Sour Apple by Linda Liu

From the creator of the beloved Hidden Gem comes another irresistibly quirky and hilarious picture book about the universal experience of not getting picked and the pitfalls of self-doubt.

Have you ever been the last one picked? Well, this apple knows a thing or two about being an afterthought: He was the only one left on the tree during apple-picking season.

And when he has some time to ruminate on feeling left out, he does what we all naturally do: He spirals. Insecurity takes him on a funny (and gutting) survey of all the things he could have become if only someone had picked him.

But we never really know what the seeds of change may sprout. Our adorable apple might just learn a valuable lesson about patience when his season finally comes.