Library staff across Bucks County rounded up children’s books published in 2021 that your kids will love. For even more recommendations, check out all of our Staff Picks for 2021 or browse the Staff Picks shelves on cloudLibrary.
One, Two, Grandma Loves You by Shelly Becker
Reading age: 3-5 years old
A young girl and her grandmother each count down the days until the child arrives for a much-anticipated visit at grandma’s. Full of humor, love and joy, this picture book will resonate with anyone who has had to wait a long time to visit someone they love. –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
Pride Puppy by Robin Stevenson
Reading age: 3-5 years old
This is a rhyming alphabet book with lovely colorful illustrations. It’s a wholesome ode to pride parades and the inclusion they promote. –Kelley C., Yardley Branch, Bucks County Free Library
See Bip Grow! by David Milgrim
Reading age: 3-5 years old
Zip the space alien is back in a new adventure just right for the most beginner of readers. When Zip tries to make baby Bip bigger so they can play together, things go hilariously wrong! –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
Fred Gets Dressed by Peter Brown
Reading age: 3-6 years old
A great book that is all about the joy of self-expression. It’s lovely and heartwarming. –Dawn M., Langhorne Branch, Bucks County Free Library
My City Speaks by Darren Lebeuf
Reading age: 3-6 years old
A young girl makes her way through the noisy, busy city with her father, using her cane to navigate the streets. There is so much to do and enjoy along the way, but where will she go in the end? –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman
Reading age: 4-8 years old
From a presidential inaugural poet, Amanda Gorman provides us with a lyrical picture book that empowers kids to join together to make positive changes in our world for a better tomorrow. –Kathleen L., Bucks County Free Library
Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq
Reading age: 4-8 years old
Between being teased by her classmates and getting a bad grade on a test, Fatima has had a rough week at school. But when Fatima and her Indian immigrant family head into the forest for their first-ever American camping trip, Fatima finds rest, curiosity and a self-confidence that will follow her home. –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
Ty’s Travels: Beach Day! by Kelly Starling Lyons
Reading age: 4-8 years old
Imaginative and fun-loving Ty heads off on a beach adventure in the newest title in the Ty’s Travels series. Great for beginning readers to read on their own, or as a read-aloud to younger children. –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
No Buddy Like a Book by Allan Wolf
Reading age: 4-8 years old
This is a book about reading and using your imagination! With its rhyme scheme, colorful illustrations, and focus on exploration and imagination, it’s slightly reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’s Oh the Places You’ll Go, which was a childhood favorite of mine. –Kelley C., Yardley Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz
Reading age: 4-8 years old
Following the “Ring! Ring! Ring!” of the paleta cart, a young boy rushes through his neighborhood to find Paletero José and the icy treats he sells. He’s in such a hurry that he doesn’t have time to stop and talk to his neighbors along the way, all of whom seem to be trying to tell him something important! This heartwarming picture book adventure is told in Spanish and English. –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature by Nathan W. Pyle
Reading age: 4-8 years old
A cute book with the characters from Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet universe. It teaches kids about the funny and interesting things cats do. –Ash S., Warminster Library, Bucks County Library District
Survivor Tree by Marcie Colleen
Reading age: 4-8 years old
The beautiful illustrations and gentle text in this picture book tell the true story of the tree located at the base of the Twin Towers that survived and recovered from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This book offers readers hope and resilience surrounding the tragedy and was published for the 20th anniversary of 9/11. –Kathleen L., Bucks County Free Library
Give It a Try, Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi
Reading age: 5-7 years old
With creativity, confidence and perseverance, Yasmin solves problems like creating her own science experiment, getting her classmates to recycle, finding a lost library book and overcoming her shyness to sing at a wedding. This collection of four stories is great for beginning readers, young readers eager to move into chapter books, and reading aloud to young children. –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
Luca: A Sea Monster Story by Natasha Bouchard
Reading age: 6-8 years old
Luca is a fantastic story about following your dreams wherever they take you and staying true to who you are, even if other people don’t like it. –Olivia W., Levittown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves by Kara West
Reading age: 6-8 years old
It’s vacation time for young superhero Mia Mayhem and her superhero family. A surfing vacation might sound relaxing, but where Mia goes, mayhem and mishaps seem to follow! This book is the newest title in the laugh-out-loud Mia Mayhem series, perfect for young readers ready to begin chapter books. –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
The Secret Explorers and the Missing Scientist by SJ King
Reading age: 7-9 years old
Join Kiki and Connor on their secret mission to the Arctic to rescue a missing scientist in this latest title in The Secret Explorers series. Action-packed and full of real science, this series is perfect for young readers ready to transition into longer chapter books. –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County
Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley
Reading age: 7-10 years old
Spunky first-grader Jo Jo Makoons, who lives on an Ojibwe Reservation with her family, has her own way of seeing things as she navigates life with fickle friends, a clueless teacher and a cat who sometimes ignores her. –Emily K., Quakertown and Perkasie Branches, Bucks County Free Library
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo
Reading age: 8-12 years old
A girl, a goat, and a prophecy; what more could you want? –Ashleigh H., Bensalem Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Fast Pitch by Nic Stone
Reading age: 8-12 years old
Nic Stone’s newest middle-grade book tells the story of Shenice Lockwood, the 12-year-old captain of her fast-pitch softball team – the first and only all-Black girls’ team in the Dixie Youth Softball Association. When life throws Shenice a few choice curveballs, she ends up investigating the career-ending racist lie that shattered her family’s baseball legacy. I picked this book up because I loved Nic Stone’s 2020 book Clean Getaway, and Fast Pitch was another HOME RUN! –Michelle K., Bucks County Free Library
The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim
Reading age: 8-12 years old
Korean American Riley Oh desperately wants to become a witch, following her family’s long line of powerful Korean witches. The only problem? She was adopted and therefore did not inherit the family lineage. But her older sister Hattie has an idea: what if Hattie shared her powers with Riley? What could possibly go wrong? Naturally, everything goes wrong. With Hattie’s life on the line, Riley must find the last fallen star. Blending Korean mythology into the storyline, author Graci Kim tells the story of Riley’s struggle to save her sister and discover who she really is.
As a Korean American adoptee myself, I felt a special attachment to Riley and completely understood her feelings of simultaneously loving her family and feeling like an outsider with them. I highly recommend this book, especially to Asian American kids and anyone who loves fantasy. –Yoonmee H., Bensalem Branch, Bucks County Free Library
The Tea Dragon Tapestry by K. O’Neill
Reading age: 9-12 years
The conclusion to K. O’Neill’s wonderful Tea Dragon books is about facing the future and the past. Much like the others in the series, it’s warm fantasy just as delightful as a fresh cup of tea! –Allison W., Bensalem and Yardley Branches, Bucks County Free Library
