Skip to content
LibraryMom
  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Review Policy
  • Authors
  • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Food Allergy Books
    • Holidays
    • Kid Picks
    • School
    • Seasons
    • More Themes
  • Books By Age
    • Books for 0 to 3 Year-Olds
    • Books for 3 to 6 Year-Olds
    • Books for 4 – 8 Year-Olds
    • Books for 8-10 Year-Olds
    • Grown-Up Reads
  • Formats
    • Board Books
    • Picture Books
    • Easy Readers
    • Chapter Books
    • Graphic Novels
    • Nonfiction
  • Recent Reviews
  • Bookstore
Main Menu

Best Books

Discover the best books published each year!

Best Books of 2019 Picked by Kids!
Best Picture Books 2019
Best Picture Books 2018
Best Picture Books of 2018 Picked By Kids!
Kid Picks 2018
Kid Picks 2017
Best Books 2017
Best Books of 2016

 

Welcome! I’m Rosie and I’m excited to help you discover the best books for children.

Categories

Connect With Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Instagram

librarymombooks
Do you remember your first friend from school? I f Do you remember your first friend from school? I feel so lucky that I can still call one of my first friends, one of my best friends to this day. DANBI LEADS THE SCHOOL PARADE is an enchanting new story that demonstrates that magical feeling of connecting with someone and forming a special friendship. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This beautifully illustrated book follows Danbi, a young South Korean girl, who bravely starts school in America. While each activity feels strange and different, she tries her best. At lunchtime, the other students are intrigued by her Korean lunch and she encourages them to try using her chopsticks. The students discover that while it is difficult to eat with the chopsticks, it is fun to make music with them. They soon band together in a parade through the school forming new friendships. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The real strength of this charming story is how it teaches children that by being themselves, they can find commonalities with others and form bonds that can even surpass language barriers. It also demonstrates the benefits of trying something new and learning from others that are different than you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m so excited to discover this new gem and add it to my list of BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND WILL HELP CHILDREN FEEL ACCEPTED AND WELCOME (link in bio). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t miss DANBI LEADS THE SCHOOL PARADE by Anna Kim @artbyannakim; published by Viking Books for Young Readers, 2020 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A big thank you to @penguinkids for sharing this book with me in exchange for an honest review. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Teaching children about kindness and empathy leads Teaching children about kindness and empathy leads to respecting other classmates and building stronger friendships. These important concepts not only help make the classroom a healthier place to learn, but also provide students with life lessons that will help shape their character for many years to come. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ To connect parents and teachers with the best books on this subject, I’ve put together a list of BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOKS ABOUT KINDNESS AND EMPATHY (link in bio). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What’s your favorite book that teaches children to be kind? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Yesterday was my birthday and I’m thrilled to sh Yesterday was my birthday and I’m thrilled to share with you one of my new favorite birthday-themed books! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I GOT YOU A PRESENT! stars an exuberant duck who is excited to share the greatest present ever with his friend. Bright, cartoony illustrations follow the duck on his comical journey to find the perfect gift. While all the duck’s ideas eventually fall flat, he ultimately comes up with the story of his quest, which he puts into a book for his friend, creating a truly remarkable present indeed. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This sweet story is a ton of fun and a great birthday gift. We always make homemade cards for our friends, but this story is making me think that we should start making some homemade books as well! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What is the best birthday gift you have ever received? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t miss I GOT YOU A PRESENT by Mike Erskine-Kellie and Susan McLennan; illustrated by Cale Atkinson @2dcale; published by Kids Can Press @kidscanpress, 2020 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A big thank you to the author for sharing this book with me in exchange for an honest review. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
On Wednesday, I shared my list of BACK-TO SCHOOL B On Wednesday, I shared my list of BACK-TO SCHOOL BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND WILL HELP CHILDREN FEEL ACCEPTED AND WELCOME. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Today, I’m excited to share my second back-to-school book list on BOOKS THAT BUILD CONFIDENCE AND A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE (link in bio). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When children have self-confidence and love themselves, they are more likely to try new things, bounce back quickly after mistakes, and be kind to others. One way of instilling these important feelings and an overall positive attitude is by reading books that help remind them of how amazing each and every person is. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I hope that the books on this list will help embolden children to face the new school year with confidence despite all the changes they may experience. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stay tuned for my last two back-to-school lists on KINDNESS AND EMPATHY and BOOKS THAT ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO WORK HARD AND TRY THEIR BEST that I will post next week. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Oh, how I love this new book! With its effortless Oh, how I love this new book! With its effortless rhymes, comical storyline, and positive messaging, this is an outstanding read aloud! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ LouAnn is a bear who is preparing for winter with one last batch of delicious doughnuts. Just as she is about to enjoy the first bite, a hungry neighbor appears and she happily shares her sweet treat. When a second neighbor comes knocking, she whips up another batch that is eaten by even more ravenous friends. LouAnn kindly serves each guest until her cupboard is bare and she erupts into a fit of anger. In a delightfully satisfying ending, the other animals return with apologies and supplies to pamper LouAnn and bake her a treat: her very own dougnuts, which of course she shares. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My kids begged me to read this one over and over excitedly taking turns to make the doorbell sound each time a new animal arrives. We were all craving doughnuts after reading this charming story, so we stopped by a local bakery and picked up our favorites. First, we drew the doughnuts, and inspired by the creative end papers, came up with delicious toppings we would want to eat. Then of course we enjoyed the doughnuts as a special snack. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I highly recommend DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS by Carrie Finison @carriefinison; illustrated by Brianne Farley @briannehfarley; published by G.P. Putnum’s Sons, 2020 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A big thank you to @penguinkids for sharing this marvelous story with our family in exchange for an honest review.
School is going to look a little different this ye School is going to look a little different this year and books promoting inclusion, kindness, diversity, and positive self-image are more important than ever. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Instead of my normal back-to-school list, I decided to create four lists with the following titles: ❤️Books That Celebrate Diversity and Will Help Children Feel Accepted and Welcome 💙Books That Build Confidence and a Positive Self-Image 💛Books About Kindness and Empathy 💜Books That Encourage Children to Work Hard and Try Their Best ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Every few days I will be sharing one of the above lists to help parents and teachers best prepare their children for the school year. Whether read aloud in the classroom or shared one-on-one at home, these stories will assist with making children feel accepted and inspire them to be their best selves. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Visit LIBRARYMOM.COM (link in bio) for my new list of BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND WILL HELP CHILDREN FEEL ACCEPTED AND WELCOME.
“I can’t” is a phrase I hope I never hear my “I can’t” is a phrase I hope I never hear my children say. I want them to feel confident enough that when challenged with an obstacle, they see it as an opportunity to learn and grow instead of a time to give up. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Books like THE MAGICAL YET are perfect for empowering children to take risks, work hard, and embrace mistakes. Rhyming text and colorful illustrations follow a young girl who struggles to learn to ride a bike. Just as she is determined to walk forever, she meets the Magical Yet. Presented as a glowing pink flower-like object, the Magical Yet teaches the girl that with determination, practice, and grit, she can tackle any problem. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The engaging illustrations feature a diverse group of children learning to accomplish a variety of tasks giving this charming book wide appeal. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ For more books that promote GROWTH MINDSET visit my list on my AMAZON STOREFRONT (link in bio). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t miss THE MAGICAL YET by Angela DiTerlizzi @angeladiterlizzi; illustrated by Lorena Alvarez @artichoke_kid ; published by @littlebrownyoungreaders, 2020 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A big thank you to @hachettekids for sharing this special book with our family in exchange for an honest review. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
One of my favorite things about being a librarian One of my favorite things about being a librarian is putting together book lists for teachers and parents. #ad Which is why I’m thrilled to partner with BOOKROO as an ambassador for their new platform that has cultivated book lists that help YOU find outstanding books for your children. They also have reader profiles so that parents can help children track their reading and create wish lists. Think Goodreads for kids, but BETTER ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here are my two favorite things about the site: 1. My soon-to-be second grader, who loves to be read to, but doesn’t love to read independently, can now track the books that he reads. This gives him such a feeling of accomplishment each time he gets to mark a book as done and go back and see how many books he has read. I also love that we can set goals to encourage him to read more. 2. With so many great book lists created by theme in one place, it is SO easy to create wish lists of books I either want to buy or check out from my library. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you are interested in checking it out, visit the link in my bio and let me know what you think! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Psst. One more thing. If you sign up by August 8th and participate in their Launch BINGO game, you could have a chance to win $100 in books from your wish list or receive a subscription BOOKROO box! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Tomorrow is August 1st, which means that school is Tomorrow is August 1st, which means that school is right around the corner. While we are still enjoying the last throes of summer, we are beginning to get into the back-to-school mindset with a few of our favorite school-themed picture books. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Spot any favorites? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What emoji best describes the way you feel about the upcoming school year? I’m trying to play it cool with my kids 😎, but in reality I feel like this 😬😬😬 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Incredible 3D illustrations adorn the pages of thi Incredible 3D illustrations adorn the pages of this charming book that teaches children to avoid stereotypes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Three unlikely friends all have one thing in common: they all want to be rhinoceroses! They form a secret club where they can admire all the wonderful qualities of rhinos such as their intimidation factor, the speedy way they can charge, and their unbreakable horns. When Ivy, a real rhinoceros appears at their door dressed in a gardening outfit, however, she doesn’t live up to their expectations. Although initially surprised, the friends invite Ivy in and discover a new hobby they all can enjoy together. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My kids really enjoyed this offbeat story and the stunning illustrations inspired my son to try to create his own 3D artwork! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t miss THE SECRET RHINO SOCIETY by Jonathan E. Jacobs @jonathanejacobs; illustrated by Samantha Cotterill @mummysamart, published by @simonkids, 2020 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A big thank you to the publisher for sharing this story with our family in exchange for an honest review. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Calling all nature lovers! This stunning book uses Calling all nature lovers! This stunning book uses Henry Cole’s signature pen and ink artwork to showcase a new family of robins making a nest, protecting their babies, and preparing for winter. This informative book is an excellent read aloud for introducing food webs and animal science to children. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We’ve been spending A LOT of time at home this summer and one of our favorite activities is making a bird feeder out of pinecones, so that we can watch the birds in our backyard. We simply spread peanut butter on a pinecone and then roll it in birdseed. Our latest homemade bird feeder attracted more squirrels than birds, but we did get to find this amazing little nest, so we are counting that as a win! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t miss NESTING by Henry Cole; published by Katherine Tegen Books, 2020 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you @harperkids for sharing this gorgeous book with our family in exchange for an honest review.
No one is exactly sure what school is going to loo No one is exactly sure what school is going to look like this fall, but one thing I know for certain is that I want my daughter to feel like a rock star when she walks through those kindergarten doors. #ad with @disneybooks. That’s why I’m thrilled to share New York Times best-selling author, Ryan T. Higgin’s newest book, WE WILL ROCK OUR CLASSMATES with her. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In this outstanding sequel to WE DON’T EAT OUR CLASSMATES, the lovable Penelope T. Rex returns to school and grapples with being the only dinosaur in her class. When her teacher announces an upcoming talent show, Penelope can’t wait to show off her musical skills, but doubts herself when she steps on the stage for rehearsal. Filled with humorous illustrations and comical text, children will love following Penelope as she overcomes her stage fright and pursues her passion. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With tons of kid appeal, this story is perfect for inspiring children to conquer their own fears and find their inner rock stars! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is also an excellent read aloud choice to welcome children back to school. The end papers feature various drawings created by children showcasing their various talents, which could serve as a prompt for students to create their own artwork highlighting their gifts. This activity would both boost their confidence and help students get to know one another. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t miss WE WILL ROCK OUR CLASSMATES by Ryan T. Higgins @ryan_t._higgins; published by Disney Hyperion @disneybooks, 2020 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #WeWillRockOurClassmates ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The summer before children begin kindergarten is a The summer before children begin kindergarten is an emotional one filled with lots of anticipation. Reading books together is a perfect way to enjoy a little extra snuggle time while also getting your soon-to-be kindergarteners excited about reading. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve put together a list of my favorite books that are not only entertaining and engaging, but many on the list also reinforce important skills such as counting, rhyming, alphabetical recognition, and social emotional learning needed for kindergarten. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Visit LIBRARYMOM.COM for my list of SUMMER READING BOOKS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you are looking for more recommendations, I also have SUMMER READING LISTS for 1st and 2nd GRADERS! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do you have a child getting ready to enter kindergarten? How are you feeling right now? I am cautiously optimistic about the new school year, but also a nervous wreck!
Oh, how my family loves a good funny book and, boy Oh, how my family loves a good funny book and, boy, does Ben Clanton know how to deliver. ROT: THE BRAVEST IN THE WORLD stars a mud-loving potato whose sneaky brother tricks him into believing there is a monster called a “squirm” in their new favorite mudhole. Rot does his best to overcome his fear by imagining himself as someone brave and dresses up in costume to help face the “squirm”. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This quirky tale is witty, hilarious, and full of heart! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We love Rot so much that we decided to create our own interpretations of this lovable character after being inspired by an Instagram Story tutorial from Ben Clanton on @simonkids. We had a blast bringing life to our potatoes with a little white paint and a black sharpie. My kids especially enjoyed making their own funny stories starring the endearing Rot. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What’s the last children’s book that made you laugh? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t miss ROT: THE BRAVEST IN THE WORLD by Ben Clanton @benclantoon; published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A big thank you to @simonkids for sharing this comical story with our family in exchange for an honest review. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
❌Closed❌▪️Randomly selected winner is @art ❌Closed❌▪️Randomly selected winner is @artisfunwithms.dunn 😊 Congrats! Thank you to everyone who entered! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ GIVEAWAY AHEAD! ✨With its message of teamwork and collaboration, I absolutely loved the clever book, WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER, so when the author approached me about partnering for a giveaway for the sequel, WHEN PENCIL MET THE MARKERS, I jumped at the chance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As you may guess, markers love to color. While drawing on a coloring book one day, Purple excitedly takes over, coloring all over the page leaving his friends with very little room. Frustrated that Purple won’t stay inside the lines, they encourage him to explore elsewhere. When Purple stumbles upon Pencil and Eraser, they find a way to work together to highlight all of their talents. The other markers spot the new artistic technique and realize that art doesn’t have to look perfect. They creatively work together making their world more colorful and magical. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ HERE IS HOW TO ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER and WHEN PENCIL MET THE MARKERS by Karen Kilpatrick @kayppin and Luis O. Ramos, Jr.; illustrated by German Blanco, 2020 1. Like this picture 2. Follow @librarymombooks and @whenpencilmet 3. Tag a friend (or more in separate comments) who might love these books. 4. BONUS: Comment if you prefer to color inside or outside the lines. I personally love creativity, but I can’t help but color inside the lines. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The Giveaway ends on Thursday, July 23rd at 9:00 p.m. EST. Open to US residents only (sorry international friends!) You must be 18+ to win. Instagram is in no way affiliated with this Giveaway.
Lulu Lovington is a sweet, spunky biracial girl wh Lulu Lovington is a sweet, spunky biracial girl who is full of confidence until people ask the question, “What are you?” Her brother helps her come up with a “power phrase” to combat the question and let people know more about who she is than what she is. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This treasure of a book both empowers children in mixed-race families and educates other children on questions that are hurtful and insensitive. A thoughtful author’s note is also included to guide parents on how to talk to their children about race and help develop self-love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is a powerful read that I highly recommend! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Visit LIBRARYMOM.COM (link in bio) for more BOOKS ABOUT DIVERSITY AND CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t miss LULU THE ONE AND ONLY by Lynnette Mawhinney @lkmawhinney; illustrated by Jennie Poh @jenniepohillustration ; published by Magination Press @maginationpress, 2020. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A big thank you @blue_slip_media for sharing this book with us in exchange for an honest review. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Copyright LibraryMom. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.