Top Books of 2020
We’re closing out 2020 with a look back at our favorite reads. Start a new year with a good snuggle and a great book (or two)…
Infant & Toddler Books
You Matter by Christian Robinson. In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored—from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they’re feeding. Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected, and that everyone matters.
The Word for Friend by Aidan Cassie. Kemala the pangolin is sure she's going to make friends at her new school in her new country. After all, Kemala loves to talk. The kids at school like talking, too--but their words are all different. This country speaks a language Kemala doesn't know.
Who Does What? by Stephanie Babin. Who gathers honey? Who designs clothes? Who makes lunch for students? So many jobs can be found in this delightful and satisfying sliding panel format for preschoolers.
I Am One by Susan Verde. One seed to start a garden, one note to start a melody, one brick to start breaking down walls: Every movement and moment of change starts with purpose, with intention, with one. With me. With you.
Thank You, Helpers by Patricia Hegarty. With all the talk of germs, social distancing, and the pandemic, it's easy for kids to be confused or overwhelmed. Help reassure by encouraging them to see all the amazing ways people are keeping each other safe. From healthcare workers to delivery people, grocery workers, teachers, and more, kids can learn about the heroes in our communities taking care of us all.
Toddler & Preschool Books
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes. The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend.
Lift by Minh Lê. Iris loves to push the elevator buttons in her apartment building, but when it's time to share the fun with a new member of the family, she's pretty put out. That is, until the sudden appearance of a mysterious new button opens up entire realms of possibility, places where she can escape and explore on her own
If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall. This book is a guide to our home planet, and a call for us to take care of both Earth and each other. It is inspired by the thousands of children author Sophie Blackall has met during her travels around the world in support of UNICEF and Save the Children.
Attack of the Underwear Garden by Scott Rothman. Sir Percival is a great knight in every way, except for one thing: He is terrified that an Underwear Dragon will come and destroy the kingdom. But when the unthinkable happens, Cole is the only knight left standing. He must use all of his newly acquired skills to battle the fearsome dragon and avoid a catastrophe.
Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry. Captain Swashby loves the sea, his oldest friend. And he loves his life by the sea just as it is: salty and sandy and serene.
One day, much to Swashby’s chagrin, a young girl and her granny commandeer the empty house next door. All Swashby wants is for his new neighbors to GO AWAY and take their ruckus with them.
Elementary School Books
¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat by Raúl the Third III. In this new Vamos! title, Let’s Go Eat, Little Lobo is excited to take in a show with wrestling star El Toro in his bustling border town. After getting lunch orders from The Bull and his friends to help prepare for the event, Little Lobo takes readers on a tour of food trucks that sell his favorite foods, like quesadillas with red peppers and Mexican-Korean tacos. Peppered with easy-to-remember Latin-American Spanish vocabulary, this glorious celebration of food is sure to leave every reader hungry for lunch!
We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom. Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues a rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption.
The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann. Ernestine is beyond excited to go camping. She follows the packing list carefully (new sleeping bag! new flashlight! special trail mix made with Dad!) so she knows she is ready when the weekend arrives. But she quickly realizes that nothing could have prepared her for how hard it is to set up a tent, never mind fall asleep in it, or that swimming in a lake means that there will be fish — eep!
Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away by Meg Medina. Evelyn Del Rey is Daniela’s best friend. They do everything together and even live in twin apartments across the street from each other. But not after today—not after Evelyn moves away. Until then, the girls play amid the moving boxes until it’s time to say goodbye, making promises to keep in touch, because they know that their friendship will always be special.
Stand Up! Speak Up! by Andrew Joyner. After attending a climate march, a young activist is motivated to make an effort and do her part to help the planet... by organizing volunteers to work to make green changes in their community, from cleaning a lake, to planting trees, to making composting bins, to hosting a clothing swap and more! An important reminder that no change is too small--and no person is too young--to make a difference.
Tween & Teen Books
Smartest Kid in the Universe by Chris Grabenstein. 12 year old Jake's middle school is about to be shut down--unless Jake and his friends can figure out how to save it. When Jake spies a bowl of jellybeans at the hotel where his mom works, he eats them. But those weren't just jellybeans, one of the scientists at his mom's conference is developing the world's first ingestible information pills. And THAT'S what Jake ate.
From the Desk of Zoey Washington by Janae Marks. Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime? A crime he says he never committed.
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate. Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.
Wink by Rob Harrell. Ross Maloy just wants to be a normal seventh grader. He doesn't want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don't know what to say to "the cancer kid." But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, blending in is off the table.
Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega. Shortly before Halloween, Lucely and her best friend, Syd, cast a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits, wreaking havoc throughout St. Augustine. Together, they must join forces with Syd's witch grandmother, Babette, and her tubby tabby, Chunk, to fight the haunting head-on and reverse the curse to save the town and Lucely's firefly spirits before it's too late.