NYPL Names Best Books of 2021

The New York Public Library has unveiled its Best Books of 2021, a selection of nearly 300 recommended titles in the following categories: Best Books for Kids (100 titles); Best Books for Kids in Spanish (45 titles); Best Books for Teens (50 titles); Best Books for Adults (100 titles). All books were published in 2021 and selected by committees of librarians from across the NYPL system.

The following are the top 10 books in each category:

Top 10 Best Children’s Books

• Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens
• Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui
• The Big Bath House by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang
• Living with Viola by Rosena Fung
• The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron
• Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
• Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Qin Leng
• Stuntboy, in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Raúl the Third
• Welcome to Your Period! by Yumi Stynes and Dr. Melissa Kang, illustrated by Jenny Latham
• The Wisdom of Trees: How Trees Work Together to Form a Natural Kingdom by Lita Judge

Top 10 Best Books for Kids in Spanish (Mejores libros para pequeños)

• Érase una vez y mucho más será by Johanna Schaible
• Escucha mi voz / Hear My Voice compiled by Warren Binford for Project Amplify
• Lucero by Yuyi Morales, translated by Eida Del Risco
• ¡Mambo mucho mambo! El baile que atravesó la barrera del color by Dean Robbins, translated by Georgina Lázaro, illustrated by Eric Velasquez
• Mis dos pueblos fronterizos by David Bowles, illustrated by Erika Meza
• Nuncaseolvida (Neverforgotten) by Alejandra Algorta, translated by Aida Salazar, illustrated by Iván Rickenmann
• Un pájaro en casa by Blanca Gómez
• La selva de Zonia by Juana Martinez-Neal
• Sunakay by Meritxell Martí, illustrated by Xavier Salomó
• Tancho by Luciano Lozano

Top 10 Best Teen Books

• Boys Run the Riot, Vol. 1 by Keito Gaku
• Crossroads at Midnight by Abby Howard
• How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
• Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
• Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
• Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
• Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney, illustrated by Robyn Smith
• Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi
• Punching Bag by Rex Ogle
• The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

Top 10 Best Books for Adults

• Act Your Age, Eve Brown: A Novel by Talia Hibbert
• All Her Little Secrets: A Novel by Wanda M. Morris
• The Dangers of Smoking in Bed: Stories by Mariana Enriquez, translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell
• Hell of a Book: A Novel by Jason Mott
• How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
• Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
• Mama Phife Represents: A Verse Memoir by Cheryl Boyce-Taylor
• The Rock Eaters: Stories by Brenda Peynado
• Shadow Life by Hiromi Goto
• She Who Became the Sun: A Novel by Shelley Parker-Chan