The world is full of so many good books, and so little time to read them all! That’s why I wanted to make it easy on you by giving you a complete guide to the BEST children’s books you need to read in 2020. Hope you enjoy!
The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander
This book is actually a poem, written by Newbury Award winning author Kwame Alexander. Described as “a love letter to black life in the United States” it highlights key moments in history from slavery, to the civil rights movement, to the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of our world’s greatest heroes. In it appear words from Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, which are said to “offer deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present.” From the text to the gorgeous illustrations, this is a must-read.
Guts, by Raina Telgemeier
I love this book for the way it addresses the importance of mental health even in young children. In it, the main character Raina wake up one day with a terrible stomachache—but when it doesn’t go away, she starts to wonder why it seems related to her worries at school. If you have a sensitive little one, or you’re trying to start a conversation with your kids about mental health, this book is a great place to start!
Camp Tiger, by Susan Choi
This is a coming of age tale about a boy on a camping trip with his family. While he’s used to seeing a few animals on the campground, everyone is taken by surprise when a tiger shows up and starts talking to them! The story is very sweetly written, but what will truly catch you eye in this story are the illustrations. I even wanted to hang them up in my house!
Patron Saints of Nothing, by Randy Ribay
For kids on the older side, I had to include this National Book Award finalist. Goodreads describes it as, “a powerful coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin’s murder.” Just…trust me. You don’t want to miss out on reading this book!