(Caldecott Honor Book)Baby Monkey, Private Eye. (For ages 4 to 8), Hours before the sun came up, Bao Phi's father would wake him — quietly — for a fishing trip. Here are the 10 Best Books of 2020, along with 100 Notable Books of the year. THE WANDERER, by Peter Van den Ende. (For ages 0 to 3), Corduroy, by Don Freeman Even grown-ups can take solace in Alexander's troubles — poll judge Juanita Giles says it was the book she chose to read at her mother's bedside on her last day. They’ve remained popular for generations, and their themes and illustrations are beloved. She has a lot to deal with — her dad's been laid off and the family has to move to a smaller house. (Atheneum, $17.99.) (For ages 4 to 8), Mary Walker's life stretched all the way from the Civil War to the civil rights movement. You can pretty much guess what happens after that. ... 2020. These best-selling baby books have been around for more than 50 years. (For ages 7 to 10), Fact: Bats are adorable, and few bats are more adorable than Stellaluna, the little one who gets lost when an owl dives at her mother and ends up trying to fit in with a nest full of baby birds. BEFORE THE EVER AFTER, by Jacqueline Woodson. He's missing a button after all. Her only friend is a rat she names Armitage, after the brand of toilet in her apartment — but could scary Burt, who sells burgers from a food truck outside her school, be making his burgers out of ground-up rat? Put that together with Leo and Diane Dillon's luscious illustrations and you have an almost perfect story-hour read. And will she still be a queen when she gets there? WAYS TO MAKE SUNSHINE, by Renée Watson. REALLY scary. It is the ultimate booklist to read before you're 14, with books for children across a … If … The Best Children’s Books of 2020 Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack I loved the first book about Anya, Ivan, and their dragon friend Håkon—and I might love this sequel even more.The characters are wonderful and endearing, and on top of that there is a male bisexual character who actually gets to have a male love interest and it’s reciprocal. 30 Best Children's Books of 2020 By Karen Cicero November 09, 2020 Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. Camps and schools and activities have shut down during the pandemic, leaving kids and caregivers stuck at home and climbing the walls — and sometimes the garden fences. So embarrassing! We disagree. (For ages 7 to 10), Amphibians, sport coats and lasting friendship. Lifted up by the stars, Cassie flies over the city, claiming its beauty for her own and imagining a better life for her family. From why roses have thorns to why noses have hair — and what's that stink in the house? Illus. It's been such a strange, lost summer. This moody watercolor-soaked story of an introvert’s creative awakening by the self-taught Argentine artist Guillermo Decurgez (known as Decur) begins on “moving day,” as a boy who believes the world exists only inside his cellphone finds a mysterious notebook in the secret compartment of a desk in his new room. (Little, Brown, $16.99.) At the end of World War II, this searing novel’s Polish heroine, who spent her adolescence in concentration camps, sets out to find her younger brother, the only other member of her family who was not sent to the gas chambers. Shuggie is the youngest of three children, and … Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall does a gorgeous job showing the timeless nature of lighthouse life — and the change that's coming. (For ages 7 and up), Strega Nona should have known better than to leave Big Anthony alone with her magic pasta pot! (Chronicle, $18.99.) We hope you and the kids in your life will have as much fun poring through this list as we had putting it together! First published in 1939, Virginia Lee Burton's tale of Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Anne, has inspired decades of sandbox excavation projects — and, memorably, it also prompted Ramona Quimby to wonder out loud whether Mike ever had time to go to the bathroom. Looking through the new picture books set for publication in 2020, one theme kept standing out: positivity. CLASS ACT, by Jerry Craft. And surviving involves making friends with otters and baby geese, climbing cliffs and avoiding storms — until Roz finally remembers who she is and why she's on the island. (For ages 0 to 2), Readers nominated so many Maurice Sendak books, it was hard to pick just one. THE SILVER ARROW, by Lev Grossman. Happy reading! Steven D. Schindler's soft-edged illustrations will make you believe winged kittens might actually exist. Best Classic: Goodnight Moon at Amazon "Kids love hearing all about the great green room and all of the quirky things it contains." He began to wonder what stories those old trucks could tell, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, told NPR he was inspired by friends of his, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Chicka Chicka series), The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale Of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, And A Very Interesting Boy. Not for fun, but to feed their family. (For ages 3 to 5), Amos McGee is a zookeeper, and a kind and punctual fellow. (For ages 4 to 8), Drywater Gulch has a toad problem — specifically the unmannerly Toad brothers, who will steal your gold and insult your chili. (For ages 8 to 12), by Johnny Marciano, Emily Chenoweth and Robb Mommaerts, Lots of people think their cats are aliens — but Klawde really is one. "Nothing about people alive that were wearing sneakers, that were eating candy, or making cakes with their grandma." And if you don't, why not? When he drops one in the snow, a host of animals come to investigate, even a bear. By Carla Bruce-Eddings. (For ages 2 to 6), Big dogs, little dogs, red dogs, blue dogs, dogs on cars and scooters — kids will love learning colors and emotions and ideas with P.D. Here comes the train! By Juana Martinez-Neal. Four-year-old Gertie wants to help her older sisters make the Hanukkah latkes, but she’s just too little. A superhero? (Abrams, $17.99.) But as kids will learn from I Am Enough, like the sun, we're all here to shine. (For ages 2 to 4), by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal, Author Kevin Noble Maillard — who's part of the Seminole Nation — told NPR he had a hard time finding books about Native Americans that weren't about historical figures like Sacagawea or Pocahontas. (For ages 7 to 10), A delightfully gruesome tale in the Roald Dahl vein. (For ages 0 to 4), Little Madeleine has a pretty great babysitter: A big friendly Rottweiler named Carl. (For ages 3 to 7), Yuyi Morales was born in Mexico; she came to America with her baby boy in 1999, and she builds that experience into a poetic, visually stunning tribute to the immigrant experience — to walking the streets of a new place, getting lost and learning a new life and language, and to the dreams, hopes and talents immigrants bring to this country. (For ages 1 to 4), In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf — and it hatched into a hungry caterpillar who munched his way right off the page and into the hearts of kids everywhere. Well, no, actually — despite a moment of competition from In the Night Kitchen, we knew we had to go with this classic tale of Max, his wolf suit, the wild rumpus, and of course ... the dinner that was still warm when he got home. It's a joyous, funny book that gives young readers a look at an important tradition. (For ages 4 to 8), by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and Leuyen Pham, A princess? And that's just the beginning for this detective duo and their strangely murder-prone school. Zoe decides to find out — but it's hard to keep her investigation secret from the rest of the family AND stay on top of things at her bakery internship so she can achieve her dream of competing on a TV baking show. (Chronicle, $18.99.) A Black student from the Co-op City section of the Bronx attends a private middle school in wealthier Riverdale in this moving and often funny graphic novel about the convergence of an awkward age (13 to 14) with another awkward age (America’s racial reckoning). THE STRANGE BIRDS OF FLANNERY O’CONNOR, by Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Ping Zhu. "A fun-filled way for kids to learn letters and letter sounds." A read-aloud classic, this rollicking alphabet rhyme has all the letters racing one another up a coconut tree. (For ages 4 to 8), Miss Rumphius dreams of living by the sea, traveling the world, and making it a more beautiful place — and she does it on her own terms, living alone with her cat and sowing lupine seeds along the coast of Maine despite the local kids who call her "That Crazy Old Lady." … THEY WENT LEFT, by Monica Hesse. by Shinsuke Yoshitake. In these unprecedented times, the one thing we can always count on is an assortment of “Best Of” lists to round out the year. The Rabbit Listened is the book for you — with simple text and illustrations so cute you'll want to hug yourself, it tells the story of Taylor, who's sad that his tower of blocks fell down, and all the animals who really aren't helping until the rabbit comes along. Summer Reader Poll 2020: Meet Our Esteemed Panelists! But then one night she sees yellow eyes shining in the forest ... and soon, she finds she has to use all her wiles to keep the jumbies away from her island. (Neal Porter/Holiday House, $18.99.) (For ages 8 to 12), A classic! A savvy mouse avoids the clutches of a fox by invoking the terrible Gruffalo — setting off an increasingly ridiculous (and delightful) chain of events, all told in rhyming couplets that are all kinds of fun to read aloud. He just has to get there. Best children’s and teens books of 2020. So they set up house in an abandoned boxcar and try to make it on their own. And she wants to be a writer, but English isn't her first language. And all he really wants to do is draw comics — so how can he stay true to himself and his neighborhood, and still figure out his new school? (For ages 6 to 8), Junie B. Jones is almost 6 years old! And as always, we had to decide which work to pick from creators who were nominated multiple times. A lovely, gentle story about what friends can do for each other. Each sister has a unique, winning personality; young readers will finish the first book and want to spend more time with them. Elephant and Piggie are funny, adorable cartoon animals, but they have to work through the same serious issues — sharing, patience, new friendships, sadness — that all kids face as they grow up. And two little kittens and a pair of mittens? As with all our summer polls, this one isn't a straight-up popularity contest. 1. And when a sinister archduke tries to grab the box for himself, he learns that crime doesn't pay. The best gifts for kids by age, according to our 2020 gift guide 20 classic children’s books every parent needs in their nursery 36 thoughtful teacher gifts that are A+ (For ages 4 to 8), by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S. K. Ali and Hatem Aly, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad was bullied as a child for wearing a hijab. By Emily Jenkins. He began to wonder what stories those old trucks could tell — the result, created by both brothers together, is this story, illustrated by hundreds of hand-carved stamps, of a farm family and their beloved pickup. Nicki demands mittens knitted from wool as white as the snow — which his grandmother knows is impractical, but she humors him. And though it's never directly mentioned in the text, young Peter is Black, one of the first non-caricatured Black people to star in a major children's book. Don't you wish you had a great green room and a red balloon? If only adult friendships were as simple and solid as Frog and Toad's! Today I’ll Be a PrincessIf your little girl enjoys watching animated movies of princesses and wants to … Patricia Hruby Powell's jazz-inflected words and Christian Robinson's bright, exciting pictures make this book a treat for readers and listeners. Maya is the new girl at school, with ragged clothes and the wrong shoes for winter. Over the course of four books, Frog and Toad go swimming and sledding, search for lost buttons, bake cookies, grow gardens and generally have fun together all year round. (For ages 3 to 5), Who doesn't love a big chunk of heavy machinery? So he created this ode to a favorite food that brings Native families together. 26, 2020. (For ages 3 to 8), Julián is riding the subway with his abuela when he sees them: three mermaids, with fabulous hair and fishtail dresses. (Scholastic, $18.99.) He's only supposed to look after her house and garden — but one day when she's away, he decides to make the pot produce dinner for the whole town. by the author. Leroy Brown (not the bad one) is a 10-year-old genius who solves mysteries for 25 cents a day (no case too small) — often for his police chief dad, and often involving his nemesis, the bully Bugs Meany — alongside his pal and partner Sally Kimball, who often solves the case by noticing things Encyclopedia doesn't. Will there be enough room?" Best children’s books of 2020. (Oh, and there's a cat hiding on every page, too — can you find it?) The debut novel by Douglas Stuart draws on his own childhood in 1980s Glasgow, and is the winner of the 2020 Booker prize. Classic Books for Your Baby or Toddler. Best children’s and teens books of 2020. Princess Magnolia — inspired by author Shannon Hale's daughter, who insisted that princesses couldn't wear black — can have scones with duchesses AND fight monsters, or a mysterious stinky cloud, or a sea monster (some princesses just can't catch a break, even on the beach). But Corinne La Mer isn't afraid of anything, especially jumbies, since everyone knows they're just made up, right? This strangely beautiful art object of a book traces O’Connor’s first forays as a writer to an outsize fascination with the chickens in her childhood backyard. (Lantana, $17.99.) Sparkling with Southern diction and rhythms, and peppered with poems and songs, this novel composed of read-aloud monologues follows three generations of children in one fictional Mississippi family as they survive hardships from sharecropping to voter suppression. (For ages 3 to 5), We couldn't put Hair Love on the list (you'll find it a little further down) and leave out this tribute to the magic of the barbershop. (For ages 3 to 6), Rosa's mom works in a diner — and so does Rosa, sometimes, peeling onions, washing salt shakers and saving her pennies to buy her mom a comfortable chair because all their furniture was lost in a fire that turned their apartment to "charcoal and ashes." (For ages 5 to 8), Waves roll by, seasons come and go, keepers tend to their duties, and through it all, the lighthouse stands tall, sending its beam out into the darkness, bidding hello to all the ships at sea. No one wants to play with her — not even Chloe, who sits next to her, and eventually has to deal with the results of her unkindness. Underwood’s quietly profound text and Derby’s lush art provide a homage to nature, and a comforting reminder that Outside will be there for us when we’re ready. (For ages 2 to 5), Tameka Fryer Brown's lilting, musical rhymes and A.G. Ford's glowing art follow one very active baby through a very busy day of zooming around the house, getting kisses, napping, playing in the grass, getting a bath and finally going to bed as the sun sets. Or is there? He can meow and oink and quack — but barking? Ashley Bryan's paper-cut illustrations, reminiscent of Henri Matisse, bring this story of envy, beauty and acceptance to gorgeous life. Luckily, his nana is always ready with an answer that helps CJ find beauty wherever he looks. (For ages 5 to 7), Kate DiCamillo is another author who showed up all over the original list of nominations, but our judges thought this series about a terrific, radiant little pig — who likes buttered toast, car rides and solving the occasional mystery — was the pick of the litter. Candlewick. E.B. (For ages 3 to 5), Little kids are goofy and frequently gross, we all know that — so Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's gleefully surreal inversion of familiar fairy tales is perfect for little readers. (For ages 3 to 7), Putting together these lists is as much of a discovery experience as reading them is, and I'm especially glad to have discovered Catwings, Ursula K. LeGuin's tale of four tabby kittens inexplicably born with wings. Sheila lives with her father and unpleasant stepmother; she's bullied by a classmate and sneered at by her teacher. 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