6 of the Best Early Reader and Chapter Books of 2024 Book List
The Children’s Book Review
Get ready to dive into the treasure chest of delightful early reader and chapter books that 2024 has brought us!
From treasure-collecting rats to T-Rex delivery partners, from mysterious hotels to laundromat adventures, this year’s lineup sparkles with imagination and heart. Whether your young reader is just starting their reading journey or diving into longer chapter books, these delightful stories will transport them to worlds filled with unlikely friendships, noble quests, and everyday magic. Pull up a cozy chair and explore these wonderful new tales that will inspire, entertain, and kindle a lifelong love of reading!
Be sure to check out all our Best Kids’ Books of 2024 for all ages here.
Here are nine of the best early reader and chapter books of 2024:
Orris and Timble: The Beginning
Written by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Carmen Mok
Ages: 4-8 | 80 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick (2024) | ISBN: 978-1536222791
Two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo introduces young readers to an unlikely friendship between Orris, a solitary treasure-collecting rat, and Timble, a naive owl who gets caught in a barn trap, in this heartwarming first book of an early-reader trilogy about making noble choices and the power of storytelling.
Be sure to listen to Kate DiCamillo talking about Orris and Timble on The Growing Readers Podcast.
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A New Car for Pickle (I Like to Read Comics)
Written and Illustrated by Sylvie Kantorovitz
Ages: 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Holiday House (2024) | ISBN: 978-0823456208
When Pickle’s car breaks down on the way to get fresh cream, he visits Coco’s garage to find the perfect replacement, but the race car is too fast, the safe car too big, and the fancy car too expensive—until Coco comes up with just the right solution.
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Lone Wolf Gets a Pet
Written by Kiah Thomas
Illustrated by K-Fai Steele
Ages: 6-9 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Neal Porter Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-0823457786
A grumpy, solitude-loving wolf reluctantly enters a Best Pet Competition to win jellybeans, but discovers he’s not much of an animal person in this humorous early reader that celebrates kids who prefer to be alone.
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Sky & Ty: Howdy, Partner!
Written and Illustrated by Steve Breen
Ages: 6-9 | 64 Pages
Publisher: Pixel+Ink (2024) | ISBN: 978-1645952145
A determined cowgirl and her T. Rex partner run a frontier delivery service in this humorous graphic novel series, working together to solve problems and make their deliveries on time while learning the value of teamwork.
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Stella & Marigold
Written by Annie Barrows
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Ages: 6-9 | 108 Pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-1797219707
From the creators of Ivy + Bean comes a new series about two imaginative sisters: seven-year-old Stella, who ponders life’s big questions, and four-year-old Marigold, who wears her Halloween costume year-round, as they turn everyday moments into magical adventures.
Sophie Blackall talks about creating books over on The Growing Readers Podcast.
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Squirlish: Shark in the Park
Written by Ellen Potter
Illustrated by Sara Cristofori
Ages: 6-9 | 112 Pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-1665926782
When the squirrel queen tasks Cordelia (a human girl raised by squirrels) with protecting Prince Oliver during his quest to find the missing Royal Scepter, she must keep up with the shark-obsessed prince who’s venturing outside his castle for the first time. Their adventure through Central Park becomes complicated by various dangers and distractions, from skateboarders to pirates, as Prince Oliver seems more interested in finding sharks than completing his royal mission.
Ellen Potter talks about Squirlish over on The Growing Readers Podcast.
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Beti and the Little Round House
Written by Atinuke
Illustrated by Emily Hughes
Ages: 7-9 | 128 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick (2024) | ISBN: 978-1536225181
Renowned storyteller Atinuke introduces young Beti, who lives with her family and her mischievous goat named Naughty in a cozy round house in the woods, in this warmhearted collection of seasonal stories that celebrates friendship, simple living, and the joy of experiencing nature through a child’s eyes.
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The Hotel Balzaar (The Norendy Tales)
Written by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Júlia Sardà
Ages: 7-10 | 160 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick (2024) | ISBN: 978-1536223316
In this enchanting second book of The Norendy Tales trilogy, young Marta quietly explores the mysterious Hotel Balzaar while her mother works, until a countess with a parrot arrives with seven stories to tell—stories that might hold the key to finding Marta’s missing father.
Listen to Kate DiCamillo discuss the writing of The Hotel Balzaar on The Growing Readers Podcast.
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Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All
Written by Chanel Miller
Ages: 7-11 | 160 Pages
Publisher: Philomel Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-0593624524
Ten-year-old Magnolia Wu spends her days collecting lost socks at her parents’ NYC laundromat until a new friend from California arrives, leading them on an adventure across the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock and discover unexpected connections along the way.
