The Best Picture Books of 2023
by Miranda Rosbach
Whoosh! And just like that, another year comes to a close. Even after writing end-of-year lists for several years, choosing the best books never gets easier. Maybe that’s a good thing, though. For one thing, it means an endless supply of top-notch children’s literature is being published each year. For another, it means the world of storytelling is alive and well. This year’s list illustrates just that. From silly to heartfelt, here are the best picture books of 2023.
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100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli
Buy from:This is a counting book, sort of. On a mountain live a centuplicate of dragons with identical names. When the wind blows away half of the dragons, how many are left? Soon, some dragons become surfers in Hawaii, while others start a band in New York City. In fact, the dragons disperse to all parts of the country (and even the moon!). What happens when only one lonely dragon is left? She crawls into a cave and later emerges with 100 little offspring. (Each with a unique name.) My kids adore this one!
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I Want to Be Spaghetti!
Buy from:A young ramen package sits amongst its peers in the grocery aisle, loudly longing to be spaghetti. Spaghetti is served with meatballs and gets all the attention; other pastas don’t have the same panache. When the ramen is purchased and placed in a bowl with steaming broth and accompanying ingredients (egg, seaweed, and narutomaki), it settles into the curves and company of self-acceptance. It’s a clever take on loving the skin you’re in!
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What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon?
Buy from:Early elementary school students know about the four stages of a butterfly’s life cycle (and its cousin, the moth), but do they know what happens once a caterpillar enters the cocoon /chrysalis phase? The transformation turns the caterpillar into a soup-like substance from which a new body, mouth, and large eyes emerge. Replete with intricate illustrations, this nonfiction picture book might motivate you to create a pollinator habitat on your property or within your community to help protect these valuable insect friends.
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Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography
Buy from:An instant bestseller, Taylor Swift's persona tops not only music charts but book charts too with this colorful picture book biography. Swifties young and old will adore following the singer's journey from aspiring musician to global superstar.
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Little Daymond Learns to Earn
Buy from:At the street fair, Daymond earns five dollars helping at his mom’s booth. He scouts around for something to buy and decides on a poster of his favorite pop star. Unfortunately, the poster costs more than he has. What should Daymond do? As he ponders, he creates a t-shirt, which someone at the market wants to buy from him, so Daymond makes a t-shirt stand with his friends. Undefeated by their lack of customers, the four pals market and create interest in their product. With a handy how-to-start-a-business guide in the back matter, this financial literacy tale was pleasantly surprising.
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One More Jar of Jam
Buy from:If you ever have a Mulberry tree, you’ll climb the branches and shake the tree until red jewels drop onto an old sheet. Then those oblong berries will turn into jam, which you will reluctantly share (but only a few jars). If you ever have a Mulberry tree, you’ll watch it from the window and despair when a storm lays it low. Eventually, from the stump, a sprout will shoot forth. From that comes the hope of another jar of jam. This book is a lovely ode to summer, seasons, and the sweet delights of homemade preserves.
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Very Good Hats
Buy from:“Do you know what a hat is?” Is it something you can buy in a haberdashery? What about raspberries and acorns fitting snugly atop your fingers? Books, too, can be hats. After a shower, twisty towel hats can be regal. Indeed, many jobs (firefighter, chef, astronaut) have specific headgear. If you think about it, almost anything can be a hat. With whimsical illustrations and nearly an encyclopedia of different hats presented, this is an ideal book for any home.
RELATED: Very Good Hats Is a Playful Exploration of Imagination
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Something, Someday
Buy from:You’re told it’s not a problem, that it can’t be fixed, that it’s too big for you. Yet the problem persists. Even though you’re told to sit and wait, you take action, motivated by hope. Hope you feel amidst conflicting feelings of sadness, confusion, and anger. When a friend comes along, you plant seeds in a small patch of earth. But they wilt and wither away. So, you try again to tackle the problem. More friends get involved, and slowly, slowly, progress is made. Presidential inaugural poet (Gorman) and prominent collage artist (Robinson) tackle complex social problems with skillful mastery in this beautiful book.
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Before, Now
Buy from:From the acclaimed illustrator of Dragons Love Tacos comes a touching picture book about the beauty of a life well lived. Join Ava on her journey from childhood to old age, exploring opposites as the main theme of the story. A wonderful gift for expecting parents, graduation, and other life milestones.
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Good Night, Sister
Buy from:Kat and Tina have shared a bedroom for years, but now Kat is moving into a big girl room, and Tina worries about sleeping alone. Offering comfort, Kat bequeaths her beloved stuffies to her younger sister and describes their names and special powers. When the pair finally say goodnight, a thunderstorm brings the sisters together again. This sweet sister story is ideal for those inevitable growing-up milestones.
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Every Body: A First Conversation About Bodies
Buy from:This book opens with several people gathered beside a swimming pool. What do you notice about these bodies? Some are tall, short, fat, skinny, old, and young. Every body is special. Every body can be healthy. Every body stores fat in different places, and the fat stores energy. We use energy to run, jump, bike, and move. When we listen to our body, it tells us what it needs. Bodies are always changing, and only you are in charge of your body. This series’s research-backed children’s books provide context for critical conversations with young people.
RELATED: Teach Your Child (and Yourself) To Love Every Body
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The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination
Buy from:Sixteen figments run the Bureau of Imagination. Sparky, one of the busiest figments, handles all the mail for the building. He soars through the departments with his magic mailbag, delivering ideas, dreams, and other imaginations. On the side, Sparky secretly pens poems. But when Brenda, the dragon, runs into trouble, Sparky bravely keeps fear at bay and helps the world share their untold art and stories.
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Remember
Buy from:Remember the sky at your birth? Remember your mother, and her mother, and Mother Earth? Each of which is contained within you. Remember your inner growth that is always in motion? Remember living plants and creatures that also exist as living poems? Remember that humanity is a part of you, and you are part of them. This moving poem unfurls new meaning with each reading. Conveyed through exquisite illustrations, the style and design reflect the traditions and art of the Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. It is a true standout of 2023.
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Dim Sum Palace
Buy from:Liddy is too excited to sleep, knowing she’ll experience her first trip to the Dim Sum Palace tomorrow. Will a real empress greet her? Pajama-clad, she trundles from her room to a magnificent space where two chefs work, crafting bao, dumplings, egg tarts, and other delicacies. When Liddy accidentally slips into a bowl of dumpling filling, the chefs wrap her into an entrée presented to the Empress herself. This mouthwatering, dreamscape tale reminds seasoned readers of Maurice Sendak’s The Night Kitchen while giving a new generation the pleasure of an extremely re-readable story.
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The Skull
Buy from:A young girl named Otilla runs into the woods to escape unknown danger and seeks shelter in a lonely house. The occupant, a skull, requests that she carry him while he offers a tour of the property. Together, the two sip tea and dance in the spacious ballroom. When evening approaches, the skull’s nemesis (a decapitated skeleton) appears as he has every night. Otilla bravely chases the skeleton off a balcony ledge and ensures it never returns. This book has the right amount of spookiness for children ages 6+. In addition to the compelling story and Klassen’s signature illustrations, the story’s provenance is equally intriguing.
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How the Grinch Lost Christmas!
Buy from:60+ years after the original classic comes this similarly styled rhythmic tale about the Grinch entering the Who-ville Christmas tree decorating contest. Certainly, his entry is the best and the automatic winner! However, the Grinch flies into a flurry when he comes in second place. He takes his tree back up the hill, and the old habits of a miserable old creature flair back. Can the Grinch regain his composure and enjoy the celebrations of Christmas?
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In the Dark
Buy from:They come to the woods bearing cloth and wooden handles. A black cat follows them. Are they witches? Possibly. They dance around a fire and spread bird wings to the sky. Although everyone fears the newcomers, one girl bravely steps forward to meet them. Told from two perspectives, this book is a beautiful, layered mystery.
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Always Anjali
Buy from:On Anjali’s seventh birthday, she gets a bike and rides it to the carnival with her friends. When the friends buy license plates for their bikes, Anjali can’t find her name at the stand. Soon, some other kids begin to taunt her. That night at dinner, in a burst of tears, Anjali proclaims to her family that she is changing her name. But with her mother’s encouragement, Anjali learns the significance of her Indian heritage and makes her own license plate.
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Repeat After Me
Buy from:Repeat after me. I am loved. I am brave. I am strong. I am light. I am unique. A dozen affirmations paired with a brief poem become daily reminders for children (and their caregivers) to look for the good within themselves and others. Brimming with Black characters, this uplifting book is a mantra for all children, regardless of their skin color.
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Put Your Shoes On & Get Ready!
Buy from:“I got shoes, you got shoes! All of God’s children got shoes.” Tennis shoes for school and work boots for hauling broken cars to the family business. Storytime in slippers and springy canvas high-tops for sports. Every day is a chance to put on the shoes best suited for the work that you do. This biography of Georgia’s Senator (and Pastor) Raphael Warnock will encourage and inspire the next generation.
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Mother of Sharks
Buy from:This nonfiction book is told through a series of magical encounters. Meli meets a talking hermit crab named Jaiba while exploring the tide pools in the ocean. Together, they dive under the waves, mesmerized by corals and sea-life creatures. They free a mako shark caught in a net, then travel to another location where Meli learns that over 500 shark species existed before the dinosaurs. Jaiba clicks his claws and transports them to a library and a presentation by a world-renowned shark expert. With a helpful glossary, author’s note, and index of resources, this story is perfect for budding shark biologists.
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Real to Me
Buy from:Having a great friend can make the rest of the world disappear. A young girl and a creature bond over everyday tasks, and even though others say, She isn’t real, that doesn’t stop the duo from sharing brave and quiet moments together, laughing and making memories. When the friend disappears, the Creature must figure out how to cope. Eventually, it finds new friends, but the Creature always wonders what its old friend is doing. This is an important book for children with imaginary friends.
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Grandpa Is Here!
Buy from:A family picks up Grandpa at the airport and drives home together. Once home (and after a nap), the granddaughter and her Grandpa venture into the surrounding landscape, strolling through the dark hedge-covered alley and stopping to watch rabbits scampering away. Although Grandpa speaks Farsi and the young girl does not, they connect over shared meals and the winter season.
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