Cary Library's Best Books of 2023 - For Children

Introduce young ones to the concept of counting from one to ten while celebrating themes of friendship and community.

"A picture book in verse that threads together past and present to explore the legacy of slavery during a classroom lesson"-- From the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable passage across the Atlantic, to the backbreaking work in the fields of the South, this is a story of a people's struggle and strength, horror and hope. This is the story of American slavery, a story that needs to be told and understood by all of us. A testament...

When a kindergarten class arrives for the first day at school, they are greeted only by the words "Mr. S" on the chalkboard and a delicious-looking sandwich, resulting in merry mayhem as the kids wonder if the sandwich is their teacher.

"Ancient Night is a twist on two Nahua traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth when humans were first created, who stole fire from the gods to keep them warm."--

A young girl with appendicitis recounts her strange and scary trip to the hospital, and the nine times she cried--and a few times when she did not.

To deliver her mother's delicious soup to her sick Granny Oak, Evergreen the squirrel must face her fears and make the journey, during which she meets other forest dwellers, including some who want to get their hands on her soup!

Finn is in a bad mood, so his grandfather takes him on a walk in the forest, and tells him about all the things that are beneath the surface of plants and animals--and even people.

"Siblings May, Lily, and Noah build a dam. Stone by stone, their dam grows higher and higher, until their creation attracts the attention of fishermen, pirates, and even the King and his fleet. The sky's the limit, until Noah wants his stone back...Each page builds upon the previous scene as the children's imaginations also grow. Children will delight in pointing out the changing details on each page as they laugh along to this picture book about...

When Felix's grandmother comes from Vietnam to stay with his family in the United States, Felix realizes that he can help Grandma by teaching her English.

In a mix of Eastern and Western mythologies, a mother tells her child about two forests inhabited by different, but equally enchanting dragons that coexist within the child's heart.