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The Best Children’s Books of 2024

After numerous years of writing best-of-book lists for the year, my recurring realization is this: it never gets easier! When I write these lists, I think about the reader who might not stumble upon these lists at the library, on social media, or in the aisles of a local store. My goal is to share something unique.

This list includes a few books my kids find hilarious, some intriguing nonfiction books, two cookie books, and two translated gems that are a bit quirky yet wonderful. That’s just the tip of the iceberg—don’t get me started on holiday titles, graphic novels, or middle-grade books. Still, I hope you’ll find yourself lost inside the pages of these delightful books soon.

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


The Endfixer by Noemi Vola

“When I was little, I wanted to be an endfixer, which is someone who fixes the ends of stories.”

Sometimes, stories end at the very best part in a way that is too catastrophic, baffling, or mushy. But what if you could train a worm, have a bubblegum-blowing contest, or even try something dangerous? There are hundreds of ways for a story to end, but just as things get going, a mouse director yells STOP!

This unconventional translated title is wonderfully detailed and incredibly satisfying to read aloud.

Endfixer


The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please

Rene dreams of creating fine cuisine and saves up to build her dream. When she advertises for a waiter, the only applicant is Glumfoot, a little forest creature. Day after day, they wait, but no customers arrive.

One morning, Glumfoot leaves the cafe and returns with an Ogre—an ogre with an appetite for bats and mice and slugs. Horrified, Rene refuses to serve such revolting food to her patron. But with some clever nudging fro Glumfoot and a little rearranging of dishes, the Ogre is tricked and pleasantly surprised by his meal.

Told in rhyme and with a hearty dose of the icky details kids love, this picture book debut is a treat from cover to cover.

The Café at the Edge of the Woods


The Art Book for Children by Ferren Gipson

How can you resist a vibrant, jacket-less reference guide about art? This book showcases nearly 60 artists ranging from Louise Bourgeois (famous for her enormous spider sculptures) to Yin Xiuzhen (known for soft textile creations, like a pop-up town inside a suitcase). 

With engaging questions and prompts, this revised and expanded edition is a welcome addition to any home library.

The Art Book for Children


What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson

Two sisters rummage in the kitchen, berries and splatters make a meal for sharing. Cardboard boxes and a funky funnel make an outdoor band. Fabric scraps and markers make a masterpiece for any wall. Beads that break and platters that shatter can mean making amends.

Every mess tells a story and reflects a household full of life. 

With ebullient images, this debut picture book excites us for future stories by this talented author-illustrator.

What Can a Mess Make?


Charles and Ray Designers at Play by James Yang

Charles was an architect, and Ray was a painter who loved colors and shapes. Together, this husband-and-wife duo asked questions and solved problems in innovative ways. Charles even built a machine to bend plywood, allowing them to create custom splints that molded to the shape of a soldier’s leg.

Through trial and error, they eventually designed a molded chair that became one of the most iconic pieces of the 20th century.

Similarly, their blocks, tables, hang-it-all coat racks, and other timeless furniture pieces remain a testament to the creative work of these designers. This playful and informative book encourages kids to persevere in their own creative endeavors.

Charles & Ray: Designers at Play: A Story of Charles and Ray Eames


Roar for Reading by Beth Ferry

No one knows the history of libraries and lions, but they have always been intertwined.

Julius, a young cub, watches as his mother removes several books from the library because of a letter the head librarian received. Even a visit to the mayor doesn’t stop the censorship.

Confused and upset, Julius feels a rumble in his belly and lets out a mighty ROAR!—sparking a revolution. Book lovers and librarians unite, marching and fighting against book bans.

This timely story is a powerful way to teach kids about accessibility, activism, and the harm caused by censorship.

Roar for Reading


The Cat Way by Sara Lundberg

The narrator and their cat go for a walk. They follow their usual route and do the usual things until another cat disrupts them. Soon, the cat is sprawled on its back, soaking up belly rubs from strangers.

“Come on, let’s go!” the narrator urges, but the cat stays behind as the narrator walks away. In a beautiful sequence of wordless pages, we watch the seasons change. Eventually, the narrator returns home to find the cat curled up on the armchair as if it had never left.

In part two, the cat gets to decide where they’ll go and what they’ll do on their next adventure. Fancy felines or gorgeous illustrations? This Swedish import is perfect for you.

The Cat Way


The children are baking cookies with Grandpa but waiting for them to bake is impossible. So, they hop into their cardboard time machine, hoping to arrive at the exact moment when the cookies are ready.  

Unfortunately, they return late at night after all the cookies have already been eaten. Back in the time machine, they return to daylight, but things look different. Soon, they spot younger versions of themselves and another scene when they enjoy alfresco cookies with Grandpa!

This heartwarming tale is a sweet reminder of family moments and, of course, pairs perfectly with a plate of warm cookies.

Cookie Time


Worm’s Lost & Found by Jule Wellerdiek

Worm’s little shop for lost objects is the best in town. Meticulously organized and sorted, all the animals come whenever they’ve lost something.

One morning, Worm is dismayed to discover he’s lost his cap. He calls his pal Seal, a regular customer of the Lost and Found shop, for help. When Seal’s three-step plan fails, the two sit down to a hearty breakfast, and suddenly Worm finds what he was looking for.

As a bonus, the final endpapers feature 30 hidden items for kids to find, encouraging a second reading of this charming tale.

Worm's Lost & Found


A Pinecone! by Helen Yoon

A young girl is out walking with her dad and dog when she spots a pinecone—then another, and another—until she finds a whole tree full of them. She gathers as many as she can carry and rushes home, only to grab a wagon and return for even more—enough for a Pinecone Family reunion!

Back at home, her dad notices little critters skirting around a doorframe and discovers the mountain of pinecones hidden in her room.

My kids get a kick out of this book, and we have followed the instructions at the end to safely prepare a bundle of pinecones for indoor fun!

A Pinecone!


Bookie lives on the left-hand side of the book, and Cookie lives on the right. When they are together, they are on the right side of the book. Except today, they’re on separate pages, and a fight seethes between them.

Bookie wishes Cookie would visit his page, but Cookie isn’t eager to try new things. Can the two mend their quarrel and share a story over a plate of warm cookies?

With bright, modern illustrations, this fresh take on friendship is perfect for early elementary kids.

Bookie & Cookie


I Know How to Draw an Owl by Hilary Horder Hippely

In art class, Ms. Rio explains how to draw an owl. She holds up Belle’s owl as an example, with eyes that almost look alive.

After school, Belle gets off the bus with the other kids, but instead of running into a house or apartment, she climbs into a blue war with her mom. They drive to a wooded area, where they wash dishes and sleep for the night. Each night, an owl hoots its lullaby, and one special night, the owl rests on a branch nearby, its eyes wide enough to almost touch.

This beautifully crafted book offers an empathic look at the lives of unhoused children.

I Know How to Draw an Owl


We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang

One night, a loud crash wakes Mr. Li from his sleep. When he checks outside, he finds three mysterious creatures who claim to be human. Being a kind human, Mr. Li offers them a place to stay for the night.

At breakfast, the trio explains they’re from…Europe. Later, at the hardware store, they gather supplies to repair their damaged vehicle. Soon, the whole neighborhood, filled with equally kind humans, rallies to help the strangers on their way.

From the creator of Dim Sum Palace, your kids are guaranteed to love this one!

We Are Definitely Human


When you find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray

It’s hard to ignore a big rock—it calls you to climb it. Small ones, like shiny jewels underwater or beneath the ground, are great to stick in your pocket. Other rocks are just right for sitting or stargazing. You can count them, stack them, or build with them.

Rocks might seem boring, but the special ones always stand out—the ones that surprise you. Keep a collection of them. Hold them in your hand and feel the whole world at your fingertips.

This book brings a fresh take on the timeless importance of childhood and rocks.

When You Find the Right Rock


Stella & Marigold by Annie Barrows

Stella and Marigold are three years apart. When Marigold is born, Stelle promises to tell her all her secrets.

The sisters live in the bottom half of a house, which is lucky because they can be outside in six steps. Plus, they have a magic bathroom where things come to life at night. From zoo trips to sick days to creating elaborate setups, these sisters have a language all their own.

An early chapter book rarely gets included on a list like this, but this dynamic duo is one you don’t want to miss.

Stella & Marigold (Stella and Marigold)


This Table by Alex Killian

Light slants across the kitchen table, and a family sits down to a meager meal. Mother sorts bills into piles: those they can pay and those they can’t. Before long, the family packs up and moves, leaving the table behind because it won’t fit. 

The table ends up in a meadow, where its new owners feel lucky to have found such a treasure. They scrub out the rough spots and share meals and stories at the same table that served many generations of families.

With stunning illustrations, this slow-paced story is one to savor.

This Table


Spider In the Well by Jess Hannigan

A young newsboy delivered the town their daily news. He also swept chimneys, shined shoes, and delivered milk—a fair arrangement according to the townspeople.

But one day, he announces shocking news: the town’s wishing well is broken. The baker, shopkeeper, and doctor are in despair. Determined to get to the bottom of it, the boy heads to the well and discovers the culprit—a spider. The spider shares some interesting news, which the boy cleverly uses to his advantage.

With bold graphics, this cautionary tale is perfect for kids of all ages.

Spider in the Well


A Face is a Poem by Julie Morstad

“Have you ever stopped and looked, really looked…at a face?”

Faces are everywhere—hidden in clouds, nestled in flowers, and all around us in our homes and streets. Every face is unique, from eye color to a smattering of freckles. But what if the parts of a face were rearranged, or we could trade faces to see the world through someone else’s eyes? A face is a window to our emotions, a reflection of who we are. It can be so many things.

This tale from acclaimed author and illustrator Julie Morstad is a true masterpiece.

A Face Is a Poem


Mr. Fox’s Game of No! by David LaRochelle

Mr. Fox has a game—a simple one. Any question he asks, you must respond with a resounding “No!” Think you’re ready? Oops, did you say “Yes”? It’s time to start the book over!

Would you like a taste of a delectable ice cream sundae? How about a fabulous beach party in Hawaii, where you could win a million billion dollars? Want to come?

With each increasingly silly question, kids can’t help but giggle at the absurdity of Mr. Fox’s clever game. A hit with early elementary schoolers (and even my 10-year-old loved it)!

Mr. Fox's Game of No!


Pepper and Me by Beatrice Alemagna

A child falls on the cobblestone and scrapes a knee. Blood trickles down, and tears follow. Soon, a scab appears, and the child names it Pepper. Kids get scabs in all sorts of places, but Pepper, who will not leave, is the worst.

Eventually, Pepper falls off in a field of poppies, leaving behind smooth, shiny skin. A masterful storyteller, we have never met a Beatrice Alemagna book we didn’t enjoy.

Pepper and Me

BONUS: In case you missed them, two of our other favorite 2024 releases—Leo’s First Vote and Show Up and Votewere previously featured on this list.


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