Best Kids' Books of 2023
Last updated: September 19, 2024
On our list of the best children's books of 2023, we have selected newly published books for kids that have come to our attention, as well as books that have won or been shortlisted for prestigious children's book awards. 2023 has been a particularly strong year for eye-catching and engaging children's nonfiction, but as usual our list is dominated by novels for middle grade readers (8-12 year olds). We have also made sure to include plenty of excellent picture books for younger readers, as well as some graphic novels.
If you're looking for books for older children (ages 12 and up) we also have a list of the best books of 2023 for teens.
Part of our best books of 2023 series.
What’s Hiding Under There?
by Daniela Drescher
This is a gorgeous lift-the-flap board book by bestselling illustrator Daniela Drescher, who is known for her her delicate style using soft watercolours and ink. The interactive element is thoughtfully done: the flaps are not too easy to find, so children can work on both their observational and fine motor skills. This is also a good book for families or teachers to use to expand children’s vocabulary; in addition to animals and plants, it features seasons and time of day.
Ages 1-4
Safiyyah's War
by Hiba Noor Khan
This is an exciting historical novel set in Paris during World War Two. Safiyyah is a lovely young heroine who lives with her family in the city’s Grand Mosque, where her father works. Her life changes forever when Paris is occupied, and she gradually becomes involved in the Resistance against the Nazis. When persecuted Jews seek sanctuary at the mosque, can she find the courage to lead them through the catacombs to safety? Safiyyah is fictional, but the rector and others at the mosque really did provide refuge and certificates of Muslim identity to Jews to help them escape.
Ages 8-12
Sky High! A Soaring History of Aviation
by Jacek Ambrożewski & translated by Zosia Krasodomska-Jones
This is a fabulous history of everything that flies, from seeds and fruits that whirl and glide over large distances, to animals in the air, kites and hot air balloons, through all kinds of planes to drones and solar powered aircraft. In addition, many children will be fascinated by the inside covers detailing various airline tail designs and military aircraft insignia. A large format, quality edition in a style that is reminiscent of a comic album, this is a nonfiction book which most young readers will have fun with. 108 pages.
Ages 8-13
Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear
Trang Nguyen, Jeet Zdung (illustrator)
🏆 Winner of the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration
The innovative art in this graphic novel is by an award-winning Vietnamese artist who mixes pencil, watercolour, ink and digital media with a manga style. The immersive story is based on the author’s own life: a childhood meeting with a sun bear inspired her to become a wildlife conservationist and found the conservation organisation WildAct. The theme of human-animal friendship, the determination of the main character, and the engaging illustrations are a very appealing combination for readers in the 7-10 age range.
A new book has been published this year by the same author-illustrator team: Saving H'non – Chang and the Elephant. Just as beautiful, it is a perfect companion volume.
“This is a great book. I think any child would pick this book out of the shelf… It’s an amazing production, and very good information… And it’s got really stunning illustrations.” Read more...
The Best Science Books for Children: the 2023 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize
Usha Goswami, Psychologist
One Chance Dance
by Efua Traoré
When Jomi’s mother left for the big city years ago she promised to come back for him as soon as she had put together enough money. Now age 12, Jomi decides to go to Lagos to look for her, accompanied by a bushbaby whose forest habitat has just been bulldozed. Luckily, he makes friends with a resourceful crew of street children who love to watch Lagos Let’s Dance on television, just like his mother used to. They decide to audition for the dance competition so that Jomi’s mother will see him on TV and come running to the studio for their reunion. What could possibly go wrong? A lovely novel of hope, friendship and creativity.
Ages 8-12
Girls
by Annet Schaap & translated by Laura Watkinson
Now in English: retellings of seven classic fairy tales by one of the Netherlands’ most original contemporary writers. These stories are true to life: the girls in them have agency, and there is no ‘happily ever after’. Witty, dark and imaginative, these tales form a fabulous collection. With black and white illustrations by the author.
Ages 9-12, and parents will enjoy it too
The Red Fruit
by Lee Gee Eun
This is a simple but inventive picture book with minimal text, in which a bear cub sets off in search of fruit to eat. The artist uses East Asian style black ink on white paper, with splashes of red which form an important part of the story. The illustrations are playful, alternating between close-ups of the bear cub and double spreads where the bear is a tiny figure among tall trees. A very charming picture book by an award-winning Korean illustrator.
Ages 3-6
Balam & Lluvia's House
Julio Serrano Echeverría, Yolanda Mosquera (illustrator), translated by Lawrence Schimel
This lively poetry picture book is a collaboration between a Guatemalan writer and a Spanish artist; the translation has won the English PEN Award. The poems capture something of childhood curiosity and discovery, while the mellow illustrations all depict scenes from around the house. A sweet reflection on the playfulness and richness in everyday life.
Ages 3-7
A Different Kind of Freedom: A Romani Story
by Richard O'Neill
In Edwardian era Sheffield, Lijah is developing a passion for football, and he is very good at it. Unfortunately, his father thinks it’s a daft game which Romani people should stay away from. Lijah is torn between the feeling of freedom and power that he gets from playing football, and love for his family and their traditions. Can he find a way to do what he has set his heart on, without disrespecting his father and losing touch with his family’s way of life? A thoughtful novel by an author from a traditional nomadic Romani community in England, this book is part of Scholastic’s excellent Voices series of historical fiction.
Ages 8-12
The Snow Girl
Sophie Anderson, Melissa Castrillón (illustrator)
Tasha is an anxious girl who doesn’t know if she is more afraid of being alone or with people. When she and her grandpa build a snow girl, Tasha wishes ardently that their creation could be real. When her wish comes true Tasha gets the friend she has dreamed of, but what will happen to the snow girl when spring comes? This novel is full of adventure and courage, and there is a lovely message about living and loving fully in the time we do have together. The illustrations add to the sense of winter magic in the story, which is inspired by the traditional Russian tale of Snegurochka, The Snow Maiden.
Ages 8-12
The Night Raven
by Johan Rundberg & translated by A. A. Prime
It’s a harsh winter in 1880 Stockholm. An orphan, 12 year old Mika is familiar with the city’s gritty underbelly. To survive, she has developed a keen eye for detail, and when a police constable notices her ability to deduce things that others miss, he enlists her help in a murder investigation. When it becomes clear that powerful people are hiding something, this unlikely pair of detectives have to risk everything to solve the case. An atmospheric and award-winning novel; the first in The Moonwind series.
Ages 10-13
The Secret Elephant
by Ellan Rankin
Subtitled ‘The true story of an extraordinary wartime friendship’, this is a charming picture book narrated by an elderly elephant looking back. It is based on the true story of a keeper at Belfast zoo who kept a baby Asian elephant at home during World War Two, to keep her safe from bombing and from the authorities who were ordering potentially dangerous animals to be killed. The pictures and text are perfectly interwoven, radiating humour and warmth.
Ages 3-6
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend
by Elena Bulay & translated by Lena Traer
This charming book is full of practical advice for children who dream of one day having a dog, are preparing to get a dog, or who already have a dog and want to understand more about how to care for it. The helpful guide is interspersed with personal anecdotes about the author and Jo, the rescue dog that became her best friend. 96 richly illustrated pages.
Ages 7-12
A Bird Day
by Eva Lindström & translated by Julia Marshall
A quietly joyous picture book (28 pages) by the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Both child and adult readers will recognise familiar human behaviours and family dynamics in this quirky story of an ordinary day in the life of an anthropomorphic bird family. Perfect as a bedtime story.
Ages 3-6
Vita and the Gladiator
by Ally Sherrick
A fast-paced novel of political intrigue and rebellion set in Londinium (Roman London) in the year 125. When her father – a Roman magistrate – is murdered, Vita ends up disguised as a slave at the gladiator’s arena. There she meets Brea, a fierce gladiatrix with a very different view on the Roman occupation. Vita is determined to find out who killed her father, and discovers that she and Brea have a dangerous enemy in common. Gripping and well-researched historical fiction that vividly brings the past to life.
Ages 9-12
Nowhere Island
by Tania Unsworth
Four runaways are living on an anonymous patch of green dividing the lanes of a busy highway, shielded behind the trees. They are all children, who have ended up in this unexpected haven for different reasons. Just as they are starting to trust each other, they witness something that places them in terrible danger. An engaging contemporary survival story.
Ages 9-12
The Fire of Stars
Kirsten W. Larson, Katherine Roy (illustrator)
This is a very clever picture book (48 pages) with two parallel stories beautifully interwoven. One is that of the birth of a star, written in poetic, sparse language. The other is the inspirational biography of astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne who, in 1925, discovered what stars are made of. With the two stories, plus a few pages at the end that explain the birth of a star in more scientific terms, this is an excellent book for siblings of different ages.
Ages 3-8
The Kingdom over the Sea
Zohra Nabi, Tom Clohosy Cole (illustrator)
A fantasy adventure with vibrant world building that pits alchemists (forces of greed and manipulation) against sorcerers (respect for learning, poetry, storytelling and nature). Yara is our brave and resourceful heroine, who goes through a portal from normal-world Bournemouth to an Arabia-inspired kingdom complete with djinn and flying carpet. In addition to saving the magical world, newly orphaned Yara has to fight her own battle with grief and try to build a sense of belonging.
Ages 8-12
The Bodyguard Unit
Clément Xavier & Lisa Lugrin, Albertine Ralenti (colorist), translated by Edward Gauvin
Subtitled Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu, this graphic novel tells the little-known story of the bodyguard unit of the Women’s Social and Political Union. When women in the UK demanded the right to vote in the early 20th century, they faced violent retaliation. Instead of backing down, they got self-defence training. The illustrations, which are somewhat reminiscent of Tintin comics, and the unusual angle — Edwardian women doing martial arts — make this relatable history for young readers. 138 pages.
Ages 10-14
Godfather Death
Sally Nicholls, Júlia Sardà (illustrator)
This is an atmospheric retelling of one of the lesser-known Grimm fairy tales by an award-winning UK children’s author. There are no fairy godmothers in this story, which features personifications of God, the Devil and Death. It is a dark, cautionary tale with engaging illustrations vaguely reminiscent of a medieval illustrated text. Perfect for reading aloud, but don’t expect a ‘happily ever after’.
Ages 7-11
The Moon Is a Ball: Stories of Panda & Squirrel
Ed Franck, Thé Tjong-Khing (illustrator), translated by David Colmer
With large font and plenty of colour illustrations, early readers can read this for themselves, but really it is a lovely book to read aloud to children. With a calm and philosophical tone and the comfort of the friendship between panda and squirrel, each chapter works particularly well as a bedtime story.
Ages 5-7
Glow: The Wild Wonders of Bioluminescence
Jennifer N. R. Smith, Dr. Edith Widder (consultant)
A stunningly illustrated large format science book on a topic which most children find intriguing. It is only 40 pages long but contains a lot of information. Each double-page spread is a separate chapter, so it is ideal for dipping into over time. Eye-catching and eye-opening nonfiction.
Ages 9-11
Who Ate What?
Rachel Levin, Natalia Rojas Castro (illustrator)
Subtitled A Historical Guessing Game for Food Lovers, this is a fun and interactive information book. After finding out what cavepeople, Ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, ninjas, pirates and others ate, readers learn about what astronauts eat and what we will eat in the future. This book provides an enjoyable way to learn about the history of food, and about history through food. A large format, quality edition with illustrations inspired by the colours and nature of Colombia.
Ages 7-12 and fun for the whole family
Ludwig and the Rhinoceros
Noemi Schneider, Golden Cosmos (illustrator), translated by Marshall Yarbrough
“It simply cannot be proven that there is not a rhinoceros in the room”. This is a fun picture book with striking illustrations, reimagining the encounter between Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein when Wittgenstein refused to admit that it was certain that there was no rhinoceros in the room. Here, the argument of philosophical enquiry is reframed in a simple narrative around a child’s imagination. Many a parent will recognise the situation: an argumentative young child and an exasperated father who is, of course, unable to prove a negative. The perfect bedtime story for philosophers young and old.
Ages 3-6
The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder
by Kereen Getten & Leah Jacobs-Gordon (illustrator)
Fayson spends as much time as possible reading detective stories and daydreaming about being a special agent. Then when she visits her cousins on an island off Jamaica during the holidays, she gets the chance to solve a real mystery. This is the first volume in a series called Di Island Crew Investigates, with a lively group of young detectives. Not too scary and with large font, this novel is a gentle introduction to mysteries for young readers.
Ages 7-11
Britannica's Encyclopedia Infographica
by Andrew Pettie & Conrad Quilty-Harper & infographics by Valentina D'Efilippo
This is an engaging children’s reference book with a visual approach to information. Subtitled 1000s of facts & figures about earth, space, animals, the body, technology & more, it gives readers insight into the world through illustrations, timelines, charts, graphs and maps, as well as text. As you would expect from a children’s encyclopaedia, there will be something of interest for everyone, and this book also exposes young readers to useful data literacy skills.
Ages 8-14 and interesting for adults too
The Way of Dog
Zana Fraillon, Sean Buckingham (illustrator)
This is an innovative novel in verse narrated by a scruffy dog who has a lot to teach humans about the important things in life. The energetic and playful text is accompanied by beautiful classic style illustrations. We follow our dog protagonist through life’s ups and downs in a moving story of love, separation and reunion. A brilliant book to read aloud to siblings of different ages.
Age 8-12
My Especially Weird Week with Tess
by Anna Woltz, David Dean (illustrator) & translated by David Colmer
Sam is a thoughtful 11 year old boy on holiday on a small island with his family. It isn’t going to plan: his brother breaks his ankle, and his mother is lying low with a migraine. Then Sam meets Tess, who — like a whirlwind — involves him in her quirky plan to find her father. In English for the first time, this is an award-winning novel by a popular Dutch author, which has also been made into a prize-winning film.
Ages 8-12
How Our Solar System Began
by Aina Bestard & translated by Matthew Clarke
By the same author who wrote and illustrated How Life on Earth Began, this is a beautifully produced book about our solar system, its planetary orbits and the unique and fascinating worlds of each planet and their moons. The large illustrations pay tribute to the graphic style of prints from a time before sophisticated equipment for studying space was available. A gorgeous nonfiction book with scientific contributions by ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array) and Dr. Antonio Hales at the ALMA Observatory.
Ages 8-12
Ten-Word Tiny Tales
Joseph Coelho and Friends
How short can a story be? This delightful book shows that ten words is definitely enough. Each tiny story has a double-page spread illustrated by a different artist — the diversity of the artists and variety of styles is part of the appeal of this book. Some of the tales are unsettling, others are funny; all are thought-provoking. The author’s intention is clearly to inspire young readers to write or tell stories, to let their imaginations use the seeds of these tiny tales and grow them. 56 pages.
Ages 5-8
In or Out: A Tale of Cat versus Dog
Stacy Gregg, Sarah Jennings (illustrator)
This is a simple and charming picture book with plenty to talk about with young readers, from details in the bright illustrations to the facial expressions and behaviours of the cat and dog, and emotions in general. Using limited vocabulary that rhymes, this is a good story to read both with very young children and those that are learning to read. As well as the winning combination of cat and dog, there is a feel-good message about things being better when done together.
Ages 1-5
The Starling's Song
Octavie Wolters, translated by Michele Hutchison
Flying above the land, the starling is enchanted with everything he sees. He sings about the beauty in nature to anyone who will listen. Everyone he sings to has something that is important to them which they ask the starling to include in his song. In black and white with splashes of yellow, this picture book has unique linocut illustrations and poetic text which builds nicely. It was awarded the Silver Brush for best illustrated children’s book in the Netherlands in 2022.
Ages 3-6
Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion
Shannon Stocker, Devon Holzwarth (illustrator)
🏆 Winner 2023 Schneider Family Book Award for young children
This is a picture book story of the inspiring life of Evelyn Glennie, who started to go deaf from the age of 10. Instead of giving up on her love of music, she switched instruments from piano and clarinet to percussion, going on to become the world’s first full-time solo percussionist and winning Grammy Awards for her recordings. Having pushed the boundaries of percussion and access to music education, Dame Evelyn has also established a charitable foundation to Teach the World to Listen. Holzwarth’s pictures are clearly intended to illustrate that we can feel sound, that touch is another way of interpreting vibrating air.
Ages 3-6
Mission: Arctic — A Scientific Adventure to a Changing North Pole
Katharina Weiss-Tuider, Christian Schneider (illustrator), translated by Shelley Tanaka
In the autumn of 2019, researchers taking part in the largest ever expedition to the Arctic let the icebreaker Polarstern freeze in the sea ice and drift towards the North Pole. The teams of scientists on board wanted to observe the ice, clouds and ocean currents, to improve our understanding of what is happening in the Arctic and how it affects climates elsewhere. This book will appeal to readers who are fascinated by the adventure of a massive expedition and how it compares with early polar exploration. It is also an informative read for those who want to understand the science of climate change. Most readers, including adults, will learn something new from this comprehensive non-fiction title. 128 pages.
Ages 10-14
The Braniac's Book of Robots and AI
Paul Virr, Harriet Russell (illustrator)
This is a fun book about robots and automata, their history and how they work. There are some interactive pages including one that invites the reader to identify the bots among various mechanical devices. More discussion of ethical issues and potential risks associated with AI would be welcome, but overall this is an interesting book which will definitely appeal to readers age 8-12.
Freewater
by Amina Luqman-Dawson
🏆 2023 Newbery Medal Winner
Loosely based on maroon communities of escaped slaves and their descendants, this is an exciting novel of courage and resistance. With plantation overseers and their dogs hot on the trail, 12 year old Homer and his younger sister Ada flee into the swamp of the American South where they join a secret community named Freewater. Adventure inspired by history.
Ages 9-12
Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II
Lia Levi, Jess Mason (illustrator), translated by Sylvia Notini
🏆 2023 Mildred L. Batchelder Award for outstanding children’s book translated into English
Six year old Lia has spent the summer of 1938 with her family at the seaside. To her, being Jewish means going to synagogue some Saturdays, lighting candles, getting presents for Hanukkah, and not eating bread at Passover. Why does it suddenly mean she is not allowed to go back to school? The young Lia is a perceptive and resilient narrator of her experiences as she is uprooted by fascism and war from her family life in Turin and sent to hide in a convent. This is an adaptation for children of Levi’s award-winning memoir published in 1994.
Ages 7-11
Hot Dog
by Doug Salati
🏆 2023 Caldecott Medal Winner
A dog is overwhelmed by the heat and noise of summer in the city. The loving owner understands, and they go to spend a fabulous day on an island beach. When they come back to the city in the evening things have cooled and calmed down. This picture book has sparse text; young readers will notice plenty to talk about in the colourful, detailed illustrations.
Ages 3-6
One Christmas in Our Building
Johanna Lindemann, Andrea Stegmaier (illustrator), translated by Polly Lawson
This is a contemporary, urban Christmas story with light echoes of the Nativity. Emma’s father and stepmother are getting stressed. Their Christmas turkey is stolen. Emma tries to cheer them up by drawing a Christmas tree on the wall, but for some reason that only makes them grumpier. The illustrations add humour, with many details that young readers will recognise. A feel-good picture book about keeping it together when things don't go according to plan, about community, and how sometimes the best celebrations are spontaneous.
Ages 3-6
Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal about the Japanese American Incarceration
by Elizabeth Partridge & Lauren Tamaki (illustrator)
🏆 2023 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
🏆 BolognaRagazzi Award: Photography – 2023 Special Category
After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, over 125,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were incarcerated in camps. Three photographers set out to document life at the Manzanar concentration camp in the California desert. This book vividly brings history to life by weaving the photos together with atmospheric illustrations and simple text. Given the different styles of the photographs, this book is also a brilliant resource for teaching children to think about and evaluate primary sources.
Ages 10-14
The Truth Detective: How to Make Sense of a World That Doesn't Add Up
Tim Harford, Ollie Mann (illustrator)
This is an excellent book to help children learn to analyse information and think about how we interpret data. To appeal to kids, the book features ‘truth detectives’ and ‘truth villains’, but the topics are of interest to older readers as well. Concepts include confirmation bias, correlation versus causation, and the need to keep asking questions (for example, are the two things being compared equivalent; is there anything which is not being shown?). The Truth Detective engages young readers by asking them questions, and there are plenty of illustrations.
Ages 9-12
Iveliz Explains It All
Andrea Beatriz Arango, Alyssa Bermudez (illustrator)
🏆 2023 Newbery Honor Book
The verse format brings immediacy to the journal entries of 12 year old Iveliz who is having a hard time explaining her feelings to others. Iveliz struggles with loss and mental health issues, and school life and friendship suffer as she lashes out in rage and turns inwards. She also needs to navigate family and cultural dynamics in her three-generation household. Iveliz is a very relatable character who is finding her voice.
Ages 11-13
The Last Mapmaker
by Christina Soontornvat & Sura Siu (narrator)
Ages 8-12
🏆 2023 Newbery Honor Book
“This is one that was a family favourite. It’s a Thai-inspired fantasy world… I think it is an excellent audiobook, and one that stood out for its beautiful narration and also the complex story it’s telling for younger readers.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2022
Emily Connelly, Journalist
Shuna's Journey
by Hayao Miyazaki & translated by Alex Dudok de Wit
This graphic novel is an early work by the iconic Hayao Miyazaki, available in English for the first time. With simple language and not much text, children as young as 10 can enjoy it although it is primarily aimed at young adults. Read more about it in our selection of best books of 2023 for teens.
