Highlights from 20 Years of Children’s Books
Editors’ Note
The May 2005 issue of Young Children introduced a new column, The Reading Chair. Its purpose was to provide reviews of new books for children to help educators select and use books for their settings. The column began with Isabel Baker—a former librarian who loved great children’s books and had been working with early childhood teachers for many years—approaching Young Children Editor Derry Koralek about a column connecting teachers to the best new books. In 2007, her daughter, Miriam Baker Schiffer, a children’s book author, became co-editor of the column. They have faithfully shared their expertise and enthusiasm for high-quality children’s books, featuring books they loved, with NAEYC readers.
Since the column began, they have reviewed thousands of books looking for texts that foster children’s learning, development, and a sense of community and inspiration. Isabel and Miriam’s thoughtful book suggestions have given educators new ideas to bring to their classrooms and have encouraged them to think of children’s interests, questions, and backgrounds as they select books to read aloud and include in their collections.
This will be the last Reading Chair column in Young Children. We recognize and are grateful for the co-editors’ longstanding support of children and educators through quality books for all age groups and settings. To say farewell, we are sharing 10 of the 600 books that have been featured—a small sampling of a collection that captures different themes, genres, and communities for children birth through age 8.
We hope all educators will continue to refer to this collection and reflect on what the stories offer the children they serve. We look forward to highlighting children’s books and curricular connections in the Now Read This feature in NAEYC’s member-exclusive magazine, Educating Young Children (available to every member via their member portal).
—YC editorial team
Whose Toes Are Those?
By Jabari Asim. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2006.
This board book encourages physical activity while celebrating the beauty of brown toes. Energetic, rhyming text and warm illustrations incorporate chants and concepts.
First the Egg
By Laura Vaccaro Seeger. 2007.
January 2008
Peekaboo cutouts and bright illustrations offer a fresh perspective on life cycles and growing.
Black and White
By Tana Hoban. 2007.
September 2007
A combination of the author’s previous titles Black on White and White on Black, this innovative foldout book of photographic images will captivate newborns, older infants, and toddlers alike.
Press Here
By Hervé Tullet. 2011.
May 2012
This story of a dot that multiplies itself, changes colors, and moves around the page with every touch or shake of the book offers an interactive experience that children will find empowering.
Alma and How She Got Her Name
By Juana Martinez-Neal. 2018.
July 2019
Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela discovers her family history—and a new appreciation for her many names—when her father tells her the stories of all the relatives whose names she shares.
Julián Is a Mermaid
By Jessica Love. 2018.
September 2019
In this story of acceptance and unconditional love, young Julián fashions his own mermaid skirt out of a curtain after spotting women dressed as mermaids while riding the subway with his grandmother.
Saturday
By Oge Mora. 2019.
July 2020
Ava and her mother enjoy their Saturdays together. On this particular Saturday, everything seems to go wrong—until they remember that Saturdays are special because they spend them with each other.
Hey, Water!
By Antoinette Portis. 2019.
July 2020
This book celebrates water through science, poetry, visual intrigue, and playfulness.
Nell Plants a Tree
By Anne Wynter. Illustrated by Daniel Miyares. 2023.
Spring 2024
A story of visiting grandma’s house and playing in and around the large tree is intertwined with the story of grandma planting the tree when she was a young girl.
Grandma's Roof Garden
By Tang Wei. Translated by Kelly Zhang. 2024.
Fall 2024
Granny lives a vibrant life, maintaining a bustling garden—full of vegetable plants, hens, and geese—on the rooftop of her apartment building. Once harvest time arrives, she shares vegetables with all her neighbors and throws a party for her family.
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