53+ New Children’s Books for 2023 to Enjoy

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.

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.

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.

There’s a Beach in My Bedroom by Kevin and Danielle Jonas

Release Date: July 11

Plot: Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, have written the next picture book in their “in my bedroom” series. In this story, it’s raining outside but the girls are yearning for a beach day. Can they salvage the day?

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!

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!

Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends by Kaz Windness

Release Date: January 31

Plot: This Level 1 reading book tells the story of best friends Worm and Caterpillar. After Caterpillar turns into a butterfly, they need to figure out if they can still be friends! What fun new children’s books for little readers!

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!

The InvestiGators: The Agents of S.U.I.T.

Release Date: February 21

Plot: The world of John Green’s kid-favorite InvestiGators series expands with the first volume of AGENTS OF S.U.I.T., a brand-new spinoff shining a light on some of Mango and Brash’s colorful coworkers.

Pug’s New Puppy by Kyla May

Release Date: April 4

Plot: Bub the pug and his human, Bella, are taking care of Nana’s new puppy, Harlow. They can’t wait to teach Harlow some new tricks! But training a puppy isn’t an easy job. Will they be able to teach Harlow anything before Nana comes home? What fun new children’s books for little readers!

Horse & Buggy on Ice by Ethan Long

Release Date: January 17

Plot: Horse and Buggy are back in the next installment of this beginner reader series. Horse is a skating fiend until he falls. But Buggy is there to help him get back to skating!

Welcome to Sparklegrove by Rebecca Elliot

Release Date: April 4

Plot: Bo Tinseltail and friends welcome a new jackalope family to Sparklegrove Forest in the latest installment of this USA Today bestselling early chapter book series! What fun new children’s books for little readers!

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.

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!

Finally Seen by Kelly Yang

Release Date: February 28

Plot: Kelly Yang, author of Front Desk, is once again tackling the immigrant experience in this new book. In this story, Lina is coming to America to reunite with her parents who have been living in the US with her little sister for the past 5 years. But Lina’s life isn’t what she expected it to be. I’ll be reading this story with my kids for sure. This is one of the new children’s books I plan to pre-order.

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.

Bad Kitty School Daze by Nick Bruel

Release Date: January 10

Plot: The Bad Kitty series has recently started coming out in a graphic-novel format that’s great for early chapter book readers! The latest story to get the graphic-novel treatment features Bad Kitty heading to obedience school!

Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy by Katherine Applegate

Release Date: March 28

Plot: In Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy ― the conclusion to the Doggo and Pupper early readers trilogy by New York Times-bestselling author Katherine Applegate with a brightly colored palette from Charlie Alder ― the canines help Cat adjust to a big change: A new bed!

The Secret Explorers and the Desert Disappearance by SJ King

Release Date: January 10

Plot: The brainy explorer kids are back on an adventure – this time in the desert! There, they will put their scientific knowledge to use as they rescue wolf cubs and evade sand storms! Filled with desert facts, this book is sure to please your science-loving early reader.

She Persisted: Florence Nightingale by Chelsea Clinton and Shelli R. Johannes

Release Date: March 7

Plot: Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds–including Florence Nightingale!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith

Release Date: March 21

Plot: This middle-grade graphic novel is a retelling of the classic story, Beowulf. It features a group of kids defending their treehouse from adults who want to turn children straight into grown-ups!

My Not-So-Great French Escape by Cliff Burke

Release Date: March 14

Plot: When Rylan’s best friend ditches him for the cool kids, Rylan thinks a summer spent working on a French farm will be the perfect chance to reconnect. But he doesn’t count on his long-lost father showing up. This funny, touching novel is perfect for fans of Gary D. Schmidt and John David Anderson. It’s one of the new children’s books that we’ve already read!

Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Release Date: February 21

Plot: After her Nan dies, Mo is sent into the foster care system. In a note her Nan left behind, she urges Mo to find a hobby. So Mo decided to start cooking.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas

Release Date: April 4

Plot: Internationally bestselling superstar author Angie Thomas makes her middle-grade debut with the launch of an inventive, hilarious, and suspenseful new contemporary fantasy trilogy inspired by African American history and folklore.

Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies by Stacey Lee

Release Date: February 7

Plot: In this new Rick Riordan presents story, Stacey Lee reimagines a classic Chinese folktale. Winston is on his way home from cooking school when he thwarts a robbery in progress at Mr. Pang’s oddity shop. Mr. Pang is sending him home with a broom and dustpan as a reward.

But when his stuff starts disappearing, he wonders if there is more to the cleaning duo than meets the eye. It might just be time for him to fight magic with magic. This is one of the new children’s books we recommend for tweens who love fantasy.

I’m Still Here (Adapted for Young Readers) by Austin Channing Brown

Release Date: April 4

Plot: Austin Channing Brown’s first encounter with race in America came at age seven, when she discovered that her parents had named her Austin to trick future employers into thinking she was a white man. Growing up in majority-white schools and churches, Channing Brown writes, “I had to learn what it means to love Blackness,” a journey that led to a lifetime spent navigating America’s racial divide as a writer, speaker, and expert helping organizations practice genuine inclusion.

The Big Sting by Rachelle Delaney

Release Date: February 7

Plot: Leo is having a normal visit to his grandparent’s farm when suddenly his grandmother’s beehives go missing! Soon Leo, his little sister Lizzie, and his grandpa are off to solve the crime and find the culprit.

Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards by Susan Tan

Release Date: April 25

Plot: Mo is not afraid of toast. Just to be clear. She is afraid of fires, though. Which can be caused by everyday appliances, like toasters. So toast isn’t the problem, but you could say it’s the start of a slippery slope. Since her family’s recent move, Mo’s been eating oatmeal for breakfast.

Moving to a new town is never easy, but it’s even harder when you’re dealing with a stepdad who just left and a mom who can’t get out of bed long enough to find a new a job.

Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs

Release Date: February 21

Plot: This is the eigth book in the FunJungle series by beloved author, Stuart Gibbs. After a dead whale washes up on shore, Teddy Fitzroy is looking for answers for what killed it. And then someone makes it explode. Can he figure out who blew up the whale and why tons of sand have gone missing? This is one of the new children’s books we recommend for tweens who love animals.

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 Swifts by Beth Lincoln

Release Date: February 7

Plot: It’s time for the Swift family reunion and Shenanigan is busy plotting her treasure hunt…until her aunt falls to her death after someone pushes her down the stairs. Now Shenanigan finds herself in a new role – detective! Can she figure out what happened?

Cookie Monsters by Erika J. Kenrick

Release Date: January 17

Plot: In this middle-grade story, Brooklyn wants to win the cookie-selling competition to make her recently deceased mother proud. But the new girl, Piper, is out to beat her. With the help of her friends, her grandma, and her therapist, maybe Brooklyn still has a chance to win! This is one of the new children’s books we recommend for tweens.