This is where we keep books that have made it to our storytime rug this year. Some are classics you might remember from your own childhood. Others are new favorites we can’t stop recommending. Wherever we can, we’ve linked to Marcus Books, our local bookstore, and we encourage you to spend time with all of these reads at your local shop or library.

We’ll keep adding to this list all year, so check back after every storytime.

Open Test Kitchen at Café con Cariño

October · Cafe con Cariño

• Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

• Which One Can You Eat? by Risa Kusumoto

• Jazz for Lunch! by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Eugenia Mello

Bookout Block Party

September · 39th Street, Longfellow Fields & Marcus Books

• The ABCs of the Harlem Renaissance by Claudia Walker

• King for a Day by Dr. Thomishia Booker

• Don’t Drop the Mic! by Idris Goodwin, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

THE BOOKOUT: Featuring Rob Liu-Trjuillo & Tiffany Golden

August · Marcus Books

• Fresh Juice by Robert Liu-Trujillo

• Wash Day by Tiffany Golden, illustrated by Lhaiza Morena

THE BOOKOUT: Featuring Tala Khanmalek & Daria Garina

July · Longfellow Fields & Marcus Books

• Eli and the Uncles by Jehan Madhani, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh

THE BOOKOUT: Featuring That Art Party

June · Prescott Market

• Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts

THE BOOKOUT: Juneteenth at Kinfolx

June · Kinfolx

• Maya’s Big Question by Meena Harris, illustrated by Marissa Valdez

• Juneteenth Is by Natasha Tripplett, illustrated by Daniel J. O’Brien

Bay Area Book Festival

May · Berkeley Public Library, Main Branch

• What Makes Fern Curl? by Tomiiko Baker

• Wash Day by Tiffany Golden, illustrated by Lhaiza Morena

• I Want to Be Big! by Tiffany Golden, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

OACC: Black History Month & Lunar New Year Celebration

February · Oakland Asian Cultural Center

• The Lost Queen by Aimee Phan

• Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Elissambura

• This Hair Belongs by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson

• Jam, Too? by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara