The Book Lists
The Best Children's Books of the Year: One of the most comprehensive annotated book lists for children, aged infant-14. The Committee reviews over 4000 titles each year for accuracy and literary quality and considers their emotional impact on children. It chooses the best 600 books, both fiction and nonfiction, which it lists according to age and category.
Books to Read Aloud for Children of All Ages: Published in 2003, this popular annotated list contains over 400 classic and new titles of both fiction and nonfiction.
Teen books: The committee has chosen several excellent books that are appropriate for mature teenagers. This list is posted exclusively on this website.
The Awards
The Committee gives three awards annually: The Josette Frank Award (fiction), the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award (nonfiction) and the Claudia Lewis Award (poetry).
Young Reviewers
Young reviewers from all over the country, ages 5 to 15, read and evaluate many of the books considered. Their reviews are carefully considered in the Committee's deliberations.
Reading Aloud
The Committee strongly recommends the tradition of reading aloud to children both in classroom situations and at home. A love of literature and sharing of books can become a lifelong habit, especially when nurtured at a young age.
The Committee's Monthly Pick: April 2008
Before John Was a Jazz Giant:
A Song of John Coltrane
by Carole Boston Weatherford
illustrated by Sean Qualls
Published by Henry Holt
The great musician transformed the many sounds he heard as a child into music. A creative look with acrylic, collage and pencil illustrations.
(ages 6-9)
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