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Best of 2023 Favorite Picture Books |
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An American Story
by Kwame Alexander
A picture book in verse that threads together past and present to explore the legacy of slavery during a classroom lesson.
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Wonder Dogs!
by Linda Ashman
In this entertaining ode to what all dogs do, from the extraordinary to the everyday, humble-looking Butters shows how he, too, is a wonder dog whose superpower is love.
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The Dreams We Made
by Lisa Bentley
When a little girl's daddy dies, she feels confused, sad, and even mad, but with some time and help from Mommy, the little girl begins building dreams again and finds a way to take her daddy with her everywhere she goes.
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Boop!
by Bea Birdsong
There are so many snoots to boop! Snoots attached to big dogs and little dogs and dogs with beards and those without. Are you ready to boop ALL the snoots?
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A Human for Kingsley
by Gabriel Evans
Kingsley had decided to own a human. This was not a decision to be taken lightly. After all, owning a human is a responsibility. But finding the right kind of human is much harder than Kingsley expected. Will Kingsley ever find a human that is exactly right? A sweet, tender and deeply funny story about the power of friendship, and one dog's mission to find his perfect person.
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I'm from
by Gary Gray
A small Black boy invites readers into his world filled with homemade pancakes, schoolyard and family games, and bedtime rituals, in this poetic account of all the people, places and things that define where he's from—and shape who he is.
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Something, Someday
by Amanda Gorman
This stunning new picture book by the presidential inaugural poet and a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator shows how even the smallest gesture can have a lasting impact—and how, with a little faith and friendship, we can find beauty and create change.
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Too Much!: an Overwhelming Day
by Jolene Gutiâerrez
Sometimes everything is too much! Too loud, too bright, and all too overwhelming. Writing from her own experience with sensory processing disorder, Jolene Gutiâerrez's compassionate picture book explores the struggles of a sensorily sensitive child and how they settle themselves. Joined by Angel Chang's beautiful illustrations, young readers will learn that it's OK if some days are too much.
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Big
by Vashti Harrison
Praised for acting like a big girl when she is small, as a young girl grows, "big" becomes a word of criticism, until the girl realizes that she is fine just the way she is.
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Don't Touch that Flower!
by Alice Hemming
In this hilarious story about spring and the changing of the seasons, Squirrel discovers a beautiful flower amidst his leaves and vows to protect it no matter what.
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The Wishing Machine
by Jonathan Hillman
On their last trip to the laundromat before they move away, Sam, who doesn't want to leave their neighborhood and friends, hopes with all their might that they can turn a washing machine into a wishing machine!
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How Do You Know What You Know?
by Noa Jones
A child peppers their father with questions about where things, people, ideas, and language come from as they explore their city on a snowy day.
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Dim Sum, Here We Come!
by Maple Lam
In this yummy celebration of togetherness, love, family and food, a Chinese American girl and her younger sister attend their weekly dim sum family gathering.
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How to Speak in Spanglish
by Mâonica Mancillas
Mexican American boy Sami loves combining Spanish and English to make Spanglish and is eager to share his language and joy with his skeptical Abuela and his vibrant community.
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Just Because
by Matthew McConaughey
The Academy Award-winning actor and #1 New York Times best-selling author presents this expressive collection of life lessons that will empower and encourage children, big and small, to celebrate their endless possibilities.
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The Story of a Book
by Joy McCullough
A book goes from new to well-loved to finding a new purpose at last in this love letter to how a book can be special to so many different people--for so many different reasons.
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Boyogi: How a Wounded Family Learned to Heal
by David Barclay Moore
Ever since Butta Bean's daddy returned from overseas, he's been different. Mama explains that Daddy's mind is hurt from things that happened while he was away. When the family starts going to yoga classes at their local YMCA, Butta Bean thinks it looks weird, but there is a change in Daddy. Boyogi is a celebration of one family's path to healing.
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I'm Sticking With You--and the Chicken Too!
by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
In this follow up to I'm Sticking with You, Bear and Squirrel are back, and they're perfectly in tune. They make merry music, they sing the same song--it's all going great, until Chicken comes along. Chicken knows she could add something to Bear and Squirrel's band of two, but the duo is certain that three is a crowd! Fed up, Chicken leaves--and lands herself in hot water. Will Bear and Squirrel come to the rescue?
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Lost Cat!
by Jacqueline K. Rayner
Purr-fect for young cat lovers, this simple, silly story follows both a little girl who worries about her missing cat, Fred, and Fred, who has many fun-filled adventures until he finds his way back to the little girl he's been missing, too.
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There Was a Party for Langston
by Jason Reynolds
This finger-snapping, toe-tapping ode to the Word King and literary genius Langston Hughes invites readers to a heckuva party at the Schomberg Library where Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka and others arrive to recite poems at their hero's feet.
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A Letter for Bob
by Kim Rogers
When it's time to say goodbye to a part of her family, a young girl pens a love letter to Bob, the treasured family car that has taken them all over and been there in sad and scary times.
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Wheels: The Big Fun Book of Vehicles
by Tom Schamp
Let Otto and Brutus introduce you to all kinds of vehicles-- from the Trojan Horse to the Harley Davidson; the stagecoach to the steam train; the double-decker bus to the skateboard.
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Weather Together
by Jessie Sima
When her cloud turns into a storm despite her efforts to hide it, Nimbus learns to accept help from her best friend, Kelp, who is there to share the weather together.
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Do You Remember?
by Sydney Smith
A mother and son trade reassuring memories during a time of change and upheaval.
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Mole is Not Alone
by Maya Tatsukawa
Mole is invited to a party, which is very worrisome. What if the party is too rowdy for Mole? What if Mole doesn't know anyone there? What if Mole is just too shy to make friends? Mole worries through the tunnels, around Snake's burrow, under the forest, past Bear's den, and all the way to Rabbit's door. But despite all those worries, maybe Mole can find a quiet way to make friends . . ."
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Salat in Secret
by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
A boy named Muhammad receives a special salat rug on his seventh birthday. Seven is the age when Muslim children are encouraged to pray, and Muhammad is determined to do all five daily prayers on time. But one salat occurs during the school day---and he's worried about being seen praying at school...In the end, with help from his teacher, he finds the perfect place to pray.
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An Ofrenda for Perro
by Judith Valdés B.
Benito loves Perro. But when Perro passes away, Benito is heartbroken. During the Day of the Dead celebration, he tries to understand the meaning of the flores de cempasúchil, candles, pan de muertos, photographs, and sharing memories of departed loved ones. By creating his own special altar for Perro, he realizes that his love for his beloved companion, and the happiness Perro gave him, will always remain.
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How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
by Vikki VanSickle
This delightful Christmas story follows a little girl as she shares all the things that go into decorating a tree, from hanging lights and ornaments to making hot chocolate and memories, in this festive picture book with stunning three-dimensional art.
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Bibi
by Jo Weaver
Bibi is an elderly flamingo who looks out for the flock, and especially the babies--but when it looks like she will not be able to migrate, the rest of the flock tell her it is their turn to look out for her.
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Hanukkah Upside Down
by Elissa Brent Weissman
From their homes in New York and New Zealand, cousins Noah and Nora have a competition to decide who can have the world's best Hanukkah, winter or summer, but as the eight nights of Hanukkah go on, they realize they have more in common than they thought.
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Grandad's Pride
by Harry Woodgate
After Milly discovers a pride flag in Grandad's attic, this adorable pair are motivated by the past to start a pride parade in their small town. Activism and celebration go hand in hand as the town gathers to help build a world where everyone is proud to be themselves.
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Nell Plants a Tree
by Anne Wynter
This gorgeous picture book follows a young girl named Nell whose careful tending of a pecan tree creates the living center of a loving, intergenerational Black family.
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Just One Little Light
by Kat Yeh
Reminds readers that even one small act of kindness can provide a glimmer of hope and bring about change.
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This is Not My Home
by Eugenia Yoh
Lily learns the true meaning of home when she and her family move back to Taiwan to take care of her elderly Ah Ma, in this humorous and heartfelt reverse immigration story showing how a place can become a home.
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