Best Books for Kids 2023

27 Books Found

Filtered by 'Feelings'
  • Aniana del Mar Jumps In

    Recently diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Aniana must navigate the dual obstacles of chronic pain and the familial trauma that keeps her mother stubbornly opposed to the young athlete’s dreams of life as a professional swimmer.

    Cover of Aniana del Mar Jumps In
  • Big

    A young girl transcends opinions of her to hold space for herself and own the person she is both inside and out. Powerful, full-page illustrations and striking use of color push the limits of the picture book form.

    Cover of Big
  • The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name

    Art by Michelle Pereira | Zimdalamashkermishkada starts at a new school and is afraid others will have trouble pronouncing his name. He tries many ways to shrink his name until his friends help him see it from a new perspective.

    Cover of The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name
  • Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories from BIPOC Authors

    This empowering collection of short stories written by authors of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds shares the joy, gravity, and humor of menstruation from an array of perspectives.

    Cover of Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories from BIPOC Authors
  • Cape

    Art by Kitt Thomas | A young Black child draws strength from their beloved superhero cape after the death of a loved one. Evocative and immersive illustrations and gentle text convey the experience of grief from a child's perspective.

    Cover of Cape
  • Cross My Heart and Never Lie

    In this sweetly sensitive graphic diary, 12-year-old Tuva navigates the difficulties that come with being a tween: balancing kid stuff with growing up, exploring relationships and first crushes, all while figuring out who she is and what she wants.

    Cover of Cross My Heart and Never Lie
  • Curlfriends: New in Town

    Twelve-year-old military kid Charlie Harper is no stranger to being the new kid. Middle school means a fresh start, and she is convinced this is her chance to be cool. However, Charlie feels like fitting in might mean pretending to be someone she isn't.

    Cover of Curlfriends: New in Town
  • Dear Mothman

    Through letters written to the mysterious Mothman of local lore, Noah explores the grief of losing his best friend and what it means to be trans.

    Cover of Dear Mothman
  • Do You Remember?

    A boy and his mother reflect on the past to bring comfort through a major life change. Poignantly illustrated vignettes depict the memories of birthdays, picnics, and heartfelt moments that help calm their spirits on their first night in a new home.

    Cover of Do You Remember?
  • The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn

    Neurodivergent Maudie settles into a small California town after wildfires force her to evacuate her dad's. As she learns to express herself through surfing, Maudie struggles with whether to confide in her dad about the physical and emotional abuse she experiences at her mom's house.

    Cover of The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn
  • Frankie and Friends

    Art by Alea Marley | When Frankie's mom leaves to cover a breaking news story, Frankie copes by creating her own news show with the help of some imaginary pals and a furry friend. Can this news crew discover the source of the mysterious crying?

    Cover of Frankie and Friends
  • The House That Whispers

    Between growing family tension, an increasingly forgetful grandma, and being called a name that feels all wrong, Simon is miserable on a would-be fun trip to Nanaleen's. When a ghost hunting game gets too real, Simon must fix everything before his life completely falls apart.

    Cover of The House That Whispers
  • I'm From

    Art by Oge Mora | A glimpse into the daily life of a young Black boy as he recognizes his place within his family and community and affirms: "I come from / somewhere."

    Cover of I'm From
  • Lasagna Means I Love You

    Feeling disconnected from her roots when she finds herself in the New York City foster care system, Mo begins writing letters to her late grandmother. Inspired by a stolen cookbook, Mo builds a website and connects with others to share recipes and find her relatives.

    Cover of Lasagna Means I Love You
  • The Lost Year

    During the Covid-19 pandemic, Matthew's Ukrainian American great-grandmother moves in. When Matthew discovers letters exchanged between cousins during the famine in 1930s Ukraine, his relationship with GG and understanding of her life and true identity are permanently altered.

    Cover of The Lost Year
  • The Many Masks of Andy Zhou

    Andy has a lot on his plate: middle school, changing friendships, complicated family, and his own anxiety. Through a budding passion for art, Andy finds ways to help others in his life and discovers who he wants to be in this contemporary slice-of-life story.

    Cover of The Many Masks of Andy Zhou
  • Mascot

    A broad range of emotions, opinions, and cultures are on display when seventh graders at Rye Middle School debate the implications of their school's racially charged mascot.

    Cover of Mascot
  • Rainbow Shopping

    A recently emigrated Chinese family is usually too busy working to dine together. Textured illustrations provide a feeling of home as they take a long train ride to Chinatown to gather colorful ingredients for a meal that will bring them all together.

    Cover of Rainbow Shopping
  • Ruby Lost and Found

    It's the worst punishment 13-year-old Ruby could imagine: being forced to spend the summer at her grandmother's senior center. As Ruby delves deeper into her Chinese American community, she grapples with her grandfather's death and concern for Nai-Nai's fading memory.

    Cover of Ruby Lost and Found
  • That Flag

    Art by Nikkolas Smith | Keira and Bianca are best friends, but only at school. At home, Bianca's family flies a Confederate flag, and their differing perspectives on the flag's meaning cause conflict. When a tragedy occurs in their community, they must grapple with the flag's impact and racist history.

    Cover of That Flag
  • The Unlovable Alina Butt

    Alina is a misfit: an awkward tween from Pakistan with frizzy hair, a nose she hasn't quite grown into, and a last name that is the "butt" of every joke. As Alina navigates new friendships and stands up to bullies, her confidence and self-understanding begin to take shape.

    Cover of The Unlovable Alina Butt
  • What Happened to Rachel Riley?

    Aspiring investigative journalist Anna Hunt wants to figure out her new school dynamics and why no one talks to Rachel Riley. Anna dives in and uncovers an iceberg of issues, including Rachel's ostracization, pressure to remain silent, and sexual harassment disguised as a game.

    Cover of What Happened to Rachel Riley?
  • A Work in Progress

    Told through verse, prose, and illustration, this intimate and powerful novel tackles bullying, eating disorders, and self-esteem issues from the perspective of a middle school boy on the road to healing and self-acceptance.

    Cover of A Work in Progress
  • Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends

    Worm and Caterpillar are best friends! They have so much in common. Can their friendship survive some big changes?

    Cover of Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends
  • The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet

    The last thing Al Schneider wants to do is talk about her stomach problems, but after a diagnosis of Crohn's disease, that's all anyone wants her to do! When Al joins a support group and meets Mina, suddenly it’s more than just Crohn’s causing the butterflies in her stomach.

    Cover of The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet
  • You Are Here: Connecting Flights

    In this series of interwoven short stories by AAPI authors, Asian American families find themselves stranded in an airport during a storm. While they wait it out, these characters resist, resolve, and find solidarity against racism to show the world that they belong.

    Cover of You Are Here: Connecting Flights
  • ¡El Cucuy también tiene miedo!

    Arte de Juliana Perdomo, traducido por Renata Somar | Ramón y El Cucuy hacen una pareja dispareja al descubrir que comparten los mismos miedos y una fuerte aversión al cambio.

    Cover of ¡El Cucuy también tiene miedo!