The Your Kid’s Next Read community now comprises 36,000+ members – and it’s growing every day! Each year, we ask the group to share their young readers’ favourite reads of the previous 12 months.
As is the case each year, some of these books were published in 2024, some were not. There are always new books that bubble to the top straight away, and there are always older books that rediscovered by a new group of readers every year.
Once again, I’ve broken the lists into categories: picture books, early chapter books (5-7), junior fiction (6-9), middle grade (9-13) and young adult (14+). (NB: There is always crossover, particularly across ages 7-10, as readers develop at their own pace and to their own level of interest, but I’ve done my best to place the books according to expected independent reading age.)
Stand by also for Team YKNR’s favourite reads in 2024, coming soon.
These lists are great starting points when you’re looking for the next great read for your kid/s. Click the title to find out more about each book*.
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2024: Picture Books
As nominated by the members of the Your Kid’s Next Read community.
Most nominated
‘The Concrete Garden’ by Bob Graham (I just love the silver linings, the collaboration and the friendships. Beautiful book. – Karen)
‘The Truck Cat’ by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell
‘The Tiny Tailors’ by Kat McLeod (I’m a childcare educator and this was a perfect book for spring and led to many beautiful collages using flowers, leaves and found objects. – Louise)
‘Bernie Thinks in Boxes’ by Jess Horn and Zoe Bennett (I love when neurodivergent children are represented in picture books. – Kelly)
‘Down The Road Little Bee’ by Sarah Jane Lightfoot
‘The Book with No Pictures’ by B. J. Novak (The kids at school just laugh so much when their reads it them and makes the strange words/sounds. – Debbie)
‘Jetty Jumping’ by Andrea Rowe and Hannah Somerville
‘The Cheeky Toddler Alphabet’ by Davina Bell and Jennifer Falkner (It was the most accurate representation of the contradictions of parenting toddlers I have come across. I have never read a picture book that made me as a parent feel so seen. – Kathleen)
‘In The Rockpool’ by Andrea Rowe and Hannah Somerville
‘Zoom’ by Dannika Patterson and Ross Morgan (A wonderful read. – Vanessa)
‘I’ll Always Be Older Than You’ by Jane Godwin and Sara Acton
‘Reading to Baby’ by Margaret Wild and Hannah Somerville (A perfect depiction of sibling love and the power of reading. – Erin)
‘Luigi The Spider Who Wanted To Be A Kitten’ by Michelle Knudsen and Kevin Hawkes
‘Hooray, Hooray It’s Library Day!’ by Julie Anne Grasso and Heath McKenzie (It’s such a joyful celebration of libraries, library books and library kids. – Helen)
‘A Curry for Murray’ by Kate Hunter and Lucia Masciullo (It’s been in our house for quite a while but I just love the rhyming text and the sense of community that builds throughout the story. – Sarah)
‘Fairy Beach’ by Sheila Knaggs and Jennifer Falkner (A big favourite in our house. The story is so sweet and the illustrations are so magical. – Astrid)
‘Lights Out, Little Dragon!’ by Debra Tidball and Rae Tan
‘Timeless’ by Kelly Canby (Such a great reminder to make your time matter with the ones you love! – Maija)
‘101 Collective Nouns’ by Jennifer Cossins
‘The Dictionary Story’ by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston (So clever and beautiful to look at and fun for the small readers and big readers alike. I can’t wait for my girl to get her copy for Christmas, I’m itching to read it again! – Bek)
‘Two Turtles’ by Kiah Thomas and Jake A. Minton
‘Go Go and the Silver Shoes’ by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker (A beautiful story about friendship, sharing and ingenuity. And the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. – Katja)
‘Anchored’ by Debra Tidball and Arielle Lu (Poignant and beautiful. – Pip)
‘Still Stuck’ by Shinsuke Yoshitake (Adorable and hilarious picture book perfection – Analucia)
‘Get Ready, Mama!’ by Sharon Giltrow and Arielle Li (A fun role reversal book about getting ready in the morning. Something every parent and child can relate to. Lovely soft illustrations in shades of butteryellow, lilac, pink and brown. – Katja)
‘In My Garden’ by Kate Mayes and Tamsin Ainslie
‘A is for Bee’ by Ellen Heck (My 4 year old’s fav book this year. We checked it out of the library many times. Nice if your child is interested in languages. – Mary)
‘The Beehive’ by Megan Daley and Max Hamilton (I adored this narrative non-fiction – Pip)
‘Almost a Fish’ by Julianne Negri and Evie Barrow (It had the kids (and adults) at my recent Storytime session mesmerised. And the illustrations are gorgeous. – Michelle)
‘Summer Blue’ by Trudie Trewin and Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (Every word in the book is there for a reason, and such gorgeous illustrations. It’s great for increasing vocabulary. Just love it. – Debbie) (out of print)
‘Dazzlehands’ by Sacha Cotter (A brilliant, funny readaloud which worked with Y0-Y8!!! – Penny)
‘Special Delivery: A Book’s Journey Around The World’ by Polly Faber and Klas Fahlen (Beautifully illustrated. A story of a books journey from printer to store, to purchase as a gift, through the postage system to the recipient. A firm favourite in our household with Mr 3. – Jamie)
‘Yoshi Sea Turtle Genius’ by Lynne Cox and Richard Jones (My 6yo is devouring it. I think he reads it at least once a day. And we’ve watched the YouTube videos about her release and have started tracking other turtles. – Kat)
‘Willow’s Gumboots’ by Beverley McWilliams and Helene Magisson (Gorgeous book about sustainability. – Kath)
‘Beautiful Oops!’ by Barney Saltzberg (We have a perfectionistic child and this was recommended to help her understand a mistake is good. It really resonated with her and is tactical and fun. – Kathryn)
‘Fox and Son Tailers’ by Paddy Donnelly (Funny, yes and clever and so heartwarming. – Margot)
‘The Little Street Library’ by Amy Adeney (The story is gorgeous and so relevant and the illustrations match perfectly! – Michelle)
You might also like
Your Kid’s Next Read Favourites 2024: Chapter Books
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2023: Picture Books
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Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of middle-grade series, The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. My latest novel THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE is out now. You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
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