It is almost the end of the year, so it's time to post my best books of 2024. I'm starting with picture books because they make up around 40% of books read this year. I read them to my Wednesday morning kids, and this year we got through 65 books. My goal has been to read different books each week and I managed to not repeat any books thanks to my collection, a couple friends lending books, and the Best of Caldecott list combined with the public library. My goal for next year is to continue to find new books to read.
It's very difficult to tell you the best of the 65 because there were many, many good books, but I'll give you some the the kids seemed to really enjoy. The books are a mix of old and new and the audience ranged from 5-8 years old.
One series favourite was the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie books with their many variants by Laura Numenoff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. Whatever you are giving to the animals (a pancake or a party for the pig; a donut for the dog; a muffin for the moose; a cupcake for the cat, etc.), the kids love them.
Robert Munsch is always a favourite (with Michael Martchenko illustrating); we read Jonathan Cleaned Up; The Paperbag Princess; and Angela's Airplane.
One particularly silly book that we read was this year was Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis. The entire book is written in this invented "insect language" and has wonderful (although simple) illustrations that also tell the story. The kids absolutely loved it! They could follow the story well enough with the pictures and found the nonsense words hilarious.
Other books that we really enjoyed:
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Something From Nothing by Phoebe Gilman
A Frog Thing by Eric Drachman, illustrated by James Muscavello
Friday Night at Hodge's Cafe by Tim Egan
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClosky
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Mell Fell by Corey R. Tabor (also by the same author: Snail Crossing and Simon and the Better Bone)
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Kitten's First Full Moon by Keven Henkes
Pigeon Pie, Oh My! by Debbie Singleton, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmeiri
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Williams
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