Jonah Dragan

The beginning of life, the stars in the sky, the fungi around us, and some of the hottest topics in biology and science are on display in the best books of 2023 in the elementary nonfiction list. The facts are in: these writers and illustrators help kids connect with the real world in one thrilling book after another. 

Impeccable art and lyrical and child-friendly text set these 27 titles apart from everything else we read this year.

Discover rock-a-bye sloths and tricky children in these six board books to help kids drift off to dreamland.