As a girl begrudgingly helps her father deliver Chinese takeout on a rainy night, acting as his navigator and translator, she wishes she could just be a “normal kid.” In the car, when her father shares his story of immigrating alone as a teenager, she realizes his bravery. This is a profoundly moving story about familial love and resilience that feels both intimate and expansive.

This rhyming picture book is SO beautiful, SO whimsical, SO enchanting. I wish I could go back in time to when I was a kid, so I could grow up reading this book every night.

Little Ghost’s favorite holiday is Halloween. When he is invited to a birthday party, he isn’t sure what to expect. But it gets him thinking: What if he throws a birthday party for himself? An adorable book for people who love celebrating spooky season all year long!

This book is nothing short of bananas, and I found it very a-peeling! Follow this funny, fruity crew of bananas as they work to turn the world’s frowns upside down. Your young reader will walk away knowing that despite our differences: BANANAS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

Also loved by Elyse & Hannah P.!

A quiet appreciation for Springtime and a gentle, playful introduction to everyday words. Barnett and Klassen effortlessly capture observing the simple wonders of changing seasons through a child’s eyes. The Now I See books each have identical text with different illustrations to reflect the time of year.

Two friends see a blank page so they can color their day. Bookie colors pictures that are full of sun and butterflies while Cookie makes it rain. Bookie helps Cookie look forward to the next day. Cute art.

Also loved by Abigail!

In 2024, ~50 million children were displaced from their homes. Inspired by his experiences with Ukrainian children, Constantin Satüpo’s gorgeous and touching Home Is a Door We Carry is a perfect book to help a child process feelings around housing loss––whether that be through acts of war, immigration, food scarcity, natural disasters, or relocating for a parent’s job. I moved a lot as a kid; I wish I had this one.

Also loved by Ester!

If you think the beach is too hot and ice cream is too cold then this book is just right for you! Play and hop along with the judgy bunny and her friends as they find ways to have a good time at the terrible beach.

Also loved by Abigail!

A story about learning new things and growing up that is oh so clever.

Also loved by Hannah P.!

Step back into the psychedelic 60s and learn about musician-activist Joan Baez like never before. With lyrical descriptions by Monica Brown and stunning illustrations by Molly Mendoza, this is a great intro to social issues and justice-seeking for young readers. Baez teaches us that our voices may sound tiny, but together they are mighty!

A group of woodland critters come together to illustrate how to care for a friend through craftsmanship and community.

See if you can find all the residents of the Rabbit Residence…and see if you can discover all the things they are doing (playing a piano! building things!). Most of all, see if you can figure out the surprise they are planning for the newest residents of the Rabbit Residence. Super cute illustrations and so many things to find make this a book kids will come back to over and over.

Also loved by Abigail!

A hibernating bear just doesn’t want to wake up. His forest friends try funny ways to get him to wake him up. Once he does he can smell and feel spring and is happy to be awake.

Everyone has big feelings, including Violet, a courageous girl whose emotions cause her to shrink or grow in size. This enchanting fairy tale is perfect for reminding young readers that it’s okay to feel afraid sometimes, and that we are all bigger than our fears.

Hattie the camper lives a happy life with her family. For many years, they go on summer-long trips to the forest and spend the afternoons adventuring. But eventually, the children in Hattie’s family grow up and she gets left behind. What will happen to Hattie!? A book about change, growing up, and found family that I promise has a happy ending!

Ruthie is a prince who lives in a castle. What could be better? With a little bit of freedom, Ruthie finds himself in a bit of a stinky situation. Will his royal subjects be able to help him find his queen?

Also loved by Chloe & Lindsay!

A mule starts the meeting of animals who have the same characteristics. But when they greet an animal that has nothing the same, they love his differences.

Also loved by Treva!

Christina Wyman does it again. In this entirely relatable book, 13-year old Stevie is STRESSED. With her divorced parents constantly fighting and a school project looming over her head, her skin’s perpetual breakouts are the last thing she needs. Can she face the mirror and stand up for herself when things are looking bleak?

Orris (a rat) and Timble (an owl) are best friends. Each night they reunite in the barn and share stories. Orris wants to soar through the skies with his BFF, but can he overcome his fear? Find out in this delightful conclusion to the Orris and Timble trilogy!

Glory’s beloved dog Roux is missing, and Roux isn’t the only thing that’s gone — her best friend won’t talk to her, and her semi-absent Dad has vanished again. Glory knows she has to be braver than ever to find Roux as she searches the streets of New Orleans, seeking help from friends and strangers alike in her working class community. This emotional, lyrical story will stay with you long after the last page.

A broken down horse is given to a girl grieving because she has moved away from all she has known due to her parents’ separation. She learns to take care of a horse, how to ride and meet new friends. She saves the horse and the horse saves her.

Since Queso’s dad died, he has dreamed of spending time with him again. One night, Queso wishes on the moon and wakes up in 1985, where he meets Pancho—the boy who will one day become his father! A story about grief, confidence, and diversity that is full of heart, Queso, Just in Time reminds us to hug the ones we love a little tighter.

If you haven’t heard of Ursula Nordstrom, you’ve definitely heard of the books she edited–Charlotte’s Web, Where the Wild Things Are, and Goodnight Moon, to name a few! Now-classic books were censored and banned for being “inappropriate” for kids, and Ursula stepped up to defend her authors and a child’s right to read. This highly readable biography of a woman ahead of her time will open your eyes and inspire you.

An orphan inherits a fortune after her guardian’s murder in this atmospheric historical mystery. She must uncover the truth about the murder and the identity of her parents before she becomes the next victim. Can she trust the two young men who claim to be on her side?

All Hannah wants to do on her spring break is hang out with her best friend before they go off to college. What she doesn’t anticipate is the life or death situation they are suddenly in when an attractive stranger invites them out for a day on a boat. Absolutely gripping and fast-paced. I could not put it down until the end.

It’s 1990 in British Columbia, and Morgan is struggling; from her dad’s raging parties, to attending alternative school, and wrestling with her Indigenous heritage, Morgan is full of questions and curiosities about her world. One day, Morgan learns something new about her mother––who left when she was 10––revealing deep generational trauma. But don’t worry, this book brims with love and forgiveness despite it all.

Indira is willing to give anything to avenge her sister who was sent to become the queen of the neighboring kingdom, but returns in a coffin. By marrying her sister’s former husband, the crown prince, she puts her own life on the line to save her people and learn the truth about what happened to her sister in this world of magic and strategy, but is everything what she assumes? Including her new husband?

Rizzoli has new edition of the classic children’s book on life in Paris. A beloved favorite, this one will fit on your bookshelves. This and the ones on London and San Francisco are great introductions for all ages, and delightful reminders of monuments, art, markets, and everyday folk, for all ages.

For readers who prefer realism to fantasy, Olive’s Ocean provides an unflinching look at grief and growing up from the perspective of 12-year-old Martha, as she wrestles with the sudden loss of her shy classmate, Olive. The first time I read it, I felt I had unlocked a new part of myself and the world. Henkes’ observational and lyrical writing shaped my reading life forever, and I hope it changes yours too.

The popular girl. The shy girl. The jock. The future writer. 4 girls, so different. Brought together by their mothers to form a book club. What starts as each girl’s worst nightmare brings the girls together to navigate friendship, family and the trials of middle school. Also look for Much Ado About Anne, the second book in the series. And watch for re-releases of the rest of the series later this year.

Sprout Book Club: April Selection

Spark Book Club: April Selection

ParnassusNext: April Selection