Children's Services Division, OLA
  • Events
    • Event Registration
    • Event Archives
  • CSD
    • CSD Board >
      • CSD Board Archives
    • Reports & Minutes
    • Scholarships
    • Fundraiser
    • Contact
  • Awards
    • Lampman >
      • Lampman 2024
      • Lampman 2023
      • Lampman 2022
      • Lampman 2021
      • Lampman 2020
      • Lampman 2019
  • Programming
    • Oregon Library Presenters Directory >
      • Directory of All Presenters
      • Presenter Submission Form
    • Storytime
    • Maker Space and STEM
    • Tough Conversations
  • Professional Development
    • Anti-Racism
    • Professional Resources
  • Tool Kit
    • State Library Services
    • Early Literacy
    • Early Learning Hubs
    • Grants

CSD Blog

2020 Best Children's Books Roundup

12/16/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Recommended 2020 book lists are rolling in.  Here is a round up so far (we will add to the list as more recommended lists come in).  Please let us know if your library made a best of 2020 list.  Did we miss a great list?  We would love to add these lists to the collection.  Email our web editor.

ALA_ALSC:  Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children's books, recordings, and digital media. 

​
American Indians in Children's Literature: Established in 2006 by Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo, American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books. Dr. Jean Mendoza joined AICL as a co-editor in 2016.  Here is a link to the blog with 2020 best books by native authors/illustrators.
​
Bank Street College of Education:  The Children’s Book Committee was founded more than 100 years ago to help parents, teachers, and librarians choose the books that children will find captivating and transforming. Every year it produces comprehensive annotated book lists for children aged infant through 16.  Their list of 2020 best books is organized by age.  One of the few lists that recommends books for children 5 and under in its own category.

Booklist:  The December 15 Starred Review issue is free and open to all. It can serve as an invaluable overview and checklist of books not to be missed for 2020.  Youth starred reviews start on page 56.  Here it is as a PDF.

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature:  A curated list of best multicultural books of 2020 from Dr. Claudette Shackelford McLinn, Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada, Lettycia Terrones, Dr. Sujin Huggins, and Dr. Naomi Caldwell.  Here is is as a PDF.

Chicago Public Library:  A team of librarians select the best books each year. The lists are in bibliocommons.  Two added bonuses, the board book list and Spanish language book list round out the selections.

The Cybil Awards: The Cybil Awards combine literary merit with popular appeal.

​Deschutes Public Library:  Deschutes Public Library suggests their favorite 2020 reads, perfect for gifting to children.   They also have gift guides for teens and adults.

Goodreads:  The Goodreads Choice Awards represent the votes of readers.  There are two children's categories: Middle Grade and Children's and Picture Books.

Happy Valley Library:  The staff at the Happy Valley Library in Happy Valley, Oregon compiled their favorite books of 2020.

The Horn Book:  The editors and reviewers of the Horn Book select their picks for the best books of 2020.  There are thirty books that "offer comfort, hope, inspiration, laughter, escapism, realism, community, sustenance, challenge, warmth, and more. "

Jane Addams Children's Book Award: From the website, "the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people. A national committee of members with passion for and expertise in children’s literature and social justice is responsible for making the choices each year."

Kirkus: Best picture books of 2020.  Best middle grade books of 2020.

Multnomah County Library: MCL has a fantastic list of books for 2020.  You will need to select kids to narrow your search to children's materials.  The list has the same feel as the NPR list.  It shows the book covers and when you hover over the cover, it gives a brief description of the work.

Nerdy Book Club: This blog shares their love of children's and young adult books.  Their tenth annual best of the year recommendations include literature for early readers, nonfiction picture books, fiction picture books, and graphic novels.

The New York Public Library: Their expert librarians selected the year's best books for kids, teens, and adults.

New York Times: The 25 best children's books of 2020 from the editors of the NY Times.

NPR: Each fall, they reach out to their staffers and trusted critics and ask them to nominate their favorite books of the year. They respond with hundreds of titles. Then, the editors and producers at NPR Books sit down with a huge spreadsheet of responses; they select favorites, resolve duplications, note omissions and consider the overall mix and balance of books recommended.  This link is to their kids' book recommendations for 2020.

Publisher's Weekly: Curated from from Publishers Weekly’s reviews of children’s and young adult books published in 2020, their selections for the top 50 books of the year include picture books and graphic novels, fiction and nonfiction, debuts and bestsellers for readers of all ages.  Their list is arranged by picture books, middle readers and young adults.

Salem Public Library:  Library staff at the Salem Public Library in Salem, Oregon put together a graphic of the best books of 2020 for pre-k to 6th grade.

School Library Journal:  Lots of hours going over those starred reviews.  They also have a PDF version.

Washington Post: Authors and reviewers share their favorite middle grade, nonfiction and picture books. 

100 Scope Notes: Travis Jonker, a school librarian, posts his favorite books of the year on the School Library Journal blog about children's literature.

Author

Tara Morissette
CSD Communications Chair & Web Editor
Library Assistant, Oregon City Public Library

Categories

All
Best Of 2020
Lists
STEAM
Summer Reading
Take And Makes
Year End Roundup

1 Comment

Korie Buerkle's Acceptance Speech & Nominations Needed for the 2021 Lampman Award

12/13/2020

0 Comments

 
Korie Buerkle's acceptance speech.
For more information about Korie's award, please go to the CSD's Lampman Award page.

Picture
Hi folks, it’s the time of year when we try our best to think of others.  Children's services staff have been working above and beyond in this difficult year. Nominate one of them for the 2021 Lampman Award. Or do you have a favorite Oregon children's author who deserves the award?

The award is given in memory of Evelyn Sibley Lampman (1907-1980), noted Oregon teacher, journalist, and author of children’s books.
​
The Evelyn Sibley Lampman Award was established in 1982 to honor a living Oregon author, librarian, or educator who has made a significant contribution to Oregon in the fields of children’s literature and library services. It is awarded annually by the Children’s Services Division of the Oregon Library  Association. 
Submit your nominations here: [email protected]
 
Jane Corry
CSD Lampman chair


0 Comments

ALA_PLA Free Webinar,  Libraries & Public Media: Family Engagement to Advance Young Children’s Computational Thinking

12/1/2020

1 Comment

 
A free webinar from ALA_PLA for libraries interested in advancing young children's computational thinking with programming for families.
Sign up here:
https://wgbh.zoom.us/.../tJ0pdeCoqD0pHdeLFdEA3V1...
American Library Association
Picture
1 Comment
    Picture

    OLA Home ​


    Subscribe
    Don't miss a beat! Stay current with kids-lib, CSD's electronic mailing list. 

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Best Of
    Best Of 2020
    Collection Development
    Conference
    Craft Recipe
    CSD
    Diversity Audits
    Diversity & Inclusion
    Early Literacy
    Equity
    Lampman Award
    Lists
    Mock
    Oregon Library Presenters Directory
    Programming
    Scholarships
    Spring Workshop
    STEAM
    Summer Reading
    Take And Makes
    Year End Roundup
    Youth Services Summit

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Oregon Library Association
Children's Services Division
Contact Us

Join Children's Services Division!
Contact [email protected] for membership information.


The purpose of this site is to improve communication among Division members, publicize Division events and activities, introduce new and prospective members to the Division, and to link to useful Internet sites. Bylaws & Award Procedures
  • Events
    • Event Registration
    • Event Archives
  • CSD
    • CSD Board >
      • CSD Board Archives
    • Reports & Minutes
    • Scholarships
    • Fundraiser
    • Contact
  • Awards
    • Lampman >
      • Lampman 2024
      • Lampman 2023
      • Lampman 2022
      • Lampman 2021
      • Lampman 2020
      • Lampman 2019
  • Programming
    • Oregon Library Presenters Directory >
      • Directory of All Presenters
      • Presenter Submission Form
    • Storytime
    • Maker Space and STEM
    • Tough Conversations
  • Professional Development
    • Anti-Racism
    • Professional Resources
  • Tool Kit
    • State Library Services
    • Early Literacy
    • Early Learning Hubs
    • Grants