Reading is a daily part of our family rhythm. Our daughters LOVE getting a stack of new books for kids. We recently partnered with Candlewick Press to review some of their latest children’s books releases. They sent us 9 new books for kids: 3 books for each of our 3 daughters (ages 6 months old, 3 years old, and 5 years old). Check out our full IGTV review, and links to each of the books below. 

Ages 0-3

Frankie’s Food Truck – This fun lift-the-flap book reminds us of our beloved food trucks in NYC. Each day Frankie serves a different shape of food from his food truck, and a variety of foods are hidden under the flaps. This book is a fun way to think about the shapes of foods. It also teaches the days of the week, and builds vocabulary around yesterday and tomorrow. The book is based on the game Frankie’s Food Truck Fiasco.

Maisy Explores – We love the Maisy series!  This board book is perfect for young kids, as the pages have large, easy-to-turn tabs showing the category for each page. We have many “first words” books, but this one is unique by specifically focusing on building vocabulary in science themes. Each bright illustration has its own descriptive label. Our older daughters love pointing and reading the words to their baby sister.

Where’s The Witch? – This Halloween themed story is our first lift-the-flap book that uses felt tabs. It is a perfect search-and-find book for Margaret (age 6 months). The unique, durable felt design allows her to independently move the flap to reveal the bright illustrations hiding underneath. I highly recommend this book for very young kids!

Ages 2-5

Sandcastle – This book is full of beautiful, detailed illustrations that have inspired lots of discussions and “I Spy” conversations in our home. Our girls are captivated by the imaginative story of a young girl who builds a sandcastle so incredible that it becomes filled with diverse royalty. Hilarity ensues as the guests face unique challenges that come from staying in a castle made entirely of sand.

Hello, Elephant! – This lift-the-flap book reveals interesting facts about African savanna animals under each flap. It is a fun, engaging way to interact with nonfiction text for young readers. The girls have loved learning more about rhinoceroses, zebras, lions, hippopotamuses, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and even vultures. 

Pearl Goes to Preschool – This is the sweet story of a young girl who loves attending dance classes at her mom’s ballet school, and is preparing for her first day of preschool at her own school. The beautiful illustrations remind us of our home in NYC, as they pass her preschool while walking down the sidewalk, ride the subway home, walk up the steps to their building, and attend a performance of the ballet together.

Ages 4-8

Riding a Donkey Backwards – This book is divided into 21 short tales, full of jokes, riddles, and absurd wisdom. The illustrations are vibrant and theatrical. The tales have led to some rich discussions, as sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between a wise man and a fool.

Dot Goes Fishing – This beginner chapter book is full of illustrations, divided into 6 short chapters. It is a father-daughter story (which I love!), in which both characters enjoy simply spending time together. On this adventure, they make sandwiches together and then spend the day fishing. The girl wants to creatively help her dad catch more fish, and they both learn something about one another in the process.

Handa’s Noisy Night -This sleepover story is set in Kenya, and Handa is woken throughout the night by a series of strange sounds. Her friend assures her it is just her family talking, laughing, or playing music, but the illustrations reveal it is actually a variety of animals. This is a funny tale that addresses nighttime fears, while also teaching about a variety of nocturnal animals and the noises they create.

Need other book ideas? Check out our Candlewick Press Books, Children’s Books, New Holiday Books for Kids, Books for Kids (That Also Teach!), and Top 10 Tidy Books for Kids.

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