11 AWESOME Kid Books For Your Next Library Visit

Our family loves the library.

Like, really really loves it.

We visit once a week and between real books and audiobooks, we probably have 20-30 checked out at all times. Thanks to the library we get to cycle new books into our home all the time. For free! It’s such a gift! 

One way I like to maximize our library experience is by requesting specific books and placing them on hold for pick up. This way, my kids get to select some of their own books when they “shop” the aisles, but we also get to add in something I’ve pre-selected based on recommendations, favorite authors, and topics/themes we’re aiming to learn more about. 

Some of these books I heard about from other mamas, some I found on classic book lists while perusing Pinterest, two we got for review from publishers (and truly loved so I wanted to share) … but, no matter how we stumbled across them, you need to get them on your next library visit!

For reference, my library-loving kids are 2, 5 and 7. Even baby Eli enjoyed reading many of these thanks to the fantastic illustrations and pace of each story.

Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey by Emily Winfield Martin

Really, you need to read everything by Emily Winfield Martin … even her chapter book, Snow & Rose, is fabulous. Her illustrations and the cadence of her writing are just lovely.

Dinosaur A to Z: An Amazing Dinosaur Parade by Dustin Growick

We have read a lot of dinosaur books but this one takes the cake! We especially appreciated the pronunciation guides and size charts.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Plain ol’ funny. We all laughed! Don’t miss The Gruffalo’s Child too!

Lola Dutch by Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright

Illustrations draw me in. Always. But Lola Dutch, that girlie is pretty sweet too! 

Scientist, Scientist, Who Do You See? by Christ Ferrie 

This book is such a fun twist of the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Actually, ALL the Chris Ferrie books are brilliant! I’m aiming to introduce science early and often so my kids are a bit more successful in this subject than I was.

Following Papa’s Song by Gianna Marino

We got his book through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (sign up if you can!) and it’s my 2 year olds favorite! It’s simple and the whales and ocean colors are so soothing. It has become our pre-nap book lately.

Pond by Jim LaMarche

Books don’t have to be flashy to catch a child’s attention. All my kids commented on the watercolor look of this book and I loved the seasonal aspect of watching something simple like a pond change over time.

Mossy by Jan Brett

Some people want to see Big Foot. Us? We hope to spy Mossy someday :)

A Giraffe and a Half by Shel Silverstein

Again with the giggles! This book is so simple and cute. I think we’re going to start memorizing some Shel Silverstein poems. I wonder if the kids could do it without cracking up?

Snail Mail by Samantha Berger

We are a letter loving family, so this one fit us well! Long live snail mail!

Animals: A Lens Book by Valentina Facci

Animal books are almost always a first pick for us. Lens Books are the best though because not only are they educational, they have an interactive feature with the three color lens that is stored in the front cover. Look at each page through it and discover something new!

Tell us, what should we get from the library next? 

And, if any of these interest you but aren’t available at your library, request them! Our library website has an easy form to fill out if a book isn’t part of the catalog and you would like to borrow it. Or, you can always ask your librarian :)