Good Housekeeping has selected their best books of 2025 for kids of all ages. This is their fourth year offering this award. As a librarian, I appreciate seeing lists of books from non-library sources and making sure I have these in my collection too.

BOARD BOOKS

Gracie’s Corner: What Sound Does That Letter Make? by the Gracie’s Corner Team

I Love You, Little Moose! by Sandra Magsmen

Little Head, Little Nose by Yuli Yav, illustrated by Antonia Woodward

Look, Baby, Look! At Home by Louise Lockhart

My Calm Down Book by Rose Rossner, illustrated by Amanda Morrow

Off They Run! by Katie Cotton, illustrated by Rob Hodgson

The Pigeon Won’t Count to 10! by Mo Willems

Runaway Blanket by Nancy Deas, illustrated by Mike Deas

Say Cheese! by Sophie Aggett, illustrated by Pauline Gregory

Slide and Peek Santa by Hector Dexet

What’s That Noise? Meow! by Pui Lee

Your Forest by Jon Klassen

PICTURE BOOKS

The ABC of You by Julia Gray, illustrated by Sarah Ugolotti (Wonderbly personalized book)

Anything by Rebecca Stead, illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Charles Santoso

Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan

The Gift of the Great Buffalo by Carole Londstrom, illustrated by Aly McKnight

Hope in a Jar by Deborah Marcero

Little Blue Truck and Racer Red by Alice Schertle, illustrated by John Joseph

The Littlest Drop by Sascha Alper, illustrated by Jerry and Brian Pinkney

Millie Fleur Saves the Night by Christy Mandin

Piece Out by Alex Willan

Pocket Potters: Harry Potter by JK Rowling, illustrated by Natalie Smillie

Snuggle Season by Jaimie MacGibbon

GRAPHIC NOVELS

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby: Color Edition by Dav Pilkey

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

Creaky Acres by Calista Brill, illustrated by Nilah Magruder

Dream On by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Marcela Cespedes

Ducky the Spy by Sean E Avery

Mallory and the Trouble with Twins by Ann M. Martin, illustrated by Arley Nopra

One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams, illustrated by Sharee Miller

Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy

NONFICTION

Discover Dinosaurs by John A. Long

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat

The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure by Amy Atwater, illustrated by Natalia Cardozo

The Stuff That Stuff Is Made Of: The Things We Make with Plants by Jonathan Drori, illustrated by Jiatong Liu

EARLY READERS/CHAPTER BOOKS

Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

Brin Got a Cast by Lovevery

Cat & Cat Adventures series by Susie Yi

Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese by Salina Yoon

Little Mouse Saves the Day! by Jeff Smith

Pencil & Eraser: Lost and Frown! by Jenny Alvarado

Waiter, Waiter by Lovevery

Wally Mammoth: The Sled Race by Corey R. Tabor, illustrated by Dalton Webb

ACTIVITY BOOKS

A Is for Apple: My First Wipe-Clean Book by Tiger Tales, illustrated by Georgie Birkett and Summer Macon

Fold-Out + Play: House by Ingela P. Arrhenius

Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Case of the Missing Flower by Kristyna Litten

Let’s Find Yaya & Boo On the Go! by Andrew Knapp

The Wizard’s Guide to Magical Experiments by A.J. Wood, illustrated by Jo Rioux

MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS

Dragonborn by Struan Murray

Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita

The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna

AUDIOBOOKS

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, narrated by Elena Ray

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, narrated by Sutton Foster

The Weirdies by Michael Buckley, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter