It’s been a heck of a year, and with family medical issues, I’ve been remiss in getting out reviews for the many wonderful picture books I’ve received from publishers. So just before the new year, here are some that I think are important for different reasons. Some are just really funny, some have wonderful messages, and others will make kids (and adults) think.

I’m always up for reading books about dogs and “Joan in the Cone” by Billy Sharff and capably illustrated by Hala Tahboub is one that everyone — with a dog, or who wants a dog, or who has had a dog at some point — will enjoy. The rhyming text is perfect and the illustrations are right on point. The white background, and the one page with a black background, really demonstrate the emotions involved in the text. This would be a great choice for sharing with kids and asking them if they’ve felt like Joan, albeit without the cone. Have they felt different, laughed at, lonely? Have they done things they regret? Joan fixes some of the problems she caused her family, so maybe children can think about things they regret and if there is a way to make everything right. It’s whimsical, sweet, and very thought provoking. A must-have for school and classroom libraries. (Dial Books for Young Readers)

“The Ship in the Window” by Travis Jonker and Matthew Cordell is a lovely picture book that demonstrates how important illustrations can be in telling a story. Even before the title page, we see a small house on a peaceful night, smoke rising from the chimney. There are illustrations of a man working on a model ship while a boy watches. Then the text begins, and we learn that Mabel is a mouse who lives with the man and the boy on a little lake. They all are mesmerized by the incredible model ship the man has made. It’s so special that the boy is not even allowed to touch it. Mabel wonders what it would be like to sail in that ship. What happens when the door is accidentally left open and Mabel takes that ship for a sail? All the relationships in the house change, and life will never be the same for the three. And Cordell’s illustrations showcase his trademark crosshatching, wherein even the starry night is darkened by using exquisite pen lines to create the night sky. The ink creates the scenes, and the colors are soft and muted. It all works together beautifully. Kids will love listening to and seeing this story unfold. (Viking)

And for a fun fantasy-read, “I Wish I Had a Dragon with Marshmallows” by Diane Alber is sure to entertain readers young and old. It’s the sweet story of a boy playing in his yard when he sees an adorable lizard that looks like a miniature dragon. He is hungry and craving toasted marshmallows, but he has no marshmallows and no way to toast them. He thinks of the lizard and wishes that the lizard could be a dragon with marshmallows he could toast. What happens when his dream comes true? Well, this is a fabulous story and the conversation about whether the dragon is real or not will be wild. Think “Crenshaw” for younger readers. (Cartwheel Books/ Scholastic)

“Echo” by Adam Rex is another picture book that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. It’s about a boy who lives on the side of a mountain. Junior has grown up thinking there is another boy across the mountain who agrees with everything Junior says. When Junior says, “Junior Junior is the smartest?” the echo repeats those wonderful words back to him. Junior loves his echo. But when a girl moves in next door, she doesn’t repeat things back to Junior. In fact, shockingly, she doesn’t agree with Junior about many things. He decides to run away to be with Echo. What he learns is that always hearing what you want to hear instead of what you might need to hear isn’t necessarily a good thing. The best friend could just be a one who tells you the truth. Adam Rex never disappoints! (Dial Books for Young Readers)

Kids love the “Crayon” books by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers. Their new picture book, “The Day the Crayons Made Friends,” is just as funny, just as imaginative, just as clever as the previous books, “The Day the Crayons Quit” and “The Day the Crayons Came Home.” Here the crayons have gone on adventures right in Duncan’s room. Red Crayon is able to fulfill his dream to drive a fire truck. Blue Crayon used to be short, but met up with a doll missing her head so now he’s the top half of a fashion model. White Crayon is no longer invisible (much of the time), but very powerful as the queen piece that was missing from Duncan’s chess set. My personal favorite is Peach Crayon who found the game of Clue and has a mystery created just for him. “Mr. Carcass” was “clobbered while in the potty.” He signs his letter “Baron Naked von Nuddington.” Yes, it’s all madcap and hysterical fun, and the kids will love it. I did. What on earth will these crayons get up to next?? (Philomel)

And a book that really is an important read for all kids is “Maybe Just Ask Me!” by Katie Mazeika. It’s based on Mazeika’s real life, and it’s about a girl who starts at a new school. Mazie wears a patch over one eye and a scarf, and when the wind blows the scarf off her head, the other kids see she has no hair. Instead of asking her about those things, the kids make up bizarre and fantastic stories about her missing eye and lack of hair. It’s driving Mazie nuts, but she’s too timid and quiet to get them to listen to her. Finally, she’s had enough and she tells them all to stop making up stories, and to just ask her about their questions! At the end, there’s a page labelled “The Story Behind Mazie.” In it, the author explains, “When we pretend not to see people with disabilities, me make them feel invisible. And it’s not okay to ignore somebody else because that person has a disability. Curiosity, with kindness, should always be allowed.” Often, well-meaning parents or other adults might quiet children who would otherwise ask questions because they think it is rude. Worse, Mazeika tells us, are the whispers and people who look the other way instead of engaging. This is a fabulous picture book to teach respect, kindness, compassion, and how to deal with differences. (Beach Lane Books/ Simon and Schuster)

Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover books provided by the publishers for review purposes.