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  Best Picture Books of 2023  

Best Picture Books

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli

David LaRochelle - Dial Books
Format: Hardcover

This wacky counting adventure by Geisel Award-winning author David LaRochelle is a hilarious ode to dragons and math, with pitch-perfect art by Lian Cho.. High on a mountain live 100 mighty dragons all named Broccoli. When a tremendous wind blows half the dragons away, ten others sail off to become...
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An American Story

Kwame Alexander - Little, Brown Young Readers
Format: Hardcover

New York Times Bestselling author Kwame Alexander pens a powerful picture book that tells the story of American slavery through the voice of a teacher struggling to help her students understand its harrowing history.From the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable...
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Ancient Night

David Bowles - Levine Querido
Format: Hardcover

At the start of things, the elders say, the universe was hushed and still. The moon alone shone bright and round in the star-speckled dark of the sky.. David Álvarez is one of the most extraordinary artists working today. His black-and-white illustrations have gained fame in his home country...
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Big

Vashti Harrison - Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover

Filled with truth, beauty, joy, and acceptance, this is a tour de force from bestselling and award-winning creator Vashti Harrison. . The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning and creator Vashti Harrison traces a child's journey to self-love and shows the power...
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Do You Remember?

Sydney Smith - Neal Porter Books
Format: Hardcover

From the author/artist of the multiple award-winning of Small in the City comes an innovative and moving look at memories, filtered through the mind of a child.. Can you hear the morning wind in the trees?Can you feel the snowflakes landing on your wrist?Can you taste the sweetness of the warm...
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Every Dreaming Creature

Brendan Wenzel - Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover

Perfect for bedtime or at any time, here is a visually stunning exploration of animal senses through dreams, from Caldecott Honoree and New York Times bestselling creator Brendan Wenzel.. Welcome to a magical world of endless curiosity. You are a sleeping salamander. A dancing octopus....
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When You Can Swim

Jack Wong - Orchard Books
Format: Hardcover

A reverent celebration of learning to swim among a diverse cast of children and families who each experience the mysterious joys of water in nature. In this exploration of what it truly means to swim, expansive vignettes introduce sandpipers, tannin-soaked lakes, and the feeling of a small...
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Where Wonder Grows

Xelena Gonzalez - Cinco Puntos Press
Format: Hardcover

Grandma knows that there is wondrous knowledge to be found everywhere you can think to look. She takes her girls to their special garden, and asks them to look over their collection of rocks, crystals, seashells, and meteorites to see what marvels they have to show. "They were here...
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Award Winners

Big (Caldecott)

Vashti Harrison - Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Book

Filled with truth, beauty, joy, and acceptance, this is a tour de force from bestselling and award-winning creator Vashti Harrison. . The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning and creator Vashti Harrison traces a child's journey to self-love and shows the power...

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Where Wonder Grows (Pura Belpre)

Xelena Gonzalez - Cinco Puntos Press
Format: Book

Grandma knows that there is wondrous knowledge to be found everywhere you can think to look. She takes her girls to their special garden, and asks them to look over their collection of rocks, crystals, seashells, and meteorites to see what marvels they have to show. "They were here...

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Love, Violet (Stonewall)

Charlotte Sullivan Wild
Format: Book

Only one personmakes Violet's heart skipOf all the kids in Violet's class, only one leaves her speechless: Mira, the girl with the cheery laugh who races like the wind. If only they could adventure together! But every time Violet tries to tell Mira how she feels, Violet goes...

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Henry, Like Always (Schneider Family Award)

Jenn Bailey - Chronicle Books
Format: Book

A beginning chapter book series based on the award-winning picture book, A Friend for Henry!. Henry likes Classroom Ten. He likes how it is always the same. But this week, Henry's class will have a parade, and a parade means having Share Time on the wrong day. A parade means playing...

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Award Honors

In Every Life (Caldecott)

Marla Frazee - Beach Lane Books
Format: Book

A simple and profound meditation on the many wonders of life from two-time Caldecott Honor recipient Marla Frazee.. In every life, there is love and loss, hope and joy, wonder and mystery. With glowing art and spare, powerful text, Caldecott Honor-winning creator Marla Frazee celebrates...

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A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters (Pura Belpre)

Duncan Tonatiuh - Abrams Books for Young Readers
Format: Book

Award-winning author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh sheds light on the significance of Aztec manuscripts and cultureOur world, little brother, is an amoxtlalpan, a land of books.In the jungles where the jaguar dwells, the Mayas make books.In the mountains the cloud people, the Mixtecs,...

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Kapaemahu (Stonewall)

Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu - Kokila
Format: Book

An Indigenous legend about how four extraordinary individuals of dual male and female spirit, or Mahu, brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii, based on the Academy Award-contending short film. In the 15th century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii and share their gifts of science...

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What Happened to You? (Schneider Family Award)

James Catchpole - Faber & Faber
Format: Paperback

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Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language (Schneider Family Award)

Joanna Que - Princeton Architectural Press
Format: Book

Read the world to change the world! This artful picture book about friendship and sign language, originally published in the Philippines in concert with nonprofit Room to Read, is beautifully revised for this global edition. . Our new neighbors' hands are dancing. Their hands move...

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Most Popular Picture Books at PG Library

Sleepy Sheepy

Lucy Ruth Cummins - ‎Flamingo Books
Format: Hardcover

From critically acclaimed author Lucy Ruth Cummins and Pete Oswald, New York Times bestselling illustrator of the Bad Seed series, comes a rhyming bedtime tale featuring brand new picture book character Sleepy Sheepy, a sheep who is definitely NOT sleepy!Sleepy Sheepy was not sleepyBut...
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Beneath

Cori Doerrfeld - ‎Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover

In this profound and poignant story from New York Times bestselling creator Cori Doerrfeld, a child and grandparent discover more about each other as they explore the natural world.   Finn is in a horrible mood and doesn't want to talk about it. After some persuading, though, they...
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Sprout Branches Out

Jessika von Innerebner - Roaring Brook Press
Format: Hardcover

Discover the unbe-leaf-ably adorable story of a young plant with mulch to learn in this feel-good tale perfect for fans of The Bad Seed and Grumpy Monkey.Sprout the plant lives on a small porch, in a little town. She's only been able to grow two leaves and knows exactly why. Home is just...
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A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book

Jonathan Fenske - Penguin Workshop
Format: Hardcover

From the comedic mind of Jonathan Fenske, Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor-winning creator of A Pig, a Fox, and a Box, comes a hilarious picture book about what happens when a unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark "walk" into a book. Fenske's appealing illustration style and clever text...
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Woo Hoo! You're Doing Great!

Sandra Boynton - Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover

Bestselling, beloved author Sandra Boynton--and a very exuberant chicken!--have an important message to share in this inspiring and highly giftable all-ages picture book for every life milestone! Whether you are learning to skate, baking a cake, or even making a mistake, this hilarious...
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Becoming Charley

Kelly DiPucchio - Knopf Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover

A New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning illustrator team up for a striking, modern-day take on The Very Hungry Caterpillar that celebrates staying true to oneself.. Everyone is trying to teach Charley the right way to become a butterfly: Eat your milkweed! Think black!...
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I Am a Dragon!: A Squabble & a Quibble

Sabina Hahn - HarperCollins
Format: Hardcover

A grumpy dragon gets fired up when he is mistaken for a Very Large Frog in this laugh-out-loud picture book perfect for fans of Mo Willems and Jon Klassen!A squad of frogs is excited when they spot a Very Big Frog in their pond. But when the creature says that he isn't a frog, the frogs...
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You Can't Be a Pterodactyl!

James Breakwell - Nancy Paulsen Books
Format: Hardcover

Popular comedy writer James Breakwell brings us the story of a determined boy with big dreams who remains undeterred by all the naysayers!. Tommy knows exactly what he wants to be when he grows up. But when he announces that he plans to be a pterodactyl, it turns out he's surrounded...
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Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem

Melissa Stewart - Random House Studio
Format: Hardcover

This fascinating nonfiction picture book filled with stunning illustrations details the end of life for a whale, also known as a whale fall, when its body sinks to the ocean floor and becomes an energy-rich food source for organisms living in the deep sea.. When a whale dies, its massive...
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The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music

Roberta Flack - Anne Schwartz Books
Format: Hardcover

This autobiographical picture book by the multiple Grammy Award-winning singer Roberta Flack recounts her childhood in a home surrounded by music and love: it all started with a beat-up piano that her father found in a junkyard, repaired, and painted green.Growing up in a Blue Ridge mountain...
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The Indestructible Tom Crean: Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic

Jennifer Thermes - Viking Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover

Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic.At the turn of the twentieth century, Antarctica is the last unexplored continent. The ice is unforgiving. It can break the human spirit. It takes many men willing to face hardship, danger, and years away from home to journey to this uncharted end of the earth....
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Where I Live: Poems About My Home, My Street, and My Town

Paul B. Janeczko - Candlewick
Format: Hardcover

What is home? Revel in the ineffable sense of belonging in anthologist Paul B. Janeczko's diverse selection of poems with sure appeal for children. . Home is shoes tucked under the bed while you sleep, or fancy-dancying at the neighborhood block party. It's buttermilk biscuits and gospel...
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Best Early Readers

Henry, Like Always: Book 1

Jenn Bailey - Chronicle Books
Format: Hardcover

A beginning chapter book series based on the award-winning picture book, A Friend for Henry!. Henry likes Classroom Ten. He likes how it is always the same. But this week, Henry's class will have a parade, and a parade means having Share Time on the wrong day. A parade means playing...
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Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

Lerner, Jarrett; Lerner, Jarrett
Format: electronic resource

From Jarrett Lerner, the powerhouse creator behind the EngiNerds, Geeger the Robot, and Hunger Heroes series, comes a hilarious new Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about a grumpy cat and a long-suffering narrator!

Nat the Cat is taking a nap. Or he would be…if only...
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Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends: Ready-to-Read Graphics Level 1

Kaz Windness - Simon Spotlight
Format: Hardcover

This heartwarming and affirming Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics book celebrates the beauty of true friendship!Worm and Caterpillar are friends - best friends. Worm loves how they are just alike, but Caterpillar has a feeling there is a big change coming. Then Caterpillar disappears for a while...
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Elena Rides

Juana Medina - Candlewick
Format: Hardcover

Beginning readers - and beginning riders - will be drawn to this bright, buoyant story of a determined elephant and her loyal sidekick, from the award-winning creator of Juana & Lucas. . Elena wants to ride her bike. She steadies, she readies. She wobbles, she bobbles . . . KA-BANG! Learning...
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Drag and Rex 1: Forever Friends

Susan Lubner - Pixel Ink
Format: Hardcover

Meet Drag and Rex, the sweet, silly best friends who find joy and adventure in the simplest places in this charming and cheery modern Frog and Toad.. Drag is a dreamy, literal, impulsive, (and sometimes a little bit scatter-brained) dragon. Rex is a dapper, practical, methodical (and sometimes...
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Most Popular Early Readers at PG Library

Little Critter: Monster Truck (My First I Can Read)

Mercer Mayer - HarperCollins
Format: Paperback

Join Mercer Mayer's beloved character Little Critter at a Monster Truck Rally in this My First I Can Read book! Perfect for fans of trucks and cars.Little Critter wants a new toy Squisher truck!For two weeks, Little Critter does chores to pay for it - he lets the dog in, takes out the trash,...
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Gigi and Ojiji: What's in a Name? (I Can Read Level 3)

MELISSA IWAI - HarperCollins
Format: Hardcover

Gigi wants to go by something besides her baby name - but her full name, Geraldine, is too long to write and Hanako, her middle name, doesn't feel quite right. Will Gigi find the perfect name?This exciting new I Can Read series is brought to you by author-illustrator Melissa Iwai, whose...
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Elena Rides

Juana Medina - Candlewick
Format: Hardcover

Beginning readers - and beginning riders - will be drawn to this bright, buoyant story of a determined elephant and her loyal sidekick, from the award-winning creator of Juana & Lucas. . Elena wants to ride her bike. She steadies, she readies. She wobbles, she bobbles . . . KA-BANG! Learning...
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Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy (Doggo and Pupper, 3)

Katherine Applegate - Feiwel & Friends
Format: Hardcover

In Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy -- the conclusion to the Doggo and Pupper early readers trilogy by New York Times-bestselling author Katherine Applegate with a brightly colored palette from Charlie Alder -- the canines help Cat adjust to a big change: A new bed! When Cat announces...
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Jellyfish: A First Look (Read about Ocean Animals (Read for a Better World ™))

PERCY LEED - Lerner Publications ™
Format: Hardcover

What do you know about jellyfish?Beginning readers will get their feet wet with these literacy-building introductions to ocean animals. In addition to curricular information, social-emotional questions encourage reflection and family/educator engagement tips help connect the topic to the reader's...
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