Best Children’s Books by Topic​

Your Guide to the Best Children’s Books for Kids Book Lists on Imagination Soup

Discover the best kids’ books for your kids on Imagination Soup!

Here is your guide to the many great book lists I’ve written over the years for you and your children. You can find books that will appeal to young readers’ interests and will be at your readers’ reading level.

You’ll find popular children’s books in all categories and topics, from board books to picture books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, followed by middle-grade books for elementary-age kids and tweens.

Board Books


Picture Books

4th Wall: Picture Books That Break the Fourth Wall

9/11: Books About 9/11

Ada Twist: Ada Twist, Scientist & the Questioneers Books

Age 2: 20 Best Books for Age 2

Age 3: Best Books for Age 3

Age 4 & 5: Best Books for Age 4 and 5

Addition & Subtraction: Picture Books About Addition & Subtraction

Aging: Children’s Books about Aging, Memory Loss, and Alzheimer’s

African Americans: Best Biographies for Black History Month (and anytime)

A Kids Book About: A Kids Book About — Good Books About Big Topics

Alphabet: Kids’ Favorite Alphabet Picture Books

Amphibians & Reptiles: Amphibians & Reptiles

Animal Rescue Stories: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Rescue Stories

Animals: Wonderful Children’s Books About Animals

Anxiety: Children’s Books about Anxiety and Worry

Artists: Picture Books About Famous ArtistsPicture Books About Creating Art

Asian Main Characters: Children’s Books to Read for AAPI Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Autism: Best Books with Characters on the Autism Spectrum

Back-to-School: Back to School Picture Books 

Ballet: Ballet Books for Young Ballerinas

Barbie: Barbie Books for Kids

Baseball: Books About Baseball

Basketball: Best Basketball Books

Bedtime: Picture Books About Going to Bed

Being Yourself: Picture Books About Growing Up and Being Yourself , Picture Books About Being True to Yourself

Biographies: Big List of the Best Picture Book Biographies 

Birds: Beautiful Bird Books for Kids

Black History Month: Biographies for Black History Month (and Anytime)

Books: Best Books About Books

Bugs: Best Children’s Books about Bugs (Insects, Worms, and Arachnids) 

Camping: Wonderful Children’s Books About Camping

Cause and Effect: Cause and Effect Book List

Cats: Picture Books About Cats

Characters: Favorite Book Character Costumes for Kids

Character Traits: Teaching Positive Character Traits with Picture Books

Chess: Chess for Kids Books

China / Chinese Language: Picture Books About China and the Chinese Language

Christmas: Best Christmas Secular BooksBest Christmas Christian Books

Classics: Literary Classics as Picture Books

Collecting: Books for Kids Who Like Collecting Things

Colors: 16 Exciting Picture Books About Color

Comparing: Books about Comparing Oneself to Others

Consent: Picture Books About Consent

Cooperation: 17 Picture Books That Encourage Cooperation

Cumulative: Favorite Cumulative Stories for Kids

Deaf Culture & History: Children’s Books That Celebrate Deaf Culture & History

Death: Helpful Picture Books About Grief and Death

Description: Mentor Texts to Teach Description

Dinosaurs: Outstanding Dinosaur Books for Kids

Diverse Main Characters: Picture Books with Diverse Main Characters

Divorce: Recommended Children’s Books about Families with Divorced Parents

Diwali: Books About Diwali

Dogs: Picture Books About Dogs

E-Book Deals for Kids: Great E-Book Deals for Kids (Either Free or Under $5)

Ecosystems & Habitats: Picture Books About Habitats & Ecosystems

Emotions: Picture Books About Emotions, Feelings, Emotional Intelligence

Endangered Animals: Books About Endangered Animals

Engineering: Picture Books about Engineering and Invention 

Epic!: Review of EPIC! EBooks for Kids

Eric Carle: A Teacher’s Favorite Eric Carle Books

Fairy Tales: Huge List of Fairy Tale Books for Kids (with reviews), Beauty and the Beast Retellings

Fall: Wonderful Picture Fall Books

Farm: Books About Farms

Fears: Picture Books About Facing Fears & Finding Courage

Football: Best Football Books for Kids

Funny: The Funniest Funny Picture Books

Fractured Fairy Tales: Fractured Fairy Tales

Friendship: Picture Books about Friendship and Making Friends, Friendship Poems

Gardening: Gardening Books for Kids

Ghosts: Popular Ghost Stories for Kids

Glasses: Picture Books About Kids (and Animals) Who Wear Glasses

Global Stories: Picture Books from Countries Around the World

Goldilocks: Favorite Goldilocks Retellings

Graduation: Best Children’s Books to Give as Graduation Gifts

Grammar: Picture Books That Teach Grammar

Grandparents: Picture Books with Stories of Loving Grandparents (Great for Grandparents Day)

Gratitude: 10 Gratitude Books for Kids

Greek Myths: Best Greek Mythology Books for Kids

Growth Mindset: Growth Mindset Picture Books , Growth Mindset Biographies

Haiku: Haiku Poems for Kids

Hair: Delightful Picture Books That Celebrate Hair

Halloween: Favorite Halloween Books for Kids

Hispanic and Latine Heritage: Picture Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month

Hockey: Top Hockey Books for Kids

Holocaust: Children’s Books About the Holocaust

Horses: Horse Books for Kids

Imagination: Picture Book About Imagination

Immigration: Picture Books About Immigration and Migration

Inclusion: Picture Books About Inclusion

India: Children’s Books about India, Indian Culture, and Indian Mythology

Inference: Mentor Texts to Teach Inference

Information Literacy: Teach Information Literacy with Children’s Books

Instruments: Children’s Books About Musical Instruments

Interactive: The Best Interactive Children’s Picture Books (That Kids Love)

Israel-Palestinian Conflict: Books to Bring Hope & Understanding Amid the Israel Palestinian Conflict

Japan: Picture Books About Japan

Jail: Picture Books About Kids with a Parent in Jail

Jewish High Holidays: Picture Books About Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot

Kindergarten: Kindergarten Books to Read Aloud

Kindness: Picture Books About Kindness

LatinX, Latino, Latine Picture Books: Latino / LatineX Picture Books for Hispanic Heritage Month

Learning: Learning Differences in Children’s Books

LEGO: Favorite LEGO Books

Library: Picture Books That Celebrate the and Librarians

Little People, Big Dreams BIOGRAPHIES: Little People, Big Dreams Picture Book Biographies

Little Red Riding Hood: Little Red Riding Hood Retellings

Love: Children’s Picture Books About Love

Lunar New Year: Good Books About The Lunar New Year

Makers:Picture Books to Encourage Kids to Create, Crash, and Try Again

Manners: Picture Books About Manners

Mermaids: Wonderful Mermaid Books

Mindfulness: Mindfulness Books for Kids

Mother’s Day: Sweet Books About Moms for Mother’s Day

Movie Adaptations: Huge List of Movies Based on Books

Moving: Picture Books for Kids Moving to a New House

Muslim Characters: Children’s Books with Muslim Characters

Mythical Creatures: Mythical Creatures in Children’s Books

Names: Books About Names & Their Importance

Narwhal: Best Narwhal Books for Kids

Native American: Best Children’s Native American Books

Nature: Picture Books About Nature

Ninjas: Best Picture Books About Ninjas

Nocturnal Animals: 12 Books About Nocturnal Animals

Numbers: Counting and Number Books for Kids

Nursery Rhymes: Nursery Rhymes for Kids

Ocean Animals: 29 Books for Kids About Ocean Animals

Oliver Jeffers: 10 Favorite Oliver Jeffers Books

Olympics: Children’s Books About the Winter OlympicsChildren’s Books About the Summer Olympics

Onomatopoeia: Picture Books to Teach Onomatopoeia

Opposites: Books About Opposites

OwnVoices: 45 Favorite OwnVoices Picture Books

Passover: Passover Books for Kids

Personification: Picture Books That Teach Personification

Perspective: Picture Books That Teach Perspective (How You See the World)

Pets: Picture Books About Pets

Picky Eaters: Books for Picky Eaters

Pirates: Picture Books About Pirates

Physical Disabilities: Books about People with Physical Differences (Disabilities)

Plants: Books for Kids About Plants and Seeds

Poetry: The Best Poetry Books for Kids

Point of View: Mentor Text to Teach Point of View

Pollution: Picture Books About Pollution

Pop-up: Amazing Pop-Up Books Your Kids Won’t Want to Put Down

Potty Training: Potty Training Books for Kids

Poverty: Picture Books About Poverty

Pumpkins: Best Pumpkin Books

Prejudice: Picture Books That Teach About Prejudice, Inclusion, and Tolerance

Preschool: Preschool Books

President’s Day: Favorite President’s Day Books for Kids

Problem –  Solution: Mentor Texts that Teach Problem Solution

Pumpkin: 14 Pumpkin Books for Kids

Racism: Anti-Racism Picture Books About Prejudice, Inclusion, and Racism

Ramadan: Picture Books About Ramadan & Eid

Reading: Books about Readers, Reading, and Books

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Picture Books To Inspire Kids to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Reptiles: Books About Amphibians & Reptiles

Robots: Riveting Robot Books for Kids

Scientific Method: The Scientific Method in Children’s Books 

Search and Find: 20 Best Search and Find Books

Seasons: Picture Books That Teach Kids About the Seasons

Sequence: Books that Teach Sequencing (Beginning, Middle, and End)

Shabbat: 10 Books About Shabbat

Shapes: 15 Fun Books About Shapes

Sharks: Shark Week Books for Kids

Shoes: Picture Books About Shoes

Shy: Books About Shy Kids

Siblings: Warm-hearted Books About Siblings

Similes & Metaphors: Mentor Texts to Teach Similes & Metaphors

Space / Solar System: Best Books for Kids About Space

Speech-Language: Children’s Books for Speech Language Pathologists to Use with Students

Sports: Books About Sports for Kids

Spring: Cheerful Children’s Books About Spring

Soccer: Best Soccer (Football) Books for Kids

Star Wars Books: Star Wars Books

STEM Science, tech, engineering, and math: STEM Picture Books

Stone Soup: Stone Soup Stories & Activities

Story: 20 Picture Books About Writing a Story (Mentor Texts for Writing Workshop)

St. Patrick’s Day: Good St. Patrick’s Day Books 

Summer: Picture Books About Summer

Superheroes: Superhero Books for Kids

Thanksgiving: Best Thanksgiving Books for Kids

Three Little Pigs: 10 Clever Three Little Pigs Retellings

Trees: Children’s Books About Trees

Trucks: Picture Books about Trucks

Underwear: Picture Books About Underwear

Unicorns: 22 Magical Children’s Books About Unicorns

Valentine’s Day: Best Valentine’s Day Books 

Vehicles: Picture Books about Vehicles

Villains: The Best Villains in Children’s Books

Voice: Mentor Texts to Teach Voice

Voting: Children’s (Picture) Books about the Election and Voting

Winter: Books about Winter

Weather: Picture Books About Weather

Women’s History: Best Biographies for Women’s History Month

Wordless: The Best Wordless Picture Books + Activities

Words: Picture Books About Words and Wordplay

Writing a Story: 20 Picture Books About Writing a Story

Yoga: Yoga Books for Children

Best Picture Books of 2023

Best Picture Books of 2022

Best Picture Books of 2021

Best Picture Books of 2020

Best Picture Books of 2019

Best Picture Books of 2018

Best Picture Books of 2017

Best Picture Books of 2016

Best Picture Books of 2015

Best Picture Books of 2014

Best Picture Books of 2013

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2015

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2016

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2017

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2018

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2019

Newbery and Caldecott Awards 2020

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2021

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2022

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2023

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2024

60 Multicultural Children’s Picture Books with Diverse Main Characters

Books (Author Study) of Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Books (Author Study) of Robert Munsch

Books (Author Study) of Mo Willems

Books (Author Study) of Audrey Wood


Read Aloud Book Lists


Books by Age


Chapter Books and Middle Grade Books by Genre


Beginning Chapter Books


Middle Grade Books by Topic

ALL Chapter Book Recommendations by Age

100 Best Children’s Books for Middle Grade Readers

Best Boxed Book Sets for Kids

9/11: Books  for Kids About 9/11

Adventure: Can’t Put Down These Adventure Chapter Books

Aging: Children’s Books about Aging, Memory Loss, and Alzheimer’s

Alan Gratz: Ten Books That Bring History to Life by Alan Gratz

Animal Narrators: 8 Middle Grade Books Told from an Animal’s Point of View

Animal Rescue Stories: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Rescue Stories

Animals: Books for Tweens Who Like Animals

Asian: Children’s Books to Read for AAPI Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Artist: Chapter Books with Characters Who Are Artists and Love Art

Audiobooks: 27 Favorite Audiobooks for Families with Kids Ages 6 – 12

Autism: Best Books with Characters on the Autism Spectrum

Asia: Books Set in Asia (Japan, Chia, Korea, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Nepal)

Baking & Cooking: Yummy Books for Foodie Kids (Who Like to Cook and Bake)

Ballet: Best Books About Ballet

Baseball: Books About Baseball

Basketball: Best Basketball Books

Banned Books: Banned Books for Tweens and Teens 

Black Main Characters:  Books with Black Main Characters

Blended Families: Blended Family Books for Kids

Body Image, Eating Disorder Books: 8 Oustanding Middle Grade Books ABout Eating Disorders & Body Image

Boxed Book Sets: The Best Book Series Boxed Chapter Book Sets for Kids and Teens

Boys: Best Books for Boys,  Short Stories for Boys, Wholesome Middle Grade Books for Boys

Bullying: Middle Grade Books on Bullying, Self Esteem, and Self-Confidence

Cats: Best Cats in Children’s Books

Chess: Chess for Kids Books

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Best Choose Your Own Adventure Books

Civil Rights: Historical Fiction Books About the Civil Rights Movement

Civil War: Books for Kids About The American Civil War

Classics: 20 Classic Children’s Books

Cry: Good Books That Will Make You Cry

Deaf Culture & History: 18 Children’s Books That Celebrate Deaf Culture & History

Devotionals: 10 Devotionals for Children

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Books for Kids Who Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diverse Main Characters: Books with Diverse Main Characters

Divorce: Recommended Children’s Books about Families with Divorced Parents

Dogs: Books About Dogs

Dragons: Best Chapter Books with Dragons 

Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Enchanting Dungeons and Dragons Books for Kids

Dystopian: Best Dystopian Books for Tweens

E-Book Deals for Kids: Great E-Book Deals for Kids (Either Free or Under $5)

Epic!: Review of EPIC! EBooks for Kids

Fairies: Fairy Books for Kids

Fairy Tales: Beauty and the Beast Retellings , Fairy Tale Mash-UpsHuge List of Fairy Tale Books for Kids (with reviews)

Fantasy: Favorite Fantasy Novels for Kids (Middle Grade Fantasy Books)

Foster Care: 10 Books Featuring Kids in Foster Care

Football: Best Football Books for Kids

Funny: Funny Books Kids Love to Read

Ghosts: Popular Ghost Stories for Kids

Girls: Strong Female Protagonists You Want As Your Best Friend

Graphic Novels: The Best Graphic Novels for Kids

Best Graphic Novel Series
Funny Graphic Novels
Graphic Novels with Girl Main Characters
Graphic Novels with Boy Main Characters

Greek Mythology: The Best Greek Mythology Books for Kids

Harry Potter: Books for Kids Who Love Harry Potter

Hero’s Journey: Compelling Hero’s Journey Chapter Books for Kids

Hockey: Top Hockey Books for Kids

Historical Fiction: Huge List of the Best Historical Fiction Books

Holocaust and WWII: Children’s Books About the Holocaust

Horses: Horse Books for Kids

Illustrated: Popular Illustrated Chapter and Middle Grade Books For Ages 6 – 12

Immigration: Chapter Books About Immigration, Refugees, and Migration

India: Children’s Books about India, Indian Culture, and Indian Mythology

Indigenous / Native American: Indigenous & Native American Heritage Month Books

Interactive: Interactive Adventures: Read, Write, Draw

Israel-Palestinian Conflict: Books to Bring Hope & Understanding Amid the Israel Palestinian Conflict

Japan: Books That Take Place in Japan and Japanese Culture

Joke Books: Joke Books for Kids

Katherine Applegate: Middle Grade Books by Katherine Applegate

Kate DiCamillo: The Magic of Books by Kate DiCamillo

Keeper of the Lost Cities Read Alikes: Keeper of the Lost Cities Read Alikes

Latinx Characters: Middle Grade Chapter Books Featuring Latinx Main Characters

Learning: Learning Differences in Children’s Books

Magical Realism: Hook Tweens on Magical Realism with These Incredible Books

Manga: Manga Books for Middle Grade Readers

Mental Illness: Mental Illness in Children’s Books

Mermaids: Wonderful Mermaid Books

Middle Grade Mysteries: Middle Grade Mysteries

Middle School: The Best Books About Life in Middle School

Minecraft: Favorite Minecraft Books 

Movie Adaptations: Huge List of Children’s Books Adapted Into Movies

Muslim Characters: Children’s Books with Muslim Characters

Mysteries: Intriguing Mystery Books

Mythical Creatures: Mythical Creatures in Children’s Books

Native American: Exceptional Indigenous & Native American Books for Kids

Norse Myths: Norse Mythology in Fictional Books (For Magnus Chase Fans)

OwnVoices Historical Fiction: OwnVoices Historical Fiction Books

OwnVoices Realistic: OwnVoices Realistic Fiction Chapter Books

Paranormal: 18 Exciting Paranormal Books

Parent Death: Parental Death in Middle Grade Books

Physical Disabilities: Books about People with Physical Differences (Disabilities)

Poverty: Chapter Books About Poverty

Race, Racism: Anti-Racist Middle Grade Books for Ages 8 – 12

Realistic: Realistic and Coming of Age Books

Revolutionary War: Historical Fiction Books about the Revolutionary War

Roald Dahl: Roald Dahl Books and Printable

Sad: Sad Books for Kids

Scary: Spooky, Scary Books Kids Won’t Be Able to Put Down

Science Fiction: Science Fiction Books

Scientific Method: The Scientific Method in Children’s Books 

Sherlock Holmes: Sherlock Holmes Books for Kids

Soccer: Best Soccer (Football) Books for Kids

Social Justice: Anti-Racist Middle Grade Books for Ages 8 – 12

Speculative Fiction: 10 Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Books

Sports: Best Books About Sports for Kids

Summer: Summer Vacation Books About Summer Vacation

Survival: Edge-of-Your-Seat Survival Books for Kids

Steampunk: Steampunk Books for Kids

STEM Chapter Books: The Best STEM / STEAM Books for Middle Grade

Time Travel: Favorite Time Travel Books

Unicorns: 22 Magical Children’s Books About Unicorns

Verse: Middle Grade Novels in Verse

Video Games: Fiction Books for Gamer Kids

Westward Expansion: Historical Fiction Chapter Books About Westward Expansion

Wholesome: Wholesome Middle Grade Books for Girls, WholesomeBooks for Boys

Wings of Fire Read Alikes: Wings of Fire Read Alikes

Zombies: Horde of Zombie Books

Best Middle Grade Books of 2023

Best Middle Grade Books of 2022

Best Chapter Books & Middle Grade Books of 2021

Best Middle Grade Books of 2020

Best Chapter and Middle Grade Books & Graphic Novels of 2019

Best Chapter and Middle Grade Books of 2018

Best Chapter and Middle Grade Books of 2017

Best Chapter Books of 2016

Best Chapter and Middle Grade Books of 2015

Best Chapter and Middle Grade Books of 2014

Best Chapter and Middle Grade Books of 2013


Nonfiction Books

NONFICTION Books for 5- and 6-Year-Olds

NONFICTION Books for 6- and 7-Year-Olds

NONFICTION Books for 7-Year-Olds

NONFICTION Books for 8-Year-Olds

NONFICTION Books for 9-Year-Olds

NONFICTION Books for 10-Year-Olds

NONFICTION Books for 11-Year Olds

NONFICTION Books for 12-Year-Olds

NONFICTION Books for Teens

Best Nonfiction Books of 2023

Best Nonfiction Children’s Books of 2022

Best Nonfiction Books of 2021

Best Nonfiction Books of 2020

Best Nonfiction Books of 2019

Best Nonfiction Books of 2018

Best Nonfiction Books of 2017

Best Nonfiction Books of 2015

All Nonfiction Book Reviews for Kids 

Addition & Subtraction: Picture Books About Addition & Subtraction

African Americans / Black History Month: Best Biographies for Black History Month (and anytime)

Animals: Wonderful Children’s Books About Animals

Baseball: Baseball Books for Kids

Basketball: Best Basketball Books for Kids

Big Fat Notebooks: Big Fat Notebooks for Middle School

Biographies: Big List of the Best Picture Book Biographies 

Birds: Beautiful Bird Books for Kids

Black History Month: Biographies for Black History Month (and Anytime)

Books: Best Books About Books

Bugs: Best Children’s Books about Bugs (Insects, Worms, and Arachnids) 

Coding: Coding Books for Kids 3 Products That Help Kids Learn to Code40+ Coding Classes, Websites, Games, Toys & Apps for Kids

Cookbooks: Best Cookbooks for Kids

Counting Books: Big List of Counting and Number Books

Dictionary: Best Dictionaries for Kids

Dinosaurs: Dinosaur Books for Kids

Ecosystems & Habitats: Picture Books About Habitats & Ecosystems

Endangered Animals: Books About Endangered Animals

Engineering: Picture Books about Engineering and Invention 

Fall: Picture Books About Fall

Funny Poems: Funny Poems Hook Kids on Poetry

Football: Best Football Books for Kids

Growth Mindset: 30 Biographies That Model a Growth Mindset

Haiku: Haiku Poems for Kids

Human Body: Books About the Human Body

Jokes: Jokes for Kids

Journals: Journaling with Kids and Teens

Lego: The Best LEGO Building Books

Nocturnal Animals: 12 Books About Nocturnal Animals

Ocean Animals: Books for Kids About Ocean Animals

Origami: Origami Books for Kids

Plants: Books About Plants

Poetry Books: The Best Poetry Books for Children, Friendship Poems

(Funny) Poems: Funny Poems for Kids

President’s Day: Favorite President’s Day Books for Kids

Riddles: Easy Riddles for Kids

Robots: Robot Books for Kids

Rocks & Minerals: Rocks and Minerals Books for Kids

Sharks: Shark Week Books for Kids

Short Books: Short Books for Reluctant, Struggling, and Wiggly Readers

Seasons: Picture Books That Teach Kids About the Seasons

Space / Solar System: Best Books for Kids About Space

Soccer: Best Soccer (Football) Books for Kids

Spring: Cheerful Children’s Books About Spring

STEM Science, tech, engineering, and math: STEM Picture Books, STEM Beginning Chapter Book Series  , 25 Best STEM Chapter Books for Kids

Star Wars Books: Star Wars Books

Summer Olympics: Summer Olympics Books for Kids

Trees: Children’s Books About Trees

Voting: Children’s (Picture) Books about the Election and Voting

Water Cycle: Water Cycle Books for Kids

Women’s History: Best Biographies for Women’s History Month

Yoga: Yoga Books, Videos, and Games for Kids


Seasonal & Holiday Books


Activity Books


Mentor Texts