One of the great things about having small children in Maine is that you never know when you might bump into your family’s favorite author.

Maine has lots of children’s book authors and illustrators willing to make school visits, give talks at libraries or sign copies at bookstores. The state has long attracted creative and talented children’s authors, including Robert McCloskey, who wrote “Blueberries for Sal” (1948), and E.B. White, author of “Charlotte’s Web” (1952).

The current crop of Maine children’s authors is prolific, and many had new books out this past year. Because of Maine’s stunning coastline and natural beauty, there are always a few kids’ books each year set in Maine, too.

In time for the holidays, here’s a list of 12 children’s books that came out in 2025, either set in Maine or written by Maine authors and illustrators.

‘And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories’ by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Daniel Minter

This poetic picture book introduces young readers to the life and work of writer Toni Morrison, the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1993. The illustrations are by Minter, a Portland artist and illustrator and co-founder of Indigo Arts Alliance, dedicated to helping develop Black and Brown artists. He’s illustrated more than a dozen children’s books, including “Ellen’s Broom,” which won a Coretta Scott King Illustration Honor.

‘The Bionic Boy’ by Lynn Plourde

This middle grade book is the story of 11-year-old Benji, who was born with no hands and adopted by a Maine family, and who dreams of being a super hero. A war amputee who encourages Benji in the story was inspired by Travis Mills, an Army staff sergeant who lost portions of all his limbs in a bomb attack in Afghanistan and started a Maine-based foundation to help other veterans. Plourde, who lives in Winthrop, said the idea for the boy’s story came from a magazine article she read.

‘Broken’ by X. Fang

When Mei Mei accidentally breaks her grandmother’s favorite cup, she is convinced bad things will happen to her. But when the household cat, Mimi, gets blamed for it, Mei Mei’s guilt is too much to bear. Fang, who also goes by Susan and lives in the Midcoast, is also the author and illustrator of “We Are Definitely Human,” about mysterious visitors who crash land in a farmer’s field. She spent two days at Dr. Waldo T. Skillin School in South Portland in the spring, talking to students about that book.

‘Cranky Makes a Friend’ by Phuc Tran, illustrated by Pete Oswald

This is the second book in the Cranky series, written by Portland author and tattoo artist Phuc Tran. It’s about a construction crane who basically behaves like a child, dealing with the kinds of feelings and experiences kids go through. In this book, a new crane shows up on the construction site, which at first makes Cranky, well, more cranky. A third Cranky picture book is due out in 2026 and will be Christmas-themed. Oswald, the illustrator, also did art for the New York Times best-selling Food Group children’s series.

‘Dasher and the Polar Bear’ by Matt Tavares

This is the third Dasher picture book for Tavares, who lives in Ogunquit. The first book, “Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever,” was a New York Times best seller in 2019 and was followed by a sequel, “Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas.” In this one, the reindeer meets a polar bear while admiring the northern lights, and tries to help the bear fulfill his dream of being able to fly.

‘Dear Acorn (Love, Oak)’ by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

This book, written by Sidman, follows the conversations between various parts of the ecosystem, through poems in letter form and the art of Sweet, who lives in Portland. Some of the correspondence is between an oak tree and an acorn and an air bubble and the sky.

‘If I Built a Town’ by Chris Van Dusen

Van Dusen, a Camden author and illustrator, has come out with his fourth “If I Built” book, detailing the imaginative plans of a young boy to build a car, a house and a school. His town features a zoo full of mythical creatures, a weekly parade and robots. And maybe best of all in this economy, everything is free. Van Dusen is also known for picture books with Maine settings, including “The Circus Ship” and “Big Truck, Little Island.” Both are based on real events that happened on or near Vinalhaven.

‘Island Storm’  by Brian Floca, illustrated by Sydney Smith

New York-based author and illustrator Brian Floca was doing a residency at the Illustration Institute on Peaks Island a few years ago when a storm came rolling in and he felt “a kind of electric charge in the air.” He used that feeling and his Peaks storm experience for his new book, “Island Storm.” It’s about two kids who feel a a violent thunderstorm coming, and are drawn to the shore to watch and experience it.

‘Kittybunkport’ by Scott Rothman, illustrated by Zachariah OHora

Colby College alum Scott Rothman was on a family vacation a few years ago, celebrating his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary at a rented house in Kennebunkport. His 6-year-old son, noting the town’s name, told Rothman he should write a book called “Kittybunkport.” Rothman, who lives in Connecticut and writes screenplays and children’s books, took on the challenge. He wrote about two cats trying to save the Maine town’s lighthouse. The book was selected by NBC “Today” host Jenna Bush Hager, of the Kennebunkport Bushes, for her summer reading list.

‘Never Give a Baby a Library Card,’ words by Erin Sandberg, illustrated by Tom Booth

This book, from a husband-and-wife creative team who live in Portland, is about the power of books – specifically, the power that might be wielded by babies if they could learn to drive, to sew, to cut hair, all from books. Can we trust babies to do all that, the book asks?

‘Pine Cone Regrown’ by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Kevin and Kristen Howdeshell

The story of how one species of tree flourishes after a forest fire, following a pine cone that drops seeds into soil made rich by the fire. Boxer, a former newspaper reporter and Maine TV news anchor who lives in Scarborough, has written about a dozen children’s books.

 ‘The Wild Robot On The Island’ by Peter Brown

This is a picture book adaptation of Brown’s popular “The Wild Robot” novel, which spawned a DreamWorks animated movie in 2024. It’s about robot named Roz, who had been programmed to work with people and who is shipwrecked on a wooded island filled with all kinds of wildlife, but no people.

What is your favorite Maine children’s book, and why?