It has been an incredible year for Scholastic books! As the year wraps up, our titles have appeared on a multitude of ‘Best Books of 2018’ lists! And what better gift for the readers in your life this holiday season than books recommended by our industry colleagues?
Here are the 31 Scholastic books that have been called the best of the year:
Picture Books:
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by David Serlin & Brian Selznick
Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Books for New & Transitioning Readers
Parents Magazine Best Books for Kids
GoodReads Choice Awards 2018 Best Picture Books Nominee
BookPage Best Books of 2018: Children’s Books – Picture Books
Best Friends in the Universe by Stephanie Watson, illustrated by Leuyen Pham
Chicago Public Library Best Picture Books
Ducks Away! by Mem Fox illustrated by Judy Horacek
Chicago Public Library Best Picture Books
Hi-Five Animals! by Ross Burach
Parents Magazine Best Books for Kids
The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez
Chicago Public Library Best Picture Books
Tigers & Tea with Toppy by Barbara Kerley, Rhoda Knight Kalt, and illustrated by Matte Stephens
NPR Best Kids’ Books of 2018
Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
Will Bear Share? by Hilary Leung
Chicago Public Library Best Board Books
Will Ladybug Hug? by Hilary Leung
Kirkus Best Picture Books for Babies & Toddlers
Middle Grade Books:
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
GoodReads Choice Awards 2018 Best Middle Grade & Children’s Nominee
Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older
The Washington Post Best Children’s Books of 2018
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
NPR Best Kids’ Books of 2018
New York Times Book Review Notable Books of 2018
Publishers Weekly Best Children and YA Books of 2018
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
The Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2018
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers
NPR Best Kids’ Books of 2018
Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Family Stories
Publishers Weekly Best Children and YA Books of 2018
GoodReads Choice Awards 2018 Best Middle Grade & Children’s Nominee
BookPage Best Books of 2018: Children’s Books – Middle Grade
Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
Kirkus Best Genre-Busting Middle-Grade Books
Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond: The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
GoodReads Choice Awards 2018 Best Middle Grade & Children’s Nominee
Mac B. Kid Spy: Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Mike Lowery
Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Younger Readers
Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea David Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
The Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2018
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers
Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Poetry & Anthologies
Mega Robo Bros by Neill Cameron
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
Mr. Wolf's Class by Aron Nels Steinke
Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Younger Readers
The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Fantasy
The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis
New York Public Library: Best Books for Kids
School Library Journal: Best Books of 2018
New York Times Book Review: Notable Books of 2018
Kirkus: Best Middle-Grade Historical Fiction
National Book Awards Finalist
Common Sense Media Best Tween and Teen Books
BookPage Best Books of 2018: Children’s Books – Middle Grade
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
New York Public Library Top 10 Best Books for Kids
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers
NPR Best Kids’ Books of 2018
Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Mystery & Suspense
Publishers Weekly Best Children and YA Books of 2018
Common Sense Media Best Tween and Teen Books
Parents Magazine Best Books for Kids
BookPage Best Books of 2018: Children’s Books – Middle Grade
Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School by Julie Falatko, art by Colin Jack
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome by Sarai Gonzalez, Monica Brown, illustrated by Christine Almeda
Chicago Public Library: Best Fiction for Younger Readers
Sarai in the Spotlight by Sarai Gonzalez, Monica Brown, illustrated by Christine Almeda
Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Younger Readers
Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! by Alex Gino
Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Friendship Stories
Young Adult Books:
Chasing King’s Killer by James L. Swanson
Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers
Kirkus Best YA Nonfiction
Shelf Awareness Best Books of the Year
Give Me Some Truth by Eric Gansworth
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
Chicago Public Library Best Teen Fiction
NPR Best YA Books of 2018
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
The Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2018
The Washington Post Best Graphic Novel of 2018
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
Chicago Public Library Best Teen Nonfiction
TIME 10 Best YA and Children’s Books of 2018
Publishers Weekly Best Children and YA Books of 2018
NPR Best YA Books of 2018
New York Times Book Review Notable Books of 2018
Kirkus Best YA Books About Facing Trauma
National Book Awards Finalist
Good Reads Choice Awards 2018 Best Graphic Novel & Comics Nominee
Tales from the Inner City by Shaun Tan
The Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2018
Kirkus Best YA Books That Feed Imaginations
GoodReads Choice Awards 2018 Best Middle Grade & Children’s Nominee
The Grand Escape by Neal Bascomb
Kirkus Best YA Mystery and Thriller
