Delightful New Books for Everyone on Your Holiday List

“B is for Bellies (A Celebration of Every Body!)” by Rennie Dyball, illustrated by Mia Saine 

Born from a mother’s desire to combat a fat-phobic society, this book is an alphabet-led celebration of every type of body. “B is for bellies. Some are round, others flatter. They each serve a purpose — the shape doesn’t matter.” As they journey through the alphabet, kids receive a message of self-acceptance and kindness and honoring the individuality of yourself and others. 

“Oh, Panda” by Cindy Derby 

Caldecott Honor Winner Cindy Derby has created a beautiful, gift-worthy book that follows a sweet little panda as he tries to follow a colorful butterfly up a mountain that is seemingly too big for him to climb. With a dreamy, winter wonderland of illustrations, children follow along as they learn that being small won’t stop you from doing what you put your mind to. 

“Butt or Face?: A Hilarious Animal Guessing Game Book for Kids” by Kari Lavelle 

A hilarious book that takes close-ups of real animals and asks the ultimate question: is this a butt or a face? As you turn the page you’ll learn fascinating facts about animals you love and animals you didn’t even know existed. Science, humor and education all in one adorable, perfectly wrapped package. And trust me, even the grown-ups will have a hard time determining what is a butt and what is a face! 

“Hot Dog” by Doug Salati 

Winner of the 2023 Caldecott Medal (but published in 2022), a little dog wants to escape the heat of summer in the city so she hails a cab and heads to the beach. The illustrations, especially the city scenes, are full of busy detail keeping kids engaged as they point out all the activities, and the serene beach scenes conjure the lazy, expansive days of summer. 

“The Nature Journal: A Backyard Adventure” by Savannah Allen 

This one will probably hit close to home for many busy parents. It’s the story of a little boy whose deep love of nature comes from his dad’s encouragement to explore their backyard. But when his dad is too busy to look at what little Tim has discovered, he decides to create a journal. It’s a beautiful exploration of the natural world, a tender parent-child book, and a reminder that children bring us constant gifts. 

Up next: Picks for elementary-age kids