I often remark to my kids, who are 7 and 9, that they live in the heyday of children’s books. They barely look up from whatever volume they’re engrossed in to acknowledge me, but I know their voraciousness for reading is largely because of the abundance of gorgeous illustration, beautiful storytelling, and broad accessibility on bookstore and library shelves these days. (For years, I catalogued our favorites on Instagram under @kidsbooksrecs.)
There’s an amazing community of writers, illustrators, booksellers, and publishers ever-pushing the craft of children’s books to new heights and putting these stories out into the world. Here are some favorites that debuted in 2024 (as well as a few related books that came out previously), recommended by parents, media experts, a toy designer, booksellers, and children’s book authors and illustrators themselves. Any of them would make a great gift.
Picture books
This delightful gem of a book by Ruth Krauss was first printed in 1973, then reprinted in 2024 by New York Review of Books. It ponders what kids would do if they were small enough to fit under a mushroom. The answer, of course, is that kids will be kids: They’ll turn that space into a little town, watch the moon come up, become flowers in the garden, and much more.
“Morstad specializes in finding wonder in the mundane — just like kids do,” says Chadwick Matlin, journalist, dad, and author of Writ Small, a newsletter about kids’ media. “Her latest book reminds adults and kids alike to appreciate the diversity and peculiarity of the faces we see everywhere we look. Morstad’s gimlet eye and exacting pencil find faces in flowers, clouds, and potatoes. The book is a challenge to examine faces like they’re works of art. If you accept it, you’ll realize the book you’re holding is a work of art, too.”
A book, a magic trick, and a game all in one, The Book That Can Read Your Mind will intrigue readers of all ages. Stephanie Lemoine, toy-design director at Sago Mini and mom of two kids, ages 8 and 4, writes, “This book uses incredible mathematical magic to woo and amaze kids and grown-ups. Shock and surprise happens every time you read it!”
Fang’s story about mysterious visitors who crash-land in Mr. Li’s field, eventually finding connection with the folks in town, was recommended again and again by the people I spoke to. “I literally laugh until I have tears in my eyes every time I read this book. It’s a hilarious book, but also about kindness,” says Ruth Chan, illustrator and creator of the graphic memoir Uprooted. Part of its magic is its appeal to kids of all ages. “My children (ages 8 and 11) both read and loved it,” says Books Are Magic owner and author Emma Straub, “proving that no one is ever too old for picture books.” Comedy writer, author, and mother of two Bess Kalb says, “I love that it’s about being kind to those in need — and engaging and playful without talking down to kids. Fang does it so well. With a glorious illustrated world, too.”
Children’s book illustrator Eric Fan also recommends her “equally wonderful Dim Sum Palace” (published last year), in which a little girl’s love of dim sum enters her dreams and takes her on a fantasy food adventure. “She’s definitely an artist and writer to watch,” Fan says of the author.
Fan also recommends The Yellow Bus, by Loren Long, a tale about a bright-yellow bus that spends its days driving kids from home to school and back again. With echoes of The Giving Tree and other stories that mark the bittersweetness of accepting the change that comes with time, Long’s tale is “both very poignant and beautiful. He actually built a miniature town in his studio as reference for the art, and that level of commitment and loving care is evident in every aspect of the book,” says Fan.
I’d be remiss not to recommend Fan’s newest title, Barnaby Unboxed, made in collaboration with his brothers, Terry and Devin. Barnaby — a hybrid animal creation that’s half-mouse, half- elephant, and a touch flamingo — is heading home from the underground factory where he was once considered nothing but a failed experiment. He’s excited to be cared for by a kid of his own, but his experience turns out to not be quite what he expects. This is a beautiful sequel to The Barnabus Project (2020), which I’m including here since it’s one of my kids’ most beloved books. It includes cute creatures, a mysterious creature factory, and a big escape. As in all of the Fan brothers’ books, the illustrations are breathtaking and the writing is eloquent.
The house at No. 5 Bubblegum Street is crowded with a menagerie of anthropomorphized animals that need to learn to live together. In this lively book by Gosia Herba, each animal has their own quirky needs and preferences. Mouse is a famous rapper (and rather loud), Panther is a plant collector, and Bat is a rather boisterous dancer. As often happens when you live in a bustling building with busy lives, everyone needs to see past each other’s differences and celebrate each other’s strengths to really appreciate one another.
Somewhere between a picture book, a fable, and a graphic novel, this will delight kids and adults. “Sid Sharp truly does it all: presenting challenging themes and vocabulary with a wry sense of humor, with a respect for children that is heartening,” says Alex Aranda, co-founder of Majo Ideas and mom of two, ages 6 and 3. This book also has “perhaps the most memorable illustrations I have seen in years,” says Aranda. “This modern folk tale is sure to be a classic.”
“What a gift, to get a rare and intimate look into the daily lives of children across the country,” says artist and designer Erin Jang. “My 8-year-old was fascinated reading about the diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and family structures of kids his own age, broadening his perspective beyond our own.” The book documents different types of homes, family structures, abilities, religious backgrounds, and cultures in its portrayals of kids in each of the 50 states. A follow-up to Lamothe’s much-loved This Is How We Do It, All About U.S. has denser text and is better suited to more advanced readers.
“We can’t get enough of Kate DiCamillo’s silly laugh-out-loud animal adventures,” says Ligaya Tichy, a co-founder of Majo Ideas and a San Francisco–based parent of an 8-year-old. “Centered around Orris, a misanthropic rat, and Timble, a wide-eyed owl, the story turns the predator-prey relationship on its head, weaving in questions of morality and virtue.” Art by Carmen Mok “brings the story to life,” says Tichy, and she notes this is the first installment in a planned trilogy.
Chapter books
Chanel Miller, whose wrenching memoir, Know My Name, was published in 2019, has made an audience for herself through her comics and illustrations posted on Instagram. This year, she published her first middle-grade book, which stars Magnolia, a plucky 10-year-old sock detective whose parents own a laundromat. Part mystery, part adventure, and part ode to New York, Tichy says, “This tale of friendship and discovery will have you falling in love with NYC all over again.”
“This is a sensitively written mystery adventure that is also a love letter to growing up in Brooklyn, the ingenuity and curiosity of children, and the diversity of life in a sprawling old Brooklyn apartment building full of character, history, and unique stories behind every door,” says Davi Marra, co-owner of Lofty Pigeon Books in Brooklyn. This is a great pick for kids who love to get lost in vivid details and follow their characters around on a city-wide romp.
A Gallery of Rogues is another stellar sequel published this year, the follow-up to The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels (2023). “This is a wonderfully offbeat mystery series for middle-grade readers, full of eccentric characters and clever humor, with witty writing that makes it a perfect read-aloud,” says Courtney Klein, founder of Storq and mom of two. Shenanigan Swift searches for family treasure, has to confront art thieves, and goes on adventure after adventure along the way.
Boy 2.0 is “a completely original superhero story that deftly tackles issues of race, family, and belonging with adventure and heart,” says Briana Parker, a co-owner of Lofty Pigeon Books. Baptiste combines science fiction with deep realism as Win “Coal” Keegan, a boy navigating the foster-care system who’s reluctant to trust those around him. He also happens to have the power of invisibility.
The first installment in Peter Brown’s wildly popular, heartfelt, and inventive series The Wild Robot recently debuted in theaters to wide and enthusiastic reception. A soulful robot named Roz washes up on a remote island and develops deep relationships with the array of living creatures there. The second book in the series, The Wild Robot Escapes, follows Roz after her stint on the island, and the third title, published this year, The Wild Robot Protects, sees Roz back in her role as the island protector. This series is fun to read aloud, but it’s also a good fit for developing middle-grade readers.
Nonfiction
My daughter tore through Ruth Chan’s graphic memoir in less than a day, reading while walking to school, possibly reading at school, and reading on the way home. She loved this story about navigating change, as a young Ruth has to pick up and move from Toronto to Hong Kong and leave her friends and familiar life behind. As she faces the challenge of navigating life in a new place and new language, she wrestles with complicated and hard feelings. Chan tells the story of adapting to a tough change with a level of humor and honesty that kids deeply appreciate.
“We just started this one but already know it’s one we will continue to go back to,” says Aranda. “It reads like a book of poems or short stories, and each entry answers a question — from common: Why is the sky blue? To human: Why do we all wish for things? To comical: Why are grown-ups always right?” The answers to all these questions, which were submitted over years to author Gianni Rodari, have been newly illustrated by JooHee Yoon. (Originally published in 1980, the English translation of this book was published in 2024.) “Rodari’s responses are thoughtful and inspiring,” Aranda says. “It’s time to get creative when bombarded by your kids with: Why? Why? Why?”
My kids are currently in their rocks-and-gems phase, and finding a compelling way to tell the story of how these specimens came to be can be challenging. In What a Rock Can Reveal, with almost tactile-feeling illustrations of gorgeous rocks and minerals by Sonia Pulido, Wei-Haas focuses on telling the story of Earth’s geology. She explains how a rock’s shape, color, and texture can give us clues about its own story. This is a great pick for a young scientist or any kid with an appreciation for nature.
This book by A24 (the film company) “is full of movie-night recommendations for kids of different ages,” says writer and artist Austin Kleon. “My family and I have been doing Friday pizza-and-a-movie-night for over three years now, and a book like this is so helpful for choosing the next flick.” Full of movie facts, games, and recommended titles from over the years, this book is a helpful way to get kids excited about lesser-known movies, cult classics, and lots of suggestions you never would have come across just endlessly scrolling Netflix.
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