Best Picture Books of 2025

1. Broken by X. Fang 

X. Fang strikes again. Mei Mei tells the story of accidentally breaking Ama’s cup (while trying to scare the cat). Ama doesn’t realize it was Mei Mei and blames the cat, and Mei Mei feels a mixture of extreme fear of getting caught and intense guilt over the cat getting the blame. So much of the genius of this book is timing and framing. Fang uses them to maximum dramatic and comedic effect. There are a few pages of the cat staring down Mei Mei, the cat’s head getting bigger and bigger as Mei Mei’s guilt intensifies. Of course Mei Mei’s worst fears do not come to pass, as grandma does not get mad and repairs the cup. Fang’s illustrations are excellent all around, as usual.

2. Everyday Bean by Stephanie Graegin 

Bean is a small hedgehog who lives with her grandma. Everyday Bean is a collection of eleven sweet, cozy, often humorous stories about everyday things that Bean does. She picks out a plant that is just right (a small cactus that bears a striking resemblance to Bean). In another story she transforms a cardboard box into a house, a spaceship, a pirate ship, and an ice cream truck. In another, she leaves the house in search of a better mood, and her grandma tells her to be back by Tuesday. The illustrations look like colored pencil, but were drawn on an iPad, using Adobe Fresco, and perfectly match the warmth and coziness of the stories.

3. When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by London Ladd 

Each spread of this beautiful book about African American/Negro spirituals contains a few lines about the powerful effect of spirituals on the soul, along with lyrics of a spiritual and a rich mixed media illustration. Some spreads feature modern life, while others depict the past. Spirituals seem to speak to every part of life: joy, sorrow and suffering, peace, dancing, courage and strength, and, of course, religious faith. As soon as I read it, I looked up the spirituals to listen to them properly, which I really enjoyed. A beautiful, meaningful book that speaks to the soul.

4. Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey

“Here is Lena. She looks like a chicken, right? But Lena didn’t believe she was a chicken. Not for one second! Deep down in the bottom of her heart, Lena was sure she was a…DINOSAUR!” Lena is bold and different, but her family are chickens! They’re scared of everything, especially the weasel trying to break into the coop. Enter Lena, whose inner dinosaur makes her a fearsome opponent. Hilarious, entertaining, and based on recent scientific discoveries. K-Fai Steele illustrates and adds so much. The chicks are little hairy balls that crack me up, there’s even a silky chicken, the weasel has a vanity and pink slippers, at the science fair at the end you can see one kid picking his nose, Lena has the shadow of a dinosaur. LOVE it!

5. The Polar Bear and the Ballerina by Eric Velasquez

After young ballerinas have a photoshoot with the polar bear at the zoo, one young ballerina and the polar bear form a bond. The bear escapes the zoo, grabs the ballerina’s dropped red scarf and makes his way to the Met to find her. After some tense moments and a certain amount of growling, the bear gets to watch, enraptured from the audience as the ballerina dances. The bear returns home, dancing as he goes, imagining himself as a ballerina. Velasquez’s illustrations make this book, especially since it’s wordless. He paints blue toned pages with a single red accent: the red scarf, which pulls the reader through the story. The paintings are beautiful—I loved the faces and the ballerina’s elongated fingers and pointed toes.

6. A Fall Day for Bear by by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

This is a heartwarming story of two friends who were supposed to have a picnic, but one of them is just too, too sad. Bear’s accidental and gymnastic slip and fall leads to laughter, a cozy afternoon and repaired moods. It has a lovely, old fashioned feel to it. Denton’s expressive illustrations show the characters feeling their emotions throughout their entire bodies. I loved the drama of Mouse’s forlorn sadness and Bear’s eventual succumbing to the sadness: “I’m going home,” Bear announced. “I shall be deeply sad by the fire!” Laughter is the best medicine.

7. Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat

The narrator of this funny book starts by describing categories of animals, first mammals, then reptiles, then birds, then fish. “Fish don’t follow any rules,” the narrator notes. Some have gills. Some have lungs. Some live in salt water. Some live in fresh water.” and on with the conclusion: “DON’T TRUST FISH.” Soon, the narrator reveals a bit of his own paranoia–are the fish plotting our demise? It gets funnier and funnier as we see a lazy-eyed fish with an empty eyed stare who the narrator claims is their leader, named Jeff. It’s silly and funny and ridiculous, but it also contains a lot of real facts and information about fish.  Kids will love it.

8. Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story About Sharing by Matthew Diffee

Farm animals make their sounds, until sheep claims “baa” and goat is left wondering what he can say since “baa” is taken. He tries “oink,” quack” and “ribbit,” but all are taken. Goat’s solution? “Zip zap wickety wack bing bang walla balla flip flap yackety yack wing ding dilly!” Surely no one else says that…right? Enter an alien who informs goat that that is what he says.” The alien teaches the animals about sharing, while also hilariously demonstrating his own unwillingness to share. The colored pencil illustrations are warm and cozy, like an old fashioned book, while the story is wacky and funny.

9. Let’s Be Bees by Shawn Harris

The first time I read this, I wasn’t sure if I liked it or if it weirded me out. A father reads Let’s Be Bees to his son/daughter (not entirely clear), starting with the first words: “Let’s be bees. Let’s buzz.” On the next page, we see father bee buzzing with little bee. This pattern continues with animals, plants, natural phenomenon, etc. More and more sounds fill the page with each page turn until, “Let’s be the earth” and they’re making every sound. It’s super fun. Lots of opportunities for silliness and sound-making. It’s a little weird and disconcerting to see things like trees growing out of their shirts instead of heads as they “rustle” and become trees, but in the end I decided to go with it and had a blast.

10. Parks: A Nonfiction Picture Book About Parks Around the World by Marc Majewski

The text of Parks consists of simple descriptive sentences (Parks are big; parks are small; parks sparkle; parks dazzle; parks bark; parks roar; etc). Each descriptor is illustrated with a busy, lively illustration of a real park from somewhere in the world. The note at the end tells the reader all about the various parks–everything from Central Park in NYC to the Nishi-Rokugo Park in Japan that is filled with 3,000 recycled tires. I loved the spare text and full, busy and bright illustrations. There is so much to look at! A celebration of parks, play and exploration.

Honorable Mention

Tuck Me In by Nathan W Pyle 

Pencil by Hye-Eun Kim 

Bally The Amazing Wonderball by Jordan Morris

The Riding Lesson by Jennifer K. Mann

Books of 2025

Books read: 47
Fiction: 26
Nonfiction: 21
Adult: 29
Teen: 6
Children's: 12
Graphic Novels: 2
Classics: 4
Longest: 1312 pages
Shortest: 60 pages 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen 

The 1995 adaptation of this movie, written by Emma Thompson and directed by Ang Lee is one of my all-time favorite movies, so I was bound to love the book. I love the characters and how they often contrast each other—especially Elinor and Marianne, sense and sensibility, so to speak. Willoughby, beautiful, unmoderated, reckless and selfish, acts as a perfect foil to Edward and Colonel Brandon who are good, honorable and unassuming. I appreciated Austen’s portrayal of relationships and the effects of romantic feelings and entanglements on the two sisters. Truly, very little has changed in 200 years. Austen’s descriptions are spot on and she does it all with wit and grace.

I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir by Eugene Yelchin 

I was immediately pulled in by this graphic memoir by Eugene Yelchin, set in 1980s Soviet Russia. Yevgeny is an artist, showing a self-portrait at an illegal art show, when his eyes meet with an American girl's through the crowd. He falls hard, and much of the book involves their relationship, but the specter of the Soviet Union always looms. KGB eyes watch, people go missing or die unexpectedly (in "accidents") and a draft for the Afghanistan War (that isn't really a war, it's a "military operation") threatens Yevgeny. He takes a job painting sets in Siberia to avoid the draft. Yelchin's art is arresting. He evokes not only the cold and dark of the snow but the oppressiveness of the country. The backgrounds are grainy like old film reels, and images of Soviet propaganda and leadership  are constantly featured. Yelchin creates cinematic moments with his panels, like when Yevgeny and Lizzy meet, you get the distinct feeling that time has stopped as their eyes meet through the crowd. And I love the faces--so expressive, never especially beautiful, but that's what I loved. The effect is powerful. Yelchin’s story is harrowing and brutal. It blew me away, and I hope Yelchin continues to share more of his story through literature. (The book that came before this, about his childhood (and written for a younger audience), The Genius Under the Table, is also excellent, as is his fictional children’s book, Breaking Stalin’s Nose.) (Teen)

I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart 

Miranda Hart is virtually unknown in the US, but in the UK, she’s a well-loved comedian with a TV show called Miranda. I loved that show. It made me laugh and, in some ways, feel less alone, because she was awkward and silly. For the last 10 years or so, she’s been living out of the spotlight, largely because of chronic illness. This book is a bit of a memoir, but it’s largely about living with chronic illness and the “treasures” that have helped her to approach it in a mentally healthy way and experience more joy, peace and confidence in her life. I really loved this book. For one, I loved hearing the stories from her life—especially how she met someone and fell in love in the most unlikely circumstances and eventually got married at the age of 51. But I also loved her realistic approach to her treasures. She describes how much she rolled her eyes at certain platitudes, how much she resisted optimistic and zen attitudes, and how she came to believe she could have a good life in her difficult circumstances. I listened to this book and have listened to it again at times when I needed a boost or comfort or encouragement. 

The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eger 

Edith Eger was sent to Auschwitz as a teenager. She survived and returned home, married, had a baby and then fled the communist takeover of her homeland. She immigrated to America where she and her family started from scratch, enduring poverty and prejudice before finally settling in El Paso, TX, which, for her, was a land of tolerance and freedom. But no matter where she went or what she did, the trauma of her experiences at the hands of the Nazis came with her. She went on to study psychology, wondering, much like Viktor Frankl, what it was that allowed some survivors of the Holocaust to thrive. Her story is a fascinating one, and her ability to forge ahead in spite of her stolen youth, murdered family, and horrible trauma is impressive, to say the least. She is one of those people with a gift for resilience, but she doesn’t sugar-coat trauma or view the world through unrealistic rose-colored glasses. The book has lots to offer—an interesting life story as well as psychological wisdom that she’s gleaned over the years both from her own experiences and from counseling others in her psychology practice.

Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell 

I don’t even know how to explain this book. Who are Cabin Head and Tree Head? Best friends who like to say hello to other heads, like Mossy Rock Head and Telephone Pole Head. They have six stories, plus one chapter that is a collection of stories read to them by Library Head during storytime. In one story, Leaf Head asks for an overly ambitious “leaf cut” (think haircut but for a tree) of “a dolphin jumping over a wave made of stars with an octopus surfing on it eating a taco covered in planets and a tiger wearing a hat.” Needless to say, it doesn't go well. In another story Cabin Head and Tree Head go around offering enthusiastic “hellos” to everyone in sight and startle Volcano Head so much that he starts to erupt and they must find a way to calm him down. The illustrations are well done and give kids plenty to look at–-there are so many heads participating in various activities. The book has Frog and Toad and Noodleheads vibes. It’s a graphic novel, but would probably work as an easy reader and/or an easy chapter book. Delightful, funny, silly, weird. It’s great. (Children's)

The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides 

An account of Captain Cook’s fateful and final voyage. I was pretty drawn in from the beginning of this book. Hampton Sides has written an interesting narrative that pulls you in while also providing a balanced, fleshed out account of Captain Cook, somewhere between the extremes of hero and villain. He used sources from native Hawaiians as well as the first-hand accounts of crewmembers and commentary from modern historians. I found everything about the story interesting. There was so much I didn’t know, hadn’t heard. And as is so often the case, truth is often stranger than fiction. (Adult)

Infidel: My Life by Ayaan Hirsi Ali 

Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Somalia but spent portions of her childhood in Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Kenya. As an adult in her 20s she fled an arranged marriage on her way to Canada by claiming refugee status in the Netherlands. Her life and perspective were so interesting to read about—her experiences in different countries, her relationship to her religion, and then her experience living in a Western country for the first time. I especially appreciated hearing her take on Europe--seeing the West from an outsider’s perspective rather than someone who grew up in it. This book was written years ago, when she was a quite vocal atheist. But fascinatingly, she announced her conversion to Christianity in 2023. I very much hope she will publish a book about that part of her life to add to this one. 

Heidi by Johanna Spyri 

I read Heidi because of an upcoming trip to Switzerland. Heidi is raised by her grandfather up in the mountains with goats and goat-herding neighbors. She’s not educated and doesn’t go to church, until her aunt whisks her away to the big city to become a companion to a young teen confined to a wheelchair. Heidi is too young and uncivilized for the position but charms most everyone with her exuberance, spunk, and frankness. I was charmed too. Heidi is funny, heartwarming, and surprisingly religious. It’s about the healing power of nature, friendship, faith, and that Secret Garden trope of you can be healed from your wheelchair-confining illness if you just get some fresh air and try to walk. Also, it gives the distinct impression that Swiss farmers subsisted mostly on milk and cheese. (Children's)

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 

I loved this book. Marty is presented with a moral and ethical dilemma: he finds a dog that doesn’t belong to him and wants to keep him. To make matters worse, the dog rightfully belongs to Judd, a mean man who is known to abuse his dogs. Marty knows he can care for and love the dog better than his true owner. Marty first tries theft and dishonesty, hiding the dog at home, knowing that his parents won't approve. (spoilers follow) But keeping Shiloh in a hiding spot in the woods puts him in danger. When Shiloh is attacked by another dog, Marty must get him to the vet, revealing his secret to everyone, and sending Shiloh back into the hands of Judd. Next, Marty sees an opportunity to blackmail Judd into getting Shiloh back, but Marty’s naivete leads him into a worthless contract with no leverage. What I really loved was what Marty does once Judd reveals he’s not going to honor the deal: Marty continues to work, fulfilling his promise, and doing his part to earn the money to buy Shiloh. It’s in this honorable act that Marty gets to know Judd a little bit better, and Judd's heart is softened to the point that he gives Shiloh to Marty as originally promised. (Children's)

George Orwell: A Sage for All Seasons by Michael Shelden

A lecture series from the Great Courses--does that count? Because it absolutely was one of my favorite things I listened to this year. Orwell lived a fascinating and adventurous life. Michael Shelden wrote the authorized biography of Orwell, speaking to many people who knew him personally and gaining access to letters. I read a number of essays alongside the lectures, notably "The Prevention of Literature" and "Politics and the English Language," both of which are incredibly relevant today. I admire many things about Orwell--for one, his willingness to get dirty. Instead of just talking about class, he lived amongst the working class and got to know them and their challenges first-hand, he even fought in the Spanish Civil War. But even more than that, I admire his pursuit of truth and his determination to speak truth no matter what (and in the midst of a mess of propaganda and ideology). He saw hypocrisy and called it out, even when it was coming from people supposedly pushing his own ideals.  

Honorable Mention

Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton 

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 

The Wish Swish by Lynn Painter 

On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization by Douglas Murray

In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks by Richard E. Turley Jr.

The Wild River and the Great Dam: The Construction of Hoover Dam and the Vanishing Colorado River by Simon Boughton

All the books:

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor • The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman • Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan • Heidi by Johanna Spyri • I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart • Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White • Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger • Infidel: My Life by Ayaan Hirsi Ali • Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie • The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke • The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal • You’re the Boss by Brian Weisfeld & Bonnie Bader • The Wild River and the Great Dam: The Construction of Hoover Dam and the Vanishing Colorado River by Simon Boughton • Build the Life You Want by Arthur C. Brooks • Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton • The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter* • The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas • The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins • What Happened to Rachel Riley? By Claire Swinarski • Fahrenheit 182 by Mark Hoppus* • George Orwell: A Sage for All Seasons by Michael Shelden •1984 by George Orwell • It’s Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground by David Litt* • I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery* • The Art Thief by Michael Finkel • Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up by Dave Barry* • The Midnight Library by Matt Haig • The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar* • O Pioneers! By Willa Cather • The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America by Kostya Kennedy* • Homecoming by Kate Morton • I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang* • Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King • The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger • Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim* • The Gift: 14 Lessons to Save Your Life by Edith Eger • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas • On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization by Douglas Murray •  I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir by Eugene Yelchin* • In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks by Richard E. Turley Jr. • The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides* • The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba* • Hostage by Eli Sharabi* • Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen • 100 Years of Healing: The Legacy of a Missionary Doctor by Evelyn E. Cook

* indicates published in 2025

Best Picture Books of 2024

1. We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang 

Three blue and pink aliens show up in the middle of the night with a broken vehicle. When asked who they are, they respond, “We are DEFINITELY human.” Despite their strange appearance and comical behaviors, the Li family and their town welcome the visitors and help them make repairs. A sotry about kindness that's funny and not sentimental. Great illustrations. 

2. How We Share Cake by Kim Hyo-Eun, translated by Deborah Smith 

When there are five children in your family, everything must be shared five ways—whether it's an apple, hand-me-down clothes or time on the new scooter. But as much as this is about the complexities and challenges of sharing, it's also about the value and meaning of family. When things go wrong and when things go right, they're there for you and can't wait to hear about what happened. Kim deftly illustrates the experience of sharing, and humor is sprinkled throughout, sometimes making me laugh out loud. I loved it. 

3. The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham 

“There once was a man who loved his tidy home and who didn’t like animals.” A cat shows up and he tells the cat to go away, but the cat doesn’t. Turns out they have a fair amount in common and the man decides the cat isn’t so bad. Soon all sorts of animals are showing up and staying, despite the initial “go away.” Soon the question arises, can one man have too many animals? This is funny with great, animated illustrations by master illustrator LeUyen Pham. 

4. The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods by Michael Please 

When Rene saved and worked to open her cafe, she envisioned delectable masterpieces for refined palates, not "a bag of bats that smells like farts" for ogres. But an ogre is her only customer. Rene is ready to give up on her dream, but her waiter Glumfoot has an idea: rearrange Rene's beautiful cheese tart to look like a bat and truffle stew to look like slugs. These are the best bats and slugs the ogre's ever had. Together Glumfoot and Rene work together in a cafe packed with all sorts of magical creatures who can't wait to eat Rene's delicious and disgusting food. The words rhyme and the illustrations are cinematic and lush and hilariously disgusting. 

5. The Pelican Can by Toni Yuly 

Who can see it's time to eat? The pelican can! The pelican can! I love the simplicity of this book. Through questions all answered with "the pelican can," we see a baby pelican follow mama pelican as she flies and dives and scoops up some fish for dinner. The illustrations are equally simple, featuring a torn paper background and black line drawings and silhouettes. The "pelican can" chorus is great fun. And it works for mealtime and bedtime, as the story ends with the sun setting. 

6. Mabel Wants a Friend by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal 

"Mabel always got what she wanted." This is easy to accomplish when you choose to spend all your time alone and willingly trick and even steal to get what you want. But when Mabel accidentally makes a friend, she kind of likes it. Her friend helps her keep her selfish impulses in check until Mabel declares, "If you really want to be friends you'll let me have whatever I want." Of course this isn't how friendship works, and Mabel goes back to spending a lot of time alone, which maybe isn't as great as she previously thought. Wonderful kid-friendly illustrations accompany this story of the value of friends and helping others over getting everything you want. 

7. Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo 

When Jun moves to America, she knows very little English. Making friends is hard without the ability to communicate, and she feels so alone…until she opens her lunchbox, and the tastes and smells bring to her mind vivid memories of family and friends from home. Each bite radiates hearts and sparks joy. When approached by a classmate, she offers her a dumpling, and soon she and others are participating in a culinary cultural exchange and she starts making friends. Though mostly wordless, her emotions come through clearly in the beautiful illustrations. The end of the book features a diagram of what is in her lunchbox (bao, dumplings, bok choy, etc).  

8. Two Little Red Mittens by Kirin Hayashi, illustrated by Chiaki Okada, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa 

This book feels old fashioned in the best possible way. It’s cozy and warm even though it’s about a mitten getting lost in the snowy forest. One mitten misses the other until it learns how it’s been lovingly used by the animals in the forest. The illustrations are lovely. It all has a gentle feeling to it. 

9. Animals Go Vroom! By Abi Cushman 

At first glance, this looks like a traditional sound and die cut book. “Roar goes the…” and then you see a tiger revealed through a cleverly placed hole. “Tiger” your young one might reply. But, no. Turn the page and you’ll see the roaring is coming from a truck rumbling up the road. Most of the animal sounds in this book come from vehicles. And if you look closely, you’ll see storylines emerge from page to page. There’s the pigeon with her own child that goes on a picnic. There’s the box of nails that punctures the snake’s car tire. There’s the sea lion painting portraits of animals and then trying to sell them to his subjects (and the purchased painting with its new owner). This is a lot of fun.

10. The Painter and the President by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Stacy Innerst

Character portraits meet painted portraits in this lighthearted look at a moment in history. Gilbert Stuart painted one of the most famous portraits of President George Washington. Stuart liked to chat with his subjects, getting to know them and their personalities, but President Washington was a hard nut to crack--until that is, Stuart discovered Washington's love of horses. Stacy Innerst's illustrations are wonderful. Sarah Albee tells the story in a way that teaches history, without the reader even being aware of it.

Honorable mention:

Heatwave by Lauren Redniss 

Lucky Duck by Greg Pizzoli 

The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America’s Cook by Emma Bland Smith, illustrated by Susan Reagan 

The First Week of School by Drew Beckmeyer 

Pig Town Party by Lian Cho 

Good Little Mermaid’s Guide to Bedtime by Eija Sumner, illustrated by Nici Gregory 

Books of 2024

Books read: 30
Adult: 15
Teen: 4
Children's: 11
Nonfiction: 13
Fiction: 16
Plays: 1

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 

When people ask that impossible question, "What is your favorite book?" my go-to answer is Anna Karenina, but I realized I haven't read it in 20 years, so I thought I'd see what I thought reading it today. Unsurprisingly, I loved it. I was able to take my time and notice the wonderful writing and character development. All of Tolstoy's characters have such depth. In this reading, I particularly loved Dolly--whose life is a mess, mostly because of her irresponsible, philandering husband, but she still manages to be a kind person and enjoys moments of beauty and joy as she raises her children. I read Rosamund Bartlett's translation and may have liked it even better than P&V's. 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 

I really enjoyed this, got totally engrossed in her world and story. My favorite moment is the source of the title: People told Katie that it might be better if her sickly baby dies, but she responds, "It's not better to die...Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It’s growing out of sour earth. And it’s strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong. My children will be strong that way." She defiantly says to them, "This baby will live." 

Yearning for the Living God: Reflections from the Life of F. Enzio Busche by Enzio Busche 

Enzio Busche converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in post-war Germany after a period of study. Later, he became a leader in the church. This is his memoir. I picked up the book largely because I was interested to learn about his experiences growing up in Nazi Germany, and being drafted at age 14 (!). This takes up a very brief part of the book, and the rest is filled with lots of inspiring and interesting stories which testify of God’s presence in our lives. 

Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman 

Two girls who’ve always been enemies find themselves thrown together when both their fathers are at work in Chernobyl at the time of the meltdown. It’s a book about friendship and overcoming prejudices. Really nicely done. (Middle grade, but I think it would work for teens also.)

Lone Wolf Goes to School by Kiah Thomas, illustrated by K-Fai Steele 

“Wolf could count his friends on one hand. Three, two, one…NONE! And that was the way he liked it.” That’s how this easy chapter book starts. The illustrations are silly and a touch grotesque. The “snotty kids” have literal green boogers hanging out their noses through the whole book. It is laugh out loud funny. The illustrations are so good–those facial expressions. And spoiler alert, Wolf absolutely does not learn the value of friendship. (Easy chapter book)

Troubled by Rob Henderson 

From a drug-addicted mother, to foster care, to an adoptive family, to a broken home, to the military, to Yale, to being published by the NY Times, to Cambridge. I couldn’t put this down. I think I read it in 2-4 days. The thing that really stood out to me was this: at the end of the book, he looks at all his accomplishments and successes and realizes he would trade it all for a stable home life growing up. 

Bye Forever I Guess by Jodi Meadows 

This was really cute. A thirteen year old who loves video games and has an instagram account featuring texts sent to wrong numbers. And then she gets an accidental text from someone her age that begins to form into a real friendship, but what will happen if/when the digital crosses into the real world? Also she’s not quite cool enough for her best friend, so there’s friend drama, too. Fast, hard to put down. (Middle grade)

The Outrun by Amy Liptrot 

Memoir about an alcoholic realizing she needs help, going to rehab, and returning to her childhood home to find a life of sobriety in the Orkney Islands. I enjoyed the strong sense of place Liptrot creates with her descriptions of Orkney. There is something peaceful and comforting about the natural world she experiences that I felt as I read. 

Day of Infamy by Walter Lord 

I wanted visiting Pearl Harbor to be more meaningful, so I read this and learned exactly what happened that day. There were times I couldn’t put it down. I learned a lot.

Mountain of Fire: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helens by Rebecca E. F. Barone 

Gotta love a volcano book. There was so much I didn’t know or understand about Mt. St. Helens, and it was so interesting to learn about. It was the first lateral eruption on record, and they had no idea how devastating a lateral eruption could be. One misconception this book cleared up is that very few people were inside the red zone. The reason so many died is because their predictions were wrong rather than people defying evacuation orders. At the end, she goes over what might have happened if the volcano had erupted any later than it did, which is sobering. The chapters are short, so this is great for the middle grade audience it’s written for. (Middle grade)

Honorable mention:

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Egil's Saga by Snorri Sturluson

The Heart of the Matter by Russell M. Nelson (only belatedly realized I didn't have this on my list and maybe should have included it in the top 10, but I'm sticking it here, at least for now.)

The Heart of the Matter by Russell M. Nelson • The Outrun by Amy Liptrot • Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper • Troubled by Rob Henderson* • The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us by Tanya Lee Stone • Bad Therapy by Abigail Schrier* • Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy • Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross • Take Me with You When You Go by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven • The Parasitic Mind by Gad Saad • Oedipus the King by Sophocles • Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman • A Confession by Leo Tolstoy • A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith • How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell • Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance • Odder by Katherine Applegate • They Call Me No Sam by Drew Daywalt • Far Beyond Gold by Sydney McLaughlin • I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys • Egil’s Saga by Snorri Sturluson • Bye Forever I Guess by Jodi Meadows* • Day of Infamy by Walter Lord • Lone Wolf Goes to School by Kiah Thomas, illustrated by K-Fai Steele* • Lone Wolf Gets a Pet by Kiah Thomas, illustrated by K-Fai Steele* • The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers • Good Energy by Casey Means* • Yearning for the Living God: Reflections from the Life of F. Enzio Busche by Enzio Busche • Mountain of Fire by Rebecca E. F. Barone* • The Wild Robot by Peter Brown 

Best Picture Books of 2023

 Here's my list of favorite/best picture books published in 2023

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage

Dr Morley goes to the arctic with a skilled crew to find the legendary giant Arctic jellyfish, which no one has ever seen. As they search, they see beluga whales, orcas, narwhals, and polar bears; they see the aurora and icebergs; they dive into the depths of the sea and travel to new places. They work very hard, but still no jellyfish. Eventually the failure of their trip starts to sink in and they prepare to return home, when Dr Morley catches a glimpse of something--"could that be?" What the illustrations reveal that my description does not is that the jellyfish is there the whole time, hiding. Children will undoubtedly see this as they read. The ink and watercolor illustrations are beautiful and transporting. On some pages, we see intricate cross-sections of the boat, revealing every room and every person at work. Other pages display explorations and magnificent scenery both above and below the water. What made this a favorite of mine is the meaning, which I think could be summed up as: Have faith. Don't lose hope. 

How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

In 1936, eight grader Macnolia Cox won the Akron, Ohio spelling bee. She was the first African American to win, and she and another girl were the first African American students to advance and compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC. This book tells the story of her academic excellence and the discrimination she faced on her way to prove that African American students were just as smart as everyone else. Macnolia excelled at the National Spelling Bee and only made a mistake when asked to spell a word that was not in the dictionaries provided by the spelling bee to study. "Can you spell U-N-F-A-I-R?" the narrator asks. Frank Morrison really takes this book to the next level with his illustrations. The colors are saturated and vibrant. The emotions are palpable. I love looking at Macnolia. She looks small on stage with her nerves, serene when studying, fierce when facing racism, and proud, knowing who she is. Wonderful.

Dim Sum Palace by X. Fang

Liddy is so excited to go to Dim Sum Palace, she can hardly sleep. But before she knows it, she's following an irresistible smell to the kitchens of Dim Sum Palace. There are treats of every size and shape, but before she can eat, she tumbles into a bowl of dumpling filling and gets folded into a dumpling to be served to a very hungry empress. This was a delight. I love the style of the illustrations--particularly all those round cheeked-faces. Now I need to go get some dim sum...

Afikomen by Tziporah Cohen and Yaara Eshet

In this wordless picture book, loved ones gather round the table to celebrate Passover. The children steal the afikomen and climb under the table with it, only something strange happens. When they pass under the tablecloth, they find themselves in Egypt. They watch a woman place her baby in a basket and put it in the river. They follow the basket, trying to keep it safe until it's found by Pharaoh's daughter. My favorite part of this book is the page where the children open the basket themselves to see Moses. Yaara Eshet captures the most wonderful moment of awe on the children's faces. I love how this book combines reverence and childlike play.

Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? by Helen Yoon

The little narrator in this picture book is looking for her invisible dinosaur. It's a challenge because once she cleans him, he's...invisible. Many of her schemes to find him (like putting up Lost Dinosaur flyers which contain an empty square for a picture, because the dinosaur is invisible, after all) fail, until suddenly, she does find him. Funny, silly, and whimsical.

Roll, Roll Little Pea by Cécile Bergame, illustrated by Magali Attiogbé

In this picture book for younger readers, a pea rolls away across the floor, under the stairs, past the mouse and the cat, and you get the idea. There's some nice repetition and eye catching bold and bright illustrations.

You Go First by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

There's a new slide in town, and Cat and Duck are excited to try it. Or at least Duck is. Cat is not so sure. Cat finds lots of ways to procrastinate trying the slide and eventually warns Duck of all that could go wrong. When Cat sees that Duck doesn't want to go anymore because of the worries he introduced, he sees the only solution is to show her how fun the slide is. A funny and sweet story about overcoming fears and being a good friend.

Simon and the Better Bone by Corey Tabor

Simon the dog sees another dog with a bone better than his. Only it's not another dog, it's his own reflection and he doesn't realize it. He tries various tactics to get the bone, but they mostly don't work (for obvious reasons). When he thinks his new friend has lost his bone, he offers him a new one. Based of Aesop's "The Dog and his Reflection," this one is sweet and funny. Tabor illustrated it so that you hold the book horizontally instead of vertically, so that the reflection is on the bottom and Simon is on the top. Fun.

The Biggest Mistake by Camilla Pintonato

Lion thinks catching gazelles will be easy, but each time he tries, he learns that maybe it's not so easy. Bright, bold and fun.

A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

A boy finds an envelope with a map from his father who recently passed away. He goes into the woods and finds a box his dad made when he was his son's age. It's filled with drawings of and poetry about the woods. One of the things that makes this book really special is the story behind those that made it. Celebrated illustrator Jerry Pinkney died before this books could be finished. But he had made the sketches for the book, and they were used for the illustrations. Then Jerry's son Brian finished the sketches by adding color in his own style. They're pretty fantastic. So this is book about a boy grieving the loss of his father and walking in the woods as his father loved to do, illustrated by a son grieving the loss of his father who loved to take walks in the woods. Beautifully written by Nikki Grimes, and beautifully illustrated by the Pinkneys. 

Honorable mention:

The Real Story by Sergio Ruzzier

The Red Fruit by Lee Gee Eun

Problem Solved! by Jan Thomas

See the Ghost by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Mine! A Story of Not Sharing by Klara Persson, illustrated by Charlotte Ramel

How to Count to 1 by Caspar Salmon, illustrated by Matt Hunt