Love so much of everything you say here, except 'Mac and Jon are the Abbott and Costello of children’s books'
I just don't see it...they are a comedy duo, but that seems like an incorrect comparison knowing the comedy style of A&C. Plus Klassen has always striked me as a Buster Keaton type. Maybe Laurel and Hardy? I'm still thinking on this...
Oh, and have you read James Marshall's only novel?
So I actually agree with you. This isn’t meant to be in a direct comparison (although it sounds that way). In my post from last year, I compare them to iconic comedy duos like A&C and L&H, so you’re right in that. But they have their own unique style. And I agree about Klassen.
Ahhh gotcha! You know, I think about that era a lot as children's book creators seem like the last true form of vaudeville. We come into these schools, use their old timey stages, do a little song&dance, and are the only show in town.
I’m so glad to have found this list + your Substack today! I’m a writer in this space, but a Bank Street educated literacy specialist and curriculum designer in the outside world, and the way you write is the way we were taught to think about children’s books there. That is, as serious literature, worthy of adult attention and analysis, as well as inspiration and medicine both, for our kids as well as ourselves. And I am the biggest Jon Klassen and Jason Reynolds head, so I couldn’t love this particular list more. Excited to keep reading along with you, and sending these posts along to my edu friends!
I’ve been looking for something like your newsletter for years. An internet where kids books are taken seriously as literature and art for kids. I’ve spent so long googling “beautiful/funny/weird/good/gross but not that gross... books for kids and adults” but never finding the lists that hit the spot for me. I’m so happy I’ve found it finally.
Best books of the year is a big question that I am excited to be asked. There’s a lot of overlap (Jon Klassen + Mac Barnett + Shawn Harris forever), so I’ll just mention some of the others. Top of our list is Oh No, The Aunts Are Here!, by Adam Rex and Lian Cho. So funny and I loved how they get at the clueless, rock solid love of the aunt-kid relationship. Also the deep inconvenience of having visitors stay with you.
The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow, by Elaine Dimopoulus with drawings by Doug Salati, was a thrilling read-aloud with just enough suspense.
My son did not want to read Bea Wolf, by Zach Weinersmith, but I loved it. Particularly reading it aloud. To no one. Because, again, my son didn’t like it. But he’s not writing this list.
Bea Wolf is SO GOOD! Omg so good. I didn’t even bother trying it with my kids (9 and 7), mostly because I just wanted to selfishly soak it up alone 😂 (I also think it’s a less interesting read if you’re not familiar with the original, so there’s also that.)
I'm not even sure it's a children's book, tbh. I mean, the premise is obviously aimed at kids, but... I don't think the story is nearly as compelling if you don't know The Story.
I should do that! And confession: I never finished Beowulf, not out of dislike, it just slips from my mind because I'm so distracted by other books. I think it's time to do it. This Christmas!
Then Maria Dahvana Headley. (But not Dahvana Headley first -- it's 10x as brilliant than Bea Wolf, but again, gotta be familiar with the original story. Start with Seamus.)
Cameron, thank you!! "beautiful/funny/weird/good/gross" is my specialty so look no further. And you can always count in Jon + Shawn + Mac to be winners with both adults and kids - which is why they make my lists so often—cause like you said—my kids aren't writing these lists, so it's helpful when the adults enjoy the books too! And I have not read any of those books yet. I want to check out the new one by Rex and Cho- looks great! I've not heard of The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow! And I have tried to get my kids to read Bea Wolf too! But they won't let me (yet). I listened to a podcast last night from the author Kiran Millwood Hargrave, and she talked about how her dad would read them Beowulf on family vacations — I'm like, my kids would never let me get away with that. I'm still trying to get them to listen to me read Roald Dahl — they hardly let me pick anything. :)
Hahahahaha. I feel the same way. We don’t read half the things I think we should or want to read. I always think we’re going to read A Christmas Carol out loud around the Christmas tree, but no one else is into that.
I forgot one real beauty that I’ll be buying a copy of to keep - The River and The Tree, by Aaron Becker. It’s gorgeous, wordless, and has very little in the way of plot. It gives you exactly what you need and no more, so you have the freedom to tell the story yourself. This description sounds like a book that kids wouldn’t get into, but my son loves it. I haven’t seen any other book quite like it, but I’d love to know if there are similar books.
I've never seen The River and the Tree—it looks beautiful and packed with storytelling potential. At first glance, it reminds me of the books by Anno Mitsumasa, an author-illustrator from mainly the '70s, but he made tons of great books for years! He made many beautiful wordless picture books. You should check him out. And a recent wordless picture book that made the NY Times Best Books of 2023: Bunny & Tree by Balint Zsako —it's stunning.
Taylor, I just read the latest Dory book to my daughter last night and laughed out loud at several points-- “let’s go around the circle and say if we believe in God” I almost cried😂😂😂. Also The Eyes and The Impossible was fantastic. Great list
As always, Taylor, your thoughtful take on children's books enriches my life (and not just my reading life, though it obviously impacts that, too). What I love the most is your taste, and how we enjoy such different books, and how I'm always learning from you -- okay, that's a lot of things to love "the most," but I can't limit myself to just one -- you're *that* good, and I'm so glad you started Moonbow and that I've gotten to go along for the ride this year 🩷 Here's to more great work to come!
(I haven't even begun to process my favorite books of the year and probably won't. I can't even remember what was published in 2023 or not.)
Thanks so so much, Sarah! I love that we read such different books and can learn from each other and find more incredible kid books to get into the hands of kids!
You mentioned many of them (Mac, Shawn, jon, of course) -- I also loved Mr. S by monica Arnaldo and Oh no the aunts are here by Adam Rex and Lian Cho. And Adam’s other 2023 books look amazing too but I’ve been moving when they came out so I’m looking forward to diving in once we get settled.
Love so much of everything you say here, except 'Mac and Jon are the Abbott and Costello of children’s books'
I just don't see it...they are a comedy duo, but that seems like an incorrect comparison knowing the comedy style of A&C. Plus Klassen has always striked me as a Buster Keaton type. Maybe Laurel and Hardy? I'm still thinking on this...
Oh, and have you read James Marshall's only novel?
So I actually agree with you. This isn’t meant to be in a direct comparison (although it sounds that way). In my post from last year, I compare them to iconic comedy duos like A&C and L&H, so you’re right in that. But they have their own unique style. And I agree about Klassen.
Ahhh gotcha! You know, I think about that era a lot as children's book creators seem like the last true form of vaudeville. We come into these schools, use their old timey stages, do a little song&dance, and are the only show in town.
I’m so glad to have found this list + your Substack today! I’m a writer in this space, but a Bank Street educated literacy specialist and curriculum designer in the outside world, and the way you write is the way we were taught to think about children’s books there. That is, as serious literature, worthy of adult attention and analysis, as well as inspiration and medicine both, for our kids as well as ourselves. And I am the biggest Jon Klassen and Jason Reynolds head, so I couldn’t love this particular list more. Excited to keep reading along with you, and sending these posts along to my edu friends!
Thank you, Ryan! I'm so happy to have you here, too. Thanks for the lovely comment, and sharing this philosophy on children's literature.
Looking forward to digging in to these! Adding them our holds at the library :)
Look who started a Substack! :)
I’ve been looking for something like your newsletter for years. An internet where kids books are taken seriously as literature and art for kids. I’ve spent so long googling “beautiful/funny/weird/good/gross but not that gross... books for kids and adults” but never finding the lists that hit the spot for me. I’m so happy I’ve found it finally.
Best books of the year is a big question that I am excited to be asked. There’s a lot of overlap (Jon Klassen + Mac Barnett + Shawn Harris forever), so I’ll just mention some of the others. Top of our list is Oh No, The Aunts Are Here!, by Adam Rex and Lian Cho. So funny and I loved how they get at the clueless, rock solid love of the aunt-kid relationship. Also the deep inconvenience of having visitors stay with you.
The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow, by Elaine Dimopoulus with drawings by Doug Salati, was a thrilling read-aloud with just enough suspense.
My son did not want to read Bea Wolf, by Zach Weinersmith, but I loved it. Particularly reading it aloud. To no one. Because, again, my son didn’t like it. But he’s not writing this list.
Bea Wolf is SO GOOD! Omg so good. I didn’t even bother trying it with my kids (9 and 7), mostly because I just wanted to selfishly soak it up alone 😂 (I also think it’s a less interesting read if you’re not familiar with the original, so there’s also that.)
I do think that was part of the problem for my kid - no context. I guess we just need to start on Beowulf. Buckle up, kid!
I'm not even sure it's a children's book, tbh. I mean, the premise is obviously aimed at kids, but... I don't think the story is nearly as compelling if you don't know The Story.
I should do that! And confession: I never finished Beowulf, not out of dislike, it just slips from my mind because I'm so distracted by other books. I think it's time to do it. This Christmas!
Two words: Seamus Heaney.
Then Maria Dahvana Headley. (But not Dahvana Headley first -- it's 10x as brilliant than Bea Wolf, but again, gotta be familiar with the original story. Start with Seamus.)
Cameron, thank you!! "beautiful/funny/weird/good/gross" is my specialty so look no further. And you can always count in Jon + Shawn + Mac to be winners with both adults and kids - which is why they make my lists so often—cause like you said—my kids aren't writing these lists, so it's helpful when the adults enjoy the books too! And I have not read any of those books yet. I want to check out the new one by Rex and Cho- looks great! I've not heard of The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow! And I have tried to get my kids to read Bea Wolf too! But they won't let me (yet). I listened to a podcast last night from the author Kiran Millwood Hargrave, and she talked about how her dad would read them Beowulf on family vacations — I'm like, my kids would never let me get away with that. I'm still trying to get them to listen to me read Roald Dahl — they hardly let me pick anything. :)
Hahahahaha. I feel the same way. We don’t read half the things I think we should or want to read. I always think we’re going to read A Christmas Carol out loud around the Christmas tree, but no one else is into that.
I forgot one real beauty that I’ll be buying a copy of to keep - The River and The Tree, by Aaron Becker. It’s gorgeous, wordless, and has very little in the way of plot. It gives you exactly what you need and no more, so you have the freedom to tell the story yourself. This description sounds like a book that kids wouldn’t get into, but my son loves it. I haven’t seen any other book quite like it, but I’d love to know if there are similar books.
I've never seen The River and the Tree—it looks beautiful and packed with storytelling potential. At first glance, it reminds me of the books by Anno Mitsumasa, an author-illustrator from mainly the '70s, but he made tons of great books for years! He made many beautiful wordless picture books. You should check him out. And a recent wordless picture book that made the NY Times Best Books of 2023: Bunny & Tree by Balint Zsako —it's stunning.
I am looking up Mitsumasa right now! Hiding in the bathroom while my child yells for me.
I had forgotten about The Bunny and the Tree! I remember wanting to frame the illustrations.
Taylor, I just read the latest Dory book to my daughter last night and laughed out loud at several points-- “let’s go around the circle and say if we believe in God” I almost cried😂😂😂. Also The Eyes and The Impossible was fantastic. Great list
I crack up so much while reading the Dory books. SO DANG FUNNY!!
As always, Taylor, your thoughtful take on children's books enriches my life (and not just my reading life, though it obviously impacts that, too). What I love the most is your taste, and how we enjoy such different books, and how I'm always learning from you -- okay, that's a lot of things to love "the most," but I can't limit myself to just one -- you're *that* good, and I'm so glad you started Moonbow and that I've gotten to go along for the ride this year 🩷 Here's to more great work to come!
(I haven't even begun to process my favorite books of the year and probably won't. I can't even remember what was published in 2023 or not.)
Thanks so so much, Sarah! I love that we read such different books and can learn from each other and find more incredible kid books to get into the hands of kids!
GREAT picks -- some I haven’t had the chance to read yet which makes me very very excited!
I'm curious what you will think of them! What were some of your fav books this year?
You mentioned many of them (Mac, Shawn, jon, of course) -- I also loved Mr. S by monica Arnaldo and Oh no the aunts are here by Adam Rex and Lian Cho. And Adam’s other 2023 books look amazing too but I’ve been moving when they came out so I’m looking forward to diving in once we get settled.