Click below to see the other books in each age band.
2023: GRADES K TO 2
The Most Haunted House in America
by Jarrett Dapier
When the Skeleton Drummers receive an invitation from the First Lady to perform at the biggest Halloween party of a lifetime—or afterlife—the band must pack their instruments, rise from the earth, and prepare to rock the White House. With gusto and bone-rattling beats, the skeletons BOOM! BANG! and CLANG! as the crowd of trick-or-treaters dance on the president's lawn. But when the party moves inside, something's not quite right: there's a chill in the air and a prickle of fright. There's one thing you might not know: The White House is haunted from top to toe! With rhyming, rhythmic text from Jarrett Dapier and wonderfully macabre illustrations from Lee Gatlin, this musical tour of America's most famous home is full of spooky surprises at every turn.
Stella Keeps the Sun Up
by Clothilde Ewing
In this incandescently fun, hijinks-filled picture book, a young girl schemes to keep the sun up in the sky so she never has to go to bed. If Stella had her way, she would stop sleeping on her sixth birthday. Because sleep is boring. And there are so many better things you could be doing. And Stella is tired of being tired. So she comes up with a plan. People only have to go to bed when it gets dark, and it only gets dark because the sun goes down. If she can keep the sun in the sky, she and her best friend, Roger, can stay up for a hundred years! They enact their magnificent, wonderful, genius plan, offering the sun a cup of coffee, shining a light at it so it will shine back, and jumping on a trampoline to reach the sun and push it higher. But before long, Stella begins to wonder…are there downsides to keeping the sun up forever?
Elephant’s Big Solo
by Sarah Kurpiel
Everyone is excited about the chance to perform a solo in the class recital—except Elephant. How will she deal with her anxiety and stage fright? Elephant’s Big Solo is a warm and sensitive celebration of meeting life’s challenges while staying true to who you are. This picture book will be adored by fans of The Rabbit Listened and Little Elliot, Big City. Elephant’s favorite class is music. She loves playing the French horn and performing with all her friends. But when Ms. Gator suggests that everyone play a solo at the school concert, Elephant hesitates. The thought of performing alone makes her heart race and her stomach twist. Luckily, Elephant thinks of another way to perform a solo; one that allows her to shine alongside a full orchestra of her friends.
The Meaning of Pride
by Rosiee Thor and illustrated by Sam Kirk
A vibrant ode to the culture and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, The Meaning of Pride, written by Rosiee Thor and illustrated by Sam Kirk, celebrates the beauty, significance, and many dimensions of the concept of Pride as celebrated by millions of people around the world! Every year in June, we celebrate Pride! But what does Pride mean? And how do you celebrate it? This inspiring celebration of the LGBTQ+ community throughout history and today shows young readers that there are many ways to show your pride and make a difference. Whether you want to be an activist or an athlete, a poet or a politician, a designer or a drag queen, you can show your pride just by being you!
Tortoise and Hare: A Fairy Tale to Help You Find Balance
by Susan Verde and illustrated by Jay Fleck
A fractured fairy tale to help kids slow down and find their energy, from New York Times bestseller and mindfulness expert Susan Verde! Once upon a time there were two neighbors, Hare and Tortoise. Although they lived side by side, they did things very differently. Hare did everything quickly and energetically. But she was so busy that she didn’t always pay attention to the things—or people—around her. Some might say she was too fast. Tortoise did everything slowly and thoughtfully. But sometimes he took so much time that he had trouble finishing things. Some might say he was too slow. What will happen when the two come head to head? In this original spin on a classic fairytale, New York Times bestselling author Susan Verde and illustrator Jay Fleck explore how too much of anything won’t get you across the finish line, and how having a friend to help you find balance is the best thing of all.
Yetis are the Worst!
by Alex Willan
In this hilarious follow-up to Unicorns Are the Worst! and Dragons Are the Worst!, Gilbert the Goblin’s next adventure takes him to the frozen tundra where he’s determined to find the legendary yeti. Gilbert the Goblin is the first to admit that he was, ahem, mistaken—unicorns actually throw the best tea parties, and dragons make delicious ice cream soup. This time, though, he can absolutely confirm that YETIS ARE THE WORST! Sure, they may seem cool and mysterious, but once you meet one, he’s CERTAIN they’re not all they’re cracked up to be! And that’s what Gilbert plans to do: meet a yeti. That is, if he can find one…but how hard can that be?