The Most Exciting Picture Books Coming Fall 2024
by Miranda Rosbach
Crisper weather is on the horizon and a whirl of holidays will soon descend. Before you know it, you’ll be bombarded with best-of end-of-year lists and wonder, Where did the year go? Whether you’re looking for a back-to-school gift for a classroom teacher, a last-minute birthday present, or a holiday picture book for your grandkids, chances are you’ll find a book for the exact occasion on this list. Now dig in; these books won’t read themselves!
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Good Night Thoughts
Available from:Alone in bed at night, a young child’s mind whirls with worst-case scenarios such as a toilet filled with tarantulas or the earth exploding like popcorn. Falling asleep is impossible with an imagined robot shark on the prowl. To ward off the intruding thoughts, the child thinks of a panda’s welcoming embrace and holding hands with everyone they love. It’s a vividly illustrated tale to help children navigate night-time anxiety and tame their thoughts.
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Bookie and Cookie
Available from:Bookie lives on the left-hand side of the book, and Cookie lives on the right. They only spend time together on the right side of the book. Today, they are on separate pages, and a fight seethes between them. Bookie longs for Cookie to visit his side of the page, but Cookie isn’t keen on trying new things. Can the two mend their quarrel and share a story over a plate of warm cookies? Early elementary school kids will love this fresh take on friendship.
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Leo's First Vote!
Available from:Leo’s class is holding a mock election. Leo’s dad recently became a U.S. citizen and will be voting in his first election. They spend the days leading up to their respective elections learning about the candidates and what they stand for. Finally, the big day arrives, and both father and son cast their ballots, making their voices and votes matter. This is an uplifting book about the electoral process.
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Birthday Soup
Available from:It’s Maia’s birthday, and she wakes to her mom making miyeok guk (a Korean seaweed soup). The birthday tradition celebrates generations of women eating miyeok guk after giving birth to a baby. Now, Maia gets to share the savory soup with her friends at her birthday party (along with her other favorite foods). With two recipes at the back of the book, this celebration of Korean culture is a delectable read.
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Fail-a-bration
Available from:This new story from the New York Times bestselling team behind The Circles All Around Us encourages children to celebrate their failures. From sports to baking, people fail at things all the time, and each one creates a beautiful learning opportunity. So, don a party hat and get ready to celebrate — no matter what you've failed at!
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PictureFace Lizzy
Available from:Eve Tanya has A LOT of things. However, she does not have a PictureFace Lizzy. Both her friends have the toy, and so does everyone else her age. Her parents resist but eventually give in, and Eve Tanya eagerly tries out the expensive new toy. Once the newness (and battery) of PictureFace Lizzy wears off, Eve returns to her regular hobbies and interests. This cautionary tale about the shortcomings of consumerism delivers its message with humor and heart.
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Great Idea Malia!
Available from:Discover the heartwarming tale of Malia, a spirited girl with boundless creativity, in this delightful picture book perfect for modern families balancing work and play. When her mom takes on a demanding new job, Malia's imaginative attempts to help initially miss the mark. Fueling her determination to come up with an even better idea to set things right.
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How to Talk Like a Chicken
Available from:Want to be the Big Boss who tells everyone what to do? Yes, you say. Take it from this chicken narrator: Talking like a chicken requires a certain panache. Oh sure, anyone can peep, but can you buh-gawk! like a pro? Having feathers helps, but it isn’t required. When the reader gets too good at talking like a chicken, is there enough room on the farm for two big bosses? Interactive and humorous, this barnyard book is bound to be a fun storytime read-aloud.
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This Is How We Play
Available from:An assortment of children and adults burst onto the pages of this beautiful book. Some of them have wheelchairs or prosthetic limbs. Others are blind, have mental illness, or use sign language to communicate. Whether at the beach or on the basketball court, children (and a few featured caregivers) adapt, play, and connect, no matter their disability. This is a wonderfully inclusive book with a thorough note to children and adults at the end.
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Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise: Encouraging Speech and Learning Through Play and Music
Available from:Internet sensation Ms. Rachel is looking for a special surprise. Is it inside this wrapped present? Or this one? A song accompanies each reveal (a yellow school bus, a teddy bear, and a farm). The last box features a mirror, which babies and toddlers love to look at. This richly interactive book is ideal for brain development and language acquisition for kids from 0 to 3.
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The Bakery Dragon
Available from:There’s nothing a dragon loves more than gold. Ember, the smallest and youngest dragon, covets his friends’ and family’s treasure hoards and longs for a glittery stash of his own. One day, Ember follows a golden glow into the local village and is befriended by a baker. Together, the two knead the dough, and Ember lights the oven’s fire, which turns out rounds of fresh, hot, golden bread. With his yeasty treasure, Ember returns to the mountains and shares his freshly baked mound of gold with his friends and family.
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Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown
Available from:Journey across the U.S. to discover all the diverse and beautiful shades of brown in God's creation. From busy beavers building dams to the freckles on our face, children of all races are encouraged to celebrate their own skin as they see it reflected in the world around them.
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When Digz the Dog Met Zurl the Squirrel
Available from:Ms. Pincher rescues Digz, the dog, from the pound, and they live together in a snug little home. Zurl, a squirrel, lives in a tree outside the house, but her short tail makes her different, and she feels lonely. After Digz chases Zurl, the two settle a feud and soon become pals. Animal lovers will enjoy this fun, rhyming romp.
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Quiet Karima
Available from:The pat and roll of a rolling pin, the click-click of a door closing. Neighbors are chatting and birds chirping. Karima, a quiet girl, takes it all in. Listening and observing, Karima strolls through her city and arrives at the music shop, where quiet is good. After all, music cannot exist without quiet. Slowly, Karima shares her treasures with Mrs. T, and the two make music together. This book is an ode to quiet children who want to share their passions with others.
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Tamales For Christmas
Available from:Experience the true spirit of Christmas with this heartwarming story based on the author’s actual grandmother. Grandma needs a way to purchase Christmas gifts for all her children and grandchildren. So, with the holiday several months away, she starts making tamales. As December draws near, she has enough tamales to sell and pay for the holiday gifts. She even made enough to give the extras to hungry people.
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Where to Hide a Star
Available from:Return to the world of Lost and Found with this highly anticipated sequel. When his friend the star goes missing, the Boy, the penguin, and the Martian travel to the North Pole to rescue it. But this extra-terrestrial adventure has a surprise in store for the boy and his friends.
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Busy Betty & the Perfect Christmas Present
Available from:Busy Betty is back and bursting with holiday spirit. Determined to get each of her family members a present, Betty repurposes her summer lemonade stand into a Christmas cookie stall. The trouble is, she has no customers. However, Betty hatches a homemade plan at the last minute that her family members warmly accept. It’s a charming addition to any holiday book collection.
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Elmore the Christmas Moose
Available from:Answering a classified ad, Elmore the moose jumps at the chance to fulfill his dream of steering Santa’s sleigh. Sadly, his non-reindeer status puts him at a disadvantage, and time after time, Elmore is dismissed. Undeterred, he writes to Santa in the hopes of making the team. At last, Santa finds the perfect job for him and finds a lead “reindeer.” Kids will enjoy this hilarious new holiday favorite!
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Sadie Soars into Space
Available from:After crafting a space-worthy aircraft, Sadie and her feline sidekick blast into space. Marveling at moons and pondering planets, Sadie soars through the solar system, gleaning facts at each stop. Back on earth and inside her classroom, Sadie expounds all the wonders she’s uncovered. This rhyming and fact-filled book is a must-have for space-loving kids.
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Everett Green: The Not-So-Christmas Tree
Available from:Everett Green’s big dream is to become a Christmas Tree in New York City. He spends Christmas Eve at the airport when his plane gets delayed and spreads holiday cheer to other beleaguered passengers. With puns aplenty, this humorous picture book will get readers of all ages into the Christmas spirit!
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Be Careful, Xiao Xin!
Available from:Xiao Xin lives in a multigenerational household and cannot do anything alone. His elders constantly warn him of dangers, fearing that he won’t want to try again if he falls or hurts himself. Eager for a taste of freedom, Xiao Xin runs away. His family imagines the worst until they are reunited and given a glimpse into Xiao Xin’s infinite capabilities. Written in both Chinese and English, this book tugs at the heartstrings. As the author’s note states, it “is for children living between cultures.” Personally, I hope it wins all the awards.
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The Worry Monster: Calming Anxiety with Mindfulness
Available from:Monster is spiraling into a ball of worry as it prepares for an upcoming field trip. When Monster is calm, its body looks and feels at ease, but when its heart starts racing, and its hair stands on end, Monster’s body physically manifests its anxious mood. Luckily, Monster has seven calming techniques to soothe nerves and relax. Stretching, moving to music, writing gratitude lists, and tapping into physical senses are just a few methods that help Monster (or any anxious child) find peace.
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Time for Bed, Old House
Available from:Isaac is excited but nervous about his first sleepover at Grandpop’s house. Thankfully, Grandpop has a comforting routine: putting the house to bed. Together, they turn off lights and close shades, as Grandpop explains nighttime sounds, in this heartfelt and cozy story, where families get a peek into a different nighttime tradition.
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