Book lists
Reviews & recommendations
Trying to find a good book to read? At a particular reading level? Or a particular genre? Or on a particular subject? Check out these great sites!
- 2023 ALSC Summer Reading Lists
- From The Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, comes four lists arranged by age (Birth-Preschool, K-2nd, 3rd- 5th and 6th-8th grade students)
- A Book and a Hug
- From Barb Langridge, a former bookseller and children’s librarian and a current host of a television show on children’s books, comes this amazing site. Browse by category, by age or by gender, search by reading level – tons of book recommendations and reviews and options!
- Mismatched Pairs: Paired Nonfiction and Fiction for Tweens
- From The Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association: “Tweens have both diverse learning methods and diverse tastes in reading. We also know that readers like to explore their interests in ways that are concrete, as well as imaginative. Pairing nonfiction and fiction titles on the same subject can help readers draw connections and inspire critical thinking, as well as build vocabulary and reinforce ideas. This list presents twenty-six tween-friendly nonfiction books that have been paired with a complementary work of fiction.”
- Reading Rants! Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists
- This site doesn’t attempt to be comprehensive or offer age specific recommendations. What it does provide is great reviews of a wide variety of books for teens, along with comments and responses by readers.
- Unity. Kindness. Peace. Booklist
- The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is a division of the American Library Association. ALSC’s core purpose is creating a better future for children through libraries. This booklist was created to share the message of creating unity, acting with kindness toward others, and promoting peace.
Book series
Looking to find out what the order of books in a series? All series by a particular author? Whether a book is part of a series? Look no farther – the websites below have the information you want!
- What’s Next
- Created by the Kent District Library of Michigan, What’s Next contains listings for thousands and thousands of both adult and children’s books. It is extremely easy to use, and you can search by author, title or series, and limit your results to a particular genre (e.g., romance or science fiction).
- Juvenile Series and Sequels
- The ‘Juvenile Series and Sequels’ database, created and maintained by the Mid-Continent Public Library of Independence, Missouri, currently contains over 25,000 books in series titles that are classified into three audiences: Young Adult (6th through 12th grade); Juvenile (2nd through 6th grade); and Juvenile Easy (birth through 2nd grade). You can search by author, book title, series title or subject.
Graphic Novels
- Great graphic novels for grades K-8
- The Association for Library Service to Children has put together a fabulous list – sorted by grade level – of graphic novels for elementary and middle school students.
- Great graphic novels for teens
- Each year YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association, puts together a list of the best graphic novels and illustrated non-fiction of the year for teens. The main list is lengthy but if you just are interested in the best of the best, there’s an annual Teens’ Top Ten list as well!
Awards & Bestsellers
Children’s books
- Caldecott
- The Caldecott Medal is given annually to the best American picture book for children.
- Newbery Medal
- The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to a U.S. author for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
- Theodore Seuss Geisel Award
- The Theodore Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to a U.S. author for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers.
Tween and Teen books
- Amazing Audiobooks
- Each year, YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks Blogging Team selects and annotates an annual list of notable audio recordings significant to young adults from those released in the past two years.
- Best Fiction for Young Adults
- Each year YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association, puts together a list of the best books of the year for young adults. The criteria include both literary quality and appeal to teens. The main list is lengthy but but if you just are interested in the best of the best, there are plenty of Top Ten list as well!
- Coretta Scott King Awards
- The Coretta Scott King Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
- Maud Hart Lovelace Award
- The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award is a children’s choice book award. Students in grades 3-5 who have read or listened to at least three titles from the Division I nominee list and students in grades 6-8 who have read or listened to at least three titles from the Division II nominee list are eligible to vote for the Maud Hart Lovelace Award. Students vote in March, and winners and next year’s nominees are announced on Maud Hart Lovelace’s birthday, April 25.
- Michael L. Printz Award
- The Michael L. Printz Award annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year. In addition, the Printz Committee names up to four honor books, which also represent the best writing in young adult literature..
- Pura Belpre Award
- The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
- Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike to read for whatever reason. The list selects both fiction and nonfiction.
- Robert F. Sibert Medal
- The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.
- Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
- The Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award is presented annually to a notable children’s work of historical fiction, published by a U.S. publisher and set in the New World.
- William C. Morris YA Debut Award
- The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.
Apps
- Notable Digital Children’s Media
- The Association for Library Service to Children (part of the American Library Association) has selected 15 apps, which span diverse subjects from mindfulness to math, as worthy of special recognition. These apps introduce rich topics and engaging activities and provide a platform for play and imagination.Future lists will include a diverse array of digital media for children up to age 14.