When you want to know what books will interest kids of all reading levels there is one source that will guide you to the best of the bunch: kids!
Kids Discover got some great suggestions last year from the Good Housekeeping Kds’ Book Awards and we were able to once again get a peek at what made the list of titles we should add to our reading lists.
More than 150 children, from babies to tweens rated and reviewed books sent to their homes for the third annual Kids’ Book Awards. Lucky kids!
According to Karen Cicero, who has managed Good Housekeeping’s Kids’ Book Awards for the last three years, the books to review are selected with the help of highly regarded librarians and literacy experts from across the country who see copies of books before they’re published. Karen has also organized children’s book awards for Parents and book-testing events at libraries. She explains how the group of kid reviewers are made up of students of all interest levels and are excited to get their box of books in the mail to be part of the book committee.
“Kids were brutally honest in their reviews and those ratings apply to opinions of all kinds. Any negative feedback only makes us more confident in their five-star ratings!”
The reviews of the books help to narrow down the list from hundreds of titles to 57 chosen winners across eight categories. Readers can dive into topics on everything from dinosaur bones, LEGO adventures, vocabulary words and nonfiction titles about leaders in history and sports.
Let’s get reading!
Here are a few highlights and find the full list of books here.
The Iguanodon’s Horn
Written and illustrated by Sean Rubin
A dinosaur story with the idea that science is a process that never ends. The prehistoric iguanodon is the example of showing the different ways humans have pictured it over the centuries. Fun word balloons prevent the text from overwhelming readers. Ages 4–8 TESTER NOTES: Older kids grasped the concept that scientists don’t always get it right the first time and that it’s important to keep investigating,
The One and Only Family
By Katherine Applegate
Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, the gorilla Ivan becomes a dad of twins. Supporting characters from the series reunite as Ivan grapples with his past and his future. Applegate’s signature prose makes this a wonderful read-aloud. Ages 8–12 TESTER NOTES: Comparing the series to Charlotte’s Web, reviewers thought it was destined to be a classic.
Poetry Comics
Written and illustrated by Grant Snider
An innovative book of more than 50 poems with creative comic panels to help readers visualize the words. Four chapters, one for each season, organize the mostly free-verse poetry into musings about nature, fun experiences and self-reflection. Ages 8–12 TESTER NOTES: The pictures are arranged so it looks like the same girl is on every single seat of a Ferris wheel.
We Are Big Time
Written by Hena Khan, illustrated by Safiya Zerrougul
Inspired by an actual hijab-wearing girls’ basketball team, this graphic novel has text and illustrations about teamwork-building and how they are not treated fairly by some of their opponents. Ages 8–12 TESTER NOTES: Kids picked up on the deeper point of the book that everyone deserves respect.
Impossible Creatures
Written by Katherine Rundell
Compelling narration by actor Samuel West makes this fantasy-adventure more accessible to reluctant readers. The story follows two friends who race to save the world’s last magical place. Ages 10+ TESTER NOTES: Car ride! .
Fighting with Love
The Legacy of John Lewis
Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome
An introduction to civil rights leader John Lewis and his childhood and young-adult years. Inspiring text with some of Lewis’s now-famous quotes (“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”) gives readers an idea of his work and beliefs. Ages 4–8 TESTER NOTES: The focus on Lewis’s early life appealed to our kid testers and made his story relatable for young readers.
