Best Books for Kids of 2023

Every year brings us a plethora of incredible new books for kids, and 2023 was no exception. Here are some wonderful books for kids from the past year you shouldn’t hesitate to check out. 

1. Big by Vashti Harrison. A young girl transcends opinions of her to hold space for herself and own the person she is both inside and out. Powerful, full-page illustrations and striking use of color push the limits of the picture book form. As far as books for kids go, this one is a stunner. 

2. Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo. A group of students arrive on the first day to find an impressive-looking sandwich seated at the teacher’s desk. Baffled, they wonder, could this be their teacher? Hilarity ensues in this silly and unexpected story.

3. Bunny and Tree by Balint Zsako. Bunny is separated from its colony and turns to a shape-shifting tree for help. Through nine wordless, thoughtfully illustrated acts, they brave predators, sail across oceans and fly through the sky in search of Bunny’s new home.

4. 9 Kilometers by Claudio Aguilera. Art by Gabriela Lyon. Detailed acrylic illustrations convey the daily arduous journey that a young Chilean child makes in order to receive the education they so richly deserve. Extensive backmatter includes information about trips to school for children of other cultures.

5. Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith. A boy and his mother reflect on the past to bring comfort through a major life change. Poignantly illustrated vignettes depict the memories of birthdays, picnics, and heartfelt moments that help calm their spirits on their first night in a new home.

6. Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes. In this sweetly sensitive graphic diary, 12-year-old Tuva navigates the difficulties that come with being a tween: balancing kid stuff with growing up, exploring relationships and first crushes, all while figuring out who she is and what she wants.

7. Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke. It was supposed to just be a normal basement—some storage boxes, dust, you know, the usual basement stuff. But when Milo is sent by his mother to fetch a sock from the basement of the historic home they’ve moved into, Milo finds a door in the back that he’s never seen before. Turns out that the basement of his house is enormous–in fact, there is a whole world down there. 

8. Curlfriends: New in Town by Sharee Miller. Twelve-year-old military kid Charlie Harper is no stranger to being the new kid. Middle school means a fresh start, and she is convinced this is her chance to be cool. However, Charlie feels like fitting in might mean pretending to be someone she isn’t.

9. The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers. Art by Shawn Harris. In a wildlife park ruled by a cast of quirky animals, Johannes, a charismatic free dog and the appointed Eyes of the park, narrates a story that dips into the philosophical and the humorous while exploring themes of loss, community, love, and hope.

10. Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson. Before Daisy’s mother disappeared, she instructed her daughter to seek help in Kew Gardens should something go wrong. Now that everything has fallen apart and Daisy is on her own, she must travel to a magical world to find her mother, herself, and the many meanings of family. 

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services