BIG List of Books for Kids: 2018 edition

It’s that time of year again: where I try to convince you to buy books for every child you know this holiday season.

This is my fourth year putting together this list (!!!). It’s always a lot of fun to look back at what I read over the year – like revisiting old friends. I hope you will find some new friends on this list.

I’ve added some codes to help identify particular types of books:

NF = Nonfiction

H = Humor

Memoir

S = Series

And if you somehow don’t find a book on this list, check out the extra lists at the bottom of the post.

Babies and Toddlers

(Board books: Babies and toddlers)

I Pray Today and Goodnight Jesus (You knew this was coming, right?)

Ciao, Baby! In the Park

Wee Beasties: Huggy the Python Hugs Too Hard (This series is great for toddlers)

See also: Roundup of 12 board Books

Child

(Picture Book: Age 3-8)

All Are Welcome

Are We Pears Yet? NF H

Be Kind

The Day You Begin

The Diamond and the Boy: The Creation of Diamonds and the Life of H. Tracy Hall NF

Escargot H

The Field

Starring Carmen H

This is Not a Normal Animal Book H

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates H

When Penny Met Potus H

New Readers

(Early Readers: Age 6-9)

Super Happy Party Bears H S

Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School H S

Graphic Novels

(Age 3-99, younger children will need an adult reader)

This July I did a round-up of these 6 great graphic novels. Check out the post for a full description of each book and find out why I think graphic novels should be a part of a child’s balanced reading diet.

Catsotronauts H S

El Deafo Memoir H

Ghosts

Phoebe and Her Unicorn H S

Real Friends Memoir

Zita the Spacegirl H S

Tweens

(Middle Grade: Age 8-12)

Amal Unbound

Counting by 7’s

Lockwood and Company: The Screaming Staircase S (Note: this book is sometimes classed as Young Adult but, besides some creepy ghosts, does not contain mature content that would be inappropriate for tweens.)

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl