How To Use This List This list is divided into two sections: Grades K-1 and Grades 2+. The division of titles is our suggestion and is not necessarily based on reading level. You will find that most books on this list can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages! Feel free to simply scroll through and click any title to place a hold, or use the call number to find a book on the shelf at the library. If you’re in the mood for something specific, use ctrl+F to search a keyword, such as #OwnVoices, stories about and written by members of marginalized groups, which differs from diverse characters based on the identity of the author. You could also search sing it! for books that are best sung rather than read (trust us, it’s fun!) or favorite for some of our staff picks. Although this list is designed for Mystery Readers, it is also a great selection for any caregivers looking for titles to read out loud. Keywords inspiring #OwnVoices Halloween award winner new diverse characters nonfiction first day of school sing it! favorite STEM funny Thanksgiving winter Grades K - 1 What Riley Wore by Elena Arnold E ARNOLD favorite, diverse characters, first day of school Gender-creative Riley wears whatever clothes feel right each day. On Monday, Riley feels shy and wears a bunny costume to school. On Tuesday, a scary trip to the dentist calls for a superhero cape. For a trip out with Otto and Oma, a ball gown is the perfect outfit. The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes E BARNES first day of school, #OwnVoices, diverse characters Starting kindergarten is a big milestone--and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He's dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes, and can't wait to be part of a whole new kingdom of kids. The day will be jam-packed, but he's up to the challenge, taking new experiences in stride with his infectious enthusiasm! Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey E BLABEY funny Find out what piranhas eat -- and don't eat! -- in this irresistibly funny picture book. Everyone knows that piranhas don't eat bananas -- except for Brian, who loves to munch on fruit of all kinds! Brian's piranha friends think he's crazy. Piranhas don't eat bananas -- their sharp teeth are for eating meat! Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner E BUEHNER winter, favorite Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . what do snowmen do at night? There’s a Giraffe in my Soup by Ross Burach E BURACH funny What if you found a giraffe in your soup, an alligator in your entreé, an elephant on the table, or even an ostrich in your dish? In this picture book, an assortment of hairy, scary animals pop out from under the lid at a restaurant! Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy E CAMPOY #OwnVoices, diverse characters, favorite, inspiring What good can a splash of color do in a community of gray? More than you might ever imagine! Based on the true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, California, Maybe Something Beautiful reveals how art can inspire transformation--and how even the smallest artists can accomplish something big. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall E CORNWALL favorite, diverse characters Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash. Stumpkin by Libby Cummins E HOLIDAY CUMMINS Halloween Stumpkin is the most handsome pumpkin on the block. He's as orange as a traffic cone! As round as a basketball! He's perfect choice for a Halloween jack-o-lantern. There's just one problem-Stumpkin has a stump, not a stem. And no one seems to want a stemless jack-o-lantern for their window. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña E DELAPENA #OwnVoices, diverse characters, Award Winner A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things. Brief Thief by Michaël Escoffier E ESCOFFIE funny A lizard takes the liberty of using what seem to be some old underpants when he runs out of toilet paper. What he doesn't count on is that his own conscience and an outraged rabbit will be watching. Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari E GIANFERR diverse characters, inspiring When Zara has to go to school, WHOOSH, Moose escapes and rushes to her side. Through a series of escalating escapes, this loyal dog always finds her way back to Zara, and with a little bit of training and one great idea, the two friends find a way to be together all day long. I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson E HOLIDAY JACKSON Thanksgiving, funny, sing it! Kids will love singing along to this hilarious spin on "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly", originally published in 1997! The Bad Seed by Jory John E JOHN funny The bad seed changes his mind about being bad and decides that he wants to be happy. We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom E LINDSTRO #OwnVoices, award winner, diverse characters, new When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource. Inspired by the many indigenous-led movements across North America. Every Night is Pizza Night by J. Kenji López-Alt E LOPEZ diverse characters, funny, new Pipo thinks that pizza is the best. No, Pipo knows that pizza is the best. It is scientific fact. But when she sets out on a neighborhood-spanning quest to prove it, she discovers that ?best? might not mean what she thought it means. The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier E MAIER funny, inspiring, STEM In this adaptation of the Little Red Hen fable, Ruby wants to build a fort, but her three brothers refuse to help, so when the fort is finished Ruby will not let them join her--until the boys come up with a few embellishments for the fort, like a mailbox, a garden, and a fresh coat of paint. Whoops! by Suzi Moore E MOORE funny The cat can't meow, the dog can't bark, and even the mouse can't squeak. When they go to the little old lady in the woods for a spell to restore their voices, things don't go as expected. Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris E MORRIS favorite, award winner An assortment of animals living separate lives discover they need each other when they have a chance encounter on a river. Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal E ROSENTHA funny Smart, simple story that will make readers of all ages eager to take a side: is it a duck or a rabbit? Depends on how you look at it! Bob Not Bob by Elizabeth Scanlon E SCANLON funny, diverse characters When a young boy gets a cold, he just wants his mommy. But his stuffy nose makes it difficult for him to call out to his mom--not 'Bob,' who happens to be the family dog. The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by Kabir Sehgal E SONGS SERIES #OwnVoices, diverse characters, sing it! This picture book brings an international twist to the beloved nursery rhyme, The Wheels on the Bus, by bringing you aboard a busy three-wheeled taxi in India! Anything can happen as the tuk tuk rolls through town-- from an elephant encounter to a tasty treat to a grand fireworks display. Snail Crossing by Corey R. Tabor E TABOR funny, new Determined to make his way to a plump, crisp cabbage across the road, Snail risks speeding cars and hungry crows during a long and slow journey, before getting lost while helping a crew of ants escape a rainstorm. Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine E VALENTIN diverse characters Little Taco Truck loves serving workers on Union Street, but when Ms. Falafal takes his spot, then more and bigger food trucks arrive, he fears no one will want his tacos anymore. Nanette’s Baguette by Mo Willems E WILLEMS funny Today is the day Nanette gets to get the baguette! Is she set? YOU BET! But . will Nanette get the baguette from baker Juliette? Or will Nanette soon be beset with regret? The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca J B GRANDIN favorite, diverse characters, nonfiction, STEM Describes the life and accomplishments of the animal scientist and designer of cruelty-free livestock facilities, from her early life and autism diagnosis through her journey to become a livestock expert. Grades 2 + Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty E BEATY diverse characters, funny, inspiring When her abuelo is injured at the local landfill, second-grader Sofia is determined to transform the dangerous Mount Trashmore into a park, taking on City Hall in the process. Bowwow Powwow by Brenda Child E CHILD OwnVoices, diverse characters, favorite When Uncle and Windy Girl and Itchy Boy attend a powwow, Windy watches the dancers in their jingle dresses and listens to the singers. She eats tasty food and joins family and friends around the campfire. Later, Windy falls asleep under the stars and dreams of a powwow where all the dancers are dogs.