Something new to read is always a pleasure to unwrap, and that’s true in this season of staying home more than ever. Pick up one (or all!) of these 2020 releases; there’s something for everyone on your list. And if you can, shop small—independent booksellers are struggling this year, and many will be happy to take orders over the phone for pickup.
Written By
Marnie Schwartz
3 2 1 Awesome!: 20 Fearless Women Who Dared to Be Different by Eva Chen
A counting book for budding feminists—”3 straight sets for Billie Jean King's historic win…”—this board book celebrates women from Sonia Sotomayor to Shirley Chisholm to Greta Thunberg and more.
What We’ll Build: Plans for Our Future Together by Oliver Jeffers
The companion to Jeffers’ bestseller Here We Are, this picture book is a love letter to his daughter. It tells the story of a father and daughter building the foundation for a life—memories to cherish, a home to keep them safe, love to keep them warm—and a brighter future.
In this first book of a young middle grade series, Ryan Hart navigates fourth grade with optimism and courage. It's a loose reimagining of Beverly Cleary’s beloved Ramona books, with Black protagonists.
Craft’s New Kid was the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal; now he has released a funny, powerful, and important companion book (also a middle-grade graphic novel) about being a kid of color at a prestigious private school.
Music: A Fold-Out Graphic History by Nicholas O’Neill and Susan Hayes
This oversized nonfiction book, from composer and musician Nicholas O’Neill and author Susan Hayes, folds out into an eight-foot illustrated timeline of music history, genres, and instruments from around the world. It’s meant for ages 10-14 but would make a great gift for music-loving adults, too.
The first of his two-volume presidential memoirs, this surprisingly intimate look at Obama’s personal and political journey was among the most highly anticipated books in recent history. It broke sales records—nearly 890,000 copies on day one—and will continue to be a must-read into 2021.
Part mystery-thriller, part literary novel, and inspired by westerns, French’s latest—a story about a retired cop that explores issues of systemic racism and police violence—will hook readers of all types.
The Rainbow Atlas: A Guide to the World’s 500 Most Colorful Places by Taylor Fuller
For the temporarily home-bound jetsetter, this tour of the world’s most vibrant landmarks will serve as a gateway to “armchair tourism”... and help them plan their next (post-Covid) adventure.
Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings by Yossy Arefi
Who wouldn’t delight in a book full of simple, unfussy treats that are as appropriate for Tuesday breakfast as they are for company? Full of easy-but-exciting recipes, it’s perfect for novice and advanced bakers alike.
The creator of Humans of New York traveled to more than forty countries, collecting stories and photographs that together paint a picture of just how much of the human experience is shared across countries and cultures.
