Special Collections
New York Times Best Sellers Children's Picture Books
Description: Bookshare is pleased to present the top 10 picture books from the New York Times Best Sellers list, updated weekly. The month and year given are when the title first appeared on the Times' list. You may find some old and new favorites! #kids
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Why a Son Needs a Dad
by Gregory E. LangA New York Times and USA Today bestseller! The perfect Valentine's Day gift of love or sweet keepsake to show why Dad is so amazing! A boy's first hero is his dad. A touching picture book for kids ages 3-7 and beyond showcasing all the ways a father will help his son grow, this is the gift for every dad and little boy to celebrate their special bond. Featuring charming animal illustrations and heartwarming rhymes about the loving moments fathers and sons share, Why a Son Needs a Dad is the perfect story to connect father and child together.
Why A Daughter Needs A Dad
by Gregory E. LangA New York Times and USA Today bestseller! The perfect Christmas gift of love or sweet keepsake for a daughter of any age to show why Dad is so amazing! This new picture book for kids ages 3-7 and beyond is a touching story showing all the ways a father will help his daughter grow. This is the gift for every girl dad and little girl to celebrate their special bond! Featuring charming animal illustrations and heartwarming rhymes about the moments fathers and daughters share, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad is the perfect story to connect father and child together.
Grumpy Monkey
by Suzanne LangJim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can't understand it--how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day? They encourage him not to hunch, to smile, and to do things that make THEM happy. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?
New York Times Bestseller
Grumpy Monkey Don't Be Scared
by Suzanne LangAs New York Times #1 bestselling character Grumpy Monkey and his jungle friends pursue Halloween treats amid strange noises and mysterious smells, they remind each other that nothing can be scarier than returning home with no treats.
On the spookiest night of the year, Jim Panzee and his jungle friends brave the dark to collect treats. Not only does the jungle look different at night, it sounds different. What’s that knock-knock-knock and that HAHA HAHA HAHA? And the smell? PEE-YEW! “Don’t be scared,” they tell Jim. But then two glowing eyes flash overhead, and looking for treats is almost abandoned. Halloween in the jungle can be even scarier than trick-or-treating in your own neighborhood.
New York Times Bestseller
Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever
by Suzanne LangEveryone’s favorite grump, Jim Panzee, star of the bestselling Grumpy Monkey series, has caught a bad case of spring fever and wakes up feeling very silly in this delightful new picture book.
When Jim runs through the jungle laughing and shouting with glee, the other animals are very concerned. This just isn’t the grumpy Jim they know. Soon Norman diagnoses Jim with a bad case of spring fever and tells Jim that he needs to find a cure. The other jungle animals offer suggestions: Take a calming breath! Sniff lavender! Take a nap! Try a time-out! Jim tries everything to get his grump back, but when nothing works, it becomes contagious and the other animals catch spring fever too. Soon the jungle erupts into a silly celebration of springtime as they all join in the fun.
From the bestselling team Suzanne and Max Lang comes another fun filled adventure starring the beloved chaacter Jim Panzee. Lively illustrations offering a belly laugh on every spread will delight the many Grumpy Monkey fans.
New York Times Bestseller
Grumpy Monkey Valentine Gross-Out
by Suzanne LangThe New York Times #1 bestselling character Jim Panzee is very grumpy about Valentine’s Day until his buddy Norman shows him that the holiday is for everyone. Two pages of full-color stickers are included for extra fun!This holiday hardcover book is brimming with the same silly humor that characterizes all the beloved titles in the bestselling Grumpy Monkey series. When Jim Panzee hears Oxpecker cooing over her doting boyfriend on Valentine’s Day, he has just one thought: Gross. But Jim finds out that not everything about Valentine’s Day is hearts and kisses. Jim learns there are different types of valentines and many kinds of love, such as love for a parent or for friends.
New York Times Bestseller
My Lost Freedom
by Michelle Lee and George TakeiA moving, beautifully illustrated true story for children ages 6 to 9 about growing up in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II—from the iconic Star Trek actor, activist, and author of the New York Times bestselling graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy.
February 19, 1942. George Takei is four years old when his world changes forever. Two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares anyone of Japanese descent an enemy of the United States.
George and his family were American in every way. They had done nothing wrong. But because of their Japanese ancestry, they were removed from their home in California and forced into camps with thousands of other families who looked like theirs.
Over the next three years, George had three different “homes”: the Santa Anita racetrack, swampy Camp Rohwer, and infamous Tule Lake. But even though they were now living behind barbed wire fences and surrounded by armed soldiers, his mother and father did everything they could to keep the family safe.
In My Lost Freedom, George Takei looks back at his own memories to help children today understand what it feels like to be treated as an enemy by your own country. Featuring powerful, meticulously researched watercolor paintings, this is a story of a family’s courage, a young boy’s resilience, and the importance of staying true to yourself in the face of injustice.
Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.
New York Times Bestseller
The Smallest Spot of a Dot The Little Ways We're Different, The Big Ways We're the Same
by Linsey Davis and Michael TylerNow a New York Times bestseller! Using child-friendly language, this playful picture book explains how genetics make each person unique and celebrates how we are more alike than different and are all part of the human race. In The Smallest Spot of a Dot: The Little Ways We’re Different, The Big Ways We’re the Same, Linsey Davis, bestselling children’s author, Emmy-winning correspondent, and host for ABC News, together with co-author Michael Tyler, encourages children to find their own unique dot with sweet, rhyming prose.
The Yellow Bus
by Loren LongPerfect for fans of Love and Hello, Lighthouse, The Yellow Bus from #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long is a tender and hopeful new classic about a forgotten school bus that finds happiness and purpose in the most unexpected places--and in the journey along the way.
There is a bright yellow bus who spends her days driving. She loves carrying children from one important place to another. Every morning they climb in... Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, giggle, giggle-patter. And they fill her with joy.
As time passes, things change. The Yellow Bus gets a new driver, a new route, and new passengers, young and old. Until one day the driving stops for good, and the Yellow Bus is left on her own. And yet, no matter where she is, the Yellow Bus still finds joy and discovery in the world around her.
With stirring black-and-white artwork and powerful pops of color, The Yellow Bus is a poignant reflection on the many new beginnings life has to offer.
Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.
New York Times Bestseller
Millie Fleur's Poison Garden
by Christy MandinWednesday Addams meets The Curious Garden in this delightfully peculiar story about finding joy in being wonderfully weird.
Garden Glen is a very bland place. Every house and every garden looks exactly like the other. That is... until Millie Fleur La Fae comes to town.Up on a scruffy hill, beside a ramschackle house, Millie Fleur plants her marvelously strange garden, filled with Sneezing Stickyweed, Fanged Fairymoss, and Grumpy Gilliflower. Millie Fleur finds it enchanting, but the townspeople of Garden Glen call it poison!
But Millie Fleur is proud of her beloved little garden. So if some townspeople want to be sticks in the mud, she'll take matters into her own hands and find the kindred spirits who appreciate everything the garden has to offer.
Millie Fleur's Poison Garden is a reminder to embrace everything that makes us wonderfully weird. Perfect for readers of The Creepy Carrots and fans of the Addams Family movies.
Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.
New York Times Bestseller
The Wonderful Things You Will Be
by Emily Winfield MartinFrom Emily Winfield Martin, author/illustrator of Dream Animals, comes a new book that celebrates the dreams, acceptance, and love that parents have for their children . . . now and forever!
From brave and bold to creative and clever, the rhythmic rhyme expresses all the loving things that parents think of when they look at their children. With beautiful, and sometimes humorous, illustrations, this is a book grown-ups will love reading over and over to kids--both young and old. The Wonderful Things You Will Be has a loving and truthful message that will endure for lifetimes.
New York Times Bestseller
I am Ruth Bader Ginsburg
by Brad MeltzerSupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the 32nd hero in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 9.Before Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the judge, she was a young Jewish girl growing up in Brooklyn, inspired by books, past female trailblazers, and her mother to make the world a better, more just place to be. So even when people turned her away—for being a girl and for being Jewish—she never stopped fighting for equal treatment for everyone by pushing back against unjust laws and the beliefs around them. This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big.Included in each book are: A timeline of key events in the hero&’s history Photos that bring the story more fully to life Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorableChildhood moments that influenced the hero Facts that make great conversation-starters A virtue this person embodies: Ruth Bader Ginsburg&’s perseverance to create justice and equality is highlighted. You&’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
Invisible Things
by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie MillerThis creatively wacky exploration of the invisible things that make up the human experience encourages readers to look past the visible and connect with the things that are not seen.
If we could put on a pair of magical invisible glasses and see all the feelings, ideas, and other invisible things that populate our world, what would they look like? Could you see an itch? Could you describe hope? From the sound of a dog barking to the rainbow-MAGIC taste of a lollipop, from gratitude to grit, this book will help you meet the many interesting sensations that follow you every day, even if you can't see them*.*
Explore the way a sad song can sometimes make you happy and discover that laughs—even fake ones—can multiply faster than you'd imagine. As readers give these unknown forces a name, they'll also find a gentle invitation to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on the invisible things at work in their own lives.
NAME THE INVISIBLE THING: There are hidden forces that impact our everyday, particularly for kids. Giving those forces a name, and even a face, helps kids to feel empowered.
PROMPT FOR CONVERSATION: Educators, therapists, and caregivers looking to have nuanced or challenging conversations with kids about their own experiences can use this as a jumping off point for conversation: What invisible things can you name in your life?
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING: One common exercise teachers use is to ask kids to point to their emotion on a chart and then name it, for which this book will be a powerful tool.
REVIEWED BY MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT: This book was vetted by a licensed independent clinical social worker specializing in mental health for kids!
POPULAR AUTHOR: Andy J. Pizza is one of the creative minds behind the bestselling A Pizza with Everything on It and also hosts the popular podcast Creative Pep Talk.
VIRAL HIT: Andy J. Pizza's original "Invisible Things" posts on Twitter went viral, with 57,000 likes and 25,000 retweets; his ongoing Instagram posts receive thousands of likes and shares. It's clear people are ready to see INVISIBLE THINGS
Perfect for:
Anyone interested in social-emotional learning (SEL) and entertaining ways to explore emotions with kids
Anyone looking for interactive or artful books about mental health
Fans of classic children's books like Dr. Seuss's My Many Colored Days, Molly Bang's When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry . . ., and Judith Viorst's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Fans of Pixar's Inside Out Fans of Andy J. Pizza, his original twitter post about "Invisible Things" that went viral, the Creative Pep Talk podcast, or A Pizza with Everything on It
Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.
New York Times Bestseller
Gorgeously Me!
by Jonathan Van Ness and Kamala M. NairA celebration of all the things that make you extraordinary, unique, and gorgeously YOU, by Jonathan Van Ness, New York Times bestselling author and star of the Netflix hit show Queer Eye.
I won't be afraid to stand out
or show the world what I'm all about.
I am exactly who I'm meant to be.
Perfectly, happily, gorgeously me!
Being true to yourself and showing the world who you are isn't always easy. Gorgeously Me assures young readers that they are loved and cherished, exactly as they are. A joyous, lyrical ode of pride and self love and a celebration of all of the things that make us exceptional.
Perfect for fans of I Am Enough by Grace Byers and The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by Joanna Gaines.
New York Times Bestseller
Zilot and Other Important Rhymes
by Bob Odenkirk and Erin Odenkirk and Nate Odenkirk and Naomi OdenkirkEmmy Award-winning and New York Times bestselling writer, comedian, and actor Bob Odenkirk and his daughter, illustrator Erin Odenkirk, present poetic nonsense for all ages perfect for fans of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky!
Bob Odenkirk began writing these poems with his children when they were little, compiling the poetry into a homemade book entitled Olde Time Rhymes. He wanted Nate and Erin to understand that actual people had written the books the family loved to read and to instill in them the feeling that they could be writers and illustrators themselves. Almost twenty years later, when the Odenkirks found themselves quarantined under the same roof, they revisited these mostly silly, sometimes poignant works. It wasn't until Erin began to create illustrations to accompany the words, though, that the book grew to be something much bigger than an Odenkirk family treasure.
From the titular made-up word for a blanket fort, an adorable dog with a penchant for the zoomies, and a father teaching his kids how umbrellas work, the subjects of these works, complemented by Erin’s whimsical and detailed linework, come alive on these pages. Featuring over seventy poems, Zilot & Other Important Rhymes will delight readers young and old.
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
by Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette RobinsonA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERI Love You More Than You'll Ever Know is a touching and heartfelt ode about the way we feel for our children, by award-winning actors of stage and screen Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nicolette Robinson, and illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz.Do you remember when we first met?It was a moment I won’t soon forget.Your sparkling aura. Your crooked grin!Do you remember, my trusted friend?When I count all my blessings, you’re always number one.Sweetest of all is, we’ve only just begun.The love we feel for our children never wavers. From the moment a baby is born, through the good times and the bad, from the silly moments to the warm embraces, this love is bigger than what we can put into words.This beautiful book is a comforting and lyrical refrain about the bonds we form with the children to whom we are closest in our lives.
Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Makes It Big
by Dolly Parton and Erica S. PerlFrom the legendary Dolly Parton comes a story about her god-dog and Instagram personality, Billy the Kid, who is hoping to make it big as a country music star in Nashville, Tennessee.
French bulldog Billy the Kid was born with an ear for music. And not just any music. He loves barking to the beat of country music! So Billy sets out to Nashville to sing his heart out.But when he meets some big bullies at the Battle of the Bow-wows, Billy worries he's barking up the wrong tree. He'll need his favorite songs ("Jowlene" and "I Will Pawlways Love You," of course), a group of scrappy new friends, and his favorite country music star to regain self-confidence and be the star he always knew he could be.
Written by Dolly Parton with Erica S. Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, this is a delightful picture book about standing up to people (and dogs) who put you down and finding the drive to achieve your dreams.
All Are Welcome
by Alexandra PenfoldIllustrations and simple, rhyming text introduce a school where diversity is celebrated and songs, stories, and talents are shared.
New York Times Bestseller
Good Night, Sister
by Katherine Schwarzenegger PrattFrom New York Times best-selling author Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt comes a beautiful bedtime read, celebrating the power and comfort of sisterhood. This sweet title is the perfect gift for that special someone on Valentine's Day—or any day of the year!
Kat is excited to sleep in her own room—the big girl room—for the very first time. But her younger sister, Tina, is nervous to sleep in their old room without her. So Kat comes up with a plan: she'll give all of her stuffed animals to her younger sister, and every time Tina gets scared, she should hold them close and be reminded of all the wonderful things each animal represents: bravery, creativity, love, and imagination. But that night, as a storm thunders outside their windows, it turns out that the big girl room can feel a bit lonely. And Kat might be the one who needs the extra support.
With simple, gentle prose, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt shares a comforting bedtime story, illuminating the bonds sisters share, and the many ways they are there for one another.
New York Times Bestseller
Good Night, Sister
by Katherine Schwarzenegger PrattKat is excited to sleep in her own room - the big girl room - for the very first time. But her younger sister, Tina, is nervous to sleep in their old room without her. So, Kat comes up with a plan: she'll give all of her stuffed animals to her younger sister, and every time Tina gets scared, she should hold them close and be reminded of all the wonderful things each animal represents: bravery, creativity, love, and imagination. But that night, as a storm thunders outside their windows, it turns out that the big girl room can feel a bit lonely. And Kat might be the one who needs the extra support.
Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise
by Ms RachelMs. Rachel brings her signature teaching style to her very first book! Children will practice more than 20 important milestones—including gestures and speech—and sing their favorite songs as they help Ms. Rachel find a special surprise just for them.
Ms. Rachel is looking for something very special, and she needs your help finding it!
Using educational techniques from her beloved YouTube channel and threading them into an interactive story, Ms. Rachel shows kids and parents alike fun ways to engage and play!
While Ms. Rachel invites readers to open a series of imaginary boxes to see what’s inside, she guides them through exercises like pointing, waving, and call-and-response. Fans will recognize characters from their favorite videos, and everyone will join in on singing the lyrics to songs like “The Wheels on the Bus.” After the adventure ends, parents and educators can use the helpful tips included in the back of the book to assist with brain and language development.
Kids are sure to read and reread this new classic! There’s plenty to keep them delighted and engaged with their favorite teacher. And, as always, she makes sure they know just how special they are!
New York Times Bestseller
CREEPY CRAYON!
by Aaron Reynolds"When jasper Rabbit finds a purple crayon willing to do his schoolwork for him. he is elated-at first".
Just Try It!
by Phil Rosenthal and Lily RosenthalFrom Netflix star and New York Times bestselling author Phil Rosenthal and his daughter Lily comes a hilarious picture book about a food-loving dad encouraging his picky eater daughter to just try something new.
Phil has one rule about food: try everything at least once. Otherwise, how will you know what you like? His daughter Lil disagrees. She already knows what she likes—just bread and pasta with no sauce—and that&’s all there is to it! When the two go to a food truck festival, Phil tries introducing Lil to all kinds of delicious cuisine, but she doesn’t budge. Just when it looks like it’s going to be a very long day, an unexpected mustard accident changes everything.
Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.
New York Times Bestseller
Dragons Love Tacos
by Adam Rubin and Daniel SalmieriThis scrumptious New York Times bestseller has a whole lot of kick!
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos.
Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa…oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.
The award-winning team behind Those Darn Squirrels! has created an unforgettable, laugh-until-salsa-comes-out-of-your-nose tale of new friends and the perfect snack.
Limited picture descriptions present.
New York Times Bestseller
The Truth About the Couch
by Adam RubinPssst! Hey. I'm here to tell ya what the furniture police don't want you to know... Listen close. I'll explain everything.
Most people think couches are just for sitting, or maybe napping, and don't give it a second thought. But did you know couches can go berserk if you don't feed them a steady diet of coins, cell phones, and remote controls? And did you know some couches are grown on a farm? (Where do you think the term couch potato comes from?) Some come from two chairs who love each other very much, and some are actually aliens in disguise. And that's just the tip of the iceberg...
This laugh-out-loud send-up of conspiracy theories brings Adam Rubin's trademark zany humor together with the richly expressive artwork of Macanudo creator Liniers to explore the totally, completely true (really! maybe?) history of the world's most beloved—and misunderstood—item of furniture.
New York Times Bestseller