Gifting Guide (Part 2) FICTION Picture Books
Books! They make the best presents! Because my book gifting ideas were overflowing, I broke up this Gift Guide into four sections to make it easier for you to search. First is the board book guide, where I share some of the best board books I've come across that would make fantastic gifts for the littlest readers in your life. Parts two and three are fiction picture books and nonfiction picture books. The final gifting guide includes chapter books, graphic novels, and middle-grade books. Be sure to reference back to each as I plan on expanding each list. All books in these lists have been released in the past year, with a few exceptions. If you need even more book gifting ideas, be sure to check out my list of the unique kids books that make amazing gifts. Happy reading and gifting!
(Tip: As always, I organize my book list starting with the simplest books towards the top of the list and the more complex books towards the bottom of the list.)
This image shows a mix of seven picture book covers that show animals, a child searching, pirates, a rocket ship with kid space cadets, dinosaurs, and a girl surrounded by books.
AlphaBot
by Vicky Fang
If you have a robot-loving kiddo, check out this book! Readers get to mix and match the head, body, and bottom parts to create their own robot. While creating with robot parts from A to Z, kids can learn 26 robotic terms and create 729 unique robots!
When a child's invisible dinosaur goes missing, will the reader be able to help find it? Clever and fun readers will love figuring out where the dinosaur went!
Have You Seen Dinosaur?
by David Barrow
As soon as I saw this one was available, I knew we had to check it out, having loved Have You Seen Elephant?! It didn't disappoint, following the same fun format of the child looking everywhere for, in this book's case, a dinosaur, but seemingly not having any luck--although readers can spot dinosaurs in every page spread. Will the child and elephant be able to find a dinosaur? This book's characters look sweet, making for a delightful storytime share.
Dinosaurs Don't Exist
by Mark Janssen
Anytime text or illustrations are extreme, my eight-year-old is in, and the cover on this one drew him in immediately; bonus for oversized formatting and expanding page spreads! Two brothers go in search of dinosaurs. The older brother leads the way, ready to brave the adventure, telling his brother all about what it will be like to find a dinosaur. The younger one starts feeling uneasy and notices strange dinosaur-like things, wanting to escape the adventure. Throughout the book, readers can spot the appearance of dinosaurs and wonder what will happen to the brothers. It's such a fun read, and the darker and spookier illustrations will surely pull in readers who delight in being scared a bit. The back of the book features more info on dinosaurs.
The Welcome Home
by Amy June Bates
As Mr. and Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle sit in their extra large house made up of empty rooms, they realize for the first time that something is missing, something soft and waggy, a little bit lick-your-face-play-fetch-roll-over-rub-its-belly-and-chase-its-tail. As they stare outside, thinking about this together, a dog walks by, but they don't notice it. So, they choose a snail to add to their home. This type of mismatch and surprising pet choices continues throughout the book, making readers laugh aloud at the ridiculous of the situation. On and on, the pets accumulate, but something still feels not quite right. Will they find the perfect pet addition in the end?
Do you know any rambunctious littles at bedtime? They will love this fun and over-the-top silly bedtime tale about blasting off to space instead of falling asleep.
A rhyming, counting fruit book, well mostly fruit book and some animals. This was one of the funniest books we read this year, and the number of repeated readings show what a hit it was! If you want a laugh out loud read aloud, this is it! I have a list filled with more laugh-out-loud reads on my blog if you're looking for more recs!
One of the most adorable books on friendship I've read this year. Lonely Bird is a child's discarded paper creation who comes across another discarded creation and saves it. Lonely Bird goes on new adventures to help save the new friend, but will Lonely Bird be able to save it?
Harold the Iceberg Melts Down
by Lisa Wyzlic, illustrated by Rebecca Syracuse
Harold, the iceberg lettuce, was worried about everything. Harold loves watching documentaries to help his worries, except after an iceberg documentary left him very concerned. He informs his refrigerator friends of his iceberg concerns and shows them a half-covered sticker label on him, labeling him an iceberg. Harold's friends see how upset he is and try to help support him throughout the book. Eventually, they are able to tell him that he's actually iceberg lettuce. But what about actual icebergs--are they still in danger? How can Harold and his friends help? I love this book's humorous take that engages readers on tough topics like anxiety and climate change. Bonus notes in the back provide extra support for big-feeling meltdowns and tips to help combat climate change. This book makes a great share with kids concerned about our earth's future!
Dakota Crumb and the Secret Bookshop: A Tiny Treasure Hunt
by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
Dakota Crumb, a tiny treasure hunter, is off searching for a rare book in Paris after receiving a special letter from her cousin Julien. Readers get to follow the mouse through Paris to help decipher clues using text and pictures and find where to head next. Will Dakota be able to find the rare book? Treasure hunters, mystery fans, and search-and-find book fans will delight in this sweet read! I love how, at the end of the book, treasure-hunting fans are invited to revisit the pages to find more from Dakota's search and find list from her new book!
A Practical Present for Philippa Pheasant
by Briony May Smith
Philippa Pheasant is fed up with almost being run over multiple times while crossing the road to enjoy blackberries, so she sends the mayor a letter. Unfortunately, the mayor had difficulty reading pheasant writing, so he didn't respond. After spotting a school crossing guard one day, Philippa comes up with her own plan of action by creating her own crossing guard outfit to help her fellow creatures cross safely. After helping her fellow animals, including the mayor's cat, get across safely, Philippa is celebrated for helping her community with a couple of gifts. What did she get, and does she continue to be a crossing guard? It's an excellent read for conversations about spotting a problem in your community and taking steps to help be part of the solution. It would also make a fantastic share to tie to general talks about crossing streets or safety.
A beautiful book about facing fears and anxiety and exploring the world with new perspectives. A difference in perspective can make all the difference in emotions and curiosity when experiencing something new. Fred gains a new perspective when looking at the unexpected black circle in the sky from Coco's point of view, and suddenly the world might not be as scary as he previously believed.
Oliver and the Night Giants
by Kitty O'Meara, illustrated by Anna Pirolli
I love how this sweet book helps kids remember that they have a gift that can make the world a more beautiful place and that their ideas matter. It is a sweet, creativity-boosting story perfect for sharing at bedtime!
Invisible Things
by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller
If you could see invisible things, what would they look like? This thought-provoking read encourages readers to reflect and think creatively about the invisible. Explore what sounds, smells, and more might look like if you could see them. I love the spot for invisible "Invisible Things" spotting glasses for readers to use while reading. After reading, readers could get creative by making their own designs for something invisible!
Books Make Good Friends
by Jane Mount
SEL and a love of reading combine in this picture book about a book-loving girl who struggles to make friends and connections outside of her world of books. Through the help of books and encouragement from her family and librarian, Lotti grows to reach outside of her comfort zone to experience new things and make friends. The instant I saw the cover of this one, I knew I would love it--one of my favorite reads from 2023! I love all the bookish details in this one, from all the beautiful spines and covers from favorite reads to characters from stories appearing in page spreads to connections made with books; it's so fun and well done! An author's note and book favorites stack is included in the back, along with Lotti's Friend-Making Cookies recipe. Book lovers will want to read this one!
This Book is Banned
by Raj Haldar, illustrated by Julia Patton
When authors infuse humor into picture books, it can make the presented ideas stick. This memorable read will get readers laughing and reflecting on what it means to ban something. Right away, readers learn a bit about banned books. As readers are warned against turning the first page, they find out giraffes are in this story if they read on. Well, the hippos don't like how the giraffes can reach the high-up leaves, so now the giraffes are banned, and then the hippos get banned for complaining too much. The story goes on banning everything from dinosaurs to avocado toast. At last, the end is reached because there's nothing left to ban with everything being banned. A powerful and thought-provoking read about the consequences of book banning.
Where's Waldo? The Great Speed Search
by Martin Handford
In The Great Speed Search, readers can find all the usual Waldo characters on each page, but in this specific book, the layout is set up for readers looking to compete. The first-page spread gives readers insight into how the book is set up, what to be on the lookout for, and instructions on how to play solo or in competition mode. Once readers flip past the first page, the competition begins. The page spreads are formatted so that each page has a different scene, with the illustrations rotated so readers are across from one another. This one has been a favorite at our house lately for reading and playing together; it's so much fun. The Food Fight and Land of Waldos pages are our favorite finding Waldo pages! Pick up and enjoy today--will you be the first to spot Waldo?
Are you looking for an engaging and interactive book for your older reader? Check out this exciting game/book combo with a pop-out fortune spinner to help decide your destiny. This choose-your-own-adventure type of reading can lead to a new story with each read-through. Climb about your ship as you get ready to follow your pirate father's map for buried treasure and cross the Caribbean. Will you find fortune and fame, death, or another unexpected surprise? The book includes tips for sea survival and some historical facts.
