2023 is at a close, and Iowa City Public Library Staff reflected on some of the literary highlights of the year, voting for new favorites in a variety of genres. In this list, you'll find the staff picks for Children's Books released in 2023. "The Skull" by Jon Klassen was the standout title among staff, earning the greatest number of votes for this genre.
The skull : a Tyrolean folktale
Jon Klassen
jFICTION Klassen, Jon
"This is an old story. It is about a girl named Otilla who runs away. It is also about a house in the woods, and a skull who lives there, and a secret the skull has, and the night that Otilla finds out what that secret is."--
Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep!
Bill Martin
jE Martin
Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! is the latest charming tale from rhyming pair Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson. This old car has been everywhere from the backyard to the sky, from the hills to the water. Bouncing between the mud in the ground and the clouds up high, the old car is loved by a clever young boy ... --Publisher.
Back to the bright before
Katherin Nolte
jFICTION Nolte Katherin
When eleven-year-old Perpeuta promises to save her family from financial ruin, she sets off on a quest with her younger brother, a stolen horse, and a chicken in search of a valuable coin.
Crane Jane!
Andrea Griffing Zimmerman
jE Zimmerma
"Jane works as crane operator at the docks, but she faces her biggest challenge when hoisting a firetruck in high winds"--
Dear Mothman
Robin Gow
jFICTION Gow Robin
After the death of his best friend and the only other trans boy at school, Noah starts writing letters expressing his feelings to the humanoid creature Mothman and risks everything when he treks into the woods to prove Mothman's existence.
Dogtown
Katherine Applegate
jFICTION Applegat Katherin
"Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them. Chance, a real dog, has been in Dogtown since her owners unwittingly left her with irresponsible dog-sitters who skipped town. Metal Head is a robot dog who dreams of being back in a real home. And Mouse is a mouse who has the run of Dogtown, pilfering kibble, and performing clever feats to protect the dogs he loves. When Chance and Metal Head embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way" --
Good night, sister
Katherine Schwarzenegger
jE Schwarze
Kat comforts her younger sister Tina as they prepare to sleep in their own rooms for the first time, but as a storm thunders outside their windows, it turns out Kat might be the one who needs the extra support.
Grandpa is here
Tanya Rosie
jE Rosie
Grandpa is finally here to visit! He's brought a suitcase smelling of Persian spices, walnuts picked from his trees at home, and sparkly saffron to make yellow rice. And Grandpa and granddaughter have so much they want to see and do together. She shows him all her favorite things: the mountaintops, the tunnel she discovered, and the horse in the field. If only Grandpa could stay longer, then he could see the spring, but when time together is limited, it feels all the sweeter and more special.--"From the publisher"
Greenlight
Breanna Carzoo
jE Carzoo
The cars stop for Redlight and slow for Yellowlight, so why do they leave Greenlight all alone? When Greenlight decides to stop shining altogether, will she be able to find the power and connection of her own light? This story reminds us all that the world is waiting for us to shine, so when you're ready ... get set ... go!
Let's read animal words
Ji Lee
jE Lee
"Meet four-legged, two-finned, and webbed-toe friends in this word-as-image introduction to the animal world, chock-full of interesting facts. In what looks like a simple image, there lies a fully formed word (and vice versa) for kids to read! As they giggle and make their best guess, tiny readers will discover new favorite creatures in this delightful interaction between image, shape, and letters."--
Matteo
Michael Leali
jFICTION Leali Michael
When eleven-year-old Matteo literally sprouts leaves and grows bark during one of his baseball games, he digs into his family tree to find out what it all means.
Mine!
Candace Fleming
jE Fleming
A group of forest animals vie for the same delicious red apple that is just about to drop.
The Manifestor prophecy
Angie Thomas
jFICTION Thomas Angie
"It's not easy being a Remarkable in the Unremarkable world. Some things are cool--like getting a pet hellhound for your twelfth birthday. Others, not so much--like not being trusted to learn magic because you might use it to take revenge on an annoying neighbor. All Nic Blake wants is to be a powerful Manifestor like her dad. But before she has a chance to convince him to teach her the gift, a series of shocking revelations and terrifying events launch Nic and two friends on a hunt for a powerful magic tool she's never heard of...to save her father from imprisonment for a crime she refuses to believe he committed."--
On the tip of a wave : how Ai Weiwei's art is changing the tide
Joanna Ho
j701.03 Ho
" . . . a moving text about the life and work of social activist and artist, Ai Weiwei. Told in . . . lyrical writing, this is the story behind Ai Weiwei's Lifejackets exhibit at Konzerthaus Berlin. As conditions for refugees got worse, Ai Weiwei was inspired by the discarded lifejackets on the shores of Lesbos to create a bold installation that would grab the attention of the world"--Provided by publisher.
Peaceful me
Sandra V. Feder
jE Feder
"A young child tells us about the different times when he feels peaceful, as well as how he copes when he needs to find a peaceful state again. Acclaimed picture-book creators Sandra V. Feder and Rahele Jomepour Bell have teamed up once again to create a thoughtful and beautifully illustrated exploration of peacefulness. "I like feeling peaceful," the young narrator tells us, then describes the times when he is filled with this emotion. When he is playing with a friend, he feels "free peaceful"; when he is having family dinner, "yummy peaceful"; when he is outside gazing up at the sky, "fluffy clouds" peaceful. But, of course, he doesn't always feel peaceful, and we hear about his strategies for coping during those times, such as taking deep breaths, imagining his favorite things, and finding a quiet refuge or a hug. Peaceful Me is the perfect companion to Angry Me -- together, they encourage readers to let anger come and go, while inviting peace to come and stay."--
Remember
Joy Harjo
jE Harjo
"Picture book adaptation of US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo's iconic poem, Remember"--
Snowflakes on our tongues
Mike Ornstein
jE Ornstein
When a farmer is not paying attention, the farm animals romp and play as they try to catch snowflakes on their tongues. Includes back matter with animal facts as well as information on the science of snowflakes.
The artivist
Nikkolas Smith
jE Smith
Motivated by the realization of global inequities, a young boy embraces his dual identities as an artist and activist, becoming an "Artivist" to make a difference by using his viral mural as a catalyst for positive change.
The hidden world of gnomes
Lauren Soloy
jE Soloy
"A delightful collection of gnome facts, featuring Lauren Soloy's gnome wisdom and gorgeous artwork."--
The lost library
Rebecca Stead
jFICTION Stead Rebecca
"When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change. Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself. Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It's about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you)" --
The search for the giant Arctic jellyfish
Chloe Savage
jE Savage
Dr. Morley and her team arrive in the Arctic Circle, where they encounter such wonders as playful orcas, the glowing aurora borealis, and formidable ice shelves while searching for the giant Arctic jellyfish, a legendary creature no one has ever seen.
The sun and the star : a Nico di Angelo adventure
Rick Riordan
jFICTION Riordan Rick
As the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo has been through so much, from the premature deaths of his mother and sister, to being outed against his will, to losing his friend Jason during the trials of Apollo. But there is a ray of sunshine in his life-literally: his boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo. Together the two demigods can overcome any obstacle or foe. At least, that's been the case so far... Now Nico is being plagued by a voice calling out to him from Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld. He thinks he knows who it is: a reformed Titan named Bob whom Percy and Annabeth had to leave behind when they escaped Hades's realm. Nico's dreams and Rachel Dare's latest prophecy leave little doubt in Nico's mind that Bob is in some kind of trouble. Nico has to go on this quest, whether Mr. D and Chiron like it or not. And of course Will insists on coming with. But can a being made of light survive in the darkest part of the world? and what does the prophecy mean that Nico will have to "leave something of equal value behind?"
The swifts : a dictionary of scoundrels
Beth Lincoln
jFICTION Lincoln, Beth
"On the day they are born, every Swift child is brought before the sacred Family Dictionary. They are given a name, and a definition. A definition it is assumed they will grow up to match. Meet Shenanigan Swift: Little sister. Risk-taker. Mischief-maker. Shenanigan is getting ready for the big Swift Family Reunion and plotting her next great scheme: hunting for Grand-Uncle Vile's long-lost treasure. She's excited to finally meet her arriving relatives -- until one of them gives Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude a deadly shove down the stairs. So what if everyone thinks she'll never be more than a troublemaker, just because of her name? Shenanigan knows she can become whatever she wants, even a detective. And she's determined to follow the twisty clues and catch the killer. Deliciously suspenseful and delightfully clever, The Swifts is a remarkable debut that is both brilliantly contemporary and instantly classic. A celebration of words and individuality, it's packed with games, wordplay, and lots and lots of mischief as Shenanigan sets out to save her family and define herself in a world where definitions are so important."--
The wild robot protects
Peter Brown
jFICTION Brown Peter
"Life for Roz and the animals on their island is perfect. But when mysterious, dangerous waters surround the island, the animals are forced inland to fight over dwindling resources. Roz calms and organizes the animals, but the poison tide takes a terrible toll on the island. So the wild robot sets out across the ocean, determined to stop the poison tide. During her journey, Roz encounters amazing geological formations and incredible creatures, and she sees the devastation caused by the toxic waters. Can the wild robot save the ocean and her island and everything she loves? This thrilling third installment of the Wild Robot series takes readers on a new adventure through the ocean and to the frigid northern waters where Roz may have to make the ultimate sacrifice" --
This is a story
John Schu
jE Schu
"Children's literacy advocate John Schu and Caldecott Honor recipient Lauren Castillo celebrate the power of finding the perfect book--in a story that's more relevant than ever. With a sea-horse kite in hand, a child heads out with Dad to the library. On the way they stop at a park, joining lots of people, some of whom are flying kites, too. At the library, a person toting a big pile of books hands over a story on a favorite subject: the sea horse. All around, there are readers poring over books, each with their own questions, ideas to explore, hopes for the future, and imaginations ready to spark. With a warm, lyrical text and tenderly expressive illustrations, John Schu and Lauren Castillo invite us to imagine the myriad ways that books can foster connection and understanding -- and how they can empower children, through their own passions, to transform the world."--
Time to roll
Jamie Sumner
jFICTION Sumner Jamie
When thirteen-year-old Ellie reluctantly agrees to enter a beauty pageant with her best friend Coralee, the director seems determined to feature Ellie and her wheelchair, so she must find a way to participate on her own terms, all while saving her friendship and forming a better relationship with her divorced dad.
Wei skates on
Nathan Chen
jE Chen
"Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion Nathan Chen delivers an inspirational picture book about facing your fears and finding the joy in sports, no matter the outcome. Wei has loved ice-skating ever since his first visit to the rink. He loves gliding across the ice, taking flight on jumps, and moving with the music--there's nothing else like it! But as Wei's first big competition draws near, he begins to worry. He's been training hard, but what if he doesn't win? With help from Mom, can Wei find a way to handle his nerves? What would it feel like to skate without the pressure of winning? As the first Asian American man to win gold in figure skating, Nathan Chen is a celebrated role model for kids who want to shine on and off the ice. His uplifting message of positivity and perseverance makes this story the perfect choice for social emotional learning at home or in the classroom." --
"The Skull" was ranked the Best of Children's by ICPL Staff for 2023. Angie says, "Jon Klassen’s signature offbeat humor takes a turn for the ghostly in this retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. Steeped in shadows and threaded with subtle wit—with rich, monochromatic artwork and an illuminating author’s note—The Skull is as empowering as it is mysterious and foreboding and quite different from most of our chapter books on our shelves!"
- Becky