Edutopia has posted a curated list of 10 remarkable picture books published in 2023 on the website at https://www.edutopia.org/article/remarkable-picture-books-2023

Ryan Tahmaseb, who collated the list of remarkable 2023 picture books, notes, “As a children’s author and former school librarian, I have a special place in my heart for picture books…. I can’t think of a form that better speaks to humans both small and big.”

The ten selections include:

• Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage, by Lisa Rogers, illustrated by Il Sung Na. This book is recommended as “a springboard for discussions about artistic vision, experimentation, and innovations across all disciplines. Recommended for pre-K to grade 3.

• Beneath, by Cori Doerrfeld. This story of a grieving child and grandfather going for a walk, uses ‘x-ray’ style illustrations to reveal something happening beneath what show on the surface. Recommended for pre-K to grade 3.

• Down the Hole, by Scott Slater, illustrated by Adam Ming. Recommend for pre-K to grade 3 as a fun read-aloud story of how Rabbit uses a plan to outwit Fox.

• I Am a Tornado, by Drew Beckmeyer. Recommended for pre-K to grade 3, the story explores big ideas like handling intense emotions and the transformative power of letting go, while offering ideas on how to manage anger and support others who are going through something difficult. Recommended for pre-K to grade 3.

• Make Way: The Story of Robert McCloskey, Nancy Shon, and Some Very Famous Ducklings, by Angela Burke Kunkel, illustrated by Claire Keane. The book looks at how an artist draws inspiration from another person’s creative work. Recommended for pre-K to grade 3.

• Oh, Olive!, by Lian Cho. “A vibrant and humorous book about an eccentric young artist named Olive whose parents are ‘serious’ artists and disapprove of her work”, exploring authentic self-expression and how to find one’s one unique style. Recommended for pre-K to grade 3.

• Tokyo Night Parade, by J.P.Takahashi, illustrated by Minako Tomigahara. A “visually striking mythological adventure”, set it Tokyo and New York City, exploring what it is like to have special links to more than one culture. Recommended for pre-K to grade 3.

• Unflappable, by Matthew Ward, illustrated by Scott Magoon. A story about a trio of flightless birds determined to find a way to fly. The story explores finding joy in process and the value of persistence. Recommended for pre-K to grade 3.

• Zora, the Story Keeper, by Ebony Hoy Wilkins, illustrated by Dare Coulter. “The book invites discussions about how telling stories about our loved ones is a way to keep them present even when they’re not around.” Recommended for pre-K to grade 3.

• My Strange Shrinking Parents, by Zeno Sworder. “A gorgeous fictionalized tribute to the author’s immigrant parents that’s made even more moving by the visual metaphor.” Recommended for K to grade 3.

For links to access the books and more detailed descriptions, go to the web page at https://www.edutopia.org/article/remarkable-picture-books-2023