SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

December 31, 2016 by Betsy Bird

31 Days, 31 Lists: Day 31 – The Best Picture Books of 2016

December 31, 2016 by Betsy Bird   13 comments

31daysAnd that, as they say, is that.  A noble experiment runs its natural course.  For those of you who followed along every day, I thank you.  It’s been a thrill, an exhausting exhausting thrill, to bring you a different list of great 2016 books every day in December.  Now we find ourselves on the cusp of a new year with many more books bobbing on the horizon, hankering for our attention.  Before we throw ourselves into their midst, we can at least celebrate some of the picture books in 2016 that got us through what, for many of us, was a tricky year.  I’m not so naive as to believe that picture books are the great unifier that will save us all.  That said, I am not so cynical as to believe that the books you feed into a child’s brain at a young age don’t have some kind of an impact in the long run.  Let us then take this moment to honor those books that have the potential to make this world a better place.

Today’s list is a bit on the long side.  Just the same, I assure you that I read at least ten times as many picture books this year as you’ll see here.  I didn’t read everything but I bet I got close to 90% of picture books published for the American market and that ain’t shabby.  You’ll find a good strong number of smaller publishers on this list as well.  To my mind, no list of best books can be taken seriously unless it includes at least one independent publisher.  Too often we’ll see lists that are the same 5-6 publishers.  Let’s raise a hat to the little guys in the coming year!

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

To 2017 and all it entails!


 

The Best Picture Books of 2016

The Airport Book by Lisa Brown

AirportBook1It’s oddly gratifying to find so many people adoring this book as much as I have.  It’s the best airport book I’ve ever encountered.  Pair it with The Alphabet From the Sky for the world’s most perfect on board picture book reading experience.

All Aboard for the Bobo Road by Stephen Davies, ill. Christopher Corr

allaboardbobo

Set in Burkina Faso, this West African counting book makes for a stellar readaloud and is pretty much one of the brightest, cheeriest, picture books of the year.

The Alphabet From the Sky by Benedikt Grob and Joseph Lee

ABCAlphabetSky

Clever beyond measure and more fun than aerial photography has any right to be.

Animal Talk: Mexican Folk Art Animal Sounds in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill, ill. Rubi Fuentes and Efraiin Broa

animaltalk

Beautiful art, and pretty much any book that includes animals sounds is going to be greatly needed in your library.  If you’ve a bilingual English/Spanish storytime coming up, I think I’ve found the best book to read.

Animals by Ingela P. Arrhenius

animals

Be wary.  Be warned.  This book is gigantic and will not fit on your library shelves.  That said, it’s a perfect book for big preschool readalouds.  These animals really pop off the page and your inner designer will be well soothed by the layouts.

At Night by Helga Bansch

atnight

A book that is the very definition of subtle.  I haven’t seen a book that rewarded turning it upside down quite as well as this since Ann Jonas’s Round Trip.   Betcha bottom dollar this went under your radar this year.

The Battle of the Vegetables by Matthieu Sylvander, ill. Perceval Barrier

 battlevegetables

As evidenced in my book Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature (co-written with Julie Danielson and Peter Sieruta) I have an odd weakness for books in which the protagonist gets eaten.  This book sates that need admirably.

The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield

bearpiano

Initially this book didn’t do anything for me.  But as the year wore on its subtlety and message spoke to something deep inside.  It sort of reminds me of a much happier, sweeter version of The Bear That Wasn’t by Frank Tashlin.

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman, ill. Beth Krommes

BeforeMorningWhile I do sympathize with all the travelers in this book that find their flights cancelled do to unexpected snow, it’s very gratifying to see this little girl get her mom back, if only for a day.  Extra points for the female pilot.

Best Frints in the Whole Universe by Antoinette Portis

BestFrints

Pair with Du Iz Tak for a genuine gibberish storytime.  And don’t tell me that it wouldn’t be the most fun storytime ever.

Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre

bestinsnow

You already know of my penchant for photography, but Sayre’s art with a lens could convert anybody willing to pick this title up.

Big Bob, Little Bob by James Howe, ill. Laura Ellen Anderson

BigBob

Sometimes you don’t have to bop a reader upside the back of the head to get them to understand a message.  I like what this book has to say and I think it would do everyone a bit of a service to listen closer.

Billions of Bricks: A Counting Book About Building by Kurt Cyrus

billionsbricks

It was only after I read it for the 14th time that I noticed the reoccurring characters.  Or the fact that it helps kids learn how to count by twos.  I noticed it was gorgeous the first time I read it, though.

The Branch by Mireille Messier, ill. Pierre Pratt

branch

A clever solution to a difficult problem can make for a great book.  Example A.

Can I Eat That? by Joshua David Stein, ill. Julia Rothman

CanIEatThat

A book that upsets expectations in the best way possible.  Don’t let the artsy style fool you.  This one’s a hilarious readaloud (particularly the last page).

Can One Balloon Make an Elephant Fly? by Dan Richards, ill. Jeff Newman

can-one-balloon-make-an-elephant-fly-9781442452152_hr

I brought this in to my child’s daycare and was later told that it was a classroom favorite.  Blink and you might have missed it in 2016.  Go back and find it, if you can.

City Shapes by Diana Murray, ill. Bryan Collier

cityshapesdianamurray

I’m not always charmed by Mr. Collier’s work, but this one knocks it out of the proverbial park.  Loved it!

Come Home, Angus by Patrick Downes, ill. Boris Kulikov

ComeHomeAngus

A book of running away from home for the helicopter parent generation.  Kulikov’s one of those artists that will never win the biggie awards like the Caldecott since he’s been around for so long, but I dare say he outdoes himself with this one.

Coyote Moon by Maria Gianferrari, ill. Bagram Ibatoulline

CoyoteMoon1

Deeply evocative in both text and image.  Informative too.  A can’t miss book.

Cricket Song by Anne Hunter

CricketSong

A very clever method of showing how the time of day can be different in two parts of the world at the same moment.

Don’t Call Me Grandma by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, ill. Elizabeth Zunon

Don'tCall

I was incredibly gratified to see this book on the recent NPR Book Concierge.  So if you can’t take my word on how original and thought provoking it is, take Barry Hardymon’s.

Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis

DuIzTak

My favorite Carson Ellis book.  Period.

Dylan the Villain by K.G. Campbell, Every Color by Erin Eitter Kono

DylanVillain

Campbell could illustrate the daily growth of his toenails and I’d be interested.  So a kid villain with self-esteem issues in school?  Hard to resist, to say the least.

Excellent Ed by Stacy McAnulty, ill. Julia Sarcone-Roach

ExcellentEd

I don’t own a dog but I give any book that convincingly gets into one’s head a lot of credit.  This book is funny and makes for a great readaloud.

Faraway Fox by Jolene Thompson, ill. Justin K. Thompson

faraway-fox

Strangely poignant.  They say 2016 is the year of the fox.  I don’t think they’re wrong.

Fish by Liam Francis Walsh

Fish

Initially when I came up with the 31 Days, 31 Lists idea I was going to do a list of wordless books.  Problem was, I could hardly think of any at all.  This was one of the few.  And honestly, if that list had only been this book, it would have been worth it in the end.

Friend or Foe? by John Sobol, ill. Dasha Tolstikova

friendfoe

It’s like a picture book version of that old short story The Lady or the Tiger.  A perfect picture book designed for a LOT of discussion.

Grandpa’s Hal-La-Loo-Ya Hambone! by Joe Hayes, ill. Antonio Castro L.

grandpashambone

Tall tales are so rare these days that when one does come around you’re liable to miss it.  Did you miss this hilarious tale?  I’m more than a little partial to it, and so I suggest you find it tout suite.

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love by Michelle Edwards, ill. G. Brian Karas

hatgoldman

Yay!  Marjorie Ingall included this one on her list of The Best Jewish Children’s Books of 2016 and as the author of the post Famous Illustrators’ Depictions of Knitting Ranked in Order of Competency I can say with confidence that G. Brian Karas actually cares how a person is supposed to hold knitting needles.  Bravo, sir.

Have You Seen Elephant? by David Barrow

HaveSeenElephant

I mean, if that cover doesn’t make you smile . . .

Hill & Hole Are Best Friends by Kyle Mewburn, ill. Vasanti Unka

HillHole

I like the story but I like the unnerving last line of this book best of all.

Home at Last by Vera B. Williams, ill. Chris Raschka

homeatlast

The book that shows an adoptive gay couple as human beings and not symbols.  Daring beyond measure.

How to Track a Truck by Jason Carter Eaton, ill. John Rocco

HowTrackTruck

I dare say it’s even better than its predecessor.  Plus one of the trucks is named “Barp” and that never fails to get a laugh.

A Hungry Lion by Lucy Ruth Cummins

a-hungry-lion-or-a-dwindling-assortment-of-animals-9781481448895_hr

A distinctly British sense of humor.  A distinctly American book.

Ideas Are All Around by Philip Stead

IdeasAllAroundIs it for kids?  Is it for adults?  Who cares?  It’s just cool that it exists at all.

If I Was a Banana by Alexandra Tylee, ill. Kieran Rynhart

ifiwasbanana

Coming to you straight from New Zealand!  Philosophical and quirky in the best way possible.  The title pretty much says it all.

It’s Not Easy Being Number Three by Drew Dernavich

NotEasyThree

It’s also not easy being a math book (even a counting book) in this day and age.  I give Dernavich extra points for daring to do something with numbers.

The Journey by Francesca Sanna

journey

Kids read it on one level.  Adults on another.  Whichever you are, it hits home.

Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol

LeaveMeAlone

Maybe the funniest picture book of 2016.  Certainly the biggest surprise hit and debut.

Lion Lessons by Jon Agee

LionLessons

Yeah, well.  I just like getting a glimpse into how Agee’s mind works sometimes.  This one’s a pip.

The Liszts by Kyo Maclear, ill. Julia Sarda

liszts

Absurdity, taken in picture book sized doses, is good for the soul.

Lost and Found: Adele & Simon in China by Barbara McClintock

LostFound

Utterly luscious.

Let Me Finish by Minh Le, ill. Isabel Roxas

LetMeFinish

Pairs shockingly well with Leave Me Alone, but you already knew that, didn’t you?

Little Elliot, Big Fun by Mike Curato

littleelliotbigfun

The BEST Little Elliot so far.  Heck, the best depiction of old timey Coney Island I’ve ever seen in a picture book.  It’s like 1928’s Harold Lloyd film Speedy, amiright?

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith

LittleRedLion

Because once in a while it’s nice to see the baddy get outsmarted and humiliated simultaneously.

Lotus and Feather by Ji-li Jiang, ill. Julie Downing

lotusfeather

I came this close to missing this book entirely this year.  Don’t make the same mistake I did.  It’s an honestly touching book of environmentalism with a special little twist.

Malaika’s Costume by Nadia L. Hohn, ill. Irene Luxbacher

malaika

Certainly it’s the first time I’ve seen a picture book about a kid having to deal with an absentee family member who’s gone to another country to earn money for her family back home.  I love picture books with realistic depictions of economic struggles.  This one tackles the subject with heart and hope.

Margarash by Mark Riddle, ill. Tim Miller

margarash

So weird.  So wonderfully blissfully weird.

Maya by Mahak Jain, ill. Elly MacKay

Maya_cover_LoRes_screenRGB

There’s a core of sadness that needs to be overcome in this book, and Jain handles that transition expertly.  Add in MacKay’s startlingly gorgeous art and you’ve a mini gem.

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy & Theresa Howell, ill. Rafael Lopez

MaybeSomething

Still one of the most beautiful books of the year.

Melena’s Jubilee: The Story of a Fresh Start by Zetta Elliott, ill. Aaron Boyd

melena

Shoot!  I forgot to put this one on my Message Books list.  Forgiveness is always such a tricky subject to cover in a picture book.  Elliott displays that virtue with skill.

Monday Is Wash Day by MaryAnn Sundby, ill. Tessa Blackham

mondaywash

Of all the books I failed to review in 2016, this may be the book I regret the most.  A picture book about a 1948 washday doesn’t sound too terribly exciting, but Sundby and Blackham transcend both setting and time period.  It’s sublime.

Monsters Go Night-Night by Aaron Zenz

MonstersGoNight

Three words: The potty joke.  You have to see it to truly appreciate it.

My Favorite Pets by Gus W. for Ms. Smolinski’s Class by Jeanne Birdsall, ill. Harry Bliss

myfavoritepets

Birdsall + Bliss?  Need I say more?

My Friend Maggie by Hannah E. Harrison

MyFriendMaggie

Someday Ms. Harrison should do a wordless picture book.  Her animals’ facial expressions are utterly beyond compare.  She wrings emotions from the animal kingdom like few others.

Newspaper Hats by Phil Cummings, ill. Owen Swan

newspaper-hats

Heartbreaking. Necessary.

Next to You: A Book of Adorableness by Lori Haskins Houran, ill. Sydney Hanson

NextToYou

Proof positive that big-eyed cuties can pack a wallop in laughs if they want to.

The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers

nightgardener

I know it’s gorgeous but it took me a little time to fully appreciate some of the work the Fan Brothers put into this book.  I like it a lot now.  Particularly the color transition.

Nobody Likes a Goblin by Ben Hatke

NobodyGoblin

I don’t quite know why but my 2-year-old things that this is the finest thing since sliced bread.  And, to be frank, I agree with him completely.  Revenge of the “baddies”!

Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz, ill. Eda Kaban

OldMacDonaldTruck

Gets better every time you read it.  Which is a good thing since I’ve read it to my truck-obsessed two-year-old approximately 175 times by this point.  It holds up.

One Day in the Eucalyptus Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom, ill. by Brendan Wenzel

OneDay

Delicious on the tongue.  Satisfying to the soul.

Oscar Loves by Britta Teckentrup

oskar

Initially I was going to split this list into books for older readers and younger readers.  Then I saw how big it was and just sort of lumped everything together.  That said, if you need something gorgeous and exceedingly simple for a younger child, this is the book you need to find.  Stat.

Paul and Antoinette by Kerascoet

paulantoinette

A sibling book that rings horrendously true.  The odd couple with little piggies.

Pond by Jim LaMarche

pond-9781481447355_hr

A book that honors its readers’ brains, hearts, and souls.  And I mean that sincerely.

Poor Little Guy by Elanna Allen

poorlittleguy

Beware the quiet ones.  So sayeth this book.

Quick, Little Monkey! by Sarah L. Thomson, ill. Lita Judge

quicklittlemonkey

Only a monster could look into those eyes and tell this book it couldn’t be on a Best of the Year list.  Probably should have ended up on my science and nature list too, come to think of it.

Real Cowboys by Kate Hoefler, ill. Jonathan Bean

RealCowboys

I spoke to a friend the other day who reminded me why I’d liked this book so much in the first place.  I’ve heard the objections but I’d maintain that it far exceeds expectations.  More beautiful than it has any right to be.

Rescue Squad No. 9 by Mike Austin

rescuesquad

A picture book that honestly keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Samson in the Snow by Philip C. Stead

SamsonSnow

Stead at his best.

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex, ill. Christian Robinson

SchoolFirstDayTranscends the usual first-day-of-school books out there.  I gave a copy to my child’s Kindergarten teacher and started a war amongst the other Kindergarten teachers as well.  Worth it.

The Shady Tree by Demi

ShadyTree

My favorite Demi in years.  She’s back, baby.

Shy by Deborah Freedman

Shy

A simultaneous mystery and ode to introverts all in one lovely little package.

Skypig by Jan L. Coates, ill. Suzanne Del Rizzo

SkyPig_Website

It’s amazing what they can do with clay these days.

For the record, I was going to try to work in the phrase “when pigs fly” into my description here but I wasn’t able to do that.  50 points if you find a way and put it into my comment section.

Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter by Eugenie Doyle, ill. Becca Stadtlander

SleepTightFarm

The perfect goodnight book.  Ideal for the farm obsessed amongst us.

The Sleeping Gypsy by Mordicai Gerstein

sleepinggypsy

I really loved this one.  Particularly since I could see a nice pairing with that picture book bio The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau from a couple years ago.

Steamboat School by Deborah Hopkinson, ill. Ron Husband

steamboatschool

Such a cool too-little-known story.  Glad it’s getting some attention now.

Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey by Margriet Ruurs, ill. Nizar Ali Badr

steppingstones

A remarkable Syrian illustrator (not a refugee) tells a story of those who flee with compassion wrought from stones.  Deeply compelling.  Maybe the loveliest picture book of the year.  If your library doesn’t own a copy, complain loudly.

The Storm by Akiko Miyakoshi

Storm-by-Akiko-Miyakoshi-on-BookDragon-671x800

Loved it.  Mind you, it’s hard to write about this one while refraining from also gushing about Miyakoshi’s 2017 title The Way Home in the Night which you will ADORE . . . but I digress.

The Storyteller by Evan Turk

Storyteller1

I’m always gratified when someone else loves this book as much as I do.  The story within a story within a story motif really works wonders.

Super Happy Magic Forest by Matty Long

superhappymagic

A picture book for the Cartoon Network generation.

Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land by John Coy, ill. Wing Young Huie

theirgreatgift

Very very necessary right now.  Spread this book around as much as you can.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

TheyAllSawCat

If I had an armful of Caldecott Medals I’d just pour them onto this book.

This is My Book by Mark Pett (and no one else)

thisismybook

A stylistic departure for Pett pays off large dividends.

This Is My Dollhouse by Giselle Potter

ThisIsDollhouse

I’m so grateful for this book.  It single-handedly managed to amuse my daughter with independent ideas for play for about 3 weeks straight.  Plus I keep singing the title to the tune of Flo Rida’s “My House”.

The Three Lucys by Hayan Charara, ill. Sara Kahn

ThreeLucys

Making tragedy personal to children when the setting is too big and huge for even adults to comprehend takes real effort and skill.  Charara managed it here.  Bringing the international, local.

Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie, ill. Yuyi Morales

ThunderBoy

Circles within circles within circles.  Oh just give it all the awards, won’t you?

Tinyville Town Gets to Work by Brian Biggs

tinyvilletown

The only book that could get small children excited about city planners.  But what about the toads, Brian?  WHAT ABOUT THE TOADS?!?

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas, ill. Erin E. Stead

Uncorker

Shoots for something unexpected.  Meets that goal and then some.

The Water Princess by Susan Verde, ill. Peter H. Reynolds

the_water_princess

Lead to a lot of good conversations in my family about water.  We live next to Lake Michigan and one of the biggest businesses in town is selling water.  The idea that it wouldn’t be plentiful and fresh is a concept unknown to the kids in my town.  This book drills the notion home.

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen

WeFoundHat

How you get emotion out of a lack of facial expressions I’ll never know.  It takes skill.  It takes guts.  It takes a Klassen.

What Color Is the Wind? by Anne Herbauts

whatcoloristhewindcover

In case you missed it, it’s the probably the best tactile picture book to come out . . . ever?  Yeah.  Ever.

Where’s the Elephant? by Barroux

WhereElephant

Dares to fool you into thinking it’s a seek-and-find book of the regular sort.  By the time you catch on it’s too late.  You’ve learned something.  Gotcha!

The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart, ill. Sydney Smith

whitecatmonk

It’s actually just as good as everyone says.  Sorry, guys.  I’m going with the bandwagon on this one.

Who Broke the Teapot? by Bill Slavin

WhoBrokeTeapot

Who fell down on the job on reviewing this book professionally?  The American review journals.  Who wants to remedy this problem?  Me.  That’s who.

Who Wants a Tortoise? by Dave Keane, ill. K.G. Campbell

who-wants-a-tortoise-by-dave-keane

Please see previous statement on Campbell and books.  Please also note the agonized expressions on this tortoise.  How does he do that?

Why Am I Here? by Constance Orbeck-Nilssen, ill. Akin Duzakin

whyamihere

Yeah, okay, fine.  I like philosophical picture books.  So sue me.  This one has a greater goal than just asking questions about the universe, though.

Words by Christoph Niemann

words

Can a 351-page book be a “picture book”?  It can now!  I liked it from the start but it stole my heart when it included the word “Brobdingnagian”.   *sigh*

Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, ill. Mike Curato

WormLovesWorm

Also known as the Most-Read-at-Weddings picture book of 2016.

You Belong Here by M.H. Clark, ill. Isabelle Arsenault

youbelonghere

Rhyming beauty.  A perfect way to close out this and all the other lists.

 


Interested in the other lists of the month? Here’s the schedule so that you can see everything I read and loved in 2016:

December 1 – Board Books

December 2 – Board Book Adaptations

December 3 – Nursery Rhymes

December 4 – Picture Book Readalouds

December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books

December 6 – Alphabet Books

December 7 – Funny Picture Books

December 8 – Calde-Nots

December 9 – Picture Book Reprints

December 10 – Math Picture Books

December 11 – Bilingual Books

December 12 – International Imports

December 13 – Books with a Message

December 14 – Fabulous Photography

December 15 – Fairy Tales / Folktales

December 16 – Oddest Books of the Year

December 17 – Older Picture Books

December 18 – Easy Books

December 19 – Early Chapter Books

December 20 – Graphic Novels

December 21 – Poetry

December 22 – Fictionalized Nonfiction

December 23 – American History

December 24 – Science & Nature Books

December 25 – Transcendent Holiday Titles

December 26 – Unique Biographies

December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books

December 28 – Nonfiction Chapter Books

December 29 – Novel Reprints

December 30 – Novels

December 31 – Picture Books

Filed under: Best Books, Best Books of 2016

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
2016 picture books31 days 31 listsBest Books of 2016picture books

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2017

Newbery / Caldecott 2017: Final Prediction Edition

by Betsy Bird

January 2017

(like you really need another list from me) 100 Magnificent Children's Books 2016!

by Betsy Bird

December 2016

31 Days, 31 Lists: Day 30 - Wonderful 2016 Children's Novels

by Betsy Bird

December 2016

31 Days, 31 Lists: Day 29 - 2016 Reprinted Children's Novels

by Betsy Bird

December 2016

31 Days, 31 Lists: Day 28 - 2016 Great Nonfiction Chapter Books for Kids

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Caldecott Jump

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Bonds and Books: An Interview with Megan Dowd Lambert About Building Connections Through Family Reading

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Recent Graphic Novel Deals, Early Mar 2023 | News

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Playing to our Strengths (and Other Insights on Co-Authoring a Novel): A Conversation with Nicole Melleby and A. J. Sass

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Best Chapter Books 2021 | SLJ Best Books

Best Poetry 2022 | SLJ Best Books

Sessions on Teaching the Truth, Facing Challenges to Antiracist Books, Mobile Services, and More Planned for SLJ Summit

Best Transitional Chapter Books 2019 | SLJ Best Books

First Books about a Loose Tooth | Milestones

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jean Reagan says

    December 31, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    Thanks for 31 days, 31 lists. Read every post.
    My poor local library had to work overtime pulling all my hold requests. I made many purchases too, of course.
    DEATH IS STUPID was a particularly great recommendation, and one I wouldn’t have run across any other way. Can’t wait for Anastasia Higginbotham’s 2017 book: TELL ME ABOUT SEX, GRANDMA. (Tee hee hee.)
    Thanks!

  2. Judy says

    December 31, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    So many on today’s list are new to me. I look forward to going on treasure hunts to find them! My December was extra special because of you, Betsy. Thank you for your reading and then sharing with us the cream of the crop.

    I wish you all the best in 2017.

  3. Jan Coates says

    December 31, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    When pigs fly, maybe I’ll meet you in person to thank you for this wonderful list, and for making Ollie and Jack part of it:) Hope you’ll have a happy and healthy 2017!

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      January 1, 2017 at 4:01 pm

      Awww. You too!

  4. Nora Hale says

    December 31, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    Thank you so very much for what I’m sure was an exhausting exhausting project. I, too, read every day’s post, and gleaned a number of titles I hadn’t seen elsewhere. Most excellent!

  5. Pam Jones-Nill says

    December 31, 2016 at 2:53 pm

    What a wonderful list. I put in library requests as I read through the list. I’m very pleased to see some familiar titles, but there were loads that are new to me. Thank you!

  6. Rebecca Redinger says

    December 31, 2016 at 7:23 pm

    Thank you for these amazing lists, Betsy! As I slowly embark on my career as a children’s librarian, it is a joy and encouragement to see your passion for children’s literature and expertly concise promotion of them.

  7. Dylan says

    January 1, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    Please do this again next year! So many I missed.

  8. Susie Alexander says

    January 2, 2017 at 4:30 pm

    This is an incredible list! I ordered some new books for my store. But I am terribly disappointed that Salina Yoon’s Be a Friend didn’t make it onto this list–unique, clever, meaningful. Kids and adults love it.

  9. Maria Gianferrari says

    January 3, 2017 at 4:51 pm

    I’ve enjoyed all of your lists immensely, Betsy, and although I read around 600 pbs this year (mostly new, some old, some re-reads), there are still so many that I’ve missed, so I’ll be returning to this monthly list again and again. Thank you so much for all of your hard work, and I am so honored that you have included Coyote Moon here, and elsewhere.

Trackbacks

  1. Links I Loved Last Week: A Round-up of Online Reading 1/1/17 | the dirigible plum says:
    January 1, 2017 at 5:51 pm

    […] Betsy Bird’s 31 book lists to round out 2016 have caused my own TBR list to explode. Be sure to check out her list of Best Picture Books of 2016. […]

  2. IMWAYR: Celebrating Friendship – Reading to the Core says:
    January 2, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    […] Whole Universe (Roaring Brook Press) by Antoinette Portis. This book is on Betsy Bird’s list of “The Best Picture Books of 2016” and was chosen as a Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2016. Last summer their reviewer called it […]

  3. SLJ’s Best of 2016–Quick, Little Monkey! | Sarah L. Thomson, Children's Author says:
    January 6, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    […] happy to learn that Quick, Little Monkey! is on School Library Journal’s list of the best children’s books of 2016. “Only a monster could look into those eyes […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023