Click here for a Google Doc of the list!
Tomorrow morning at the crack ‘o dawn is the Youth Media Awards (aka the Newbery and Caldecott awards, plus a pack of other fabulous awards with shiny stickers for book covers) and I am scooting in at the last minute with my list of my personal favorite books for young readers from 2022!
Alas — this list is a little shorter than previous years — my youngest, Katie, is in MIDDLE SCHOOL now, and she isn’t as interested in reading picture books with me anymore. (Sigh.) But I still managed to fall in love with a few gems in my usual book categories.
THE USUAL CAVEATS
This list isn’t comprehensive by any stretch of the imagination (ha — see above statement on the brevity of said list); if there’s a book you love that I didn’t include, it’s either because I didn’t have time to get around to it, or I didn’t like it (gasp!) – do you really want to know in which category your darling lies?
Conversely: not every title on this list is for you. I guarantee it. I have broader tastes than most; if you’d like a personalized recommendation, feel free to reach out, I love to play matchmaker!
Lastly: books that contain sensitive topics for littles are marked with asterisks (**). You might want to take a close gander before handing them over to the young’un in your life.
PICTURE BOOKS
In Which It Is Proven That Cats Are Inherently Better Than Dogs: Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illus. David Roberts
In Which It Is Proven That Dogs Are Inherently Better Than Cats: Hot Dog by Doug Salati
Funniest Read-Aloud: My Parents Won’t Stop Talking! by Tillie Walden and Emma Hunsinger
Most Luscious Food Book (and Family Book): Berry Song by Michaela Goade
As Limitless and Expansive as the Best Childhood Days: Emile and the Field by Kevin Young, illus. Chioma Ebinama
Best Nostalgia for a Lost Time: The World Belonged to Us by Jaqueline Woodson, illus. Leo Espinosa
OH MY GOODNESS THE EPIC CUTENESS: Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Elegiac, Touching Tribute to the Passage of Time: Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
GRAPHIC NOVELS (Chosen with help from Katie!)
Heartwarming, Wistful Story of Long-Distance Grandparent-Love: The Flamingo by Guojing
Best Immigration Story: Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
Middle School is HARD and Even More So When You’re A Sports Underdog: Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
Post-Apocalyptic Environmental SciFi?!?!?! AWESOME: Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case
Mad Scientist Mystery Caper-O-Rama: The Prisoner of Shiverstone by Linette Moore
NONFICTION & POETRY
Most Stunning Book of Children’s Poetry to Come Out YEARS: Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets At Play among Figures of Speech by Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek, illus. Richard Jones
One of My Favorite Nonfiction Authors Blows My Mind: Action! How Movies Began by Meghan McCarthy
Most Beautiful Illustrations of 2022 (and also a fascinating history of the color blue): Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, illus. Daniel Minter
In Which Stellar Nonfiction Writing Elevates a Mundane Subject: Concrete: From the Ground Up by Larissa Theule, illus. Steve Light
A TALKING CHICKEN TEACHES YOU ABOUT UNDERWEAR no you are not dreaming: A History of Underwear With Professor Chicken by Hannah Holt, illus. Korwin Briggs
One of My Favorite Artists FINALLY Gets a Children’s Book and It’s Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie by Fiona Robinson
I Didn’t Think I’d Learn Anything New but HOLY COW Was I Wrong: Pizza! a Slice of History by Greg Pizzoli
Probably the Perfect Polar Bear Book? (and there are a LOT of polar bear books): Polar Bear by Candace Fleming, illus. Eric Rohmann
MIDDLE GRADE FICTION
Best Sendoff From an Legendary Author: Northwind by Gary Paulsen
Best Read-Aloud Old-Fashioned Adventure: Violet & Jobie in the Wild by Lynne Rae Perkins
Fascinating Look into the world of Orthodox Jewish communities (also, Middle School is HARD): Aviva and the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe
Probably the Best Children’s Novel About Bullying, Ever: Jennifer Chan is Not Alone by Tae Keller
Most Necessary Reading of the Current Era: Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
A Rags-to-Riches Tale that feels like classic Frances Hodgson Burnett . . . if it were set in contemporary Ghana: The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo (Pro Tip: listen to the audiobook, it’s AMAZING)
Best Fantasy-Adventure Tale (set in a legendary Turkic Jewish empire? Yes, please): Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack
Best Kids’ Historical Fiction (this author absolutely NAILS the voices and feel of the Depression) : Three Strike Summer
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Best Novel-in-Verse / Artist’s Sketchbook (also possibly best book about the COVID-19 pandemic?): Ain’t Burned all the Bright by Jason Reynolds
Who Said You Can’t Give The Iliad a Happy Ending (also — Cassandra redemption arc!!): Sparrows in the Wind by Gail Carson Levine
It’s Historical Fiction? It’s Historical Fantasy? It’s the best book about female authority & power I’ve read in a long time (also Best Swoony Romance Subplot): Healer & Witch by Nancy Werlin
**Best YA Historical Fiction (a twisty, tense story of life under one of the worst Communist regimes of the 1980s): I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Casa Camisas 