These “challenges” will not only provide you with some fantastic reads for kids of all ages, interests, and reading levels, they’ll offer you tons to talk about together, from faraway cultures to scientific facts to the importance of tolerance and friendship. Whatever your family’s reading style, there’s something here that will help your kid feel inspired and motivated to read all the way up to the start of the school year.

Challenge 1: Read the book(s) before you see the movie.
This past several years have been big for film adaptations of books, but most people agree: It’s better to read the book first.

• Discover a plethora of book-based movies—including classic read-aloud faves such as Paddington, Stuart Little, and The Wizard of Oz—and challenge yourself to read them before creating a movie night celebration.

Challenge 2: Find a new favorite.
Give your cherished copies of your all-time faves a summer vacation, too, and try these similar picks.

• If you love Harry Potter, you’ll love these magical fantasies.
• If you swoon over realistic fiction like John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, grab the Kleenex and try these. 
• If you can’t get enough Katniss Everdeen, these Hunger Games-like reads feed the need. 

Challenge 3: Read around the world.
“Travel” to faraway places and learn about new cultures with these diverse picks.

• Get bit by the travel bug with these books about planes, trains, and automobiles.
• Take a trip to Chile, Mexico, Cuba, and more with these books about Latinx culture.
• From there, hop over to India, China, Vietnam, and all across Asia with these books about Asians and Asian Americans.
• Don’t forget Afghanistan, Nepal, Ireland, and so many other cultures worldwide.
• Then learn about the many paths to the United States with these incredible immigrant experiences.

Challenge 4: Find your inner “upstander.”
Help kids inoculate themselves against bullying by practicing empathy and acceptance of differences. 

• Learn how to identify bullies in real life. 
• Help kids build their self-esteem.
• Put yourself in other people’s shoes. 
• Learn to appreciate people’s differences.

Challenge 5: Get technical.
Techie kids and STEM lovers can get in on the action with these books (and apps, too).

• If you prefer multiplication and microscopes to spelling and grammar, these math and science books will spark your curiosity (and maybe slightly more appreciation for books). 
• Story lovers who want a lightweight alternative when they’re on the go can download these book apps, which are perfect in your pocket. 
• If you want to like reading but need to boost your skills a bit first, start with these fun games and reading resources to work on everything from letters to phonics to fluency.  

Challenge 6: Crown the best of the best.
All these picks have been honored by major literary awards, but which are really the best?

• When you’re choosing between The Crossover and Calpurnia Tate, it won’t be easy to decide which of these books is the best work of children’s literature.
• The stunning pictures take center stage here, but it’s up to you to pick which of these picture books has the best art.
• All of these books are by renowned African American authors and illustrators. Can you choose your favorite? 
• What about for these books by Indigenous and Native American authors?
• Challenge yourself to decide which of these is the best book for teens, a difficult task when the options include The Hate U Give, The Sun Is Also a Star, and Eleanor & Park. 

For more recommendations on great books for kids to read this summer (and beyond!), check out our roundups on The Most Beautiful Picture Books of 2024, 100+ Black History Books For Kids, 35+ Books Featuring Bold & Brave Female Characters, Great Picture Books For Mini Feminists, Kids Books That Challenge Gender Norms, Our Favorite Inclusive Kids Books, Kids Books That Encourage Healthy Eating, and a history lesson on Caldecott Award-winning children’s books.

This article was originally printed in 2019 and has been updated.

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For more stellar kids’ book roundups, check out 100+ Black history books for kids, 30+ incredible Black illustrators to follow, 75+ books that are all about dads, and 20 awesome picture books without words.

The post 100+ Kids’ Picture Books That Spotlight LGBTQ+ Characters appeared first on MOTHER.

Great to give as last-minute gifts—we encourage you to scoop them up from your local bookstore, shop our Amazon storefront, purchase your favorites from the Bookshop links below, or add them all to your library queue for free entertainment all winter break long!

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In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15), we’ve rounded up our favorite bilingual children’s books from Penguin—most have an English version and Spanish version, while others have Spanish woven throughout a primarily English text.

In addition to giving your children access to Spanish language stories, these books also celebrate the true stories of boundary-breaking Latinx figures, shed a light on the diversity of Spanish-speaking cultures in the U.S., and include joyous tales for the whole family to enjoy. Disfrutar!

The post 30+ Amazing Bilingual Spanish Books For Kids appeared first on MOTHER.

For more kids’ book goodness for June—check out 100+ Children’s Books That Spotlight LGBTQ+ Characters.

You can also get a behind-the-scenes look at some our favorite children’s authors and illustrators within our “The Bookshelf” profiles of Jarvis, Christian Robinson, Jessica Love, Yuyi Morales, Mac Barnett, Jon Klassen, Keturah A. Bobo, Meenal Patel, Hervé Tullet, and Isabel Sanchez Vergara.

The post 90+ Kids Books That Are All About Dad appeared first on MOTHER.

Did we miss your favorite childrens books about nature? Feel free to ping us in the comments below so we can add to our list!

The post 50+ Children’s Books That Celebrate Mother Earth appeared first on MOTHER.

As mothers to vibrant, imaginative Black daughters, we reveled in their love for tea parties, glitter, and stories like Fancy Nancy, Eloise, and Pinkalicious. But we yearned for characters who looked like them, embodying pride, and joy. Representation has improved, yet many books still limit blackness to conflict. We wanted stories reflecting the full spectrum of Black girlhood—joy, creativity, and silliness. Simply put, we wanted to create a character where girls felt comfortable taking up space.

Every child, irrespective of race or background, deserves to see themselves in stories. Etta Extraordinaire, with her flair and boundless curiosity, embodies this inclusivity. Young readers will see themselves in Etta, joining her on glittery adventures and celebrating their uniqueness.

Before meeting Etta, you’ll hear her infectious energy. She’s a whirlwind of creativity, belting sixties soul tunes while planning and dreaming big. A lover of Harlem Renaissance, Etta’s style is unmatched, with cloche hats and flapper dresses, all inspired by her late Grandma Bess. Smart, stylish, and brave, she stands up for what’s right.

Etta’s not just stylish; she’s smart and courageous, unafraid to speak her mind or stand up for her friends. Despite her outward confidence, she grapples with her own insecurities, finding solace in her supportive family and friends, including Eartha the cat. Through her ups and downs, Etta teaches us that bravery comes in all sizes.

Life with Etta is always an adventure where every day feels like a tea party. Whether she’s facing stage fright or going on a school field trip, resilience shines through, reminding us to find joy in life’s challenges. With her, every moment becomes an opportunity to sparkle and spread confidence to those around us.

We believe it’s crucial for girls to see themselves represented authentically and confidently in children’s literature. When girls encounter characters like Etta Extraordinaire who take up space, whether it’s physically or through their personalities, it sends a powerful message that they too have the right to be bold, assertive, and unapologetically themselves.

Characters like Etta Extraordinaire, with their big personalities and boundless energy, can serve as inspiring role models for girls who might feel pressured to conform to narrow stereotypes. When girls see characters like Etta, who embrace their uniqueness and shine brightly, it encourages them to do the same. It’s about showing girls that they don’t have to shrink themselves or dim their light to fit in. Instead, they can celebrate their individuality and thrive in their own skin.

Furthermore, when girls see themselves reflected in literature, it validates their experiences and emotions. It lets them know that their stories matter and that they are worthy of being heard. By seeing characters like Etta Extraordinaire navigate challenges, make mistakes, and ultimately triumph, girls learn resilience and self-confidence. They realize that it’s okay to stumble along the way as long as they keep believing in themselves and their abilities.

Ultimately, by featuring strong, confident, and authentic girls like Etta Extraordinaire in children’s literature, we empower the next generation to embrace their identities and pursue their dreams with courage and conviction. When girls feel seen and valued in the stories they read, they are more likely to grow into confident, empowered women who are unafraid to take up space and make their voices heard in the world. And that’s a narrative worth celebrating and amplifying in every children’s book.

You can scoop up Etta Extraordinaire anywhere books are sold; and be sure to follow Charnaie at HereWeeRead.com and @HereWeeRead on Instagram.

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While stories about Rudolph are everywhere, Tavares uses his books to introduce a lesser known Christmas protagonist in the form of Dasher, a brave young doe who helps her family escape captivity in a traveling circus to join Santa in the skies and in the North Pole (their original home).

While the first Dasher book quickly received instant-classic status, the just-released Dasher Can’t Wait For Christmas catches up with Dasher and her family, who are now happily settled in the North Pole, as they wait for Christmas to arrive once again.

Excitement, impatience, and curiosity get the best of Dasher, as she just can’t wait 12 whole “sleeps” until Christmas, and ends up setting out by herself, getting lost, and eventually making it back home on Christmas Eve with the help of a young human friend.

The darling story is complemented by Tavares’ masterful illustrations, filled with flurries of snow, intricately detailed winter scenes, and a classic quality that’ll have you remembering the holiday books of your own childhood.

We suggest grabbing Dasher‘s lastest tale, adding a big mug of cocoa, a cozy place to snuggle, and letting the holiday vibes wash over you with these two fresh reads.

You can buy Dasher Can’t Wait For Christmas at Bookshop, Amazon, and anywhere else books are sold.

The post A New Holiday Classic: Dasher Can’t Wait For Christmas appeared first on MOTHER.

For more #OwnVoices children’s books, be sure to check out our features on 60+ Kid-Lit Books By Indigenous Authors & Illustrators, 17 moms on their favorite AAPI titles for kids, 30 incredible Black children’s book illustrators and 80+ Black kid-lit authors to support now and always.

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