My 40 favorite picture books of 2023

Wow, 2023 turned out to be a great year for picture books! Here are 40 of my favorites, listed alphabetically by title:

Afterward, Everything Was Different, created by Rafael Yockteng and Jairo Buitrago, published by Aldana Libros (an imprint of Greystone Kids), to be released: May 9, 2023.

Dynamic collaborators Yockteng and Buitrago transport readers back to the Pleistocene era (or a fantastical version of it) with this cinematic, black and white wordless tale that captures the turbulent trek of a bunch of people who encounter hazard after hazard. After a truly startling (and vividly captured) pre-credits sequence (it happens before the title page), we see them battle the elements, scale mountains, and walk among giant creatures. The book walks an intriguing tonal tightrope. Beauty and danger. Humor and heartbreak. All the while we see a child observing all of the action. And at the end, in a satisfying moment, we see the role this child plays. The majesty of art and storytelling prevail. An idiosyncratic, unforgettable work.

An American Story, art by Dare Coulter, poem by Kwame Alexander, published by Little, Brown and Company, ISBN: 9780316473125.

At the height of his powers, Alexander presents an unflinching poem about the horrors enslaved people experienced. And he touches on why we all need to hear about them, not hide from this history. He follows the recurring line “How do you tell that story?” with grueling details about injustice and harsh mistreatment. Artist Dare Coulter uses various artistic methods (including sculptures) here. The artist’s note says that Coulter used spray paints and acrylic paints, charcoal, ink, and digital painting methods.

Ancient Night, created by David Álvarez with David Bowles, published by Levine Querido, ISBN: 9781646142514.

A colleague of mine said that she would love to frame all the double page spreads found in this title and hang them on the wall. And I agree. Ancient Night is easily one of the most visually breathtaking books of the year. Beautifully written, this story weaves together several tales from Mesoamerica about a rabbit caring for the moon, an opossum who possesses the sun’s fire, and how they cross paths one fateful ancient night. The great artist Álvarez creates unforgettable lush imagery throughout: warm, mysterious, with brilliant details that evoke a timeless mood and spirit.

A-Train Allen, illustrated by Lonnie Ollivierre, written by Lesley Younge, published by Sleeping Bear Press, ISBN: 9781534111837.

What a vibrant, colorful burst of energy this little sleeper hit is! The amazing A-Train lives up to his name as he dashes, darts, bolts, speeds, and races through a bustling city street to his daily destination. Younge’s lively language is a blast to read out loud; every verb choice pulsates with joy. The book highlights key action words (fab art direction) as A-Train soars down the sidewalks. Ollivierre’s super fun digital art pleases the eye as A-Train moves with great celerity, a bouncing happy blur. 

Benita and the Night Creatures, illustrated by Cocoretto, written by Mariana Llanos, published by Barefoot Books, ISBN: 9798888590027.

Crackling with vivid colors and bold fonts, this romp about a bunch of scary creatures from Peruvian lore trying to startle a young bibliophile shows beautifully across storytime spaces. Cocoretto knows how to make the titular creatures (a tunche, a supay, others) appear both startling and endearingly goofy. Llanos packs her text with audience-ready sound effects as the monsters shout, whistle, and roar. Believe me, the kids in my programs love to shout, whistle, and roar along. Meanwhile, Benita shows no fear as she attempts to read her book. But oh when she loses her patience and roars back, laughs ensue.

Big, illustrated and written by Vashti Harrison, published by Little, Brown and Company, ISBN: 9780316353229.

The versatile award-winning Harrison (making her impressive debut as author) takes the inspirational story of a girl picked on for being “Too Big” and turns it into a visual tour de force. As people try to talk our heroine down, words surround and swirl around her. Harrison brilliantly plays with proportion, giving the work an often expressionistic feel. The girl appears oversized and giant in some moments. And then in one of the most striking passages of the year, spreads show her growing and growing within the confines of the frame, until a fold-out is needed to convey her size. She learns to embrace her self-confidence, to stand up for herself. And readers will cheer her on!

Dim Sum Palace, illustrated and written by X. Fang, published by Tundra, ISBN: 978-1774881989.

In the zesty final line of X. Fang’s wacky and surreal new Dim Sum Palace, the young protagonist Liddy enjoys Chinese restaurant food that tastes better than in her “wildest dreams.” And the line has a comical punch because we have watched Liddy experience one wild dream. One involving being turned into a dumpling fit for an Empress. Yes, that old dream. Fang’s book fittingly has a fantastical logic to it, with images that defy explanation but still oddly feel grounded in some kind of strange reality. The central section with giant cooks feels like an homage to Maurice Sendak’s bizarre classic In the Night Kitchen, but Fang does something new and different here. Dim Sum Palace beats to the sound of its own drummer. Satisfying and witty.

Evergreen, illustrated and written by Matthew Cordell, published by Feiwel and Friends, ISBN: 978-1250317179, release date: February 7, 2023.

Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell delivers an action-packed, delightful adventure, presented in six fast-paced chapters, about a little squirrel delivering soup (in an acorn) to an ailing character named Granny Oak. Many startling things happen along the way as the nervous titular character heads into the woods, and Cordell serves up each surprise with fluent grace and artistic confidence. He throws in tributes to such classics as The Lion & the Mouse and Little Red Riding Hood, while throwing in little narrative spins to those tales. His signature squiggly illustrations would feel at home in a classic folktale collection. 

Every Dreaming Creature, illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel, published by Little, Brown and Company, ISBN: 9780316512534.

Animal lover (and conservationist) and extremely inventive illustrator/author Brendan Wenzel serves up another playful celebration of the natural world. Wenzel loves to add a philosophical spin to his picture books, showing connections between different animals and toying with perspective (and perceptions). The book features an epic dream with sneaky tigers and zipping peregrine falcons. The reader doesn’t know what each page turn will bring. The animals speak in first person narration. Whose dream are we seeing? Wenzel proves once again here that he is one of the very best at depicting a wild array of species. And as always, he lets his imagination run wild, creating images and words that invite young readers to revisit and explore.

Finding Papa, illustrated by Thi Bui, written by Angela Pham Krans, published by Harper, ISBN: 978-0063060968.

In her afterword, author Krans tells how the events depicted in her vivid, gripping Finding Papa mirrors the turbulent journey she made with her mother from Vietnam to the United States in 1983. With emotionally direct, succinct prose, Krans brings an emotional immediacy to the account by introducing a young child named Mai who loves playing with her papa. One day his goodbye goes on a little longer than usual, and she realizes something has changed. Caldecott Honoree Bui packs each image with cinematic details, deftly capturing the dramatic urgency of the trek. 

Flower Girl, illustrated by Jameela Wahlgren, written by Amy Bloom, published by Norton Young Readers, ISBN: 9781324030355.

Ah, wedding traditions! So amazing…and so meant to be broken. Young Nikki feels overjoyed when her fabulous aunt asks her to be the flower girl. But then feels deflated when she learns this important job involves wearing a frilly dress. Nikki admits that she is “not a dress kind of girl”. Nikki’s excitement about the wedding dissipates. Fortunately her caring, understanding dad comes up with a terrific solution. Bloom’s lively, emotionally direct prose does not sugarcoat Nikki’s feelings or make things saccharine. Nikki comes off as a real kid-full of spirit, possessing a love for ice cream, and rewarded for speaking up about how she feels. Wahlgren’s art captures Nikki’s emotional journey with charming flair. One of the most comforting books of the year.

The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music, illustrated by Hayden Goodman, written by Roberta Flack, with Tonya Bolden, published by Anne Schwartz Books, ISBN: 9780593479872.

Today’s elementary school children might not know who Five-Time Grammy Winner Roberta Flack is, but they will enjoy her moving memoir (co-written with Rock, Rosetta, Rock! author Tonya Bolden) about her developing an early love for playing piano. Flack and Bolden weave together a beautiful account of musical family bliss, with Roberta’s father noticing her love for piano and giving her a gift that changed her life. Like many of Flack’s signature hits, the story has a gorgeous, poetic mellowness to it that captivates. Goodman’s soothing illustrations convey the warmth of Flack’s tender anecdote, with swirls traveling around the adult Flack as she plays one of her many memorable hits. Young readers with artistic ambitions will find her story inspirational.

Jump In!. illustrated and written by Shadra Strickland, published by Bloomsbury, ISBN: 978-1619635807.

The inventive Strickland has a blast showing kids (and adults) playing their own way by jumping rope, riding a bike, or skateboarding. They sometimes reach the sky thanks to their magnificent joy. Her illustrations burst with sunny warmth, and she packs the book with glorious fold outs and fold ups that enhance the movement. Her text tickles the reader’s funny bone and delights throughout.

Just Like Grandma, illustrated by Julie Flett, written by Kim Rogers, published by Heartdrum, ISBN: 9780063049246.

There have been many inspirational picture books lately about the loving bond between grandparent and grandchild. And this one emerges as something special. Many titles show a child in awe of a caring elder who can do many great things. Just Like Grandma is no different. Little Becca loves watching Grandma bead, dance, and paint. This awesome Grandmother invites Becca to join her in each artistic pursuit. But narrative-wise, author Roberts takes her story to the next level by showing how Becca inspires Grandma to play basketball with her. The recurring phrase “just like Grandma” becomes “just like Becca” and the book radiates pure child-centered joy as a result. Fabulous illustrator Julie Flett continues her winning streak; she creates indelible images of familial warmth.

Just One Flake, illustrated and written by Travis Jonker, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 9781419760112.

School librarian extraordinaire, blogger, podcaster (with Colby Sharp) Jonker has illustrated and written an absolutely delightful romp about a child obsessed with catching the most perfect snowflake in the world. Using action-packed, concise language and expertly framing the wintry action, Jonker understands page turns and comical suspense. I won’t spoil any of the book’s many surprises, but this will keep young audiences giggling and gasping. This will become a winter favorite.

Like Lava in My Veins, illustrated by Shawn Martinbrough with Adriano Lucas, published by Nancy Paulsen Books (an imprint of Penguin), ISBN: 9780525518747.

Since receiving a 2018 Newbery Honor for the terrific Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, Derrick Barnes has been incredibly (and thankfully) prolific, writing great book after great book. His latest, Like Lava in My Veins, has him trying a brand new approach with his storytelling. Done in the style of a superhero-style graphic novel, the picture book tells the allegorical tale of Bobby Beacon, a misunderstood boy whose powers go a little out of control (flames burst!) when he feels frustrated. Sent at first to the principal’s office and then later to a special school, Bobby finally meets a compassionate teacher who understands him. But then, in true superhero narrative fashion, things go haywire and Bobby must work with others to save the day against some villains. The explosive art by Martinbrough (with eye-popping colors by Lucas) jumps off the page. Young comic book fans will enjoy the speech bubbles, nifty frames, and action. They will cheer Bobby as triumphs…on his terms.

Mama Shamsi at the Bazaar, illustrated by Maya Fidawi, written by Mojdeh Hassani and Samira Iravani, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0593110614.

A sweet, amusingly surreal tale depicting the connection between grandmother and grandchild, set in Tehran. For the first time ever, a shy girl named Samira accompanies her grandmother to a bustling market place. Samira fears getting lost in the crowd, and asks if she can use Grandmother’s chador to hide and stay close. Yet Mama Shamsi says she will look like a variety of animals (a giraffe! a tortoise!) if Samira does that. The gifted illustrator Fidawi has fun alternating between the real and the imagined, and deftly gives the reader a genuine sense of place. You can hear the sounds of the market place. Meanwhile, the mother-daughter writing duo give the reader a comforting story that ends up being quite moving. This will work beautifully in storytimes thanks to the crisp, lively language and detailed art.

Mine!, illustrated by Eric Rohmann, written by Candace Fleming, published by Anne Schwartz Books (an imprint of Penguin Random House), ISBN: 9780593181669.

Yay, another fun-filled collaboration by these two great award winners! I tried this with my preschool storytime group and they loved this funny look at a group of animals eyeing a delicious-looking apple high, way up high in a tree. Fleming’s playful text introduces each animal one by one, from smallest (a mouse) to largest (a bear). She throws in fun words like “waggety-dashed” and “hoppety-boinged.” I mean, what’s not to love? Meanwhile, Rohmann’s superlative illustrations, with the bold outlines reminiscent of those found in his timeless Caldecott winner My Friend Rabbit, show beautifully across the room. The book’s epic proportions are perfect, as are the animals’ thought bubbles filled with imagined, desirable scenarios. I love giving the kids a 1-2-3 prompt so they can yell the recurring word “Mine!.” And it all leads to a whoosh of wind and a delightful surprise ending.

Mr. S, illustrated and written by Monica Arnaldo, published by Katherine Tegen Books (an imprint of HarperCollins), ISBN: 9780063003958.

Arnaldo has created one of the funniest, most satisfyingly goofy books of the year. On the first day of school, a group of students think that the sandwich sitting on the teacher’s desk IS their new teacher. And believe me, hilarity ensues. I love books that take a comical situation and fly with it, finding jokes within jokes, and then keep surprising you with new details.

My Baba’s Garden, illustrated by Sydney Smith, written by Jordan Scott, published by Neal Porter Books (an imprint of Holiday House), ISBN: 978-0823450831.

Jordan Scott shared the very personal award-winning I Talk Like a River in 2020, and now he’s back with another beautiful story from his childhood. My Baba’s Garden introduces readers to a boy’s doting, worm-loving, garden-planting grandmother, his baba. She emigrated to Canada after suffering in Poland during World War II, and moved into a renovated chicken coop. Scott reunites with his River illustrator, the great Sydney Smith, who brings his usual A game to the project. Packing each moment with filmic details that feel like hazy, warm memories, Smith generates a real sense of place here.

The Night Tent, illustrated and written by Landis Blair, published by Margaret Ferguson Books (an imprint of Holiday House), ISBN: 9780823450985.

This sparkling, visually witty bedtime tale works as a playful spin on the classic Where the Wild Things Are. A child named Watson cannot sleep because of nocturnal fears. But then he decides to lift up his covers where he discovers a wondrous night-time world. The stars twinkle in a most inviting manner, leading him to a path that takes him on an unforgettable journey packed with some supercool creatures and increasingly epic sites. This is Blair’s first picture book, but he has already mastered the art of the page turn, with suspenseful language and images that gracefully flow like an enchanting winding path.

Not a Monster, illustrated by Laura González, written by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, published by Charlesbridge, ISBN: 9781623543037.

Wow, those little salamanders called axolotls can look slightly startling at first, but they bubble with adorable cuteness. Fitting for an account about an animal found in Mexico, Martínez sprinkles in Spanish words when describing the absolute coolness of these aquatic wonders. She seamlessly weaves in facts in her storytime-friendly text, and even slips in a folktale about them halfway through. González’s lovely illustrations create an immersive watery feel, capturing their epic appeal from a wide variety of angles. And there is a welcome ecological passage at the end showing two children helping to keep the axolotl’s wild waters clean.

Oh, Olive!, illustrated and written by Lian Cho, published by Katherine Tegen Books (an imprint of HarperCollins), ISBN: 9780063237490.

Anarchy rules in this colorful delight about an expectactions-denying artist. Cho delightfully whisks young readers into Olive’s world, and takes them on a wild ride. Olive does not follow the rules set up by her rigid painter parents. They want her to paint grey geometric shapes. Olive wants to fill her canvases with frenzied colors, to splatter and create impressive artistic messes. And so do Olive’s peers and teacher. Soon a community-wide rumpus occurs. Cho knows how to create comical mayhem. And there is a fun surprise ending, too.

Once Upon a Book, illustrated by Grace Lin, written by Lin and Kate Messner, published by Little, Brown and Company, ISBN: 978-0316541077.

This charmer stars a bored girl named Alice who slips into the various worlds found in a vivid picture book. Her new adventures take her everywhere–into the sea, into outer space, to the desert, and other locales. The reader never quite knows where Alice will travel next, as Lin’s and Messner’s text throws nifty twists and surprises into the mix. Lin’s illustrations here are an absolute joy. An enthusiastic inventiveness makes the visuals fun to study and revisit. 

Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock, pictures by Erika Kinkz, written by Jesús Trejo, published by Minerva, ISBN: 9781662651045.

Comedian Trejo makes a triumphant picture book debut with this hilarious and yet ultimately sweet story about a son bonding with his landscaper dad on one eventful work day. As they set off to work, the loving father puts little Jesús in charge of the “magical” water-jug, telling his boy that when the water runs out, it will be time to head home. Fun chaos follows as our exuberant hero starts finding, uh, many uses for the water. Kinkz’s adorable, jittery illustrations possess a genuine kids-like view of the world, bursting with a kinetic energy that happily engages. 

Ploof, words and pictures by Ben Clanton & Andy Chou Musser, published by Tundra, ISBN: 978-1774881927.

I did this interactive book recently in my preschool storytimes, and wow, did the kids love playing along. Think of books like Tap the Magic Tree and Herve Tullet’s many titles (such as Press Here), which invites young readers to shout things or make movements or touch the illustrations to help keep the action going. Ploof involves making the title character, an instantly lovable cloud, do a whole bunch of stuff. And Ploof needs the audience’s help. Friendly hellos, waves, games of hide and seek, high fives, and rounds of encouraging applause. And children, well, they become thoroughly invested in assisting this sometimes shy, sometimes accident-proof but quietly extraordinary cloud.

Quiet Time with My Seeya, illustrated and written by Dinalie Dabarera, published by Roaring Brook Press, ISBN: 9781250824271.

There have been several great picture books about grandparents released recently, and this warm title easily joins this esteemed list. The child and Sinhalese grandparent in Quiet Time with My Seeya do not speak the same language. But they manage to bond nonetheless, often in humorous ways (jumping in puddles, acting out the books they “read” together). The book works as a series of little vignettes and tender moments that all add up to a warm, cozy whole. It’s all upbeat, a tender hug of a book.

The Rabbi and His Donkey, illustrated by Diana Renjina, written by Susan Tarcov, published by Kar-Ben Publishing, ISBN: 9781728445595.

Readers cannot help but cheer for the thoughtful, older donkey in this captivating moral-driven story (inspired by a quick passage written a long long long time ago by the medieval Sephardic Jewish philosopher Maimonides) that has the feel and mood of a classic Jewish folktale. A rabbi suddenly finds himself with a multitude of assignments, and decides that his beloved, loyal donkey trots a little too slow. So he chooses a superfast horse to ride instead, leaving the poor donkey in the dust. But soon the rabbi discovers what he misses when he soars along on this equine force of nature. Will there be a happy ending? Will lessons be learned?

Remembering, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, written by Xelena González, published by Simon & Schuster Books, ISBN: 9781534499638.

A family remembers a beloved dog and builds an ofrenda for the pet in this beautiful and thoughtful account. The award-winning illustrator Garcia fills the pages with inventive images that express the specialness of the pooch, as well as a child’s grief. Memories emerge while the family members look at photographs. And the dog appears to be emerging from the picture frames. Colors and lines swirl across the spreads as objects are gathered. González’s gentle prose is emotionally direct, deftly conveying many emotions at once. A gem.

Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!: Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock & Roll, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Tonya Bolden, published by Little, Brown and Company, ISBN: 9780062994387.

In the mid-20th century, the dynamic Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973) emerged as an inventive rock and roll trailblazer. With such incredible songs as “This Train” and “Jericho,” among many others, Tharpe excelled at mixing gospel with pop, the spiritual with the secular, all the while playing her blues guitar with riveting energy. She influenced many guitarists who studied (and copied) her moves. Skillfully employing second person narration, author Bolden makes sure that Rock, Rosetta, Rock! bursts with energetic sentences (the title becomes a refrain) that invite being read aloud. The great R. Gregory Christie brings his usual A game to the work, creating indelible paintings that capture the musical genius in motion, whether playing the guitar behind her back or smiling that smile that dazzles like diamonds while performing.

Simon and the Better Bone, illustrated and written by Corey R. Tabor, published by Balzer + Bray (an imprint of HarperCollins), ISBN: 9780063275553, to be released: May 9, 2023.

The award-winning illustrator of the great Mel Fell delivers another delightful animal story that asks readers to hold the book vertically, comically playing with picture book conventions. The top half of the book shows a bouncy pup named Simon happily carrying a bone. The bottom of the half of the book features a pond. When Simon peeks into the water, he sees…ANOTHER DOG???? Children will double over with laughter when Simon interacts with his very own reflection. Tabor handles this mirror image with brilliant clarity and absurdity. It all leads to a fabulous punchline.

The Skull, illustrated and written by Jon Klassen, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 9781536223361.

This creepy yet oddly warm retelling of a Tyrolean folktale demonstrates that Klassen is not just an inventive artist, but a terrific writer too. He proves here that he can tell a longer, sustained story. He has building up to this from his near-wordless earlier books to the longer and brilliant Rock from the Sky. This is more of an early chapter book than a picture book, and yet I can imagine storytellers easily finding time for it in longer storytime programs for older kids. Klassen’s succinct yet evocative text begs to be read aloud as a young girl named Otilla runs from danger and into an abandoned castle where she befriends the title character. Klassen breaks the story down into compelling chapters that offer some chills and a sinister moment or two or three. In a great afterword, Klassen talks about how he discovered, mis-remembered and then made the story his own.

The Song That Called Them Home, illustrated by Maya McKibbin, written by David A. Robertson, published by Tundra, ISBN: 9780735266704.

It’s amazing how much action and adventure the gifted Robertson packs into this picture book, inspired by Indigenous legends. I always tell older kids and adults who think they are too old for picture books, think again, give them a try. This book cooks as two siblings visiting their moshom (grandfather) suddenly find themselves encountering and then trying to outwit the tricky human-like creatures known as Memekwesewak. McKibbin’s images crackle with verve and energetic fluidity; just look at the body language as swim, sink, and later dance and let the ruckus being. An absolute blast.

Spanish Is the Language of My Family, illustrated by John Parra, written by Michael Genhart, published by Neal Porter Books (an imprint of Holiday House), ISBN: 9780823450046.

A poignant and personal look at a child named Manolo practicing for and then taking part in a school Spanish Spelling Bee. The book uses this as a springboard to touch on some sad, uncomfortable history. Manolo’s abuela tells him that when she attended school many years ago, she was not allowed to speak Spanish. This gives the boy a new perspective about why he should regard the Spelling Bee as something special and precious. Genhart tells this bilingual story with tenderness and grace, spelling out Spanish words in an effective touch. Artist John Parra brings his usual A game to his inventive, warm acrylic paintings. The generous back matter provides more information. Genhart adds a layer of suspense to the Spanish Spelling Bee sequence that will make this a compelling read-aloud. Beautifully done.

Ten-Word Tiny Tales to Inspire and Unsettling, illustrated by 21 amazing illustrators, written by Joseph Coehlo, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 9781536231359.

Now this is a cool book. On every level. Current UK Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho writes 21 cryptic, poetic 10 word tiny tales, and for each one, a different world class artist creates a fabulous double page spread that visually interprets the surreal musing. Many of them unabashedly embrace a shiver-inducing morbid sensibility. Hamsters in peril. Kids walking into a dangerous portal. An encroaching Venus flytrap. All possess a dream-like quality. Sleeping robots. A polar bear riding a snowmobile-like vehicle on another planet. A person descending a ladder in the sky. The illustrator’s name appears under their work. Topping the title off is the back matter. Coehlo encourages kids to create their own 10 word tiny tales. Or to build on an existing one, by making the story longer or picking up art supplies to illustrate it. Writing prompts and ideas ensue, making this a perfect idiosyncratic book to share with budding creative types.

There Was a Party for Langston: King O’ Letters, with art by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds, published by A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Simon & Schuster), ISBN: 978-1534439443.

In an afterword, the great writer Jason Reynolds talks about how he once discovered a photo of two of his “favorite word makers” Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka dancing up a storm. The book shares this joyous photograph of these two amazing writers happily boogieing at a party in honor of the legendary and influential “word maker of all word makers” Langston Hughes. Reynolds uses this image as a springboard to celebrate Hughes’ life, from daydreaming boy who turned “birds into words flying all around him,” to the groundbreaking writer who inspired those around him and future generations. Reynolds’ poetic, concise text radiates joy and begs to be read aloud. Brothers Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey use their signature stamp approach when assembling the playful, delightful illustrations. Their propulsive work matches the vibrancy of Reynolds’ text.

The Walk, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, written by Winsome Bingham, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-1491747724.

A powerful story of a young child walking a great distance with her Granny. Where are they going? What is the destination? Author Bingham does a great job developing a quiet suspense throughout. Neighbors and other community members join in, and illustrator Lewis, with his superlative watercolors, capture the warmth of their togetherness. But the reader notices canes and walkers, and the text mentions that many of the older characters remember having to take this walk decades ago. A walk to the voting booth. The Walk packs an emotional punch.

A Walk in the Woods, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney, written by Nikki Grimes, published by Neal Porter Books (an imprint of Holiday House), ISBN: 978-0823449651.

One of the most haunting picture books I have ever read. And one that pays tribute to the great Jerry Pinkney, who passed away in 2021 before he completed the art. His son Brian, a terrific artist himself, stepped in and helped finish the work (with niece Charnelle Pinkney Barlow skillfully merging Jerry’s and Brian’s work on the computer). In the story, a boy misses his father who used to take him for walks in the woods. Dad has just passed away, and the son painfully grieves. The father has left him a map that leads him to a hidden treasure in these very woods. This treasure includes images and words from the father’s childhood, that the father himself created. Written with care and beauty by Grimes. Pair this with Jerry Pinkney’s wonderful memoir Just Jerry, which came out earlier in the year.

When You Can Swim, illustrated and written by Jack Wong, published by Orchard Books (an imprint of Scholastic), ISBN: 9781338830965.

Winner of the 2023 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Wong presents his inspirational celebration in the second person, and this use of the word “you” brings a quiet urgency to the telling. It’s an immersive book. We feel as if we are watching or slipping into the ocean ourselves. As an illustrator, Wong delivers delightful image after image of people with various body types enjoying the waves. And he captures all kinds of moods in and around the water. Calm peacefulness, serene moments mix with more rollicking dives. Wong’s poetic language caresses the ear when read aloud. And there’s a sweet suprise ending that brings it all back home.

You Go First, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal, written by Ariel Bernstein, published by A Paula Wiseman Book (an imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), ISBN: 9781665911511.

Change can intimidate. And achieving new milestones can cause worry. The lively and very funny You Go First addresses this in a way young children will understand–not an easy task. Author Bernstein serves up some giggle-inducing dialogue between very good friends Duck and Cat as they discover a brand new slide at their beloved playground. The slide is larger. Curvier. And much more exciting than the old one. But is it too large? Too curvy? Too exciting? Ready for a new adventure, Duck practically flies up the stairs. Meanwhile, the apprehensive Cat holds back and then comes up with a whole bunch of excuses to keep them from gliding down this imposing creation. Rosenthal’s expressive characters, especially the frightened feline, are a delight to behold. And Bernstein knows how to pace a comical story. It’s a joy to read aloud.