We obviously love books, so we love children’s books ABOUT books and reading! This list of kids books about reading is full of fun stories that celebrate the power of books and the magic of reading.
Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post. I received copies of these books in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
We Love Books!
Illustrated by Ingela P Arrhenius and Marcel et Joachim
This cute shaped board book celebrates all the different types of books you can read, as well as the ways you can read them. Little ones will like the small, shaped pages, and the cute cartoon illustrations.
This Book of Mine
Written by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small
This sweet, rhyming ode to books and reading is perfect for book lovers of all ages. The simple text shares all the ways that we enjoy books, from babies chewing on them, to kids and adults reading them and sniffing them. The gentle illustrations are done in mostly purple hues, with the books in various colors, making them pop from the images.
A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book
Written and illustrated by Jonathan Fenske
Since everyone loves books about unicorns, dinosaurs, and sharks, the narrator of this book decides that putting all 3 together will result in the best book ever. But as the narrator tries to tell the story, the characters refuse to cooperate, resulting in a hilarious story that will surely have kids laughing out loud.
Battle of the Books
Written by Melanie Ellsworth and illustrated by James Rey Sanchez
Which book do you pick at bedtime? All of the books on Josh’s shelf want to be the one picked for tonight’s story. So they battle it out, trying to get the top position and sharing why they’re the best choice. Each book speaks in a specific style that pays tribute to their genre, and they have funny faces that will have kids laughing out loud. The sweet ending is perfect for little book lovers who enjoy curling up with loved ones at night to read.
The Loud Librarian
Written by Jenna Beatrice and illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones
In this colorful book, a young girl named Penelope is excited to be the student librarian in her class. The only problem is that Penelope is very loud. Will she be able to control her loud voice in order to be a good librarian, or can she find a way to use her voice for something new? Kids will love the way Penelope uses her love of books and her loud voice in a different way.
Related Post: Celebrate Reading with Children’s Books about Librarians!
This is a Story
Written by John Schu and illustrated by Lauren Castillo
This celebration of the power of stories starts with a single word, and continues to grow into words on a page, pages in a book, books on a shelf, and so on. The simple text and colorful illustrations show how these books can then help us to connect with one another, to use our imaginations, to ask questions, and to help us understand everything. This is a beautiful tribute to the power of books and how something as simple as words on a page can make a huge impact on us.
Lupe Lopez: Reading Rock Star!
Written by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Joe Cepeda
This brightly colored book introduces readers to Lupe Lopez, a young girl who has made it her mission to earn a star on the Reading Wall of Fame in her classroom. Lupe struggles to make sense of the words that she is reading, but her teacher encourages her to look at reading like she looks at music. Soon, Lupe is able to use her music skills to improve her reading skills. This is a great book for little ones struggling with reading, who will appreciate how Lupe doesn’t let her struggles hold her back.
Dakota Crumb and the Secret Bookshop: A Tiny Treasure Hunt
Written by Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Kelly Murphy
Join Dakota Crumb, the tiny mouse treasure hunter as she goes on a mission to find a hidden rare book for her cousin. The book takes readers along with Dakota as she figures out clues and makes her way through the bookshop. There are lots of fun little images hidden throughout the illustrations and the back of the book includes a key so readers can go back and find each treasure.
How to Eat a Book
Written by Mrs. & Mr. Macleod
When young Sheila Grunion sits down to eat a book, the book eats her instead. Soon, her cousins are eaten by the book too. Floating inside the book, they explore fascinating worlds and creatures, and learn about themselves as well. The immersive artwork uses pen and ink cutout art photographed as three dimensional dioramas, giving a truly unique look. Fans of Shel Silverstein and Lewis Carroll will appreciate the fun insanity of the story and the illustrations.
Colorful Mondays: A Bookmobile Spreads Hope in Honduras
Written by Nelson Rodriguez and Leonardo Agustin Montes, illustrated by Rosana Faria and Carla Tabora, and translated by Lawrence Schimel
This inspiring story follows a young boy named Luis as he experiences all the joy of the bookmobile’s weekly visit to his neighborhood. The stories he learns from the bookmobile fill him with joy that he carries home with him and shares with others. This story is based on a real bookmobile program in Honduras, and a note in the back of the book shares more information about it. The illustrations are bursting with colors, showing how the stories bring light and joy to the kids, even while surrounded by sad stories.
Related Post: 14 Children’s Books Celebrating Books & Reading!
Books Aren’t For Eating
Written by Carlie Sorosiak and illustrated by Manu Montoya
In this fun story, Leopold the goat loves his bookstore, and he loves picking out the perfect books for the animals that visit him. But when another goat comes to his shop, he is only interested in eating Leopold’s books! Can Leopold find a way to make this customer happy without letting him devour all of his books? This is a fun twist on the power of books and reading that will have kids laughing out loud.
Good Books for Bad Children: The Genius of Ursula Nordstrom
Written by Beth Kephart and illustrated by Chloe Bristol
This book shares the life story of Ursula Nordstrom, the editor of many famous children’s books. It starts out with her childhood and her early love of books and reading, and also shares how she worked with the authors of some of our most beloved children’s classics. She wanted to bring kids all kinds of stories, whether others thought they were too scary or too naughty. The illustrations are full of familiar scenes from popular books, and the back of the book includes an author’s note with more information about Nordstrom’s life.
Moose’s Book Bus
Written by Inga Moore
Follow along with a moose named Moose as he shares stories with his family after dinner. When he runs out of stories to tell, he heads to the library and finds new stories to share. As more animals hear about his storytime, they start joining Moose’s family. Soon, he runs out of room in his house and decides to find a new way to bring stories to the animals in the woods. This is a sweet story that celebrates the joy of shared reading, with some really cute animal illustrations!
Return of the Underwear Dragon
Written by Scott Rothman and illustrated by Pete Oswald
This follow-up to Attack of the Underwear Dragon follows Sir Cole as he attempts to teach the Underwear Dragon how to read. But reading books can be difficult when you breathe fire. Kids will love watching the determined knight as he finds new ways to teach the Underwear Dragon, and will thoroughly enjoy the very silly illustrations.
This is NOT a Book!
Written by Kellie Byrnes and Aska
What makes a book a book? That is the question posed by the funny main character in this story who believes that she is real. Throughout the book, she attempts to prove that she is real, and that the “collection of pages” in your hands isn’t actually a book. The funny text touches on parts of a story such as main character, plot, and setting, making this a fun way to introduce those concepts to young kids.
Related Post: Benefits of Reading Interactive Books with Your Kids
A Book for Bear
Written by Ellen L. Ramsey and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley
In this adorable story, a bear sits in the woods and happily listens while a young girl named Ellen reads books. When Bear decides that he wants a book of his own, Ellen hatches a plan to sneak him into school, the library, and a bookstore. But when those plans don’t work out, she comes up with a creative way to give Bear the perfect book to read. This is a sweet book about friendship and a love of books, with brightly colored illustrations and a really cute ending.
One Girl
Written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
This inspirational book uses a simple, poetic text and beautiful illustrations to highlight the power of reading and books. As one girl is introduced to a book, it lights a fire in her and sends her imagination into overdrive. As she uses that fire to inspire others, her spark lights up the world. The back of the book includes a note from the author sharing her inspiration for the book and the importance of giving girls around the world a greater chance at an education.
Bunny Figures it Out
Written by Ruby Shamir and illustrated by Andrew Joyner
Bunny just wants to make a sandwich, but she is out of jelly. When no one around her knows how to make jelly, she heads to the library to learn how to do it herself. Luckily, the library holds all the answers she needs. The cute story celebrates the importance of books and libraries, while the adorable illustrations feature cute animal characters. The back of the book includes instructions on how to make your own grape jelly.
Booker the Library Bat
Written by Jess M. Brallier and illustrated by Jeff Harter
This sweet story follows a little bat named Booker who is training to be the newest night guard in an old library. Booker loves to read, and he loves gobbling up the bugs that like to eat the antique books. While on guard one night. Booker spies a burglar in the library, and he has to come up with a plan to save his beloved books. Kids will love the adorable bat characters and the funny plan that Booker hatches to stop the burglar.
This Book is My Best Friend
Written by Robin Robinson
Sonny and Aarush are two kids who both like to read, and they both have the same book as a best friend. When they both want to read it at the same time, they try to explain to one another why it’s so important to them. They each try to convince the other to try a new book, but they are both set on their favorite book. In the end, their shared love of the book may prove that sharing books makes them even better.
When You Open a Book
Written by Caroline Derlatka and illustrated by Sara Ugolotti
This beautifully illustrated book pays tribute to the power of reading a book and the great adventures that reading can take you on. The gentle rhyming text explores all the powerful ways that books can take you to new places and on new adventures. The colorful illustrations bring these adventures to life in imaginative artwork that show two young readers embarking to new worlds.
My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World
Written by Malcolm Mitchell and illustrated by Michael Robertson
Meet a young boy named Henley, who is looking for a book that he can truly love. His teacher tells his class to bring their favorite books to class the next day, but Henley doesn’t have one. He checks out the library and the bookshop, but still can’t find anything. When he asks his mother for advice, she helps him see what the other books were missing.
Do NOT Open this Book
Written by Andy Lee and illustrated by Heath McKenzie
This interactive book features a main character that BEGS the reader not to read the book. With each turn of the page, he gets more and more upset, and tries to come up with different ways to stop the reader from finishing the book. Kids will love watching the main character get sillier and sillier, as well as the funny twist ending.
The Lost Library
Written by Jess McGeachin
When a young boy named Oliver finds a book fluttering in his closet, he finds a note saying to return it to the Lost Library. He doesn’t know hot to find the library, but his new neighbor Rosie agrees to help him. When they place the book into the returns slot, the floor opens up and they find themselves thrown into the Lost Library and incredible adventures. Kids and adults alike will appreciate this adventurous story that pays tribute to the power of books and of friendship.
Pages & Co: The Bookwanderers
Written by Anna James
This book is the first in the Pages & Co series, and it introduces readers to 11 year old Tilly Pages. Tilly is a young girl who lives with her grandparents above their bookshop and finds comfort in the stories of her favorite characters. When those characters start showing up in the shop, she learns that not only can characters come out of books to visit her, but she can also bookwander into stories. While wandering into the world of stories, she learns that not everything is at it seems, and there may be more secrets surrounding her mother’s disappearance.
Pages & Co: The Lost Fairy Tales
Written by Anna James
When Tilly and her best friend Oskar wander into a book of fairy tales and find things are going wrong, it is up to them to figure out who is behind the mixed up stories. They come face to face with an old foe, and learn that evil can exist outside of books as well.
Pages & Co: The Map of Stories
Written by Anna James
Tilly and Oskar are heading to the Library of Congress in order to find a group of bookwanderers called the Archivists in the hopes of saving the British Underlibrary. With the help of some fictional friends, they must solve the mystery in order to save their favorite stories and the art of bookwandering.
Pages & Co: The Book Smugglers
Written by Anna James
Milo is a young boy who lives on a magical train with his rare book smuggling uncle, Horatio. When Horatio takes on a dangerous job, he and Tilly Page’s grandfather are poisoned by a mysterious book, and it is up to Milo and Tilly to solve the mystery and save their loved ones.
What are your favorite kids books about reading? Share them in the comments below!
More Posts You May Enjoy:
-
- Books Celebrating Books
-
- Books about Librarians
-
- 5 Tips for Reading with Your Kids
