Publishers Weekly has released their Best Books List for 2021. The top picks for children range from picture books to middle grade to young adult. Here are the books that made the list:
PICTURE BOOKS
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illus. by Nikkolas Smith
The Big Bath House by Kyo Maclear, illus. by Gracey Zhang
Chez Bob by Bob Shea
Circle Under Berry by Carter Higgins
Dad Bakes by Katie Yamasaki
Fish and Sun by Sergio Ruzzier
Have You Seen Gordon? by Adam Jay Epstein, illus. by Ruth Chan
Keeping the City Going by Brian Floca
Let Me Fix You a Plate by Elizabeth Lilly
The Longest Storm by Dan Yaccarino
Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, illus. by Christian Robinson
The Night Walk by Marie Dorléans
Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd, illus. by Christian Robinson
The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art by Cynthia Levinson, illus. by Evan Turk
The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen
Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham, illus. by C.G. Esperanza
Thank You, Neighbor by Ruth Chan
Watercress by Andrea Wang, illus. by Jason Chin
MIDDLE GRADE
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Sophie Blackall
Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia
Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Shutdown by Steve Sheinkin
Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood by Gary Paulsen
How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby
The Insiders by Mark Oshiro
Katie the Catsitter by Colleen AF Venable, illus. by Stephanie Yue
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Playing the Cards You’re Dealt by Varian Johnson
The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book by Kate Milford, illus. by Nicole Wong
Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna Guidroz, illus. by Fahmida Azim
Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
Stuntboy, in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds, illus. by Raúl the Third
Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff
Too Small Tola by Atinuke, illus. by Onyinye Iwu
YOUNG ADULT
Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Himawari House by Harmony Becker
In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Let’s Talk about It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore
The Other Merlin by Robyn Schneider
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
Waking Brain Cells 