Yet more scientific evidence has emerged that—shocker!—reading books is good for young children. So, the question isn’t WHETHER to read to kids, it’s WHAT to read.

Here are seven newly released picture books perfect for kids’ parietal-temporal-occipital association cortexes… and the adults who love them.

One Family by George Shannon
Families come in all shapes and sizes… and numbers. This early counting book beautifully illustrates the diversity of city families, big and small.

Abukacha’s Shoes by Tamar Tessler
Cool collages and multimedia art enhance the tale of “the biggest shoes in the whole wide world”—a Holocaust story passed down through the author’s family.

Little Red Henry by Linda Urban
In this retelling of the “Little Red Hen” story, well-meaning helicopter parents will find a kind reminder not to hover too much.

Bird and Bear by Ann James
A day in the life of two friends—alike yet different—is the subject of this gentle story and its watercolor illustrations.

Where Is Pim? by Lena Landström
The Velveteen Rabbit finds a kindred spirit in Pim, a rag doll who’s spirited away by a dog in the park and eagerly sought after by his owner and pal.

Home by Ellis Carson
What does “home” look like for people all over the world… or animals… or aliens?

Missing Jack by Rebecca Elliot
Grab the tissues before reading this story of an aging cat and the boy who loves him, but don’t despair.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your picks, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend.

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