These 11 Children's Books Recommended By Elementary School Librarians Are Perfect

Many folks are lucky enough to have those family heirlooms that will be passed down for generations, and that's what this rocking chair is for the family in Love and the Rocking Chair. You'll see how the "lasting power of family" will last through generations as a rocking chair is passed down from a new mom and dad who rocked their child in this brand new rocking chair, to their children rocking their babies and so on. Oh, and this story was inspired by the author and illustrator's own rocking chair, according to the Goodreads description. How cool is that? The Dillons are also two-time Caldecott Medalists, and a Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner so you know this book is going to be wonderful.

These gorgeous illustrations in You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks will make you and your children appreciate the nature and beauty that we are lucky to have in our own National Parks. You can take a "tour across the United States" without ever leaving your rocking chair.

This book for readers ages 8 and up is the story of a 12-year-old girl who has to take a magical and dangerous journey to save her "vulnerable village," a journey that most grown men have died taking. Lalani of the Distant Sea shows how powerful anyone can be when they choose themselves and take on extraordinary adventures to do the right thing and save their home.

Because of the Rabbit is about a girl named Emma who is adjusting to public school after being homeschooled for many years. She's trying to find a new best friend in school and is paired with Jack, a boy who is loud, talkative, and obsessed with animals — and she doesn't like him very much at first. They bond over the rabbit she and her father found the day before she starts public school, but she's not sure if Jack is the friend she is meant to have.

Ever hear of a little book called Goodnight Moon? I thought so. Margaret Wise Brown is a famous children's author, and this picture book tells her story through beautiful photos by Sarah Jacoby and the words of Mac Barnett. Kids will learn the eccentricities of the Goodnight Moon author in The Important Thing About Margaret Brown, and how she wasn't afraid to be outside of the box.

A Stone Sat Still is a unique story told through beautiful mixed media, and it portrays how different animals perceive a stone. Whether it's loud, quiet, dark, light, a hill, or a pebble.

Because is a little bit different than Mo Willems' other works — like his hilarious Pigeon books and the Elephant & Piggie books. This story centers around a human, a little girl who follows her passion for music and how it changes her and makes her grow, leading to her becoming a composer and hearing her work performed on stage as she directs. It's just a beautiful story that definitely needs to be on every bookshelf.

If you have a child who can talk in complete sentences, you'll understand the premise of this adorable book. Just Because is a story about a little girl doing what all children like to do before bedtime — ask a million questions. The artwork is vintage-inspired and it's just a cute little story that parents will definitely relate to.

This is a Sea Cow is about a school report coming to life. When a second-grader writes her report about a sea cow, said sea cow comes to life, defends herself, and sets the record straight about true facts regarding manatees (which is what she prefers to be called, thank you very much).

Pokko and the Drum follows a young frog named Pokko who lives in a mushroom with her family. Her parents gave her a drum — and boy what a mistake that was. When Pokko plays her drum deep in the forest, all of the other forest creatures decide to join in on the playing. Pokko's worried she won't hear her father call her home.

The New Kid is geared toward fourth through eighth graders, and it chronicles seventh grader Jordan Banks trying to learn how to fit in with his peers at a prestigious academic school when he's more focused on art and is one of the only few kids of color in his entire grade. Jordan tries to simultaneously fit in at school and stay true to himself and his friends in his neighborhood.