One of the things I love to do in December is to look back on my year. What’s happened with family and friends? What have I accomplished in my business? And, what amazing books has our family read? Read on to discover the best picture books of 2021, with a focus on diverse, inclusive, and social-justice themed children’s books. Next week I’ll share our favorite chapter books of the year.
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Best picture books of 2021: Non-fiction
Being You: A First Conversation About Gender by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Anne/Andy Passchier
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This straightforward board book introduces young children to important concepts about gender. Many adults are unsure how to talk about topics like being trans or non-binary with young kids, but this book shows it doesn’t have to be complicated. The book also tells kids that they don’t have to conform to anyone’s gender stereotypes, and that “being ourselves makes the world beautiful.” Finally, readers learn what it means to be feminist, so that we all can work to make the world more fair. (Recommended for ages 3 – 6.)
Related post: 19 children’s books that defy gender stereotypes
Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Isabel Roxas
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I recommend this book in just about every race and kids workshop that I give! It covers so many topics, starting with identifying and loving your own skin tone. Children also learn why we have different skin tones, and some of the racial labels that people use to correlate will all those shades of skin.
What really sets this book for young children apart is how it explains that the made-up idea of race was used to fuel racism. The authors talk about racism not as just individual people being mean, but as a way that white people get power. The book gives children relatable examples of racism that are likely to happen in young children’s worlds. Finally, children are encouraged to challenge racism by speaking up, changing unfair rules, and learning. (Recommended for ages 3 – 6)
Related Post: 21 powerful children’s books about race and racism
We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell and Frané Lessac
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In their new book, Traci Sorell and Frané Lessac introduce children to Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a class completes a project for the holiday. Each child presents an important aspect of American Indian history, most of which children will not learn about in mainstream textbooks.
Even when the history shared is painful, Native Nations proclaim after each presentation, “we are still here!” refusing to be silent or be erased. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12.)
Related Post: 20 #ownvoices children’s books about Native Americans and First Nations
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper
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How can adults tell children about one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history? Master storyteller Carole Boston Weatherford first tells children what the Greenwood neighborhood was like “once upon a time.” In Floyd Cooper’s moving illustrations, readers see how Greenwood was a place of Black wealth and proud achievement in many fields.
When it comes to the massacre itself, the book makes it clear that the white mob was aided by both police and city officials in their attacks. While the story is not an easy one to hear, it’s essential reading for children and adults alike. Not only do I consider this one of the best picture books of 2021; I believe it’s one of the strongest contenders for the Newbery Prize this year. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12).
Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storyteller Zora Neal Hurston by Alicia D. Williams and Jacqueline Alcántara
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Zora Neale Hurston’s fearless personality practically leaps off the pages of this picture book biography. The lively illustrations and the humorous dialect made me feel like I was sitting across from Zora as she told one of the tales that attracted her “like mosquitoes to skin.”
Though Zora’s strict religious father disapproved of her fascination with stories, her mother protected her. Her mother encouraged Zora to “jump at de sun,” and as the writer’s own story unfolds, the sun keeps calling to her. This is a joyful and inspiring book that will delight future writers. (Recommended for ages 5 – 9).
Related Post: Learning about Zora Neale Hurston with The Summoner
The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung and Julie Kwon
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Julie Leung masterfully weaves together the barriers and discrimination Hazel Ying Lee faced as both a Chinese-American and an ambitious woman, and Hazel’s fearless spirit that refused to abandon her dreams. While people told her that no one would hire a Chinese girl pilot, the arrival of World War II changed things.
When the U.S. military started the Woman Airforce Service Pilots program, Hazel signed up immediately. She became the first Chinese-American woman to fly for the military. Though she and the other women weren’t allowed on the frontlines, they risked great danger testing the planes as they came off the assembly line. Though Hazel died in a collision in 1944, her indominable spirit continues to inspire people today. (Recommended for ages 5 – 9)
Related Post: 20 children’s books about Asian Pacific American history
Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope by Jodie Patterson and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
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Penelope’s family is big and busy, and he can’t seem to make them stop and listen, so that he can tell them: I’m a boy! So he makes his presence known with actions to make them see, hear, and feel him. (Those actions are often unpleasant.) When he finally tells Mama that he’s a boy, she reassures him that it’s fine to “feel like a boy.”
But no, Mama isn’t understanding! Penelope tells her “I don’t feel like a boy, I AM a boy.” Once she finally understands, Mama is ready to help Penelope show his joyful true self to all of the world. (Recommended for ages 3 – 8.)
Related Post: 17 LGBTQ-affirming picture books for children
When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke
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This powerful poem, accompanied by bold artwork, unpacks the many meanings of the phrase “Black Lives Matter” for children. The phrase is sometimes sobbed because “trouble still stalks us to this day.” Other times it’s said as a reminder that “Black people are wonderful-strong.” Black Lives Matter can even be laughed, the phrase activated by ancestors who encourage with thundering djembe drums. Above all, the book reminds Black children that their “Black-child-magic, your radiant Black shine” is seen! (Recommended for ages 5 – 9.)
Related Post: 15 books to help kids and teens understand Black Lives Matter
Best picture books of 2021: Spiritual Books
What Is God Like? by Rachel Held Evans, Matthew Paul Turner, and Ying Hui Tan
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Rachel Held Evans is beloved by many former evangelical Christians for her writings that expanded their ideas about God. She began this children’s book before her untimely death, and the book was finished by Matthew Paul Turner, one of my favorite Christian writers for children.
The authors first remind kids that “God is too big for any of us to fully see,” but we can know many things about what God is like. God is like “the stars, forever present” like an “artist, creative and unpredictable,” and like “the wind, passionate and full of mystery.” Through many different images and metaphors, children see that God is both vast and close by, and that God welcomes their questions. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7).
Kuan Yin: The Princess Who Became the Goddess of Compassion by Maya van der Meer and Wen Hsu
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Miao Shan’s father finds her a disappointment as a princess. She would rather meditate than meet her suitors so that she can fulfill her family duty of marrying. Miao Shan would “rather ease the pain of others than rule over them,” so she asks to her father to allow her to go the Buddhist nunnery.
Under strict orders from her father, the nuns don’t allow Miao Shan to become a nun, instead giving her grueling work to do. With the help of her younger sister Ling, Miao Shan escapes her father’s influence so that she can practice the deep, abiding compassion that lies within her. (Recommended for ages 6 – 10).
I Sang You Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade
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Love overflows from this gorgeous picture book about an Indigenous mother preparing to welcome her baby into the world. As she and her extended family gather all the elements of the baby’s sacred medicine bundle, she prays for her child and wants the baby to know this is the land they belong to. As the mother wraps her new baby in the hand-stitched quilt her family made, she realizes that this baby too is a sacred medicine bundle. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7).
Best picture books of 2021: Historical Fiction
A Day for Rememberin’: Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day by Leah Henderson and Floyd Cooper
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I only learned a couple of years ago that Memorial Day was begun by formerly-enslaved Black communities honoring Union soldiers who died during the Civil War. This fictional account closely follows the real life details of the first “Decoration Day” in Charleston, South Carolina.
When his father allows Eli to miss a day of school to help him in his work, Eli knows that whatever is happening is a big deal. Alongside many men who survived both slavery and fighting in the Civil War, Eli helps make a fitting resting place for Union soldiers who died in a Confederate prison.
The next day as the entire community fills the streets, Eli isn’t sure “a flower is left unpicked in Charleston” as they honor those who fought for freedom from slavery. (Recommended for ages 6 – 10).
Best Picture Books of 2021: Contemporary Fiction
Bright Star by Yuyi Morales
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As a fawn is born and ventures out into the world, it finds things that are both beautiful and dangerous. The baby is encouraged by the sparse yet loving text, reminded that “no matter where you are, you are a bright star inside our hearts.” This beautiful book is a gift for any child who needs reassurance as they find their place in the world. Not only do I think it’s one of the best picture books of 2021; I also think it’s a strong contender for the Caldecott Award. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7).
Dinner on Domingos by Alexandra Katona
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Inspired by the author’s memories of Sunday dinners at her Ecuadorian grandma’s house, this charming picture book captures the warmth and playfulness of family and food. Alejandra loves visiting her abuela and her “huge extended family,” even when things become a bit chaotic. When Abuelita can’t take the growing noise, she yells “Basta” (enough) and turns on the music so they can dance together. Though Alejandra sometimes can’t understand Abuelita’s Spanish, they can always communicate in the language of home. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8).
Bindu’s Bindis by Supriya Kelkar and Parvati Pillai
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Every month, Bindu looks forward to discovering which bindis her Nana has mailed her. She wears them at the temple, on holidays, and at home. When Nana comes to visit, she loves matching bindis with Nana most of all. The bindis remind Bindu of all the ways she is unique. But when its Bindu’s turn to perform on the school stage, she suddenly doesn’t want to feel unique. Can Nana help her overcome her fears? (Recommended for ages 3 – 7).
Mi Casa Is My Home by Laurenne Sala and Zara González Hoang
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Young Lucia welcomes readers into her cozy, friendly, multigenerational home, where Spanish and English are intermingled. Things are very busy in her casa, from the sala where she builds blanket forts to keep out the light (and the hermanos) to the cocina where Mamá performs cooking milagros.
I appreciated that the story didn’t get bogged down with translating Spanish phrases. Lucia just speaks to us like she would a friend as she gives us a tour of her home. Children who don’t speak Spanish will be able to figure out most of the words from clues in the pictures and texts. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8.)
Related Post: 20 engaging picture books starring Latine characters
Family Reunion by Chad and Dad Richardson and Ashleigh Corrin
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Nothing says joyful summer celebration more than a Black family reunion! However, the child at the center of the story isn’t expecting the reunion to be fun (at least not as fun as video games.) He even has to imagine a force field around himself as all the relatives he doesn’t remember want to hug him.
Once Pop Pop finds him, things start to improve. Soon, the boy is soaking in all the fun (and food) that only a family reunion can provide. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7).
The Cot in the Living Room by Hilda Eunice Burgos and Gaby D’Alessandro
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In this moving story, an Afro-Latine family regularly welcomes children to sleep on an extra cot while their parents work the night shift. Their youngest daughter longs to sleep on the cot (instead of sharing a room with her sister). She’s also miffed when her parents offer their nervous young guests special privileges that she doesn’t get.
When the cot is unoccupied one night, she realizes sleeping on it is not quite the experience she expected. The next time a guest arrives, the girl has her own solution to make them feel welcome. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8.)
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho
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Joanna Ho uplifts the beauty of a young Asian girl’s eyes and how they connect her to her family. She does this without repeating hurtful stereotypes about Asian eyes. The child sees how her eyes are like Mama’s, which joyfully “glow like warm tea [and] crinkle into crescent moons” when she cuddles her after coming home from work.
Her eyes are also like her Amah’s (grandmother), whose eyesight has changed but who still holds many important stories in her eyes. They also remind her of her little sister, who looks at her “like I am her best present.” Eyes that Kiss in the Corners is not just a book about beauty; it’s also a book about the deep ties of family love. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7.)
To Carnival: A Celebration in Saint Lucia by Baptiste Paul and Jana Glatt
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Author Baptiste Paul grew up on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, where he dreamed of being able to participate in a Carnival parade. Though he was never able to, young Melba, the heroine of this charming picture book, shares that same dream.
Melba is especially eager to arrive at the Carnival parade because her Tonton (uncle) chose Melba’s idea for his band’s costumes. As many encounters – and delays – happens on her way to the parade, Melba has formed her own parade without even realizing it. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7).
Josie Dances by Denise Lajimodiere and Angela Erdrich
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This book is so beautiful, in both its message and its art, that it brought tears to my eyes. Josie is an Ojibwe girl who’s eager to dance for the first time in her nation’s powwow. Even though the powwow is next summer, there are many preparations to be made (and most of these must be done by the women in her family.)
Mama has promised to sew her dress and fancy shawl. Aunty will bead her cape, and Kookum (her grandmother) will bead her moccasins and leggings. Grandma Greatwalker, a tribal elder, pledges to dream her spirit name. But as the months go by, none of them are finished with their work. As people start to arrive for the powwow, Josie becomes anxious, wondering if she will have to wait another year to dance. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8.)
My Day with the Panye by Tami Charles and Sara Palacios
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When Fallon’s Manman (mother) was a girl, her own Manman told her “little by little, the bird builds its nest.” Manman wants Fallon to understand that not everything can be learned quickly, but Fallon wants so badly to be able to carry the panye on her head the graceful way that Manman does.
As they walk to the market, Manman teaches Fallon the many things that carrying the panye means, while they take in the bustling sights and sounds of Port-au-Prince. When Manman is finally ready to let her try carrying the panye, will Fallon be up to the task? This book is both a beautiful celebration of Haitian culture and of mother-daughter relationships. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8)
Zonia’s Rainforest by Juana Martinez-Neal
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In this gorgeously illustrated tale, Caldecott winner Juana Martinez-Neal introduces children to Zonia and her rainforest home in Peru. Zonia is an Asháninka girl who experiences both the delights of her land and the threats to the people and animals who have lived there for thousands of years. As the rainforest calls to Zonia, she – and all of us – must answer. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8).