The New York Times and the New York Public Library have announced their Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2022 list!

Borrowed from Publishers' Weekly --

I can't wait to read Night Lunch!

Commemorating its 70th year of highlighting children’s books, the New York Times Book Review and the New York Public Library announced the 10 winners of the Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award. On this year’s panel of judges were 

author Emily Jenkins, 

New York Public Library children’s librarian Maggie Craig, 

and illustrator Raúl Colón.

The 2022 Best Illustrated selections are:

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

Yellow Dog Blues by Alice Faye Duncan, illus. by Chris Raschka

Night Lunch by Eric Fan, illus. by Dena Seiferling

Telling Stories Wrong by Gianni Rodari, illus. by Beatrice Alemagna, translated from the Italian by Antony Shugaar

Bedtime for Bo by Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold, illus. by Mari Kanstad Johnsen, translated from the Norwegian by Kari Dickson

The Upside Down Hat by Stephen Barr, illus. by Gracey Zhang

The New Rooster by Rilla Alexander

The Writer by Davide Cali, illus. by Monica Barengo

Where Butterflies Fill the Sky by Zahra Marwan

Still This Love Goes On by Buffy Sainte-Marie, illus. by Julie Flett

 

 

 

 

I predicted three out of twenty (highlighted in yellow)! And I have read a total of five  that made the list (the blue ones that I did nor predict). I am currently reading The Last Mapmaker and I have Invisible checked out. Not an excuse but Gladys and Beatryce were both published in 2021 so I didn't even consider them. I did give both of them five stars on Goodreads, though. And Leave it to Plum is very cute - I am glad it made the list! And so happy that The First Cat in Space and Blue were selected. My local library does not own five of the titles. 

But they will be purchasing them soon! 

Hooray for another great list of books.

 

1.  Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia
2. Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond. Illustrated by Daniel Minter
3. Gladys the Magic Chicken by Adam Rubin. Illustrated by Adam Rex
4. Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd
5. Indelible Ann by Meghan P. Browne. Illustrated by Carlynn Whitt
6. Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Illustrated by Gabriela Epstein
7. Leave it to Plum! by Matt Phelan
8. Once Upon a Tim by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis
9. Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan
10. Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron
11. The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
12. The Dirt Book: Poems About Animals That Live Beneath Our Feet by David L. Harrison. Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
13. The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris
14. The Last Beekeeper by Pablo Cartaya. Illustrated by C. Vélez Aguilera
15. The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
16. The Legend of Gravity by Charly Palmer
17. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
18. The Polter-Ghost Problem by Betsy Uhrig
19. Thirst by Varsha Bajaj
20. Unbound: The Life + Art of Judith Scott by Joyce Scott with Brie Spangler, illustrated by Melissa Sweet 

 

THE BLUEBONNETS ARE COMING! 

Not the flowers - but the 2023 recommended reading list will be announced at the Texas Book Festival this Saturday by the Texas Library Association (TLA)! Quick refresher - TLA presents a list of books each fall and 3rd - 6th graders have a bit over a year to read at least five of the twenty books and then - in early 2024 - choose the one they liked the best. (In January, 2023, kids will vote on the list announced last year in November of 2021 - which I am including below.) I have absolutely no idea which books will be on the next list, but I am going to provide titles that I have liked and maybe at least one of them will show up on the list? And maybe you will find a new book to read!

Here goes!

CHAPTER BOOKS 

Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood and Greg Dawson

Always, Clementine by Carlie Sorosiak 

The Astronomically Grand Plan, Astrid the Astronaut #1 by Rie Neal

Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! 

by Laurel Snyder

Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd 

It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds 

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

The Lock-Eater by Zack Loran Clark

Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee

 Odder by Katherine Applegate 

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

You Only Live Once, David Bravo by Mark Oshiro

 

GRAPHIC NOVELS

Since TLA has a separate list of recommended graphic novels (the Mavericks), there usually aren't very many on the Bluebonnet list - even though kids in the designated age group LOVE graphic novels. But I digress. Here are some favorites from this past year.

The Aquanaut by Dan Santat

The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett

Freestyle: A Graphic Novel by Gale Galligan

Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

   

 

NON-FICTION

The Mystery of the Monarchs: How Kids, Teachers, and Butterfly Fans Helped Fred and Norah Urquhart Track the Great Monarch Migration  

by Barb Rosenstock

A Book, Too, Can Be a Star: The Story of Madeleine L'Engle and the Making of A Wrinkle in Time 

by Charlotte Jones Voiklis & Jennifer Adams 

Pizza: A Slice of History by Greg Pizzoli

Concrete: From the Ground Up by Larissa Theule

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky 

by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond

Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan

The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey by Jason Chin

Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild by Joshua David Stein 

Caves by Nell Cross Beckerman

 The Museum of Odd Body Leftovers: A Tour of Your Useless Parts, Flaws, and Other Weird Bits 

by Rachel Poliquin

 

   

PICTURE BOOKS

Alone Like Me by Rebecca Evans

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

Gibberish by Young Vo 

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell 

Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko

This Book Is Not for You by Shannon Hale

   

   

Last Year's List (a.k.a.Texas Bluebonnet Award 2022-2023 Master List)

 Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs

Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero 

 by Megan Hoyt, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

 Becoming Muhammad Ali: A Novel by James Patterson & Kwame Alexander, 

illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile

 Billy Miller Makes a Wish by Kevin Henkes

The Hungry Place by Jessie Haas

J.D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard, illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts

The Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm

Long Lost by Jacqueline West

Memoirs of a Tortoise by Devin Scillian, illustrated by Tim Bowers

Nightingale by Deva Fagan  

No Place for Monsters by Kory Merritt

Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt

The One Thing You’d Save by Linda Sue Park

 Rock by Rock: The Fantastical Garden of Nek Chand by Jennifer Bradbury, 

illustrated by Sam Boughton

Stella by McCall Hoyle

Swish! The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Don Tate

Twins by Varian Johnson, illustrated by Shannon Wright

 Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford,

 illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Willodeen by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso

 

                

AWESOME OCTOBER!

PICTURE BOOKS

Gold by David Shannon - a modern take on the King Midas story

Monster Boogie by Laurie Berkner - Who can resist dancing monsters?

Mi Ciudad Sings by Cynthia Harmony - The every day sounds of a neighborhood in Mexico City are shattered by an earthquake. I had no idea this was about an earthquake when I started reading this which made it a very different "community coming together" story.

Patchwork by Matt de la Peña; illustrated by Corinna Luyken - think before you slip a child - or anyone - into a convenient category. "You are more than a single note -- played again and again. You are a symphony." And Luyken's illustrations are lovely!

Sometimes Cake by Edwina Wyatt - An encouragement to celebrate both small and big things. And don't forget to celebrate YOU! 

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall - a spectacular book about the history of an old farmhouse. 

All Are Neighbors by Alexandra Penfold - Another book celebrating community and reminds us to love and respect our neighbors.

 

NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOKS 

Mae Makes a Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat and History Maker by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich; illustrated by Andrea Pippins - Filled with hope and inspiration, you will want to plan a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture after reading about Mae Reeves.

 

Pizza: A Slice of History by Greg Pizzoli - filled with fascinating information about one of America's favorite foods. Of course there's a recipe!  

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Brew-Hammond, Nana Ekua - Five stars for this fascinating look at the history of the color blue. You will never look at blue the same way after reading this amazing book.

BEGINNING CHAPTER BOOK

Charlie & Mouse are Magic, Book #6 by Laurel Snyder -  #6 in the further adventures of two siblings - Charlie and Mouse. These books are a delightful slice of everyday family life with two small children.

 

Narwhalicorn and Jelly, Book #7 by Ben Clanton - Another graphic novel adventure with Narwhal and Jelly! In this book, Narwhal learns to be a better listener and friend. And Jelly learns that he needs his sleep and that it's OK to say not to an adventure with a friend. Clanton just announced Book #8 - A Super Scary Narwhalloween! due out on July 4, 2023.

 

MIDDLE GRADE aka TWEEN 

 

Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee - You will learn both good and bad things about Chinese immigration to America over the past 100+ years. And you may also cry. But it's a great book about family, friendship, and overcoming prejudice. 

 

Odder by Katherine Applegate -  Again, expect to learn a lot about sea otters and their place in the marine world habitat. This is a book in verse so it is a very quick read! Also, expect to fall in love with otters and have a burning desire to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium!

 

Gravebooks by A. J. White - This is a sequel to Nightbooks. It's spooky. There are witches and other monsters. But it's also a book about family, friendship, and believing in yourself.  I'm not much of a spooky book reader but I enjoyed these books!

 

Lily and the Night Creatures by Nick Lake; illustrated by Emily Gravett -  So I picked this one up for three reasons - I love Emily Gravett's illustrations; I have read other books by Lake that I have enjoyed; and the reviews said the book was quite a bit like Coraline by Neil Gaiman. And it is since old magic evil creatures have taken over as replacements for Lily's real mum and dad. Who are at the hospital having Lily's new baby sister. And Lily - who is quite ill with a chronic disease - must figure out how to oust the unreal parents from her home before her real parents come back. She does have help - from some old magic good creatures that are animals. But it is really about believing in yourself and accepting things you can't control. 

 

The Pear Affair by Judith Eagle - A bit of a madcap historical mystery with just a touch of darkness, I read The Secret Starling and enjoyed it so thought I would read the newest installment. They are stand-alones but are both about kids in mysteriously terrible circumstances who manage to figure out what is going on and get themselves to their own happily ever after. There's a new one out - The Accidental Stowaway. If you enjoy the Myrtle Hardcastle or Aggie Morton books, you might like these!

 

YOUNG ADULT 

 

The Toll, #3 in The Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman - I must confess that I pre-ordered this ages ago and then did not read it right away. But Shusterman has a book of short stories - Gleanings - set in the Scythe world and I knew I needed to read this before I read those. And I, of course, loved it. These are quite dystopian. And unnerving in many ways.

 

The Hawthorne Legacy and The Final Gambit, Inheritance Games #2 & #3 by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - A Cinderella-esque mystery. And if you thought the Final Gambit meant that we were done with the Hawthornes, fear not! Barnes has a new three book series that will allow us to continue reading about the enigmatic Hawthorne Brothers!

 

ADULT 

 

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen - a ghost story, a love story, and a mystery all rolled up together. I really enjoyed this one and still think about the characters and wonder what they are up to! 

 

Death at the Manor, Lily Adler #3 - a bit of a Gothic mystery finds Lily visiting her aunts in the English countryside. And being pursued by a suitor and also, possibly, a ghost!

 

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn -  What happens to hired assassins - who are part of a secret government agency founded on concepts of justice - when it is time for them to retire? Well, let's just say it is probably best not to mess with The Sphinxes.