Do you love to discover new books? It’s time for me to share my favorite best picture books of 2023 with you. So, get comfy and let’s dive in.
All year long, I read thousands of picture books sharing my favorites with you here on Growing Book by Book, through my newsletter, and on Instagram. Here are my tip-top picks of 2023.
Please note that these are my personal favorites that I have read. Though I read a lot of children’s books throughout the year, I haven’t read them all. I’m sure there are some great ones that I have missed.
You can shop for all the books below. Just click the blue button to grab your favorites. Or, click on each link or book cover in the descriptions.
And, subscribe to the Growing Book by Book newsletter so that you don’t miss any 2024 picture book releases for kids.—> Sign Me Up for the Newsletter
Read Jodie’s Favorite Children’s Books of 2023
*Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
On Growing Book by Book I focus on great books for kids ages 0-8.
Favorite Board Book
My Hair Is Like the Sun by St. Clair Detrick-Jules lets us embrace the joy of Black natural hair with all the shapes and textures that remind of us the beauty in nature. Photographs are paired with nature drawings in this beautiful book.
Honor Books
Leo on a Hike by Anna McQuinn
Puppy, Puppy Peekaboo illustrated by Grace Habib
Don’t miss my favorite board books from 2022.—> Board Book Favorites of 2022
Best Illustrations in a PIcture Book
This category is one of the hardest for me to narrow down. And, I always have lots of honor books because it’s so hard to choose. This year is no different.
One of my favorite authors and a pair of my favorite illustrators coming together. I love, love, love the wordplay in the illustrations! Though students will need some background knowledge going into the book to fully appreciate it on all levels, they will still enjoy the rhythm of the writing and stunning illustrations without it. Enjoy There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey.
Honor Books
We Are Branches by Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes
Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld
In the Night Garden by Carin Berger
Big by Vashti Harrison
Celebrating a Love of Reading
Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin lets you step right inside the world of books. It’s exactly what I feel and love about reading so many amazing books.
Honor Books
This is a Story by John Schu
Books Make Good Friends by Jane Mount
A Message We All Need to Hear
Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman gives us hope. Things can sometimes feel bleak. But, there is always hope. And, we can all do something to make things just a little better.
Honor Books
I’m From by Gary R. Gray (This could also double in the Best Illustrations section for Oge Mora’s art.)
The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith
The Noise Inside Boys by Pete Oswald
Laugh Out Loud Funny Read-Alouds
The Boy Who Cried Poop! by Alessandra Requena will have you giggling throughout.
We’ve all been there…an embarrassing poop-in-your-pants moment.
Well, this one takes place in the pool. The Boy Who Cried Poop! revisits a childhood memory of the author’s own family. In the story, a young boy feels that he needs to poop so the family trudges up the stairs from the pool to take him potty. But, then he doesn’t need to go. So, back downstairs they go to the pool. This scene plays out multiple times until he can’t make it to the potty in time.
Honor Books
Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo (This could also double in the Back to School Read section.)
Check out these other laugh out funny books.—> Funny Books for Kids
Summer Reads That Take You Right to the Season
Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins showcases the whole city coming together for a pool day. If you have ever been to a city public pool, this one is for you. I love that this book captures the energy and diversity of a day at the public pool.
Honor Books
Summer is For Cousins by Rajani LaRocca
Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo
Winter Reads to Warm Up With
Just One Flake by Travis Jonker brings to life that urge to just catch one snowflake on your tongue as the snow falls. It’s pure joy!
Honor Books
Snowflakes on Our Tongues by Mike Ornstein
I’m Going to Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan
Back to School Read to Get You School Ready
The World’s Best Class Pet by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick
Honor Book
The Brilliant Ms. Bangle by Cara Devins
Circle Time Picks to Capture a Crowd’s Interest
Books that have the “it” factor needed for making a whole group circle time read successful. Also, refer to the laugh out loud funny books above too.
We all think we know what a hat is. But, this book challenges you to think outside the box.
Hats are really everywhere you look.
-Bubbles make great bathtime hats.
-Some jobs require certain hats.
-Clouds can airplane hats.
A fun and playful read-aloud that will engage kids and have them looking for all those less obvious hats. Enjoy Very Good Hats by Emma Straub.
Honor Books
Simon and the Better Bone by Corey R. Tabor
Challah Day! By Charlotte Offsay
The Scariest Kitten in the World by Kate Messner
For more circle time picks, check out this list.—> Circle Time Read Alouds
Bedtime or Nighttime Pick
Have you ever had a little one resist bedtime until a special blanket or stuffie was found? That’s just what happens in Good Night, Little Man by Daniel Bernstrom.
Honor Books
Light Speaks by Christine Layton
Night Owl Night by Susan Edwards Richmond
Informational/Nonfiction Picture Book Pick
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lana ( I could have easily put this in the best illustrations category too.)
Oh my…this book is stunning.
Children will love learning about the jumping spider through the eyes of the spider hanging out in the backyard garden.
I love the gatefold that opens showing what the view from an 8-eyed spider might look like. Lots of backmatter is included for arachnid enthusiasts making this book works equally well with older kiddos too.
Honor Books
The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery & Matt Patterson
Cicada Symphony by Sue Fliess
They Hold the Line: Wildfires, Wildlands, and the Firefighters That Brave Them by Dan Paley
Book With a Recipe You Can Make
Cozbi A. Cabrera does a beautiful job in Chef Edna written by Melvina Noel. I could have easily put this in the best illustrations category. In this book, we meet Edna Regina Lewis. The author, Melvina Noel, learned about her while researching lesser-known African Americans who had a positive impact on the world.
Edna Regina Lewis worked as a chef in well-known restaurants, wrote four cookbooks on Southern cooking with fresh ingredients, and was even honored on a USPS stamp.
Honor Books
Boys Don’t Fry by Kimberly Lee
City Beet by Tziporah Cohen
Favorite Fairy Tale Remix
After reading Cinderella with Dogs by Linda Bailey, I decided we need more dogs in fairy tales! Cinderella is given a fairy dogmother who decks her out in doggish style and escorts her dogs and all to the ball where she meets a dog-loving prince.
For more fairy tale remixes, check out this list.—>Fractured Fairy Tales
Math Picture Book You Can Count On
Friends Beyond Measure: A Story Told with Infographics by Lalena Fisher is a story told through infographics. I’m talking Venn diagrams, maps, pictograms, charts…you name it!
Even the copyright page and dedication page use some type of infographic.
Yes, you can 100% use this for math class but it’s also a story of friendship and moving.
Honor Books
365 How to Count a Year by Miranda Paul and Julien Chung
100 Might Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle
Kitty & Cat Bent Out of Shape by Mirka Hokkanen
One Tiny Treefrog: A Countdown to Survival by Tony Piedra
Check out these other math books.—> Math Books for Kids
Wordless Picture Book
Explore the quiet world with a bird in Once, a Bird by Rina Singh. A beautiful way to connect with nature.
For more wordless books, check out this post.—> Wordless Books for Kids
Poetry Picture Books
Feel at peace while you enjoy Trees: Haiku from Roots to Leaves by Sally M. Walker and Angela McKay.his beautiful book includes poetry along with extensive backmatter including a timeline, information about wild forests as well as urban forests, author note, and glossary.
Honor Books
At the Poles by David Elliott
Watch Me Bloom : A Bouquet of Haiku Poems for Budding Naturalists by Krina Patel-Sage
Unique/Interesting Format in a Book for Children
Search for a Giant Squid: Pick Your Path by Amy Seto Forrester & Andy Chou Musser has a choose-your-own-adventure vibes with a graphic novelish interface. Get ready to dive under the sea and do some research on giant squid. Pick your scientist, dive site, and submersible. It’s super engaging!
Honor Book
The House With 100 Stories by Toshio Iwai
Easy Reader and Early Chapter Books
Evergreen by Matthew Cordell is a book about Evergreen the squirrel. Told in parts, Evergreen meets many forest creatures while trying to deliver soup and has to overcome lots of obstacles. The book starts out looking like a chapter book but is full of images making it unique.
Honor Books
Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends: Ready-To-Read Graphics by Kaz Windness
Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis
There were lots of other books I loved this year. Check out the big running list on Bookshop.—>More 2023 Favorites
And, I’m already starting my list for 2024. You can see the sneak peeks of that too.—>Books Jodie is Looking Forward to in 2024
What were your favorite books of the year? Leave a comment below and let us know.