Best of 2023: Children's Books

Grades 6 - 7

This delightfully chilling horror book for tweens will capture readers' sense of adventure and dark humor. Eleven-year-old Zenith discovers an ominous looking bag at his front door and can’t resist opening it. This releases a spider-like creature that kidnaps his older sister, Apogee, and chaos ensues in the otherworldly realm of Grahbag. This is a terrifying story chock full of laughs, fantastic world building and creatures, and most importantly, a true sibling relationship of rivalry and love. 

Grades 5 - 7: If you asked Simon why his family moved to the internet-less National Quiet Zone, he would say it was because of rampaging alpacas. The truth is something he doesn't want to get out, and his lie could easily be undone with a simple Google search. But when his new friends ask him to fake an alien signal to keep the scientists' funding, Simon discovers revealing the truth about his traumatic past may be the best way to communicate.

Grades 3 - 6

A river is brought back to life, thanks to the efforts of the Strong People and many others, in this inspiring and beautifully illustrated book.

Grades Pre-K - 1

Nat the Cat needs a nap, and he’s going to get one, no matter what the narrator of the story does to stop him. Funny stuff for the earliest readers. 

Grades 4 - 7

Multi-award winning author/illustrator Jerry Pinkney (1939-2021) shares an illuminating and inspirational look at his youth in Philadelphia in the 1940s and 1950s, filled with impressive sketchbook drawings that show the early signs of his amazing talent

Grades Pre-K - 3

Nari lives in a small apartment in a crowded city (New York City) and dreams of hopping on a train to live in a nest in the forest, or with the mermaids under the ocean, or in a huge library guarded by lions. In the end, Nari realizes she is happiest with her family. Gorgeous illustrations will amply reward multiple visits.

Grades 4 -7

Get the inside (and outside and upside down) scoop on what it takes to walk in space, from someone who’s been there: a veteran of three space shuttle missions and the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk. Educational and entertaining.

Grades Pre-K - 3

Stuck inside the house on an icy afternoon, Alice gets lost in the pages of a very special book before coming home to a hot dinner in this luminous homage to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Where the Wild Things Are.

 Grades Pre-K - 2

Abuela and Corina consider what the flowers in Abuela’s garden mean to them as they create Corina’s birthday corona (crown). A lovely and loving look at a beautiful tradition. 

Grades Pre-K - 2

When a mighty wind blows, you never know where these dragons, all named Broccoli, will end up:  wearing sunglasses in Paris, or playing football for the Green Bay Packers or ? Lots of dragons, a little math, and all kinds of fun.

Grades Pre-K - 3

Did you know that snap peas help our bodies fight off germs and kiwis help our brains think clearly? Silly drawings and simple information make this a great book to give kids the information they need to make good dietary choices.

Grades Pre-K - 2

Little Thao’s birthday feelings run the gamut from happy to overwhelmed. Something that will be oh so familiar to children and grownups alike. 

Grade 1 - 4

Escaping from some unknown terror, Otilla stumbles across a not-so-empty mansion and a lonely skull with a problem. A great choice for newly confident readers with a taste for folklore and stories that are slightly scary. 

Grades Pre-K - K

Bold images on a black background invite little ones to experience and consider the sights and sounds of the outside world while building a rich vocabulary. This one will definitely reward multiple visits. 

Grades 4 - 7

You’ll meet more than 80 goddesses, fairies, and mortal heroines from all over the world, and many you’ve probably never heard of. Includes several stories as well, and handsome illustrations. A book to treasure for years to come.

Grades 4 - 7

Everything you ever wanted to know about brains in general, clearly presented with appealing graphics, simple experiments, and all kinds of entertaining factoids. Budding scientists will love this one. 

Grades 4 - 7

An inspiring look at people who took small steps to make the world a better place for everyone, because, as the author says, “Kindness is a superpower!”

 Grades 2 - 5

When Annie Moore is told she must decide between staying in her beloved home or starting a pig farm so she and her son can take care of themselves, she comes up with a third option. Told with folkloric flair and sly humor, this tale of engineering magic is fun and educational. 

Grades 3 - 6

Children from around the world share their favorite foods and food-related traditions in this charming book that may inspire a few culinary adventures.

Grades Pre-K - 2

Suddenly arriving for a visit all at once, one girl's many aunts take over her house. She loves her aunts, but they are interrupting her life! 

Grades K - 2

Aurora’s beloved dog Nena is very smart, but she only understands commands in Spanish! Luckily, Aurora is able to translate so that they can make friends in their new neighborhood. Also available in a Spanish edition.

Grades 4 - 6

Timid Audrey graduates from elementary school without ever breaking the rules set by her overprotective parents. That all changes when she spends a wild day of adventure with her Nana Rhea, a former movie star. 

Grades Pre-K - 2: This sweet tribute to Black Dads manages to be sentimental and slyly funny at the same time. Each page, in turn, reveals a different child/grown-up pair bonding over an activity (cooking, gardening, fixing a car). What each child has in common is their utter confidence that spending time with them is Daddy’s favorite thing to do.

Grades 1 - 3

When Ana finds out that her best friend is moving away, she expresses her feelings about their friendship through one of her favorite activities - making charts! Venn diagrams, flow charts and maps have never been cuter. 

Grades 2 - 4: Manolo is the first to sign up for the Spanish Spelling Bee because he is proud of his family’s language. His abuela helps him to study the word list and also shares some relevant stories from her childhood when she was punished for speaking Spanish at school. A meaningful picture book with heartwarming illustrations by John Parra.

Grades Pre-K - 1

A concept book that works on multiple levels. The text is made up of simple opposites (big/little, wet/dry, near/far), while the illustrations tell a friendship story of Big Cat and Little Kitty learning to get along. A great read-aloud option for a wide age range. 

Grades 4 - 7

An ancient sword must team up with a young knight-in-training, Nack Furnival, to defeat its former master, who has been brought back from the underworld as an evil zombie sorcerer. This middle grade fantasy packs in lots of action, worldbuilding, humor, and heart. 

Grades 1 - 4

This Korean import explains the phases of the Moon in a thorough but accessible way. The soft and dreamlike illustrations by Jang Ho depict a child and parent observing the Moon, adding a human element to the scientific information

Grades K - 3: In the latest installment of the ¡Vamos! picture book series, the Guadalupian Library is hosting its annual Libro Love Book Festival. Little Lobo and his friends meet authors, make zines, and find their favorite books during the celebration of reading and community.

Grades 4 - 6

In this sequel to The Do Over, twins Raquel and Lucinda are spending the summer on their dad’s ranch in central California, getting to know their soon-to-be stepmom and stepsister. When the location of the wedding ceremony is suddenly changed to Mexico, the girls are introduced to a new group of relatives, including Tía Enriqueta, who is not in favor of the match. Will the twins have to use their scheming skills this time around to save their new blended family? 

Grades 1 - 3

The fascinating story of the invention of one of the premier instruments of the modern age. Young Belgian, Adolphe Sax was prone to misfortune from an early age, but he was resilient, energetic, and curious. The saxophone was just one of many of Adolphe’s inventions, and it was not an immediate success. Fortunately for music lovers, it came to be accepted and respected. Includes brief information about some of the musicians known for furthering its popularity. Engaging illustrations by James E. Ransome accompany the text.

Grades 2 - 5

Lovely and informative haiku poems are expertly situated on beautiful gauche illustrations, providing both scientific and observational tidbits about trees and the lives that they enhance. A timeline puts the evolution of trees in context with the formation of the earth and other life forms. Explanatory back matter provides a report resource and is rounded out with an author’s note and glossary.

Grade 3 - 7: Beautiful collection of short stories that interconnect at an airport. An event at a TSA checkpoint sets off a domino series of events that pull in 12 young Asian Americans in a crowded airport. As the kids deal with families, racism, bullying, friendship and helping others we see that it only takes a moment for a tide to turn or a helping hand to be given.

Grade 3 - 7: Zippy is prepping for her bat mitzvah, but she has other things on her mind. Her best friend is acting weird and her magic is getting stronger. When Zippy uses magic, a girl appears who has the power to help out. A beautiful tale of friendship, love and finding your true self.

Grade 4 - 8

After her next birthday Calista knows she'll lose her ability to talk to people who have died. When she meets an angry spirit who wants revenge on her family and the town, Calista knows she must stop her. Full of heart and horror, this paranormal tale is perfect for those who love to be engulfed in a mystery that tingles.

Grades 3 - 7

An inspiring story about Aniana del Mar who is diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis and shows that when you have passion for something you should never give up. She loves to swim, but due to her condition her mother doesn't want her in the water. With the help of her father she secretly keeps swimming, but her body can only take so much. 

Grade 3 - 7

The best way to spend summer is at a camp with friends and family. Ryanna  doesn't know much about her mother who passed away. Her mother’s family invites her to the summer camp that they run. There she will discover many things including saving the camp that is to be closed by the end of the summer.