The Best Children’s Books of 2014

As many avid readers know, there are always “Best Of” lists that come out letting us know what the best reading material for the year is. There are many things to consider: the target audience, the genre of the book and subject matter, for starters. For reading fans, these can be a godsend, helping us pick out what our next book selection is going to be. While our kids are the ones who should also be interested in reading, children’s books aren’t always highlighted for most to see. There are some really great ones out there, too!

Here are the top five best children’s books of 2014:

1. Ball by Mary Sullivan

This fun little book is about a ball-obsessed puppy who anxiously awaits its owner to come back and play.

2. Bully by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Suggested for the younger, toddler-aged kids, this book is about a young bull who has been bullied only to find out that he’s also the one acting like a bully.

3. Robot, Go Bot! by Dana Meachen Rau

Preschoolers and kindergarten-aged children will enjoy this easy read, which is in the style of simple words in comic-style balloons. The book tells the story about a bossy girl and her homemade robot.

4. P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia

Adolescents will enjoy this sequel to One Crazy Summer, which tells the story about the Gaither sisters. Taking place in Brooklyn in 1968, these gals are going through some complicated times: their father is in love, their Uncle Darnell is back from Vietnam and music sensation the Jackson Five are coming to their town.

5. The Living by Matt de la Pena

For the older kid readers, this book tells a thrilling survival story about a boy’s summer job on a cruise ship that turns into a fight for his life. The conscious page-turning novel not only tells a great story, it also brings up cultural and sociological issues.

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