It is no secret that kids books send my my heart racing–the illustrations, the covers, the carefully chosen words woven together to help make big beautiful things in life make sense for kids.
I collect kids books like art and have great admiration for the authors and illustrators who use their words and pictures to entertain, delight and inspire children. We have whittled down our collection over the years to fit our shelves, and because we have little space and so many books (publishers send them to me as well), I find myself getting choosier about what new kids books stay in our home and what books I buy for the kids.
The good ones find a way to get in though because I cannot resist beautiful children’s literature, and there are so many new wonderful books being published. I posted this list of 50 of our favorite picture books, but we’ve added several to it since. Especially of note are some new books that deal with important issues for kids–inclusion, acceptance, understanding hard emotions and recognizing, loving and valuing the way we are different from others. These six new books spark needed conversations with kids around these topics and all received the golden ticket to join our favorites collection.
Everybody’s Welcome – A beautiful message of inclusion, this book tells the story of a group of forest animals who all come together to build a home where everyone is welcome and everyone belongs. The illustrations have a beautiful vintage feel to them with a warm and woodsy color palette.
All the Ways to Be Smart – a little hard to get your hands on in the US right now (UK publisher, I believe), but it’s worth the extra shipping. When I heard about this book before Christmas, I went on a wild goose chase to get it–that’s how bad I wanted it. It’s pertinent for every child who has ever compared how smart they are to someone else or how good they are at something compared with how good someone else is. I’m pretty sure that’s EVERY CHILD. And it has a whole other layer of depth for those of us raising a child with an intellectual disability. The message woven through this book is one I feel so passionate that children understand, especially in this day and age of standardized testing being used so heavily to define a child’s ability. That is, there are SO many ways to be smart, and all of them are important. Books and tests are one tiny way, but there’s understanding people, and being a good storyteller, and playing music, and entertaining a crowd, and asking good questions, and caring for others, and making creative fashion choices…the list goes on and on and on. Every child who reads this book will know that their kind of smart is so valuable. Darling illustrations, fun rhyming, and a concept with such depth presented in the most easy-to-understand way for kids.
The Big Umbrella – Similar to the theme of Everybody’s Welcome, this book prompts conversations about kindness and inclusion through the story of an umbrella where everyone is welcome to stand under when it rains, no matter what you look like or how different you are. The underlying theme: Don’t worry that there won’t be enough room under the umbrella. Because there will always be room.
When Charlie Met Emma – This forthcoming book (March 12–can be preordered) is by my friend Amy Webb, the perfect person to write a children’s book about inclusion. Amy has a daughter with limb differences just like the main character in this book who helps a new friend understand how to treat her–just like everyone else. “Different is just different, and different is great.” If you’ve ever wondered how to teach your child how to “react” when meeting someone who looks different or has an obvious disability, this book is a great way to talk about it and remind kids that behind the disability we see is an interesting person–much like you and me–who makes a great friend.
Remarkably You – I want to memorize every word of this book to sing to my children in their sleep — such an empowering message packed in the beautifully illustrated pages of this book. OWN WHO YOU ARE and know your potential. Whether you’re loud or shy, the quiet bookworm, the funny one always making people laugh, the fast one, the one taking her time, the one who easily receives attention or the quiet unnoticed one…DO NOT CHANGE WHO YOU ARE to be like everyone else. Know that you make an impact, just as you are. I love this line: “No matter your volume, your age, or your size, YOU have the power to be a surprise. …You could change the world. Are you willing to start?
When Sadness is at Your Door – An emotionally brilliant book for kids. We have lots of kids books about happy emotions, but we need more books that help kids understand, accept and deal with the other emotions that are every bit as much a part of childhood as all the feel good stuff–sadness, anger, anxiety, etc. This brand new book helps kids understand Sadness and welcome it as a visitor–to give it a name and face and understand that it’s not some haunting cloud that’s part of them but a normal passing guest. The author also give kids some ideas of things they can do with their visitor–draw, sit quietly, take a walk, etc. This book reminds me of the brilliant message about emotions in Pixar’s movie Inside Out and is a good emotion refresher course for adults too.
Any new favorite children’s books you are loving? You know I love to hear about them!
Kelsey says
Our church spent the entire fall using The Big Umbrella throughout worship! Such a wonderful message.
GIna says
Love the recommendations! Will definitely be adding them to our library. We have a hoard of children’s books as well. I see you showcase some on little shelves in the kids rooms but how do you store the rest of them? Do you just have a ton of bookshelves jam packed with them like we do? Or are you super selective to just the classics, favorites, etc? I’m curious to know
Kellyn says
My Daughter loves All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman. This is a great one for young kids (my daughter is two) – there is a repeated line that she loves to say, the text rhymes, and there are lots of things to see and for me to explain when she asks (children in hijabs, wheelchairs, yamakas, same-sex couples, multi-racial families, families with same sex parents, etc.).
Lindy Mertins says
What a great list! Kona and the Dog Park Bully by Kristin Smith is one I recently added to our rotation. It’s a sweet story about a dog who bullies other dogs at the dog park, but in the end, realizes she actually needs those other dogs on her side. My little girl, Finley, is 10 with Down syndrome so finding books that reinforce positive messages with related illustrations is so helpful.
Michelle says
Hi! My oldest niece just turned 5, I’d love to get her some of these books, but was wondering if she’s old enough to “get it” are any of these particularly geared toward a younger child? I find that if the book isn’t easy enough to grasp it gets tossed into the “I don’t like this” pile never to be picked up again. If these aren’t a good fit do you have any other recommendations?
Thanks!!
Ann Marie says
He wrote as an advocate for and from perspective of food allergy kiddos, but Land of Not by J.J. Vulopas is such a great book for any kid. The premise: don’t define yourself by what you can’t do. The Land of Not is a backward place where everyone defines him or herself by their limitations, i.e. “Hi, I’m Joe. I can’t eat peanuts.” By the end of story citizens of Not embrace being the Land of Can – and celebrating their individual strengths and talents. Such a great message and JJ’s such a great advocate. It’s on Amazon and he has his own website too, not sure if links are allowed here… 😉
Jennifer B. says
I recently just bought “Wolf Hollow” by Lauren Wolk and “Navigating Early” by Clare Vanderpool at a Scholastic book fair … for ME … not for my son. And I could not put them down. Beautifully written, with fascinating characters, including ones who are a little different … perceived by some as odd and yet discovered to be very much the same as anyone else by the main characters. The messages of inclusion and people’s unique gifts ran deep in both. They were the kind of books that make you sad to finish them.
So I bought a few of the authors’ other titles and those are now on my to-read list.
I think you and Lainey would probably love them. They are probably perfect for middle school level.
Karin says
Thank you for sharing these book suggestions for older kids!!!
Emily of The Three Bite Rule says
We liked Mela and the Elephant by Dow Phumiruk as a very basic & concrete reminder about helping when there’s not anything in it for you. I grabbed it from a library display without much attention other than broadening what characters and authors my little ones see and it was cute.
Jennifer says
Thank you for this post- I LOVE kids books- I dream of owning a quaint little bookshop catering to littles. One of my favourite newish ones is “Here We Are” by Oliver Jeffers. He wrote it for his baby son. A must read for every human. I want to frame the pages and hang them in my home. Hope you have already read it and if not, run to your nearest library or bookstore…
Louise Gilmer says
Have you guys read “something from nothing?” It’s a beautiful story of a boy and his favourite blanket. The illustrations are lovely and you can follow the story of the mice at the bottom of the pages as well. Everyone I’ve introduced to this book has loved it.
Adele says
I just read I Lost My Tooth! by Mo Willems (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38325080-i-lost-my-tooth), and I adored it, but it is not exactly the same *kind* of good as the books you mention here. I also might be in the minority with my opinion. The last really high quality picture book I read with beautiful illustrations and a sweet, gentle story was All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/273718.All_the_Places_to_Love)
Sarah says
I really liked this interview with Kate DiCamillo about why children’s books should be a little sad.
http://time.com/5099463/kate-dicamillo-kids-books-sad/
Anah says
I like “We’re Different, We’re the Same”(Sesame Street) and “Strictly No Elephants” by Lisa Mantchev.
Erin says
Thank you! I am going to look into these!
I have a son Dash’s age and his new favorite book is Enemy Pie. I love it, too! Doesn’t sound like it would be about kindness but it is and it is funny, too.
Samantha says
Davina Bell is Australian and has written quite a few gorgeous books but Under the Love Umbrella is a favourite – about a parents unwavering love for their child, you would adore it!
Rebecca says
Have you read In My Heart? It’s a wonderful story about the emotions that live within you and
is one of Breslin’s favorites. Mine too!
Rebecca says
Any advice on books to help your daughter prepare for her changing body? I have a 10 y/o who starting to wear a training bra everyday now and other things are happening too. Just want her and I LOL! to be prepared.
Melani in ABQ says
If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson is beautiful and has a lovely message. I want to rip some of the pages out of the book to frame.
Giselle says
Hi Kelle,
thanks a lot for these recommendations, my little girl will have her birthday next week and I was searching for some nice books to buy as a present 🙂
xo
G.
Anita V Summerlin says
As soon as I read your post I ordered Everybody’s Welcome and Remarkably You for some littles in our life and these books are fantastic! Thanks so much for the recommendations!
DAVA says
A couple that I’ve been loving lately are Julián Is A Mermaid, about a little boy who wants to be a mermaid, and his Abuela who lovingly brings him to the Mermaid Parade in Brooklyn (a real thing) and accepts him exactly as he is. Both the illustrations and the story are gorgeous. And on the funnier side, but also addressing the reality that we all feel sad sometimes, I love I’m Sad by Michael Ian Black. We own the former, but we check the latter out of the library repeatedly!
JCam says
The Silence Slips In
A great book about the power of quiet and calm, contrasted, but not demeaning noise and excitement. Silence is illustrated as a fuzzy teddy bear cloud -like creature who is available anytime you call. Great visual for a powerful concept.