The best books of the year, as selected by Los Angeles Public Library staff. Perfect for holiday gift-giving! More books for children are at LAPL Kids Path.
Pre-K - Grade 3
Pre-K and up: Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat (The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend) writes and illustrates the story of a familiar children’s classic character, Humpty Dumpty, imagining his life after the accident; after the fall. Understandably, Humpty is now afraid of heights. Can Humpty overcome his fear? Young readers will cheer him on as he tries and tries again.
Pre-K and up: Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Are anxious thoughts keeping you from trying something new? Is life stressful? Turns out, that birds feel the same way. And they have some ideas for you to leave anxiety behind.
Grades 4 - 7
All ages
Pre-K and up
When a young avid lover of trees gets sick, she has to stay indoors and is unable to climb her favorite branches, or can she? This is a books for tree climbers and dreamers, young and old.
Pre-K and up
The main character of Jory Johnson’s (Goodnight Already) new book is a seed. A bad seed. A line-cutting seed. A never-ever-wash-their-feet seed. All the other seeds talk about how bad the bad seed is - which doesn’t make the bad seed feel so good. What happens if a bad seed doesn’t want to be bad any longer? Can a bad seed change for good?
Grades 3 - 7: Crow was rescued as a baby by Osh, a loner. They live on isolated, stark Cuttyhunk (part of the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts). Crow loves Osh but wants to find out where, and from whom she came. She discovers that she probably came from a nearby island, Penikese, a former leper colony. With the aid of her neighbor and fiercely loyal friend, Miss Maggie, Crow sets out to investigate a mysterious fire and her own mysterious past, uncovering danger, her identity, and her family, both past and present.
Grades 2 - 4
This stunning wordless picture book depicts the story of a young boy and an elderly man corresponding via messages in a bottle. The story can be interpreted in many ways and stretches the reader’s imagination.
Grades 4 - 7
Pre-K and up. A young girl watches the news and is frightened and upset by what she sees: “people against people.” She asks her father what she can do to make the world a better place. “Come with me,” he says...With simple illustrations and text, this picture book touches upon serious subject matter, with heart and an empowering message that the small things we do matter.
K - Grade 3: Kids love books about underwear (Polar Bear’s Underwear, One Big Pair of Underwear, Vegetables in Underwear, Monster's New Undies) and Creepy Pair of Underwear won’t disappoint. Once again Reynolds and Caldecott Honor winner Peter Brown team up to bring back character Jasper Rabbit from Creepy Carrots. Jasper isn’t a baby bunny anymore and wants to pick out his own underwear while shopping with his mother. The pair Jasper picks definitely is not like the others!
Grades 4 - 6: Aventurine is an average teenage dragon with an overprotective family. When she decides to exercise a little independence and leave their safe lair on her own, she finds that humans can be just as tricky and deceptive as her grandfather is always warning. A food mage uses chocolate to change Aventurine into a 12-year-old girl, and she is forced to wander into the nearest town and learn how to survive in her new form. The only upside is that she has discovered her passion in life: chocolate, and she is determined to learn everything she can about it! A fun, engaging story about an incredibly strong heroine determined to thrive and make her family proud, even when she is separated from them.
Grades 4 - 6
In this thrilling series conclusion, touched with a bit of humor, Anthony Lockwood, Lucy Carlisle, and their merry yet small band of ghost detectives, set out to finally put an end to the exponentially spreading ghost epidemic. Ghost touch is deadly – but to be successful, Lockwood & Co must brave the Other Side, an upside down realm filled with ghosts. Not only are their lives in danger from their work with the other worldly beings, but Marissa Fitz, head of the largest ghost detective agency, and arguably the most powerful woman around, has a dark secret she does not want them discovering, but that they are determined to uncover.
A great read-aloud which combines some lovely art with scientific facts, and gets in a little poetry too. The illustrations are a faithful portrayal of each flower, yet are also rendered with an imaginative flair that will entertain and challenge readers.
Grades 4 - 7: The first rule of punk is to be yourself, but 12-year-old Malú doesn't find that easy when she has to move to Chicago with her sometimes disapproving mom (aka SuperMexican). She’s smart, feisty, honest, and very creative, expressing herself in a series of little books, “zines”, filled with art and her thoughts about everything.
Grades 2 and up
Grades 4 - 7
11-year old Flora and her 10-year old brother Julian are former foster kids who have been adopted into what seems to be a permanent home. How can they be sure when they’ve been in so many homes, and had so many “Moms"? So many that they all blend together, and it’s difficult to remember most of the actual people from their past. They’re not even sure where they originally came from as there’s no proof of their birth, baby pictures, anything. When their adoptive mother discovers that there are so many blank memories, she takes them on a family trip to the former foster homes to try to find some answers. Their journey of discovery will evoke so many emotions for everyone. Are they really ready to dig up the secrets of their past?
Grades 3 - 6
Beautifully moving middle grade novel about a girl, her lost mother, and her heartbroken father. Emmaline is tired of her father ignoring her so he can work on his invention, a ghost machine. Having already lost one parent, she's determined not to lose another.
Grades 4 - 7
Grades 5 - 7
A plane goes down in the Arctic, and there are only eight survivors, ranging in age from 10-14. However, when the kids step off the plane, they find themselves in an unearthly jungle. The vegetation and wildlife are unlike anything the kids have ever seen, and they find a device that allows them to control gravity. While trying to solve the mystery of how they ended up in this place, even more mysteries arise. An exciting, fast-paced science fiction adventure with excellent world-building and character development.
Grades 2 - 5
Reviews made mention of Silverstein, Seuss, Nash, Lear. This reviewer read it on the train and drew startled glances as she chortled, giggled, snorted, guffawed, and rolled her eyes (not noisily, but at that point, the other riders were already staring). Funny and sometimes thought-provoking, sure to delight fans of the above-mentioned poets. And the pictures are good, too.
Pre-K - Grade 4
The "true" story of how Rock (champion of the Kingdom of Backyard), Paper (ruler of the Empire of Mom's Home Office) and Scissors (undisputed victor of the Kitchen Realm) meet up for their very first battle. Put on your battle pants and prepare for a rollicking reading experience.
Grades 2 - 5
Pre-K and up
Lower case "i" loses his dot and must find it! Like Hall’s 2015 picture book, Red: A Crayon’s Story, the adventurous tale of Little i is about finding self, belonging, and building confidence. Little i is also a playful story about growing up that explores bits and pieces of the alphabet and simple punctuation along the way.
Pre-K - Grade 1
What seems like a child's retelling of Moby Dick turns into a sea shanty lullaby.
K - Grade 3
Pre-K - Grade 2
Pre-K - Grade 1
Which animal is having the perfect day? It depends on your perspective, especially when a bear appears.
Grades 3 - 6
In this sequel, Pixie Piper is off to Chuckling Goose Farm to learn more about being a Goose Girl, and to have a magical good time with her friends. She also has to watch out for the return of the vengeful Raveneece, as she navigates all the other usual troubles that kids face. Although Pixie Piper seems to find herself in trouble even when she means well, her bravery and courage help her come out all right in the end. Definite appeal to lovers of magic and wordplay/rhyming.
Grades 1 - 3
Pre-K - Grade 3
What seems like a simple folk tale about a small village is actually a weightier story of the power of courage, and the importance of standing up to oppression. A noisy rooster refuses to be silenced by the mayor’s increasingly severe punishments, and inspires the town to speak out on his behalf.
Grades 4 - 7
12-year-old Charlie is a bit unusual: he loves to sketch and spot birds, he only likes to eat chicken nuggets, and he wants his world to be clean and tidy. But when his journalist father is injured in Afghanistan, Charlie and his family set out on a road trip across the United States in order to visit his father at a hospital in Virginia. But Charlie is faced with more questions than answers at the start of the drive. Who is Ludmila, the tattooed Eastern European woman who is seemingly enthralled with his comatose dad? Will he be able to track down all of the birds he and his father wanted to see in the wild while on this road trip? And will Charlie finally be able to meet Tiberius Shaw, PhD -- recluse, bird expert, and author of Charlie’s favorite books on birding? A charming and quirky book with a big-hearted message.
Grades 4 - 7
Grades 4 - 6
This is a middle-grade crush story in which Mattie (Matilda) lends a hand playing Romeo when the male lead drops out of the school production of Romeo and Juliet. As the production progresses, Mattie realizes she likes the supremely likable Gemma (playing Juliet). In addition to all of the usual 8th grade angst, Mattie is now questioning her identity. Her friends and family are supportive, but she’s still not sure what it all means. A charming story that does not move much beyond warm feelings, but progresses in a parallel to Shakespeare’s masterpiece. It will have readers dying to know what’s going to happen and cheering Mattie on to the end.
K - Grade 3
Astrid has loved her dog Eli her entire life, but as Astrid grows up, Eli ages faster than she does. When Astrid realizes Eli is slowing down, she creates a list of fun activities for them to do together (such as dining on spaghetti and meatballs in a fancy restaurant). This gentle picture book, like many classic stories of faithful pets, may require several handkerchiefs, but it avoids being maudlin.
Pre-K - Grade 1
Learning to dress, or undress, can be a frustrating task for little hands. This playful picture book by Yoshitake will give youngsters an opportunity to find humor in the concept. A child gets “stuck” in the in-between stage of dress and undress. With his arms up and a shirt half over his head, he wonders and worries if he will be able to eat, drink, and stop the cat from tickeling his belly. What would you do? Readers are sure to be invited to imagine.
K - Grade 3
A young girl wants her grandfather to teach her Cree, her grandfather’s language, but he admits he can’t remember it--the words were stolen from him as a child. This is a short yet powerful picture book that balances an all-too-real part of history with hope.
(Pre-K - Grade 3) Pinkney's interpretation of the classic tale offers the troll the opportunity to learn his lesson thanks to a monster fish with a taste for trolls.
Grade 4 - 7
Grades 4 - 7
Grades 5 - 9
Grades 3 - 6
Grades 3 - 7
Pre-K - Grade 1
The text oozes with the anticipation and joy that all children feel when it comes to their birthday.
Pre-K - Grade 1
Oliver is a puzzle piece that can’t seem to find where he belongs, because he doesn’t seem to fit in any of the puzzles. To fit in, he changes his appearance and finds a spot where he does fit, only to find that it doesn’t feel right. He loses his disguise, stays true to himself and eventually find his perfect place.
Grade 1 and up
With great skill and striking pathos, Rosemary McCarney provides an age-appropriate glimpse into the refugee crises happening all over the globe, including Myanmar, Lebanon, and Kenya. Featuring dramatic color photos supplied by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), this book serves as an important starting point for a family conversation about world events.
Grades 5 - 6
Trees make the best storytellers. Ask Red, the tree who grows on the street where a young girl named Samar and her parents live. Red has seen many things and has sheltered many in its branches. But Red will also witness something that will change its life. Simply yet exquisitely told, Wishtree is a story of friendship and love that will stay with you for a long time.
K - Grade 5
Pre-K and up
Grades 5 - 8