Major Moments for LQ in 2021

Best Books of 2021

Who is ready to look back on 2021?

LQ books were featured in the New York Times Book Review SEVEN (7) times this year, Three (3) times in the Wall Street Journal, twice in TIME, and on end of Year lists from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and The Boston Globe.

In a world of shrinking book coverage, this is truly remarkable.


In February, we started strong with Cat Min's Shy Willow in a timely picture book round-up on the theme of "overcoming shyness and isolation" by Sarah Harrison Smith in the Times. The reviewer called our book, "lushly illustrated."
See it here.

The Sea-Ringed World Review


That same month, Aditi Sriram, in the New York Times reviewed The Sea-Ringed World alongside Heartdrum's excellent collection, Ancestor Approved.
Read it here.


Later that day, Meghan Cox Gurdon, of the Wall Street Journal, called The Sea-Ringed World, "evocative and stirring" and "mesmerizing to read aloud." We could not agree more.
Read it here.

In August, Newbery Medalist, Tae Keller, gave us a wonderful review of Donna Barba Higuera's The Last Cuentista in the Times. She wrote, "This book is gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes — truly a beautiful cuento." What a quote! And from Tae Keller? You better believe it's going on to the next printing. Read it here.

The Shape of Home Review



Also in August, children’s books editor for the Book Review, Jennifer Krauss, featured Rashin Kheiriyeh’s The Shape of Home in a round-up about the many different paths to fall learning. Words like "joyful, wildly imaginative" were used!
Read it here.

That same month, The Wall Street Journal's Meghan Cox Gurdon, used the phrase, "wonderfully subversive" to describe Petra Peña. and "brainy adventure" to describe Donna Barba Higuera’s The Last Cuentista. Donna was just getting started.
Read it here.

In October, Annabel Gutterman, of TIME, profiled Darcie Little Badger and her "genre-bending" new novel A Snake Falls to Earth in a thoughtful and detailed article with photos from Jeremy Dennis . A first for LQ and for Darcie. Read it here.

Neverforgotten Review

In November, Pam Muñoz Ryan, called our translated middle grade novel, Neverforgotten, "a transformative, noteworthy debut." We rushed this review to the creators—Alejandra Algorta, Iván Rickenmann, and Aida Salazar—and we did a happy dance in the office. It's Pam Muñoz Ryan people!
Read it here.


Last month, THE Laurel Snyder, gave Lee Wind's and Paul O. Zelinsky’s Red and Green and Blue and White the editorial equivalent of a warm hug. "We come together in strength...It’s a message the world can use, throughout the year."
Read it here.

On December 3, our debut, bilingual novel, Neverforgotten, was named among "The 25 Best Children’s Books of 2021" and we could not be more proud of Alejandra, Iván, and Aida.
Read it here.


The Last Cuentista Time Magazine

And then BOOM! On December 9, TIME named The Last Cuentista, one of the "10 Best YA and Children's Books of 2021."
Read it here.

A few days later, Star Tribune editors, named both Darcie Little Badger's A Snake Falls To Earth and Donna Barba Higuera's The Last Cuentista, among their top "essential" holiday reads.
Read it here.

The next day, The Boston Globe, named two of Donna Barba Higuera's books — including The Last Cuentista — as some of the best books of 2021. Renata Sancken called our book a "thrilling and hopeful work of science fiction."
Read it here.

Thank you to everyone who keeps believing in LQ and our mission! For a full list of 2021 praise and accolades, including 45 starred reviews and Best of lists from NYPL, SLJ, Booklist, PW, and more, check out this mega post: https://www.levinequerido.com/lq-blog/2021-starred-reviews

Team LQ