The 33 Children's Books of 2016 That You'll Want to Own

One Minute Till Bedtime: 60-Second Poems to Send You Off to Sleep, selected by Kenn Nesbitt ($20)

A selection of one-minute poems to feed your child's imagination and send them off to sleep.

King Baby by Kate Beaton ($18)

An honest and funny take on bringing home a new baby that tots will laugh at and parents will relate to.

A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young ($17)

Even though Sparkle doesn't look, sound, or smell like the unicorn she thought she'd be getting in the mail, she learns he's just who she needed.

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman ($18)

This beautifully illustrated book teaches that sometimes wishes from the heart can come true.

Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis ($17)

A book with many storylines paired with an invented language that will make your kids think hard about a number of dramatic possibilities.

This Is Not a Book by Jean Jullien ($10)

A story that invites children to use their imagination and creatively think thanks to the things found within the pages.

Freckleface Strawberry and the Really Big Voice by Julianne Moore ($17)

Written by actress Julianne Moore, this book teaches about all the differences kids have while addressing expectations in the classroom regarding inside and outside voices.

School's First Day of School by Adam Rex ($18)

A young boy realizes that he's not the only one with first-day-of-school jitters.

Lucy by Randy Cecil ($20)

A book for dog-lovers about a dog named Lucy who doesn't have a home, until she meets a little girl named Eleanor and her dad, a juggler with stage fright.

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen ($18)

Two turtles have found a hat that they both look good in, but there's only one hat, so what should they do?

A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers ($18)

Encourage your child to love reading with this prose poem that shares the rewards of reading and being a book-lover.

Supergirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee ($14)

Supergirl may be the most powerful teenager in the galaxy, but she's new to Super Hero High, where readers will find other notable superheroes as high schoolers!

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier ($11)

A story about siblings and the power of family and friendship in the face of fear.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney ($14)

The 11th book of the popular series, this installment is all about Greg Heffley's idea to make a creative movie that will make him rich and famous.

Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard ($17)

When Darkus Cuttle's dad vanishes from his job at a museum, Darkus seeks the help of two cousins with a beetle infestation in their home to save his dad from a villain with dastardly plans for the bugs.

Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson ($17)

When three boys' favorite teacher announces that she can't finish out the school year, they seek to make her last day unforgettable.

Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm ($17)

In the midst of the Great Depression, this historical-fiction book follows Beans and his gang of friends, who all know that grown-ups are lying to them.

The Best Man by Richard Peck ($17)

A coming-of-age tale about a young boy nervous about middle school and puberty as he tackles the job of being best man at a wedding.

Ghost (Track) by Jason Reynolds ($17)

Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his difficult past is slowing him down.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown ($17)

Roz wakes up alone on a remote island with unwelcoming animals where she is forced to adapt to her surroundings to survive.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker ($17)

Peter and Pax have been best friends since Pax was a kit, but when Peter's dad joins the military, he's forced to return the fox into the wild.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling ($25)

Soon to be a feature film, this short-story-turned-screenplay will either introduce your child to the world of Harry Potter or indulge their already-existing love for the Boy Who Lived.

The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan ($15)

This story follows two children, a poet, and his dog as they help each other to survive loss.

The Littlest Bigfoot by Jennifer Weiner ($17)

This laugh-out-loud book tells a story of friendship and figuring out where you belong.

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo ($17)

Raymie hopes that entering in a contest and having her photo in the paper will make her father who left come back home and starts up an unlikely friendship with two other girls.

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart ($19)

This mysterious adventure will keep your kids guessing, decoding clues, and believing in magic.

Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand ($17)

A girl must save a magical make-believe world in order to save herself from her life's overwhelming realities.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany ($30)

This eighth story in the Harry Potter series follows Harry's youngest son, Albus, on an adventure in time with his friend at Hogwarts.