Ten Favorite Picture Books of 2021!

This gorgeous, body positive book is a celebration of Japanese culture. The story follows a young girl as she visits a bath house with her grandma and aunties. I loved the rituals of the bath house – a tradition that so many cultures take part in – and how all bodies are honored and celebrated.

This vibrant, beautiful book honors the life and legacy of Nina Simone. Known as Eunice Kathleen Waymon as a young girl growing up in a small town in North Carolina, she became known as Nina Simone in her first performances as an adult, making a huge impact in the fight against racial inequality and discrimination.

I love books about artists, and this one is no exception. James Yang does a lovely job imagining a day in the life of a young Isamu Noguchi as he wanders through an outdoor market, through the forest, and then by the ocean. He stops. He notices. Stones look like birds. And birds look like stones. This is a terrific book that all readers – especially quiet, introspective readers – will adore.

Unbound is truly a special book about a very special artist. Judith Scott was born with Down syndrome. She had a special bond with her twin sister Joyce, but one day young Judith is institutionalized. Joyce visits her often, and the years go by and the girls grow up. Once Joyce is settled, she decides to bring her sister to live with her and her family. Knowing how Judith always loved art, Joyce enrolled her in an art class. Judith went on to become an artist of renown with her work displayed in museums and galleries around the world.

Because I live in a big apartment building myself, I always love books that show community life. The story begins at night, and everyone is asleep. Then a baby wakes up and cries, which subsequently sets off a chain of reactions and sounds that wakes up everyone else in the building. But the gentle sounds of night in the city quickly helps everyone go back to sleep.

This clever book introduces young readers to shapes and colors in an intriguing and delightful way. With vibrant colors that remind me of Eric Carle’s art, this book is a delight to the eye. I gifted it to my nephew, and he loved pointing at the various shapes on each page.

This wordless picture book is the final book in a trilogy that includes The Farmer and the Clown and The Farmer and the Monkey. Marla Frazee is a master of expression and body movement, making her the perfect person to create a wordless picture book. The Farmer and the Circus might be my favorite of this trilogy, but all of them work beautifully together to make a lovely, heartwarming story.

One of my favorite animals is the pig (they are so cute!), so it is no surprise that I love this book! A blend of encyclopedia-type information with funny facts, this book is great for animal lovers. I adore the illustrations!

I had no idea of the story of this swim club before reading this book. In the 1930s, a group of kids liked swimming in the irrigation ditches of Hawaii’s sugar plantations. When local authorities try to chase them away, Soichi Sakamoto takes responsibility for the kids and decides to form a swim club. Using the natural resistance of the current, Sakamoto trained the kids to swim and his swimmers began to win meet after meet, becoming some of the best swimmers in the world.

I adore the illustrations in this playful, joyful book that is perfect for the youngest readers in your life. This wonderful book celebrates playtime and the connection between children and the natural world. Each page is a beautiful display of childhood and nature in celebration of each other.