CCBC Choices 2024 -- Primary School (ages 5-8)

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

Showing 1 - 20 of 32  There are a total of 151 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 Ancient night.
Notes:
Picture Books;4-8
Description:
"Ancient Night is a twist on two Nahuatl traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth before humans came, and who stole fire from the gods to create the sun. Award-winning author David Bowles has written a poetic text - and carefully researched backmatter - to accompany David's lush illustrations and story."--
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"--
Book cover for Champion chompers, super stinkers and other poems by extraordinary animals.
Notes:
Poetry;4-8
Description:
"Step right up, animal lovers! It's your turn to judge in this poetic competition of superlative animal abilities. Structured as a guessing game competition, and told through deftly crafted persona poems, the book celebrates animals' standout qualities, from the biggest (blue whale) to the smallest (shrew), with all the favorite creatures (speedy cheetahs, long-necked giraffes) plus some less common animals with equally amazing abilities (long-lived...
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 Elf dog & owl head.
Notes:
Fiction for Children;8-11
Description:
Quarantined with his family as a global plague ravages the world, Clay retreats to the woods where he meets a special little dog who leads him on surreal adventures where choosing the wrong path could cause them both to lose their way forever.
Book cover for Finding family.
Notes:
Science, Technology, and the Natural World;3-7
Description:
On a lake in northern Wisconsin in 2019, loon researchers were surprised to discover a mother and father loon caring for a mallard duckling. Normally loons and mallards live very different lives and do not get along. Follow along as the duckling grows and displays a mix of both loon behaviors and mallard behaviors. Intriguing verse and striking illustrations combine in this heartwarming tale of unexpected animal cooperation.
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 Gertie.
Notes:
Historical People, Places, and Events;4-8
Description:
"In 1945, against the backdrop of WWII, a soon-to-be-mama duck builds a nest in a precarious spot in the city of Milwaukee. Soon, news outlets around the world are carrying the hopeful story of the plucky duck"--
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 Hedge Lion.
Notes:
Picture Books;4-7
Description:
Discover your inner-roar with Ida, and your inner kindness with Hedge Lion! Ida sees Hedge Lion every day on her walk around town. Hedge Lion wants everyone to think he's a hedge. Nobody's scared of hedges. But Ida is brave, she notices things that other people don't, and she's not fooled. She knows Hedge Lion is a lion, she just needs to help him find his roar. Along the way, Ida learns to be patient and kind, and Hedge Lion learns to be brave and...
Book cover for The house of the lost on the cape.
Notes:
Fiction for Children;8-12
Description:
"In the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami, Yui, fleeing her violent husband, and Hiyori, a young orphan, are taken in by a strange but kind old lady named Kiwa in the small town of Kitsunezaki. The newly formed family finds refuge in a mayoiga, a lost house, perched atop a beautiful cape overlooking the sea. While helping to rebuild Kitsunezaki, the three adapt to their new lives and supernatural new home, slowly healing from their troubled...
Book cover for The many assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams.
Notes:
Fiction for Children;8-11
Description:
This is the tale of an exciting journey along the Silk Road with a young orphan Monk and his newfound guardian, Samir, a larger than life character and the so-called "Seller of Dreams." The man is a scammer; his biggest skill being the ability to talk his way into getting what he wants. While that talking did save Monkey's life, it has left a lot of people furious with Samir--furious enough to hire assassins. These include a Viking berserker, a Rogue...
Book cover for Moving the Millers' Minnie Moore Mine Mansion.
Author:
Notes:
Historical People, Places, and Events;4-8
Description:
It all started when John 'Minnie' Moore built a mine in Idaho and sold it to Englishman Henry Miller. Then Henry married a local lass named Annie and built her a mansion, hence the 'Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion.' After Henry died and Annie was hoodwinked—losing all but the mansion—she and her son took to raising pigs in the yard, as some are wont to do. But the town wanted those pigs out. Who could have guessed that Annie and her crew...
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 My powerful hair.
Notes:
Picture Books;5-10
Description:
After generations of short hair in her family, a little girl celebrates growing her hair long to connect to her culture and honor the strength and resilience of those who came before her.
Book cover for Nothing ever happens on a gray day.
Notes:
Picture Books;5-8
Description:
A girl thinks that nothing happens in her neighborhood on a gray day--until she ventures into the woods, and discovers the colors and busy animals of autumn.
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...