As am sure you know, we are big readers at our house. 

And as readers, do you know what’s worse than dropping an ice cream cone around here?  Waiting for the next book from a much loved author or illustrator to come out!

Seriously, when you find an amazing author or an illustrator that your child LOVES, you know their books are worth their weight in gold! 

Your child will WANT to pick up the book and linger.

Authors and illustrators who capture a child’s attention in this way help us to build readers — and we adore them for it 🙂

This booklist is different than most of the others we share — these books will be released in 2015 and are not yet on the shelves. 

But today, we are able to give you a ‘sneak peek’ at some of the AWESOME titles coming in children’s literature in the coming year!

 

15 Outstanding Kids Books in 2015

Our picks are based on reading experiences with previous books in the same series or by the same author or illustrator.  I’m including affilaite links for each selection so you can learn more about each book as it gets closer to the release date.  

 

Board Books

A perfect basket-stuffer for Easter, Llama Llama Easter Egg shows us how Llama and her friends celebrate at Easter.  One of the reasons I love the Llama, Llama books is because Llama has many of the same feelings and behaviors as toddler we know (so it’s easy for them to identify with the character in the book).  Babies and toddlers will enjoy the bright but soft colors and rhyming text in this sturdy book.   Available February 5, 2015

 

     

I know that at first, parents may be confused by these classic book titles transformed into baby board books — but it works!  These books use illustrations to highlight colors and concepts that can be associated with each of the classic stories — the illustrations are captivating!  

Secret Garden A BabyLit® Flowers Primershould be a beautiful introduction to flowers and colors while I expect that  Don Quixote: A BabyLit® Spanish Language Primer will introduce both the English & Spanish words for items that toddlers will recognize.  Available March 1, 2015

 

New Picture Books

This got a big thumbs-up from my daughter who has told me Aqua is the new pink 🙂   In Aqualicious, Pinkalicious Pinkalicious and her family take a trip to the beach where she finds a mini-mermaid named Aqua.  Fans of the other Pinkalicious adventures are sure to enjoy the newest in the series!   Available March 3, 2015

 

Click, Clack, Peep!is the newest adventure on Farmer Brown’s farm.  But this time, it isn’t Duck who’s causing all the problems — it’s a new duckling who just can’t go to sleep!  Kids will enjoy all the ways that everyone pitches in to get the babies to sleep if anyone else on the farm wants to get any shut-eye.  Available February 10, 2015

 

From the author/illustrator team who brought us I Didn’t Do My Homework Because… comes the newest funny installment — A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School…  This book shares all the outlandish excuses kids might come up with for being late to school.

And who wouldn’t love a book that begins with “giant ants stealing breakfast” 😉  Available March 3, 2015

 

I’m excited to see another title in the ‘How Do Dinosaurs’ series!  I love these stories because they are both humorous and educational allowing many opportunities to begin a discussion with the kids as you read. Past titles have included How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Room? and How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?

How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe? will once again entertain both kids & parents alike.  Kids will learn all about safety from crossing the street to calling 9-1-1 and all while giggling at the dinosaurs who attempt to practice safety behaviors in a human-size world.   Available February 24, 2015

 

If you’ve read our wonderful winter book list, you’ll recognize the story Over and Under the Snow which shows the reader what’s happening above the snow and below the ground on a cold winter day. 

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt gives us a peek into the spring goings-on both above and below the dirt as a garden is started.  The book is a great introduction to the science of nature and seasonal changes.  Perfect for gardening fans and kids who ask all those “what/where/how” questions about nature.  Available March 3, 2015

 

We love the sweet verse and gorgeous illustrations in so many of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s stories.  And I Wish You More looks to follow suit!  This story is about all those big and little wishes you hope for the ones you love.  These books also make wonderful momentos and gifts too.

If you’re not familiar with Ms. Rosenthal’s previous books, be sure to visit one of our previous Kids Book Club posts to learn more.   Available March 31, 2015

 

 Non-fiction Reads

Oh how I wish the newest edition to the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library was out when we did our Nocturnal Scavenger Hunt activity earlier this year!  This is a non-ficiton series we adore — it ties in a well-loved character (the Cat) who introduces kids to various aspects of science.

In Out of Sight Till Tonight!: All About Nocturnal Animals, readers will visit with nocturnal animals and learn how the live in the dark.  And it’s not just your well-known nighttime friends; each book also introduces some lesser known parts of the world (which is why I think the series is so cool!).  Available March 24, 2015

 

I love Nat Geo books for kids!  Lots of details, very colorful photos and tons of fun facts on each page.  The  National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Who will be a great introduction to famous people throughout history — a wonderful non-fiction addition to your home bookshelf and one that will grow with the kids.  Available March 10, 2015

 

I was able to read a pre-released copy of this story and LOVED it!  One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia shares the vision of one woman and her unique idea for upcycling all of the plastic bags that were littering the streets of her city. 

Similar to One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference and The Good Garden, kids will be introduced to how others live and solve problems in this motiviating story.  Available February 1, 2015

 

Chapter Books

This is the book that has me on the seat of my pants.  The Penderwicks series  are wonderful read-aloud stories that will remind parents of their childhood — neighborhood friends, sleeping porches and the excitement of running around without adults always supervising!  The books feature strong female characters and are contemporary stories of the lives and adventurs of four sisters, their father and many friends (and new family members). 

The Penderwicks in Springis the fourth in the series and the characters should span across all ages (kids, tweens and teens).  These books remind me of other classic, much-loved family stories such as Ramona, Half Magic and The Five Little Peppers.  Available March 24, 2015

 

If you have a Geronimo fan, be sure to check out the new “Back in Time” series!  Kids are introduced to historic events and figures at various points throughout history.  As with the original series, there’s always lots of adventure.

In Geronimo Stilton Special Edition: The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time, the reader will visit Ancient Rome, the Maya Empire and other ancient cultures.   Available January 27, 2015

 

Any Percy Jackson fan will tell you they can’t WAIT for Rick Riordan’s next book!  Percy has Greek mythology, the Kane Chronicles have Egyptian mythology and now we have Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1: The Sword of Summer, the first book in Riordan’s Norse Mythology series. 

Readers will be introduced to Magnus, who is the son of a Norse God, along with all the Viking legends.  Available October 6, 2015

 

Do you have any favorite books coming out this year?

 

Happy Reading!

~ Jacquie