Best Books of the Year

A Roundup of Annual Book Lists Published on the Web

Book awards are all very well, but sometimes you just can't choose one best book, or two, or three, or even ten. The lists here represent several perspectives on the year's top choices.

Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association)

Lists are announced each year at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in January or February.

Notable Books for Children

1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Notable Children's Films and Videos

1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996

Notable Recordings for Children

1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996

Notable Children's Computer Software

1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996

Notable Children's Websites

1999 | 1998

Young Adult Library Services Association (American Library Association)

Best Books for Young Adults

2000 Nominations | 1999 | 1999 Top Ten | 1998 | 1998 Top Ten | 1997 | 1997 Top Ten | 1996

Quick Picks for the Reluctant Young Reader

1999 | 1999 Top Ten | 1998 | 1998 Top Ten | 1997 | 1997 Top Ten | 1996

Best Films and Videos for Young Adults

1999 | 1998 | 1997

Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults

1999

Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (Thematic lists not limited to publications of a single year)

1999 (Themes: Changing Dimensions; Different Drummers)

1998 (Themes: Adult Mysteries for Teens; Facing Nature Head On; Feel Good Books; Teens From Other Times: Historical Fiction)

1997 (Themes: Books for the Soul, Graphic Novels and Picture Books, Lesbian/Gay Tales, Multicultural Fiction, and Stories of our Lives)

Booklist Editors' Choice

Published each year in the January 1 & 15 issue of Booklist.

Books for Youth

1997 | 1996 | 1995

Adult Books for Young Adults

1997 | 1996 | 1995

Media (Audio, Video, CD-ROM)

1997 | 1996 | 1995

YA Talk: Editors' Choice Revisted, by Stephanie Zvirin. A look back at 20 adult books selected as best of the year for Young Adults, 1980-1990 (January 1 & 15, 1997)

YA Talk: Best Books Revisited, by Patty Campbell. A look at some books that didn't make it onto YALSA's Best Books lists (June 1 & 15, 1998)

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Bulletin Blue Ribbons

1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990

Blue Ribbon Dissents

1998 | 1997

International Reading Association

A cooperative project with the Children's Book Council.

Children's Choices (published annually in the October issue of Reading Teacher)

1998 (Adobe Acrobat format. Requires Acrobat Reader, available for free download from Adobe)

Teachers' Choices (published annually in the November issue of Reading Teacher)

1998 (Adobe Acrobat format)

Young Adults' Choices (published annually in the November issue of the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy)

1998 (Adobe Acrobat format)

National Council for the Social Studies (U.S.)

A cooperative project with the Children's Book Council. Published annually in the April/May issue of Social Education.

Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies

1998

National Science Teachers Association (U.S.)

A cooperative project with the Children's Book Council. Published annually in the March issue of Science and Children.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children

1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996

Ontario Library Association

Best Bets: Recommended Canadian Books

1998 | 1997 | 1996

Publisher's Weekly

Published each year in early November.

Best Children's Books

1998 | 1997 | 1996

Best Children's Religious Books

1998 | 1997

Riverbank Review

Riverbank Review of Books for Young Readers is edited by Martha Davis Beck, formerly of Hungry Mind Review (HMR). Earlier "Books of Distinction" lists were issued by HMR.

Children's Books of Distinction

1999 | 1998 | 1997 Finalists (HMR) | 1996 (HMR) | 1995 (HMR)

School Library Journal

Best Books of the Year

1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

SB&F: Science Books & Films (American Association for the Advancement of Science)

Best Children's Science Books

January/February 1999 | January 1998

Best Science Books for Young Adults

June/July 1997

Smithsonian Magazine

Notable Books for Children

November 1998 | November 1997 | November 1996

Thursday, March 4, 1999
The Children's Literature Web Guide
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/