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    The Children's Book Review

    The Best Picture Books of 2020

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze5 Mins Read Ages 0-3 Ages 4-8 Best Kids Stories Book Lists Picture Books
    Dont Wake the Dragon Book
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    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.

    Outside In by Deborah Underwood: Book Cover

    Outside In

    Written by Deborah Underwood

    Illustrated by Cindy Derby

    Ages 4-7 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9781328866820

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    You Matter: Book Cover

    You Matter

    Written and Illustrated by Christian Robinson

    Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9781534421691

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Swashby and the Sea: Book Cover

    Swashby and the Sea

    Written by Beth Ferry

    Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

    Ages 4-7 | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9780544707375

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Book Review If You Come to Earth

    If You Come to Earth

    Written and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

    Ages 5-8 | 80 Pages

    Publisher: Chronicle Books | ISBN-13: 9781452137797

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    I Talk Like a River: Book Cover

    I Talk Like a River

    Written by Jordan Scott

    Illustrated by Sydney Smith

    Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Neal Porter Books | ISBN-13: 9780823445592

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Audible
    Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away: Book Cover

    Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away

    Written by Meg Medina

    Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

    Ages 5-7 | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536207040

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Audible
    Nana Akua Goes to School

    Nana Akua Goes to School

    Written by Tricia Elam Walker

    Illustrated by April Harrison

    Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Anne Schwartz Books | ISBN-13: 9780525581130

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    We Are Water Protectors with Medal

    We Are Water Protectors

    Written by Carole Lindstrom

    Illustrated by Michaela Goade

    Ages 3-7 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | ISBN-13: 9781250203557

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Audible
    Your Name Is a Song: Book Cover

    Your Name Is a Song

    Written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

    Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

    Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: The Innovation Press | ISBN-13: 9781943147724

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Book I am Every Good Thing

    I Am Every Good Thing

    Written by Derrick Barnes

    Illustrated by Gordon C. James

    Ages 3-7 | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books | ISBN-13: 9780525518778

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Audible
    The Barnabus Project: Book Cover

    The Barnabus Project

    Written and Illustrated by The Fan Brothers

    Ages 5-9 | 72 Pages

    Publisher: Tundra Books | ISBN-13: 9780735263260

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Audible
    Lift by Minh Le: Book Cover

    Lift

    Written by Minh Lê

    Illustrated by Dan Santat

    Ages 4-8 | 56 Pages

    Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9781368036924

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    All Because You Matter: Book Cover

    All Because You Matter

    Written by Tami Charles

    Illustrated by Bryan Collier

    Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Orchard Books | ISBN-13: 9781338574852

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Audible
    Don't Wake the Dragon

    Don’t Wake the Dragon

    Written by Bianca Schulze

    Illustrated by Samara Hardy

    Ages 2-6 | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Clever Publishing | ISBN-13: 9781949998641

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Dozens of doughnuts: Book Cover

    Dozens of Doughnuts

    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

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Friday Night Wrestlefest

    Friday Night Wrestlefest

    Written by J.F. Fox

    Illustrated by Micah Player

    Ages 3-6 | 48 Pages

    Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | ISBN-13: 9781250212405

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome

    Overground Railroad

    Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome

    Illustrated by James Ransome

    Ages 4-8 | 48 Pages

    Publisher: Holiday House | ISBN-13: 9780823438730

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Audible
    Hike by Pete Oswald: Book Cover

    Hike

    Written and Illustrated by Pete Oswald

    Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536201574

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    A Place Inside of Me- A Poem to Heal the Heart

    A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart

    Written by Zetta Elliott

    Illustrated by Noa Denmon

    Ages 4-8 | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) | ISBN-13: 9780374307417

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Old Rock is Not Boring

    Old Rock (is Not Boring)

    Written and Illustrated by Deb Pilutti

    Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9780525518181

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    The Haunted Lake: Book Cover

    The Haunted Lake

    Written and Illustrated by P.J. Lynch

    Ages 7-10 | 48 Pages

    Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536200133

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Love Sophia on the moon

    Love, Sophia on the Moon

    Written by Anica Mrose Rissi

    Illustrated by Mika Song

    Ages 4-8 | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9781368022859

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Speak Up: Book Cover

    Speak Up

    Written by Miranda Paul

    Illustrated by Ebony Glenn

    Ages 4-7 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9780358140962

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    National Average Regular Ordinary Day: Book Cover

    National Regular Average Ordinary Day

    Written by Lisa Katzenberger

    Illustrated by Barbara Bakos

    Ages 3-7 | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Penguin Workshop | ISBN-13: 9781524792404

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Danbi Leads the School Parade: Book Cover

    Danbi Leads the School Parade

    Written and Illustrated by Anna Kim

    Ages 3-7 | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9780451478894

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    Audible
    Facts vs Opinions vs Robots: Book Cover

    Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots

    Written and Illustrated by Michael Rex

    Ages 5-8 | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books | ISBN-13: 9781984816269

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org
    The Fables Life of Aesop

    The Fabled Life of Aesop

    Written by Ian Landler

    Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

    Ages 4-7 | 64 Pages

    Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9781328585523

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Bookshop.org

    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.

    How You Support The Children's Book Review
    We may receive a small commission from purchases made via the links on this page. If you discover a book or product of interest on this page and use the links provided to make a purchase, you will help support our mission to 'Grow Readers.' Your support means we can keep delivering quality content that's available to all. Thank you!
    Anica Mrose Rissi Anna Kim Anne Schwartz Books April Harrison Atheneum Books for Young Readers Barbara Bakos Best Kids Books of 2020 Beth Ferry Bianca Schulze Brianne Farley Bryan Collier Candlewick Carole Lindstrom Carrie Finison Christian Robinson Chronicle Books Cindy Derby Clarion Books Clever Publishing Deb Pilutti Deborah Underwood Derrick Barnes Ebony Glenn Farrar Straus and Giroux featured Gordon C. James Holiday House Ian Landler Illustrated by Dan Santat J.F. Fox James Ransome Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow Jordan Scott Juana Martinez-Neal Lesa Cline-Ransome Lisa Katzenberger Little Brown Books for Young Readers Luisa Uribe Meg Medina Micah Player Michael Rex Michaela Goade Mika Song Minh Lê Miranda Paul Nancy Paulsen Books Neal Porter Books Noa Denmon Orchard Books P.J. Lynch Pamela Zagarenski Penguin Workshop Pete Oswald Picture Books Roaring Brook Press Samara Hardy Sonia Sánchez Sophie Blackall Sydney Smith Tami Charles The Fan Brothers The Innovation Press Tricia Elam Walker Tundra Books Viking Books for Young Readers Zetta Elliott
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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