A week or so back, I found a list of 2023 children’s books recommended by the Smithsonian Magazine. I went through the list, perused all the books, and chose a few for my 10, 7, 4, and 1-year- old grandkids. The books arrived a few days ago and I have been thrilled by the quality of each of them. I value books and want for my grandkids to see some of the best around. I hope they like them. I personally love them so that’s a good sign.

They are:

1. 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Lian Cho. This one is for 7-year-old Nico and is not only fun to look at but also has a bit of fancy math going on as all those dragons go off on different adventures.

2. O Is for Ossicone by Hannah Eliot. I bought this for Ethan since it stated it was a board book. However, it has so many cool facts about the animals that I may have to reconsider and give it to one of Ethan’s cousins. The jury is still out on this decision but I did buy Ethan another book, just in case.

3. When You Can Swim by Jack Wong. I bought this for Lyla because her Auntie Rachael has been teaching her to swim. It’s a lovely picture book that will take you back to being a kid. It also features people from many cultures, which adds a nice bit of diversity to this already charming book.

4. The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman. This book was on a different list of outstanding books. It was published in 2018 and tells the story of Maria Merian, a 16th-century girl who closely observed insects and discovered many things about them that had been previously unknown. The story is fascinating and the drawings are wonderful. I think Luna will enjoy learning about Maria’s life and how she used her artistic ability to futher her natural fascination with insects.

5. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly is another book for ten-year-old Luna. This is a Newberry Award winner about four friends (2 boys and 2 girls) who learn about bravery, being different, and being a hero as they go together on a neighborhood adventure.