Illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh, whose family fled Iran after war broke out in 1980, told NPR that when she first read the manuscript, "I thought, oh, that's me." The Best (Strategist-Approved) Children’s Books. This year brought an interesting twist. These are the children’s books that really stood out to our editors and their kids. We defy you to read this to a kid and not end up dancing. He's always on the same bus every morning, and he always has time to visit his animal friends. Moon has a secret: She sees heavenly visions, hears voices that tell her she doesn't belong on earth. (Hello, Christian Robinson and Vashti Harrison!) (Caldecott Honor Book)Baby Monkey, Private Eye. (For ages 3 to 5), We couldn't put Hair Love on the list (you'll find it a little further down) and leave out this tribute to the magic of the barbershop. Corduroy's after-hours search for his missing button leads to escalating mischief and a story that's great for anyone who's ever wondered whether toys come to life when you aren't looking. Find bestsellers, new releases, award winners and our recommended books for kids at Amazon.com In this magical realist novel set in a “land of a hundred bridges” that lies “somewhere in the Américas,” an 11-year-old boy whose mother disappeared when he was a baby explores haunted ruins that once hid refugees from a neighboring dictatorship. NPR's 100 Best Children's Books This year we had kids and caregivers in mind when we chose the genre for our summer poll. When a little girl’s brother tells her “our future is doomed,” in this entertaining yet serious story drawn in Yoshitake’s signature cartoon style, she runs in a panic to her grandmother, who helps her to imagine many possible futures, rather than to think only in terms of good and bad scenarios. Rather, it's a curated list built from your recommendations and picks from our expert panel of judges — a fantastic group of authors, librarians, publishers and all-around book nerds. (For ages 3 to 5), Who doesn't love a big chunk of heavy machinery? (For ages 4 to 8), Long ago, the birds of Africa were all the colors of the rainbow — but none of them had any black, because Blackbird had it all. "This is one of those texts that really spoke to me; it was beautifully written and I felt it was a really great pairing of words and pictures of an author and an artist," Nelson told NPR. But there was one easy decision: A few years ago, we did a summer list based on All Things Considered's Backseat Book Club of great reads for kids from 9 to 14. (For ages 2 to 6), Big dogs, little dogs, red dogs, blue dogs, dogs on cars and scooters — kids will love learning colors and emotions and ideas with P.D. So much that he makes his own costume at home, with a yellow curtain for a tail and a potted fern for a crown. If only adult friendships were as simple and solid as Frog and Toad's! Best Classic: Goodnight Moon at Amazon "Kids love hearing all about the great green room and all of the quirky things it contains." should generally be "Yes!" Bianca Schulze curated the list of best new Christmas books of 2020. He works through that awkwardness in Drawn Together, about a boy and his grandfather who learn to connect through their mutual love of art. (For ages 3 to 7), Putting together these lists is as much of a discovery experience as reading them is, and I'm especially glad to have discovered Catwings, Ursula K. LeGuin's tale of four tabby kittens inexplicably born with wings. What about the "forever home" Abia's Papa dreams of? Author Linda Sue Park made the parallels between Hanna and Laura Ingalls deliberate — as she writes in her author's note, she loved the Little House books as a child, but she knew Ma and Pa Ingalls wouldn't have let Laura "become friends with someone like me ... someone who wasn't white." And will she still be a queen when she gets there? If … (For ages 4 to 8), by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and Leuyen Pham, A princess? And generally, when someone appeared more than once in the nominations, we went with whichever title was more popular with voters (so Kevin Henkes' Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse beat out Kitten's First Full Moon). Congratulations to Tami Charles on "All Because You Matter", our pick for the best children's book of 2020. (For ages 4 to 10), Juana lives in Bogotá, Colombia, and she loves drawing, her dog Lucas and Brussels sprouts. Luckily, his nana is always ready with an answer that helps CJ find beauty wherever he looks. (For age 3 to 5), Don't turn the page! By bedtime she came back to Why? Wherever I Go is a heartfelt portrait of life in a refugee family, and a meditation on the idea of home. You'll also see there's a section of books for older readers. (Neal Porter/Holiday House, $18.99.) By Liza Corsillo. "And then their relationship kind of takes off from there," Lê told NPR. This book folds out like an accordion, so you can stand… “I’m here, Outside says. The chapters switch back and forth between Raj and Klawde, whose narration of his new life has the hilariously overamped hysteria of the best B-movies. (For ages 4 to 7), George is a little dog who just can't bark. (For ages 6 to 8), Junie B. Jones is almost 6 years old! Luckily, there are four more Penderwicks books. Sal and her mother head to Blueberry Hill to pick berries for canning; meanwhile a mother bear and her cub are fattening themselves for winter on the other side of the hill, and mix-ups ensue. So he created this ode to a favorite food that brings Native families together. THEY WENT LEFT, by Monica Hesse. Best Books of 2020 for Babies & Toddlers by Miranda Rosbach. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $19.99.) It's a joyous, funny book that gives young readers a look at an important tradition. Here are the 10 Best Books of 2020, along with 100 Notable Books of the year. Or try any of these new books that our editors recommend. But one day, he wakes up with a cold and decides to stay in bed, so his worried animal friends jump on the bus to visit him. Lewis. Camps and schools and activities have shut down during the pandemic, leaving kids and caregivers stuck at home and climbing the walls — and sometimes the garden fences. (For ages 4 to 8), "I'm not meant to be like you; you're not meant to be like me," writes actor and author Grace Byers. (For ages 3 to 8), Julián is riding the subway with his abuela when he sees them: three mermaids, with fabulous hair and fishtail dresses. (She was based on a real person — Maine resident Hilda Hamlin, who was known as the "Lupine Lady" for her habit of scattering seeds.) Even grown-ups can take solace in Alexander's troubles — poll judge Juanita Giles says it was the book she chose to read at her mother's bedside on her last day. Elephant and Piggie are funny, adorable cartoon animals, but they have to work through the same serious issues — sharing, patience, new friendships, sadness — that all kids face as they grow up. The best gifts for kids by age, according to our 2020 gift guide 20 classic children’s books every parent needs in their nursery 36 thoughtful teacher gifts that are A+ Epic is the leading digital reading platform—built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world’s best publishers—that safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under. He can meow and oink and quack — but barking? (Enchanted Lion, $29.95.) Steven D. Schindler's soft-edged illustrations will make you believe winged kittens might actually exist. Do you think of Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout when you have to take the garbage out? (HMH Books for Young Readers, $17.99.) "You came in as a lump of clay, a blank canvas, a slab of marble," author Derrick Barnes writes. Together with Maurice Sendak's delightfully shaggy illustrations, Minarik's gentle words are perfect for the littlest readers. Best children’s and teens books of 2020. Here, Fiona Noble looks back on … A great pick for any budding mathematician or astronaut — and for any parent needing to teach their kids at home. THE LITTLE MERMAID, by Jerry Pinkney. This story of a Plains Indian girl who runs away with a band of wild horses, and eventually becomes one of them, won the Caldecott in 1978, and for good reason. All she knows is that she has to survive. (For ages 3 to 5), For the family in Story Boat, "here" is home — but "here" keeps changing as they travel onward to an unknown destination. A read-aloud classic, this rollicking alphabet rhyme has all the letters racing one another up a coconut tree. The lineup of new picture books coming out in 2020 is jam-packed with uplifting, positive, and encouraging stories. And when a sinister archduke tries to grab the box for himself, he learns that crime doesn't pay. Why can't that man see? She befriends Birk, the son of a rival robber, and when she brings him food during a harsh winter, her father disowns her; she ends up living an adventurous life in the woods with Birk. Lifted up by the stars, Cassie flies over the city, claiming its beauty for her own and imagining a better life for her family. (For ages 7 to 10), Fact: Bats are adorable, and few bats are more adorable than Stellaluna, the little one who gets lost when an owl dives at her mother and ends up trying to fit in with a nest full of baby birds. But then hope arrives — sloooowly on tortoise-back — in the form of 7-year-old Kid Sheriff Ryan, who may not know about toads specifically, but he does know about dinosaurs. And two little kittens and a pair of mittens? (Greenwillow, $16.99.) (For ages 3 to 7), You guys voted in a lot of Robert McCloskey books! It's pretty great to have a giant dog because then when you walk to school, you can think about ice cream and rain instead of tornadoes or ghosts. (For ages 3 to 8), Annabel finds what looks like an ordinary box full of ordinary yarn — but it's enough to clothe, brighten and bind together a whole town in colorful knitted cozies. Creator Matthew Cherry told NPR he was inspired by friends of his who are young fathers, and "they're all willing to do whatever it takes for their young girls." But readers wanting a frontier tale will find a friend in Hanna, a mixed-race girl growing up in the Dakota territory in 1880. (For ages 4 to 8), So many great Jacqueline Woodson books, so little space! 30 Best Children's Books of 2020 By Karen Cicero November 09, 2020 Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. Together, they go to the store and to the zoo, to costume parties and daycare classes — in richly illustrated, mostly wordless books that let readers form their own ideas about what's happening on each page. He's only supposed to look after her house and garden — but one day when she's away, he decides to make the pot produce dinner for the whole town. Maya is the new girl at school, with ragged clothes and the wrong shoes for winter. He's missing a button after all. Nok, the prison warden's daughter, is determined to recapture Pong — but her quest leads her to some uncomfortable revelations. Shuggie is the youngest of three children, and … We wanted to recognize that a lot of kids read ahead of their age groups — and also, there have been so many great books that came out since we put together the Backseat 100 list in 2013 that it seemed a shame not to include a few of them here. Author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats was white, but his sensitive depiction of a child's first experience with snow won the Caldecott Medal and was embraced by parents and children of all colors. (Don't worry, everyone is reconciled in the end.) (For ages 8 and up), A fantastical, Thai-inspired twist on Les Misérables. Chris Van Dusen's lively, sweet-natured illustrations helped seal the deal. Novak points out, "Here is how books work: Everything the words say, the person reading the book has to say." Classic Books for Your Baby or Toddler. This joyous celebration of childhood, culture and place by the Jamaican poet (who died in 2017) follows a young girl named Afiya — “health” in Swahili — whose summer frock “collects” what she sees as she dances across an island in motion. Full of insight about race and ethnicity, this graphic novel intercuts the thrilling wins and crushing defeats of one high school team with basketball’s own turbulent history. (Levine Querido, $21.99.) (For ages 2 to 5), Tameka Fryer Brown's lilting, musical rhymes and A.G. Ford's glowing art follow one very active baby through a very busy day of zooming around the house, getting kisses, napping, playing in the grass, getting a bath and finally going to bed as the sun sets. WAYS TO MAKE SUNSHINE, by Renée Watson. Over the course of four books, Frog and Toad go swimming and sledding, search for lost buttons, bake cookies, grow gardens and generally have fun together all year round. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Don't you wish you had a great green room and a red balloon? (For ages 2 to 5), All the other animals are having fun! (For ages 4 to 8), by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S. K. Ali and Hatem Aly, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad was bullied as a child for wearing a hijab. Princess Magnolia — inspired by author Shannon Hale's daughter, who insisted that princesses couldn't wear black — can have scones with duchesses AND fight monsters, or a mysterious stinky cloud, or a sea monster (some princesses just can't catch a break, even on the beach). It's been such a strange, lost summer. (For ages 5 to 8), Waves roll by, seasons come and go, keepers tend to their duties, and through it all, the lighthouse stands tall, sending its beam out into the darkness, bidding hello to all the ships at sea. Fans of Ramona Quimby will get a kick out of Clementine, her brother Spinach (that's not really his name) and her sort-of-snooty best friend Margaret. E.B. When his frustrated mother takes George to the vet, the answer to his problem turns out to be quite the surprise. A STORY ABOUT AFIYA, by James Berry, illustrated by Anna Cunha. (For ages 8 to 12), Sure, Pippi Longstocking is great — but have you met Ronia, the robber's daughter? (For ages 5 to 8), Based on the Oscar-winning short film, this lovely story of a dad learning to do his daughter's hair, which "kinks, coils and curves every which way," will leave you sniffling fondly. So here comes Dog Man: Half dog, half cop, this gruff crime fighter is here to sniff out wrongdoing, especially when it involves his nemesis Petey the Cat, who cooks up crimes in his secret cat lab. Now, we understand that half the fun of a list is arguing about what didn't make it on — and our judges had to make some hard choices. An anthem to self-worth that’s also about the history of life on Earth, and in 107 words somehow covers loneliness, death and rebirth. And as they fished, Bao's father would tell him stories about another pond back in their homeland of Vietnam. We hope you and the kids in your life will have as much fun poring through this list as we had putting it together! Janell Cannon's glowing illustrations, paired with a couple of pages of fun facts about bats, make this a great book for budding naturalists (or anyone who understands that yes, bats are adorable). (For ages 0 to 4), Red caboose at the back, and forward through the rainbow to the black tender and engine, Donald Crews' simple, powerful freight train chugs its way through towns and tunnels, days and nights. "Chicka Chicka boom boom! Eric Carle's charming story and luminous, stained-glass illustrations make The Very Hungry Caterpillar a classic for the ages (and a good advertisement for the benefits of snacking). Pampers Parents chose the following as their favorite books for babies, toddlers, and older children… painless shopping Updated Mar. — Ada Twist considers all the things. Don't you know there's a monster at the end of this book? But the judges felt Blueberries for Sal was the most compelling read. Green Eggs and Ham By Dr. Seuss "A great way to tempt your toddler into trying new food." SHOP NOW. Her only friend is a rat she names Armitage, after the brand of toilet in her apartment — but could scary Burt, who sells burgers from a food truck outside her school, be making his burgers out of ground-up rat? And if you don't, why not? What Are Stars Written and illustrated by Katie Daynes, Usborne Books, (2+)Toddlers just beginning to notice the lights twinkling above their heads at night are filled with questions, which this lift-the-flap book provides answers for—at just the right level for them to grasp. This is a book that'll put any kid to sleep — and we mean that in the best possible way. If you've ever stood at the edge of that board looking down at the deep end, Jabari Jumps is the book for you. (Bloomsbury, $16.99.) We settle on Each Kindness, gorgeously illustrated by E.B. And bit by bit, with hard work and cooperation, Rosa and her mom find the perfect chair. YOU MATTER, by Christian Robinson. The best children's books of 2020 for all ages From Covid-19 to Black Lives Matter, children’s books tackled the world-changing events of 2020. (For ages 0 to 2), Readers nominated so many Maurice Sendak books, it was hard to pick just one. (Chronicle, $18.99.) (For ages 0 to 3), Corduroy, by Don Freeman Here are the 10 Best Books of 2020, along with 100 Notable Books of the year. And it's not just geese — mice, possums, foxes and more all pile into Bruce's den. (For ages 8 to 12), by Johnny Marciano, Emily Chenoweth and Robb Mommaerts, Lots of people think their cats are aliens — but Klawde really is one. One night, lulled to sleep by drums, she dreams of an all-dog powwow, with all kinds of breeds dancing drumming, even selling Indian fast food to the attendees. No one wants to play with her — not even Chloe, who sits next to her, and eventually has to deal with the results of her unkindness. (Levine Querido, $17.99.) But Corinne La Mer isn't afraid of anything, especially jumbies, since everyone knows they're just made up, right? This is a gorgeous tale of creativity and acceptance, rounded out with misty, jeweled gouache illustrations. 26, 2020. Each sister has a unique, winning personality; young readers will finish the first book and want to spend more time with them. (Did you know they're called repollitas in Spanish?) And Julián loves mermaids. (For ages 3 to 5), Little kids are goofy and frequently gross, we all know that — so Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's gleefully surreal inversion of familiar fairy tales is perfect for little readers. (For ages 4 to 8), Lonely little Henry has no brothers and sisters. "Sometimes we will get along, and sometimes we will disagree." The series grows up with its readers; at the beginning, Betsy and Tacy are small children; we see them through adventures fanciful and down-to-earth, and finally leave them as young married women. Best Baby: Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes at Amazon Best Books of the Year 2020. (For ages 8 to 12), When Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, he knows nothing good is coming. (For ages 4 to 8), Ever have a friend who's sad, and you just don't know what to say or how to help them? And she's really excited about everything, especially spaghetti and meatballs. Well, no, actually — despite a moment of competition from In the Night Kitchen, we knew we had to go with this classic tale of Max, his wolf suit, the wild rumpus, and of course ... the dinner that was still warm when he got home. WHEN YOU LOOK UP, by Decur. She has a lot to deal with — her dad's been laid off and the family has to move to a smaller house. It’s the … (For ages 3 to 6), Oh, no! (Dial Books for Young Readers, $20.99.) "The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle, $7, Amazon. (Otherwise it would have been nothing but 100 Mo Willems books — and we love Mo Willems, but that wouldn't have been the most useful list.) (For ages 7 to 10), Amphibians, sport coats and lasting friendship. (Enchanted Lion, $18.95.) In the city of Chattana, all the light was created by one man, the Governor. (For ages 3 to 7), It's a soft gray rainy day and everyone's asleep in the Napping House — but unfortunately, they're all trying to pile into the same bed, with predictably unfortunate (but funny) results. She even loves her teacher Mr. Slinger — but when the wondrous purse and its contents keep interrupting his lessons, he confiscates it, leading Lilly to attempt revenge. "Nothing about people alive that were wearing sneakers, that were eating candy, or making cakes with their grandma." Illus. Sheila lives with her father and unpleasant stepmother; she's bullied by a classmate and sneered at by her teacher. They’ve remained popular for generations, and their themes and illustrations are beloved. Each airy spread is a fresh canvas for its Brazilian illustrator, just as Afiya’s dress is newly washed each morning. And as always, we had to decide which work to pick from creators who were nominated multiple times. Thi Bui's gorgeous, quiet illustrations are perfect for this lovely story of the bond between father and son. In nine steps, Kendi (and illustrator Ashley Lukashevsky) offers parents a way to open their eyes, and their children's eyes, to the realities of racism. Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela thinks her name is too long, so her father tells her the story of where it came from. (For ages 8 to 12), We always say that these polls don't produce ranked lists — and they truly don't — but I'd be remiss in not pointing out that Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy books, about the enduring friendship between two young girls — got the most votes of any book on this list. Eastman's zippy dogs. And thousands of you answered. Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall does a gorgeous job showing the timeless nature of lighthouse life — and the change that's coming. Year 's summer reader poll 2020: Meet our Esteemed Panelists smile on your,! 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