This was not our best year for reading picture books, on a purely numbers basis. Thanks to Luke starting sports which took up about 4 months of the year, all together, and Sam starting kindergarten which meant I was no longer reading just to him during the day...we read 345 fewer different books this year and it feels like we read many of our holiday favorite less times each than usual. This is just a result of my kids growing up but it does make me sad to see us reading fewer and fewer picture books each year (to be clear...we still read 1772 in 2023 so if we read 350 less each year...I still have some years to go).
However, that is still a lot of picture books we did read and my initial pull of books for this list was over 100. Sam particularly will pull books at the library (Luke mostly only picks books to read himself) that I will read to him but, especially if they are media books, they maybe aren't quite the quality as the ones I am curating for them. It does take some time to consistently have good books I want to read to my kids! Reading book lists, checking to see if the library has them in the system, requesting the holds or finding on the shelves, or purchase requesting if the library doesn't own them yet. BUT...the countless hours I have spent reading with the boys are priceless memories and I am already glad I've put the time into finding good books that keeps us all coming back.
These are 25 of our favorite books that were new to us in 2023. A few I know are older but somehow we missed until now. Most of the rest are new in 2023 or at least the last few years. I didn't pay attention to when a single one of these was published, just on what we liked in 2023! I also don't include seasonal/holiday books on these list or many biographies, although we read many in both those categories every year!
Here we go, in no particular order!
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Her Name was Mary Katharine: The Only Woman Whose Name is on the Declaration of Independence by Ella Schwartz, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
Did you know that there was a lady who had her name on the Declaration of Independence? Because I most certainly did not (they never taught that in history lessons). Mary Katherine Godcard was a newspaper publisher who boldly published and distributed the document after it was written, adding her name at the bottom for a printing credit. I like stories of ladies getting things done.
Summer is for Cousins by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Abhi Alwar
This isn't quite what our summers look like but we DO know the fun of summers and my kids definitely know the fun of cousins. Is there anything better than cousins in the summer?? Maybe not.
When You Can Swim by Jack Wong
This is one we happened to pickup when I had a kid in swim lessons for the first time so it came at just the right time. Learning to swim is always a good idea, for safety primarily but also for fun!
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, illustrated by Tammy Grimes
This definitely falls under "classics we missed until now". You all, there is a reason it's a classic. I mostly know it from the line "'Let the wild rumpus start', says Max" which is said in one of my very favorite movies, The Family Stone.
You Are a Story by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell
A reflection on the many different things we can be and do, ways to connect with others like us and understand the differences in them too. Beautiful celebration of life.
What to do With a Stick by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Paolo Domeniconi
What do you do with a stick? As a kid there are INFINITE possibilities and this book celebrates that. (My kids are partial to them being light sabers)
Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport by Caren Stelson, illustrated by Selina Alko
The heartbreaking and very true story of Czech kids who were sent out of the country, for their safety, during World War II. I nearly cried reading this, putting myself in those parents' shoes. So much bravery and courage required, all around.
Oh the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Hey, did you know this book was good? Somehow this classic missed us until this year.
Pluto!: Not a Planet? Not a Problem! by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Stevie Lewis
We love this space series by Stacy McAnulty, owning nearly all of them. I have a soft spot for Pluto as a planet, since I was taught as a kid that it WAS a planet and my kids are fascinated by it's de-planet-ization.
The Courage of the Little Hummingbird: A Tale Told Around the World by Leah Henderson, illustrated by Magaly Morales
A retold folk story about animals fleeing from a forest fire when the smallest, a hummingbird, starts scooping up all the water it can (a drop or two) and dropping it on the fire. The other animals mock it but the hummingbird is proud of it's effort. "I'm doing all I can." is stays. And that, is enough. That line stopped me in my tracks reading it.
Yours in Books by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo
This was very much reminded me of 84 Charring Cross Road, both epistolary stories, with letters going back and forth between a bookseller and a customer. This was so charming with Owl realizing that he can share his love of books with others in the forest.
The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Leo Espinosa
I was not a black girl growing up in Brooklyn in the 1970s but I still resonated with this story about childhood summers, even if I am white, growing up in Indiana in the 1980s. Just that innocence of childhood.
G is for Gross by Greg Paprocki
(Also U is for Universe, O is for Ocean, P is for Pirate). We have read nearly all of Greg Paprocki's alphabet books, his pictures are just SO FUN and with so many details. (I am the reason our library owns so many, I keep purchase requesting them.) My boys particularly liked this one about "gross" things. Puke, boogers, etc.
Jesus and the Miracle of the Mass by Gracie Jagla, illustrated by Randy Friemel
I love all of Gracie Jagla's book, truly inspiring Catholic picture books. This is sharing the miracle of the mass with kids, even if the target audience has mostly been going to Mass since before they can remember. An explanation always helps answer questions they may not have known they had!
Jesus in Space: a True Story That's Out of This World by Cecilia Cicone|
The true story of astronaut Tom Jones taking the Eucharist up to space on board the space shuttle. We read this after we had seen a real space shuttle so it extra resonated with us!
Pumpkin Day at the Zoo by Susan Meissner, illustrated by Pablo Pino
This is a bit seasonal but I suppose animals could eat pumpkins any time they could get one...I know our zoo gives at least some animals pumpkins to eat and play with but this shows many animals getting them, some we don't have at our zoo. These animals are all so excited about pumpkin day!
The Scariest Kitten in the World by Kate Messner, illustrated by MacKenzie Haley
I have a boy who really likes kitties and would desperately like one if only his mother wasn't so against nearly any kind of pet (we had fish). This kitty is trying to be super scary but it turns out...it's just cute.
The Worry Balloon by Monica Mancillas, illustrated by Betty C. Tang
This takes place on the first day of school but works for any time for any kids (or adults) who tend to worry. Isla learns some coping strategies for when she gets too worries which, honestly, were helpful for me too!
Upside Down by Katarina Macurova
I thought this one was very clever. A farmer teddy bear is planting flowers but one of them just seem different than the others. Meanwhile, under his field, a den of rabbits are most overjoyed to have a carrot growing into their home.
The Book of Blast Off!: 15 Real-Life Space Missions by Timothy Knapman, illustrated by Nik Henderson
Another space book that we read after Kennedy Space Center, even if you haven't seen rockets in person, fun and child friendly explanations of the space program and achievements so far.
Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Ruth Chan
Rick the Rock is a class pet but he LONGS to be a part of nature outside. Sitting on a shelf isn't that interesting. It would be much more fun to be a rock that explodes out of a volcano (personally, I'm happy NEVER exploding out a volcano). So Rick makes his way to the outdoors. It's not all he thought it would be. (No volcanos to be found, for starters.)
Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
Another classic that we missed until now! Roxaboxen is a magical play land for a group of neighborhood kids who use their imagination to create a whole new world. Such a beautiful testament to childhood and imagination.
What's the Rush? by Yiting Lee
Bunny and Turtle are great friends and are going to set off to climb a mountain. Bunny wants to go RIGHT NOW but Turtle takes his time, planning out and preparing for their trip. You all, I have read many books that celebrates seizing the moment BUT THIS ONE celebrates planning and packing. I felt so seen.
Mary and the Little Shepherds of Fatima by Marlyn Evangelina Monge, illustrated by Jamie Stuart Wolfe
The story of Mary appearing to the three children at Fatima in Portugal over 100 years ago. Some of my nieces went to Fatima this summer for World Youth Day so this was especially appropriate to read to the boys before that!
Pocket Full of Sads by Brad Davidson, illustrated by Rachel Mas Davidson
Rabbit is excited to go fishing with Bear but Bear can't help feeling like he's just weighed down by sadness, nothing seems to help. Very helpful for showing kids that it's normal to be sad sometimes and some little things that might fix it.
If you've read any favorite picture books in 2023, I'd love to hear about them!
{25} Favorite Picture Books of 2022
{25} Favorite Picture Books of 2021
{20} Favorite Picture Books of 2020
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