50 Must Read Books for Kids - Atlanta Parent Magazine

What better way to mark Children’s Literature Week than with a selection of 50 books to consider adding to your home library? Atlanta Parent Magazine returns with its annual listing of books for kids of all ages, from board books for babies to chapter books for teens. Here’s what our panel of moms chose for this year’s list.

[ Board Books ]

Baby Flip-a Face: Woof-Woof
by Harriet Ziefert and SAMi (Blue Apple, $8.95)
One for the babies: This board book engages with its bold black, white and red images and chewable foam-filled pages. Little ones will enjoy the surprising face changes and mommy’s silly animal impressions.

Flip-a Shape: Yum! and Flip-a Shape: Go!
by Harriet Ziefert and SAMi (Blue Apple, $8.95)
These substantial board books teach shape and object recognition, and entertain with big bold pictures and easy-to-turn pages. Yum! focuses on food; Go! looks at transportation.

Touch the Art series
by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo
(Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., $9.95)
The four titles in this series – Make Van Gogh’s Bed, Feed Matisse’s Fish, Brush Mona Lisa’s Hair and Pop Warhol’s Top – take well-known masterpieces and add an interactive element to them. Each book also includes more information about the featured works, which will educate parents, too.

[ Preschool ]

A is for Astronaut: Exploring Space from A to Z
by Chronicle Books Staff
(Chronicle Books, $14.95)
A journey through the alphabet takes on an out-of-this world perspective, as more than 60 words related to space are paired with their matching letter. Any child who loves nonfiction will delight in the huge photos and easy-to-understand vocabulary – almost like a space dictionary.

Bigger Than Daddy
by Harriet Ziefert (Blue Apple Books, $15.95)
Geared to the preschool set, this is a must-have for those who just want to be big. When dad and child switch roles, it’s fun to read about what daddy can’t do when he’s too little. Its sweet goodnight ending makes for a super bedtime finale.

Easy Street
by Rita Gray (Dutton Children’s Books, $15.99)
Children learn about the many layers and road construction vehicles that make an asphalt street. The author’s rhyme and repetition, along with the creative Claymation pictures, make this book a hit among preschoolers.

I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track
by Joshua Prince (Sterling Publishing, $14.95) 
A hungry ant in search of food becomes a dramatic situation when a railway switchman frantically tries to save the ant, who is heading straight into the path of an oncoming freight train. The delightful illustrations of the blue ant walking along the track are appealing to children and parents of all ages.

My Little Yellow Taxi
by Stephen T. Johnson
(Red Wagon Books, $19.95)
Young readers can take this book – literally – for a spin. Each page offers the opportunity for hands-on manipulation, with a car door they can open, a seat belt they can fasten, and a steering wheel they can turn.

Russell and the Lost Treasure
by Rob Scotton
(HarperCollins, $15.99)
When Russell the sheep sets out to find a treasure, he has nearly given up when he stumbles upon it accidentally. Children love following Russell’s adventure to find the treasure, only to discover a chest full of ordinary items. But Russell’s ingenuity turns ordinary into something truly special. The soft illustrations are superb.

There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me
by Alice Walker
(Harper Collins, $16.99)
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker invites young readers to look at life in a different way by exploring the connections between self, nature and creativity. With a poetic rhythm and flow, each beautifully illustrated page encourages young imaginations to soar.

Tools
by Taro Miura (Chronicle Books, $15.95)
Simple, colorful illustrations help kids learn all the essential tools needed for 10 different professions, like gardeners, mechanics and tailors. There are more than 60 tools to name and discover, and older kids will love to guess the job associated with the tools when they turn the page.

Two is for Twins
by Wendy Cheyette Lewison (Viking, $15.99)
If one is fun, then two is twice as nice! Playful rhymes combined with watercolor illustrations follow twin toddlers as they show all two can do.

Up Above & Down Below
by Sue Redding (Chronicle Books, $14.95)
Pages are packed with lots of visual activities about things above and below. Using rhyming words to describe city streets, the sea, the jungle and even a theater stage, the book keeps kids involved. It’s the red and green worm hiding in every page that’s so fun to find!

[ Ages 5-8 ]

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon
by Mini Grey
(Alfred A. Knopf, $16.95)
Everyone knows the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle,” but few know what happened after the Dish ran away with the Spoon. Satisfy your curiosity – and get a few chuckles – in this “sequel” to that classic rhyme.

Are You Quite Polite?
Silly Dilly Manners Songs
by Alan Katz (Margaret K. McElderry, $15.95)
Parents and kids will both love these manner-minders, sung to well-known tunes like “Pop Goes the Weasel” and “America, The Beautiful.” After the laughing ends, your kids might actually remember some of the finer points of etiquette they usually ignore.

Around the House the Fox Chased
the Mouse: A Prepositional Tale
by Rick Walton (Gibbs Smith, $15.95)
Walton serves up a little grammar lesson with his illustrated catch-me-if-you-can story of the fox and the mouse. You’ll never again think grammar is boring.

Chowder
by Peter Brown
(Little, Brown and Company, $15.99)
A funny tale of a bulldog who simply wants to make friends, even when he most enjoys doing people activities. This hysterical twist on how he makes friends at a local grocery store is sure to elicit some giggles, especially from the animal lover in your family.

Down the Back of the Chair
by Margaret Mahy
(Clarion Books, $16)
Oh, no! Dad’s lost his car keys. Daughter Mary’s suggestion to look for them “down the back of the chair” leads to all sorts of interesting items tucked in the chair’s crevice. The whimsical and sometimes hysterical items are sure to elicit plenty of giggles along the way.

Fancy Nancy
by Jane O’Connor (Harper Collins, $15.99)
Nancy never met a person or object that couldn’t use her special touch. From pens with plumes to lacy socks, she’s the fanciest girl you’ll ever see. Generous, too: She soon offers her family free Fancy Lessons with eye-popping results.

How to Be A Good Dog
by Gail Page
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, $15.95)
This well-designed and beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a lovable but boisterous dog who has to learn to be good to be allowed back into his owner’s house. With a generous dose of humor and the help of his nemesis-turned-trainer, Cat, Bobo the dog succeeds in his quest.

If Mom Had Three Arms
by Karen Kaufan Orloff
(Sterling Publishing, $14.95)
What if Mom had more than two arms? What if she had three or four – or more? In this delightfully illustrated book, one little boy imagines how great it would be if his mother could “throw lots of pitches” and “scratch all his itches” – with an ever-growing number of arms – and still have time for a hug.

I’m Dirty
by Kate and Jim McMullan
(Joanna Cotler Books, $16.99)
Full of attitude and spunk, this book is about a day in the life of a backhoe loader, a construction vehicle that digs, chomps, pulls, makes noises and gets dirty – just like a kid. Written and illustrated by the authors of I’m Mighty! and I Stink!, this book is destined to be your children’s favorite read.

Is There Really a Human Race?
by Jamie Lee Curtis
(HarperCollins Publishers, $16.99)
Curtis’ book of questions gets kids thinking about whether it’s better to win the race or simply enjoy it. It is a fantastic play on words, and a child’s perspective on the word “race” gives this story an incredibly heart-warming appeal that’s fun to read.

I’ve Got An Elephant
by Anne Ginkel (Peachtree, $16.95)
Taking a leaf out of Jean de Brunhoff’s famous children’s books, Anne Ginkel’s elephants sip tea and dress up in suits with hats (and Superman pajamas!). But unlike Babar, who returns to the jungle to be king, these modern-day socialized elephants end up at the zoo … quite happily, as it turns out.

Lilly’s Big Day
by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books, $16.99)
Lilly’s beloved teacher, Mr. Slinger, is getting married. For Lilly, who has always wanted to be a flower girl, Mr. Slinger’s wedding will be the biggest day of her life. When she finds out there’s another girl assigned to the duty, Lilly handles the situation with grace, dignity and chutzpah.

The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frères
by Marie LeTourneau and Danielle Reed Baty
(Tanglewood Press, $15.95)
With fanciful illustrations, an amusing gastronomical story and everyday French words and phrases effortlessly incorporated into a primarily English text, this is an engaging introduction to French culture and language. There’s even a pronunciation guide and, on the publisher’s website, a recipe for Chef Marcel’s delicious cheese soup. Ooh la la!

Mine! Mine! Mine!
by Shelly Becker
(Sterling Publishing, $14.95)
Sharing would be so much easier if cousin Claire would only play with an old shoe instead of Gail’s favorite teddy bear. Younger readers especially will relate to the challenges of sharing with others, written in rhyme.

Mom and Dad are Palindromes
by Mark Shulman and Adam McCauley
(Chronicle Books, $15.95)
In this wonderfully visual, remarkably clever book of wordplay, Bob learns about palindromes and begins to realize they are everywhere. His mom, his dad, his sister Nan, his pup Otto, even he – Bob – are all palindromes. With more than 100 palindromes hiding in this zany story, it’s enough to make a kid feel like a kook.

Not Another Tea Party
by Mark Shulman (Sterling Publishing, $14.95)
A bossy little girl holds a tea party that is sparsely attended. After a friendly chameleon is banished for not playing by her rules, everybody leaves. She finds her former friends out in the yard having a lively tea party of their own and then has to decide whether it’s worth being nicer to everyone.

The Opposite
by Tom MacRae (Peachtree Publishers, $15.95)
In this hilarious, original story about opposition, Nate learns to assert himself and take responsibility for his actions. A quick read and a delight for all ages, this book will earn a position of prominence on your child’s bookshelf.

Railroad John and the Red Rock Run
by Tony Crunk (Peachtree Publishers, $16.95)
Lonesome Bob and Granny Apple Fritter must take the train to Red Rock for Lonesome’s wedding to Wildcat Annie – but first they have to deal with Bad Bill, the orneriest outlaw “who ever scuffed up dust.” You’ll have a rootin’, tootin’ good time flipping the pages of this tall tale.

Shlemazel and the Remarkable Spoon of Pohost
by Ann Redisch Stampler (Clarion Books, $16)
The folklore-style illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to this traditional Jewish tale. When Moshke the tinker advises Lazy Shlemazel to use the “amazing, remarkable spoon of Pohost,” everyone learns about how we make our own luck.

The Tangle Tower
by Jessica Elin Hirschman & Bonnie Bright (Cookie Bear Press, $14.95)
Watch a little girl’s tangle tower grow out of control in this fun read that’s a must for everyone who’s ever run from a hairbrush. Readers will enjoy seeing themselves in the mirrored paper at the back of the book that shows what they’d look like with a tangle tower.

Travels With Charlie: Way Out West
by Miles Backer (Blue Apple Books, $15.95)
Spot Charlie the dog hidden within the colorful illustrations in this lively educational book that’s both factual and delightfully readable. Young readers will learn historical trivia and gain extensive geographical knowledge of the 13 Western states.

Up
by Jim LaMarche (Chronicle Books, $16.95)
A treat for traditionalists. Glorious paintings illustrate this whimsical tale about a little boy nicknamed Mouse who develops magical powers.

Where Did Daddy’s Hair Go?
by Joe O’Connor
(Random House Children’s Books, $14.95)
It’s OK to look different. That’s the main message here, and it’s told from a little boy’s perspective as he observes his father’s dwindling hairline. He tries to find the “lost” hair in this warm and humorous tale, learning valuable life lessons along the way.

[ Ages 9-11 ]

Archer’s Quest
by Linda Sue Park (Clarion Books, $16)
A little bit of fantasy meets the contemporary world in this time-travel tale. When an archer from Korean history appears in 13-year-old Kevin’s room, he must figure out how to return his visitor to his own time – and learns something about his father and himself in the process.

Cinderella (as if you didn’t already know the story)
by Barbara Ensor
(Schwartz & Wade Books, $12.95)
Think you know all about Cinderella? Wicked stepmother, handsome prince, lots of sweeping…well, maybe there’s more to the story. In this version, featuring lively illustrations in silhouette, a spirited young woman connects with her beloved, departed mom through revealing handwritten notes and defines her own destiny, with just a little help from her fairy godmother.

Corby Flood
by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
(David Fickling Books, $14.95)
From the creators of the best-selling EDGE Chronicles comes the story of young Corby Flood and her madcap adventures aboard the S.S. Euphonia. Join Corby, her wacky family, the dastardly Brotherhood of Clowns and a crew of lovesick sailors, as they tour the Dalcretian Coast, land of the Counting Ox, the Dancing Pig and the Laughing Goat.

Do-Over
by Christine Hurley Deriso
(Delacorte Press, $15.95)
What if you could rewind time just long enough to undo your worst moments? Elsa receives a visit from the ghost of her mother, weeks before her 13th birthday, and is granted a special gift: do-over power.

The Friendly Four
by Eloise Greenfield (Amistad, $16.99)
Greenfield uses free-verse poetry to weave together the story of four friends who spend a summer playing together and discovering themselves. Through their adventures, they form a bond that promises to last long after the summer ends.

Ivy + Bean
by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
(Chronicle Books, $14.95)
Bean, a classic tomboy, is not interested in playing with Ivy, the new girl across the street: Ivy wears dresses, reads books and doesn’t appear to have any fun at all. But when Bean gets in trouble with her older sister, Ivy comes to the rescue with a magic wand, potions and spells.

A Million Dots
by Andrew Clements
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $16.95)
If you’ve ever wondered what a million dots looks like, this is the book for you. It’s more than the dots, though, that will keep your attention between one and 1 million: The book also is filled with nifty number trivia.

Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters and Other Wily Characters
by Patricia C. McKissack
(Schwartz & Wade Books, $18.95)
Porch Lies harkens back to a time before television and radio, when evenings were spent on the porch, listening to tales spun by your favorite elders. Those “porch lies” – humorously exaggerated stories – are steeped in African-American history.

Singing Hands
by Delia Ray (Clarion Books, $16)
Follow the adventures of Gussie Davis, the hearing daughter of deaf parents, as she makes her way through 1940’s Alabama in search of her own identity. Poignant and humorous at the same time, Singing Hands was inspired by the author’s mother, who spent her childhood with deaf parents.

Small Steps
by Louis Sachar (Delacorte Press, $16.95)
Louis Sachar’s sequel to Holes is less surreal than its predecessor but maintains the sense of connection and survival common to its young protagonists. There are definitely darker elements to this book, so parents may want to review it.

Zoe Sophia in New York: The Mystery of the Pink Phoenix Papers
by Claudia Mauner and Elisa Smalley
(Chronicle Books, $14.95)
Journal entry-style writing makes this book a must for pre-teen girls. Zoe Sophia is an adventurer who lives in New York City, and when her favorite aunt comes in town, they see lots of sights to uncover a mystery. The clues piece together beautifully with an endearing tribute to the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

[ Ages 12 and up ]

The Glow Stone
by Ellen Dreyer (Peachtree Publishers, $15.95)
Family secrets are at the core of this haunting tome. When 15-year-old Phoebe Bernstein becomes lost while exploring a cave with her aunt, she discovers the truth about her young uncle’s untimely death – and more.

House of the Red Fish
by Graham Salisbury
(Wendy Lamb Books, $16.95)
In 1940’s Hawaii, it’s tough to be a Japanese American. The post-Pearl Harbor environment is not a friendly one for young Tomi Nakaji and his family, who must cope with prejudice and mistrust everywhere they turn in this compelling work of historical fiction.

Shooting Stars Everywhere
by Martina Wildner
(Delacorte Press, $15.95)
After Victor’s father gives him a journal for his 13th birthday, he begins documenting the mundane details of his life. But when some mysterious letters begin appearing in his mailbox, his interest turns toward finding their source with the help of his new friend, D.

Our Panel

Mary Abreu lives in Tucker with her husband and their children: Joshua, 15; Garrett, 13; and Liesl, 2.

Beth Balga lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children. When her kids are at school, she is a research analyst for a large software company.

Tiffany Capuano lives in Acworth with her husband, John, and their children, Drew, 7; Will, 5; and Brynn, 3.

Sam Molineaux lives in Lawrenceville with her husband, Daniel, daughter Isabella Rose, 5 months, and two pets Donna Darko and Roxanna Ratface.

Atlanta Parent Magazine
2346 Perimeter Park Dr
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-454-7599
atlantaparent@atlantaparent.com