Best Books on Epic from 2021!

This moving book is an autobiographical account of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage. Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, young Andrea’s parents stop when they see watercress growing by the side of the road. The whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of it as they can. This embarrasses her until, when her mother shares about her family’s life in China, Andrea comes to appreciate the value of the fresh food they foraged. This beautifully illustrated book will inspire empathy and curiosity in your child, while teaching them the importance of family bonds.

In this beautiful fable by the award-winning team of Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis, a young boy asks his grandmother, “What is love?” When she can’t offer an answer, he goes out into the world, asking every person he meets what love is. Each one describes what love means to them, but no answer quite satisfies him. This tender, funny story about the nature of love is the perfect read-aloud to share with your little one.  

In 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary set out on the same expedition to climb Mount Everest. Harking from very different parts of the world (Tenzing a native of Nepal and Edmund from New Zealand), they tell their stories of their ascent in this thrilling adventure story. The climb is grueling, and eventually their party of 400 dwindles down to just this determined pair. Facing windswept glaciers, perilous rope bridges and other dangers, they eventually arrive at the peak of Mount Everest. This inspiring story will have your kid sitting at the edge of their seat, while learning about the geography, history and science behind this famous mountain.

When their train makes a short stop in the northwestern Indian capital city of Jaipur, a young girl and her mother disembark and hurry to the Chaiwala (a person who prepares and sells tea) for a cup of chai. As she waits, she experiences the sights, sounds and delicious fragrances of ginger, cardamom, cloves and cinammon swirling around the Chaiwala’s cart. In this celebration of family, food and culture, readers become immerse in the rustling of tea leaves, hot drinks being poured and other sensory delights.

This witty, slightly weird take on the classic folktale will offer your kid a whimsical introduction into the world of Korean folklore. One sweltering summer night, everyone is struggling to fall asleep. And the heat is so intense, the moon begins to melt! Granny can hear the dripping and scrambles to catch the moon drops in a bucket. What to do with a bucket of moon drops, she wonders. Turn them into ice-cold moon popsicles (moon pops), of course! Granny’s moon pops help her neighbors stay cool. But then the rabbits who live on the moon have lost their home. So she uses the remaining moon drops to grow them a new moon. With otherworldly illustrations and quirky narration, this picture book will enchant you and your child.

One of the most timely picks on this list is “When We All Stopped,” a hopeful, optimistic take on the COVID-19 pandemic. With bright, beautiful illustrations and gentle rhyming narration, this picture book focuses on the unexpected silver linings that emerged from the year the world sheltered at home. From the smog melting away to the water running clear, it tells of all the ways the earth began to heal—and how it could lead to a healthier, greener future.

From the creator of the New York Times bestseller “Dreamers” comes this heartbreakingly beautiful tale. With simple, poignant language “Bright Star” follows a fawn as she makes her way through a place that is filled with dangers, beauty and potential. At the gentle urging of a mysterious voice, the fawn continues onward, facing fears and overcoming obstacles along the way. This inspiring kids’ book offers reassurance during a time of uncertainty, while teaching young readers the value of hope, determination and courage.  

Walt the lobstah’s greatest dream is to win first place in the annual Swell Gahdens contest. But year after year the honor goes to his “chowdah-head” rival Milton. One day, when (“holy whale poop!”) heaps of gahbage show up in their yahds, the two must work together to save their gahdens. As the title suggests, this cute picture book is a hilarious delight. It’s a silly and entertaining way for your kid to learn about sea life, conservation and the spirit of cooperation—as well as practical tips on how to help preserve our oceans.

Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his colorful tree—red, gold and more. But wait! He discovers one of his beloved leaves has gone missing and must team up with Bird to find it. Who among their friends could be the one who’s taken the leaf? This hilarious, vibrantly illustrated book explores the magic of autumn, and teaches kids about the changing seasons, adapting to change and coping with the anxiety that sometimes comes with it.

Another timely tale after a long period of isolation, this heartwarming book tells the story of a father and three children stuck in the house together during a seemingly endless storm. Kids who’ve experienced the struggles of COVID-19, from not being able to go outside to not seeing their friends, will relate to this family as they fight through boredom and daily annoyances to ultimately figure out how to work together and get along.

Buckle up for this Read-To-Me adventure featuring superhero owlet Hoot from the Cat Ninja series! When a time-travel mishap separates Hoot from her class trip, she finds a new buddy in an unexpected place—and time—in this first action-packed Epic Originals spinoff. It’s the perfect way to spark a love of history through action, humor and most of all, heart. You can also find physical copies of the Cat Ninja series on Amazon.

This lyrical, artfully illustrated book follows the life of the legendary guitarist and rock icon, Jimi Hendrix. From tough beginnings and a turbulent childhood through his famous Woodstock appearances, it captures all the richness of his story. Written as a series of verses, from intro to outro, it will take both you and your child on an entertaining ride of rhythm and rhyme.

In this book from National Geographic Kids, young readers can dive into the ocean and explore a world of sea life through poetry, stunning photos and illustrations, fun facts and more. The book takes kids from the seashore through the ocean’s zones, to discover its deepest depths. Highlights include a foreword from explorer and renowned photojournalist Brian Skerry and contributions from many other field experts. This informative read will fascinate your kid while reminding them of the importance of protecting this vast habitat that so many creatures call home.

In this transformative coming-of-age novel, young Fabio rides his bike through his native city of Bogotá, away from his dusty neighborhood, and away from the world of adults. For three years he’s done this, and for those three years it’s as though his feet never touch the ground. But one day he forgets how to ride his bike, and is unable to take his daily respite from the people and things that trouble him. At first he hides, but over time he forms an unlikely friendship with Mamalicia, his aging next-door neighbor, and together they embark on a journey of heartbreak, discovery and reclamation.

This hilarious middle-grade mystery follows 12-year old private detective Nelle Faulkner as she navigates a shady underworld of sweets smugglers. In a city where candy is illegal, she’s busy solving cases in her mom’s garden shed when candy gangster Eddie de Menthe asks for her help finding a missing teddy bear. She’s on the case, until her notorious client goes missing. Can she unmask the faces behind the candy smuggling ring and find the missing teddy bear? Your kid will love this zany, action-packed mystery chapter book.

11-year-old Harry has always admired Harry Houdini—the famous escape artist who died in 1926. He even lives (and was born in) in Houdini’s old New York City home! One day he gets a series of texts from someone claiming to be Houdini. Harry’s sure it’s a prank but “Houdini” texts him the secrets to all of his escape tricks. An intriguing text exchange ensues and Houdini makes a death-defying offer. Should he take it or dismiss it as a hoax? This middle-grade chapter book is chock full of magician secrets and historical facts that will entertain and intrigue your young reader.

This captivating chapter book takes young readers on a journey through the stars, to the very heart of what it means to be human. 

A girl named Petra Peña longs to be a cuentista (storyteller) like her abuelita, but there’s no time. Earth has been destroyed and only a few hundred scientists and their children have been selected to travel to a new planet and carry on the human race.

Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes up to discover a malevolent Collective has taken over, and is determined to erase the sins of humanity’s past by systematically purging the memories from everyone left. Petra is the only one who remembers Earth, and now alone must carry the stories of our past into the future.