Best New Picture Books, October 2024
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Are you ready for my 20 favorite new release picture books!? I read well over 100 books and curated the top 20 books you need to read in October. (These are great stories, not didactic, and not boring.)
I hope this saves you time and energy so you can focus on the best new releases this month and skip the duds.
When I started this blog over 15 years ago, I made the conscious decision to not write negative reviews. I know that there are pros and cons to this — I don’t warn you about the super duddy books but I also feel this is the only decision that aligns with my values. There is enough negativity in the world, I don’t need to contribute to it. Nor do not wish to tear down creators.
Best New Picture Books, October 2024
All at Once Upon a Time written by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Gladys Jose
FRACTURED FAIRY TALE / FUNNY
Your readers think they know the fairy tales, but in this book, there are lots of silly twists. Because the page turns reveal something unexpected like that the girl in the tower has a long…nose and the prince that came to save her climbed a…beanstalk to a…castle with three bowls. Also, the prince bit into an apple and fell down a well, and the giant met a girl with a hood and a basket of frogs? Well, you get the gist. All the fairy tales are mixed up and it makes for a hilarious, unexpected story. And they all lived happily… in a shoe!? The end.
Olive All At Once written by Mariam Gates, illustrated by Alison Hawkins 
EMOTIONS / SEL
FINALLY, the social emotional book I’ve wanted to see in the world for forever!! This superb book is about Olive, a little girl who feels all the emotions AT THE SAME TIME! The narrator explains that Olive feels different emotions. She has first-person interjections about why she feels what she feels throughout her days at school, at a birthday party, and at home — and they are so charming and fun. Let’s normalize the truth that we feel multiple emotions at once!
Rory the Remarkable Dragon written and illustrated by Kathryn Rammell
FUNNY
Practically perfect for your preschool-age readers, this silly story will crack them up. Rory is just like all the other remarkable dragons, isn’t she? Her school principal is suspicious. Her teacher says she’s such a fast flyer that no one can see her. WOW. Her classmates applaud her fire-breathing self-control. HA. Then comes lunch…chicken! Will Rory be found out? YES, but it’s not what you think. It’s her big secret — she’s a vegetarian!
Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah written by Karen Rostoker-Ruber, illustrated by Carles Arbat
HANUKKAH
I LOVE the illustrations of the bear in this story who crashes the family’s Hanukkah. He’s adorable even though he eats all the latkes and applesauce and tears apart the gifts, making a beary big mess. So the boy tells the bear to leave. When the boy learns the Bear also celebrates Hanukkah, they figure out a solution — an outside celebration with jelly donuts. (Which the bear loves!) A sweet author’s note explains more about the importance of mitzvah, aka. good deeds, and helping friends feel comfortable. WONDERFUL!
Lost written and illustrated by Bob Staake
WORDLESS / COMMUNITY
A little girl puts up signs for her lost cat and meets neighbors who also have lost pets. It’s a search adventure that leads to all the missing pets with retro-stylized art.
The Midnight Panther written and illustrated by Poonam Mistry
FABLE
Panther wants to be special like the other big cats, so he goes on a journey. At first, he tries to look like the other big cats, but it doesn’t work. When the Moon comes out at night, Panther climbs high in a tree to get closer. That’s when he discovers that he is a Midnight Panther who shines brightest in the dark. Gorgeous, evocative, and detailed illustrations.
Nocturnal Nico written and illustrated by Gabe Jensen
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
At night, some animals close their eyes, but other animals like Nico and nocturnal animals are wide awake. The boy’s adventures coincide with the adventures of nocturnal animals in purple colored nighttime panels. Then, the nocturnal animals get hungry, so they go find the tastiest snack. What will happen when Nico sees that Grandpa is awake? They’ll share a moonlight munch…and start to sleep. Maybe they aren’t nocturnal after all. Good night, diurnals. An adorable story that introduces readers to nocturnal animals while relating them to a human boy’s experience.
Bunnies in a Sleigh: A Chaotic Christmas Tale! written by Philip Ardagh, illustrated by Ben Mantle
CHRISTMAS
The bunnies sneak into Santa’s sleigh and down the chimney into the houses. Bunnies in the house making a mess! Their chaos causes lots of hullabaloo and silliness, but in the end, all the presents are delivered, so the bunnies celebrate with some reindeer food.
Hanukkah Pajamakkahs written by Dara Henry, illustrated by Olga & Aleksey Ivanov
HANUKKAH / HUMOR
I love everything about this playful Hanukkah story that shows an exuberant girl celebrating Hanukkah with her family! Ruthie gets new pajamakkas on the first night of Hanukkah. Her parents say she can wear them all eight nights if she can keep them spotless. (Are you worried, yet) Good thing Ruthie’s definition of spotless is different from her parents. She splats on some latkes, drips the wax, tapes on strips of tape, squishes gooey jelly, floofs on glitter, and squelches on paint. Those aren’t spots! Those are dots, Ruthie says. Her messy fun shows their many wonderful family traditions.
What Can a Mess Make? written and illustrated by Bee Johnson
IMAGINATION / CREATION
Written in lyrical, rhythmic language, sisters find that so many things around their house can be used to make a mess. But it’s not the mess that matters because those messes are what makes forts, masterpieces, snacks, changes of plans, and a good night’s sleep. (To name a few creations.) These sisters’ big imaginations create a day full of adventure and play. A wonderfully written and illustrated celebration of imagination!
The Most Boring Book Ever written by Brandon Sanderson, illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi
FUNNY
I LOVE this so-called boring book about a boy sitting in a chair looking at clouds, which has no sarcasm or crazy adventures. There are definitely NOT helicopters or sky pirates or explosions or a dragon. It’s a totally boring book that might have epically gorgeous illustrations from the creator of AMULET depicting a completely different story than you might expect.
Oak The Littlest Leaf Girl written and illustrated by Lucy Fleming
CHANGE / MOVING HOMES
This little leaf girl lives in an Oak tree where she has lots of fun, but when fall begins, the family needs to leave the tree for a new home, and she doesn’t want to leave the tree. So she doesn’t. But she’s cold and lonely. Eventually, she joins her family for a new adventure. Kids will love the sweet little leaf girl who resists change and her brave nature adventures.
Mr. Santa written and illustrated by Jarvis
CHRISTMAS
When Santa comes to this little girl’s house, she peppers him with questions. Readers will laugh at the girl’s nonstop questions during an adventure with Santa to the North Pole and back.
Stomp, Soar, Dino Roar written by Max Amato, illustrated by Brendan McAuliffe
DINOSAUR ONOMATOPEIA
In this noisy dino book, a triceratops named Terri listens to the noisy dinosaurs around her. But what sound does she make? You’ll be surprised at her noise and who it scares. Filled with lots of noisy words, this will be a fun read aloud for your preschoolers!
Big Gorilla: A Book of Opposites written and illustrated by Anthony Browne
OPPOSITES
This oversized book asks readers the opposite word for concepts such as sad, heavy, alone, big, and other opposite words. Realistic-looking primates magnificently illustrate the opposites.
When Black Girl Dreams Big written by Tanisia Moore, illustrated by Robert Paul Jr.
BLACK GIRL INSPIRATION & BIOGRAPHIES
In first-person narration, the girl narrates that she can dream big and do anything. Then, she gives examples. She can be brave like Sojourner Truth, strong like Serena Williams, the hero of her own story like Marley Dias, a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud like Maya Angelou, and so on. Filled with examples of inspirational and memorable Black women, this girl celebrates her heroes and the possibilities she has in the path before her. “When Black girls dream big, WE can do anything!”
Drawn Onward written by Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Matt Rockerfeller
GRIEF
The fantastical illustrations show an epic adventure of a grieving boy who finds his bravery and answers on an adventure in the woods, underwater, desert, and at a castle with a statue of his mother. The boy finds light when he learns his mom was glad she was his mom. Back at home, he realizes he isn’t all alone because he has his dad and that his mom will always be with him. This is said to be a palindrome book, but I don’t see it. Where? Am I missing something obvious?
We Celebrate the Light written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple, illustrated by Jieting Chen
WINTER HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD
From Diwali to Lunar New Year and every holiday in between, including Christmas and Kwanza, this story shows families celebrating holidays and traditions filled with light. Informational text insets share the basic facts about each holiday. Enchanting illustrations!
A Cozy Winter Day written and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
WINTER
What is Winter Cozy? This animal community explores all the things that make winter cozy — from sizzling breakfast to toasty warm fires and sled rides. Winter Cozy is for projects around the house, fun outside, and sharing a winter feast. Adorable animal illustrations will charm readers.
Knight Owl and Early Bird written and illustrated by Christopher Denise
FRIENDSHIP
An exuberant (and talkative) admirer of Knight Owl comes to train with him at the castle. But this Early Bird makes lots of noise when Knight Owl is sleeping, and she falls asleep at night during patrol. In a moment of exasperation, Knight Owl tells Early Bird to go away so he can sleep. And Early Bird does. Knight Owl feels bad when he awakes, so he leaves the castle to search for her–and encounters a pack of wolves. Who will save him? The newest knight, who is a great knight after all. Like the first book, these illustrations are cinematically gorgeous.
