive Boardbook for Review

I reviewed this one, HERE.

“Where are you, little one?” each animal parent asks, as they play a hide-and-seek game with their baby. Lift the flaps to reveal just where baby rabbit, baby lion, baby bird—and many others!—have been hiding.
• Includes flaps of varying shapes and sizes
• Colorful and charming illustrations engage young children
• Encourages parent-child bonding

TODAY IS THE DAY
By: Chelsea Lin Wallace
Illustrated by: Adam Rex
Published: July 26, 2026
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Fiction
Format: Hardcover Picture Book for Review

I’m already a fan of Adam Rex and Chelsea Lin Wallace’s books. Her books have made my favorites list the past couple of years! Kids love Adam Rex’s books as well.

A lot will happen today: 22 million people will celebrate birthdays, 55 earthquakes will shake the earth, and 275 million stars will be born.

Yes, quite a lot will happen today. But what will happen to the Day?

Chelsea Lin Wallace and Adam Rex explore the things that could happen on any given day through the perspective of the Day itself. When the Day realizes it’s only one of many, it feels insignificant. But as it ticks on, it realizes that every day matters―in the moments, the milestones, and the memories that can make it last a lifetime.

ENOUGH ELIZABETHS
By: Heather Harris Bergevin
Illustrated by: Lexi Hall
Published: March 24, 2026
Publisher: Lucky Rabbit Publishing
Fiction
Format: Hardcover Picture Book for Review

A fun new princess story from a new-to-me publisher.

A princess with an embarrassing secret.
The dragon who may have eaten her.
Can the kingdom save Elizabeth from a princess-napping, or will the dragon be napping instead?

Does it count as princess-napping if the dragon is just trying to take a nap? Elizabeth is a princess in a tower… who is scared of heights. It’s a tradition in her kingdom, and an honor, to have a tower bedroom, so what’s a princess to do? When a dragon moves into her suspiciously clean room, monarchs and palace officials run up and fall down trying to deal with the moody intruder. Will they be able to negotiate with the dragon to hand her over? With a flurry of characters helping out, including the determined prime minister and a reluctant knight, surely this problem can be solved! But will the princess be able to keep her secret?

THE VISIT
By: Núria Figueras
Illustrated by: Anna Font
Translated by: Lawrence Schimel
Published: April 14, 2026
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Fiction
Format: Hardcover Picture Book for Review

I was often home alone as a child, so I’m anxious to read this story and perspective on the experience. Lawrence Schimel also translated JOURNEY OF THE HUMPBACKS, which I shared, HERE.

When her mother leaves the den, Little Fox expects to spend the next few hours by herself. But then she hears a knock at the door―she has a visitor.  

At first, Little Fox is scared: Silence is so big and strange. Then they share a snack, and Silence helps her hear her heartbeat, even her own thoughts. Maybe time spent with Silence isn’t so bad after all. Maybe Silence can be her friend.

This allegorical story from Spanish author Núria Figueras was inspired by the first time she stayed home alone as a child―and by her experiences working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young readers will welcome the book as a gentle exploration of solitude and independence.

MONARCH AND MOURNING CLOAK
A Butterfly Journal
By: Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by: Sarah S. Brannen
Published: March 3, 2026
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Non-Fiction
Format: Hardcover Picture Book for Review

I love butterflies and watching them appear on my flowers in the summer. I’ll be sharing about this one more in June. Melissa also wrote ICK! Delightfully Disgusting Animals Dinners, Dwellings, and Defenses, which I reviewed, HERE.

Monarch and mourning cloak butterflies may seem similar on the surface; they are about the same size and common throughout North America. But following along at a butterfly’s-eye-view, readers will discover how they live in different habitats, eat different foods, and have different strategies for avoiding enemies and making it through winter. Because even though all butterflies have the same basic body features and life cycle, each species has its own special way of surviving.

Delightful and illuminating poems, informational sidebars, and lush illustrations will immerse curious young readers in the lives of these two fascinating butterfly species.

DRESSING UP THE STARS
The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head
By: Jeanne Walker Harvey
Illustrated by: Diana Toledano
Published: September 20, 2022
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Non-Fiction/Biography
Format: Hardcover Picture Book Win

I won a copy of this book through the author’s X.com post. I already reviewed this book back in November 2022, HERE. I will be sharing this copy with our local library since I gave the previous copy to our local elementary school library.

As a child in the small mining town of Searchlight, Nevada, Edith Head had few friends and spent most of her time dressing up her toys and pets and even wild animals using fabric scraps. She always knew she wanted to move somewhere full of people and excitement. She set her sights on Hollywood and talked her way into a job sketching costumes for a movie studio.

Did she know how to draw or sew costumes? No. But that didn’t stop her!

Edith taught herself and tirelessly worked her way up until she was dressing some of the biggest stars of the day, from Audrey Hepburn to Grace Kelly to Ginger Rogers. She became the first woman to head a major Hollywood movie studio costume department and went on to win eight Academy Awards for best costume design—and she defined the style of an era.

JUST IN CASE
Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
By: Megan Clendenan
Illustrated by: Brittany Cicchese
Published: October 14, 2025
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Non-Fiction
Format: Hardcover Picture Book for Review

I’ve already reviewed this one, HERE.

On the Arctic island of Spitsbergen in Norway, polar bears roam and there are no gardens, forests, or fields. But buried deep underground, the Svalbard Seed Bank protects more than 580 million seeds with plenty of room for more.

How and why was the vault built? What’s it like inside? How does the vault protect the seeds? Learn about the rescue of the greatest treasure on earth–seeds for our food.

An inside look into the storage and history of one of our most important natural resources and how this collection can save our future.

WHO HID THE STARS?
How Light Pollution Changes Our World
By: Macie J Michno and Danio Miserocchi
Illustrated by: Valentina Gottardi
Translated by: Sylvia Notini
Published: March 24, 2026
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Non-Fiction
Format: Hardcover Picture Book for Review

Light pollution doesn’t just keep us from seeing the stars at night. It affects bird migration, turtle nesting, and our own circadian rhythm. A good topic to discuss with your kids.

When streetlights outshine the stars, what does that mean for plants, animals, and us? This absorbing nonfiction picture book investigates artificial light and its unexpected impact on our planet. Who Hid the Stars? explores fascinating topics including:

How artificial light developed throughout history—from fire to LEDs
How city lights interrupt bird migration patterns
How streetlights gather insects—and their predators
How turtles struggle to hatch without darkness
How plant growth changes in artificial light
How humans can fight light pollution and stop it from harming nature!

With lush ink, acrylic, and digital illustrations and scientifically sound, yet approachable text, Who Hid the Stars? is a memorable way to explore conservation and biodiversity. This book will ignite children’s curiosity and inspire them to take care of Earth—starting by turning out the lights.

Translated from Italian by Batchelder Award winner Sylvia Notini, Who Hid the Stars? includes a glossary of terms, a further reading list, and a link to the authors’ bibliography. The browsable book is ideal for STEAM units along with Earth Day and World Wildlife Day celebrations.

Part of Eerdmans’ Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series. The book’s original edition was shortlisted for Italy’s Premio Piccolo Galileo (Little Galileo Award).

Which books are you adding to your reading list?

Click HERE to see all the posts featuring new books on my shelves.

So many books, so little time!