Skip to main content

Picture Books from 2021 That Would Make Great Gifts

Image
By

I am one of those librarians that always gives books for gifts. And there have been some pretty good books this past year—okay so there are always good new books—and I have a few that I think are especially good if you are looking for a book to give away this holiday season. Just don’t tell my family what is on this list—or they might not be surprised as to what is coming their way… 

Written by Hannah Carmona 
Illustrated by Anna Cunha
Oxford, United Kingdom: Lantana Publishing Ltd., 2021.

This is a good book to give kids who aspire to being brave. In the story, Anita must face her fear of moving away and flying in an airplane (dragon). 

Written by Jonathan Stutzman
Illustrated by Dan Santat 
New York, NY : Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2021.

This is a book that I just gave to my newest nephew. It is a sentimental story about how specific treasured toys can impact a child—and be impactful for multiple generations. 

By Bob Shea
New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2021.
 
If you have someone who needs a good book that is funny but also sweet at the same time, then this is the book for you. Bob wants to make a bird restaurant so he doesn’t have to go find dinner—until he realizes dinner might be friends. 

Written by Joanna Ho 
Illustrated by Dung Ho
New York, New York : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021.

This is one of those powerhouse books that tells readers that they are of value and how value and strength can come from themselves and their relatives. So powerful! 

By Jessica Young 
Illustrated by Rafael López 
New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2021.

This is a sweet book that talks about how even though people may be far apart—they can still be together in spirit or in their dreams. A great book to give to those loved ones who live far away. 


By The Fan Brothers
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021.

If you know someone who loves beautiful illustrations, then this is the book to give. The Fan Brothers are known for some breathtaking illustrations, and this book is no exception. 

Written by Shelly Anand 
Illustrated by Nabi H. Ali 
New York : Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2021.

This is another book about self-worth—particularly about body image. If you know a young reader who would benefit from a sweet story about being excited about their body, then this is the book to give. 

Written by Kim Norman
Illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby 
Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2021.

I have a dinosaur fan at my house. This is a clever and silly book that is full of counting and dinosaur fun. 

By Andrea Wang
Illustrated by Jason Chin 
New York : Holiday House, 2021.

Every now and then there comes along a book that makes me think about my ancestors and how I am better off because of the sacrifices that they made for me. This is one of those books. 

By Leo Timmers 
Wellington, New Zealand : Gecko Press, 2021.

If you know someone who loves to laugh and likes dragons and clever stories and illustrations, then you may want to gift this book. I already gave this one as a gift multiple times this year, and it has been a hit every time with my dragon-loving nephews!
Labels:

Comments

Ramona said…
How delightful to find your post and head to my library site to put the books on hold! I have grandsons who love dinosaurs and dragons. And this grandma loves any book that celebrates family.
December 24, 2021 at 5:13 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Kareem Between

By
  Kareem Between By Shifa Saltagi Safadi New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2024. Fiction. 324 pages.  Kareem loves football and as he gets ready to start seventh grade he dreams of someday becoming the first Syrian American NFL player. Seventh grade is not off to a great start for Kareem, after football tryouts don't go as he had planned, his best friend moves away, and his mom returns to Syria to help bring his sick grandfather to the US for treatment. So when Austin, the quarterback and coach's son, offers to talk to his dad and get Kareem on the football team in the spring, if he will cheat and do his homework for him, Kareem agrees. Kareem really wants to fit in at school and he is desperate to find a friend, but deep down he knows that doing Austin's homework isn't the right thing to do. And to make things harder, Kareem's mom asks him to be a friend to Fadi, a Syrian Christian refugee. He knows he should stand up for Fadi and help him adjust to the new school,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: A World Without Summer

By
A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, a Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out Written by Nicholas Day Illustrated by Yas Imamura New York: Random House Studio, 2025. Informational. 294 pages. In 1815 on a small island in Indonesia, Mount Tambora erupted. The blast was the largest in human history, and one of the deadliest. Though it couldn't be understood at the time, the deadly blast half a world away would lead to catastrophic famine in Europe, prompt westward expansion in America, and inspire the novel Frankenstein  by Mary Shelley. The global climate disaster following the explosion also led to inventions like modern meteorology and the early invention of the bicycle. The people living at the time couldn't have seen how everything was connected, but this fast paced narrative assures that readers will. As he did in 2024's Sibert winner The Mona Lisa Vanishes, Nicholas Day does an impressive job of weaving together different historical events into one single, compell...
Post a Comment
Read more

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

By
KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...
Post a Comment
Read more