CCBC Choices 2024 -- Young Children (ages 0-4)

The Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison compiles a yearly list of excellent books for young readers.

Showing 1 - 19 of 19  There are a total of 93 valid entries on the list.
Book cover for Afikomen.
Notes:
Seasons and Celebrations;4-8
Description:
"When a family settles at the table for Passover, their dog nabs the afikomen bag (containing matzah used for the seder) and dives under the tablecloth. The children follow him and find themselves transported to ancient Egypt. There, they see baby Moses’ mother and sister Miriam placing him in a reed basket. The baby’s journey down the Nile is hazardous — he encounters several obstacles along the way, including a wily crocodile. Thanks to the...
Book cover for The babka sisters.
Notes:
Picture Books;4-7
Description:
"Dueling baker sisters Esther and Hester meet their new neighbor Sylvester, who gladly becomes their babka tester, determining which shvester's (sister's) babka is the best"--

3. Big

Book cover for Big.
Notes:
Understanding Oneself and Others;4-8
Description:
The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.
Book cover for The christmassy cactus.
Author:
Notes:
Seasons and Celebrations;4-7
Description:
"Tiny Cactus loves Christmas! But she doesn’t love that her little girl seems to be spending more time with the giant sparkly tree in the living room than with her. Maybe if she were decorated like the Christmas tree, her little girl would notice her again." --
Book cover for Fox has a problem.
Notes:
Books for Beginning Readers;4-7
Description:
"Fox has a not-so-new problem, and every possible solution leads to more problems for the other animals, until they all come together with the ultimate fix." --
Book cover for Gigi and Ojiji.
Notes:
Books for Beginning Readers;4-8
Description:
"Gigi wants to go by something besides her baby name-but her full name, Geraldine, is too long to write and Hanako, her middle name, doesn't feel quite right. Will Gigi find the perfect name? Gigi and Ojiji: What's in a Name? is a Level Three I Can Read book. Level 3 includes many fun subjects kids love to read about on their own. Themes include friendship, adventure, historical fiction, and science. Level 3 books are written for early independent...
Book cover for The good hair day.
Notes:
Picture Books;4-9
Description:
"With the help from his loving and observant family, a little boy gets a birthday present that gives him the confidence to be himself and let his hair down."--
Book cover for How does Santa go down the chimney?.
Author:
Notes:
Seasons and Celebrations;4-9
Description:
"When Santa arrives at a child's house on Christmas Eve, does he go down the chimney feetfirst or headfirst? What if he gets stuck? What if there's no chimney? Maybe he slides under the door, as thin as a piece of paper? Or is it possible he pours himself through the faucet? What happens once he's inside?" --
Book cover for Mazal Bueno!.
Notes:
Picture Books;birth-3
Description:
Kar-Ben Read-Aloud eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting to bring eBooks to life! Parents celebrate baby's first grin to baby's first word, and all the milestones in between in this book featuring Ladino words, the language of the Sephardic Jewish community. Mazal bueno! Go, baby go!
Book cover for My mother was a nanny.
Notes:
Picture Books;4-8
Description:
"A girl longs for her mother's attention. But Mummy is always busy helping everyone else and their children! Day by day, the narrator recalls what it was like growing up with her mother, who was a nanny, as well as a friend, baker, maker, teacher, cleaner and more. As the youngest in her family, the girl stayed home and helped amuse the children her mother looked after. She went along on trips to the Caribbean greengrocer in their Brooklyn neighborhood,...
Book cover for Once, a bird.
Notes:
Science, Technology, and the Natural World;2-5
Description:
"In this wordless picture book, a bird emerges after winter to find the world has gone quiet. As she settles on a tree outside an apartment building, its residents notice her through their windows and find hope in her resilience and the continued rhythms of nature."--
Book cover for One, two, Grandpa loves you.
Notes:
Picture Books;3-5
Description:
"A girl and her grandfather enjoy each other's company as they go on an outdoor adventure together."--
Book cover for Our Favorite Apples.
Author:
Notes:
Concept Books;3-5
Description:
Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin celebrates math for every kid, everywhere! Manny, Olivia, and Mei go apple picking and sort their red, green, and yellow apples by color. But then they find an apple that's all three colors. What should they do? A playful exploration of sorting, classifying, and friendship. Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories...
Book cover for Reina Ramos meets a big puppy.
Series:
Notes:
Books for Beginning Readers;4-7
Description:
"Reina and her friend, Lila, practice gymnastics on Saturdays. It’s Reina’s favorite part of the week. But when Lila gets a puppy, Reina has to practice gymnastics by herself. Also, Lila’s dog is HUGE and Reina is afraid to admit to her friend that she is scared. What can Reina do?" --
Book cover for Summer is for cousins.
Notes:
Picture Books;4-8
Description:
Ravi spends summer vacation with his cousins sharing in all their favorite activities, including eating ice cream.
Book cover for Two new years.
Notes:
Seasons and Celebrations;4-8
Description:
"A multicultural family celebrates the traditions of two New Years--the Jewish Rosh Hashanah in the autumn, and the Asian Lunar New Year several months later." --
Book cover for Very good hats.
Author:
Notes:
Picture Books;4-7
Description:
"Some people think hats are fancy things you can buy at a dressy store, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. In this book, acorns and raspberries are snug hats for your fingers, and an empty pudding cup is a good hat for a stuffed bear. Pajama pants make dangly hats, books can be dramatic hats, and bubbles make very fine hats as well (if temporary)"--
Book cover for What if I'm not a cat?.
Notes:
Picture Books;3-7
Description:
A sweet, playful story about identity - and what it means to belong. Why, of course Donkey's a cat. He spends all his time with the other cats on the farm. He licks his fur and pounces, just like they do. He even cuddles with them at nap time. Though, he must admit, sometimes he does feel a little off. So, when Farmer says to him, Donkey, you're acting like a cat! it gets him thinking. What if he's not a cat? And if not, then what is he? Will going...
Book cover for Who Jumps More?.
Author:
Notes:
Concept Books;3-5
Description:
Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin celebrates math for every kid, everywhere! Olivia and Mei jump in the snow all the way to the tall tree. Mei takes a few big leaps like a deer. Olivia makes lots of smaller hops like a bunny. Each jumps "more" in a different way. A playful exploration of measurement, proportion, and friendship. Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around...