6th Annual Best Children's Book Awards

The best books stay with your child long after the last page is turned. To bring this year's standouts, we combed through thousands of new titles and consulted a panel of esteemed children's literature experts. By Julie Yates Walton

Ages Birth to 2: ABC - Text and illustrations by Matthew Porter.

"A is for alligator," but don't worry about this critter- with its gently rounded shape and wide eyes-scaring your little one. In fact, all the animals in this sturdy board book, each representing a letter of the alphabet, serve as friendly representatives of their species. Acrylic-and-ink paintings on a grainy wood background create a handsome, vintage look, and telltale features (like big beaver teeth) help young children easily grasp the creatures' differences. Simply Read, $9.

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