Looking for picture books for some special kids this year? This is part 2 of my massive list. Don't miss Picture Books Part 1! There were so many amazing picture books I loved this year that I had to split this list in two (and, spoiler, there's more picture books coming in some of the other lists).
Lift by Mihn Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat (Little, Brown, 2020). When Iris's little brother takes over the elevator-button-pushing duty, she's feeling pretty put out until she discovers a mysterious new button that opens up doors to all kinds of amazing places. This gorgeous, imaginative book will delight young readers and may be especially appreciated by older siblings.
Lilah Tove Good Night by Mister G, illustrated by Noar Lee Naggan (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020). This original Hebrew lullaby is a beautiful bedtime story that takes on a deeper meaning through illustrations that depict a refugee family leaving their home and journeying to a new land. This is a quietly stirring book that works on different levels, so kids at different ages can appreciate the parts of the book they're ready for.
Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker, illustrated by April Harrison (Schwartz & Wade, 2020). When Bring Your Grandparents day approaches at school, Zura starts to get nervous. She loves her grandparents, who grew up in Ghana; they're her favorite people, but Zura's afraid that the kids at school won't understand her Nana Akua's tribal face tattoos. Luckily, Nana Akua has a plan and turns the day into one that no one will forget. This is a reassuring intergenerational story that emphasizes learning about different cultures and celebrates the fact that we're all unique.
The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho, Jess X. Snow (Kokila, 2020). Color splashes every page of this vibrant picture book about a young Korean girl and her grandmother who is a haenyeo - a diver hunting for food and treasure on the seafloor. Dayeon dreams of following in her grandmother's fins and becoming a "mermaid" diver, and grandma helps her face her fears. Kids who love the ocean will love this special book.
Piglette by Katelyn Aronson, illustrated by Eva Byrne (Viking, 2020). Part Fancy Nancy, part Olivia, Piglette is a pig exploring her options. Not one for the rough and tumble country farm life, Piglette soon heads for the city of Paris where she discovers her talents as a parfumeuse. But when the city starts to feel stifling and she starts to miss her brothers and sisters, she realizes that she must find a way to combine all the things she loves. This super cute story is perfect for sparkly kids.
Red Shoes by Karen English, illustrated by Ebony Glenn (Scholastic, 2020). Malika loves her red shoes so much, she wears them everywhere until she finally outgrows them and they find a new home. This is a sweet story that will appeal to young fashionistas and I know a shoe-obsessed four year old who is getting this one for Christmas this year. This is another great pick for sparkly kids!
Snail Crossing by Corey R. Tabor (Balzer + Bray, 2020). When Snail spies a field of plump, crisp cabbage across the road, he sets off to get him some, but a journey for one small snail across a big, busy road is not as easy as it may seem. This fun and funny book makes a great readaloud.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade (Roaring Brook, 2020). Ojibwe author and Tlingit illustrator Lindstrom and Goade have created a magnificent book that celebrates the people standing against oil pipelines to protect the environment. This is a powerful book and it's absolutely gorgeous, definitely one you'll want for your collection if you love beautifully illustrated books. It's another one that's great for starting conversations about race and justice.
What Sound is Morning? by Grant Snider (Chronicle, 2020). In beautiful, slanted rhyme and gorgeous colorful illustrations, it celebrates not only the sounds of morning but also the changing light of morning. This book is really something special in how the text and the illustration work together and it would make a wonderful quiet, cozy book to share on winter mornings.
When My Brother Gets Home by Tom Lichtenheld (HMH, 2020). A younger sister highly anticipates when her brother will get home from school, imagining all the fun things they will do together. This story perfectly captures that childlike excitement for after-school play and it celebrates a wonderful bond between sister and brother. This would be an especially fun one for brothers and sisters to enjoy together.
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.