Books Your Kids Will Love (and You’ll Actually Enjoy Reading With Them!)
We’re fully in the Back-to-School season and we’ve got just the right book for your next read with the little ones. These books are some of my favorites growing up and some newer favs among all the kiddos these days.
A Bad Case of Stripes
by David Shannon
Starting off with my personal favorite when I was a wee little one. Award winning author, David Shannon, brings to life the story of Camilla Cream with breathtakingly imaginative illustrations. Camilla loves lima beans even though she won’t eat them because it’s “not cool” to love lima beans. Camilla shows us just what can happen when you care too much about what other people think and don’t stay true to who you are. Who knows? You might come down with a bad case of the stripes.
The Day You Begin
by Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Woodson is the winner of the Newbury Award, Coretta Scott King Award, and National Book Award for popular titles like Miracle’s Boy and Brown Girl Dreaming. Woodson teamed up with Pura Belpré award winning Illustrator, Rafael López, to write this wonderfully pure book on acceptance of others’ differences. This book encourages your kids to be brave and share their stories
because everyone’s story is unique to them and deserves to be shared. This is wonderful read for encouraging empathy and courage in your little social butterfly before they go back to the classroom.
Have You Ever Seen a Flower?
by Shawn Harris
Another colorfully illustrated book by illustrator, Shawn Harris, for nature loving families. This book features colored pencil drawings that dazzle the eyes with a vibrantly shaded world and beckon us to see the beauty behind our very own. This Caldecott Honor winning book is a perfect reminder to appreciate the green and colorful flowers before the seasons change.
InvestiGators
by John Patrick Green
I loved a good mystery when I was a kid. I think it’s the natural curiosity we all have when we’re children that makes mysteries so fun. Then add alligators and you’ve got the perfect read for your curious creature. This is book one in a 10-book series so there’s oodles of spy stories with the dynamic sewer duo – MANGO and BRASH.
How to Catch a Class Pet
by Alice Walstead
One of the many great books in the How to Catch series, How to Catch a Class Pet is perfect for back to school and the upcoming 10th Anniversary Reading Challenge, this book is a great read with the kids to add to the list. You can find more information about the reading challenge and the submission form here: How to Catch 10th Anniversary | Sourcebooks, LLC.. The reading challenge begins on August 19th so don’t miss your chance to receive mention in the dedication of a future How to Catch book, a virtual visit and "draw along" with How to Catch illustrator, Andy Elkerton!
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza
by Mac Barnett
Also illustrated by Shawn Harris this is a popular one for those who also love Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, and Captain Underpants. If you love cats, are an avid pizza eater like me, and think space is cool, then you and your kid will think this book is so cute and funny too! When the moon is being eaten by rats, naturally, we must send the only hope we have… a cat, naturally. But LOZ 4000 is not just any kitty, it’s a toenail clipping robot cat on a quest through space to save the world. This is another series on this list with four books for the kids to devour just like a pizza.
Published Aug 18, 2026
Gabriela Rodriguez-Johnson
Gabriela Rodriguez-Johnson is an account manager at Libby. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She enjoys all forms of media from music, movies/television, and most importantly, books. Her favorite genres are mysteries, science fiction, dystopian futuristic, and Victorian/Victorian Gothic novels. She can typically be found consuming some form of each of these while curled up next to her four cats and dog.