Best Kid's Books of 2024!

We’re challenging readers of all ages to participate by reading and logging at least 300 minutes during our Winter Reading Challenge. Read, log your minutes and earn fun new badges in the Beanstack app. Complete the challenge and receive one entry into a drawing for the chance to win one of three Amazon Kindle Fire tablets!

Challenge begins January 1, 2025.

How to play

If you haven't already, create an account in Beanstack, which you can use as an app on your phone or tablet, or access via their website on your computer.

Once you're logged in to your Beanstack account, register for the Winter Reading Challenge. After you have logged 300 minutes of reading you will automatically be entered into the drawing!

For more information contact Matt Smith at 772-871-5452 or e-mail him at matthew.smith@stlucieco.gov

Updated December 21, 2024
S
St. Lucie County Library System
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Animal albums from A to Z
Bell, Cece, author, illustrator.
Paper Book
From the inimitable creator of El Deafo, this all-ages alphabet book is also a hand-wrought, high-fidelity, hilariously tongue-in-cheek homage to the golden days of album cover art. Cece Bell loves music and collecting old record albums, her introduction explains,...
Dog vs. Strawberry
Buchet, Nelly
Paper Book
A dog and a strawberry find themselves nose to stem in this hilarious picture book that's perfect for dog lovers. An epic battle ensues-who will come out on top? A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Welcome to the Greatest Race of All Time! ...
Just like Millie
Castillo, Lauren, author, illustrator.
Paper Book
In a gentle story from Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, a shy young girl finds exploring her new city and making friends overwhelming--until a rescue dog helps her uncover the bravery that was always in her. A young girl and her mother move to an apartment in a new city....
The last stand
Eady, Antwan
Paper Book
The author of Nigel and the Moon, delivers a tender intergenerational story inspired by his childhood in the rural south. Here's a farm stand that represents the importance of family, community, and hope. A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, BOOKPAGE, and SCHOOL...
Little Shrew
Miyakoshi, Akiko, 1982- author, illustrator.
Paper Book
Little Shrew is diligent in all parts of life. He's a hard worker and follows a strict schedule from morning to night. But even a life that runs like clockwork can be filled with unexpected pockets of joy, such as solving a puzzle for the very first time, enjoying the scent of freshly baked bread,...
The pelican can!
Yuly, Toni, author, illustrator.
Paper Book
"A triumphant work."--Publishers Weekly, Best Picture Book citation   ★ "A sure bet for the younger set."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review With exuberant text and striking art, this picture book that...
The squish
Carzoo, Breanna, author, illustrator.
Paper Book
Meet Sandcastle. Sandcastle's world was new and exciting until their very first... SQUISH! In an effort to protect themselves from ever getting squished again, Sandcastle tries to be bigger and taller and stronger! But is that enough to stop all the squishes ...
The bard and the book how the first folio saved the plays of William Shakespeare from oblivion
Bausum, Ann
Paper Book
The unlikely true story of why we know the name William Shakespeare today, and the four-hundred-year-old book that made it possible. Four hundred years ago, no one bothered to write down the exact words of stage plays. Characters' lines were scribbled on small rolls of paper (as...
Carnival chaos
Baptiste, Tracey
Paper Book
From the best-selling author of the Jumbies series comes a magic-and-mythology-filled novel for 8-12-year-olds that celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture and Black history Weirdness and wonders abound in this Afro-Caribbean-inspired action-adventure novel about 3 cousins...
Felix Powell, boy dog
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Paper Book
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2024 In this funny young middle-grade novel about friendship, family, and animals, Felix Powell is magically transformed from a boy into a dog. Illustrated with black-and-white drawings by Newbery Medal winner and National Book Award finalist Erin...
Max in the house of spies
Gidwitz, Adam
Paper Book
An acclaimed Best Book of 2024! Instant New York Times bestseller * Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year * Booklist Editors' Choice * Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year * School Library Journal Best Books of the Year * Common Sense Best Books...
Shark teeth
Winston, Sherri
Paper Book
From National Book Award longlisted author Sherri Winston comes an important middle grade novel about a girl's tumultuous journey to keep her family together, even when she's falling apart. Kirkus Prize Finalist Lone Star Reading List Selection ...
Cape
Johnson, Kevin (Kevin Walter)
Paper Book
A young child learns that even superheroes hurt too in this heartrending story about loss and love, written by debut author Kevin Johnson and illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Kitt Thomas. When a child loses the person in his life that he loves more than...
Elena rides
Medina, Juana, 1980-, author, illustrator.
Paper Book
Beginning readers--and beginning riders--will be drawn to this bright, buoyant story of a determined elephant and her loyal sidekick, from the award-winning creator of Juana & Lucas. Elena wants to ride her bike. She steadies, she readies. She wobbles, she bobbles . . ....
Evergreen
Cordell, Matthew, 1975- author.
Paper Book
A picture book by Caldecott medal winner Matt Cordell about a timid squirrel who makes a brave journey to help a relative who is ill. Evergreen the squirrel is afraid of many things: thunder, hawks, and the dark paths of Buckthorn Forest. But when her mother tasks Evergreen...
Elf dog & owl head
Anderson, M. T.
Paper Book
A Newbery Honor Book "A hilarious, heartfelt triumph."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) From the singular imagination of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson comes a magical adventure about a boy and his dog--or a dog and her boy--and a forest...
Good different
Kuyatt, Meg Eden
Paper Book
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book An extraordinary novel-in-verse for fans of Starfish and A Kind of Spark about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate her difference. Selah knows her rules for being normal. She always, always...
The International House of Dereliction
Davies, Jacqueline, 1962- author.
Paper Book
In this not-so-scary ghost story from Jacqueline Davies, bestselling author of the Lemonade War series, quirky, tool-wielding Alice Cannoli-Potchnik begins to repair the dilapidated mansion next door--only to discover the old house is home to ghosts, and...
Something like home
Arango, Andrea Beatriz
Stand-alone player
Things in the basement
Hatke, Ben, author, artist.
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Ben Hatke comes Things in the Basement, a young readers graphic novel about Milo, a young boy who discovers a portal to a secret world in his basement. It was supposed to just be a normal basement--some storage boxes, dust, you...

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