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 | The Children's Book Review Outside In by Deborah Underwood: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Outside-In-by-Deborah-Underwood-1024x874.jpg)
Outside In
Written by Deborah Underwood
Illustrated by Cindy Derby
Ages 4-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9781328866820
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![You Matter | The Children's Book Review You Matter: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/You-Matter-838x1024.jpg)
You Matter
Written and Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 9781534421691
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![Swashby and the Sea | The Children's Book Review Swashby and the Sea: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Swashby-and-the-Sea-1024x913.jpg)
Swashby and the Sea
Written by Beth Ferry
Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Ages 4-7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9780544707375
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![If You Come to Earth | The Children's Book Review Book Review If You Come to Earth](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/If-You-Come-to-Earth.jpg)
If You Come to Earth
Written and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Ages 5-8 | 80 Pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books | ISBN-13: 9781452137797
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![I Talk Like a River | The Children's Book Review I Talk Like a River: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/I-Talk-Like-a-River-922x1024.jpg)
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
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![Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away | The Children's Book Review Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Evelyn-Del-Rey-Is-Moving-Away-1024x843.jpg)
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away
Written by Meg Medina
Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez
Ages 5-7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536207040
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![Nana Akua Goes to School | The Children's Book Review Nana Akua Goes to School](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Nana-Akua-Goes-to-School-1024x1001.jpg)
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
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![We Are Water Protectors with Medal | The Children's Book Review We Are Water Protectors with Medal](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/We-Are-Water-Protectors-with-Medal-1024x1024.jpg)
We Are Water Protectors
Written by Carole Lindstrom
Illustrated by Michaela Goade
Ages 3-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | ISBN-13: 9781250203557
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![Your Name Is a Song | The Children's Book Review Your Name Is a Song: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Your-Name-Is-a-Song.jpg)
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
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![I Am Every Good Thing | The Children's Book Review Book I am Every Good Thing](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/I-Am-Every-Good-Thing.jpg)
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
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![The Barnabus Project | The Children's Book Review The Barnabus Project: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/The-Barnabus-Project-1024x1015.jpg)
The Barnabus Project
Written and Illustrated by The Fan Brothers
Ages 5-9 | 72 Pages
Publisher: Tundra Books | ISBN-13: 9780735263260
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![All Because You Matter | The Children's Book Review All Because You Matter: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/All-Because-You-Matter-1024x1024.jpg)
All Because You Matter
Written by Tami Charles
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Orchard Books | ISBN-13: 9781338574852
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![Dont Wake the Dragon | The Children's Book Review Don't Wake the Dragon](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dont-Wake-the-Dragon.jpg)
Don’t Wake the Dragon
Written by Bianca Schulze
Illustrated by Samara Hardy
Ages 2-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Clever Publishing | ISBN-13: 9781949998641
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![Dozens of doughnuts | The Children's Book Review Dozens of doughnuts: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Dozens-of-doughnuts-927x1024.jpg)
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
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![Friday Night Wrestlefest | The Children's Book Review Friday Night Wrestlefest](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Friday-Night-Wrestlefest-1024x1013.jpg)
Friday Night Wrestlefest
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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![Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome | The Children's Book Review Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Overground-Railroad-by-Lesa-Cline-Ransome-1024x1024.jpg)
Overground Railroad
Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrated by James Ransome
Ages 4-8 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Holiday House | ISBN-13: 9780823438730
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![Hike by Pete Oswald | The Children's Book Review Hike by Pete Oswald: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Hike-by-Pete-Oswald-742x1024.jpg)
Hike
Written and Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536201574
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![A Place Inside of Me- A Poem to Heal the Heart | The Children's Book Review A Place Inside of Me- A Poem to Heal the Heart](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/A-Place-Inside-of-Me-A-Poem-to-Heal-the-Heart-780x1024.jpg)
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
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![Old Rock is Not Boring | The Children's Book Review Old Rock is Not Boring](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Old-Rock-is-Not-Boring-844x1024.jpg)
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
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![Haunted-Lake-P-J-Lynch | The Children's Book Review The Haunted Lake: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Haunted-Lake-P-J-Lynch-1024x938.jpg)
The Haunted Lake
Written and Illustrated by P.J. Lynch
Ages 7-10 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536200133
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![Love Sophia on the moon | The Children's Book Review Love Sophia on the moon](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Love-Sophia-on-the-moon.jpg)
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
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![Speak Up by Miranda | The Children's Book Review Speak Up: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Speak-Up-by-Miranda-1024x1024.jpg)
Speak Up
Written by Miranda Paul
Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Ages 4-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN-13: 9780358140962
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![National Average Regular Ordinary Day | The Children's Book Review National Average Regular Ordinary Day: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/National-Average-Regular-Ordinary-Day-1024x1024.jpg)
National Regular Average Ordinary Day
Written by Lisa Katzenberger
Illustrated by Barbara Bakos
Ages 3-7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Penguin Workshop | ISBN-13: 9781524792404
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![Danbi Leads the School Parade | The Children's Book Review Danbi Leads the School Parade: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Danbi-Leads-the-School-Parade-974x1024.jpg)
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
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![Facts vs Opinions vs Robots | The Children's Book Review Facts vs Opinions vs Robots: Book Cover](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Facts-vs-Opinions-vs-Robots-772x1024.jpg)
Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots
Written and Illustrated by Michael Rex
Ages 5-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books | ISBN-13: 9781984816269
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![The Fabled Tales of Aesop | The Children's Book Review The Fables Life of Aesop](https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/The-Fabled-Tales-of-Aesop-833x1024.jpg)
The Fabled Life of Aesop
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.