written & illustrated by Tad Hills

40 pages, 3-7 years; published 2020 by Schwartz & Wade

Such a charming Christmas story. Tad Hills chose the perfect pair of animals to share a friendship—an elephant and a mouse. His illustrations are richly saturated in color and deeply draw you in. Mistletoe: A Christmas Story cleverly builds anticipation for the reader as Mistletoe the mouse tackles a knitting project. The concept of a tiny mouse taking on such a monumental task for a friend is sure to resonate with young kids who often feel inadequate. One of the best images is certainly the last, and that alone will likely spark many pleas to read it again!

by Susana Gómez Redondo, translated by Lawrence Schimel
illustrated by Sonja Wimmer

32 pages, ages 3–8 years; published 2020 by Blue Dot Kids Press

This picture book is simply beautiful with luscious illustrations that take your breath away. There is so much tenderness in both the paintings and the prose. A new student who cannot speak English is kindly welcomed by her classmate. Determined to become friends, the girls make an effort to learn one another’s native language. This story demonstrates how patience and compassion go a long way in creating harmony among people with diverse backgrounds. The Day Saida Arrived leaves readers with a calming and lasting impression of hope.

written & illustrated by Henry Cole

48 pages, 4-8 years; published 2020 by Scholastic Press

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey is Henry Cole at his finest. This wordless picture book speaks volumes. The story takes you on the journey of a paper bag and the boy who owns it. The bag bears witness to many milestones in the boy’s life, and in turn becomes more than just a bag. The detailed drawings pull you in and encourage viewers to find the brown bag on each page and consider its purpose. While the story needs no explanation, an author’s note informs readers about a similar paper bag Cole once kept for many years. This helps tie the story into conservation and the ways in which people  can minimize their footprint and look at material things in fresh new ways. 

by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade

40 pages, 3–6 years; published 2020 by Roaring Brook Press

What a beautiful picture book that more than lives up to its hype. The writing feels poetic despite the seriousness of the subject matter. Carole Lindstrom describes the threat of the Dakota Access Pipeline with a mystical voice that honors indigenous heritage, including her own. Michaela Goade’s luscious watercolor illustrations are equally captivating as they highlight the purity and life force of water. Children will be drawn to the calm beauty of this book while also feeling the power of its message to push for social and environmental justice and advocacy. We Are Water Protectors is a true gem of artistic talent that includes informative back matter.

by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe

40 pages, preschool to 3 years; published 2020 by The Innovation Press

What a wonderful story for children feeling unseen and unimportant. It all starts with your name. For many kids, this initial identity marker comes with a great burden when your classmates, and even your teachers, can’t pronounce it. Thompkins-Bigelow weaves a refreshing tale about the beauty, rhythm, and creativity of personal names. Your Name is a Song is a book I can deeply relate to having grown up with repeated misspellings and mispronunciations of my first and last name. Your name is important, and even more important is that the people around you take the time to get it right. I hope this book starts the conversation and helps more children to feel accepted. 

Check out this great video of proper name pronunciations from the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmXqJGherE8

by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Shane W. Evans

40 pages, 4-8 years; published 2020 by Harper Collins

One of the best features of Big Papa and the Time Machine is its authentic voice. From the first few words, you are drawn into the dream world that the boy and Big Papa share. Big Papa tells unique stories about courage and all the varied ways in which life may ask it of you. Kids will see that no matter your age there will be times when you will feed scared, but we can all practice being brave. Daniel Bernstrom’s characters are inspired from his own life which he shares about in a touching author’s note. The captivating illustrations by Shane W. Evans contain many textures and colorful layers that beg to be gazed at.