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Parents Best Children’s Books 2021: My Favorites

Parents Magazine has unveiled their list of “Best” Children’s Books of 2021. This is their 13th annual list! Below, I’ve chosen to highlight some of my favorites from their list. I’ve read all the books listed below except for the board book Washer and Dryer’s Big Job which I fully intend to order and read because…laundry. I enjoy doing laundry.

Spy any books you want to add to your book wish list?

Board Books for Ages 0-3

Washer and Dryer’s Big Job

Count to Love: Bright Brown Baby

Picture Books for Ages 3 – 8

Outside, Inside

Uma Wimple Charts Her House

Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race

Chapter Books for Ages 8 – 12

Stamped (For Kids)

Sisters of the Neversea

Best Books for Teens

Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales

You can find the full list of books selected by Parent’s Magazine by clicking here.

hereweeread

Black hair is magic! Our hair is full of history, beauty and endless versatility. We can rock our hair in juicy twists, curls, locs, braids or a fierce afro. No matter the style, our hair tells a story.

That’s why I love sharing books that celebrate Black hair with kids. Because from the moment our little ones recognize their reflection, they should know their hair is something to be loved, cherished, and celebrated…not “tamed” or “fixed.”

These picture and board books are stories and affirmations. They remind Black children that their coils, curls, kinks, and locs are perfect just as they are.

What’s your favorite book that celebrates Black hair? Tell me some of your recommendations in the comments. ⬇️

#blackhairmagic #blackhistory365 #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymonth2025 #blackbookstagram #blackbookstagrammer

#hereweeread #childrensbooks #childrensbookstagram #picturebookoftheday #picturebooks #picturebookstagram #readeveryday #readdaily #booksforkids #picturebooksforkids #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #booksforchildren #readingismagic #readmorebooks #readingisfundamental #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksmatter #kidlitillustration #bookpiles #bookstacks

Looking for Black History board books for infants and toddlers? Let me help you find amazing books like these and more. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryMonth2025 #blackhistorybooksforkids #blackhistorybooksforchildren #blackbookstagram #blackbookstagrammer #blackhistory365

Simone Biles @simonebiles is proof that Black history isn’t just in the past…it’s happening right now.

Did you know Simone was adopted as a toddler and first discovered gymnastics during a daycare field trip? By age 6, she was flipping like a pro, and by 19, she became the most decorated American gymnast of all time. Currently, she holds 41 Olympic and World Championship medals and is the first woman to land the Yurchenko double pike vault in competition.

During Black History Month, I’m celebrating inspiring Black leaders from the past and present with book recommendations and resources for kids.

Want to know one way you can make history fun for kids? Check out the Young Historians Black History Flashcards I created with @artish.reader. These 31 cards feature Black trailblazers and come with an activity booklet full of ways to use them (plus children’s book recommendations).

Tag a young gymnast or future history-maker who needs to hear Simone’s story.

Young Historians Club published by @unionsqandco @wmebooks. Illustrated by @artish.reader.

Books featured:

Little People, Big Dreams: Simone Biles published by @quartokids
Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows illustrated by @artsyebby.

#simonebiles #blackbookstagram #blackbookstagrammer #blackhistorymonth2025 #blackhistory365 #blackhistoryforkids #younghistoriansclub #flashcardsforkids #blackhistorybooks #blackhistorybooksforkids #hereweeread #childrensbooks #childrensbookstagram #picturebookoftheday #picturebooks #picturebookstagram #readeveryday #readdaily #booksforkids #picturebooksforkids #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #booksforchildren #readingismagic #readmorebooks #readingisfundamental #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksmatter #kidlitillustration

Are you still making these mistakes during Black History Month?

Remember: Black history is more than slavery, struggle and oppression. #BlackHistoryMonth2025 #BlackHistory365 #BlackHistory #blackhistorymonth

#hereweeread #childrensbooks #childrensbookstagram #picturebookoftheday #picturebooks #picturebookstagram #readeveryday #readdaily #booksforkids #picturebooksforkids #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #booksforchildren #readingismagic #readmorebooks #readingisfundamental #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksmatter #kidlitillustration #bookpiles #bookstacks

Start ‘em young! These board books make Black History Month baby and toddler friendly with stories of trailblazers, dreamers, and little ones embracing their Black joy. From Aretha Franklin to Oprah, MLK Jr. to Michelle Obama, these bite-sized books pack a powerful punch of pride, representation and early learning.

Which of these books would your tiny reader love? Drop some of your favorite board books in the comments.

Books featured here:

Baby Young Gifted and Black

A is for Aretha

My Hair, My Crown

We Are Black History

I Look Up to Michelle Obama

Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.?

Who Was Jackie Robinson?

Dream Big, Little One

Follow Your Dreams, Little One

I Look Up to Serena Williams

Be Bold Baby, Oprah

My Hair is Like Yours

#blackhistorymonth2025 #blackhistoryyear #blackbookstagram #Blackhistorybooksforkids #hereweeread #blackhistory365 #blackbookstagrammer #childrensbooks #childrensbookstagram #picturebookoftheday #picturebooks #picturebookstagram #readeveryday #readdaily #booksforkids #picturebooksforkids #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #booksforchildren #readingismagic #readmorebooks #readingisfundamental #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksmatter #kidlitillustration #bookpiles #bookstacks

It’s officially Black History Month, and we’re kicking things off with a tribute to the Father of Black History himself, Carter G. Woodson.

Did you know he was one of the first Black Americans to earn a PhD from Harvard? He knew our history was too important to be ignored, so in February 1926, he created” Negro History Week” which later became the Black History Month we celebrate today.

All month long, I’ll be sharing children’s book recommendations and resources to help kids become Young Historians.

And if you’re looking for a fun way to introduce Black leaders from past and present, check out the Young Historians Black History Flashcards I created with @artish.reader published by @unionsqandco and @wmebooks. These 31 cards come with an activity booklet full of children’s book recommendations and creative ways to use them. You can find the flash cards at @barnesandnoble @bookshop_org or wherever books are sold.

Who’s Black leader you want to learn more about this month? Drop a name in the comments!

#blackhistory365 #blackhistoryforkids #younghistoriansclub #flashcardsforkids #cartergwoodson #blackhistorymonth2025 #carterreadsthenewspaper #hereweeread #childrensbooks #childrensbookstagram #picturebookoftheday #picturebooks #picturebookstagram #readeveryday #readdaily #booksforkids #picturebooksforkids #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #booksforchildren #readingismagic #readmorebooks #readingisfundamental #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksmatter #kidlitillustration #bookpiles #bookstacks

Drumroll, please!

Let’s hear it for all of the authors, illustrators, and publishers of all these wonderful books! They are the 2024 Black Kid Lit Award winners selected by an esteemed panel of judges I had the pleasure of working with to help choose the winners.

Shout out to judges:

@dramamamareads
@ihaveabookforthat
@aundreatsmith
@lulusbookjourney
@kidlitismagic
@hereweeread
@mayasbooknook
@havingoursay
@nolasaysread
@babybookdoc
@bookishlycultivated
@heymamahomeschool
@the.learning.cove
@blackkidcollective

#hereweeread #childrensbooks #childrensbookstagram #picturebookoftheday #picturebooks #picturebookstagram #readeveryday #readdaily #booksforkids #picturebooksforkids #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #booksforchildren #readingismagic #readmorebooks #readingisfundamental #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksmatter #kidlitillustration #bookpiles #bookstacks #blackhistory365 #blackbooksession #blackbookstagram #blackhistorymonth2025