15 Great Books for Young Readers On Your Holiday List

For the new parents

Watch out, parents, you have a new boss! In this humorous and witty board book, the new boss baby has lots of demands—from drinks made to order, to meetings around the clock. Alec Baldwin plays this bossy baby in the film adaptation in theaters March 2017.

For the child who can’t get enough of the playground

Beautiful illustrations bring to vivid life Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic poem “The Swing.”

For ages 1–4 years

For the child who loves the snow

This gorgeous board book about a child reveling in the magic of the first snowfall of the year is perfect for cozy winter story times.

For ages 1–4 years

For the aspiring dancer

American Ballet Theater soloist Misty Copeland tells the story of a young ballerina with big dreams who must learn to believe in herself.

For ages 5–8 years

For every baby

With rhyming text and endearing illustrations, here is an exuberant celebration of playing, sleeping, crawling, and of course, very noisy babies doing all the wonderful things babies do best.

For the young negotiator

Sophia tries varied techniques—from presentations to pie charts—to convince her parents that she needs a giraffe. But could getting what she wants be as simple as one word?

For the kid who loved THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT

Red crayon has a bright red label on him but no matter how hard he tries, he is blue. This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book is about finding the courage to be true to your inner self.

For ages 4–8 years

For the fearless athlete

When Astrid decides to go to roller derby camp and her best friend doesn’t, she embarks on a journey to hang on to the friend she feels slipping away, and cautiously embark on a new friendship in this inspiring coming-of-age story about friendship, perseverance, and girl power.

For ages 9–12 years

For the artist

Acclaimed author and illustrator Christopher Myers uses rich black-and-white illustrations to bring a sketchbook to life, showing that with a simple pen, a kid can do anything!

For ages 4–8 years

For the theater kid

Nate Foster has big dreams of being on Broadway, but they seem far away in his small Pennsylvania town. With the help of his best friend, Nate plans a daring, overnight escape to New York to go to an open casting call for “E.T: The Musical.”

For ages 9–13 years

For the child who loves a touch of magic

In this enchanting historical novel, a young boy named Otto is lost in the woods and rescued by the spirits of three girls, whose souls he carries out of the forest inside of a magic harmonica. Throughout the 20th century, the harmonica plays a part in the struggles and triumphs of three very different children.

For ages 9–12 years

For the graphic novel reader

Every summer, Rose looks forward to going to the lake with her parents and seeing her friend Windy. But this year, her parents are fighting and trouble is brewing at Awago Beach. Together, Rose and Windy navigate a summer of secrets, sorrow, and growing up.

For ages 12 and up

For the sports fan or poet

Twin brothers Josh and Jordan are star basketball players and are as close as can be—until they start growing apart in this novel-in-verse about brotherhood, family, and sports.

For ages 10–12 years

For the science fiction or fairy tale lover

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction.

For ages 12 and up

For the music lover

Summer knows how to manage bands like a professional—until she falls for Caleb, the band’s lead singer. But when Caleb reveals a secret about his long-lost father, it changes everything in this rock-and-roll romance.