This list is limited to books published for children or middle grade readers, as our Best Books of 2021 piece has a fair number of YA picks included. We’ve pulled together a separate list of the best children’s books so they, too, can shine and do so alongside other standouts. Grab your to-be-read list and prepare to watch it grow as you dive into our picks for the best children’s books of 2021. Of course, you will also want to peruse last year’s best books for children lists for more inspiration and outstanding reading and make your way through our ultimate guide to the best books for children by age.
2021 Best Books for Children
Each of the pieces works seamlessly, with some surprising points of views included. It’s just a dang cool book. —Kelly Jensen —Erika Hardison —Jesse Doogan Read this one for the words, but its real power is in the ability to pore over the art. Whenever my husband and I read it to the baby, we pause at each spread and point out all of the bodies which correspond to the descriptions in the text (“Dark skin, olive skin, every shade of brown skin, pinky pale or peach skin. Bodies are cool!”). —Kelly Jensen —CJ Connor —Alison Doherty —CJ Connor —Aurora Lydia Dominguez —Alison Doherty —Jamie Canavés —Ashlie Swicker —Isabelle Popp —Margaret Kingsbury —Margaret Kingsbury
