2021 Staff Picks for Kids

It's the end of the year, which means it's time to share our staff's favorite recently published titles. We're kicking this week off with our favorite Children's books, but stayed tuned as we share our Teen and Adult lists over the next few days! What are some of your favorite titles from this past year? 

PICTURE BOOKS

• All Eyes on Ozzy  by K-Fai Stelle, illustrated by the author - recommended by Honor Z. at North Park
• Born on the Water  by Nikole Hannah-Jones, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith - recommended by Alicia A. at Library Administration
• Butterflies are Pretty Gross  by Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Jacob Souva - recommended by Lisa K. at Glen Allen
• Eyes that Kiss in the Corners  by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho - recommended by Seana T. at Glen Allen
• The Froggies Do Not Want to Sleep  by Adam Gustavson, illustrated by the author - recommended by Jodi H. at Glen Allen
• Green on Green  by Dianne White, illustrated by Felicita Sala - recommended by Lea M. at Fairfield
• The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read  by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora - recommended by Barbra S. at Fairfield
• In My Mosque  by M.O. Yuksel, illustrated by Hatem Aly - recommended by Demetria E. at Sandston/Varina
• I Sang You Down From the Stars  by Tasha Spillett-Sumner, illustrated by Michaela Goade, recommended by Kelsey C. at Varina
• Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell  by Selina Alko, illustrated by the author - recommended by Julianne S. at Glen Allen
• Me and Mama  by Cozbi A. Cabrera, illustrated by the author - recommended by Amanda S. at Fairfield
• Mel Fell  by Corey R. Tabor, illustrated by the author - recommended by Barbara J. at Libbie Mill
• The Rock from the Sky  by Jon Klassen, illustrated by the author - recommended by Rick S. at Library Administration and Barbie B. at Tuckahoe
• Ruby's Reunion Day Dinner  by Angela Dalton, illustrated by Jestenia Southerland - recommended by Nideria B. at Sandston/Varina
• The Singer and the Scientist  by Lisa Rose, illustrated by Isabel Munoz - recommended by Gina F. at Gayton
• Strollercoaster  by Matt Ringler, illustrated by Raul the Third & Elaine Bay - recommended by Cammy K. at Varina
• Watercress  by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin - recommended by Amy C. at Tuckahoe
• We Want to Go to School!: The Fight for Disability Rights  by Maryann Cocca-Leffler and Janine Leffler, illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler - recommended by Ame H. at Library Administration
• What the Road Said  by Cleo Wade, illustrations by Lucie de Moyencourt - recommended by Courtney M. at North Park

  EARLY READER + MIDDLE GRADE

• Across the Desert  by Dusti Bowling - recommended by Trisha K. at Fairfield
• Allergic  by Megan Wagner Lloyd - recommended by Nideria B. at Sandston/Varina
• Amari and the Night Brothers  by B.B. Alston - recommended by Jodi H. at Glen Allen
• Amber and Clay  by Laura Amy Schlitz - recommended by Gay Lynn V. at Twin Hickory
• Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids  edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith - recommended by Lea M. at Fairfield
• Castles: Conquer the World’s Most Impressive Castles  by Laura Buller - recommended by Courtney M. at North Park
• Clean Getaway  by Nic Stone - recommended by Drew C. at Gayton
• Echo Mountain  by Lauren Wolk - recommended by Gina F. at Gayton
• Fighting Words  by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - recommended by Logan F. at Gayton
• Fitz and Cleo  by Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox - recommended by Rick S. at Library Administration
• Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega - recommended by Barbie B. at Tuckahoe
• Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood  by Gary Paulsen - recommended by Amy C. at Tuckahoe and Barbara J. at Libbie Mill
• Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School  by Emily Jenkins - recommended by Aimee H. at Glen Allen
• The Last Fallen Star : A Gifted Clans Novel  by Graci Kim - recommended by Alicia A. at Library Administration
• Linked  by Gordon Korman - recommended by Fae S. at Twin Hickory
• Lotería  by Karla Valenti - recommended by Kelsey C. at Varina
• Merci Suarez Can’t Dance  by Meg Medina - recommended by Honor Z. at North Park
• Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness  by Ben Clanton - recommended by Lisa K. at Glen Allen
• Rick  by Alex Gino - recommended by Seana T. at Glen Allen
• Starfish  by Lisa Fipps - recommended by Rachel S. at Fairfield
• The Tea Dragon Tapestry  by K. O’Neill - recommended by Ame H. at Library Administration
• Twins  by Varian Johnson - recommended by Amanda S. at Fairfield

Looking for more suggestions? Try My Next Read! Submit a request and receive a custom list of book recommendations from our expert librarians.