2024 Librarian Favorites
Librarian book recommendations for kids, educators, booksellers, librarians, and caregivers of the best children’s books in 2023.
100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli
By: David LaRochelle
Illustrated by:
Lian Cho
Lian Cho
ISBN: 9780525555445
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
9 Kilometers
By: Claudio Aguilera; translated by Lawrence Schimel
Illustrated by:
Gabriela Lyon
Gabriela Lyon
ISBN: 9780802856005
Fiction, 7-12, Cultural Diversity
Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes
By: Edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter and Rocky Callen
ISBN: 9781536224146
Fiction, Teen, Mental / Physical Health
Alithia Ramirez Was an Artist
By: Violet Lemay
Illustrated by:
Violet Lemay with illustrations included from Alithia Ramirez
Violet Lemay with illustrations included from Alithia Ramirez
ISBN: 9781612546490
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
An American Story
By: Kwame Alexander
Illustrated by:
Dare Coulter
Dare Coulter
ISBN: 9780316473125
Fiction, 7-12, BIPOC Characters and Creators
The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes)
By: Edited by Nadia L. Hohn
Illustrated by:
Roza Nozari
Roza Nozari
ISBN: 9781459833432
Nonfiction, 7-12, Cultural Diversity
Being Ace: An Anthology of Queer, Trans, Femme, and Disabled Stories of Asexual Love and Connection
By: Madeline Dyer (editor) with contributing authors
ISBN: 9781645679561
Fiction, Teen, LGBTQIA+
The Bellwoods Game
By: Celia Krampien
Illustrated by:
Celia Krampien
Celia Krampien
ISBN: 9781665912501
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
Big Tree
By: Brian Selznick
Illustrated by:
Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick
ISBN: 9781338180633
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
Blackward
By: Lawrence Lindell
Illustrated by:
Lawrence Lindell
Lawrence Lindell
ISBN: 9781770466784
Fiction, Teen, Contemporary
Body Music: Poems About the Noises Your Body Makes
By: Jane Yolen and Ryan G. Van Cleave
Illustrated by:
Luis San Vicente
Luis San Vicente
ISBN: 9781638192015
Nonfiction, 7-12, Humor
Books Make Good Friends
By: Jane Mount
Illustrated by:
Jane Mount
Jane Mount
ISBN: 9781797209654
Fiction, 4-6, Coming of Age
Born Reading: 20 Stories of Women Reading Their Way into History
By: Kathleen Krull and Virginia Loh-Hagan
Illustrated by:
Aura Lewis
Aura Lewis
ISBN: 9781665917988
Nonfiction, 7-12, Careers / Hobbies
Buzzing
By: Samuel Sattin
Illustrated by:
Rye Hickman
Rye Hickman
ISBN: 9780316628433
Fiction, 7-12, Mental / Physical Health
Cat Jokes vs. Dog Jokes: A Read-from-Both-Sides Comic Book
By: David Lewman
Illustrated by:
John McNamee
John McNamee
ISBN: 9781523512058
Fiction, 7-12, Animals
Chilling with Ghosts: A Totally Factual Field Guide to the Supernatural
By: Insha Fitzpatrick
Illustrated by:
Lilla Bölecz
Lilla Bölecz
ISBN: 9781683693451
Nonfiction, 7-12, History
Cities: How Humans Live Together
By: Megan Clendenan
Illustrated by:
Suharu Ogawa
Suharu Ogawa
ISBN: 9781459831469
Nonfiction, 7-12, Cultural Diversity
Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game (Graphic Novel Memoir)
By: Colin Kaepernick and Eve L. Ewing
Illustrated by:
Orlando Caicedo
Orlando Caicedo
ISBN: 9781338789669
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
Come Home Safe: A Novel
By: Brian Buckmire
ISBN: 9780310142188
Fiction, Teen, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Cooler Than Lemonade: A Story about Great Ideas and How They Happen
By: Harshita Jerath
Illustrated by:
Chloe Burgett
Chloe Burgett
ISBN: 9781728254296
Fiction, 4-6, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust: A Graphic Novel
By: Neal Shusterman
Illustrated by:
Andrés Vera Martínez
Andrés Vera Martínez
ISBN: 9780545313476
Fiction, 7-12, Historical Fiction
Curlfriends: New In Town
By: Sharee Miller
Illustrated by:
Sharee Miller
Sharee Miller
ISBN: 9780316591478
Fiction, 7-12, BIPOC Characters and Creators
The Dark Ascension Series: The Wicked Ones
By: Robin Benway
ISBN: 9781368078627
Fiction, Teen, Fantasy
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library: The Graphic Novel
By: Chris Grabenstein
Illustrated by:
Douglas Holgate
Douglas Holgate
ISBN: 9780593484869
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
Everlasting Icicles: A Poppenohna Land Adventure (Book 2)
By: Carrie Turley
Illustrated by:
Lara Law
Lara Law
ISBN: 9781956357905
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
Fairest of All: A Villains Graphic Novel
By: Serena Valentino
Illustrated by:
Fiona Marchbank
Fiona Marchbank
ISBN: 9781368068178
Fiction, Teen, Fantasy
Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam
By: Thien Pham
ISBN: 9781250809728
Nonfiction, Teen, Biography / Memoir
First-Year Orientation
By: Edited by Lauren Gibaldi and Eric Smith
ISBN: 9781536224498
Nonfiction, Teen, Contemporary
The Flying Horse (Once Upon a Horse #1)
By: Sarah Maslin Nir
Illustrated by:
Laylie Frazier
Laylie Frazier
ISBN: 9781951836672
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
Friend of Numbers: The Life of Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan
By: Priya Narayanan
Illustrated by:
Satwik Gade
Satwik Gade
ISBN: 9780802856081
Nonfiction, 7-12, Math
A Funny Thing Happened After School
By: Davide Cali
Illustrated by:
Benjamin Chaud
Benjamin Chaud
ISBN: 9781452183008
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
Ganesha’s Great Race
By: Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes
Illustrated by:
Sanjay Patel
Sanjay Patel
ISBN: 9781797224855
Fiction, 4-6, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel
By: Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by:
Theodore Taylor III
Theodore Taylor III
ISBN: 9781662660023
Fiction, 7-12, Music / Art
Giraffe Math
By: Stephen Swinburne
Illustrated by:
Geraldo Valério
Geraldo Valério
ISBN: 9780316346771
Fiction, 7-12, Concepts
Glitter Everywhere! Where It Came From, Where It’s Found & Where It’s Going
By: Chris Barton
Illustrated by:
Chaaya Prabhat
Chaaya Prabhat
ISBN: 9781623542528
Nonfiction, 7-12, Environment / Sustainability / Recycling
Global: One fragile world. An epic fight for survival.
By: Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin
Illustrated by:
Giovanni Rigano
Giovanni Rigano
ISBN: 9781728262192
Fiction, 7-12, Environment / Sustainability / Recycling
Granny Rex
By: Kurtis Scaletta
Illustrated by:
Nik Henderson
Nik Henderson
ISBN: 9781951836665
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale
By: Aya Khalil
Illustrated by:
Anait Semirdzhyan
Anait Semirdzhyan
ISBN: 9780884489672
Fiction, 7-12, Cultural Diversity
Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur?
By: Helen Yoon
Illustrated by:
Helen Yoon
Helen Yoon
ISBN: 9781536226256
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Hear Them Roar: 14 Endangered Animals from Around the World
By: June Smalls
Illustrated by:
Becky Thorns
Becky Thorns
ISBN: 9781641707282
Nonfiction, 7-12, Animals
Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day
By: Dan Nott
ISBN: 9780593125366
Nonfiction, Teen, Environment / Sustainability / Recycling
Hidden: A True Story of the Holocaust
By: Kati Preston
Illustrated by:
Dilleen Marsh
Dilleen Marsh
ISBN: 9781942155539
Nonfiction, Teen, History
Hippo or Rhino? A Compare and Contrast Book
By: Samantha Collison
ISBN: 9781643519913
Nonfiction, 7-12, Animals
Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes
By: Traci N. Todd
Illustrated by:
Shannon Wright
Shannon Wright
ISBN: 9781338305906
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
House Party
By: Edited by justin a. reynolds
ISBN: 9780593488157
Fiction, Teen, BIPOC Characters and Creators
How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee
By: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by:
Frank Morrison
Frank Morrison
ISBN: 9781536215540
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
How This Book Got Red
By: Margaret Chiu Greanias
Illustrated by:
Melissa Iwai
Melissa Iwai
ISBN: 9781728265650
Fiction, 4-6, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism
How to Handle STRESS for Middle School Success
By: Silvi Guerra
Illustrated by:
DeAndra Hodge
DeAndra Hodge
ISBN: 9781433838163
Nonfiction, 7-12, Mental/Physical Health
I Want 100 Dogs
By: Stacy McAnulty
Illustrated by:
Claire Keane
Claire Keane
ISBN: 9781797214405
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
It’s Not Bragging If It’s True: How to Be Awesome at Life, from a Winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee
By: Zaila Avant-garde with Marti Dumas
ISBN: 9780593568996
Nonfiction, 7-12, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Just Jerry: How Drawing Shaped My Life
By: Jerry Pinkney
ISBN: 9780316383851
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
Kariba
By: Daniel Clarke, James Clarke, and Daniel Snaddon
Illustrated by:
Daniel Clarke
Daniel Clarke
ISBN: 9781946395825
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
The Kid with Big, Big Ideas
By: Britney Winn Lee
Illustrated by:
Jacob Souva
Jacob Souva
ISBN: 9781506487090
Fiction, 7-12, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism
Kin: Rooted in Hope
By: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by:
Jeffery Boston Weatherford
Jeffery Boston Weatherford
ISBN: 9781665913621
Fiction, 7-12, BIPOC Characters and Creators
The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship
By: Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali
Illustrated by:
Hatem Aly
Hatem Aly
ISBN: 9780759555709
Fiction, 4-6, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Like a Hurricane
By: Jonathan Bécotte; translated by Jonathan Kaplansky
ISBN: 9781459835238
Fiction, 7-12, LGBTQIA+
The Littlest Yak and the New Arrival
By: Lu Fraser
Illustrated by:
Kate Hindley
Kate Hindley
ISBN: 9781682635896
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Lolo’s Sari-sari Store
By: Sophia N. Lee
Illustrated by:
Christine Almeda
Christine Almeda
ISBN: 9781534494473
Fiction, 4-6, Family / Community
Long Goes to Dragon School
By: Helen H. Wu
Illustrated by:
Mae Besom
Mae Besom
ISBN: 9781953458506
Fiction, 4-6, Action / Adventure
Ludwig and the Rhinoceros
By: Noemi Schneider
Illustrated by:
Golden Cosmos
Golden Cosmos
ISBN: 9780735845275
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Luna Ranchera
By: Rodrigo Morlesin; translated by Sara Lissa Paulson
Illustrated by:
Mariana Ruiz Johnson
Mariana Ruiz Johnson
ISBN: 9781662651106
Fiction, 7-12, Spanish
Major Taylor: World Cycling Champion
By: Charles R. Smith
Illustrated by:
Leo Espinosa
Leo Espinosa
ISBN: 9781536214987
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
Mascot
By: Charles Waters and Traci Sorell
ISBN: 9781623543808
Fiction, 7-12, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Mermaid and Pirate
By: Tracey Baptiste
Illustrated by:
Leisl Adams
Leisl Adams
ISBN: 9781643750774
Fiction, 4-6, Fantasy
Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel
By: Jason Reynolds
Illustrated by:
Zeke Peña
Zeke Peña
ISBN: 9781665918466
Fiction, Teen, Action / Adventure
Mission Arctic: A Scientific Adventure to a Changing North Pole
By: Katharina Weiss-Tuider; translated by Shelley Tanaka
Illustrated by:
Christian Schneider
Christian Schneider
ISBN: 9781771649568
Nonfiction, 7-12, Environment / Sustainability / Recycling
Monster Support Group: The Mummy’s Curse
By: Laura Suárez
Illustrated by:
Laura Suárez
Laura Suárez
ISBN: 9781838741327
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
Mother of Sharks
By: Melissa Cristina Márquez
Illustrated by:
Devin Elle Kurtz
Devin Elle Kurtz
ISBN: 9780593523582
Fiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
my culture is not a costume
By: Stirred Stories
Illustrated by:
Suwin Chan
Suwin Chan
ISBN: 9781735292267
Fiction, Teen, Cultural Diversity
My Incredible India
By: Jasbinder Bilan
Illustrated by:
Nina Chakrabarti
Nina Chakrabarti
ISBN: 9781536225013
Nonfiction, 7-12, Science / Nature
My Powerful Hair
By: Carole Lindstrom
Illustrated by:
Steph Littlebird
Steph Littlebird
ISBN: 9781419759437
Fiction, 4-6, BIPOC Characters and Creators
The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle
By: Taryn Souders
ISBN: 9781728271415
Fiction, 7-12, Mystery / Thriller
A Natural History of Magical Beasts
By: Emily Hawkins
Illustrated by:
Jessica Roux
Jessica Roux
ISBN: 9780711278820
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
The New Bicycle
By: Darcy Day Zoells
Illustrated by:
Darcy Day Zoells
Darcy Day Zoells
ISBN: 9781605379647
Fiction, 4-6, Action / Adventure
Night Market Rescue
By: Charlotte Cheng
Illustrated by:
Amber Ren
Amber Ren
ISBN: 9780593531723
Fiction, 4-6, Cultural Diversity
The Noise Inside Boys: A Story About Big Feelings
By: Pete Oswald
ISBN: 9780593483220
Fiction, 4-6, Family / Community
The North Wind and the Sun
By: Philip C. Stead
ISBN: 9780823455836
Fiction, 4-6, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Northranger: A Modern Graphic Novel Retelling of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey
By: Rey Terciero
Illustrated by:
Bre Indigo
Bre Indigo
ISBN: 9780063007390
Fiction, Teen, LGBTQIA+
Old to Joy
By: Anita Crawford Clark
Illustrated by:
Anita Crawford Clark
Anita Crawford Clark
ISBN: 9781957655062
Fiction, 4-6, Cultural Diversity
Once Upon a Book
By: Grace Lin & Kate Messner
Illustrated by:
Grace Lin
Grace Lin
ISBN: 9780316541077
Fiction, 7-12, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Parachute Kids: A Graphic Novel
By: Betty C. Tang
Illustrated by:
Betty C. Tang
Betty C. Tang
ISBN: 9781338832693
Fiction, 7-12, Family / Community
Party Hearty Kitty-Corn
By: Shannon Hale
Illustrated by:
LeUyen Pham
LeUyen Pham
ISBN: 9781419750953
Fiction, 4-6, Humor
The Penguin of Ilha Grande: From Animal Rescue to Extraordinary Friendship
By: Shannon Earle
Illustrated by:
Renato Alarcão
Renato Alarcão
ISBN: 9781623541668
Nonfiction, 4-6, Animals
The Phone Book: Stay Stafe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand
By: Jessica Speer
Illustrated by:
Lesley Imgart
Lesley Imgart
ISBN: 9781641709903
Nonfiction, 7-12, How-to / Activity
A Pigeon in Paris: Petite Takes Flight
By: Paige Howard
Illustrated by:
Joanie Stone
Joanie Stone
ISBN: 9781534111820
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Poetry Prompts: All sorts of ways to start a poem from Joseph Coelho
By: Joseph Coelho
Illustrated by:
Grasya Oliyko, Amanda Quartey, Georgie Birkett and Viola Wang
Grasya Oliyko, Amanda Quartey, Georgie Birkett and Viola Wang
ISBN: 9780711285125
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich
By: Deya Muniz
ISBN: 9780316538725
Fiction, Teen, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Pup and Dragon: How to Catch an Elf
By: Alice Walstead
Illustrated by:
Paul Gill
Paul Gill
ISBN: 9781728270517
Fiction, 4-6, Humor
The Puppets of Spelhorst
By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by:
Julie Morstad
Julie Morstad
ISBN: 9781536216752
Fiction, 7-12, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
The Recess Genius 1: Open for Business
By: Janet Sumner Johnson
Illustrated by:
Stacy Ebert
Stacy Ebert
ISBN: 9781645951384
Fiction, 4-6, Friendships
Remember Us
By: Jacqueline Woodson
ISBN: 9780399545467
Fiction, 7-12, Cultural Diversity, Family / Community
Rocket: The Blue-Ribbon Pony
By: Ellen F. Feld
Illustrated by:
Nicole Laposta
Nicole Laposta
ISBN: 9781733767491
Fiction, 7-12, Animals
Salma Makes a Home
By: Danny Ramadan
Illustrated by:
Anna Bron
Anna Bron
ISBN: 9781773217611
Fiction, 7-12, Cultural Diversity
The Secret Life of Oceans
By: Moira Butterfield
Illustrated by:
Vivian Mineker
Vivian Mineker
ISBN: 9780711278721
Nonfiction, 7-12, Animals
The Skull
By: Jon Klassen
Illustrated by:
Jon Klassen
Jon Klassen
ISBN: 9781536223361
Fiction, 4-6, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Snow & Poison
By: Melissa de la Cruz
ISBN: 9780593326688
Fiction, 7-12, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Some of These Are Snails
By: Carter Higgins
Illustrated by:
Carter Higgins
Carter Higgins
ISBN: 9781797220185
Nonfiction, 4-6, Concepts
Something Happened to Our Planet: Kids Tackle the Climate Crisis
By: Marianne Celano and Marietta Collins
Illustrated by:
Bhagya Madanasinghe
Bhagya Madanasinghe
ISBN: 9781433840722
Fiction, 4-6, Science / Nature
Something, Someday
By: Amanda Gorman
Illustrated by:
Christian Robinson
Christian Robinson
ISBN: 9780593203255
Fiction, 4-6, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism
Sometimes I Kaploom
By: Rachel Vail
Illustrated by:
Hyewon Yum
Hyewon Yum
ISBN: 9781338840308
Fiction, 4-6, Family / Community
Stuntboy, In-Between Time
By: Jason Reynolds
Illustrated by:
Raúl the Third
Raúl the Third
ISBN: 9781534418226
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
Sunshine: A Graphic Novel
By: Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Illustrated by:
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
ISBN: 9781338356328
Nonfiction, 7-12, Family / Community
The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels
By: Beth Lincoln
Illustrated by:
Claire Powell
Claire Powell
ISBN: 9780593533239
Fiction, 7-12, Mystery / Thriller
Tacos Today
By: Raúl the Third
Illustrated by:
Raúl the Third
Raúl the Third
ISBN: 9780358539377
Fiction, 7-12, Animals
Ten-Word Tiny Tales: To Inspire and Unsettle
By: Joseph Coelho
Illustrated by:
Various
Various
ISBN: 9781536231359
Fiction, 7-12, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
There’s Always Room for One More
By: Robyn Mcgrath
Illustrated by:
Ishaa Lobo
Ishaa Lobo
ISBN: 9781665925372
Fiction, 4-6, Cultural Diversity
This Book Is My Best Friend
By: Robin Robinson
Illustrated by:
Robin Robinson
Robin Robinson
ISBN: 9781665906814
Fiction, 4-6, Concepts
A Walk in the Woods
By: Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by:
Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney
Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney
ISBN: 9780823449651
Fiction, 4-6, Death / Grief / Loss
We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish
By: Ryan T. Higgins
Illustrated by:
Ryan T. Higgins
Ryan T. Higgins
ISBN: 9781368076982
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
We Need To Talk About Vaginas
By: Dr. Allison K. Rodgers
Illustrated by:
Annika Le Large
Annika Le Large
ISBN: 9781684492848
Nonfiction, 7-12, Science / Nature
The Wild Life of Animals
By: Mike Barfield
Illustrated by:
Paula Bossio
Paula Bossio
ISBN: 9781684646494
Nonfiction, 7-12, Animals
Willow and Bunny
By: Anitra Rowe Schulte
Illustrated by:
Christopher Denise
Christopher Denise
ISBN: 9781542025690
Fiction, 4-6, Social Emotional Learning
You Are Here: Connecting Flights
By: Ellen Oh
ISBN: 9780063239081
Fiction, 7-12, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Zora, the Story Keeper
By: Ebony Joy Wilkins
Illustrated by:
Dare Coulter
Dare Coulter
ISBN: 9781984816917
Fiction, 4-6, Cultural Diversity
