Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Kids’ Book Awards

Written by Harriet Steeds, illustrated by Nora Aoyagi

A nature-themed story with tactile elements won over our tiniest testers. Colorful recycled felt pieces reinforce pages and pop through paper cutouts to provide a touch-and-feel experience. The gentle rhyming text (“This is my home way up high/I’ll grow up here until I’m ready to fly”) is endearing as baby’s first book. Ages 0+

TESTER NOTES: “This book grows with your child,” said one reviewer. As your little one moves from the baby stage to the toddler stage, use it to introduce vocabulary describing the felt cutouts, such as clouds, acorns and leaves.

Written by Nosy Crow, illustrated by Louise Lockhart

Merge tummy time with story time with this cleverly designed book that stretches to more than three feet long and stands upright on a surface. One side encourages Baby to say hello to farm animals, showcasing the sounds they make. Flip the book and Baby will see a labeled close-up of each animal along with a mirror. Vintage textiles and folk art inspired the sweet illustrations. Ages 0–3

TESTER NOTES: Toss this book in your diaper bag. “I love that it looks like a regular book but expands, so it’s great for bringing on the go,” said one tester with a 3-month-old.

Written by Rhiannon Findlay, illustrated by Mini Magique Studio

Little ones won’t be able to keep their hands off this touch-and-feel sensation. Short, rhyming lines (“In the sunshine, Cat goes purr/Feel Leopard’s silky fur”) describe animals and textures. Not to be overlooked, the book’s stylish design will elevate your nursery. Ages 0–3

TESTER NOTES: The range of textures impressed our reviewers. “Most touch-and-feel books focus on soft or fuzzy textures,” said one mom. “But my daughter’s favorites in this book are fish scales and the hedgehog’s prickly back.”

Written and illustrated by Elena Selena

In this eye-catching book that levels up the classic peekaboo game, cute creatures cover their eyes with die-cut bright blue feathers, an orange tail and even yellow wings. Little ones are encouraged to guess which animal is hiding, promoting both creative thinking and color recognition. Game on! Ages 0–3

TESTER NOTES: Pump up the suspense. “We would open one flap and then go back to hiding the animal, then do it again,” said one mom. “Eventually we open both flaps, do a little jump scare and go ‘Peekaboo!’”

Written by Stephanie Cohen

The brainchild of a speech-language pathologist with two decades of experience, this book features photos of cuddly interactions between a diverse group of real-life moms and babies. A simple phrase with a nod to Mama on every page ("Look, Mama"; "Up, Mama") encourages little ones to imitate the sounds and eventually say the word you’ve been waiting to hear. Not to be left out, dads are the subject of a companion book. Ages 0–4

TESTER NOTES: Attach your photo next to the word "Mama" on the book's first page. “My 6-month-old starts to smile when he sees that photo, and it warms my heart,” said a reviewer who added, “He has started making the M sound now that we regularly read this book!”

Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton

Boynton, a board book legend, playfully combines two elements little ones adore: mirrors and animal sounds. As readers look at themselves in the book’s seven mirrors, they’re encouraged to “quack quack quack,” “give a big moo“ or make other animal-themed noises. A surprise on the last page made mini reviewers erupt with laughter. Ages 1–4

TESTER NOTES: Point out the shape of each mirror to your child. Our toddler reviewers especially liked the mirrors shaped like a crescent moon and a cow’s face.

Written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

This book, designed to help toddlers learn their colors, is a legit work of art. More than 50 animals, grouped by hue, parade through the spreads along with sparse (but cute) rhyming text. The final pages identify each creature — from a green basilisk to a Mandarin duck—in order of appearance (whew!) and indicate whether each animal is threatened or endangered. Ages 1–4

TESTER NOTES: Linger over the drawings. One parent said, “My 3-year-old absolutely loves sitting there describing all the items of that color on the pages after we read the words.”

Written and illustrated by Grace Habib

Little readers had a blast taking a blue cat with a penchant for dressing up on an adventure in outer space. The book’s interactivity is unbeatable: Finger holes allow kids to move the rocket from side to side, and numerous pull tabs also draw them into the action. One tab even transforms the feline so she’s geared up for space! Complete with an alien encounter, the imaginative rhyming story feels more substantial than those of many other books for this age group. If you’re a fan, check out the rest of this new series that puts the fabulous feline in different costumes. Ages 2–5

TESTER NOTES: “Don’t miss pulling up the tab on the back cover for a special message,” said one parent. “We didn’t notice it until we had read the book a few times.”

Written and illustrated by Carolina Búzio

First things first: It’s not about that baby shark. It might be even better. “It’s a seek-and-find, tactile, interactive and nature-loving board book that’s pretty to look at to boot,“ says judge Betsy Bird. Readers search for sea creatures pictured on each left-hand page in the ocean scene on the right, sliding a cardboard baby shark circle through a maze to help it reach its home. Ages 2–5

TESTER NOTES: One mom used it with her daughter during potty training. “It really helped us keep her on the potty and engage her so she would relax and then pee,” she said.

Written by Jonathan Emmett, illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius

This mind-blowing counting book doubles as a fold-out train preschoolers can wheel around the house. Flaps on each caboose, labeled from 1 to 10, open to reveal rhyming text and the corresponding number of silly animals. Ages 2–5

TESTER NOTES: “The book’s design makes it engaging to play with independently,” said a dad of a 3-year-old. In the same spirit, scan the QR code on the back cover to hear the story read aloud — complete with sound effects.

Written and illustrated by Jessica Courtney Tickle

A preschooler-friendly retelling of The Nutcracker comes to life thanks to musical buttons to press throughout. Each of the six buttons provide a 10-second sound clip of an orchestra playing music from Tchaikovsky’s most famous ballet. Folk art–like illustrations add to the book’s festive feel. Ages 3+

TESTER NOTES: Use this book to help gauge a child’s interest in attending a performance. “I want to take my son to see The Nutcracker this year, since he enjoyed the book so much,” said one parent.

Written by Janet Krauthamer, illustrated by Christiane Engel

An oversize board book helps the prekindergarten set understand their feelings, both physical and emotional. Created as riddles, the text and the illustrations work together to describe various body signals — from sweaty hands to a scratchy throat — and encourage readers to pull each tab to reveal the corresponding feeling. Not only do kids find out if they’re nervous, sick or hungry but the book also includes simple strategies for feeling better (like “Time to take some deep breaths!”). Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: “We would stop and ask what our 5-year-old thought the feelings were before revealing them with the pull tab,” said one parent.

Written and illustrated by Christy Mandin

Millie, a happier version of Wednesday Addams, grows wonderfully weird plants like Sneezing Stickyweed in her garden much to the chagrin of the town's "stick-in-mud" residents. When her mother wisely informs her that "some people are scared of things that are different," she invites her classmates to see what all the fuss is about — and it becomes a turning point in how the town views her. This slightly spooky alternative to on-the-nose Halloween stories helps readers understand and appreciate each other's differences. Ages 2–6

TESTER NOTES: Soak in the details of Millie's garden, which has eerie twists on traditional plant names. "Every page's illustrations merit a close look," added one parent.

Written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Bea Jackson

The Newbery Award–winning author, whose writing is beloved by teens and young adults, captures the carefree feeling of summertime in her latest work for younger readers. After asking, “What joy will summer bring me today?” a school-age girl soaks up joyful (and relatable) experiences, from blowing bubbles to enjoying a cookout with her family. Lyrical text and repeated personification (“Our bright swimsuits float in the water like lilypads”) along with attention-grabbing illustrations make this book shine bright at any time of year. Ages 3–6

TESTER NOTES: Don’t shy away from reading this book to a boy. “I was worried that my 6-year-old son wouldn’t be interested because the main character is a girl, but he enjoyed the book very much!” one parent said.

Written by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

A highly entertaining way to learn letters and the sounds they make involves a boy, a girl and a dog playing a game of “Go and Get.” The shtick: Find an object (or animal) that begins with a certain letter of the alphabet. then present it in show-and-tell style. The game turns into a hilarious romp, particularly thanks to the running gag that the dog brings ducks every time. The expressive illustrations make the story even more amusing. Ages 3–7

TESTER NOTES: “It is simply a joy to read out loud,” said Today cohost and judge Dylan Dreyer. “The alliteration and the teaching of letters made both my son and me smile every time. The payoff at the end with the final letter being ‘D’ also taught young ones comedic timing. It was so well paced and absolutely enjoyable!”

Written by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat

An insightful friendship story kicks off when two boys accidentally knock into each other and their block creations crash. The new buddies decide to make bigger, better builds together, and stunning illustrations juxtapose their wild imaginations with their real life. The trouble is, each project keeps tumbling down, and just when they think they've learned from their mistakes, there’s another collapse. These setbacks test their friendship, helping young readers learn to handle the occasional bump in the road that most relationships face. Ages 3–7

TESTER NOTES: “It started with a bang! My son, James, dove right into this engaging and sweet story and has been reading it regularly ever since,” said Today cohost and judge Laura Jarrett. “The story has a moral, but he still found it fun.”

Written by Bess Kalb, illustrated by Erin Kraan

The funniest book of the year (according to our junior reviewers) stars a cranky buffalo who has had “enuffalo.” He repeatedly rebuffs other animals, trying to appear tough. But when a rainstorm takes all the fluff out of his fur, he reveals his true selfalo. The rhyming is next-level! “The illustrations also have a depth you don’t see very often in woodcut printing, making the prairie look warm and inviting,” said judge Jill Keller. Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: Prepare to read this book on repeat. “We reread it so many times that my 4-year-old has nearly memorized it.”

Written by Nelly Buchet, illustrated Andrea Zuill

When a floppy-eared dog receives a strawberry as a treat, he decides it would be more fun to race it than eat it! The pup wears himself out running around in circles in this giggle-inducing book that’s written to be read in your best sports announcer voice. “The energized tone makes it so much fun to read this book aloud,” said judge Kathy Sebastian. Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: Kids loved it even if they didn’t get all the humor. “The hilarity of the strawberry doing nothing was completely lost on my 4-year-old, though I appreciate a little humor that goes beyond a child’s comprehension.”

Written by Lu Fraser, illustrated by Kate Hindley

In this rhyming wintery tale with “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” vibes, a family of yaks embarks on a journey to move to a colder mountain. One of the yaks tries “to get our whole home on the back of my sled” but becomes upset when she thinks her little sister was left behind. The gentle reminder that home is about people, not possessions, sunk in with kid reviewers. Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: It’s a wonderful read-aloud. “The cadence of the rhymes made it so easy to read aloud, and Oliver loved looking for the littlest yak after he fell off the sled!” said Today cohost and judge Dylan Dreyer.

Written by Phuc Tran, illustrated by Pete Oswald

While construction vehicles draw kid readers into this astute story, they leave with a boost to their social-emotional skills. A tight-lipped crane doesn’t want to discuss why he’s cranky (“You know what doesn’t help when you’re feeling cranky? A lot of talking”), but after his fellow vehicles give him space and show concern, his mood improves. Silly wordplay (“Never in a million gears!”) combined with adorable illustrations of the googly-eyed vehicles makes this title stand out among the growing number of books about feelings. Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: Keep this story in your regular rotation — don’t just turn to it when kids seem upset. “My daughter enjoyed noticing the different ways in which Cranky’s morning went awry, and we talked about how she would feel if she were in Cranky’s place,” said one parent.

Written by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

A warmhearted story about a man who has many reasons he doesn’t want a pet turns out to be — spoiler — the origin story of Old MacDonald. As the man welcomes more animals into his apartment and later the farm, he decides that his affection for the creatures is more important than a tidy house. With its animal antics, repeated refrains and epic cuteness, you’ll want to E-I-E-I-Go to the bookstore or library for a copy. Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: Ask your child what they think of the man’s actions. “My son kept saying, ‘See, he does like animals! He was wrong!’” said one parent.

Written by Ashley Iman, illustrated by Gladys Jose

Though a curious student wants to share her knowledge with the class, her constant interruptions exasperate her teacher. An underexplored topic in children’s books is raised and brought to a satisfying conclusion when a wise principal helps the student direct — rather than dampen — her inquisitiveness. This story should be required reading for the school community. Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: Parents were on board with the message that talkative kids shouldn’t be punished into silence, but rather given innovative ways to focus their thoughts.

Written and illustrated by Felicita Sala

What judge Liv Hanson calls a modern take on The Runaway Bunny begins with a little girl getting ready for bed. She asks her dad, “What happens if you run out of words? Will you have any left for me?” The dad’s fantastical response and the daughter’s repeated questioning take readers on an imaginative journey to a word factory run by elves, outer space and the bottom of the sea — all so the dad can reassure the girl that he’ll do anything to show her that he loves her. Heartstrings tugged. Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: Have a loved one read it at bedtime. “This roundabout way of saying ‘I love you’ is a sweet way to end the day,” said one parent.

Written and illustrated by Marianna Coppo

Inspired by 17th-century magic books, this interactive gem stars a bunny magician who welcomes “prestigious readers” to their show. Bunny claims to be able to read minds, instructing readers to choose one of the 48 audience members, ranging from a movie-star butterfly to a (literal) question mark. Readers then follow a series of instructions and — ta-da! — the book correctly determines which audience member they selected every time. Ages 5–8

TESTER NOTES: This book excites kids as much as playing a board game, so parents agreed that it’s best read during the day rather than at bedtime.

Written and illustrated by Sylvie Kantorovitz

An early reader in the graphic-novel format is nothing new, but this one stands out for packing a fully formed funny story about a broken-down car into its 32 pages while still playing fair with sight words. “If your child is interested in cars, this is the number one book to hand them,” says judge Betsy Bird. Ages 4–8

TESTER NOTES: Request that your child read it aloud to the family. “The story is easy to follow and the jokes landed even for younger kids,” said a dad whose 6-year-old read it to his 4-year-old sibling.

Written by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Carmen Mok

Based on one of Aesop’s fables while also being its own story, a rat who prefers solitude rescues a small owl — and an unlikely friendship forms. “Slim text, simple vocabulary and large illustrations make this story accessible for new readers without robbing it of emotional heft and real suspense,” says judge Liv Hanson. Ages 5–8

TESTER NOTES: “I like that it’s the first in a trilogy of books that build on each other rather than a standalone,” said the mom of a 7-year-old reviewer.

Written by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

The creators behind the Ivy + Bean best sellers are back at it, this time with a chapter book series starring two sisters who turn mundane activities into silly, joyful adventures. Whimsical full-color illustrations on almost every page draw in emerging readers — especially those who have a younger sister — into their world. Ages 6–9

TESTER NOTES: Kid reviewers reported they liked that each chapter was about a different adventure. “My favorite chapter was the one where Marigold went to a zoo and saw brown turtles that she thought were rocks,” said our 9-year-old reviewer.

Written and illustrated by Chanel Miller

In this illustrated chapter book, a 10-year-old Chinese-American girl finds her first true friend and they team up to reunite socks left behind in a laundromat with their owners. All summer long they have adventures being New York City's "sock detectives." The author’s genius lies in how she balances the many charming moments with serious topics like racism and class struggle. Ages 7–11

TESTER NOTES: “I admire how the plot and atmosphere of this book feel mature — a girl searching through New York City and learning about herself along the way — while it is still an innocent and wholesome story about friendship,” said a dad.

Written by Ashli St. Armant

Created exclusively for Audible, this fast-paced story follows a young detective who is on the hunt for her missing grandmother in New Orleans. Award-winning narrator Bahni Turpin voices this edition, the third installment in the series. Ages 8–12

TESTER NOTES: The spy novel’s setting appealed to kid reviewers. “I loved when she went to the ball and rode in the parade,” said an 8-year-old.

Written by Adam Gidwitz

Narration by Euan Morton, who played King George in Hamilton on Broadway, makes this thought-provoking historical spy thriller even more exciting for kids. “Morton creates successful and distinct voices for an impressively large cast of British and German characters, including two folkloric creatures,” said judge Liv Hanson. Ages 8–12

TESTER NOTES: Kid reviewers thought the narration made the nonfiction elements of the story more compelling. “I liked learning about what happened during World War II,” said an 11-year-old. “The immortal creatures added humor and more excitement.”

By J.K. Rowling

Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, is part of the star-studded cast of narrators for 80 short stories that were originally written for the website Pottermore. The stories help tie up some loose ends in the series and provide many aha moments regarding characters and events. Ages 8+

TESTER NOTES: The intel and the high production quality wowed our kid listeners. “I learned so much more about the Harry Potter characters,” said an 8-year-old. “For example, Aunt Petunia wanted to go to Hogwarts!”

Written by Katherine Rundell

Compelling narration by actor Samuel West makes this best-selling 368-page fantasy-adventure more accessible to reluctant readers. Families will get swept away by two friends who race to save the world’s last magical place. Ages 10+

TESTER NOTES: Play it during a long car ride — kid reviewers and their parents were hooked from the beginning. “My child was invested heavily in this audiobook, to the point that he refused to do anything else,” said one parent.