Best Books of 2015
Looking for the next great book to share with your child? We reviewed books that will capture your child’s interest and launch them into a love of reading. We present this year’s top picks, from infants to teens.
Babies to Toddlers
Who’s Hungry?
by Dean Hacohen & Sherry Scharschmidt (Candlewick Press, ages 0-3, $9.99)
Parents will want to keep this cute “flip the flap” book handy during mealtimes to encourage even the pickiest toddlers to eat up. The simple illustrations feature a variety of animals like bunnies, seals, monkeys, and more, and toddlers can turn it into a game by peeking under each flap to learn what each animal enjoys munching on. Bon appetit! – Felicia Barman
Hoot! Hoot!
by Sebastien Braun (Nosy Crow, ages infant to 3, $8.99)
Who, who is that hiding in the tree? This sweet book for small babes has charming, layered illustrations. The big flaps are fun to lift, and babies will surely love learning about the silly sounds of furry and feathered friends! – Sherry Crawley
Guess What? Sweets and Treats
by Yusuke Yonezu (Michael Neugebauer Publishing, ages 1-3, $11.99)
This fun board book will keep kids guessing. It looks like orange-and-white candy, but is it? Lift the flap and you’ll find two colorful clown fish. A lollipop turns into a chameleon on a twig. Your kids will squeal in delight. – Amanda Allen
How Penguin Says Please
by Abigail Samoun and Sarah Watts (Sterling Children’s Books, ages 1-3, $6.95)
Penguin learns to say “please” in seven languages in this charming board book, as she travels to France, Russia, Egypt, India, China, Japan and Argentina. – AA
Whose Tools? and Whose Trucks?
by Toni Buzzeo and Jim Datz (Abrams Appleseed, ages 2-4, $9.95 each)
Fair warning: if you have a truck- or tool-obsessed kid, good luck getting them to part with these cute, sturdy board books. These little volumes would be a great accompaniment to a toy truck or tool kit – and you might even learn a term or two! – SC
Vegetables in Underwear
by Jared Chapman (Abrams Appleseed, ages 2-5, $14.95)
When it’s time for your toddler to leave diapers behind, pick up this book and giggle about underwear, the underwear for Big Kids and the underwear for babies (oh, wait – that’s diapers). Baby Corn, Baby Carrots and Baby Beets are stuck in diapers, but grown up vegetables get to wear underwear. – AA
Happy in Our Skin
by Fran Manushkin and Lauren Tobia (Candlewick Press, ages 2-5, $15.99)
This beautifully illustrated rhyming book begins, “Look at you! You look so cute, in your brand-new birthday suit. This is how we all begin, small and happy in our skin.” Children learn that skin of all hues is beautiful and how wonderful it is to have it – “it keeps the outsides out and your insides in.” – AA
