Children's' Book Recommendations // A RAD Reading Challenge

Kid’s books are awesome. I know I’m no longer a kid, but I think I appreciate their beauty and whimsy and meaning so much more now than I did when I was younger… and I LOVED books as a kid! It was a blast to compile a bunch of my favorite children’s books and even more that I want to get my hands on soon — enjoy these recommendations, and please comment with any other favorites we should know about as we make our way through A RAD Reading Challenge!

20 of the best (and most beautiful!) children’s books:

What other beautiful or meaningful or just simply delightful children’s books should we know about?

more rad reading challenge recs:
A RAD Reading Challenge for 2026
A RAD Reading Challenge for 2026

get ready for 2026 with the 8th annual edition of a rad reading challenge! nine prompts and one year to stretch yourself in your reading.

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A 2025 RAD Reading Challenge
A 2025 RAD Reading Challenge

get ready for 2025 with the 7th annual edition of a rad reading challenge! nine prompts and one year to stretch yourself in your reading.

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39 Books to Read by Latinx Authors
39 Books to Read by Latinx Authors

whether you are joining in on a rad reading challenge for 2024, or you are just looking to diversify your reading, or you want to amplify and support Latinx authors for another reason, i hope this list of books (both that i’ve read and that are on my tbr list!) is a helpful guide!

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A RAD Reading Challenge for 2024
A RAD Reading Challenge for 2024

This is one of my favorite things to create year after year — A RAD Reading Challenge is back for 2024!

The focus this year is to intentionally read DIVERSELY. (it matters!!! so much!!!)

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16 Modern Day Retellings or Remixes of Classics
16 Modern Day Retellings or Remixes of Classics

One of the prompts for A RAD Reading Challenge in 2023 is to read a modern day retelling of a classic, and I wanted to round up a handful of recommendations for those doing the challenge!

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A RAD Reading Challenge for 2023
A RAD Reading Challenge for 2023

This is one of my favorite things to create year after year — A RAD Reading Challenge is back for 2023 with nine new prompts!

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10 Books with Covers I Love
10 Books with Covers I Love

I think it’s pretty obvious by now that we all DEFINITELY do judge books by their covers, as well we should, when they are truly works of art!

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10 Books about Food for A RAD Reading Challenge
10 Books about Food for A RAD Reading Challenge

Even though I’m allergic to so many fun foods (what I wouldn’t GIVE to be able to eat gluten!!!), I still love a good book where food feels like a character. There’s just something about authors who can write about food in a way that brings it to life and makes you hungry…

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10 Books with One Word Titles for A RAD Reading Challenge
10 Books with One Word Titles for A RAD Reading Challenge

There’s just something about a one word title that I love — no need to get complicated, just short and sweet and straight to the point. They seem pretty rare, too, or maybe I just don’t read that many?! But I rounded up 10 solid recommendations for books with one word titles that I’ve read and liked!

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10 #booktok Recs for A RAD Reading Challenge
10 #booktok Recs for A RAD Reading Challenge

Truly the best part of TikTok, though, is #booktok — a beautiful place where readers of all kinds talk about books, share recs, and nerd out about reading. I’ve discovered so many amazing new books because of recommendations on #booktok, and have rounded up some of my favorites here today!

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All the RAD ReadsRachel Dawsona rad reading challenge, children's books, kids books, kid lit, picture booksComment