20 Picture Books for the New Year

On a dreary, stuck-inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their grandmother’s advice: “Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours. Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing. Somebody somewhere at some point was just as bored as you are now.” And before they know it, their imaginations lift them up and out of their boredom. Then, on a day full of quarrels, it’s time for a trip outside their minds again, and they are can leave their anger behind. This precious skill, their grandmother tells them, harkens back to the days long before they were born, when their ancestors showed the world the strength and resilience of their beautiful and brilliant minds.

Available starting Jan. 4, 2022.

Max's room has his name all over it--on his blanket and night light and wall. His parents call him The One and Only Max. And so, he is in for a big surprise at the playground one day, when he hears Max, time to go home! and two other kids come running. He's not the one and only after all! How many Maxes are in the world?! Millions of Maxes?

But when he decides to help one of the other Maxes find her missing toy, he discovers that there are other ways to be special and that he can appreciate the specialness of his new Max friends just as much as his own. That night he dreams of the future adventures he'll have with all of the Maxes he has yet to meet.

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022.

A voracious young reader loves nothing more than going to the library and poring through books all day, making friends with characters, and going off on exciting adventures with them. However, the more she reads, the more she notices that most of the books don't have characters that look like her, and the only ones that do tell about the most painful parts of their history. Where are the heroines with Afros exploring other planets and the superheroes with 'locs saving the day?

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022.

Africa’s grandmother was a double Dutch legend, and Africa knows she can become the same. Her brother scoffs when she signs up for a double Dutch competition, though—how can she hope to compete when she’s never done it before? But Africa has all the tools she needs: memories of her grandmother, her bestie Bianca’s dance moves, her friend Omar’s rhythm, and her classmates’ Mary Mack timing and cartwheels.

If Africa can pull everything together to jump some winning moves, she might just fly, but it’s the birthmark in the shape of her name that tells her she’s always been a winner.

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022.

Written in simple and concise language perfect for a read-aloud, award-winning author Sarah L. Thomson invites readers to see through the eyes of a wombat as a fire rages through the Australian outback. Nearly 3 billion animals were affected by the Australian wildfires of 2019-2020, and wombats played a crucial part in allowing their homes to transform as safe havens for other animals whose homes were destroyed in the fires. Paired with beautifully layered art by Charles Santoso, Wombat Underground teaches us that the time of greatest danger is also the time to open our door to those in the greatest need. 

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022.

Searching for treasures with her grandpa is this young girl’s favorite thing to do. Every week they examine the items in her secret box and go on walks to find more—a broken robin’s egg, rusty spring, even a snakeskin that makes Grandpa squirm and make funny faces. But then Grandpa is too sick to come. She leaves him a few treasures in the hospital, but when he dies, she can’t bring herself to even open the treasure box. When Grammy brings her some treasures Grandpa wanted her to have, they open the box together and continue the tradition, showing that memories of time together are the greatest treasures of all. This poignant, gorgeously-illustrated story celebrates the special bonds kids have with grandparents, even after they are gone.

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022. 

When I say something is unfair to me, but it's fair for you, what does that make it?
When I meditate, it all gets clear.
And if you listen, you will really hear.
I am not alone. I am enough.

It can be scary to feel like you're all on your own, especially in the face of prejudice. But always remember: you are not alone. Inspired by the Alphabet Rockers' empowering song "Not Alone," this uplifting picture book reassures kids that they belong and encourages them to love their beautiful selves and their identities, use their voices against hate, and step up for one another and have one another's backs no matter what.

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022.

"There once was a time when all the colors, from midsummer blue to sunrise orange, lived at the tips of Annie's fingers..."

But when her classmates' sidelong glances cause Annie to notice all the tiny flaws in her art, her colorful creative spark fades--quite literally--to gray. With lyrical prose and eye-catching illustration author-artist Lisa Anchin shows readers how to find beauty in imperfections and celebrate the joy of creation for creations' sake.

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022.

"When you meet someone for the first time, they might ask, 'Who are your people?' and 'Where are you from?'"

Children are shaped by their ancestors, and this book celebrates the village it takes to raise a child. In the vein of I Am Enough and Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, this powerful picture book with beautiful illustrations by Reggie Brown is a joyful recognition of the people and places that help define young readers and adults alike.

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022.

Every year, Opal looked forward to the Juneteenth picnic--a drumming, dancing, delicious party. She knew from Granddaddy Zak's stories that Juneteenth celebrated the day the freedom news of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation finally sailed into Texas in 1865--over two years after the president had declared it! But Opal didn't always see freedom in her Texas town. Then one Juneteenth day when Opal was 12-years-old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. This wasn't freedom at all. She had to do something! Opal Lee spent the rest of her life speaking up for equality and unity. She became a teacher, a charity worker, and a community leader. At the age of 89, she walked from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C., to gain national recognition for Juneteenth. This book tells the true story of Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone, celebrates Black joy, and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. 

Available starting Jan. 11, 2022.

From painting, music, and slam poetry, to engineering, protesting, and photography, a young narrator journeys through her neighborhood, encouraging readers to explore all the many ways they can express themselves. A gorgeously illustrated and powerful celebration of self-expression, this book shows children that there are so many spaces and opportunities to use their voices and show the world exactly who they are. What will you show the world?

Available starting Jan. 18, 2022.

Hugs and kisses and lovey-dovey stuff isn't for all of us! Today the fierce, fearsome Lion is supposed to show his love. But that makes him grumpy.

“What do you love?” Mouse asks Lion.
Lion doesn't love lovey-dovey stuff.
Hugs? Kisses? NO WAY!
But Mouse wonders, doesn't Lion love . . .
to growl? Love to roar?
Hmm, maybe Lion likes that.
Doesn't he love to run? Love to chase?
Actually, maybe Lion loves that.
And maybe he DOES love to share his love.

With simple, humorous text and playful illustrations, this story is a charming, unconventional exploration of the many ways there are to show our love! 

Available starting Jan. 18, 2022.

Confident, empowered girls are celebrated in this follow-up to Happy Hair, a flower-filled, nature-loving, read-together picture book that encourages growth and positivity. Beautiful Black girls with gorgeous natural hairstyles full of flowers, butterflies, and other garden treasures are the stars of this vibrant, rhythmic picture book from the author/illustrator of Happy Hair and Cool Cuts. Set in a backdrop of nature's glorious color and bounty, it's a great springtime read-aloud to promote confidence and self-esteem for girls of all ages.

Available starting Jan. 18, 2022.

In the beginning, the universe was one great big thing. Then that thing exploded into gobs and gobs of thingamabobs.

All of the thingamabobs had a purpose...all except for one small, shapeless thingamabob. No one knew what it was for. It wasn't this or that. It wasn't here or there. What's the use of this thingamabob?

But everything changes for Thingamabob when it makes a friend in the park. And Thingamabob realizes that if you aren't one thing...you can be everything!

Available starting Jan. 18, 2022. 

Whenever young Alice Waters tasted something delicious, like the sun-warmed berries from her family’s garden or a crisp, ripe apple picked straight from the tree, she would remember it for the rest of her life. Later, as she tasted many more wonderful foods, she realized what made them so good—they were fresh and ripe, grown or made the old-fashioned way.

When Alice grew up, she opened a restaurant called Chez Panisse. As part of her quest to make delicious food, Alice sought out small, local farmers to provide the meat, dairy, and produce. The restaurant made her famous, but it did much more than that—it started a food revolution. Today, home cooks and chefs alike are all discovering the simple secret to the Best! Food! Ever! This book is a celebration of food, cooking, and the woman whose curiosity and devotion to flavor kickstarted America’s interest in buying local, organic food.

Available starting Jan. 18, 2022.

From whales and dolphins to hermit crabs and jellyfish, the ocean is filled with many different creatures. Join them on this imaginary undersea journey as ocean mamas care for their babies, each in their own special way! Because one thing is universal: there's no other love like that between mamas and their little ones.

With bright and beautiful watercolor illustrations comes this tender and heartwarming celebration of all the different mamas and babies you can find, especially those that live under the sea.

Available starting Jan. 25, 2022.

"What are you?" "Where are you from?" These are questions this mysterious creature has been asked all her life—and she has no idea how to answer. The rabbit was born from a planter's hole; the wolf was born from moonlight. All the animals know their origin stories, so why doesn't the creature now known as Wutaryoo know her own?

Confused and tired of not knowing who she is, Wutaryoo sets off on an adventure to discover her own ancestry. A heartwarming picture book about writing your own story and finding your truth, perfect for kids and graduates alike.

Available starting Jan. 25, 2022.

In clear and simple language, Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, explains what justice is and what it takes to achieve it for even the youngest readers. Drawing on examples of historic justice seekers whose deeds best demonstrate those attributes by asking hard questions, keeping an open mind, defending the truth, and using their voices and their bodies to fight injustice--such as Ida B. Wells, John Lewis, Malala Yousafzai, and many others, this timely book is perfect for exploring the concept of justice. Inspire young readers to fight for justice in their world and to remain hopeful that by standing together, it can triumph.

Available starting Jan. 25, 2022.

Every night when Sonia goes to bed, Mami asks her the same question - how did you help today? And since Sonia wants to help her community, just like her Mami does, she always makes sure she has a good answer to Mami's question.

In a story inspired by her own family's desire to help others, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor takes young readers on a journey through a neighborhood where kids and adults, activists and bus drivers, friends and strangers all help one another to build a better world for themselves and their community.

Available starting Jan. 25, 2022.

When Estrella's Tía Fortuna has to say goodbye to her longtime Miami apartment building, The Seaway, to move to an assisted living community, Estrella spends the day with her. Tía explains the significance of her most important possessions from both her Cuban and Jewish culture, as they learn to say goodbye together and explore a new beginning for Tía.

A lyrical book about tradition, culture, and togetherness, this story explores Tía and Estrella's Sephardic Jewish and Cuban heritage. Through Tía's journey, Estrella will learn that as long as you have your family, home is truly where the heart is.

Available starting Jan. 25, 2022.