The best children’s books of 2024

Get lost in a fox’s quest; plus snowman magic, a wily genie and cookery from around the world

From uplifting picture books to absorbing nonfiction, comic adventures to colourful fables, 2024 has produced a wealth of wonderful writing for children. Twenty years after Oliver Jeffers’s picture-book debut, How to Catch a Star, he has produced a playful, touching sequel, Where to Hide a Star (HarperCollins), in which the small protagonist voyages to the North Pole in search of his stellar pal and makes an unexpected new friend along the way. Featuring crowd-pleasing appearances by several beloved characters, it’s a delightful reminder of the author-illustrator’s unique talents.

Also from HarperCollins, by the bestselling Rob Biddulph, comes the entrancingly wintry I Follow the Fox. When a child drops his beloved Little Fox in the park, he’s desperate to find his toy; then, following a real fox into the snowy night, he helps her perform a thrilling rescue before the dawn reunites him with his lost friend. Soft, hypnotic rhymes and a tingling sense of after-hours exploration infuse this story with seasonal wonder.