The 9 Best Read-Aloud Picture Books of 2023 According to Kirkus Reviews

dynamic picture-book duo turn their attention to one of the great mysteries of our time. "For those literal-minded children out there, this book serves to answer some essential questions about basic Santa-related logistics. We all know that Santa is supposed to go down the chimney to deliver gifts, but how?"

"It’s a wild, imaginative read and one that twists and turns like a forest path, with unexpected surprises along the way. Cordell is a masterful storyteller, and readers will love following Evergreen’s journey as she grows into a more confident squirrel."

"An examination of that universal milestone signaling maturation—losing a tooth—that also offers a tongue-in-cheek history of tooth collection... A deeply humorous, beautifully imaginative celebration of growing up."

"Fall into a story. It’s a dreary, wintry day, and Alice is tired of it and of being inside. But a book catches her attention. 'Once upon a time, there was a girl,' it reads. The characters invite her in: 'Turn the page and come in….' And in Alice goes, traveling through worlds before eventually returning home. Lin and Messner’s spectacular collaboration celebrates books and reading... A spellbinding ode to imagination and the transformative wonder of stories."

"From dawn to bedtime, loving glimpses of children living through an ordinary day... From first light to moonlit final scene, each moment of this domestic round glows with feelings of warmth and safety. Soothing, familiar, and perfect for reading at bedtime—or any other time."

"This tale is best enjoyed when read or sung to the rhythm of “This Old Man.” Each verse spans a double-page spread that depicts the automobile in a different setting, from climbing a hill and jumping over bricks to flying through the sky and revving up on the racetrack...Young children will love everything about this book and will soon be “reading” it to anyone who will listen."

"Strickland’s innovative low-angle and bird’s-eye views and gatefolds that open in various directions give readers expansive vantage points for this day of participatory play, while her colorful and highly textured digitally rendered illustrations, inspired by the Italian futurists, effectively capture the heat, verve, and energy of the city."

"Caldecott winner Wenzel cultivates senses of empathy and imagination in this appreciation of the ways other creatures experience the world, resulting in a buoyantly reverent celebration of the myriad wonders and complexity of life on Earth. The simple poetry of the narrative creates a glorious conversation starter: Who is the dreamer?"

"In Álvarez and Bowles’ folkloric collaboration, the moon stands alone in the vast night sky, tended by caring Rabbit and envied by clever Opossum."