The Best New Story Books to Read to Your Little Ones

What are the best new story and picture books and cookbooks for little kids that will keep everyone amused and engaged during the Great Lockdown of 2020? Here’s our list of the best new story books to read to little kids, including board books about art, adventure, the natural world and friendship – plus some wonderful bedtime stories.

what are the best new story books to read right now?

As the stay-safe-stay-home regime continues, lots of parents and caregivers with little ones are starting to run out of leisure activities for the smallest family members.

Sure, there are puzzles. And board games. Online entertainment. Off-line activities. And even educational supplements online for when the home school day ends. 

But what about good old-fashioned books?

Specifically, what are the best new story and picture books and cookbooks for little kids that will keep everyone amused and engaged during the Great Lockdown of 2020?

If you’re like our family, you have your go-to story books, especially at bedtime. Our tried and true list includes The Berenstein Bears series; Goodnight Moon; and The Snowy Day. Plus almost anything written by Eric Carle.

But sometimes everyone needs a new story. And the happy news is that there are lots of new bedtime stories and picture books, tales of mischief and adventure, and subtle lessons in friendship and learning the ABCs.

The Best (relatively) New Kids Story Books to Read to Your Little Ones

If you’re looking for new reads to add to your family library, here are some of the best new story books to read to your little ones – and also some wonderful cookbooks and activity books that you and your children can enjoy together. 

These are our picks of 20 wonderful choices to consider. Oh, and did we mention that these books are also really pretty? Just a little frosting on the cake!

1.

The first book on our list is a celebration of the world and the potential of every individual within it. It’s designed to help kids appreciate the wonderful things that exist in the world, and the incredible things they can do. Importantly, this story also gently allows them to understand some of the setbacks that may happen. The core message? In the end, whatever happens, a child’s parents and caregivers will always love them.

BUY NOW $16.95.

2.

Charlie, a notorious cheese thief, is a mouse on a mission… He has already pinched Parmesan, crept off with Camembert, and robbed Roquefort. But now, Charlie is planning his biggest mission yet–to steal a cheesy sculpture from the Museum of Art. But Officer Rita is on the case. Will Charlie get away with it this time?

BUY NOW $16.95.

3.

This wonderful new book is an affirmation for boys and girls of every background to love and believe in themselves. It showcases children of many races, ethnicities, and sizes enjoying activities by themselves and interacting harmoniously. The children participate in a wide variety of activities, including those that run counter to traditional gender roles – like a little boy enjoying cooking by himself. Words about setbacks are accompanied by uplifting images. Words about mistakes are accompanied by images of children trying to do better or amend bad behavior.

BUY NOW $18.99.

4.

This vibrant new work is fashion designer Sir Paul Smith’s first children’s picture book. It’s a laugh-out-loud story of animals, travel and design. And of finding inspiration in the most unlikely of places.

BUY NOW $12.69.

5.

Celebrate reading with the youngest book lovers in this huggable board book reformat of the beloved hardcover picture book. It’s “an energetic, heartfelt, and humorous ode to book love.” Count us in!

BUY NOW  $9.95.

6.

This board book helps younger children identify six of the most recognizable animal constellations from The Great Bear to the The Southern Fish. Each constellation is introduced as a cluster of stars with its connected-line shape; readers then guess the animal through a series of read-aloud clues. A full animal illustration gatefold reveals the answer, accompanied by extra information about the constellation and its important stars. Perfect for bedtime stargazing!

BUY NOW $12.95.

7.

An ice-fishing penguin grows increasingly aggravated as his line fails to attract fish. His activity attracts a cast of curiously chatty polar characters. Hilariously expressive animals and their repetitive questions dramatically accumulate until, in the climactic finale, the penguin hears something under the water, and everyone silences for the big reveal.

BUY NOW $16.95.

8.

Follow in the footsteps of the world’s most famous explorers and travel to the extremes of our environment on Earth. Learn about the highest and deepest, hottest and coldest places on Earth. Discover the world’s most wild terrain, and learn about how they were discovered and explored by human adventurers. Find out how these regions are under threat from global warming and other issues, and learn what we can do to conserve them.

BUY NOW $19.95.

9.

What color is a banana? It can be at least 25 different shades, according to this wonderful book. Challenging readers’ predispositions towards using a particular crayon for a particular object, 11 items are each presented alongside a grid of color ranges. For example, the “apple” page features yellows, greens, and reds. The “egg” page a range of greens to grays. Even “grass” is surprising, with suggestions of pink. The read-along text is “playful and philosophical, poetic and factual.” Fun!

BUY NOW $16.95.

10.

This anthology presents 14 of the most beloved fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, combining vintage illustrations from Kay Nielsen, Walter Crane, and Herbert Leupin with delicate historic and contemporary silhouettes. There are even stickers for young readers of favorite fairy tale characters and motifs.

BUY NOW $15.

11.

Unfold pages, lift flaps, gaze into mirrors, and interact with art like never before. Inspired by the many ways that art can be viewed and experienced, this book encourages children to spend time with a curated selection of fine art from the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. 

BUY NOW $19.95.

12.

This centenary reproduction revives a classic collection of 15 Norse folktales illustrated by the beloved Danish artist Kay Nielsen. Based on a first edition and including 11 of his extremely rare watercolor originals, the book features an all-new design refreshed for today’s readers.

BUY NOW $40.

13.

How about a delightful set of three cookbooks designed especially for the younger set? This collection shows children how to cook three of their favorites dishes: pancakes, pizza, and tacos. With fun, colorful illustrations, this is a great interactive activity for parents and little ones. Just be sure to get the US version or the UK version, depending on where you are, as the units of measure will differ based on the edition.

BUY NOW $50.

14.

Sometimes the beloved older tales are still the best – especially when they come in elegant and whimsical new packaging. Like this set of P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins novels. This collection of the first four books in the series also features Mary Shepherd’s original black-and-white illustrations.

BUY NOW $150.

15. 

Starting from the premise that everything is alive–a feeling that is deep and immediate for many children–this lovely book draws us into a still place where everything is moving. It’s thought-provoking for both kids and adults in its depiction of the relationship between stillness and motion.

BUY NOW $17.95.

16.

This award-winning story book is a joyous celebration of family, community, and the unifying power of music. Nic, a talented young double bass player has a long, rough, commute to and from his suburban school. Nic’s determination, grace, and joy – as expressed in the immersive art – will engage readers of all ages.

BUY NOW $16.43.

17.

The BabyLit series is designed to introduce literary classics to kids. Each board book combines elements of a beloved work with an educational theme. Famous characters and stories come to life for early readers on a level they will understand and learn from. This set is curated with seven of the best-loved stories of friendship, to help spark a child’s love of reading.

BUY NOW $115.

18.

M Is for Me is a personalized alphabet book made just for the special child in your life. Your little one’s first initial and name will grace the cover. Inside, there are delightful illustrations, and the text highlights a special quality for each letter of the alphabet. Each letter represents an important personal characteristic. For example, C is for caring, P is for patient, and U is for understanding. So. Cute!

BUY NOW $34.99.

19.

For children everywhere, sleep is part of their daily routine. And now, it can be part of their first art collection! 35 full-page artworks from a variety of periods feature sleep in all its forms – from nap time to bedtime, dreaming to waking, sunsets to night skies. Each image is accompanied by a brief read-aloud text. It’s the perfect bedtime read for families.

BUY NOW $16.95. 

20.

Yayoi Kusama covers her paintings in hundreds and hundreds of dots. She creates mirrored rooms and fills them with glittering balls and lights, until there is an infinity of dots – just like in her paintings. The author brings movement, life, and whimsy to the true story of one of the most important contemporary Japanese artists of our time.

BUY NOW $17.95.

The Best New Story Books to Read to Your Little Ones

That’s it, our top 20 picks of the best new story and picture books and cookbooks for little kids right now. With so many options, who needs a video screen? Stay safe and healthy, dear reader.

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