I have remained silent here this past year because I have been focusing my energies on teaching. This past year has been my first year working as a school librarian at Myers-Wilkins Elementary School in Duluth, Minnesota. Myers-Wilkins Elementary School is a gem of a school, with very dedicated teachers and a diverse and vibrant student body. I am lucky to have landed here.
I am breaking my silence today to share with you the most popular titles that my students checked out this past year. I love reading posts like this shared by other school librarians in search of titles my own kids might enjoy. I hope you will find a book or two on this list to share with your kids.

Two of my fourth grade students created a book display of great summer reads and just happened to display the #1 most popular book in our library in the center.
MOST POPULAR PICTURE BOOKS
1. Hooray for Fly Guy! by Tedd Arnold
2. Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watt
3. Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems
4. I Will Take a Nap! by Mo Willems
5. We are in a Book! by Mo Willems
6. Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio and Christian Robinson
7. I Will Surprise My Friend! by Mo Willems
8. Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl! by Tedd Arnold
9. Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Mélanie Watt
10. Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
MOST POPULAR CHAPTER BOOKS
1. The Babysitters Club #1. Kristy’s Great Idea by Raina Telgemeier
2. Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
3. Amulet #1. The Storekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
7. Bad Kitty for President by Nick Bruel
8. Bad Kitty School Daze by Nick Bruel
9. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney
Additional Popular Titles Not Written by Mo Willems, Tedd Arnold, Jeff Kinney or Nick Bruel
In addition, these fine books landed on the list of top 50 most circulated books at Myers-Wilkins Elementary School this past school year.
- Smile by Raina Telgemeier
- El Deafo by Cece Bell
- Big Nate Goes for Broke by Lincoln Peirce
- Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
- Drama by Raina Telgemeier
- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes
- Pony Party by Kate Egan (A My Little Pony book, in case you don’t recognize the title!)
- Slowly Slowly Slowly Said the Sloth by Eric Carle
- Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman: The Fifth Epic Novel by Dav Pilkey
COME BACK! I miss you.
That is a great collection of books. My kids have read most of them and loved them. I will try to get my hands on the rest, I have a feeling they will love them too. Thank you this delightful list of popular books.
I am the Librarian in an independent preK – 8th grade school, but I work primarily with the 1st – 5th grades. Your students’ favorites are pretty much exactly the same as those of my students! I’m sorry to hear that Mo Willems will not be writing any more Gerald and Piggie books because the kids love them so much.
Other favorite books include: Wonder, the I Survived Series, the Who is/Who was series, A-Z Mysteries, Ballpark Mysteries, and anything by Kate DiCamillo, Judy Blume, and Beverly Cleary.
I haven’t read any of those picture books so will keep an eye out for them next time we are in the library