Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and as she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all — and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell

Annie’s Plaid Shirt by Stacy Davids

Annie loves her plaid shirt and wears it everywhere. But one day her mom tells Annie that she must wear a dress to her uncle's wedding. Annie protests, but her mom insists and buys her a fancy new dress anyway. Annie is miserable. She feels weird in dresses. Why can't her mom understand?

Then Annie has an idea. But will her mom agree?

The Book No One Ever Read by Cornelia Funke

Morry, a young book, is tired of standing still on a shelf amid dignified first editions, and yearns for the excitement of sharing his story with a child.

Camp Tiger by John Rocco

A talking tiger approaches a family during their annual end-of-summer camping trip and is befriended by the youngest, a boy who does not feel ready for first grade.

The Cool Bean by Jory John

An awkward garbanzo bean tries to fit in with the cool beans at school and realizes what it really means to be cool.  

A Book for Escargot by Dashka Slater

Escargot is back!  He takes a trip to his local library in search of a book about a snail, of course!

Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare

An ALA Notable Children's Book

Take a field trip to the moon! Upon landing, students set out with their teacher to explore. One student accidentally falls asleep, and wakes up to discover that the rest of the class & the spaceship are gone. How they spend time waiting to be rescued makes for a funny & unexpected adventure that will enchant children.

Frankencrayon by Michael Hall

The crayons are ready to tell the thrilling tale of Frankencrayon. The costumes are made, the roles are cast, the pages are all set—but then disaster strikes. Someone has scribbled on the page!

Giraffe Problems by Jory John

Edward the giraffe can't understand why his neck is as long and bendy and, well, ridiculous as it is. No other animal has a neck this absurd. He's tried disguising it, dressing it up, strategically hiding it behind bushes--honestly, anything you can think of, he's tried.

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

Watch the days and seasons pass as the wind blows, the fog rolls in, and icebergs drift by. Outside, there is water all around. Inside, the daily life of a lighthouse keeper and his family unfolds as the keeper boils water for tea, lights the lamp's wick, and writes every detail in his logbook. Gorgeous story & illustrations by the Caldecott winning Sophie Blackall.

Henry Holton Takes the Ice by Sandra Bradley

Henry Holton’s whole family is hockey mad.  Everyone, that is, except Henry.   When he sees his first ice dancing performance Henry realizes there’s something he can do on the ice that doesn’t involve boarding and body checking.  Henry is ready to try on some figure skates, but first he has to convince his hockey-obsessed family to let him follow his own path.

I Need my Monster by Amanda Noll

When the monster under his bed goes fishing, Ethan interviews some substitute monsters, but finds none of them are as good as his own.

The Little Guys by Vera Brosgol

The Little Guys might be small, but they aim to be mighty.  Nothing can stop them!This slyly funny and rambunctious read-aloud explores how strength in numbers only works when the whole community unites together.

Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima

Unicorn fans, come on in!  In Sima’s debut children’s book, her main character Kelp suspects he is different from all the other narwhals around him.  When he goes on a magical adventure on land, he discovers others like him.  Can the unicorn world and the narwhal world come together for Kelp?

Poor Louie by Tony Fucile

Louie’s life  is great: a walk every morning, ice cream on Sundays, snuggling in bed with Mom and Dad. But then things get weird: cold food on the floor, no room in the bed, and lots of new stuff coming into the house in pairs: two small beds, two little sweaters, two seats in the stroller.  What will happen to “poor Louie?”

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family  by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Faizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school.

Saturday by Oge Mora

For a little girl and her mom who works six days a week, Saturday is the most cherished day of all.  When mishap after mishap occurs one Saturday, they wonder how they can salvage the day.  The collages in this book are so much fun!

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o

This stunning picture book written by actress Lupita Nyong’o and illustrated by Vashti Harrison holds a universal message of recognizing the unique beauty within yourself.  This book was awarded an NAACP award for Outstanding Children’s work and was on the New York Times Bestseller list.

¡Vamos! Let’s go to the Market! By Raul the Third

Bilingual in a new way, this book teaches readers simple words in Spanish as they experience the bustling life of a border town. Follow Little Lobo and his dog Bernabe as they deliver supplies to a variety of vendors, selling everything from sweets to sombreros, portraits to piñatas, carved masks to comic books!

The Word Collector by Peter Reynolds

Jerome enjoys collecting and using words that he hears, reads, or sees, and then decides to share his collection with others.

Barkus by Patricia MacLachlan and Marc Boutavant

The exuberant Barkus and his lucky young owner jump, whirl, and twirl across the pages of this critically celebrated series from a Newbery Medal–winning author. The straight-forward text is accessible for even the newest independent reader, while the warm, humorous story and vibrant, energetic images make this an ideal choice for picture book readers as well.

Charlie and Mouse by Laurel Snyder

Charlie and Mouse, two young brothers, enjoy a day out together, attending an imaginary party and collecting rocks.

Chicken Squad and Another Misadventure by Doreen Cronin

Four chicks are solving mysteries that arise in their backyard with the help of the trusty guard dog.  The story is a fun approach to beginning chapter books with lots of illustrations to help expand on the story.

Hello Hedgehog! (series) by Norman Feuti

Hedgehog loves his new bike. His best friend Harry says he likes it, too. But when Hedgehog asks Harry to go bike riding with him, Harry says he does not want to go. Does Harry not like his friend's new bike? Or could this all have something to do with training wheels? These reassuring, laugh-out-loud stories with full-color artwork and easy-to-read text throughout are perfect for new readers!

Dory Fantasmagory series by Abby Hanlon

Dory, the youngest in her family, is a girl with a very active imagination, and she spends the summer playing with her imaginary friend, pretending to be a dog, battling monsters, and generally driving her family nuts.

Dragon Masters (series) by Tracy West

Eight-year-old Drake is snatched up by the King's soldiers and taken to the castle where he is told by the wizard Griffith that he has been chosen to be a Dragon Master like Ana, Rori, and Bo--and his first task will be to discover whether his dragon, Worm, has any special powers.

Eerie Elementary series by Jack Chabert

Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them, but he will need some help from his friends.

Ernestine Catastrophe Queen by Merrill Wyatt

When a series of suspicious accidents befalls the wealthy residents of the retired artists' home where she works, Ernestine is determined to piece together clues to find the real culprit. She suspects it might be a zombie, but maybe greedy relatives can be just as scary!

Inspector Flytrap by Tom Angleberger

Hoping to become the greatest detective that ever grew, Inspector Flytrap, a Venus Flytrap, and his assistant, Nina the Goat, investigate "big deal" mysteries at an art museum, a cookie shop, and a garden.

King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats by Dori Hillestad Butler

A lovable dog helps his human girl solve a mystery. Kayla made peanut butter treats for Jillian's new puppy Thor. But now the treats are missing. What does Kayla know?

Knight vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan

With the realm at peace and few dragons about, the Knights of the Round Table are bored, so Merlin sends them to face the most terrible lizards of all--dinosaurs.  Silly and suspenseful- for fans of Wild Robot.

Meet Yasmin! By Saadi Faruqi

Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who's always on the lookout for those "aha" moments to help her solve life's little problems.  A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers.

Owl Diaries series by Rebecca Elliott

Having a Bloomtastic Festival at school to celebrate spring is a great idea--but Eva Wingdale, a young owl, discovers that it is also a lot of work, and there is nothing wrong with asking her friends for help.

Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Sorlitz

Unhappy queen-in-training Cora receives a pet crocodile from her fairy godmother, who disrupts her mundane daily routine.

Princess in Black (series) by Shannon Hale

While having hot cocoa with the Dutchess, Princess Magnolia must sneak away to fight monsters as her alter ego the Princess in Black.

Chick and Brain (series) by Cece Bell

Meet Chick and Brain &  their friend Spot. Chick likes to follow the rules. Brain might not be as smart as he looks. And Spot just wants to eat lunch. In a graphic reader loaded with verbal and visual humor, Cece Bell offers a comical primer on good manners gone awry.

Upside Down Magic series by Sarah Mlynowski

Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax find their lives forever changed when they attend the Dunwiddle Magic School's Upside-Down Magic class.

Bird and Squirrel (series) by James Burks

A zany adventure series

starring scaredy-cat

Squirrel and fearless Bird.

InvestiGATORS by John Patrick Green

Mango and Brash are two spy alligators who travel through sewers and fight the forces of evil.  (For fans of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man.)  

Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Pierce

Max wants to be a knight! Too bad that dream is about as likely as finding a friendly dragon. But when Max's uncle Budrick is kidnapped by the cruel King Gastley, Max has to act...and fast!

My Beijing by Nie Jun

A 2019 Batchelder Honor Book

Yu'er and her grandpa live in a small neighborhood in Beijing―and it's full of big personalities. There's a story around every corner, and each day has a hint of magic.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! 

by Ben Clanton

A happy-go-lucky, waffle-loving narwhal and a cynical, no-nonsense jellyfish forge an unlikely friendship and share adventures while exploring the ocean together.

Peter & Ernesto by Graham Annable

Peter and Ernesto loved their tree. Then a hurricane came and blew it away! Now they must venture into the jungle to find a new great tree. But the jungle is full of dangers! Can cautious Peter and confident Ernesto work together to keep their tribe safe? 

Sparks by Ian Boothy and Nina Matsumoto

August and Charlie are two cats

who moonlight as a mechanical superhero dog saving the day in

many outrageous ways.

Brave Ballerina by Michelle Meadows

Janet Collins wanted to be a ballerina in the 1930s and 40s, during racial segregation. When she was accepted into the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a teenager on the condition that she paint her skin white for performances, Janet refused. From her early childhood to her success as the first African American prima ballerina in the Metropolitan Opera, Brave Ballerina is the story of a remarkable pioneer.

Little People Big Dreams (series) by Vegara Sanchez and Ma Isabel

Picture book biography series that introduce young readers to the lives of activists and pioneers such as Jane Goodall, Mahatma Gandhi, and Rosa Parks.

The Girl with a Mind for Math:  The Story of Raye Montague by Julia Finley Mosca

This picture book biography of the life of Raye Montague is written in an engaging poetic form.  It is a great family read because it can appeal to younger students as well as older elementary kids (and adults).  There is an interesting author’s note at the end.  This book won the following awards:

NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book 2019 Selection

NSTA Best STEM Trade Books for Students K-12 2019 Selection

2019 Amelia Bloomer List Selection

2019 Mathmatical Honor Book

Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers

In this fascinating & fun take on nonfiction for kids, investigate a seemingly small trait of America's most emblematic statue. What you’ll find in the Statue of Liberty's right foot is the powerful message of acceptance that is an essential part of an entire country's creation.

A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year

A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of the Year

Hey Water! By Antoinette Portis

Join a young girl as she explores her surroundings and sees that water is everywhere. But water doesn't always look the same, it doesn't always feel the same, and it shows up in lots of different shapes. Water can be a lake, it can be steam, it can be a tear, or it can even be a snowman.

As the girl discovers water in nature, in weather, in her home, and even inside her own body, water comes to life, and kids will find excitement and joy in water and its many forms.

If You Had Your Birthday Party on the Moon by Joyce Lapin

This book is chock full of fun information for the space lover or anyone who would like to learn more about space, the moon, and astronaut life.  The hybrid text of narrative writing and nonfiction facts help the reader learn new information while sparking the imagination.

Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home by Sy Montgomery

Inky had been at the New Zealand aquarium since 2014. He had been getting used to his new environment, but the staff figured out that he had to be kept amused or he would get bored. One night in 2016 Inky decided he’d had enough. He slithered across the floor and down a drainpipe more than 160 feet long to his home in the sea.

It Feels Good to be Yourself by Theresa Thorn

Thorn clearly defines cisgender, transgender, and nonbinary by introducing a cast of diverse characters and naming their gender identities. This is a valuable resource, complete with accessible language and vibrant art, which will be effective for facilitating discussions with a very young audience.

Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave Be You by Sonia Sotomayor

United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges--and looks at the special powers those kids have as well.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Denise

An inspiring picture book biography of storyteller, puppeteer, and New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian, who championed bilingual literature.

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Frensky

Rescue thought he’d grow up to be a Seeing Eye dog. Then he meets Jessica, whose life is turning out differently than the way she'd imagined it, too. Now Jessica needs Rescue by her side to help her accomplish everyday tasks. And it turns out that Rescue can help Jessica see after all: a way forward, one step at a time.

Sea Bear by Lindsay Moore

A polar bear waits patiently for spring when the ice breaks up, but after months of hunting, paddling, and resting on ice floes, summer ends and the bear must swim very far to find land. Includes facts about polar bears and the effect of climate change on their environment.

This is How We Do It

by Matt Lamothe

This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as mirrors reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamonthe transports readers across the globe and back with this luminous and thoughtful picture book.