Best Children's Books 2022

Tells the story of painter and teacher Alma Thomas, discussing her childhood, teaching career and activism.

Twelve-and-a-half year old Emelyn Ethrige lives with her father in South Carolina, dreams of wheelchair motocross, and makes custom chair bags trying to earn enough money to buy a serious set of wheels. She has been in a wheelchair all her life and is just fine getting around without help, but it seems that since her mother was killed in an accident everyone (father, grandparents, teachers, and classmates) have started treating her differently: urging...

"Clementine is different from other mice: she can calculate the speed of light and she dreams in Latin. The scientists say she's a genius and put her through test after test. Clementine is proud of being a good lab mouse, but she's lonely. Her only snatches of friendship occur during her late-night visits with a chimpanzee named Rosie. When a compassionate lab technician frees Clementine, the mouse discovers an outside world full of wonders: Brussels...

"Amira and Hamza must race against time to stop an ancient evil from obtaining a ring of power"--

"The Antiracist Kid is the essential illustrated chapter book guide to antiracism for empowering the young readers in your life! What is racism? What is antiracism? Why are both important to learn about? In this book, systemic racism and the antiracist tools to fight it are easily accessible to the youngest readers"--

Accompanied by lively illustrations, this book celebrates the beauty and diversity of Arab life and childhood enthusiasm throughout the entire year as busy kids take part in traditions old and new.

"As tensions escalate in the Jewish community of Beacon with incidents of vandalism and a swastika carved into new concrete poured near the synagogue, so does the tension grow between Aviva and Kayla and the girls at their school, and so do the actions of the dybbuk grow worse. Could real harm be coming Aviva's way? And is it somehow related to the 'accident' that took her father years ago?"--

Beauty--who is of Taino Indian, African, and Boricua heritage--was taught to be strong and proud, but hatred toward people who look like her bruises her heart until her community opens her eyes to the truth.

"When young Tybre Faw discovers Congressman John Lewis and his heroic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the fight for the right to vote -- Tybre is determined to meet him. Tybre's two grandmothers take him on the seven-hour drive to Selma, Alabama, where Lewis invites Tybre to join him in the annual memorial walk across the Bridge. And so begins a most amazing friendship! In rich, poetic language, Andrea Davis Pinkney weaves the true story...

"Set over a 24-hour period, meet sparring snow leopards, sprinting cheetahs, and slumbering jaguars in this kids' nonfiction book about the biggest cats on Earth. Follow the lives of individual big cats as they roar, hunt, fight, and play their way through the day. Wildlife expert Tyus D. Williams cleverly weaves the story from leopard to mountain lion in the style of a nature documentary, including gentle science explanations perfect for future zoologists....