2023 must reads are here. I will add to this post as the rest of the year releases more books to our eager hands, but these are the top children’s books so far. Every year I read hundreds of books. I love children’s books and we are living in a time of amazing books for kids. Every year so many new, wonderful, creative, inspiring, heartwarming titles are released. This is my list of just my absolute favorites published in 2023. I will never read them all, I will never love them all, so this is just one book reader’s opinion – but to me, these are the best of 2023. The ones worthy of your bookshelf. The ones to share during storytimes or recommend to readers. The ones you should search for at the library or encourage your librarian to order. Some made me laugh out loud. Some made me cry. Some made me think. I have been very picky with my list this year. They are, to me, the best of the year 2023.
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Best 2022 Children’s Books
Note: This is a post that will grow throughout the year as I read more new releases.
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Best Board Books
I Already Love You
by Willa Perlman
illustrated by Sally Walker
An adorable, warm, gentle book for little ones. Each page begins with “I already love” and has a few lines about a different part of the little babe. The illustrations are full of diverse faces and every day baby moments. I can see reading this again and again to a baby.
Big Kids No Everything
by Wednesday Kirwan
This is hilarious. It is about all the nos that little ones say every day. It is full of big emotions that every toddler and their parent will recognize. It is funny and empowering. A must read board book for toddlers and their caregivers.
Best Picture Books
Silver Linings
by Fiona Woodcock
I absolutely adore this sweet, hopeful picture book. It is about friendship and about finding the bright side of things. It’s a “quiet” book but in the best kind of way that leaves you feeling cozy and happy. I love the optimism it offers children for their everyday and value it places on friendship. The gentle illustrations are darling. The text is perfectly chosen and sparse. It’s a 2023 must read.
Harold the Iceberg Melts Down
by Lisa Wyzlic
illustrated by Rebecca Syracuse
This one wins for one of the best premises I’ve read in a long time. Harold is an iceberg lettuce who worries. When he watches a documentary about icebergs melting he panics thinking he too is melting. This is a funny picture book but also weaves in lessons about handling worrying and ways to be a supportive friend and information about icebergs. I think it’s genius.
The Fastest Tortoise in Town
by Howard Calvert
illustrated by Karen Obuhanych
This book is adorable! From the tiny tortoise (named Barbara Hendricks which already had me chuckling) to the workouts leading up to her race to the hysterical line up of competitors there are endlessly amusing details throughout the well crafted story. The illustrations are gentle yet vibrant and perfectly punch up the hilarity. Barbara Hendrick’s story however is really one of bravery, of believing in yourself and of trying your hardest, even when it seems unlikely you’ll succeed. A warm and lighthearted delight from cover to cover.
Beneath
by Cori Doerrfeld
Picture book perfection. Well paced. Multilayered. Illustrations help to deepen and expand and explain the text. It has relationships and feelings and science. This is a beautiful must read.
In Between
by April Pulley Sayre with Jeff Sayre
I am in love with this book. It is pure poetry, but reads like a picture book. It is a wonderful begging to be read aloud picture book. Photographs of animals of all kinds are paired with lovely text about the in betweens in life. How awkward and disconcerting they are, but also how incredibly universe. It is beautiful.
If the Rivers Run Free
by Andrea Debbink
illustrated by Nicole Wong
I absolutely love this book about the rivers around our world. The rhyming text reads like a pleasant, flowing poem. The illustrations are gentle and lovely. It is the message though. In some ways this could be categorized as nonfiction. It shares the history of rivers and how humans have changed, harmed, and in some ways restored the natural rivers that flow around the world. It’s a message of caution about our natural world but an optimistic look at how humans can change previous mistakes. The brief text that lends itself to being read aloud is a beautiful book to share, but it’s also an excellent starting point for so many discussions or classroom units.
Once Upon a Book
by Grace Lin & Kate Messner
Follow one little reader into the pages of a book to begin a grand adventure. I love the fantastical journey Grace Lin and Kate Messner have created in this picture book. It celebrates the imagination of children and the way a stack of books can open up the world to a reader. The lyrical text is full of emotions and clues that lead you from one page to the next. The illustrations brilliantly increase the fantasy elements of the book as you follow a little girl from page to page and book to book. A fantastic collaboration.
This is the Planet Where I Live
by K. L. Going and Debra Frasier
This gorgeous new release is all about how interconnected everything is on our planet. It is written in a cumulative style that I think works great for reading aloud. As the text is repeated kids have fun reading along with the parts they remember. The illustrations are bright, colorful collages. Together they work great as a read aloud for storytime but also offer so many possibilities for art, poetry, and science extensions.
Very Good Hats
by Emma Straub
illustrated by Blanca Gomez
There are kinds of hats for all different purposes. This book is full of childlike whimsy and imagination. I love the inventive playfulness this encourages. A fun book for storytime.
The Tree and the River
by Aaron Becker
A gorgeous new wordless book from the Caldecott Honor Recipient. This beautiful story bares witness to time passing as a quiet, beautiful spot becomes a village that turns into a city and grows. The small scale, time lapse concept allows even young children to see how human advancements slowly change and notice how that in turn effects the natural world. It’s a thought provoking, conversation starting commentary.
I’m Going to Build a Snowman
by Jashar Awan
This has somewhat THE SNOWY DAY vibes but Jashar Awan leans into the humor in a way that is quietly hilarious. The little boy in this story wakes up to fresh snow and is determined to make the perfect snowman. He knows exactly what that looks like and has a plan. The reality is of course a little different. Darling. Heartwarming. A delight.
Problem Solved
by Jan Thomas
This hilarious picture book is perfect for Storytime. A bunny has a problem and Porcupine Pete think he’s just the guy to solve it. Unfortunately Pete isn’t the most practical problem solver. Readers will laugh at Porcupine Pete’s antics and love correcting his silly ideas. The spare text is all dialogue which lends itself well to a fun read aloud. The illustrations are bright and bold. The problem is relatable to the preschool audience. An absolutely read aloud gem and one of my favorites of 2023.
10 Dogs
by Emily Gravett
Math has never been this playful or puppy filled. This book is both simple and genius. It is a super simple concept. On each page are ten dogs and ten sausages. A few lines of text and humorous illustrations pair them differently each time offering opportunities for counting, adding, and learning ways to create 10. It is a must have for an early elementary classroom but also works as a cute read aloud for toddlers and preschoolers. Genius.
Best Non-Fiction Picture Books
Around Antarctica: Exploring The Frozen South by Tania Medvedeva and Maria Vyshinskaya
This book is fascinating and so thorough. It’s circular shape is stuffed with information about all facets of Antarctica. Well written and illustrated with bright, colorful art. Fantastic nonfiction.
Shall We Dance?
by Robin Page
I love a book that works in multiple ways. This book works for a broad age range because you can read just the two large words on each page to younger kids or a read aloud audience, or you can learn more by reading the smaller paragraph about each animal and their unique dance. A wide variety of diverse animals are described and beautifully illustrated. This is a fun, interesting book that’s perfect for all animal fans.
A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars
by Mike Barfield and Jess Bradley
Laid out like a graphic novel, stuffed with information about outerspace, and longer in length – this is a great nonfiction middle grade book for outer space enthusiasts or to compliment a unit on the solar system. The writing and illustrations make the information, detailed though it is, feel more accessible.
Best Early Readers & Early Chapter Books
Elena Rides
by Juana Medina
This is an easy, easy reader. A very new reader book. The words are very limited and repetitive. Despite the limited words, Juana Medina tells a darling story about an enthusiastic elephant learning to ride a bike. It’s full of relatable themes and a message about persevering.
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Owl and Penguin: Best Day Ever
by Vikram Madan
The graphic novel style of this easy reader helps to limit the word count – perfect for new readers. It tells a series of short stories about two friends. They’re simple stories that navigate differences of opinion and personality. They are equal parts funny and sweet.
Best Graphic Novels
HOOPS
by Matt Tavares
This new graphic novel is inspiring and full of heart. This is historical fiction inspired by a real girl’s basketball team in the 1970s. Wilkins, Indiana is basketball obsessed, but somehow also completely oblivious that there is a girl’s basketball team. The first all girls basketball team has to fight for uniforms, transportation, gym time and more but they endure. Their journey, grit and teamwork make your heart swell.
DUEL
by Jessixa Bagley and Aaron Bagley
En garde! DUEL is a sibling story set in middle school. An eighth grader and sixth graders confront a new school year and a new family life without their dad in this heartfilled, emotional dense, completely relatable graphic novel. Their shared interest in fencing from their dad adds a fun layer to their sibling dynamic. Bagley uses her own love of the sport to build fencing both into the structure and the story.
Ink Girls
by Marilee Nijkamp and Sylvia Bi
An action packed graphic novel about three girls who come together to stand up for the freedom of the press. The setting has a fairytale feel but the themes are timeless. There are layers of girl power, newspapers, friendship and more but at the end of the day this is a fast paced read about speaking up for what’s right, even to people in power.
Best Middle Grade Books
The Wild Robot Protects
by Peter Brown
So good. This is possibly as good as the first in the series. Compelling problem. Great characters. Fast moving plot. And Roz, of course. The most endearing robot protagonist around. Our beloved robot heads off into the big blue ocean to save his island from a mysterious substance polluting the water and endangering ecosystems everywhere it goes.
The Fire, The Water and Maudie McGinn
by Sally J. Pla
I loved the many layers of Maudie McGinn and her story. Her family life is complicated by divorce and remarriage and forest fires. Her daily life is complicated by learning to navigate life with autism. Her summer is complicated by a relocation and a secret she’s hiding. But really, amidst all the complications, this is a story like any other. It is a story of a girl trying to figure out where she fits in the world and that is something to which we all relate. Maudie and the cast of characters around her feel real and (mostly) immensely likable. You will find yourself rooting for Maudie in this devour-able summer read. I’d recommend this for 10 and up.
