Holiday Buying Guide 2023

Alma, first introduced in Alma and How She Got Her Name, is back! She plays with her cousins, snuggles with her mother, and more as she names her relatives. In Alma Head to Toe / Alma de pies a cabeza, she introduces all of her from her head to her soft heart. Both engaging books are in Spanish and English, sure to charm even the youngest reader.

One toddler thinks she can get dressed all by herself but winds up needing her sister’s help. In Muy verde! / Too Green!, another child is reluctant to try a new green soup but once he does, he wants more! Both attractive board books capture familiar experiences through cheerful, expressive illustrations and short text. Both books are available in bilingual (Spanish/English) editions.

From purple lupines in Olympia (Washington) to pink “bleeding tooth fungus” in Maine’s Acadia National Park there are other vivid colors from nature that can be found in ten of the nation’s most visited national parks.  

Following each rhyming clues is the animal that inspired various inventions such as snowshoes and water fins. More familiar inventions are followed by lift-the-flaps to intrigue or confound more sophisticated readers.

Tired of the same Old MacDonald’s farm? Add donuts and a greedy crocodile alongside a take-charge rooster and it’s a new tune! Silliness is the word (and picture) on this farm as children will sing along with the rousing E-I-E-I-O!

A small dog and tiny cat are best of friends, playing all day, until one day Tao is hurt. George misses Tao very much until the friends are reunited, one with a bandage and gentler play. Simple but evocative illustrations complement the effective, brief narrative.

Around the world, grandparents and grandchildren share everyday activities but most important of all, they share lots of love. Warm families are depicted in each color photograph in the latest addition of the Global Babies series.

Parents welcome their new little one, examining the baby’s face and describing its features in Spanish. Cozy illustrations and the welcoming narration conclude with a glossary (just in case it’s not clear from the images!).

Young Leo and his dad enjoy a day exploring nature, observing small creatures, and looking at trees and animals. Realistic illustrations and simple language enhance the shared joy.

One side of the accordion folds out to show a range of human faces (plus one canine). Infants can see familiar toys and objects on the other side of the foldout.  Sturdy pages and bright, simple illustrations are just right for the youngest to examine again and again.

Short, mostly familiar rhymes and lullabies are gently illustrated by textured embroidered images, just right to remind adults of the power of short rhymes meant to be shared with the youngest.

Will the runaway pea become a snack for one of the animals it rolls by? Illustrations call to mind folk art in this rollicking translation from the French. The tale is likely to hold up to multiple readings and may inspire young gardeners!

Folk art and crisp language introduce the human heart to readers (along with some interesting tidbits about other creatures’ hearts). Accessibly written by a pediatric cardiologist, this handsome book can be read from cover to cover or dipped in and out of.

Brief information is placed on open pages with lots of white space to highlight portraits of baby dinosaurs that are seriously cute and seriously funny. The baby T-rex — “tyrant lizard king“ — is placed in a bejeweled royal crown, with a partial view of a huge parent looking down at the fuzzy baby. Additional information and comparative size chart conclude this informative, amusing book. 

Dance along with the residents of an apartment building: reggaeton, salsa, tango, and more! Jaunty language and bright, naive-style illustrations make music of their own, but also can be heard or watched via video when linked to the accompanying website. 

A young scientist explains to a caterpillar what it will be when it grows out of this stage of its life. With clear illustrations, accessible language, and lots of humor, science comes to life in the hands of the creator who wrote the informative and equally engaging The Real Poop on Pigeons and Snails Are Just My Speed.

Will JoJo ever be able to dance the national dance of the Philippines as easily as his grandmother? As he watches and practices, he begins to learn how to let the rhythm move through him and he dances the tininkling! Warm illustrations complement the lively text, evoking the sense of movement and joy.

Doris, a performing horse, steps out of her comfort zone to find out what is twinkling beyond. She feels the “moonness” and soon is joined by a brown pony and together they dance off. Swirling illustrations combine with limited text that whirls across the pages in this joyful celebration.

Together Gift and Box were a package on the way to a child from her grandmother. “Gift’s purpose was to delight. Box’s purpose was to protect.” They both arrived safely, and brought joy to the young Sofia! Imaginative illustrations on what appears to be cardboard depict packages’ long journey in an amusing, reassuring way.

A boy, his dog, and elephant set out to find Dinosaur in the big city. One must be very observant! Readers will quickly see Dinosaur on every page long before the boy does. The gentle watercolor illustrations are filled with humorous details of ubiquitous dinos and onlookers surprised to see an elephant with the boy and his dog. This is a clever follow-up to Barrow’s equally engaging, Have You Seen Elephant? (opens in a new window).

Readers are asked to count to one. Just one elephant. Just one sausage (on a whale’s spout, with a second whale nearby). Just one fly (atop 3 bowls of soup). Sly humor on each colorful page will have young readers chortling and counting beyond just one!

Micah knows that his new sister Lily is a Martian. His fears are confirmed by his cousin Maxwell and doubly so when Lily goes to school with Micah for show-and-tell! Humor abounds in this out-of-this-world sibling story.

Marta is a little girl who is learning that it’s all in how you look at things! To a roaring lion, “Marta is tranouila. Quiet. Very quiet.” But “To a rabbit, Marta is ruidosa! Loud. Very loud.” Opposites are presented in simple English and Spanish complemented by charming illustrations in a muted palette.   

One single red apple hangs on a tree. One by one, animals see it and greedily declare it “Mine!” Only a nonplussed possum willing to share it with the apple’s resident worm winds up with the prize. Alliterative, animated, onomatopoeic language is paired with strong lines and color for a jaunty, delightful book to read aloud.

A girl thinks everyone else in her family is smarter and more talented that she is. The girl thinks she messes up whatever she touches, even her grandmother’s nesting dolls. Her wise grandmother helps her understand that not all family members have the same gifts or look alike, but each is an important part of the same family. The author explores her own Gullah Geechee background in this touching and universal story.

What happens when round-headed kids are asked to play with triangles, rectangles, and other shapes. Can they come up with something entirely new? Where else can these shapes be found? The simple comic format and straightforward art are ideal in showing shapes all around and may lead to hands-on activities with more shapes.

When snow starts falling, the perfectly normal animals on Farmer Pumpernickel’s farm start acting strangely; they catch snowflakes on their tongues! Eventually, even the farmer himself gets with the rhythm. Rhyming text accompanied by comical illustrations will make a joyful read aloud.

On its long migration to Antarctica, an Arctic tern sees whales, geese, and more on its journey. Luminous illustrations show what the tern sees from above sometimes in panels, sometimes on full-page spreads. Backmatter provides a bit of information about the animals seen on the tern’s journey.

A mother introduces her child to his rich bicultural heritage through dragons. Distinctive illustrations and lyrical language contrast the fierce dragons hidden in deep, dark forests of the West, and the water-dwelling, free-flying dragons of the East. The mother reminds the boy that, “Both journeys are yours to take. Both worlds are yours to discover.”

Though he enjoys music and company, Walter, a crocodile, is painfully shy and prefers staying just below the surface. Until one day, he finds his voice to help his friend turtle from being tossed around by big birds. Expressive illustrations, almost translucent, evoke Walter’s watery world and the joy in finding one’s voice.

A girl and her mother find and adopt a lone polar bear cub. Together they thrive until the bear is no longer a cub, who leaves the humans to find his own community. One day, the bear returns with his mother. This adaptation of an Inuit tale is simply and touchingly illustrated. 

Ever wonder how a teenager named Peter Parker became a superhero? It started in the imagination of a comic aficionado named Steve Ditko who changed the perception of how a superhero should look. A brief but lively look at the man and his creation of the Marvel hero is presented in staccato language and comic book style art.

A day in the life of residents of a sizeable apartment begins when a large clock on its front reads 6. It’s morning. Though some people are already at work, most start at 7. Readers will enjoy following activities throughout the day as only the time, sky, and activities change. Detailed papercut illustrations are unique and engaging.

The moving story of the Anishinaabe woman who became louder when water — the source of life — was being ignored, is revealed in lyrical language and bold illustrations. A forward by Autumn Peltier, begins this powerful plea for continued action.

A group of boys in Thailand wanted to play soccer but where could they practice? Their village was surrounded by water, so they had no field. Inspired by the real boys of Koh Panyee, a floating playing field was built. Realistic illustrations evoke the village and its tenacious young residents.

Science continually evolves as new information is uncovered — literally, in the case of fossilized dinosaurs. Accessible, digestible, and engaging information is presented in an oversized, generously illustrated format.

The silly fun that started in The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza returns in this latest book. Soup has poisoned the Moon Queen. Can she — and the universe — be saved before it’s too late? Soup of Doom can be read alone or as a sequel (and be prepared for another madcap adventure!)   

Physics can be fun, and just as important, its principles are seen in everyday activities. Straightforward language complemented by basic illustrations present information and encourage experimentation.  

Two Harlems, one a place where a cultural Renaissance began and the other a girl named for that storied community. Two styles of illustration are included — one shows readers the young girl who explores contemporary Harlem with her father, the other depicts the history of a place. The result is a unique, informative look at history and its continued relevance today.

An expert invites the reader to join him as he explains how animals communicate. From insect stridulation (chirping, really) to underwater clicks and cracks, each sound is presented and then explained (translated, really). Well-organized and illustrated in full-color comics engage as well as inform.

In their seventh adventure, the detective team is informed by the Coast Gourd that a captain was found but without his ship. Will the InvestiGators be able to solve their latest mystery on the high sea or will they will be all tied up (or is it tide up …)? Read in order or as a standalone, this silly, pun-filled installment is sure to delight.

It takes a good teacher to really see an insecure child. Ms. Kern sees Lila Greer so well that Lila grows into the amazing teacher of kids like Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Sophia Valdez. Like other books in the series, is fun to read aloud and is illustrated in Roberts’ characteristically detailed (and fashion-conscious) style.

The squirrels Norma, and Belly are back and are just as hungry, tenacious, and funny as they were in the other books about them (which started with Donut Feed the Squirrels (opens in a new window)). They try to invade a fortune cookie factory, all dressed as ninjas. A simple comic format and limited text combine to make this a hit with beginning readers.

Despite a difficult childhood, Prince was a self-taught musician who found a healing power in music. Rhythmic language and purple-hued illustrations introduce Prince and the energy of his music. A family playlist of his music concludes this brief, attractive biography.

An expert presents information about how plants can combat some of the world’s biggest problems. Colorful illustrations and solid text features (including a glossary) create a hopeful look at combating climate change.

Bear and Moose, two dogs who don’t look like their names, are adopted from a shelter by a woman named Cathy. The dogs soon find a lost and lonely kitten named Tiger. This sweetly told and gently illustrated story with a very happy ending is the beginning of a new series just right for young animal lovers.

Short stories, ideal for reading aloud or independently, are followed by information about the animal and region in the narrative, subtly presenting issues related to climate change. Handsome illustrations throughout both illuminate and engage.

You’re invited to a party for the late and ever-great poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes, held at the Schomburg Library in New York and attended by Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka. Inspired by a photograph, the author’s lively rhythmic language combines with illustrations made of handmade stamps for a party to enjoy again and again.

Are the creatures in this lighthearted look at dangerous animals out to get humans or are they just doing what they need to survive and thrive? Common names as well as Latin names are presented alongside a humorous illustration and an invented name for the critter’s survival mechanism. 

An indigenous boy must travel up a mountain to collect obsidian for flint knapping, a trek from which his brothers did not return. There he meets a golden eagle, actually a god named Savik. This is a beautifully told and handsomely illustrated story of the origin of the Iñupiaq messenger feast celebrated by native Alaskans.

Wrap-around stories are used to present fascinating information in an inviting, accessible, and authoritative way. This title from the Science Comics series provides information about commonplace creatures now at risk. Another book, World War II: Fight on the Home Front (opens in a new window) (from the History Comics series), provides a look at the impact of the last century’s war on those not engaged on the frontline.  

The deep-sea submersible named Alvin can carry three people. “In its [50 year] lifetime, Alvin has changed minds, science, and lives.” Join the exploration of how this was achieved in an accessible but fully sourced narrative, punctuated with black and white photographs.

Two books from a Little Free Library hold the secret of a town’s long hidden mystery. Told from different points of view — a boy named Evan, Al (a ghost librarian), and a handsome orange cat called Mortimer — reveal the secret behind the town’s puzzling history in this twisty, satisfying tale.

Few people realize that the fame of Leonardo da Vinci’s 16th century painting was created in large measure by its theft in the 20th century. The lively narrative alternates between the artist and the search for the missing painting. Sardonic illustrations add humor and interest to this well-documented and fascinating story.

Inspired by the author’s family on the North Carolina coast during Jim Crow, this touching portrait introduces twins James Henry and Hattie and the mysterious trauma that made James Henry unable to leave the security of his home. The story unfolds slowly in accessible free verse to its satisfying resolution. 

How does a girl stand out from the crowd when she has a braid and a fluffy, flowered sweater on picture day? Olivia (aka Viv) finds a way with unexpected consequences in this authentic, often humorous graphic novel.

The “ick” factor combines with humorous illustrations and solid information to present the plagues that have afflicted people for centuries. From the bubonic plague to scurvy, the informal narrative is edifying, engaging, and well-documented — offering young readers a unique look at the history of disease.  

After a series of adult owners, a set of puppets — a king, a wolf, an owl, and a boy (originally owned by a sea captain named Spelhorst) — wind up in the home where two sisters live. There, the puppets’ dreams and yearnings are ultimately fulfilled. Beautiful, spare prose is accompanied by black and white illustrations for a gentle fantasy.

Brother and sister Zara and Zeeshan accompany their parents to Key West where their pediatrician mother will be honored. They struggle to get along with each other during the trip, but their bickering ends when they discover a loggerhead turtle in distress that they name Sunshine. Together the siblings figure out how to help Sunshine return to the sea while gaining a new respect for each other, in this gently humorous graphic novel.

An abandoned puppy helps 11-year-old Laura move forward after the 911 call she made to save her parents from an overdose. Now in the care of her Titi Silvia, they ultimately find a way to heal themselves in this novel in verse that explores family, communication, and friendship. 

Asked by his mother to look for one of the twins’ socks, Milo goes to the basement of their new home where he finds a door. He enters and begins to descend — and descend — going deeper into an eerie, peculiar world. Sophisticated images create a fantastic world in which threats are overcome by love … and a pink sock.

“Artists have always had a keen eye for finding the most interesting parts of our communities.” Travel with two young people as they explore the world of art across time and distance. From Giza in Ancient Egypt to Prague in 2018, this realistically illustrated book includes a glossary and additional resources.

A teen nicknamed Wrecker becomes involved with a fake Covid vaccination card smuggling ring to further confuse his already complicated his life. By turns humorous and tense, this fast-paced novel set in the Florida Keys is sure to engage readers.

The title says it all!  Brief but accessible information about a range of topics is ideal to dip into or spend hours poring over.  

Intended for young readers, adults will likely be as intrigued at the graphical presentation of information which can be consumed in large bites or small chunks.

Looking at the past and how different historical events connect is as interesting as it is learning about those who initially investigated them. The latest Factopia book connects seemingly disparate facts while Famous Finds and Finders: Searching for the Past (opens in a new window) takes a brief look at who, how, and when discovery.

All children have wishes that reflect their hopes and dreams. Wishes from kids from Guatemala to Japan and places in between are presented in handsome illustrations and brief text. This book is sure to start conversations as readers see reflections of themselves in others from around the world.

Short poems are generously illustrated in a large, inviting, and diverse collection of poetry— and as the title indicates, there is at least one for each day! To build on daily poems, try some of the ideas in Poetry Prompts: All Sorts of Ways to Start a Poem from Joseph Coelho (opens in a new window).