Whether you’re shopping for your own child or hoping to find a great match for a kid you barely know, the books on this year’s list offer something special.

Youth Services librarians Sarah Jo and Eti are hosting our Caldecott Club, a program where we explore amazing picture books and choose our favorite from the entire year. This program takes the place of Illustrator’s Club this fall and offers many of the things we love about that program.  

One interesting thing about Mother Goose is that she’s alive and well!  Mother Goose and other nursery rhymes are still popular around the world and for good reason. They develop a child’s ear for language and that is the cornerstone of literacy.

The school year is revving up again—but why now? The truth is more complicated than you might think.

As a life-long children's librarian and Youth Services Manager at Wilmette Public Library, I've been running Summer Reading programs for over 25 summers. Here are a few reasons why I'm really proud of our library's Summer Reading Club:

Felt Stories

Behind the smiles and laughter of storytime, serious work is being done. Your child is learning and practicing many different skills. But which ones exactly?

Youth Services now offers sensory friendly tools for children to borrow during their visit to the library. These items help kids cope with stress and sensory struggles so they can enjoy all the library has to offer.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated every May. Here are some great AAPI-authored children’s books that our youth librarians recommend you check out!  

The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung

Racial literacy is a set of skills needed to talk thoughtfully about race and to identify and respond to racism. These books provide background and guidance for meaningful conversations and positive action. 

Using Books to Talk About Race

Books can be gateways to meaningful conversation and opportunities to build empathy and expand vocabulary. When you’re reading together, take time to ask questions about the story and illustrations.

Juneteenth – Freedom Day - is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Celebrated on June 19th, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and honors achievement and advancement.

Is your family growing up? You can still read together by choosing from these bestselling titles that come in both adult and young readers’ editions. You can all read on your own time and make dinnertime into your own family book club with titles like the following.

The books on this list offer sensitivity, comfort and hope for kids (and grownups) dealing with unstable routines, worry and depletion.  Whether providing coping strategies or simply acknowledging feelings, these titles will brighten a gray day.

Whether indulging your favorite kid with a new graphic novel or starting a home library for a new baby, books make the perfect gift. Here’s a few of our favorites from a fantastic year in books.

Home Library Worthy – books to read again and again