What great children’s books have you read recently? This fall, at the library and our neighborhood bookstore, the boys and I have come across some great new stories. Here are a few from 2018 that have stolen our hearts…
What would you add? What stories captivate the children in your life?
P.S. 18 books with female characters, and children’s books that foster acceptance.
(Photo of Sandra Ajanaku by Lena Corwin.)
Thank you for the recommendations. I work in a bookstore and have not come across the book Dreamers. I am definitely adding this to my grandbabies’ collection
Thanks for posting about **books**! Each year I pick a kid’s book that I send to all the special kids in my life at Christmas. Some of the greats are Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, the Inventor books (Ada Twist, Rosie Revere, Iggy Peck) by Andrea Beatty, The Illustrated Compendium of Animal Facts by Maja Säfström, I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony, and the hat series (I want my hat back; We found a hat; This is not my hat) by Jon Klassen. Please continue to share great books!
When my now almost 12 year old was younger we loved reading Suki’s Kimono. A beautiful book that teaches children about self acceptance and appreciation for diversity, heritage and family. Plus the watercolour illustrations are wonderful.
I got We Don’t Eat Our Classmates from the library and it is the #1 pick of my 2.5 year old right now. He thinks the BBQ sauce part is especially silly. Thanks so much for sharing!
The Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope Osborne. My 5-year-old is obsessed. We borrow them from the library and have read nearly all of them. x
So many great suggestions! One of our longtime household favorites (daughters, 2 and 4) is Mr. Tiger Goes Wild. It’s adorably illustrated, a fun cadence to read, and a great message about individuality and confidence in yourself.
You should check out the book “The Remember Balloons”. I cried for the first time reading the kids book.
Yes! I just got this book and it is so beautiful and such a lovely simple way to explain memory loss. Hopeful, sad and lovely.
Just got it on your recommendation. Beautiful, sad. Thank you.
Good old Frog and Toad are favorite in my preschool class. Also anything by Kevin Henkes, especially Chrysanthemum.
For the coming season, The Night Tree by Eve Bunting is so quietly wondrous.
And the most fun we’ve all had lately was Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravette. The grown up points to the picture and the children can say the word, the only words in the book are the words in title. So fun for pre readers, with lovely illustrations and rhymes and just a cute story line. It’s a delight.
Thanks for linking to an independent bookstore! I personally don’t mind the Amazon links, but it’s nice to see links to Powell’s as well
A friend gifted my four year old “Julian is a Mermaid” when our new baby was born this summer. It’s SO beautiful.
A current favorite board book in our home is “Dream Big, Little One.” Yesterday my son said, “This is a good read for a day like today.” I melted.
Very nice books ?
I am in love with the new book, Quiet, by Tomie dePaola. It is absolutely beautiful.
Yes! My 4 year old often chooses this book and it feels surprisingly emotional to read. All the quiet moments in a kid’s life, for all sorts of happy or sad or confusing moments. I love reading it to her.
The book “The Bomb” has just come out in New Zealand, about a young maori boy who wants to perfect the art of leaping into water and “bombing” (making a big splash) and really captures what summer is like for kiwi kids. The story celebrates how important it is to trust yourself, and learn from others but making your own way in the world. It’s poetic and touching, with beautiful bright illustrations. https://www.huia.co.nz/huia-bookshop/bookshop/the-bomb/
My daughter is called Alma and she just turned 3, I always loved this name as it means soul in Spanish (my mother tongue) and young women in Hebrew (my husband’s language). Her second name is Estela because it was my mum’s name. My mum passed away less than a year before she was born. So my daughter’s name in Spanish means: Estela’s soul…I always thought that this might be a little heavy to bear or explain. But thanks to you I might have found a book that could help me explain all that beautiful luggage she owns.
I can’t wait to get my hands on Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave by Jessica Hische. I loved reading Parachute by Danny Parker to my kids and the illustrations are fantastic. And Aaron Becker’s Wordless Trilogy is stunning – the three books are called Journey, Quest and Return. I love children’s books so much and am always at the public library picking out the ones with illustrations I love to show my kids!
We were able to meet Cori Doerrfeld (author of The Rabbit Listened) at a local book event this summer and we love her new book Good Dog, highly recommend!!!!
Check out Made by Maxine, it’s my new go-to book for gifts! It’s about a creative girl who likes to make things (and what girl doesn’t?) but the best part is that sometimes her inventions don’t work, but she keeps trying until she succeeds. It’s funny and clever, but also sets a great example about not giving up. The author, Ruth Spiro, also has a series of books that introduces STEM to very young children…in a fun way. Check out Baby Loves Quarks, Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering…super unique. You can find them on Amazon or go to Ruthspiro.com for more info.
I have to get my hands on The Wall in the Middle of the Book! Other Jon Agee books that we love are It’s Only Stanley and The Incredible Paintings of Felix Clousseau. Currently into Duck for Turkey Day, Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey and Shelter.
I have added several of these to my list of Christmas ideas for my daughter, thanks for the recommendations! The Rabbit Listened sounds perfect for her because she is 3 and at an age of very big emotions, and her best friend in the whole world is her stuffed bunny.
For people looking for other recommendations–we recently had a book out of the library called Applesauce Season by Eden Ross Lipson (a longtime children’s book editor at the NY Times, now deceased) that my daughter LOVES. We’ve been reading it nonstop (also making applesauce nonstop!)
We just got Eva Chen’s Juno Valentine today. My 3 yo daughter loves it!
Jabari Jumps! (the pictures are so lovely!!)
and
Goldfish on Vacation (so great for NYC kids!)
Love this list.
I would add:
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton – it’s the best!
AND
The Storm Whale
The Storm Whale in Winter
Beautiful stories with even more beautiful illustrations.
Love this list.
I would add:
The Storm Whale
The Storm Whale in Winter
Beautiful stories with even more beautiful illustrations.
We have an almost 1-year old, and this year has been such a transition for our family. I became pregnant right after we moved from New York to Seattle, and we just moved back to New York last week to be closer to my parents and build our “village” up. It has been quite a year! In Seattle, my baby and I went to our local library almost every day for a fresh stack of children’s books and to attend story time. Over time, it was such a relief to start to recognize familiar faces in other caregivers and get to know others who were home during the day. Back in New York, I’m looking forward to doing the same thing: building community and meeting people through my (and what I hope will be one of my son’s) favorite hobby: reading.
Our favorite children’s books so far are: “Du Iz Tak?” by Carson Ellis, “City Moon” by Rachel Cole and Blanca Gomez, and “They All Saw A Cat” by Brendan Wenzel. “City Moon,” especially is one I’ve given to three sets of new parents who are ex-Brooklynites. It’s a sweet story and has a fun tradition I hope to share with my little boy one day.
One of my favorite books as a child was Mousekin’s Golden House by Edna Miller. It’s a sweet story about a little mouse making a home out of a discarded jack-o-lantern. The illustrations are absolutely lovely!
Another family favorite among my siblings, and now all of my cousins, is Possum Come a-Knockin’ , by Nancy Van Laan. It’s about a possum wearing a top hat who keeps knocking on the door of a family’s house, but everytime the little boy tries to tell the family that it’s a possum, the lil guy hides. It’s SO silly and so much fun to read aloud. I am honestly getting teary-eyed thinking about my mom reading this to me and my brother as kids- we LOVED it.
I have a friend who is a pediatric oncologist at St Judes Hospital. There’s an attending there who read “Rabbit Listened” at a conference on pediatric hospice care. I’ve always felt that book is just as much for adults as it is for kids, but thinking of it in terms of helping to provide better palliative care to a sick kid makes the book even more special
Emily, I SO agree! We just got this book a couple of weeks ago and I fell in love with it. It is now my go-to gift for new parents. As the parent of a 5 and 7 year old, I now realize the philosophy in that book is all you need to get through the toddler/preschool years. And probably the teens!!
One of our all time favorites is the Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc. It ALWAYS makes me cry.
Adrian Simcox does Not Have a Horse was excellent- a girl is convinced a boy is lying about owning a horse, and when she goes to catch him out on his lie she realizes that she is correct in one sense but quite wrong in another. I think fans of Last Stop on Market St. will enjoy it.
I loved the Jon Agee book but I love most of his! Life on Mars was great as was It’s Only Stanley. His books are fully of dramatic irony. If you like Jon Klassen, you’ll probably enjoy Agee’s books.
Also good is Sleepy, the Goodnight Bunny, by Drew Daywalt (author of The Day the Crayons Quit). It made me laugh out loud but I haven’t tried it on my kids yet. It has a very Piggy and Gerald vibe to it. :)
Looking forward to reading a few others on the list (Alma, Treehouse) and those mentioned in comments like All the Ways to Be Smart and Cycle City. Thanks everyone!
This book forever and always:
The jolly postman by Allan and Janet Ahlberg.
It’s magical, beautifully drawn and just perfect in so many ways.
I’ve had it since I was a little kid. I still love it.
Yes!
We love The book of Moomin, Mymble, and Little My from Tove Janssen’s Moomintroll series. So fun to read and the illustrations/layout are beautiful.
We don’t eat our Classmates is also a favorite with my two and four year olds.
For Christmas I’m eyeing the dreamers and The Visitor by Antje Damm.
Moomins are the best! :)
Prince and Knight, where a handsome prince finds his knight in shining armor. It’s a lovely book about acceptance, I just bought it for my best friend who is expecting twins.
https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Knight-Daniel-Haack/dp/1499805527
We just checked out ‘Fangsgiving’ from the library. It is a laugh out loud funny one for my 5 year old boy. In the same library haul- ‘Goldfish on Vacation’-also very good!
We love this one: https://buyolympia.com/Item/carson-ellis-du-iz-tak
Du Iz Tak? -Carson Ellis
Beautiful illustrations and how more you read it more you discover :)
Check out The Cow said Neigh by Rory Feek. Rory lost his wife Joey to cancer and is raising his special needs daughter on his farm. He has recently built a school on the property for her and other special needs children to attend. It is a sweet book and an even sweeter life. This website talks about the book, his life and has a clip of him reading the book aloud:
I’ve always loved One Morning in Maine and Blueberries for Sal. I think there’s some sort of nostalgia with those stories between Maine, my mother’s name is Sally, and losing your first tooth (which I also did in Maine).
They’re so beautifully illustrated – a true classic.
Anything written or illustrated by Jon Klassen has been our household jam! “I Want My Hat Back” continues to be one of the greatest books to read and his stories are so unique. My husband and I find ourselves often asking each other Klassen-esque questions or comments like “Does it look good on me?” “Yes that looks good on you.” If you’ve read his books you’d get it haha.
Hahaha my husband and I have the same exchange All. The. Time!!! Love Jon Klassen!
Yes!! My partner and I are expecting our first baby any minute and the first book we bought was I Found A Hat. Hopefully the kiddo will like it as much as we do :)
Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue is beautifully illustrated! The story is cute. too. :)
I love Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Really, anything that Christian Robinson illustrates is magical. Last Stop on Market Street makes me tear up.
A favorite in our house is Little Tree by Loren Long. So, so lovely. Long’s Otis series is also wonderful.
This may be morbid but after the recent shootings I re-visited an old favorite from when I was little – maybe around 4th or 5th grade. It’s called The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. It’s set after WWI or WWII? Anyway, it deals with bullying and prejudice about a little poor girl whose last name is different than everyone else’s (she’s Polish). It reads more like a chapter book – lots more words than pictures but the watercolor illustrations are magnificent and I always appreciated the message. It made me feel a little better about the world after reading.
I also love Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nolen. I remember buying this at a Scholastic Book Fair (was that the highlight of anyone else’s young life??!!) and buying because the colors were SO vibrant. It’s about a magic farm that grows balloons (!) and how a little girl finds out how the farmer (Harvey Potter) grows them ;) It’s also delightful when you read it out loud it almost forces you to speak in a Southern accent!
oh man i loved the hundred dresses
A plea to Cup of Jo – can you please do a post on the best gifts for kids of different ages? I have a lot of occasions for which I need to purchase gifts for kids (friends’ children’s birthday parties, holiday toy drives for needy families), and as a childless person I am always stumped. What is cool these days with the youths? What are the best books, games, toys, clothes, gear, etc. that will be a good addition to a kid’s life instead of more clutter, and will be age appropriate? Please help me be the cool auntie!
I was just thinking, I have no idea what is a great kid’s gift for a particular age. Agreed!
Yes! I’m always stumped when gift shopping for older kids :-)
Thank you for all of the wonderful recommendations! My Mother-in-Law was just asking us to compile a list of things we think our daughter wants for the holidays, and as we steer away from piles of toys, a list of books is a great way to still allow Grandma the joy of gift giving without giving me the anxiety of unappreciated excess.
Our two year old daughter LOVES and knows by heart all of the Little People Big Dreams series, highlighting life stories of important women in history. Both the board books and the ones geared towards older kids. They all emphasize that each of these women were different from other children and how they went their own path. History and meaningful lessons! And the best part is hearing a toddler chatter about Frida Kahlo and Coco Chanel!
https://www.waterstones.com/booklist/377114/little-people-big-dreams-series
Indeed this is a wonderful series and each of these titles is also available in the States and Canada (worldwide in fact)–wherever books are sold!!
Oh, I live for posts like this! Six kids plus a master’s degree in literature means our house is overflowing with beautiful picture books. I had so many people asking me for recommendations that I finally just made a list here: https://theirchronicles.blogspot.com/p/childrens-books.html?m=1
For older children (my boys and girl love it! Mature 10 yo+), we love Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu. It’s a fun graphic novel with a wide compilation of biographies about amazing women from all over the world and throughout history. All my kids have re-read it!! It’s our go-to gift right now. Heads up though-some of the stories are a little risqué. But that just adds to the high interest level for future Brazen Ladies ;).
Any of Shaun Tan’s books! I LOVE his artwork and the stories are always beautiful :) I got to see an exhibit of his recently that walked through the behind the scenes of his new book Cicada and his thought process is just amazing.
His book The Lost Thing is a must read as is watching the short film. I would say his books are for kids ages 5 and up but they are definitely worth reading.
All the ways to be smart by Davina Bell
It’s a lovely book that illustrates that book smarts isn’t the only type of smart and how important all other types of smart are!
We love Florette! I would add: Mouse Mess and The Storm Whale. ?
Ah I love this list, thanks so much! Going to check these out for my twins. :)
The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren, can be read at any age (also adults) and is a classic, so beautiful and authentic it’s like a dagger to the heart – in a good way! It’s about courage, about love and loss of loved ones and adventure and family reunion and all of life’s beauty and glory and also darkness. All of Astrid Lindgren’s books are treasures. She always sees the child’s perspective, never discounts their feelings and never shies away from the dark and difficult subjects of life. This sets her apart as a storyteller, this, and her respect, depth of feeling and loving empathy.
Yes!!! To all of her books!
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller is the sweetest story and makes me tear up each time I read it. It’s lesson feels extra important these days.
When the Moon Comes by Paul Harbridge (ill) Matt James – I’m giving copies of this book to everyone this Christmas. Nighttime skating in the woods and waiting for the perfect ice…I read it over and over just loving the images.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena. It gets me every time I read it. I love this video of the author reading aloud as actors portray the characters on the bus.
This list is great but why have you selected these books? What was the criteria? What makes them beautiful? What research inspires your selection of content for children? What personal parenting goals? Your readers are all highly intelligent, passionate and dedicated. Given them more than just endless lists with pretty pictures and links to shopping sites. The comments section has more thoughtful reflections and insights than your actual article
I teach ESL – are most of these approptiate for learners of English as a second language?
Yay for Alma and How She Got Her Name! It’s a favourite of ours. Another fav not on your list is Love Is by Diane Adams. It is so sweet- I actually bawled the first time I read it to my daughter. The illustrations are beautiful too!
Thanks for giving The Very Last Castle a shout-out, Joanna!
A great book for children is entitled, “Pots, Pots, Pots” by William Alexander. It is a Bible story told from a child’s perspective. Colorful with wonderful illustrations!
Ciara and Bark Bark Discover Numbers (Bark Bark Speaks Irish) is a very cute book about a girl & her dog. Ciara is learning how about numbers and Bark Bark tells her how to say the numbers in Irish.
A must have for parents introducing their children to the Irish language.
Can be found an Amazon (search by title).
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. It’s one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. Highly recommend. My students adore it.
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Good Rosie! By Kate DiCamillo
Also by DiCamillo, the Mercy Watson series (and spin offs) are great first chapter books!
The Mercy Watson series are our favorites! Kids and parents can enjoy them. I just love Mercy, Francine Poulet, and all the funny characters. Kate DiCamillo is fabulous.
After the fall by Dan santat!!!
It’s all about what happens to Humpty Dumpty after the fall. Thought provoking with gorgeous illustrations. :)
YES! That book gave me actual goosebumps. I gasped out loud at the end.
John Oliver wrote a book called Marlon Bundo (and yes it has political undercurrents). I don’t know if it qualifies as “beautiful” but its sweet and funny and the basic premise is that love is love. My four year old tells everyone that “boy bunnies can marry boy bunnies and girl bunnies can marry girl bunnies”. Such a sweet message for children to understand.
Cringing to see the Word Collector which appears to have been taken largely from a book called The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter. In my opinion hers is the lovelier by far. Check it out. https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-boy-who-loved-words-roni-schotter/1007394251?ean=9780375836015&st=PLA&sid=BNB_New+Core+Shopping+Books&sourceId=PLAGoNA&dpid=tdtve346c&2sid=Google_m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInYLgtta-3gIVw7jACh2pzwCiEAQYASABEgJGrPD_BwE
I just read “franny’s father is a feminist” it is so so cute!
Rise and shine by Ara Elizabeth, a mom that wrote and illustrated this beautiful book encouraging all of us to keep shining. It reads like a lullaby and feels like a prayer.
https://www.araelizabethart.com/rise-and-shine
Julián Is a Mermaid was my top children’s book in 2018! The most beautiful illustrations and story.
Some of the books my daughter has recently loved:
Island born (my favorite)
Julian is a mermaid (so beautiful)
Circus ship (about a wrecked circus ship off Maine)
Rock, paper, and scissors (hilarious)
Maahh me I lost my tooth! By Deanna Arndt. Amazon.com please read and give an review. Thank you!
YES. Charnaie’s blog and instagram are amazing resources!!
Ooh I have chapter book recommendations!
“Jasmine Toguchi” series by Debbie Michiko
http://debbimichikoflorence.com/jasmine-toguchi/
Kara LaReau has a couple series: The Bland Sisters and The Infamous Ratsos
Renee Lute’s Winicker series:
https://reneebeauregardlute.com/books/
Super Happy Party Bears series by Marcie Colleen
Derrick Barnes’ (who also wrote Crown) series: Ruby and The Book Boys! (illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton, who is a favorite of mine! Actually all these have great illustrations.)
Holy moly, can I fangirl for a second? My boys (ages 8 and 5) both LOVE Jabari Jumps! So awesome to see you in the comments section here!
“Sending a simple text makes me feel so seen.”
13 links, including a tiny English cottage and a perfume smell test.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE
203 COMMENTS