I’m a children’s librarian, so while I don’t post about many kids’ books on this blog, I read A TON of them. That’s why my TBR goal for the year is so high – most of the books I read are tiny!
Since I read so many children’s books this year, I wanted to share the ones that I thought were perfectly amazing. These picture books, early and young readers, and chapter books all come highly recommended from yours truly!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on and/or purchase from some links, I make a portion of the sale. This helps keep Bitch Bookshelf running.
Picture Books
This category includes books aimed for our youngest readers to enjoy alone or with someone older to read with them. A few of these might also crossover well into the “early and young reader” section, but in the format and tone I read them, I found them to be described best as picture books.
Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together by Andrea Tsurumi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love this story about sea creatures coming together to clean their home. The quirky crab who brings them all together through their awesome baking skills takes the cake. 😉
Buy Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together here!
May We Have Enough to Share by Richard Van Camp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful photography from Tea & Bannock, and the words are also lovely. This is a heartwarming, mindful board book. I love that it features indigenous families, too.
Buy May We Have Enough to Share here!
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a classic story with beautiful illustrations. Truly never gets old.
Buy Where the Wild Things Are here!
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a colorful book that is PERFECT for baby lap sit – great for discussion. The colors will engage baby and the illustrations provide a lot to talk about!
Buy Good Night, Gorilla here!
Edible Colors by Jennifer Vogel Bass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book straight up made my vegetarian mouth water.
Buy Edible Colors here!
I Say, You Say Animal Sounds! by Tad Carpenter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute read for the little ones with adorable, big-eyed illustrations. Kids will enjoy making the animal noises!
Buy I Say, You Say Animal Sounds! here!
Poop by Poppy Champignon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is funny with whimsical illustrations. Fabulous for beginning readers!!
Buy Poop here!
Poop or Get Off the Potty! by Margaret McNamara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m not sure there is a potty training book that will be more “lesson-teaching” for kids and HILARIOUS for grown-ups. (The toddlers probably will be amused too.) This really describes all the woes of diapers, and then jumps into how toddlers use the potty and, tbh, the experience of pooping in a cute and funny way.
Buy Poop or Get Off the Potty! here!
Duck, Death and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Simple lovely illustrations, simple lovely story. I don’t think this one is meant for all children, but could be helpful for someone who just lost a loved one. Brought a tear to my eye.
Buy Duck, Death and the Tulip here!
Calm with the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
With Eric Carle’s signature illustrations, this book creates a fun way to help older children and adults calm anxiety, and little ones identify images and emotions.
Buy Calm with the Very Hungry Caterpillar here!
Pajama Time! by Sandra Boynton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Boynton books are classics for a reason, and this is one great bedtime book that can be fun to read to identify colors, patterns, shapes, and opposite at any time of day.
Buy Pajama Time! here!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Easily one of my favorites storybooks. Beautiful illustrations, fun concept, and a lot to talk about with the kids.
Buy The Very Hungry Caterpillar here!
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This silly book is about my favorite things: dragons and tacos. Kids will think it’s hilarious and as a grown up, I also think it’s funny.
Buy Dragons Love Tacos here!
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Honestly, this is one whacky and kind of creepy story, but I love the illustrations. It’s a cute take on the classic Old
Lady who swallowed a fly.
Buy Bark, George here!
The EARTH Book by Todd Parr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love everything Todd Parr writes! With his classic illustrations and humor, Parr provides ideas and a list of ways kids can work to conserve energy and otherwise make an effort to help the environment.
Buy The EARTH Book here!
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was in middle school when this book came out and remember enjoying it, even though it’s for a younger audience. The illustrations are great and the story is one kids won’t believe is real.
Buy The Man Who Walked Between the Towers here!
Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, I knew about this story but forgot. Fireboat tells the story of the John J. Harvey excellently, from its “birth” to how it helped on 9/11.
Buy Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey here!
How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute book for kids to read with their grandmothers. I am using it for a how-to unit.
Buy How to Babysit a Grandma here!
How to Read a Story: by Kate Messner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fun book with step by step instructions on how to read a story with a friend.
Buy How to Read a Story here!
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The artwork in this one is amazing and it’s a very interesting story.
Buy Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade here!
How a House Is Built by Gail Gibbons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great standard informational text with steps and labels.
Buy How a House Is Built here!
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love the artwork as well as the call to action at the end of this book.
Buy Her Right Foot here!
March On by Lucy Lang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A great, simple telling of the 1915 NYC Women’s March for suffrage, acknowledging recent Women’s Marches. This book acknowledges that the 19th Amendment did not mean all citizens were allowed to vote, and that more work had to be done for many years and still needs to be done today. The artwork is so unique.
Buy March On! here!
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As always, I love Carle’s illustrations. This is a sweet story about growth and friendship which includes many sea creatures as well as a glossary.
Buy A House for Hermit Crab here.
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This one is a little wild, with sea creatures exhibiting some bad behavior, but it’s also funny and there are so many points for discussion with a young reader.
Buy This Is Not My Hat here.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This text is very informative and would be great for a fall or winter storytime. Based on the cover, this is a fall book, but there are ideas for creating winter bird treats. I would love to share this during a November storytime when the foliage is really changing! And as always, Ehlert’s illustrations are gorgeous.
2020 update: This would also make an excellent spring storytime, but I likely will continue using it during fall.
Buy Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf here.
Death Is Stupid by Anastasia Higginbotham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book had my crying. The collage-work inside is beautiful as is the lesson about death and how we experience it. I really think this would make a good gift for a child (or any age, tbh) who had lost a loved one, including a pet. There are spaces in the back to add your own pictures or words to celebrate a loved one (a page for animals and a page for people) you have lost.
Buy Death Is Stupid here.
Giving Thanks by Jake Swamp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a wonderful book about being thankful for all the gifts Mother Earth has given us. I love the opening line: To be a human being is an honor… It is based on the Thanksgiving Address and words spoken at Six Nations ceremonial and governmental gatherings.
Buy Giving Thanks here.
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is just a plain fun book and I think also encourages kids to try things and know they’ll get better as they continue learning. The illustrations are so fun and bright.
Buy Duck on a Bike here.
The Water Princess by Susan Verde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an excellent book. I loved reading Georgie’s story. The images and text make for an emotional experience, and the call to action at the end is fantastic.
Read The Water Princess here.
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A book about creativity and exploring unique options to create a masterpiece.
Buy Sky Color here.
Yaffa and Fatima, Shalom, Salaam by Fawzia Gilani-Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An absolutely gorgeous story about friendship.
Buy Yaffa and Fatima: Shalom, Salaam here.
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The story is sweet and funny – like with all Mo Willems book, kids will laugh. But the illustrations, combining city photography with Mo Willems’ typical fun cartoon art, really blow me away.
Buy Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale here.
City Shapes by Diana Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love the illustrations in this one. This is a great book about shapes in the context of a city, with a sweet ending.
Buy City Shapes here.
Please Take Me for a Walk by Susan Gal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m obsessed with this book about a dog who wants to go on a walk through an engaging, diverse, beautifully illustrated community.
Buy Please Take Me for a Walk here.
The Not-So Great Outdoors by Madeline Kloepper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book about a little girl’s experience camping with her family. Great representation and beautiful illustrations.
Buy The Not-So Great Outdoors here.
A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute, simple, and funny book about friendship and different personalities!
Buy A Splendid Friend, Indeed here.
A Friend Like You by Tanja Askani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Adorable photography, and I loved the backstories provided at the end.
Buy A Friend Like You here.
Baby Bear Counts One by Ashley Wolff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A counting book about what animals do to prepare for winter. I like this for a 1-on-1 read with a child.
Buy Baby Bear Counts One here.
Old Bear Board Book by Kevin Henkes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A cute book with lovely illustrations about dreams and hibernation.
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Buy Old Bear here.
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Bear series is a classic for a good reason, and this hibernation story is so fun with a great take on friendship.
Buy Bear Snores On here.
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a classic book using colorful illustrations of a chameleon to show that we must appreciate what makes us unique and also what makes us similar to others.
Buy A Color of His Own here.
Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an amazing book. The text alone is powerful and beautiful and would function as a poem without the illustrations, which add even more to it. I love the many characters in this book – our beautiful narrator and her family, including some lovely representation.
Buy Magnificent Homespun Brown here.
Brick by Brick by Heidi Woodward Sheffield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A boy admires his hard-working father, a brick layer. He goes to school and mimics a lot of what his dad does at work. His dad saves up to buy them a house. This one reminded me of my own dad. A really great – and bilingual! – story! The collage art is gorgeous too.
Buy Brick by Brick here.
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I knew this book was going to be about being thankful for what you have, but the end really got to me. A boy is jealous of the brand name sneakers his classmates wear, and buys a pair that don’t fit him at a thrift store when his grandma can’t afford to buy him a new pair. He gives up the pair to a friend who fits in them and needs new shoes. Finally, it’s a snowy day at recess, and he is thankful for the brand new snow boots his grandmother bought him.
Buy Those Shoes here.
Saturday by Oge Mora
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful collage artwork is used to tell the story of Saturday, the one day a week a mother and daughter have together. Everything goes wrong for these two but the daughter reminds the mother that Saturdays are wonderful because it is the day they spend together.
Buy Saturday here.
All Because You Matter by Tami Charles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An absolutely wonderful book with gorgeous illustrations and powerful words meant to empower children, “especially those from marginalized backgrounds” – to remind them that they matter. Parents or anyone who loves a child will find this book meaningful too.
Buy All Because You Matter here.
Love Is by Diane Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is such a NICE book about a little girl raising a duckling and having to watch it grow up and leave – all of the moments that define love in a parenting relationship. Beautiful city illustrations, especially of the main characters.
Buy Love Is here.
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an amazing book – an empowering book, especially for Black boys. I love the illustrations and the powerful, poetic text.
Buy I Am Every Good Thing here.
You Matter by Christian Robinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An affirming book with the illustrations I have come to love from this author/illustrator!
Buy You Matter here.
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ehlert’s photographic collages are amazing as always, and this book has a ton of rich information on how snow forms, how animals prepare for snow, and different cultures’ winter clothing.
Buy Snowballs here.
Everything Naomi Loved by Katie Yamasaki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An emotional read about the effects of gentrification on a neighborhood through the eyes of Naomi, a child who grew up there.
Buy Everything Naomi Loved here.
You Must Bring a Hat by Simon Philip
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is 100% my (childish side’s) sense of humor. I can’t wait to read it for a hat-themed storytime. It’s a silly book about a kid who gets invited to a party, but the rules for attending become more and more complex and outlandish.
Buy You Must Bring a Hat here.
Early & Young Readers
This category includes those classic early readers you may be familiar with and shorter chapter books. I’m also including some longer picture and prose books that I feel fit best in this category.
A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In classic Elephant & Piggie fashion, this is a great early reader that kids and adults alike can enjoy. It’s funny with a good message about sharing, playing together, friendship, and perspective.
Buy A Big Guy Took My Ball! here!
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a powerful book with fun wordplay. I’m almost thirty and I think this is the first time I actually read it! It’s moving with a message that is sadly more relevant in 2020 than when Seuss wrote it in 1971.
Buy The Lorax here!
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I know some people don’t love this book because the boy takes advantage of the tree, but I think that’s part of the message. Be kind and loving, but know sometimes people will take advantage of that. I think it’s a lovely story with themes of friendship, parenthood, selfishness, and love.
Buy The Giving Tree here!
It’s free on Kindle.
Cheetah by Wendy A. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book has a good message that young readers will enjoy. There’s a lot to talk about, and the main character, Mia, is fun.
Buy Cheetah here!
Mystery of the Missing Luck by Jacqueline Pearce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fun read with memorable characters. I really enjoyed it.
Buy Mystery of the Missing Luck here!
Casey Little, Yo Yo Queen by Nancy Belgue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was definitely an entertaining read with rich characters and a fun storyline! A lot to talk about. Kids will enjoy.
Buy Casey Little, Yo Yo Queen here!
Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a lovely, fun read! I adored the characters, especially Jax and Ma. This book shows Jax’s adventures with Ma as he learns that magic is real, and journeys to return a group of dragons to the magical realm. I loved that this book shows children (and adults) of color engaging in a magical realm. So often books about magic for kids focus on white children. I also liked the tactful handling of some real world issues, specifically home insecurity, set against the backdrop of this fantastical tale!
Buy Dragons in a Bag here.
And don’t forget to read my full review.
Sloths by Lisa M. Herrington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved the photographs, facts, jokes, puns, and ultimately the call to action to help protect sloths! This is a great book with sloth facts for a young reader interested in the animal.
Buy Sloths here.
Animals on the Farm Turkeys by Kari Schuetz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A good early reader book about turkeys on a farm with vocabulary, a glossary, labels, and beautiful photography.
Buy Turkeys (Animals on the Farm) here.
Off I Go!: An Acorn Book by Kelly Greenawalt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I think this is a great early reader and I love that Princess Truly’s hair is magical!
Buy Off I Go here.
Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Never met an Elephant and Piggie I didn’t love.
Buy Should I Share My Ice Cream? here.
Middle Grade Books
Finally, my favorite category – “big kid” chapter books! “Middle grade” is a sort of ambiguous term that refers to the grades before and kind of including middle school. These readers aren’t on young adult books yet, but have graduated past young readers. I’m including a young adult book in this category that I think middle school kids could benefit from, because I think a solid middle grade collection has books with content appropriate for children ages eight to 14.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So here’s the deal: I’m going to be honest from now on. When people ask me my favorite book, I won’t name this adult novel or that classic. Yes, I love those too. But since I was nine, Ella Enchanted has been my favorite.
This is a middle grade read, and even as an adult it has it all: beautiful prose, a badass heroine, a feminist plot, whimsical magic, memorable secondary characters, amazing world-building, and a sumptuous romance. Char is my ideal man to this day, about twenty years since my first of many reads. And Ella is still one of the most relatable heroines.
While this is a book for kids in late elementary/middle school, the language is stunning. I learned so many words on my first read in 1999: desolate, corrosive, chicanery… The author introduces these SAT words so seamlessly.
If you like middle grade, fantasy, fractured fairytales, and/or romance, you need to read this book.
Favorite quotes:
Why did he think it was fine to talk about me as though I were portrait instead of a maiden?
If I thought of a joke, I wanted to try it on him. If I had a serious idea, I wanted his opinion.
I trust you to find the good in me, but the bad I must be sure you don’t overlook.
I hadn’t loved him as long, perhaps, but now I loved him equally well, or better. I loved his laugh, his handwriting, his steady gaze, his honorableness, his freckles, his appreciation of my jokes, his hands, his determination that I should know the worst of him. And, most of all, shameful though it might be, I loved his love for me.
Buy Ella Enchanted here!
And don’t miss my full review.
Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOU by Rachel Brian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this! As an adult, it took me about 15 minutes to read. It really hits all the major points of consent in a way that kids will understand. And it’s funny, too!
Buy Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOU here!
And don’t miss my full review.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A lovely read for children and adults alike. My favorite poems were:
lullaby
bible times
the reader
the beginning
how to listen #2
as a child, i smelled the air
how to listen #3
herzl street
on paper
how to listen #4
stevie and me
a writer
every wish, one dream
what i believe
Buy Brown Girl Dreaming here!
And don’t miss my full review.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Absolutely excellent – a powerful YA read that challenges the reader to embody anti-racism. One of the most important books I’ve read, and I will be recommending to the kids I work with.
Buy Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You here!
And don’t miss my full review.
The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an absolutely gorgeous, touching, powerful read. This book includes themes of coming of age, womanhood, gender, and friendship. I adored and related to Celi, a girl going through puberty, experiencing her first real crush, and feeling torn between a lifelong friendship and being accepted by the boy she likes. This book honors Xicana culture, and the author’s afterword encourages readers to honor their own heritage and self through exploring moon rituals.
Buy The Moon Within here.
And don’t forget to read my full review.
The Invasion by K.A. Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a fun, fast-paced adaptation of the original Animorphs! I really enjoyed it and found myself ready to dive into Book 2. This was a quick read for me – it took me about an hour. My thanks to the authors, publishers, and Edelweiss for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Buy The Invasion here.
And don’t forget to read my full review.
The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I whipped through this book of poems, telling the story of Betita and her family, in one sitting. Betita and her mom are sent to a detention camp after her father is deported to Mexico. This is a powerful read, and I liked it even more than the author’s first novel, The Moon Within.
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