So many picture books! There were so many picture books I wanted to include this year, I split the list up into two this year. Picture books make a great gift for a wide range of ages and I've got plenty of diverse choices and own-voices authors included. The first half of the alphabet is here; tune in tomorrow for Picture Books Part 2!
Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd, illustrated by Nneka Myers (Random House, 2020). This beautiful sweet book is a perfect bedtime story to share with the family. A little girl takes us on a tour of each family's nighttime hair routine, but when it's time for her own she realizes that her bedtime bonnet is nowhere to be found! Just as important as brushing her teeth, the bonnet is part of her routine. Where could it be?
Bunheads by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey (Putnam, 2020). This gorgeous picture book by prima ballerina Misty Copeland is perfect for young dancers. Based on Copeland's childhood, this book shares the story of the Coppélia ballet and shows a young girl reaching for her dreams. If you have a Misty Copeland fan on your list, you might also consider her award-winning first picture book Firebird.
Don't Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton (Candlewick, 2020). If you've got a little one who's a little hesitant to try new things, this adorable under-the-sea story is a perfect gift. I gave it to my four-year-old niece on her birthday this year because she loves all things ocean. It's time for Little Crab to graduate from the tidepool and have his first adventure in the big sea, but Little Crab's a little worried about taking that step. With encouragement from Big Crab, he'll learn that the big sea is nothing to worry about.
Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brianne Farley (Putnam, 2020). LouAnn's getting ready for hibernation and baking dozens of doughnuts to eat to fatten up for the winter. But when her forest friends keep dropping by, she keeps sharing the doughnuts she's made... how will she ever get ready for winter? This bouncy book is a winter tale with a lot of humor as LouAnn keeps getting ready to eat her doughnuts and getting interrupted. Give this one to young animal lovers who enjoy a giggle.
Friday Night Wrestlefest by J.F. Fox, illustrated by Micah Player (Roaring Brook, 2020). This is a perfect bedtime story for young wrestling fans and families who want to share their passion for wrestling with the next generation. Designed to be read in a wrestling announcer voice, with a match full of the clever moves and twists & turns that make wrestling so much fun, this one is sure to add up to lots of fun for the right family. If you have WWE fans on your list, this is the one you want!
Going Up by Sherri J. Lee, illustrated by Charlene Chua (Kids Can Press, 2020). When she and her dad get invited to a birthday party on the 10th floor of their building, they take the elevator and at each floor, another person gets on in this warm celebration of community and togetherness. For a year that's driven us all apart so much, this is a wonderful reminder of the importance of togetherness (and the hope that we'll soon be able to experience it again).
Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson, illustrated by Courtney Dawson (Capstone, 2020). Shailey has a good routine going with her dad and bedtime, but when he starts a new job, time for bedtime stories gets cut down and Shailey fires him. But as she starts interviewing new candidates, it's harder than she thought to find a good fit. The applicants are all fairy tale characters from the three little pigs (scared off by the fierce competition) to the gingerbread man (runs away with the book) to Captain Hook (hygiene lacking). This is a darling bedtime story for young fairy tale fans and good for a wide range of ages.
Hike by Pete Oswald (Candlewick, 2020). This beautiful wordless tale shows a father and son going on an all-day hike together to plant a tree on a mountain. It celebrates the beauty of nature and the importance of getting out in it. This year may be a year that you've done more hiking and outdoor adventures than ever, so this might be a winning choice to commemorate such an odd year.
How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi, illustrated by Yao Xiao (Make Me a World, 2020). Wrapped up in a personal story about rock climbing, this book is a really good blueprint for solving problems and has a really great way of looking at falls and failures. Shiraishi encourages readers to pick yourself back up and look at the new information you learned from that fall. For any kids (and parents!) who struggle with persistence and perfectionism, this is a wonderful book to have on your shelves.
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020). From the multiple-award-winning creators of Crown: Ode to the Fresh Cut, this is another gorgeous picture book that celebrates and affirms Black boy joy. While this is a must for African American families with sons, I think it's a wonderful addition to any child's library. Joy oozes out of every page and it's a book that reminds Black boys (and us all) that they are worthy of love and respect.
Need more picture book suggestions? Check out Picture Books Part 2 for more!
For the first 12 days of November, I'll be posting a list of children's books perfect for gift giving this holiday season. Check out the full list of lists here to see what's coming. All the lists link to IndieBound to make it easy for you to find an independent bookstore to buy from (and as an IndieBound affiliate, shopping through those links supports me, too!). Independent bookstores need our support more than ever this year, so please shop local if you can or if you don't have a local independent bookstore, please consider ordering online from my local indie Carmichael's Bookstore.