Last year, before I picked up the phone to let a customer know their book was ready for them, I was intrigued by the title – Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo – so I read through it first. I should have had tissues ready! It’s a sweet story about friendship and acceptance and I teared up a little. I think that’s what I love about picture books: how positive and life-affirming they are. That’s true whether they’re an invitation to bravery like Gaia Cornwall’s Jabari Jumps, in which a dad helps his kid find the courage to jump off the diving board, or, in the case of BJ Novak’s wonderful The Book With No Pictures, just a joyful exploration of language. Picture books are a great way to help develop a child’s imagination and sense of wonder, as well as helping them to learn about and make sense of the world around them, including the vast diversity of people that make that world. I asked my fellow Book Rioters to share their own favorite picture books. Here’s what they said. Find even more outstanding picture books with these must-read 2021 picture books, as well as this guide to the best children’s books by age. —Patricia Thang —Rachel Brittain —Rachel Brittain —Danika Ellis —Isabelle Popp —Rachel Rosenberg —Rachel Rosenberg —Megan Mabee —PN Hinton
