2025 Children's K-2nd Grade Favorites
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade book recommendations for kids, educators, booksellers, librarians, and caregivers of the best children’s books in 2024.
All Aboard the Alaska Train
By: Brooke Hartman
Illustrated by:
John Joseph
John Joseph
ISBN: 9781636550992
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians
By: Kristi Mahoney
Illustrated by:
Chantelle Thorne and Burgen Thorne
Chantelle Thorne and Burgen Thorne
ISBN: 9781957655284
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Are You a Sleepy Monster?
By: Guilherme Karsten
Illustrated by:
Guilherme Karsten
Guilherme Karsten
ISBN: 9780711283374
Fiction, 4-6, Sleep / Dreams / Bedtime
A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish
By: Daniel Bernstrom
Illustrated by:
Brandon James Scott
Brandon James Scott
ISBN: 9781662640698
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Bear’s Lost Glasses
By: Leo Timmers
Illustrated by:
Leo Timmers
Leo Timmers
ISBN: 9781776575947
Fiction, 4-6, Imagination / Play
A Big Juicy Earthworm
By: Katarina Macurova
Illustrated by:
Katarina Macurova
Katarina Macurova
ISBN: 9788000070841
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
The Book That Can Read Your Mind
By: Marianna Coppo
Illustrated by:
Marianna Coppo
Marianna Coppo
ISBN: 9781797229010
Fiction, 4-6, Imagination / Play
Broommates—A Brewing Boundary Battle
By: Lynne Marie and Brenda Reeves Sturgis
Illustrated by:
Nico Ecenarro
Nico Ecenarro
ISBN: 9781956378276
Fiction, 4-6, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations
Butt or Face? Volume 2—Revenge of the Butts
By: Kari Lavelle
ISBN: 9781728271200
Nonfiction, 4-6, Animals
Chicken Little and the Very Long Race (The Real Chicken Little)
By: Sam Wedelich
Illustrated by:
Sam Wedelich
Sam Wedelich
ISBN: 9781338892420
Fiction, 4-6, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Chooch Helped
By: Andrea L. Rogers
Illustrated by:
Rebecca Lee Kunz
Rebecca Lee Kunz
ISBN: 9781646144549
Fiction, 4-6, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Cranky
By: Phuc Tran
Illustrated by:
Pete Oswald
Pete Oswald
ISBN: 9780063256286
Fiction, 4-6, Construction / Transportation
The Dictionary Story
By: Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
Illustrated by:
Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
ISBN: 9781536235500
Fiction, 4-6, Concepts
Dinosaurs in Space
By: Todd Sturgell
Illustrated by:
Todd Sturgell
Todd Sturgell
ISBN: 9781728236278
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Doris
By: Lo Cole
Illustrated by:
Lo Cole
Lo Cole
ISBN: 9781915801289
Fiction, 4-6, Social Emotional Learning
Fox Is Coming!
By: James Patterson and Joe Kulka
Illustrated by:
Joe Kulka
Joe Kulka
ISBN: 9780316572835
Fiction, 4-6, Friendships
The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Everything
By: Nadia Ahmed
Illustrated by:
Nadia Ahmed
Nadia Ahmed
ISBN: 9781506495118
Fiction, 4-6, Social Emotional Learning
Gifts from the Garbage Truck—A True Story About the Things We (Don’t) Throw Away
By: Andrew Larsen
Illustrated by:
Oriol Vidal
Oriol Vidal
ISBN: 9781728283517
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf
By: Craig Barr-Green
Illustrated by:
Francis Martin
Francis Martin
ISBN: 9781684647866
Fiction, 4-6, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
The Girl Who Loves Bugs
By: Lily Murray
Illustrated by:
Jenny Løvlie
Jenny Løvlie
ISBN: 9781682636558
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Hank Goes Honk
By: Maudie Powell-Tuck
Illustrated by:
Duncan Beedie
Duncan Beedie
ISBN: 9781664300507
Fiction, 4-6, Humor
Hello—How Nüwa Created the World
By: Viola Wang
ISBN: 9781499814927
Fiction, 4-6, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
I Am a Potato
By: Ziggy Hanaor
Illustrated by:
Elliot Kruszynski
Elliot Kruszynski
ISBN: 9781800660519
Fiction, 4-6, Science / Nature
José Feeds the World—How a Famous Chef Feeds Millions of People in Need Around the World
By: David Unger
Illustrated by:
Marta Álvarez Miguéns
Marta Álvarez Miguéns
ISBN: 9781728279527
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
Jump for Joy
By: Karen Gray Ruelle
Illustrated by:
Hadley Hooper
Hadley Hooper
ISBN: 9781662602023
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
The Last Zookeeper
By: Aaron Becker
Illustrated by:
Aaron Becker
Aaron Becker
ISBN: 9781536227680
Fiction, 4-6, Sci-Fi
The Little Green Swing (Little Ruby’s Big Ideas)
By: Brenda Maier
Illustrated by:
Sonia Sánchez
Sonia Sánchez
ISBN: 9781338816198
Fiction, 4-6, Science / Nature
Lost
By: Mariajo Ilustrajo
Illustrated by:
Mariajo Ilustrajo
Mariajo Ilustrajo
ISBN: 9780711277953
Fiction, 4-6, Friendships
Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten
By: Michelle Knudsen
Illustrated by:
Kevin Hawkes
Kevin Hawkes
ISBN: 9781536219111
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals
By: Deborah Underwood
Illustrated by:
LeUyen Pham
LeUyen Pham
ISBN: 9780358567134
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
María Mariposa
By: Karla Arenas Valenti
Illustrated by:
Ana Ramírez González
Ana Ramírez González
ISBN: 9781797207933
Fiction, 4-6, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Merry Christmas Zoo
By: Lola M. Schaefer and Lisa Eickholdt
Illustrated by:
Laura Watkins
Laura Watkins
ISBN: 9781797216560
Nonfiction, 4-6, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations
Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden
By: Christy Mandin
Illustrated by:
Christy Mandin
Christy Mandin
ISBN: 9781339023274
Fiction, 4-6, Imagination / Play
A Mischief of Mice
By: Christie Matheson
Illustrated by:
Christie Matheson
Christie Matheson
ISBN: 9781728272078
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Moo Hoo
By: Audrey Perrott
Illustrated by:
Ross Burach
Ross Burach
ISBN: 9781338888881
Fiction, 7-12, Social Emotional Learning
The Most Beautiful Winter
By: Cristina Sitja Rubio; translated by Vineet Lal
Illustrated by:
Cristina Sitja Rubio
Cristina Sitja Rubio
ISBN: 9780802856272
Fiction, 4-6, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations
Mr. Fox’s Game of No!
By: David LaRochelle
Illustrated by:
Mike Wohnoutka
Mike Wohnoutka
ISBN: 9781536229677
Fiction, 4-6, Humor
Mr. Round and Mr. Square
By: Patricia Fitti
Illustrated by:
Patricia Fitti
Patricia Fitti
ISBN: 9798890630810
Fiction, 4-6, Concepts
No Cats in the Library
By: Lauren Emmons
Illustrated by:
Lauren Emmons
Lauren Emmons
ISBN: 9781665933681
Fiction, 4-6, Fantasy
Old Clothes for Dinner?
By: Nathalie Alonso
Illustrated by:
Natalia Rojas Castro
Natalia Rojas Castro
ISBN: 9798888590683
Fiction, 4-6, Social Emotional Learning
Oy, Santa! Or, There’s a Latke to Learn about Hanukkah
By: Joyce Schriebman
Illustrated by:
Gila von Meissner
Gila von Meissner
ISBN: 9781951365226
Fiction, 4-6, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations
Pascal the Very Hungry Penguin
By: Nishani Reed
Illustrated by:
Junissa Bianda
Junissa Bianda
ISBN: 9798887770581
Fiction, 4-6, Food / Cooking
Peg Gets Crackin
By: Jo Renfro
Illustrated by:
Jo Renfro
Jo Renfro
ISBN: 9781506492070
Fiction, 4-6, Social Emotional Learning
Penelope Rex and the Problem with Pets
By: Ryan T. Higgins
ISBN: 9781368089609
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever!
By: Louise Fitzgerald
Illustrated by:
Kate Hindley
Kate Hindley
ISBN: 9798887770512
Fiction, 4-6, Sleep / Dreams / Bedtime
Quiet As Mud
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by:
Nicole Wong
Nicole Wong
ISBN: 9781433841538
Fiction, 4-6, Social Emotional Learning
Rainbow Bear
By: Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson
Illustrated by:
Nathalie Beauvois
Nathalie Beauvois
ISBN: 9781612546445
Fiction, 4-6, Concepts
Rhythm
By: Jackie Azúa Kramer
Illustrated by:
Taia Morley
Taia Morley
ISBN: 9781433842634
Fiction, 4-6, Family / Community
Scooper and Dumper The Pumpkin Parade
By: Lindsay Ward
ISBN: 9781662513831
Fiction, 4-6, Construction / Transportation
Spider in the Well
By: Jess Hannigan
Illustrated by:
Jess Hannigan
Jess Hannigan
ISBN: 9780063289475
Fiction, 4-6, Humor
A Sundae with Everything on It
By: Kyle Scheele
Illustrated by:
Andy J. Pizza
Andy J. Pizza
ISBN: 9781797221625
Fiction, 4-6, Food / Cooking
The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn
By: Shawn Harris
ISBN: 9780593571880
Fiction, 4-6, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Togo to the Rescue
By: Mélisande Potter
Illustrated by:
Giselle Potter
Giselle Potter
ISBN: 9780316335447
Nonfiction, 4-6, Animals
Turkey’s Birthday Bash
By: Wendi Silvano
Illustrated by:
Lee Harper
Lee Harper
ISBN: 9781662516061
Fiction, 4-6, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations
Two Little Red Mittens
By: Kirin Hayashi; translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa
Illustrated by:
Chiaki Okada
Chiaki Okada
ISBN: 9781662516764
Fiction, 4-6, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations
When an Elephant Hears NO
By: Dazzle Ng
Illustrated by:
Estrela Lourenço
Estrela Lourenço
ISBN: 9781645677864
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Willow the White House Cat
By: Jill Biden
Illustrated by:
Kate Berube
Kate Berube
ISBN: 9781665952057
Fiction, 4-6, Sci-Fi
Worm’s Lost & Found
By: Jule Wellerdiek; translated by David Henry Wilson
Illustrated by:
Jule Wellerdiek
Jule Wellerdiek
ISBN: 9780735845572
Fiction, 4-6, Humor
The Yellow Bus
By: Loren Long
Illustrated by:
Loren Long
Loren Long
ISBN: 9781250903136
Fiction, 4-6, Kindness / Generosity
