A list of the best picture books for kids.
The Children’s Book Review
We’ve been dying to find a spare moment to share our picks for the best picture books of 2020! Yes, you heard right. Good things come to those who wait—thank you for waiting. So many stunning, meaningful, and fun picture books brightened shelves and lives in a challenging year for so many. I guarantee you that the creators of these books missed a ton of in-person celebrations when their books were released. Let’s celebrate them all here and now by filling our shelves with these delights!
We’re incredibly excited about our 2020 list because it includes TCBR founder Bianca Schulze’s debut picture book, Don’t Wake the Dragon.
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Written and Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9781534421691
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Written and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Ages 5-8 | 80 Pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books | ISBN-13: 9781452137797
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Written by Jordan Scott
Illustrated by Sydney Smith
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Neal Porter Books | ISBN-13: 9780823445592
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Written by Meg Medina
Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez
Ages 5-7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536207040
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Written by Tricia Elam Walker
Illustrated by April Harrison
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Anne Schwartz Books | ISBN-13: 9780525581130
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Written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: The Innovation Press | ISBN-13: 9781943147724
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Written and Illustrated by The Fan Brothers
Ages 5-9 | 72 Pages
Publisher: Tundra Books | ISBN-13: 9780735263260
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Written by Minh Lê
Illustrated by Dan Santat
Ages 4-8 | 56 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9781368036924
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Written by Carrie Finison
Illustrated by Brianne Farley
Ages 3-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 97805255183589
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Written by J.F. Fox
Illustrated by Micah Player
Ages 3-6 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | ISBN-13: 9781250212405
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Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrated by James Ransome
Ages 4-8 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Holiday House | ISBN-13: 9780823438730
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Written and Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536201574
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Written by Zetta Elliott
Illustrated by Noa Denmon
Ages 4-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) | ISBN-13: 9780374307417
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Written and Illustrated by Deb Pilutti
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9780525518181
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Written and Illustrated by P.J. Lynch
Ages 7-10 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536200133
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Written by Anica Mrose Rissi
Illustrated by Mika Song
Ages 4-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9781368022859
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Written by Miranda Paul
Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Ages 4-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9780358140962
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Written by Lisa Katzenberger
Illustrated by Barbara Bakos
Ages 3-7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Penguin Workshop | ISBN-13: 9781524792404
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Written and Illustrated by Anna Kim
Ages 3-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9780451478894
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Written and Illustrated by Michael Rex
Ages 5-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books | ISBN-13: 9781984816269
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Written by Ian Landler
Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Ages 4-7 | 64 Pages
Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9781328585523
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For more of the best new picture books for kids, follow along with our articles tagged with Picture Books, Books for Ages 0-3, and Books for Ages 4-8.
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January 28, 2022 at 04:23AM Bianca Schulze
