As of 2019, Top Books no longer come from 6-Star reviews. The rating system has changed. Kid Lit Reviews is following the current trend and will only be offering “starred reviews” for a book that is exceptional (would have been a 6-Star in  past years). Clicking a title in any year will take you to the review. At the bottom of the review is a link to Amazon if you want to purchase the book and support KLR in the process (costs you nothing extra)

If a link doesn’t work, uses the Archive Page and scroll to the corresponding review number [# in brackets].
BB – board book; CB – chapter book; PB – picture book; MG – middle grade book – *starred review

Top Books for 2020

Board Books

• ABC Dancing! An Animal Alphabet by Sabrina Moyle & Eunice Moyle – Workman Publishing [1274]

 

Picture Books

• Secret Garden of George Washington Carver, The by Gene Barretta & Frank Morrison – Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins Publishers [1234]
• Is It the Same for You? by Neha Singh & Priya Sebastian –  Seagull Books [1241]
• Hazel and Twig #2: The Lost Egg by Brenna Burns Yu -Candlewick Press [1272]
• I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood & Julianna Swaney – Atheneum BYR [1284]
• Duck and Penguin Do NOT Like Sleepovers by Julia Woolf – Peachtree Publishing  [1309] 

Chapter Books

Middle Grade Books

• Prince Dustin and Clara #2: Secrets of the Black Forest Pt. 2 by Daniel Lee Nicholson – Fossil Mountain Publishing [1237]
• Wonder of Wildflowers, the by Anna Staniszewski – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers [1252]
• Winter in Wartime by Jan Terlouw—translation by Laura Watkinson – New York Review Children’s Collection [1245]
• Cryptozoology for Beginners by Euphemia Whitmore, Matt Harry, & Juliane Crump – Inkshares [1242]
• Boon on the Moon by John Huddles – Notable Kids Publishing [1277]
• Candy Mafia, The by Lavie Tidhar & Daniel Duncan – Peachtree Publishing [1314]

Graphic Novels

• Drew and Jot, #1: Dueling Doodles by Art Baltazar – KaBOOM!/BOOM! Studios [1233]
• Journey Under the Arctic (Fabien Cousteau Expeditions #2) by James O. Fraioli, Fabien Cousteau, & Joe St. Pierre – Margaret K. McElderry Books [1283]

Nonfiction

Poetry

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Top Books for 2019

Picture Books

• Arrivedeci, Crocodile or See You Later, Alligator by Fred Marcellino & Eric Puybaret – Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
• ROAR Like a Dandelion by Ruth Krauss & Sergio Ruzzier – Harper / HarperCollins Publishers
• Fly! by Mark Teague – Beach Lane Books / Simon & Schuster
• Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph – Harper / HarperCollins Publishers

Middle Grade Books

• The Jumbie God’s Revenge by Tracey Baptiste – Algonquin Young Readers / Workman Publishing
• The Very, Very Far North: a story for gentle readers and listeners by Dan Bar-El – Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibbs – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Children
• The Little Palace by Jeffrey Erlacher & Mary P. Williams – Chipper Press / Zimbell House Publishing
• The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horwitz – Algonquin Young Readers / Workman Publishing

Graphic Novels

• Together in Strength (Ronin Island #1) by Greg Pak & Giannis Milonogiannis – Boom Studios

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Top Books for 2017

Board Books

WINNER – Flora and the Chicks: A Counting Book by Molly Idle – Chronicle Books

• Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace – Chronicle Books
• New York (My Little Cities #1) by Jennifer Adams and Greg Pizzoli – Chronicle Books
• London (My Little Cities #2) by Jennifer Adams and Greg Pizzoli – Chronicle Books
• Masha and Her Sisters by Suzy Ultman – Chronicle Books
• Flora and the Chicks: A Counting Book by Molly Idle – Chronicle Books

Picture Books

WINNER –  My Valley by Claude Ponti (translated from French by Alyson Waters) – Elsewhere Editions/Archipelago Books

• Our Very Own Dog by Amanda McCardie and Salvatore Rubbino – Candlewick Press
• Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld – Chronicle Books
• Pete With No Pants by Rowboat Watkins – Chronicle Books
• Mine! by Jeff Mack – Chronicle Books
• You and Me, Me and You by Miguel Tanco – Chronicle Books
• The Journey Home (Hattie Peck #2) by Emma Levey – Sky Pony Press
• Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children’s Books by Michelle Markel and Nancy Carpenter – Chronicle Books
• Thousand Star Hotel by The Okee Dokee Brothers and Brandon Reese – Sterling Children’s Books
• A Funny Thing Happened at the Museum . . . by Davide Cali and Benjamin Cloud – Chronicle Books
• My Valley by Claude Ponti (translated from French by Alyson Waters) – Elsewhere Editions / Archipelago Books

Chapter Books

WINNER – Charlie & Mouse, Book #1 by Laurel Snyder and Emily Hughes – Chronicle Books

Middle Grade Books

                WINNER – Ghost (Track, Book #1) by Jason Reynolds – A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Antheneum BYR/Simon & Schuster

• Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry by Susan Vaught – A Paul Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster
• Ghost (Track, Book #1) by Jason Reynolds – A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Antheneum BYR/Simon & Schuster
• Leo, Dog of the Sea (Dog Chronicles, #4) by Alison Hart and Michael G. Montgomery – Peachtree Publishers
• The Wizard’s Dog by Eric Kahn Gale – Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books

Graphic Novels

WINNER – Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham – First Second /Roaring Brook Press

Nonfiction

      WINNER – Fannie Never Flinched: One Woman’s Courage in the Struggle for American Labor Union Rights by Mary Cronk Farrell – Abrams Books for Young Readers

• Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case by Patricia Hruby Powell and Shadra Strickland – Chronicle Books
• The Scholarship Game:  A No-Fluff Guide To Making College Affordable by Luke Arnce – Compass Books
• Fannie Never Flinched: One Woman’s Courage in the Struggle for American Labor Union Rights by Mary Cronk Farrell – Abrams Books for Young Readers
• Curious Constructions: A Peculiar Portfolio of Fifty Fascinating Structures (Uncommon Compendiums #3) by Michael Hearst and Matt Johnstone – Chronicle Books

Poetry

WINNER – One Minute till Bedtime: 60-Second Poems to Send You off to Sleep – Selected by Kenn Nesbitt, Art by Christoph Niemann – Little Brown and Co./Hachette Publishing Group

• One Minute till Bedtime: 60-Second Poems to Send You off to Sleep – Selected by Kenn Nesbitt, Art by Christoph Niemann – Little Brown and Co./Hachette Publishing Group
• Things to Do by Elaine Magliaro and Catia Chien – Chronicle Books

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Top Books for 2016

Board Books

WINNER – STEAM TRAIN, DREAM TRAIN COLORS by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld – Chronicle Books

• Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3 by Sherri Duskey Rinker & Tom Lichtenheld – Chronicle Books
• Steam Train, Dream Train Colors by Sherri Duskey Rinker & Tom Lichtenheld – Chronicle Books

Picture Books

WINNER – GOOD NIGHT BADDIES by Deborah Underwood and Juli Kangas – Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster

• Squirrel Me Timbers by Louise Pigott – Picture Window Books (Capstone)
• Apples and Robins by Lucie Félix – Chronicle Books
• Flora and the Peacocks by Molly Idle – Chronicle Books
• Good Night, Baddies by Deborah Underwood and Juli Kangas – Beach Lane Books
• Pirate’s Perfect Pet by Beth Ferry and Matt Myers – Candlewick Press
• Ned the Knitting Pirate by Diana Murray and Leslie Lammle – Roaring Brook Press
• Putting Bungee to Bed by Sasha Carr, PhD and Linda Neptune (debut)
• They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel – Chronicle Books (debut)
• A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary and Qin Leng – Groundwood Books
• Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff – Running Press Kids
• How to Be a Hero by Florence Parry Heide and Chuck Groenink – Chronicle Books
• Dear Dragon by Josh Funk and Rodolfo Montalvo – Viking Books for Young Readers

Chapter Books

WINNER – THE STORY OF DIVA AND FLEA by Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi – Hyperion BYR

• The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems & Tony DiTerlizzi – Hyperion Books for Children
• Sir Princess Petra’s Mission (The Pen Pieyu Adventures, Book 3) by Diane Mae Robinson – Tate Publishing

Middle Grade Books

WINNER – WAITING FOR AUGUSTA by Jessica Lawson (debut) – Simon & Schuster

• The Island of Beyond by Elizabeth Atkinson – Carolrhoda Books
• Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu (debut) – Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum BYR
• Liberty Frye and the Sails of Fate by J. L. McCreedy – Penelope Pipp Publishing
• Waiting for Augusta by Jessica Lawson (debut) – Simon & Schuster
• Ollie’s Odyssey by William Joyce – Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum BYR
• Hundred Percent by Karen Romano Young – Chronicle Books
• Everyday Hero by Kathleen Cherry (debut) – Orca Book Publishers
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill – Algonquin Young Readers
• Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson and Emma Yarlett – Walden Pond Press
• The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan (debut) – Wendy Lamb Books

Nonfiction

WINNER – MY CRAZY INVENTIONS SKETCHBOOK: 50 AWESOME DRAWING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG INVENTORS by Lisa Regan and Andrew Rae – Lawrence King Publishing

• My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook: 50 Awesome Drawing Activities for Young Inventors by Lisa Regan & Andrew Rae – Lawrence King Publishing
• Who What Where? by Olivier Tallec – Chronicle Books

Poetry

WINNER – THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY by Laura Shovan (debut) – Wendy Lamb Books/Simon & Schuster

• The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan (debut) – Wendy Lamb Books
• Kooky Crumbs: Poems in Praise of Dizzy Days by J. Patrick Lewis & Mary Uhles _ Kane Miller Books

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Top Books for 2015

Board Books

WINNER — BLACK & WHITE NIGHTY-NIGHT by Sarah Jones – Blue Manatee Press

• Black & White Nighty-Night by Sarah Jones – Blue Manatee Press
• Hop, Hop Bunny by Betty Schwartz, Lynn Seresin & Neiko Ng – Chronicle Books
• On My Beach by Sarah Gillingham & Lorena Siminovich – Chronicle Books

Picture Books

WINNER — BEAR AND BUNNY by Daniel Pinkwater & Will Hillenbrand – Candlewick Press

• Bear and Bunny by Daniel Pinkwater & Will Hillenbrand – Candlewick Press
• How to Read a Story by Kate Messner & Mark Siegel – Chronicle Books
• Druthers by Matt Phelan – Candlewick Press
• FRED by Kaila Eunhye Seo – Peter Pauper Press
• Dragon and Captain by P. R. Allabach & Lucas Turnbloom – Flashlight Press
• I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld – Chronicle Books
• Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett & Christian Robinson – Chronicle Books
• Where Are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohio – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight by Penny Parker Klostermann & Ben Mantle – Random House Children’s Books
• Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar & Troy Cummings – Random House Children’s Books

Middle Grade Books

WINNER — BOOK SCAVENGER by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman & Sarah Watts – Christy Ottaviano Books (Henry Holt)

• The Guardian Herd #2: Stormbound by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez – Harper Children’s Books
• The Luck Uglies by Paul Durham & Pétur Antonsson – HarperCollins Children’s Books
• Fork-Tongue Charmers (The Luck Uglies #2)  by Paul Durham & Pétur Antonsson – HarperCollins Children’s Books
• Dirtmeister’s Nitty Gritty Planet Earth: All About Rocks, Minerals, Fossils, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, & Even DIRT! by Steve Tomecek & Fred Harper – National Geographic Society
• Fowl Play by Travis Nichols – Chronicle Books
• Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman & Sarah Watts – Christy Ottaviano Books (Henry Holt)

Poetry

WINNER — BIGFOOT IS MISSING by J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt & MinaLima – Chronicle Books

• Bigfoot is Missing by J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt & MinaLima – Chronicle Books
• There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight by Penny Parker Klostermann & Ben Mantle – Random House Children’s Books

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Top Books for 2014

Picture Books

WINNER — THE GRUDGE KEEPER  by Mara Rockliff & Eliza Wheeler – Peachtree Publishers

• Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker & Tom Lichtenheld–Chronicle Books
• EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm with a Little Help From a Hen by Judy Sierra & Matthew Myers, illustrator – Candlewick Press
• The Grudge Keeper by Mara Rockliff & Eliza Wheeler – Peachtree Publishers
• Father’s Chinese Opera by Rich Lo – Sky Pony Press
• Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet – Handprint Books
• Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle – Chronicle Books
• Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle – Chronicle Books
• You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang & Christopher Weyant – Two Lions

Middle Grade Books

WINNER — THE GUARDIAN HERD #1: STARFIRE  by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez – HarperCollins Children’s Books

• Clifton Chase and the Arrow of Light by Jaimie M. Engle & Debbie Waldorf Johnson
• Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer by William Summerhouse – Shake-A-Leg Press
• The Tribe #2: Camp Cannibal by Clay McLeod Chapman – Disney-Hyperion Books
• Colt Humboldt and the Close of Death by T. A. Anderson
• The Guardian Herd #1: Starfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez – HarperCollins Children’s Books
• Rhyme Schemer by K.A. Holt – Chronicle Books

Nonfiction

WINNER — JOSEPHINE: THE DAZZLING LIFE OF JOSEPHINE BAKER  by Patricia Hruby Powell & Christian Robinson – Chronicle Books

• Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell & Christian Robinson – Chronicle Books
• At the Same Moment, Around the World by Clotilde Perrin – Chronicle Books
• Mumbet’s Declaration of Independence by Gretchen Woelfle & Alix Delinois – Carolrhoda Books

Poetry

WINNER — RHYME SCHEMER  by K.A. Holt – Chronicle Books

• If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems by Brian P. Cleary & Andy Rowland – Millbrook Press
• Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole by Irene Latham & Anna Wadham – Millbrook Press
• Rhyme Schemer by K.A. Holt – Chronicle Books

Holiday Books

WINNER — LOBO’S HOWLIDAY  by C. L. Murphy — Peanut Butter Prose

• Lobo’s Howliday by C. L. Murphy — Peanut Butter Prose

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Top Books for 2013

NEW FOR 2013! The Top 10, (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER), are the best of the best reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews this year and released in 2012 or 2013.  CLICK TITLE FOR REVIEW

Picture Books

WINNER — HOW TO TRAIN A TRAIN  by Jason Carter Eaton & John Rocco – Candlewick Press   

• Mitchell Goes Bowling by Hallie Durand & Tony Fucile – Candlewick Press
• The Santa Trap by Jonathan Emmett & Poly Bernatene – Peachtree Publishers
• Flood by Alvaro F. Villa – Capstone Young Readers
• Finder’s Keepers by Robert Arnett & Smita Turakhia – Atman Press
• I HATE Picture Books! by Timothy Young – Schiffer Publishing
• On a Beam of Light  by Jennifer Berne – Chronicle Books for Kids
• The Monstore by Tara Lazar – Aladdin
• Al and Teddy by Neil Waldman – Dream Yard Press
• Otto and the GRand Prix Bees by Kip Noschese – Three Lanterns Press
• Carnivores by Aaron Reynolds & Dan Santat – Chronicle Books
•  Ah Ha! by Jeff Mack – Chronicle Books
• How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton & John Rocco – Candlewick Press

Middle Grade Books

WINNER — HOUSE OF SECRETS  by Chris Columbus & Ned Vizzini – Balzer + Bray

• The Secret Room  by Antonia Michaelis & Brigit Brandt – Skyhorse Publishing
• The Secret of the Village Fool  by Rebecca Upjohn & Renné Benoit – Second Story Press
• The House in Windward Leaves  by Katherine L. Holmes – Couchgrass Books
• House of Secrets by Chris Columbus & Ned Vizzini – Balzer + Bray
• The Dream Dealer by Marita Phillips – Neve Press
• Zero Tolerance by Claudia Mills – Margaret Ferguson Books

Non-Fiction Books

WINNER — ANN AND NAN ARE ANAGRAMS  by Mark Shulman & Adam McCauley – Chronicle Kids

• Hana’s Suitcase, Anniversary Album by Karen Levine – Second Story Press
• Desert Baths by Darcy Pattison – Sylvan Dell Publishing
• We’ve Got a Job:  The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson – Peachtree Publishing
• Ann and Nan are Anagrams by Mark Shulman & Adam McCauley – Chronicle Kids

Poetry

WINNER — THE BUBBLE COLLECTOR  by Vikram Madan

• The Bubble Collector – Vikram Madan