The Your Kid’s Next Read community is the size of a regional town these days – 31,000+ members. Each year, we ask the group to share their young readers’ favourite reads of the previous 12 months.
Some of these books were published in 2023, some were not. One of the joys of a community like Your Kid’s Next Read is the ability for members to curate and create book lists that stretch way back through reading experiences, meaning any request or query results in a deep and thoughtful TBR pile on just about any subject.
This year, I’ve broken the lists into categories: picture books, early chapter books (5-7), junior fiction (6-9), middle grade (10-13) and young adult (14+).
Stand by also for Team YKNR’s favourite reads in 2023, 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 2023: Picture Books
As nominated by the members of the Your Kid’s Next Read community.
Most nominated
The Best Hiding Place by Jane Godwin and Sylvia Morris
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
Bev and Kev by Katrina Germein
(“Most borrowed picture book in the library.” – Kath)
Come Over To My House by Eliza Hull, Sally Rippin and Daniel Gray-Barnett
Dragon Post by Emma Yarlett
Baa Baa Black Belt by Gavin Aung Than
The Lucky Shack by Apsara Baldovino and Jennifer Falkner
(“Particularly loved by all of us here.” – Cristin)
The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak
How to Hatch a Dragon by Nick Bland
Snap by Anna Walker
(“…is a fantastic picture book. Deservedly award winning – different literacy focus every time I read it.” – Georgina)
The Garden at the End of the World by Cassy Polimeni and Briony Stewart
Duck Goes Meow by Juliette MacIver and Carla Martell
The Gargoyle by Zana Fraillon and Ross Morgan
(“My nine year old’s favourite this year.” – Caryn)
Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
Neil, The Amazing Sea Cucumber by Amelia McInerney and Lucinda Gifford
(“Hilarious!” – Nathan)
The Digger and The Duckling by Joseph Kuefler
Where the Lyrebird Lives by Vikki Conley and Max Hamilton
The Book of Bok by Neil Armstrong and Graham Baker Smith
(“… a couple of years old but my youngest loves it a lot.” – Tina)
Dirt by Sea by Michael Wagner and Tom Jellett
(“… was a hit!” – Emma)
The Great Book-Swapping Machine by Emma Allen and Lisa Coutts (“We can’t get enough of this at our house.” – Kate)
Hard to find
Where’s The Dragon? by Jason Hook
(“My six year old has borrowed it from the school library at least four times.” – Lauren)
The Best Birthday Present Ever! by Ben Mantle
(“My seven year old loves it! – Madara)
You might also like
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2023: Chapter Books
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2023: Junior Fiction
*This post contains affiliate links. See contact page for details
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.
If you’re looking for book recommendations for young readers, join the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community, tune in to the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast and sign up for the Your Kid’s Next Read newsletter.
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