Tomorrow, It Begins! 31 Days, 31 Lists Is Nigh!
If you’re just tuning in, here’s the skinny. Each year I dedicate the 31 days of December to a different list of children’s books released in America in the current publishing year. What that means is that all year long I’ve been tracking the books I’ve been reading (and enjoying), slotting them into different categories so that once December rolls around I can put them all together and show you what the year looked like.
Now these lists are entirely personal and subjective. They’re what I liked. My advantage is that I keep a running tally (and commentary) but it’s also a guarantee that some of the books you love, I didn’t, and some of the books I loved, you weren’t a fan of. That’s okay.
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So with all that in mind, here are the lists for 2023:
December 1 – Great Board Books
December 2 – Picture Book Readalouds
December 3 – Simple Picture Book Texts
December 4 – Transcendent Holiday Picture Books
December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books
December 6 – Funny Picture Books
December 7 – CaldeNotts
December 8 – Picture Book Reprints
December 9 – Math Books for Kids
December 10 – Gross Books
December 11 – Books with a Message
December 12 – Fabulous Photography
December 13 – Translated Picture Books
December 14 – Fairy Tales / Folktales / Religious Tales
December 15 – Wordless Picture Books
December 16 – Poetry Books
December 17 – Unconventional Children’s Books
December 18 – Easy Books & Early Chapter Books
December 19 – Comics & Graphic Novels
December 20 – Older Funny Books
December 21 – Science Fiction Books
December 22 – Fantasy Books
December 23 – Informational Fiction
December 24 – American History
December 25 – Science & Nature Books
December 26 – Unique Biographies
December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books
December 28 – Nonfiction Books for Older Readers
December 29 – Best Audiobooks for Kids
December 30 – Middle Grade Novels
December 31 – Picture Books
Note: I have tweaked the subject of these lists in the past as I’ve worked on them, and I’m not above doing so again this year. So watch out and enjoy these truly interesting books. It’s gonna be a doozy of a year!
Filed under: 31 Days 31 Lists
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.
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Judy Weymouth says
Thank you for continuing 31 Days 31 Lists. I have enjoyed this December offering for many years and look forward to a month of daily gifts.
Betsy Bird says
Yay! I’m so glad you like them.
Susan says
I love these lists!
Betsy Bird says
Thank you!
Dana says
Thank you! It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Betsy Bird says
Hooray!
Fran Manushkin says
Thank you, Betsy, for filling my cold, gray winter days with wonderful books to read!