bluesyemre

• The breakdown of this year’s list reflects the realities of the publishing world—YA continues to dominate in terms of output and sheer heft, but there was a noticeable uptick in the numbers of fine middle grade novels. There were several terrific picture books with engaging characters and dynamic art. Several novels were set in well-delineated fantastical worlds, yet quite a few focused on young people grappling with war and political upheaval in the real world, in real time. Humorous titles flourished, such as Polly Horvath’s One Year in Coal Harbor, Adam Gidwitz’s In a Glass Grimmly, and Lemony Snicket’s Who Could That Be at This Hour? It was a stellar year for nonfiction; we found books that were well researched, beautifully designed, and thoughtfully presented, from exciting explorations of space, natural history, and anthropology, to a riveting account of the 1963 Birmingham Children’s March and a magnificently illustrated version of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. These books are perfect for sparking children’s interest and imagination and to supplement many aspects of the curriculum.

http://j.mp/U6PpN3