52+ New Children’s Books for 2023 and 2024 to Enjoy

Are you looking for new children’s books for 2023 and 2024? This list of upcoming books has some that we are most looking forward to reading. The post is divided by age so you can look for new release books for babies, picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, and YA books.
From new authors to old favorites, this list has some fantastic new books that we cannot wait to read. What are the best new children’s books for 2023 and beyond? We’ve got them all right here.
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For more new kids and adult book releases, head to our new releases page for the latest books by season!
New Children’s Books for 2023: Books for Babies

Bugblock by Christopher Franceschelli
Release Date: April 4
Plot: In this follow-up to Alphablock, Countablock, Dinoblock, Cityblock, Buildablock, Farmblock, Loveblock, Sharkblock, and Spaceblock, readers will learn about all the things that make bugs incredible—from spider crickets that can jump 60 times their own length to Chinese stick insects that can grow to be over two feet long to caterpillars that transform into stunning butterflies. This is one of the best toddler books of 2023.

Daddy’s Beard by Pete Hinckley
Release Date: April 11
Plot: Soft or scratchy, thick or patchy, babies love Daddy’s beard! In this adorable touch-and-feel board book, little hands can feel beards, mustaches, and more of all types and colors on their favorite person in the world: Daddy! Easily one fo the cutest baby books of 2023.

by Nicola Edwards
Release Date: September 5
Plot: Cuddle up with your little cutie pie and share this festive Thanksgiving board book that’s part of the best-selling You’re My Little series. With cut-outs and raised elements, this hands-on book features rhyming text paired with adorable pumpkin pies, cranberries, turkeys, and more!

Wonderful Seasons by Emily Winfield Martin
Release Date: September 5
Plot: Celebrate the seasons with this original board book by Emily Winfield Martin–perfect for baby showers and fans of the New York Times Bestseller, The Wonderful Things You Will Be!

Dragon’s First Taco by Adam Rubin
Release Date: September 26
Plot: Let the New York Times bestselling team behind Dragons Love Tacos introduce the joy of dragons to the youngest of readers in this original board book shaped like a taco!

Out Cold by Ryan T. Higgins
Release Date: October 3
Plot: #1 New York Times best-selling author Ryan T. Higgins celebrates the joys of winter in this bite-sized Little Bruce Book perfect for fans of the Mother Bruce board books.

Grumpy Monkey Yuck! by Suzanne Lang
Release Date: October 10
Plot: This original story tackles a common toddler issue as the bestselling character Grumpy Monkey finds out that it’s okay to try something new.

At the Bakeshop by Eric Carle
Release Date: November 7
Plot: Trying sweet treats is a piece of cake for The Very Hungry Caterpillar! This delightful book introduces young readers to the delicious delicacies of the bakeshop, featuring three-dimensional board pieces in the shape of different desserts that look good enough to grab.

When I Smile: A Book of Kindness
Release Date: November 14
Plot: From author Jo Witek and illustrator Christine Roussey, the bestselling creators of In My Heart, When I Smile is a picture book about all the things a smile can do. I can’t wait to read this new baby book!

7 Gender-Neutral Baby Books for Families to Cherish Forever
If you are looking for the best books to start your babies first library, we have some amazing picks.
The Best Books for a 1-Year-Old Your Baby will Love
Are you looking for more? These are the best books for a 1-year-old!


The Best Books for a 2-Year-Old Your Toddler will Love
If you are looking for more books for a 2-year-old, check out these amazing books.
For more books for baby’s first library, head here.
Looking for more books for babies? Have a look at Language development: Books for a 1-year-old or Making Story Time Interactive: Books for 2-year-olds
New Children’s Books for 2023: Best Picture Books 2023

Bitsy Bat, School Star by Kaz Windness
Release Date: June 6
Plot: A sweet new school picture book for 2023! In this one, Bitsy Bat wants to fit in at her new school and make friends. She learns to celebrate difference. This one talks about school from an autistic perspective in ways all kids can understand.

Witch & Wombat by Ashley Belote
Release Date: July 4
Plot: Wilma the witch wants her first kitten, but she comes home with a wombat instead! She decides to dress up her wombat with kitten accessories and see if anyone notices a difference. This is a fun pick for a Halloween library!

The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen
Release Date: July 11
Plot: Jon Klassen’s signature wry humor takes a turn for the ghostly in this thrilling retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night.

Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow by Ryan T. Higgins
Release Date: July 11
Plot: A Halloween Bruce book? You better believe this is one of my top picks for best picture books 2023! Bruce hates Halloween, but the mice and the geese are determined to change his mind with a spooky story.

A Little Ferry Tale by Chad Otis
Release Date: August 2
Plot: In the spirit of The Little Engine That Could, this sweet picture book introduces Little Ferry, who yearns to be more like the faster or stronger boats in the harbor only to find out her uniqueness can be her strength. This is one of the new children’s books I plan to pre-order.

Vlad the Fabulous Vampire by Flavia Z. Drago
Release Date: September 12
Plot: With signature flair, Flavia Z. Drago offers a story about being yourself and finding your community, strikingly illustrated in a distinctive, detailed art style influenced by her Mexican heritage.

Dear Unicorn by Josh Funk and Charles Santoso
Release Date: September 19
Plot: Josh Funk always had the best storylines. In this story, two pen-pals trade pictures and letters. -but when they meet for the first time, they realize one is a human and the other is a unicorn! This is definitely in the running for best picture books 2023.

This Book is Banned by Raj Haldar
Release Date: September 26
Plot: From #1 New York Times bestselling author of P Is for Pterodactyl Raj Haldar comes a silly and irreverent new picture book all about sharing ideas.

Freddie the Flyer by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail and Fred Carmichael
Release Date: October 24
Plot: A gorgeous picture book that pays homage to aviator Freddie Carmichael — the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic –with each month of the year highlighting moments from his life, the beauty of the North and the power of dreams.

Kenny’s Bright Red Scooter by Amanda Kline
Release Date: November 7
Plot: Kenny’s Bright Red Scooter is the true story of a senior citizen Navy veteran who accidentally (but not surprisingly) captured the hearts of people from around the world through TikTok, of all places. This new kids’ book will capture hearts of all ages.

The House with 100 Stories by Toshio Iwai
Release Date: November 14
Plot: 100 floors. 100 new friends. 100 stories. Flip open this towering book vertically to climb and count with Tochi as he tries to discover who lives at the top of a strange, magical house.

Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year by Andrea Beaty
Release Date: November 17
Plot: A moving story starring the Questioneers’ teacher that’s all about kindness, learning to face your fears, and the profound difference that one brilliant educator can make in a child’s life from the #1 bestselling creators of Aaron Slater, Illustrator and Ada Twist, Scientist!
This is one of the new kids’ books for 2023 that my kids are dying to read!

Cupig by Claire Tattersfield
Release Date: December 19
Plot: A comically mismatched Valentine’s Day picture book with a clever and hilarious take on Cupid. Introducing Cupig the Valentine’s Day pig! This is one of our favorite new children’s books.

Are You Big? by Mo Willems
Release Date: February 6
Plot: Mo Willems, #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author-illustrator, tackles a BIG concept in this hilarious nonfiction picture book about the relationship between size and scale. Â

Ten Little Rabbits by Maurice Sendak
Release Date: February 6
Plot: Maurice Sendak’s legacy continues with this playful counting extravaganza for the youngest child. Here is a small reader’s introduction to the magic of Mr. Sendak’s books—a journey that will continue for many years to come.

Roy is Not a Dog by Esmé Shapiro and Daniel Newell Kaufman
Release Date: April 23
Plot: Take a ride down Lilypod Lane with Weasel and Pam Pam as they try to solve a mystery in their neighborhood in this hilariously fetching picture book: could their peculiar neighbor actually be a dog in disguise?
Are you looking for more reasons reading is so important for language development? Check out our posts!
The Best New Children’s Books for 2023: Early Readers

Poppelton in Summer by Cynthia Rylant
Release Date: May 2
Plot: Any new children’s books about Poppelton are perfect for beginning readers.
There’s so much fun in the sun with Poppleton, the posh and persnickety pig created by Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant and acclaimed illustrator Mark Teague!

A Super Scary Narwhalloween by Ben Clanton
Release Date: July 4
Plot: In the hilarious eighth book of this blockbuster graphic novel series, Narwhal and Jelly celebrate the spookiest time of the year — Halloween — with a super twist!

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh by Mo Willems
Release Date: September 5
Plot: Mo Willems is back with a charming new early reader book for Christmas! That rascal pigeon is trying to drive Santa’s sleigh in the latest installment of the beloved series.
I’ve already read this new children’s book and it’s hysterical.

Flat Cat by Tara Lazar
Release Date: September 19
Plot: This early reader book for 2023 is all about a cute flat cat who becomes fluffy after a trip through the dryer. He’s not happy about the change, but your kids will enjoy it!

Shapes and Shapes: TOON Level 1 by Ivan
Release Date: October 3
Plot: In the hands of the author/artist of Wordplay, 3×4, and Comics: Easy as ABC, shapes explode, divide, and multiply, offering young readers a basic yet exciting art and math lesson.

Soren’s Seventh Song by Dave Eggers
Release Date: February 6
Plot: From New York Times bestselling author Dave Eggers comes a deadpan take on creativity and persistence, as told through the eyes of a humpback whale looking for a new song. This is one of our most anticipated new children’s books.

Gnome and Rat: Time to Party by Lauren Stohler
Release Date: March 12
Plot: Your favorite hilarious best friends are BACK and ready to party in the second installment of this early graphic novel series. We recommend this new children’s book for beginning readers.
Are you looking for books to help develop reading skills? Check out our Best Books for Beginning Readers or Early Reader Books for Emergent Readers
The Best New Children’s Books for 2023: Chapter Books

Mission: Arctic: A Scientifc Adventure to a Changing North Pole by Katharina Weiss-Tuider
Release Date: May 23
Plot: The Arctic is changing—fast. The once-frozen landscape is melting before our eyes, and the effects can be felt around the world. But the Arctic is also the region we know the least about. Thick ice, extreme cold, and total darkness have always prevented scientists from uncovering its secrets. Until now.

Cat on the Run by Aaron Blabey
Release Date: September 5
Plot: From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bad Guys comes another hilarious illustrated series starring a pampered cat who is way tougher than anyone realizes.

Fry Guys by Eric Geron
Release Date: September 26
Plot: In this colorful graphic novel, the Fry Guys–a team of three French fries–must do whatever it takes to defend their home against an invasion of evil UFO-nion Rings. ZZZAT! Ketchup blast. Ah, good grease.

The First Cat in Space and the Soup of Doom by Mac Barnett
Release Date: October 3
Plot: Award-winning creators Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris are back with the second volume in the bestselling The First Cat in Space graphic novel series! Secret tales of woe, hilarious new characters, and dangerous plans of sabotage will keep readers delighted and laughing until the thrilling climax. Perfect for fans of Dog Man and InvestiGators.

The Apartment House on Poppy Hill by Nina LaCour
Release Date: November 7
Plot: Welcome to 1106 Wildflower Place: It is no ordinary apartment house, but you, reader, are no ordinary visitor. So, please, come in!
This is one of our most antcipated new children’s books.

Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel by Shannon Messenger
Release Date: November 7
Plot: The middle-grade hit series is getting the graphic novel treatment! Since the content isn’t too difficult for newer readers, this easy-to-read format is perfect for them. Not to mention series fans will be eager to see their favorites illustrated! This is one of our favorite new children’s books.

Mercy Watson is Missing by Kate DiCamillo
Release Date: December 5
Plot: Every favorite character from Kate DiCamillo’s New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson books makes an appearance in this extended, riotously funny series crescendo.
The Best New Children’s Books for 2023: Middle-Grade Books

From the World of Percy Jackson: The Sun and the Star Hardcover by Rick Riordan
Release Date: May 2
Plot: Percy Jackson fans, rejoice! Nico and Will have a book of their own!
As the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo has been through so much, from the premature deaths of his mother and sister, to being outed against his will, to losing his friend Jason during the trials of Apollo. But there is a ray of sunshine in his life—literally: his boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo. Together the two demigods can overcome any obstacle or foe. At least, that’s been the case so far…
This is one of the new children’s books I plan to pre-order.

The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate
Release Date: May 2
Plot: Ruby’s story picks up a few months after the events of The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby’s caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting. Seeing him again brings back a flood of memories both happy and sad of her life before the circus, and she recounts the time she spent in the African savannah to Ivan and Bob.

Mixed Up by Gordon Korman
Release Date: July 18
Plot: Reef and Theo don’t know what’s happening to them. They’ll be going about their days and then suddenly they’ll have these strange flashes of memory — but the memories don’t belong to them. And at the same time, their own memories are starting to… vanish. This is one of the new children’s books I plan to pre-order.

The Vanderbeekers Ever After by Karina Yan Glaser
Release Date: September 19
Plot: In the 7th book of my favorite middle-grade series, one of the Vanderbeekers gets an awful diagnosis. Soon the whole family (and neighborhood friends too) are tackling the latest! This is one of my personal most-anticipated new children’s books for 2023.

Percy Jackon and the Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
Release Date: September 26
Plot: One of the most anticipated new children’s books of the year is the return of Percy Jackson. After years and many other series, Rick Riordan is back with a new sequel featuring a college-aged Percy Jackson!
In order to get letters of recommendation from the gods, he needs to complete 3 quests. Could this be the start of a new trilogy? We want all of these new children’s books for our Percy Jackson fans!
If you are eagerly waiting until September, check out our guide to Percy Jackson and our list of books just like the Percy Jackson series.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (Minalima Edition)
Release Date: October 3
Plot: Book 3 in the Harry Potter series has been out for a while, but now it’s getting the pop-up Minalima treatment. The gorgeous illustrations and interactive elements are sprinkled throughout the story to make reading an adventure. I own the first two Minalima editions and I know I’ll be preordering this one too.

Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora DĂĄsnes
Release Date: September 19
Plot: In this fresh, sensitive, diary-style graphic novel, 12-year-old Tuva’s questions about becoming a teenager are confusing–so when her first crush turns out to be on another girl, it feels absolutely wonderful–so why does it become so complicated?

Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson
Release Date: October 11
Plot: National Book Award winner Woodson is back with a story about her hometown of Bushwick in the 80s. She brings readers a powerful story that delves deeply into life’s burning questions about time and memory and what we take with us into the future.
This is one of our favorite new children’s books for 2023.

The Winterton Deception by Janet Sumner Johnson
Release Date: October 24
Plot: In this twisty middle grade mystery for fans of Knives Out, The Inheritance Game, and The Westing Game, thirteen-year-old twins Hope and Gordon enter a spelling bee in a last-ditch effort to save their family from financial ruin, only to find themselves in a cut-throat competition to uncover a fortune and dark secrets about the wealthy relations they’ve never known.

The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa See
Release Date: January 2
Plot: When a notorious thief is out for priceless treasure (gems! cats! general decorum!)–who’re you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that’s who! The Misfits are on the case in this hilarious illustrated series from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat!

Slugfest by Gordon Korman
Release Date: January 9
Plot: Yash is the best athlete at Robinette Middle School. So good, in fact, that’s he’s already been playing on the high school’s JV sports teams. Imagine his shock when he learns that his JV practices have kept him from earning a state-mandated credit for eighth-grade PE. To graduate, he has to take Physical Education Equivalency—PEE—which is also known as “Slugfest,” in summer school. We can’t wait to read this new children’s book.

Alterations by Ray Xu
Release Date: January 30
Plot: For fans of Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese and Svetlana Chmakova’s Awkward, this funny yet poignant middle-grade coming-of-age story highlights the struggle of feeling invisible while yearning to be seen by all.

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber
Release Date: February 6
Plot: The Inheritance Games and One of Us is Lying for middle grade — beloved author Alyson Gerber’s new series is an unforgettable mystery featuring a secret society, a mysterious island, and dangerous family secrets. It’s going to be one of the best new 2023 kids books.

Heroes by Alan Gratz
Release Date: February 6
Plot: A new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz (Refugee; Ground Zero; Two Degrees) is a major publishing moment. A new World War II novel from Alan Gratz? That’s even bigger! Get ready for an action-packed, inventive, and powerful take on the attack on Pearl Harbor, as only Alan Gratz can tell it.
Our kids can’t wait to read this new children’s book for middle grade readers.

The Princess Protection Program by Alex London
Release Date: February 13
Plot: Where can a princess hide if her Ever After isn’t all that Happy? Bestselling author Alex London turns classic fairy tales on their heads in this fast-paced, funny fantasy about embracing change and taking control of your own story. For fans of The School for Good and Evil and the Chronicles of Never After series.
More New Children’s Books for 2023
Did you find any new children’s books for 2023 that you are going to add to your bookshelves?

The Best Book Lists by Age for 2023
Find more 2023 kids books by age here.
The Best New Release Books You Must Read in 2023 and Beyond
Looking for the adult version of this book list? Check this post out!

I absolutely love these suggestions! Diary of a Pug is one of my 8-year-old’s favorites!