Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed BasketballJen BryantIn the midst of the Black Civil Rights movement, NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor made an impact on and off the basketball court in Jim Crow 1950s and 1960sYounger ReadersView book detailsALSC Notable Children's Books 2021
The 2021 edition contains 90 selections published by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALA). The source organizes the selections into Younger Readers, Middle Readers, Older Readers, and All Ages. It is the annual record of titles designated Notable by the ALSC committee.
2021 ALSC Notable Children's BooksSee the original list
Selections90
Published byAssociation for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Sections4 sections
Browse sections4 sections
Younger Readers
44 selections
Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed BasketballJen BryantIn the midst of the Black Civil Rights movement, NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor made an impact on and off the basketball court in Jim Crow 1950s and 1960sYounger ReadersView book details
All Because You MatterTami CharlesIn a beautiful ode to generations of Black sacrifice, happiness, and love, a family tells the story that brought a young boy into being and emphasizes his inherent worthYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD810LATOS Book Level 3.9View book details
The Bear in My FamilyMaya TatsukawaLiving with a loud, messy, and bossy bear seems impossible, but it turns out they can be the best part of the family. (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD280LATOS Book Level 1View book details
Black Is a Rainbow ColorAngela JoyBlack is a color, but it is also much more. In this stunning anthem, a girl meditates on the meaning of "black," especially Black as identity, community, history, and rich cultural traditionYounger ReadersWord Count 394View book details
The Camping TripJennifer K MannErnestine goes on her first overnight camping trip. Hiking is tiring and swimming in the lake is scary, but Ernestine faces her fears and overcomes homesickness with her cousin's helpYounger ReadersView book details
Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended FamilyNelly BuchetTold through humorous illustrations and only the words “cat” and “dog,” two pets reluctantly accept a third pet into their family through their owners’ marriageYounger ReadersView book details
The Cat Man of AleppoIrene Latham, Karim Shamsi-BashaWar-torn Aleppo is given hope from Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel’s humanitarian efforts to care for the deserted cats in the city. (Caldecott Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD610LATOS Book Level 3.6View book details
Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary AnimalsKaty S. DuffieldThis nonfiction picture book explores the variety of accommodations built around the world so that animals can safely access areas encroached upon by humansYounger ReadersView book details
Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He BuiltAngela Burke KunkelJosé Alberto Gutiérrez, a garbageman in Bogotá, Colombia, collects books along his route and creates a library for children to read and borrow in his neighborhood on SaturdaysYounger ReadersView book details
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving AwayMeg MedinaIn a tender picture book that acknowledges loss and the power of friendship, two best friends spend one last afternoon playing together in their families’ apartments before Evelyn moves away. (simultaneously published in Spanish and English)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD700LATOS Book Level 3.4View book details
Home Base: A Mother-Daughter StoryNikki TateIn parallel narratives, a girl and her mother work hard to achieve success in non-traditional roles as the girl tries out for the baseball team and the mother gets to work on a construction projectYounger ReadersView book details
Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis MelliferaCandace FlemingThe life cycle of a worker honeybee, including the many roles she plays within her colony, unfold alongside detailed, closeup illustrations. (Sibert Medal Book)Younger ReadersView book details
I Am Every Good ThingDerrick BarnesThis first-person affirmation celebrates Black boys and validates their right to be proud of themselves and deserving of respect, love, and joyYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD610LATOS Book Level 4View book details
I Talk Like a RiverJordan ScottA young person with a stutter feels isolated. His father helps him understand that his speech moves like the ebb and flow of the river, giving him a new understanding of his way of speakingYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 480LATOS Book Level 3.1View book details
If You Take Away the OtterSusannah Buhrman-DeeverWhat happens to an entire habitat when a single element is depleted by hunters? Through striking illustrations, the role of sea otters over time in the Pacific Coast of North America is explored in detailYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD910LATOS Book Level 5View book details
Julián at the WeddingJessica LoveJulian's artistic flare for fashion and innovation save the day at a wedding when his friend, Marisol ruins her dress. This celebration of individuality and love welcomes allYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 43LATOS Book Level 0.8View book details
Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard TreasuresTricia SpringstubbWhen neighbors Khalil and Mr. Hagerty search for buried treasure in the yard and garden one hot day, they find nothing. The next day, the friends secretly hide something for the other to findYounger ReadersView book details
LiftMinh LêIris loves to push the elevator buttons. When she takes a discarded button home, she discovers it opens doors to new worlds that she shares with her brotherYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 390LATOS Book Level 1.3View book details
Me & MamaCozbi A. CabreraLyrical prose and captivating paintings chronicle a day in the life of a mother and daughter and celebrate their special bond. (Caldecott Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
The Most Beautiful ThingKao Kalia YangIn a story infused with familial love and respect, a Hmong girl reflects on childhood with her grandmother. Kalia helps care for her, and over the years, her grandmother offers her reassurance, stories, and loveYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 650LATOS Book Level 4.2View book details
Nana Akua Goes to SchoolTricia Elam WalkerZura’s grandmother is her favorite person, but she’s concerned that on Grandparent’s Day her classmates will not understand and laugh at the Adinkra marks on her Grandmother’s face. Nana Akua paves the way for understanding when she shares the stories of her cultureYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD830LATOS Book Level 4.3View book details
'Ohana Means FamilyIlima LoomisTold in the cadence of “The House that Jack Built,” we follow the growing process on a taro root farm through the lens of Hawaiian culture, concluding with the Hawaiian ohana sharing a pot of poiYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD710LATOS Book Level 3.8View book details
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to ReadRita Lorraine HubbardMary Walker was born into slavery in 1848. After a lifetime of hard work, and as the remaining survivor of her family, she realizes a goal of learning to read at 116 years of ageYounger ReadersView book details
One Little Bag: An Amazing JourneyHenry ColeThis wordless picture book follows the 'lives' of a paper lunch bag and the boy who carries it to school. Black and white illustrations, where the bag is the only spot of color, make for a wonderful story flowYounger ReadersView book details
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of UsLauren CastilloA friendship of two animals is challenged when a storm separates them and Hedgehog must find his friend Mutty with the help of compassionate forest creaturesYounger ReadersView book details
Outside InDeborah UnderwoodThis picture book explores the ever-present lure of the outdoors as it appears at our windows and tempts us with sounds and fragrances, even as we spend most of our time inside. (Caldecott Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD490LATOS Book Level 3.3View book details
Overground RailroadLesa Cline-RansomeTold in verse and set during the Great Migration, a family journeying north experiences changing societal differences that are mirrored in the changing landscape outside the train’s windowYounger ReadersView book details
A Polar Bear in the SnowMac BarnettA polar bear slowly emerges from the pages of this book. He's on the move, but where is he going? Minimal words over mostly monochromatic illustrations make a beautiful, compelling storyYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD360LATOS Book Level 2.6View book details
Prairie DaysPatricia MacLachlanAn ode to the amazing sights only the prairie can provide, this simple, quiet story is an accurate reflection of life outside the city limitsYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD920LATOS Book Level 3.6View book details
Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader GinsburgDoreen RappaportFrom her lace collars to her incredible work ethic, this picture book biography chronicles the hard work and dedication of RBG to become a Supreme Court JusticeYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure NC870LATOS Book Level 5.4View book details
Salma the Syrian ChefDanny RamadanSalma misses her mother’s smile and laughter and hopes making her favorite Syrian dish will bring back her smile. When preparing the dish doesn't go as planned, Salma's community comes together to help finish the dish and celebrate her successYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 570LATOS Book Level 3.7View book details
See the Cat: Three Stories About a DogDavid LaRochelleIn a laugh-out-loud story that keeps instructing readers to “see the cat,” Max the Dog must interact with the text to prove to the narrator and a cast of zany characters that he is indeed canine. (Geisel Award Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Snail CrossingCorey R. TaborThe reciprocal story of a snail and some helpful ants as they attempt to cross a busy streetYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD480LATOS Book Level 2.3View book details
Southwest SunriseNikki GrimesUnhappy about moving from New York City to New Mexico, a young boy explores his new home and marvels at the beauty of the desert landscapeYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure 561LATOS Book Level 3.7View book details
Sugar in MilkThrity UmrigarThis clever picture book reaches back to an Ancient Persian legend to help a young immigrant girl the courage to make friends in her new countryYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD740LATOS Book Level 4.7View book details
Swashby and the SeaBeth FerrySwashby has retired to a quiet life by his beloved sea. When a girl and her granny move in nearby, his lifestyle changes--for betterYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD620LATOS Book Level 4View book details
Telephone TalesGianni RodariIn this classic from Italy, a travelling salesman calls his daughter nightly to share a whimsical story. Sixty-seven playful tales humorously recount ice cream palaces, educational candy, and roads paved with chocolate. (Batchelder Award Book)Younger ReadersView book details
The Three Billy Goats BuenosSusan Middleton ElyaThis twisted fairytale skillfully weaves Spanish vocabulary into an empathetic retelling of a classicYounger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD510LATOS Book Level 2.7View book details
Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom!Kelly Starling LyonsWith the help of a new friend, Ty beats the temptation to give up and masters the use of his brand-new scooter. (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
¡Vamos! Let’s Go EatRaúl GonzalezLittle Lobo and his sidekick Bernabé fetch lunch for Toro y sus amigos ahead of the Lucha Libre 5000 amid a vibrant community of food truck vendors. (Belpré Youth Illustrator Award Book)Younger ReadersView book details
A Way with Wild ThingsLarissa TheuleShy Poppy loves nature and prefers it to people. But when she spots a dragonfly at a party, people notice it and her tooYounger ReadersWord Count 388View book details
We Are Water ProtectorsCarole LindstromAn indigenous girl explains why water is sacred and that the "Black Snake" (pipelines) will destroy the earth. She takes up a rallying cry with her people to defend water and the planet. (Caldecott Medal Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD510LATOS Book Level 1.9View book details
What About Worms!?Ryan T. HigginsTiger is big, brave, and not afraid of anything—except worms; and the worms are just as afraid of him...until they come across a book and learn more about tigers! (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD310LATOS Book Level 1.6View book details
Where’s Baby?Anne HunterCan you find baby fox? Readers will enjoy following father’s journey as he looks over, under, around, and into things, discovering all sorts of other animals, until he finally gets a hint from mother fox. (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book detailsMiddle Readers
26 selections
Becoming Muhammad AliJames Patterson, Kwame AlexanderIn alternating verse and prose narratives, Cassius Clay and his friend Lucky create a portrait of the confident child determined to become a boxing champion during the Jim Crow eraMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 1010LATOS Book Level 5.4View book details
Black Brother, Black BrotherJewell Parker RhodesDark-skinned Donte experiences more racism than his lighter-skinned brother at their private middle school. He finds empowerment through fencing at the local Boys and Girls Club and faces off with a racist bullyMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure HL400LATOS Book Level 2.8View book details
The Blackbird GirlsAnne BlankmanAs a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, two girls set aside prejudices when they are forced to live together away from home and familyMiddle ReadersView book details
Catherine’s WarJulia BilletThis graphic novel tells the story of Rachel, a Jewish girl forced to change her identity during World War II. As Catherine, she uses a camera to document her experiences, vividly capturing moments of terror, exhilaration, and joy. (Batchelder Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
Echo MountainLauren WolkHaving lost everything in the Great Depression, Ellie's family moves to the mountain. When her father is left comatose after a tragic accident, they embrace neighbors and nature in order to survive and revive himMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 690LATOS Book Level 4.3View book details
Efrén DividedErnesto CisnerosWhen his mother is deported to Mexico, seventh grader Efrén is the only one who can cross the border to bring his mother home. (Belpré Children’s Author Award Book)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 710LATOS Book Level 4.5View book details
From the Desk of Zoe WashingtonJanae MarksZoe Washington shows her bravery and determination through a summer bakery internship, a fight with her best friend, and a new relationship with her wrongfully incarcerated fatherMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 660LATOS Book Level 4.4View book details
King and the DragonfliesKacen CallenderKing is sure that his brother, Khalid, has been reincarnated as a dragonfly, as he comes to terms with his brother's death, questioning both his and his best friend Sandy’s sexualityMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 830LATOS Book Level 4.9View book details
Letters from CubaRuth BeharIn a series of letters, young Jewish refugee Esther describes life in 1930s Cuba as she helps her father earn money by sewing dresses so their family can join them and escape persecution in PolandMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 850LATOS Book Level 5.4View book details
Lupe Wong Won’t DanceDonna Barba HigueraWhen a dance threatens her chance to meet pitching idol and fellow Mexinese/Chinacan, Fu Li Hernandez, Lupe takes up the cause against square dancing in gym, which proves both challenging and enlightening. (Belpré Children's Author Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
MañanalandPam Muñoz RyanMax loves fútbol, although his hopes of joining a team are replaced by working with his Dad and eventually discovering that his family are secret guardians who take on refugees and deliver them to "Mananaland."Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 650LATOS Book Level 4.5View book details
Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim VoicesS. K. Ali, Aisha SaeedAn Own Voices collection of Eid celebrations throughout the Muslim worldMiddle ReadersView book details
The Only Black Girls in TownBrandy ColbertAlberta is sure she will be friends with the new girl Edie, but realizes they are from two different worlds. Alberta struggles to voice how her family and race dynamics make her feel but the two girls come together to discover a collection of hidden journals that reveal a secret to the pastMiddle ReadersView book details
Prairie LotusLinda Sue ParkHanna, a biracial Chinese American, and her White father move to the Dakota Territory in the 1880’s to start over after her mother’s death. Hanna struggles to find her own strengths and voice within an unwelcoming communityMiddle ReadersView book details
Santiago’s Road HomeAlexandra DiazSantiago overcomes many dangerous obstacles to cross the border from Mexico into the United States only to be detained by ICE. While Santiago is used to going it alone, the brutal conditions of the youth detention center are not what he expected to find in the United StatesMiddle ReadersView book details
Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. TelloMonica BrownThis bilingual biography traces the life of Julio C. Tello, from a curious, young boy to an accomplished archaeologist who elevated Peru’s indigenous history. (Belpré Youth Illustrator Honor Book)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 1050LATOS Book Level 6.3View book details
Show Me a SignAnn Clare LeZotteBased in the actual Deaf community that existed on Martha’s Vineyard during the 1800’s, Mary lives a singularly typical life. Never considering the deafness she is born with to be a disability until a prejudiced scientist arrives, Mary finds herself the focus of a study against her willMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 730LATOS Book Level 5.1View book details
Three Keys (A Front Desk Novel)Kelly YangMia Tang and her family work to save the hotel they recently bought in the face of a looming immigration law that could send them back to China if passed and threatens the safety of Mia's friendsMiddle ReadersWord Count 62497View book details
The Total Eclipse of Nestor LopezAdrianna CuevasWhen animals begin disappearing and Abuela starts acting suspicious, Nestor must use his secret ability to communicate with animals to save his town from a tule vieja, a witch that transforms into animals. (Belpré Children's Author Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
We Dream of SpaceErin Entrada KellyIn the days before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the Thomas siblings navigate the dangerous space of middle school and the fractured constellation of their family. (Newbery Honor Book)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 720LATOS Book Level 4.6View book details
What Stars Are Made OfSarah AllenLibby, a young girl with Turner Syndrome who is fascinated by science, sets out to win a science contest and support her pregnant sister's family with the prize moneyMiddle ReadersView book details
When Stars Are ScatteredVictoria Jamieson, Omar MohamedOmar, along with his younger brother Hassan, recounts the stories of growing up as orphan refugees at a displacement camp in KenyaMiddle ReadersView book details
When You Trap a TigerTae KellerLily bargains with a magical tiger to return stolen stories in order to save her sick grandmother. (Newbery Medal Book)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 590LATOS Book Level 3.8View book details
WinkRob HarrellThe humorous journey of a cancer stricken middle schooler, Ross, as he navigates middle schoolMiddle ReadersLexile Text Measure 580LATOS Book Level 3.8View book details
A Wish in the DarkChristina SoontornvatPong, born in a prison, longs to be free and escapes. Nok, the disgraced warden's daughter, looks to capture Pong again. Both discover how the world unfairly brings light only for the rich. (Newbery Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
Your Place in the UniverseJason ChinExploration of scale, size, and distance from an eight-year-old child to the widest reaches of the observable universeMiddle ReadersView book detailsOlder Readers
17 selections
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer TeamChristina SoontornvatWith superb narrative nonfiction writing, Soontornvat skillfully describes the dramatic real-life rescue of the Thai Boys’ soccer team in 2018. (Newbery Honor Book & Sibert Honor Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 1020LATOS Book Level 7.2View book details
Almost American Girl: An Illustrated MemoirRobin HaHa shares her experience of a surprise move from South Korea to Alabama with her single mom. Feeling out of place in her new stepfamily and high school, she acclimates with the help of a comic-making classOlder ReadersView book details
Before the Ever AfterJacqueline WoodsonIn this novel in verse, 12-year-old ZJ leans on his community for support as his football-star father experiences alarming medical symptoms and dramatic changes as a result of the sport (later revealed to be CTE)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 780LATOS Book Level 4.5View book details
Brother’s KeeperJulie LeeSora and her family flee Communist North Korea during the Korean War in 1950. When the family becomes separated, Sora fights for her brother's survival as they travel southOlder ReadersView book details
Dragon HoopsGene Luen YangThis graphic novel intertwines the history of basketball with the triumphs and tribulations of the athletes on the champion team at the high school where Yang teachesOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure HL550LATOS Book Level 3.9View book details
ElatsoeDarcie Little BadgerWhen her cousin is killed, Ellie must delve into the town’s evil past and use her Lipan Apache family’s ability to call spirits back to life in order to identify and bring the murderer to justiceOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure HL610LATOS Book Level 4.7View book details
Fighting WordsKimberly Brubaker BradleySisters Della and Suki rely on each other to move forward after years of abuse from their mother’s boyfriend. They find their own voices beyond the trauma through resilience and bond of sisterhood. (Newbery Honor Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure HL540LATOS Book Level 3.6View book details
Go with the FlowLily Williams, Karen SchneemannA group of high school friends band together for a revolution to de-stigmatize menstruation. The red color palette is the perfect choice to accompany this much needed 'period manifesto'Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 479LATOS Book Level 3.2View book details
How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest AdventureJohn Rocco, illustrated by John RoccoThis ambitious nonfiction book chronicles one of the most exciting and miraculous accomplishments in American history--the 1969 lunar landing. (Sibert Honor Book)Older ReadersView book details
Land of the CranesAida SalazarDespite being detained in a cruel and inhuman deportation camp with her pregnant mother and separated from her deported papi, Betita survives by remembering she will return home like a crane in the Aztec legends her papi told herOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure 890LATOS Book Level 5.1View book details
The Magic FishTrung Le NguyenIn this graphic novel, Tiến and his mother struggle to communicate, but find a way to tell their truths through the telling of fairy tales, both old and newOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure HL400LATOS Book Level 3View book details
Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought for Their Lives and Warned the NationCandy J. Cooper, Marc AronsonThis striking account of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis shows how systemic racism disproportionately impacts the health of marginalized citizensOlder ReadersView book details
RaybearerJordan IfuekoAt Tarisai’s birth her mother makes a wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey -- kill the emperor's son. Tarisai must learn to resist the command when she becomes part of the prince’s council and his best friendOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure 860LATOS Book Level 5.5View book details
SnapdragonKat LeyhSnap’s town has a witch. At least that’s the rumor. Full of acceptance, love, and relatable characters, Snapdragon shows the connection between loving yourself and magicOlder ReadersLexile Text Measure 329LATOS Book Level 2.4View book details
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the BeginningJason Reynolds, Ibram X. KendiAn exploration of racism in the United States through the past 400 hundred years is presented with humanity and witOlder ReadersView book details
Superman Smashes the KlanGene Luen YangSuperman helps a young Chinese American, Roberta Lee, fight racism in Metropolis while dealing with his own issues with assimilationOlder ReadersView book details
This Light Between Us: A Novel of World War IIAndrew FukudaPen pals for 10 years, Japanese American Alex Maki and French Jewish girl Charlie Lévy share a coming-of-age story and fantastical romance amidst historically accurate - and heartbreaking - injusticeOlder ReadersView book detailsAll Ages
3 selections
Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to FreedomCarole Boston WeatherfordThe true story of Henry “Box” Brown, who shipped himself to freedom in a box, is told in 51 emotionally intense poems that have implications for the present day. (Newbery Honor Book)All AgesView book details
Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn BrooksSuzanne SladeThe biography of Pulitzer-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks reveals her childhood dreams and inspirations, her challenges with race, gender, and poverty, and her desires to share stories through poetry. (Sibert Honor Book)All AgesView book details
A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the HeartZetta ElliottThis powerful poem captures a Black child's wide range of emotions over the passage of a year—from joy to sorrow and anger when he learns of a shooting, and, subsequently, to hope and love. (Caldecott Honor Book)All AgesView book details