Our Top 20 Books of 2020

This year has been an amazing one in the world of children’s literature. There have been so many wonderful books released that have left the most lovely impression. After much deliberation, listed below is our list of our top 20 favorites. They are impactful, creative, hilarious, beautifully illustrated and definitely “stand-outs” in our opinion. If there are any on here that you haven’t had the chance to read yet then RUN to your local library. They are definitely some that you won’t want to miss!

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Window by Marion Arboma- This black and white, wordless, picture book is full of creativity and imagination. As you go through you are presented with different windows and a little girl’s imagining of the type of room and scene within them.

Your Name Is a Songby Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow- This book is a celebration of names of every kind. It features a young girl who is upset because her teacher got her name wrong on the first day of school. Her mom gently reminds her how wonderful her name is and that she can speak up to help others get it right.

Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim- Danbi is form Korea and is having a hard time making friends in her new school until they find that friendship knows no language barriers. Little Danbi is so expressive in this book and the message is so beautiful.

A Book for Escargot by Dashka Slater and Sydney Hanson- This book is just plain adorable. Pair that with the fact that it is interactive and Escargot feels like your own little friend and you have a winner for sure.

The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade and Jennifer Davison- This is the story of a leaf who is afraid of falling off his tree come Autumn and how he deals with his fears and takes a leap of faith. It is super cute, but also very insightful and approachable for small children.

One World, Many Colors by Ben Lerwill and Alette Straathof- This book is so simple in concept and so effective. It highlights different colors by featuring different objects in different countries around the world.

Dandylion Summer by Frank Preston Gannon- Along with summer came an imaginary lion friend in this charming new release. It is so sweet and will have you longing for a Dandylion of your own.

You Matter by Christian Robinson- This is a book about worth and how all life has it, no matter how small. It is empowering and is one that really leaves an impact.

Mom’s Sweater by Jayde Perkin- This is one of the most beautiful books about death and grief that I have seen for children. It is a little heavy, but it is sensitively done and is quietly beautiful.

A Whale of a Mistake by Ioana Hobai – This book is all about those really big mistakes that feel like they can swallow you whole or weigh you down. It addresses how finding perspective can help you see your mistake in a different light and can help it shrink and help you grow. It’s a positively beautiful book.

When You Need Wings by Lita Judge- In this story a young girl is nervous about her first day of school and how she uses the power of her imagination to “give her wings” and help her cope. It is beautifully done and so insightful.

In a Garden by Tim McCanna and Aimee Sicuro- This book features a community garden as it is planted and then as it thrives. It has a great sense of community in it and appreciation for Mother Earth and all she provides.

My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan and Francesca Sanna- In this beautiful book Earth/Mother Nature is personified as a little girl and it makes a wonderful tribute to this place we call home. The pages also have wonderful cut-out features throughout to add to the experience.

A Story About Afiya by James Berry and Anna Cunha- This beautiful book is a tribute to little girl’s little white dresses and all the experiences and colors they can pick up throughout many little adventures. It is sentimental and sweet and breathtakingly lovely.

The Girl and the Dinosaur by Hollie Hughes and Sarah Massini- It is the story of a little girl who flys off with a dinosaur one night and has an incredible adventure where they even meet up with other children and their dinosaur friends for an amazing party before heading back to bed.

Kindness Grows by Britta Tekentrup- This book is a visual masterpiece. It utilizes a “crack cut-out” in the pages that gains size with each page turn to demonstrate how kindness can grow and how it can even overcome hate. It is one that kids of all ages and even adults will appreciate.

Keep an Eye on Ivy by Barroux- This book has one of the best surprises imbedded inside that makes us squeal with delight every single time we read it. (Think pop-up, person eating plant in the middle after tensions get high…). Never fear, it does have a happy ending.

Crying is Like the Rain by Heather Hawk Fienberg and Chamisa Kellogg- I love books that teach emotional awareness and this one about crying is fabulous. It talks about how emotions can build up inside and how it is okay to let them out and express them. It is beautifully written and done.

Our Favorite Day of the Year by A.E. Ali and Rahele Joenepour Bell- This book features several students in a classroom from diverse and different backgrounds and their favorite cultural celebration of the year as they share it with their class. Such a great idea and so well done.

You Are a Beautiful Beginning by Nina Laden and Kelsey Garrity-Riley- This book is a wonderful positive affirmation book to children everywhere. It is full of powerful statements and the most charming illustrations. I adore it.

The Climbing Tree by John Stith and Yuliya Pieletskaya- *BONUS* This book is our honorable mention this year. It was actually published last year, but I didn’t discover it in time to add it to last years “Top 20” list. I simply cannot not mention it in one of my “top” lists because it is a definite new favorite that showcases a wonderful and loving sibling relationship in all it’s ups and downs.

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