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The Best Children’s Books of 2023

Would it be strange to create an annual best-of list with 100 books? Does that feel overwhelming? Picture books are usually 40 pages and take just 5-10 minutes to read. That’s only about 16 hours of delightful page-turning—less than a day.

Honestly, 100 picture book recommendations feel modest compared to the countless children’s books published annually! Even so, a list this extensive would be overwhelming and a bit of a killjoy. That said, this list is just the tip of the iceberg.

May you find these gems (in no particular order) as enjoyable as I did.

Click to see our Best Of Book Lists from other years!


For Little Kids

In Every Life by Marla Frazee

Open to a scene featuring several miniature stories within a single spread: babies being born, growing into toddlers, and toddlers becoming kids.

Adults appear throughout, with each vignette capturing the joys and sorrows of life—from observing nature to scraping an elbow, losing a beloved pet, or flying a kit.

This is one of those rare, perfect books that could be gifted to a new mother or an old friend mourning the loss of their mother.
In Every Life: (Caldecott Honor)


What If One Day… by Bruce Handy

Each page begins with a question. What if one day all the birds flew away? This is followed by listing all the supposed benefits of the event. For instance, mornings would be quieter, and worms could relax. But thankfully, there are birds!

What if one day there were no more people? Art, music, and stories would vanish. Happily though, there are people!

A dreamy sort of book that reflects the light of the natural world and the humans who share it.
What If One Day...


Where’s Joon? by Julie Kim

When a broken soup pot handle is found on the ground, Jin and Halmoni (Grandma) wonder where Joon could be. Meanwhile, Joon has been transported back to the land of Tokki (the talking rabbit) to fix Halmoni’s broken pot. When the lake spits a scroll for Joon, he realizes he must rescue the fish from Jo-harabuji’s house to fix his mistake.

This celebration of Korean folktales and family is beautifully paired by dreamy illustrations, making this follow-up to Where’s Halmoni? well worth the wait.
Where's Joon?


Henry, Like Always by Jenn Bailey

On Monday, Mrs. Tanaka announces that the class will have a parade on Friday. Henry doesn’t like that a parade alters the schedule, when Share Time is supposed to happen.

On Tuesday, the class makes posters to invite the school to the parade, but Henry isn’t on board. As the week goes on, Henry can’t eat at lunch or swing at recess. At Share Time on Thursday, Henry goes to the nurse’s office.

It isn’t until Friday that Henry finds a solution and a way to participate in the class parade. A thoughtful tale for and about sensitive children and those who may be on the autism spectrum.
Henry, Like Always: Book 1


Big by Vashti Harrison

A baby girl eats all her food, learns her letters and manners, and is complimented with growing praise for being “such a big girl.” But as she continues to grow, rather than being good, her size is seen as being bad and something she must control and conceal.

When she gets stuck in a baby swing, the adults scold her while her peers hurl hurtful words. When she finally lets out her anger and sadness, she scoops up the words that reflect her creative and capable soul and holds a fistful of unkind words out to those who hurt her.

A powerful book to spark conversations about fat bias and accepting others, no matter their size.
Big (Caldecott Medal Winner & Coretta Scott King Honor Title)


Dim Sum Palace by X. Fang

Cherubic-faced Liddy is too excited to sleep, knowing she’ll experience her first trip to the Dim Sum Palace tomorrow. Will there be a real Empress to greet her?

Pajama-clad, she trundles out of her room into a magnificent space where two chefs are hard at work crafting baos, dumplings, egg tarts, and other edible delicacies. When Liddy accidentally slips into a bowl of dumpling filling, the chefs fail to notice and wrap her into an entrée presented to the Empress herself.
This mouthwatering dreamscape tale reminds seasoned readers of Maurice Sendak’s The Night Kitchen, while giving a new generation the pleasure of a delightfully re-readable story.
Dim Sum Palace


Very Good Hats by Emma Straub

“Do you know what a hat is?” Is it something you can buy in a haberdashery? How about raspberries and acorns fitting snugly atop your fingers? Even books can be hats. Crowns are hats, and so are after-shower twisty towel hats.

Many jobs—firefighter, chef, astronaut—have their specific hats. If you think about it, almost anything can be a hat.

With whimsical illustrations and nearly an encyclopedia of different hats, this is a fun book for any home.
Very Good Hats


Maribel’s Year by Michelle Sterling

A new year and a new country, a young Filipino girl attempts to make sense of this new season of life. She puzzles over strange English spellings and eagerly awaits packages from Papa, who is 8,000 miles away.

Spring brings bike rides, and summer offers trips to the beach. Every moment reminds the girl of her far-away father. With August comes fireflies, and in September the girl recalls helping Papa build star-shaped parols to hang for the holidays. November tastes of ube pie and hot salabat tea.

Finally, in December, after one long year, the family is reunited—together in a place that finally feels like home.
Maribel’s Year


Ramen for Everyone by Patricia Tanumihardja

Hiro loves ramen—the tangy broth, the egg on top, the chashu pork. Determined to make the perfect bowl, he watches his dad closely, taking detailed notes. From slicing, shredding, steeping, and stewing, Hiro knows he must get the seasonings just right—making ramen is a family tradition.

After his seventh birthday, Hiro decides to tackle his goal! But the broth is bland, the noodles are soggy, and the entire dinner is a disaster. After a pep-talk from Dad, Hiro switches tactics and tries a new assortment of toppings, knowing he still has time to master the other elements of ramen making.

A delicious tale about perseverance over perfection.
Ramen for Everyone


Cape by Kevin Johnson

A young boy faces the loss of his father (though their relationship is never explicitly stated). While the adults share stories at the funeral home, the boy slinks into the comfort of his red cape, unwilling to process his emotions.

As he moves through space and time, his understanding of loss evolves, and he feels hopeful about the memories of his loved one.

This universal story for any child who has experienced loss and healing is a standout book of 2023.
Cape


Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling

An intrepid boy dips his toe into the swimming pool with his mother there to hold him. From the deeper end, his dad and sister swim, cheering him on.

Clasping a pool noodle and gripping the edge, he begins to learn—first floating on his back, then sliding his head under the water.

Little by little, with each page turn, the boy gains confidence as he learns to swim. Told in simple verse and paired with bold illustrations, this book brims with Black joy and is a wonderful companion to Together We Ride.
Together We Swim


The Hospital Book by Lisa Brown

A young girl cries out in pain—her stomach hurts. At the hospital, she cries nine times. In the waiting room, she notices other kids. After the nurse takes her vitals, the doctor determines it’s appendicitis. Following an IV and an ultrasound, the girl is wheeled into surgery.

Surrounded by mask-clad hospital staff, she is given a mask with sleeping medicine. In recovery, she has a popsicle but feels lonely and out of place in her strange hospital room. Finally, the girl rides in a wheelchair and gets to go home.

This informative book is perfect for any kid with hospital jitters. (We also love The Airport Book by the same author and illustrator.)
The Hospital Book


Farah Loves Mangos by Sarthak Sinha

Farah loves mangos! She could swim in them. She could read them stories all day (before eating them, of course). The mangos from Grandpa’s tree are always abundant and the best—until this summer, when there are none.

Determined to help, Farah sings to the tree to encourage growth. She amends the soil with manure, but still nothing. Grandpa builds her a swing, and Farah discovers abundant wildlife living in the mango tree, a delightful gift she hadn’t noticed before.
Farah Loves Mangos


For Tweens

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

Acclaimed author and illustrator Dan Santat takes us back to his youth in this coming-of-age graphic novel autobiography. He recounts a summer in Paris, where he got lost wandering the city’s streets until the wee hours of the morning and found his first girlfriend (and first kiss) among his classmates.

Complete with comedic moments and heartfelt young love, this novel is ideal for readers ages 10 and up. (Note: brief mention of alcohol and nude French women is made on one page.)
A First Time for Everything


Leeva At Last by Sara Pennypacker

Leeva’s despicable parents (think Matilda’s parents meet The Willoughbys) forbid her from leaving the house. Her mother is obsessed with fame, while her father only cares about getting rich. Meanwhile, Leeva is a lonely child whose only interaction with the outside world is through the daily newspaper.

That is until everything changes and she escapes to the library next door on a quest to answer her burning question: What are people for? There Leeva meets two engaging librarians (one who bakes and sends Leeva off on a daily errand for special ingredients) and one risk-averse neighborhood boy.

Through these connections, Leeva’s world expands and she discovers a community right outside her door. A fantastic family read-aloud!
Leeva at Last


Top Story by Kelly Yang

The fifth book in the acclaimed Front Desk series takes Mia Tang to Chinatown, San Francisco. With her two best friends by her side, Mia spends the month interning at a prestigious local newspaper, but she struggles to get her pitches accepted.

Meanwhile, her growing affection for Jason—her former arch-enemy—causes turmoil when he seems interested in another girl. With her signature tenacity, Mia takes to the streets to learn the stories of Chinatown residents, and starts her own paper.

Based on the real-life experience of the author, this book—like the others in the series—tackles racism and prejudice with a deft hand and leaves readers cheering for Mia’s courage and hoping for at least one more book!
Top Story (Front Desk #5)


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