Literary Awards Finalists 2024: Recommendations
In 2024, I dug more deeply into a year’s literary awards finalists (for a variety of types of books) than I ever had before. And I found lots of wonderful books as a result. In this post, I am sharing my favorite stories that I found on those awards longlists with you.
A friend of mine—who has long loved The Booker Prizes—very understandably (and good-naturedly) laughed at me when I expressed to her my amazement at how many great books I was able to find by mining literary awards longlists. Why did it never occur to me to do this before I started posting on Substack? Of course literary awards finalists are more likely than average to be standout reads!
That all being said, there are some literary awards that I had been paying attention to for a while. And I had enjoyed reading articles about additional literary awards decisions that happened to come my way. Plus, my antenna had often perked up a bit when the summaries for books that I was considering reading mentioned awards the books had won. However, I had never before proactively looked very deeply into a wide range of awards longlists.
If you have not already read my recent companion post in which I list the 2024 announced literary awards (with links to their results) that provide the fodder for this post, you may enjoy doing so now.
I challenged myself to consider almost all of the finalists for all of the awards that I list in that earlier post, even books that I would not otherwise have felt inspired enough to pick up for long enough to read their summaries.
And then after reading—at minimum—their summaries, I allowed myself (metaphorically) to put many of the books back down again. There are some types of books that I do not tend to enjoy. So, I tried to avoid moving forward with—for example—gory books, books about unlikable characters, books with revenge plots, and books about infidelity.
I looked the awards finalists up on Goodreads. Usually, I only continued with books that had an average reader rating of over 3.8 out of 5 stars. And for some types of books that I have historically had a lower success rate with (including children’s books), I usually only continued with books that had an average reader rating of over 4 out of 5 stars.
I know that Goodreads average ratings are an imperfect tool to use, and I am sure that there are books that I excluded that I would have loved had I tried them. However, I often find Goodreads average ratings to be a very helpful rough tool for reducing my potential reading pool to a more manageable size. And hopefully, their use as an extra filter (on top of the awards organizations’ filters and my own) will increase the chance that you will enjoy the books that I recommend in this post.
I also took into consideration persuasive negative and positive reviews that I had run across from a variety of sources when deciding whether to proceed with a book.
I usually only moved forward after that with books that were available for me to borrow using library apps. I created a TBR (To Be Read) list/tag on the Libby library app (as I explained how to do in a previous post containing library app tips) just for 2024 literary awards finalists to help me keep track of them.
Many more books got excluded at the next stage, which was sampling. If a book could not captivate me within an audiobook or ebook sample length, I was likely to remove that book from my TBR list. When it comes to newly released books, I want to read ones written by authors who are clever enough to realize that their books will be judged by their digital samples, and who do not wait until a third of the way through their books to start making things interesting. I also usually can tell quickly whether an author’s writing style is going to rub me the wrong way.
Then came the most fun part, checking the books out from the library and trying them. Amazingly, I managed to get all of the books that it was possible for me to get from my libraries for this project that I wanted to get before the end of 2024. Needless to say, I would not have undertaken a reading project like this back in the dark ages (a handful or so years ago) before it had become easy for me to borrow (and fairly quickly acquire and return) as many new release library books as I want with just a small number of button clicks.
I am a hair-trigger DNFer with lots of literary pet peeves and I DNFed (did not finish) the vast majority of the literary awards finalists that I borrowed.
Nevertheless, I am glad that I tried so many of them. It was often easy to tell why the books had received recognition. Many of them address important topics, are well researched, have interesting perspectives, tell captivating stories, are gorgeously illustrated, or are beautifully written. I learned A LOT from just reading the introductions to so many acclaimed nonfiction books. And I am enjoying having sampled enough of the awards finalists fiction books to have informed opinions when I encounter reviews of them. Occasionally, I run across a persuasive review that addresses why I quickly DNFed a book and inspires me to give that book a second, longer chance.
As I went through the awards longlists slowly, one at a time, over an extended period of months, all of the above process happened in small, manageable, chunks.
I am only recommending here the 2024 literary awards finalists that made it all of way through the above process and that I finished reading and that I would rate at least 3.5 (very good) out of 5 stars. If a book was a solidly good 3 out of 5 stars (or less) read for me, I am not recommending it in this post.
Despite my having mercilessly hacked my way through the initial pool of 2024 awards finalists, there were A LOT to begin with and many of them still succeeded in making it all of the way through my process.
I have organized my recommendations by genre to make it easier for you to skim through this post and focus on the books that are most likely to appeal to you. Within each genre, the books are arranged alphabetically by title.
A number of the books that I recommend below I had already read before I saw their titles longlisted for literary awards. In fact, many of the books that I recommended in my “Bookishly Delightful’s Best Books of 2023” post went on to receive literary awards recognition in 2024. I added a ⭐️ after those titles.
If you click on the links on the below book titles, you will be taken to Goodreads pages for those books where you can see cover images and read summaries and reviews.
For each recommended book, I list the awards recognition it received, but only recognition received during the year 2024 and only from a set group of awards. Many of the books also received additional awards in 2023 (or earlier) and some of the books also received awards from other sources as well.
All of the children’s and YA books recommended below are ones that have enough depth and layers for me to have greatly enjoyed them for myself as an adult reader.
I hope that you enjoy some of these books as much as I did!
Favorite 2024 literary awards finalists
Literary fiction and historical fiction
James (2024) by Percival Everett. A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the character Jim’s perspective, this thought-provoking and well-written book has important things to say.
B&N Book of the Year winner, Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Audiobook finalist, Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction finalist, Kirkus Prize Fiction winner, Libro.fm Bookseller Choice Awards: Audiobook of the Year winner, National Book Award for Fiction winner, The Booker Prize shortlisted, The Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize Fiction shortlisted, and Waterstones Book of the Year shortlisted
My Friends (2024) by Hisham Matar. I LOVE many things about this brilliant and powerful book, including: its bookish, pensive narrator who ruminates about friendship; the author’s gorgeous writing; the story’s riveting insights into the impact of political violence and the experience of emigrating; and the author’s creative articulation of a political philosophy—in part—via a short, strange, captivating allegory about a cat 🐈⬛.
National Book Awards for Fiction finalist, Orwell Prize for Political Fiction winner, and The Booker Prize longlisted
North Woods (2023) by Daniel Mason. This dark book is impressively crafted. It is a collection of interconnected stories (some of which are epistolary) that take place in the same New England home over the course of post-European-settlement American history.
BookTube Prize Fiction finalist, National Book Critics Circle Awards Fiction finalist, and New England Book Awards Fiction winner
Shark Heart: A Love Story (2023) by Emily Habeck. In this unique book, a newly married husband starts transforming into a great white shark.
The Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize Fiction shortlisted
The New Life (2023) by Tom Crewe. In this richly complicated work of British 🇬🇧, historical fiction (loosely inspired by real, historical people); there are six central characters involved in two unconventional marriages. And four of those characters try to change societal attitudes about homosexuality. Be forewarned (as they surprised me), there are lots of messily explicit scenes in this book that you eventually realize have a non-salacious reason for being included. I would have appreciated this book even more if it had been edited down to be about 20% shorter.
Nero Book Award Debut Fiction shortlisted, The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award winner, and The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction shortlisted
Tom Lake (2023) by Ann Patchett. ⭐️ In this lovely story set on a beloved family orchard, a mother shares stories with her daughters about an ex-boyfriend who became famous. The writing is beautiful and Meryl Streep’s narration of the audiobook edition is great.
Audie Award Fiction winner, Audie Award Best Book of the Year finalist, Audie Award Best Fiction Narrator finalist, BookTube Prize Fiction Bronze Medal, Southern Book Prize Fiction winner, and Waterstones Book of the Year shortlisted
Wandering Souls (2023) by Cecile Pin. ⭐️ This captivating and moving story about a Vietnamese 🇻🇳 refugee who eventually makes her way to England 🇬🇧 is a bit of a genre mash-up, with occasional narration by a ghost, and wall-breaking footnotes.
Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction longlisted
Fiction in translation
The Book Censor’s Library (2024) by Bothayna Al-Essa, translated by Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain. If George Orwell’s book 1984 and Jasper Fforde’s book The Eyre Affair could have a literary baby, this book might be the result. Among other things, it is meta; as well as being a book about books and book censorship. It is translated from Arabic and is rich in metaphors, creative imagery, and appreciation for imagination. The author is from Kuwait 🇰🇼.
National Book Award for Translated Literature finalist
“Books could hear, bite, multiply, have sex. They had sinister protocols to take over the world, to colonize and conquer—word by word, line by line, poisoning the world with meaning.” - The Book Censor’s Library
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop (2024) by Hwang Bo-reum. This lovely, cozy, Korean 🇰🇷 story (set at a small, independent bookshop) is about second chances, inspiration, and community.
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Debut Novel finalist, and Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Fiction finalist
Nonfiction
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution (2023) by Cat Bohannon. This well-written, snarky, captivating, woman-focused, evolutionary biology book is full of fascinating tidbits.
BookTube Prize Nonfiction Finalist, Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction longlisted, and Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize shortlisted
Hedgelands: A Wild Wander Around Britain’s Greatest Habitat (2024) by Christopher Hart. This was among the awards longlisted books that I had not heard of before and for which I had not had high expectations before I tried it. But thanks to it (and another recent read, Wilding by Isabella Tree—I read the grown up version of Wilding that was published a while ago because my libraries did not have the 2024 award recognized picture book adaptation), I now know that I have a thing for cozy, British 🇬🇧 books about the environment. This one is well written, idea inspiring, and interesting. It also provides a refreshing new way to think about British history—through the perspective of hedges! What a nice change from yet another history book about British royalty! Although I appreciated this book’s insights into ecology, wildlife, agriculture, sustainability, and British history; I have to admit (as a Jane Austin lover) that while I was listening to the audiobook edition (about a rural landscaping feature that is rare in the US) being narrated in a British accent, I kept imagining Elizabeth Bennet going on long walks near British hedges. And I kept thinking that if she were alive now (and not a fictional character 😆), she would care a lot about the fate of hedges too. I hope that this book inspires the adoption of agricultural hedges—which unlike fences provide a refuge for wildlife and help protect the soil—in other parts of the world where they could be useful too.
The Wainwright Prize Nature Writing longlisted
He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters (2023) by Schuyler Bailar. If, like me, you would like to learn how to become a better-informed ally to trans people; this very well written, moving book is a great place to start. Reading this book is what inspired me to add my pronouns to my Substack profile.
Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction longlisted
Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir (2023) by Lamya H. This very well-written autobiography—full of interesting and thought-provoking anecdotes and observations—is captivating. Its author is a queer, Muslim immigrant.
LAMBDA Literary Awards “Lammy” Lesbian Memoir/Biography finalist, and Stonewall Book Awards: Israel Fishman Nonfiction Award winner
It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People (2024) by Ramani Durvasula, PhD. I found this book to be incredibly enlightening and I suspect that you will too (whether you have had a close relationship with a narcissist, had to interact with one in another sphere of your life, feel like you are being negatively affected by narcissistic public figures, and/or just want to learn how to spot and avoid narcissists). It is well written, informative, and very insightful.
Goodreads Readers Choice Readers’ Favorite Audiobook nominee
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore (2024) by Evan Friss. What a delight this affectionately told book about the history of US bookselling is for book lovers! It is full of accounts of colorful characters.
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite History & Biography winner
The Comfort of Crows (2023) by Margaret Renkl. The next time that you are in the mood for taking a meditative walk in nature or observing nature while seated outdoors, do yourself a favor and listen to the lovely audiobook edition of this book while you do. It contains beautifully written essays about backyard nature, mindfully and thoughtfully observed.
Southern Book Prize Nonfiction winner
Uncle of the Year (2023) by Andrew Renells. I did not know who Broadway star Andrew Renells was before I had a lot of fun listening to him entertainingly narrate his own well-written audiobook full of amusing autobiographical essays.
Audie Award Humor finalist
Mysteries & thrillers
I tend to enjoy mysteries and thrillers that are 1) well written, 2) not gory, and 3) full of interesting characters. I consider fun banter and some humor to be appreciated additions. I also often enjoy historical fiction and speculative mysteries. And while I can enjoy a mystery that is not a page-turner, I prefer both mysteries and thrillers that are.
In the Blink of an Eye (2024) by Jo Callaghan. In this satisfying (and propulsive) British police procedural mystery; a widowed, single mother who is an experienced detective reluctantly teams up with an experimental AI, holographic partner. Together they try to figure out why local young men are going missing. Their banter is fun. I can easily imagine this near future, science fiction mystery inspiring a British TV detective series. 🍿
ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger winner (“for the best crime novel by a first-time author”), Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year winner
Listen for the Lie (2024) by Amy Tintera. Be sure to get this one as an audiobook as it is a wonderful listening experience. True crime podcast episodes are interspersed with chapters narrated by an emotionally complicated narrator who is suffering from partial amnesia and does not know whether she committed a crime. The book, which is very well written; has an irreverent, somewhat playful tone. It is not gory, but it is propulsive. And there is a little romance in it too.
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Audiobook finalist, and Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller finalist
Strange Sally Diamond (2023) by Liz Nugent. I wish I had never started this book as it turned out to be too dark for me personally 🫣, however it is super bingeable and impressively crafted. If you have a higher tolerance for reading about disturbing crimes than I do, you are likely to think that this very well-written, propulsive book is great. It is narrated by a complicated, captivating, neurodivergent narrator.
Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year shortlisted
The Last Devil to Die (2023) by Richard Osman. ⭐️ This is the most recent book in a charmingly written series about a group of British 🇬🇧 senior citizen detectives. The characters are great, their adventures are fun, and parts of the story are touching. It is a treat, but start at the beginning of the series with The Thursday Murder Club.
The British Book Awards Crime and Thriller shortlisted
The Last One at the Wedding (2024) by Jason Rekulak. I enjoyed binging this well-written, propulsive, non-gory book. It is narrated in the first-person from the perspective of the white, American father (who works as a UPS driver) of an upwardly mobile adult daughter who is about to marry into a wealthy, shady family. The characters and the complicated father-daughter relationships are captivating. And I enjoyed the Boston and New Hampshire settings. I also enjoyed how the narration is not completely reliable. However, there is a lot to analyze about the way the male author of this book portrays female characters (which could provide fodder for interesting book club discussions).
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller nominee
The Tainted Cup (2024) by Robert Jackson Bennett (see the summary below in the science fiction & fantasy section)
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (2023) by Jessie Q. Sutanto. Although the mystery in this book is not propulsive; its unexpected, older, amateur detective (who is colorfully portrayed) is a delightful character.
Audie Award Mystery winner, Barry Award Best Paperback Original nominee, and Edgar Allan Poe Award Paperback Original winner
Science fiction & fantasy
“A Short Biography of a Conscious Chair/Breve Biografia de uma Cadeira Lúcida,” Samovar (2023) by
. This unique, bittersweet novelette is narrated by a chair. The chair shares its observations about the complicated relationships of the family that owns it. A grandfather full of love and regrets is a central character.You can read the novelette here for for free.
Ignyte Awards Outstanding Novelette finalist, and Nebula Awards Best Novelette finalist
Renan Bernardo also writes the Substack Renan Bernardo's Hyperspace of Words.
Cassandra in Reverse (2023) by Holly Smale. This book has a unique spin on the time loop trope. Its neurodivergent narrator makes use of the time loop in which she is stuck to try to better understand and change the relationships with which she had been struggling. Among other things, she tries to figure out how to prevent her boyfriend from wanting to break up with her.
Audie Award Science Fiction winner
In the Blink of an Eye (2024) by Jo Callaghan (see the summary above in the mysteries & thrillers section)
Legends & Lattes (2022) by Travis Baldree. In this slice of life, feel-good, cozy fantasy (which already seems to be considered a classic in its microgenre); a recently retired warrior orc opens a cafe and finds a little sapphic romance. Its author is a well-known audiobook narrator, and he narrates his own books extremely well.
Pacific Northwest Book Awards shortlisted
LeVar Burton Reads podcast. Each episode of this wonderful podcast contains a high-quality short story (usually speculative), captivatingly narrated by actor LeVar Burton. The stories are written by a variety of talented authors. Unfortunately, no new, additional episodes are planned. 😢 However, you can still enjoy the old episodes.
If you are new to the podcast, I recommend that you start with my favorite (of the episodes that I have listened to so far) standout, moving, short story/episode: “Immersive Remix: ‘Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu.’” 4/11/22
Ignyte Awards Outstanding Fiction Podcast winner
Maybe This Time (2024) by Cara Bastone (see the summary below in the romance section)
Starter Villain (2023) by John Scalzi. ⭐️ The likable, “normal guy” narrator of this cleverly entertaining book ends up spending time in a Bond-like supervillain lair and becoming friends with hyperintelligent spy cats 🐈⬛🐈⬛. Wil Wheaton’s narration of the audiobook edition is great.
Alex Award winner (“for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences”), Hugo Award Best Novel finalist, Locus Award Science Fiction Novel finalist
System Collapse (2023) by Martha Wells. Narrated by a robot 🤖 (who is among my all-time favorite fictional characters), this book is a very good (although not the best) addition to the wonderful Murderbot Diaries series. Murderbot experiences personal growth, platonic relationship growth, and thrilling action. And as always in this series, the writing is excellent, and the audiobook narration is great. If it interests you, start the series at its beginning with All Systems Red.
Wells declined a Hugo Best Novel nomination for this book.
Locus Awards Science Fiction Novel winner
The Road to Roswell (2023) by Connie Willis. A ragtag group of interesting characters stumble into going on an entertaining roadtrip with an alien who looks like a tumbleweed plant. The very talented author of this book added in a little romantic comedy too.
Locus Awards Science Fiction Novel finalist
The Spellshop (2024) by Sarah Beth Durst. In this super cozy fantasy; a socially awkward, bookish librarian and her nerdy, sentient spider plant sidekick metaphorically blossom (and find a little romance/companionship) after relocating to a cooperative little island community.
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Romantasy finalist (although Goodreads put this book in its romantasy category, I would describe it as a cozy fantasy with a little romance that is likely to appeal to readers who enjoyed Legends & Lattes)
The Tainted Cup (2024) by Robert Jackson Bennett. This book has fascinatingly colorful characters and is set in an interesting fantasy world. The central mystery part of it, unfortunately, is not propulsive. However, the banter between the detective and her assistant is absolutely delightful. There is also a little male male romance.
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Fantasy finalist
The Year Without Sunshine (2023) by Naomi Kritzer. This wonderful novelette was my favorite speculative work that I read in 2024. Very surprisingly, it is post-apocalyptic story that is super cozy. It is set in a suburban Minnesotan neighborhood after an unexplained catastrophic event. And the neighbors respond to the situation by cooperating with, and being kind to, each other. 🥰 The narrator of this very well-written story is someone who you would want to have as a neighbor and friend.
Romance
Note: there was not a major US romance-only literary award in 2024 because of controversies.
10 Things That Never Happened (2023) by Alexis Hall. ⭐️ This delightful, very well-written, male male, holiday, British 🇬🇧 romance features the enemies-to-lovers trope and the fake amnesia trope, as well as great banter. The characters are emotionally layered and interesting. There is also a Pride and Prejudice-like, reluctant, declaration of interest. The audiobook narration is great too.
Audie Award Romance finalist, Australian Romance Readers Award Favourite Romantic Comedy finalist, Australian Romance Readers Award Best Banter in a Romance finalist, and Australian Romance Readers Award Favourite Couple in a Romance finalist
Funny Story (2024) by
. This very well-written, very enjoyable romance features layered characters, the fake dating trope, the roommates-to-lovers trope, and a librarian main character.Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Audiobook winner, Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Romance winner, and Libro.fm Bookseller Choice Awards: Read to Make You Fall in Love With Audiobooks winner
Emily Henry also writes the Substack Emily’s Grocery List.
Just for the Summer (2024) by Abby Jimenez. This very well-written romance features layered, likable main characters who are planning to date just for the summer and who go on adorable dates. It is set in Minnesota, often lakeside. And it has emotional depth as well as being fun.
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Audiobook finalist, and Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Romance finalist
Maybe This Time (2024) by Cara Bastone. What stands out the most about this chaste, speculative rom com; besides its excellent audiobook production, is its fun banter and its unique spin on the Cyrano de Bergerac trope.
The audiobook is currently available in the Audible Plus catalogue.
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Audiobook nominee
Romantic Comedy (2023) by Curtis Sittenfeld. ⭐️ A female comedy writer for an SNL-like show and a famous male singer develop a relationship via emails during the height of the COVID pandemic before they decide to spend time together during the lockdown. It is well written and enjoyable.
Australian Romance Readers Award Favourite Contemporary Romance finalist, Australian Romance Readers Awards Best Banter in a Romance finalist
The Rom-Commers (2024) by Catherine Center. You can almost feel the author of this book winking at you 😉 when she has her main characters (who are both writers) discuss romance tropes while she delightfully plays with the same romance tropes with their interactions. Plus, it is enjoyable when the narrator breaks a wall to speak directly to readers. The banter between the two main characters is fun as well. Unfortunately, the narrator is sometimes frustratingly obtuse, manipulative, and unlikable; and not all of her love interest’s behavior is believable. Fortunately though, the enjoyable parts of this book outweigh its frustrating parts.
Goodreads Choice Awards Readers’ Favorite Romance nominee
Comics
How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone (2023) by Alex Norris. This lovely book offers kind and wise relationship advice for a variety of kinds of love using entertaining illustrations. Reading it feels like getting a hug. It could be a great gift for someone grappling with a difficult relationship or breakup.
Eisner Awards Best Humor Publication nominee
Macanudo: Optimism Is for the Brave (2023) by Liniers. This intellectual, clever, imaginative, playful comic features a young girl, a cat 🐈⬛, penguins 🐧🐧, wizards, witches, lots of literary references, and a love of nature. It is a treat. Its creator is Argentinian 🇦🇷.
Eisner Awards Best Humor Publication nominee
(Turn on auto-translated subtitles in the settings for the above video if you do not understand Spanish.)
The Out Side: Trans & Nonbinary Comics (2023) compiled by The Kao,
, and Min Christensen. This anthology of short, autobiographical comics about trans and nonbinary experiences is both informative and moving.Eisner Awards Best Anthology nominee
David Daneman also writes the Substack David’s Substack.
Manga
Okinawa (2023) by Susumu Higa. These graphic, historical fiction short stories were inspired by real people and events on the island of Okinawa 🇯🇵 during and after WWII. They are thoughtful, humane, and very interesting.
I also recommended this book in my post “Graphic Novels, Manga, and Picture Books About Japanese, Japanese American, and Japanese Canadian Individuals’ World War II Experiences.”
Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction longlisted, American Manga Awards Best New Edition of Classic Manga nominee, Freeman Book Awards Young Adult/Middle & High School Graphic Novel of Note, The Harvey Awards’ Best Manga nominee
Saura and the House of Monsters Vol. 1 (2023) by Hidenori Yamaji. If you are a visual art appreciator who is also a fan of cozy fantasies, slice of life stories, and home renovation TV shows; this is the manga for you. It contains little plot, but it provides a series of impressively detailed and imaginative illustrations of home renovations for monsters.
American Manga Awards Best New Manga nominee
Webtoon
The Remarried Empress (on-going) by Alphatart and Sumpul on the Webtoon app. Gorgeously illustrated, this on-going fantasy story is about court politics. A smart, competent, likable female protagonist out-schemes viper pools full of schemers. The story, which contains a little magic and a little romance, is very enjoyable. However, I am not fully caught up with the most recent season.
You can either read it on the Webtoon app or in graphic novel form.
World Webtoons Awards winner
Graphic novels
A Boy Named Rose (2023) by Gaëlle Geniller. Mostly set in Paris 🇫🇷; this sweet, historical fiction, slice of life story is about a young man who performs in drag at a burlesque cabaret in 1920. The illustrations are lovely, the characters are nice, and nothing more traumatic than stage fright happens. There is a little closed door, male male romance.
It is currently available from some US libraries via the Comics Plus app.
Eisner Awards Best U.S. Edition of International Material nominee, and The Harvey Awards’ Best International Book nominee
Memento Mori (2023) by Tiitu Takalo. In this powerful autobiography, a Finnish 🇫🇮 graphic novelist recounts what it was like to experience a cerebral hemorrhage and how it affected her as a human being and as an artist. She uses color very effectively to enhance her storytelling.
Eisner Awards Best Graphic Memoir nominee
The Horizon, Vol. 1 (2023) by JH. In this very dark, 💥 mind-blowing story; two children try to survive a violent, post-apocalyptic situation.
I read this story years ago as a webtoon on the Webtoon app, where it can still be found. Or you can read it in its new graphic novel format.
Eisner Awards Best US Edition of International Material—Asia nominee
YA graphic novels
Brownstone (2024) by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia. In this captivating story, an American teenager who does not speak Spanish meets and spends the summer with (and helps renovate a brownstone with) her immigrant father from Guatemala 🇬🇹 who does not speak much English. A sweet father-daughter relationship slowly develops between them. It is also a coming-of-age story. And it grapples with gentrification.
Harvey Awards’ Best Young Adult Book nominee
Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam (2023) by Thien Pham. ⭐️ This is a captivating and moving autobiography about the experience of immigrating to the US from Vietnam 🇻🇳 (via a boat out of Vietnam, and then through a refugee camp) as a child.
Carter G. Woodson Book Award Secondary Level winner, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalist, Eisner Award Best Graphic Memoir winner
Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy (2023) by Faith Erin Hicks. In this very pleasing Canadian 🇨🇦, YA, graphic novel romance; a likable, tall, socially awkward, hockey-loving girl who has been bullied starts dating a bisexual, drama-loving guy who has been bullied. They both have familial difficulties. It is a friends-to-lovers trope romance. Satisfyingly, their relationship is healthy and supportive.
The Doug Wright Award for Best Kids’ Book nominee
Homebody (2024) by Theo Parish. In this gently and kindly informative, autobiographical, British 🇬🇧, coming of age graphic novel; the author recounts a winding journey towards better self-understanding that led to a decision to come out as nonbinary. The illustrations are very nice.
The Harvey Awards’ Best Young Adult Book nominee
Layers (2023) by Pénélope Bagieu, translated by Montana Kane. In this captivating French 🇫🇷 graphic autobiography; the author shares anecdotes about her childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood. She also shares anecdotes about her cat 🐈⬛. She experienced challenging personal growth. Her stories are cleverly and amusingly told and illustrated.
The Harvey Awards’ Best International Book nominee
Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story (2023) by Sarah Myer. A queer, art-loving, Korean American adoptee living in a rural community in the US experiences racism, bullying, cruelty, and mental health challenges. Thankfully, she has loving parents. Unfortunately, her mother has cancer. This story is autobiographical and is very moving.
Eisner Award Best Publication for Teens nominee, and International Literacy Association New Voices in Children’s and Young Adult Literature Awards Young Adult Nonfiction winner
Middle grade graphic novels
A First Time for Everything (2023) by Dan Santat. This story is a quintessential boy’s coming of age story, extremely well told and illustrated, by the talented artist Dan Santat. It takes place during a middle school group trip to Europe and is an absolute delight.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Eisner Award Best Graphic Memoir nominee, and Golden Kite Middle Grade Fiction Honor Book
Cross My Heart and Never Lie (2023) by Nora Dåsnes, translated by Matt Bagguley. This charmingly written and illustrated, sapphic, Norwegian 🇳🇴, coming-of-age, fictional diary + texting dialogues is a treat. The narrator is grappling with a maturing body, changing friendships, and her first crush. Her sweet relationship with her supportive single father helps her navigate it all.
Stonewall Book Awards: Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award winner
El Deafo (graphic novel 2014, audiobook 2023) by Cece Bell. This is a standout, incredibly special, autobiographical, graphic account of what it was like to be severely hearing impaired as a kid trying to navigate friendships, and how a hearing aid can provide almost super-hero like powers. There is also the 2024 award-winning audiobook adaptation and an animated adaptation (on Apple TV).
I read this a while ago in its wonderful, original form as a graphic novel. The new audiobook adaptation very effectively conveys the hearing impairment experience, and it is easy to understand why it is award winning. But I still prefer the fun illustrations in the graphic novel, which is why I listed this book in this section.
Odyssey Award winner (best English-language audiobook produced for children and young adults in the US)
Hoops (2022) by Matt Travers. Based on a true story and set in Indiana in 1976, this book is about a brand new, girls, high school basketball team that started with little support, overcame sexist obstacles, and won a state championship. It is a well-illustrated, captivating, underdog story.
NCTE Charlotte Huck Award® Outstanding Fiction for Children Recommended Book
How It All Ends (2024) by Emma Hunsinger. This delightful coming-of-age story about Tara, a 13-year-old girl who starts high school a year early, is often laugh-out-loud funny. Tara grapples with not feeling old enough for all sorts of high school situations that she encounters, as well as having her first crush on a girl. There are lots of amusing high school anecdotes in this story for adults to enjoy nostalgically, and in which younger readers can feel seen and feel comforted.
New England Book Awards Middle Grade finalist
Parachute Kids: A Graphic Novel (2023) by Betty C. Tang. Three Taiwanese 🇹🇼 siblings have to fend for themselves in the US, staying illegally to attend school, while their father works in Taiwan to pay their bills, and their mother gets temporary visas to visit them when she can.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Barnes and Nobel Childrens & YA Awards shortlisted, Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature Honor Book, and a Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award book
Watership Down: The Graphic Novel (2023) by Richard Adams, adapted and illustrated by James Sturm and Joe Sutphin. This is an excellent graphic adaptation of the classic rabbit 🐇 adventure story.
Eisner Awards Best Adaptation from Another Medium winner, Ohio Book Award Middle Grade & Young Adult Literature winner, and The Harvey Awards’ Book of the Year nominee
We Are Big Time (2024) by Hena Khan, illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui. Inspired by a true story; this very well-illustrated, captivatingly written graphic novel is about about an all-Muslim girls’ high school basketball team in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Told from a first-person perspective by a freshman who has recently moved to town, it realistically captures the feeling of what it is like to be on a high school sports team for the first time.
a Good Housekeeping’s Kids’ Book Awards Graphic Novels winner
Middle grade
The Cricket War (2023) by Tho Pham and Sandra McTavish. Based on author Tho Pham’s real story, this historical fiction, middle grade story is moving. It is also a thrilling adventure. The narrator recounts how he fled from Vietnam 🇻🇳 when he was young as a boat person, without his siblings or parents with him to aid him on his journey. He survived perilous conditions at sea, pirates, and refugee camp thugs (among other dangers). The conclusion is quite touching.
Delaware Diamond Elementary Grades 3-5 nominee, Freeman Book Award Young Adult/Middle School Literature winner, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People shortlisted, and Jean Little First-Novel Award winner
Middle grade novels in verse
Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango (2023). This story about a Puerto Rican American foster child whose aunt is trying to be there for her is very heartwarming. She has a new friend who has sickle cell anemia. And a dog 🐕🦺 plays an important role in the story.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, and Belpré Children’s Author Honor Book
Warrior Girl (2023) by Carmen Tafolla. This captivating story is narrated by a spunky, likable, young, Chicana narrator who loves to write, experiences racism, has a father who gets deported, experiences the COVID pandemic, and becomes interested in activism.
Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Works for Middle Readers winner
Middle grade nonfiction
The Mona Lisa Vanishes (2023) by Nicholas Day. I was very resistant to trying this book (mostly because middle grade nonfiction is one of the few genres that tends not to work well for me), despite having seen and heard a number of glowing reviews of it. It was not until the second time that I saw it get 2024 awards recognition that I finally broke down and tried it. And I am glad that I did. It is delightful. It is the true story of the theft of the Mona Lisa painting from the Louvre. And it is told in an entertaining and informative way. It is full of famous and wonderfully colorful characters, as well as interesting historical tidbits. It is a quick, fun heist story and art history lesson. And it concludes thoughtfully.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award winner, and The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Nonfiction and Poetry nonfiction winner
Beginning chapter book
Henry, Like Always (2023) by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by
. ⭐️ Henry is on the autism spectrum and initially is not happy about this week’s upcoming, uncomfortably noisy change to his classroom’s schedule; until he finds his own way to enjoy it. This is a thoughtful, sweet, gently triumphant story about a likable, layered character. And the illustrations are very nice.Schneider Family Book Award winner (for books that embody an artistic expression of disability experience), and Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book
Mika Song also writes the Substack Drawing While Talking: Mika Song.
Picture books: fiction
A Day With No Words (2023) by
, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove. In this wonderfully illustrated, moving picture book; readers get to see the world from the perspective of a mute, autistic, African American boy over the course of a single day. The book features a lovely mother-son relationship. It was written by an autistic mother of two autistic sons.CLEL Bell Award (TALK category) winner
Tiffany Hammond also writes the Substack Fidgets and Fries.
April’s Garden (2023) by Isla McGuckin, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. In this hopeful picture book filled with lovely illustrations, a mother and daughter initially find a temporary safe house after fleeing an unnamed trauma. Gardening helps sadness and frustration start to fade. And after they find a new home, both they and their garden blossom.
Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlisted
Beneath (2023) by Cori Doerrfeld. This absolutely lovely picture book features a sweet grandfather-grandchild relationship, and a nature walk. It teaches the importance of thinking about what is beneath visible surfaces, both scientifically and psychologically. Wonderful illustrations depict what is hidden from sight. It is kind and touching.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, and Minnesota Book Awards for Children’s Literature winner
Benita and the Night Creatures (2023) by Mariana Llanos, illustrated by Cocoretto. In this book about books; a courageous, bookish girl protagonist is not scared of monsters. She just wants to read. It features Peruvian 🇵🇪 lore and vibrant illustrations. It is good, bookish fun.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Belpré Children’s Author Honor Book, Américas Award Commended title, and CLEL Bell Award shortlisted (READ category)
Buffalo Fluffalo (2024) by Bess Kalb, illustrated by Erub Kraan. This is a cute story (written to appeal to very young readers) about a huffy buffalo who is hugged and comforted by other animals after its hidden secret is revealed.
a Good Housekeeping’s Kids’ Book Awards Picture Book winner
Building a Dream (2023) by Darshana Khiani, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. Based on a true, inspirational story and set in a picturesque Thai 🇹🇭 village built over water, some boys with a lot of gumption who are determined to play soccer build a floating soccer field for themselves.
Delaware Diamonds Elementary nominee
Cape (2023) by Kevin Johnson, illustrated by Kitt Thomas. ⭐️ This one completely wowed me. I highly recommend it for children and adults grieving the loss of a loved one. The story has a very moving twist on a superhero trope.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, and International Literacy Association New Voices in Children’s and Young Adult Literature Awards Primary Fiction Honor Book
Evergreen (2023) by Matthew Cordell. ⭐️ A very timid squirrel overcomes her fears and goes on an epic adventure in order to help an ill loved one in this absolutely lovely picture book.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book
Fox Has a Problem (2023) by Corey R. Tabor. An anthropomorphic fox’s enjoyable shenanigans are very pleasingly illustrated. In this story, a kite gets stuck in a tree and the fox gets some help.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, and Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? (2023) by
, illustrated by . Created by a powerhouse author-illustrator combination, this charmingly told and illustrated picture book grapples with an age-old Christmas question.Waterstones Book of the Year shortlisted
These authors jointly write the Substack Looking at Picture Books.
If You Run Out of Words (2024) by Felicita Sala. This is a sweet story about what a loving father would be willing to do for his imaginative daughter. The book’s colorful illustrations are full of captivating details.
a Good Housekeeping’s Kids’ Book Awards Picture Book winner
Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden (2024) by Christy Mandin. Charmingly illustrated, this picture book about a little girl’s uniquely spooky garden celebrates nonconformity.
a Good Housekeeping’s Kids’ Book Awards Picture Book winner
My Baba’s Garden (2023) by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith. Inspired by the author’s childhood, this picture book is about a boy’s sweet relationship with his Polish 🇵🇱 grandmother (a World War II survivor) and about her garden. The illustrations are lovely.
Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book
My Grandfather’s Song (2023) by Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huynh Kim Liên. In this captivating picture book, a child and his grandfather live in harmony with nature in the distant past in Vietnam 🇻🇳.
Freeman Book Award Children’s Literature winner
My Powerful Hair (2023) by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Steph Littlebird. This is an empowering, indigenous picture book about self-expression.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Carter G. Woodson Book Award Elementary Level winner, and NCTE Charlotte Huck Award® Outstanding Fiction for Children Honor Book
Out of the Blue (2023) by Robert Tregoning, illustrated by Stef Murphy. This dystopian story teaches children to celebrate nonconformity. A little boy secretly loves the color yellow, even though everything around him is blue. By the end of the book (thanks to the help of his father), however, he has learned to “Let YOUR colors SHINE and love whatever makes you YOU!”
Polari Children’s and YA prize shortlisted
Our Pool (2023) by Lucy Ruth Cummins. This delightful book is about summer vibes and urban poolside scenes. The illustrations are absolutely wonderful, and the colors are vibrant.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Book, and Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award shortlisted
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea (2023) by Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrated by Todd Stewart. I love this book! It is visually breathtaking. The illustrations are wonderful, sophisticated, and unique. They display a captivating use of color. And the book is well written. Set near and on Lake Superior, it is a celebration of nature and spending time outdoors in the winter.
Governor General’s Literary Awards Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books (English-language) winner, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award shortlisted, and TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award winner
The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish (2023) by Chloe Savage. This picture book, set in the Arctic, is a visual delight.
Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlisted, and Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Best Illustrated Book winner
The Skull (2023) by
. ⭐️ Although I do not normally read horror stories, I am very glad that I read this highly acclaimed picture book one. It is wonderful!an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, and Audie Award Young Listener winner (although I read it as a picture book)
Jon Klassen’s personal Substack is Jon Klassen Things.
The Tree and the River (2023) by Aaron Becker. ⭐️ This is a powerful work of art that just happens to be in the form of a wordless picture book. It contains a warning about the potential for human-caused environmental catastrophe and a seed of hope about the resilience of nature.
Carnegie Medal for Illustration winner
Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends (2023) by
. Charmingly told and illustrated, this story is about a worm and caterpillar who remain friends despite having differences (as well as their similarities).an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, and Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book
Kaz Windness also has a Substack called Kaz’s Substack.
Picture books: nonfiction
A Llama Is Not an Alpaca: And Other Mistaken Animal Identities (2023) by Karen Jameson, illustrated by Lorna Scobie. With the help of cute illustrations, this enjoyably informative book teaches how to distinguish similar seeming animals (like toads vs. frogs and crocodiles vs. alligators).
Delaware Diamond Elementary Grades K-2 nominee
Door by Door: How Sarah McBride Became America’s First Openly Transgender Senator (2023) by Meeg Pincus, illustrated by
Meridth McKean Gimbel. This illustrated biography was written after Sarah McBride became a Senator in the state of Delaware’s legislature, but before she became the first transgender person (in 2024) to win a seat in the US Congress. It successfully situates her squarely in American political tradition.
LAMBDA Literary Awards “Lammy” LGBTQ+ Children’s Books finalist
Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons (2023) by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by
. This sweet, true story is about a loon couple who adopt a baby duckling.Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book
Alexandria Neonakis also has a Substack called Alexandria Neonakis' Sketchbook.
Finding Papa (2023) by Angela Phram Krans, illustrated by Thi Bui. In this book, the author recounts the perilous journey that she undertook in the 80’s as a young child with her mother to escape Vietnam 🇻🇳 by boat. During their journey, she was always looking for her papa, who had taken the same path towards the US first. Her moving, true adventure is filled with yearning for her father and closeness with her courageous mother.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Picture Book Honor book
Fungi Grows (2023) by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Diana Sudyka. ⭐️ The fungi in this nonfiction book about fungi are gorgeously illustrated. It is a visual delight. And the writing about the fungi is scientific and not juvenile.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, and The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Nonfiction and Poetry Honor Book
Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust (2023) by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Amy June Bates. This is a true story about how a toy duck was used during World War II to help smuggle forged identity papers for Jewish refugees.
a Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award book, and Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalist
How Birds Sleep (2023) by Sarah Pedry and David Obuchowski. The illustrations in this bedtime picture book about how birds sleep are lovely. The book is informative, captivating, and cozy.
Delaware Diamond Elementary Grades K-2 nominee
How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee (2023) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison. In 1936, MacNolia Cox became the first African American girl to win the Akron, Ohio spelling bee. She then went on to compete in the National Spelling Bee where she encountered discrimination.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Carter G. Woodson Book Award Elementary Level Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, a Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award book, and Ohio Book Award About Ohio/An Ohioan finalist
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider (2023) by
Jessica Lanan. Visually captivating and substantively interesting, this picture book provides a window into a day in the life of a backyard jumping spider.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Golden Kite Picture Book Illustration Honor Book, International Literacy Association New Voices in Children’s and Young Adult Literature Awards Primary Nonfiction winner, a Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award book, Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Honor Book
Kaboom! A Volcano Erupts (2023) by Jessica Kulekjian, illustrated by
. This cute and informative picture book features an anthropomorphic volcano and fun illustrations.Delaware Diamond Elementary Grades K-2 24 nominee
Zoe Si also has a Substack called Zoe Sees.
Lion on the Inside: How One Girl Changed Basketball (2023) by Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir with Judith Henderson, illustrated by Katherine Ahmed. Unjustly, Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir was not allowed to play professional basketball because of her religious beliefs. But thanks to her efforts, other hijab-wearing women who follow in her footsteps can now play. This picture book tells her inspiring story.
Delaware Diamond Elementary Grades 3-5 nominee
Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock (2023) by Jesus Trejo, illustrated by
. This delightful story, written by a Mexican American comedian about helping his father with landscaping work when he was a boy, is delightfully illustrated too; making it doubly delightful. The vibrant illustrations are a festive feast for the eyes.an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, Américas Award Commended title, Belpré Children’s Author Honor Book, Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Book, Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Book, and NCTE Charlotte Huck Award® Outstanding Fiction for Children Recommeded Book
Eliza Kinkz also has a Substack called Eliza’s Kinkz's Casa Club.
Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children on the Czech Kindertransport (2023) by Caren Stelson, illustrated by Selina Alko. ⭐️ This very moving, true story is told from the perspective of Jewish survivors who escaped the holocaust as children on the eve of World War II by boarding special refugee train cars out of Czechoslovakia 🇨🇿🇸🇰that took them towards safety in England 🇬🇧. This story is also about the heroic man who organized the endeavor and saved their lives.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, National Jewish Book Award Children’s Picture Book finalist, and NCTE Orbis Pictus Award® for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Recommended Book
Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland (2023) by Ævar pór Benediktsson, illustrated by Anne Wilson. This is a charming account of the time the author’s grandfather was stranded on a small, Icelandic 🇮🇸 island being formed by an active volcano.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book
The Bees of Notre Dame (2023) by Meghan P. Browne, illustrated by
. Set in Paris 🇫🇷 at Notre Dame, this charmingly illustrated rooftop bee story is lovely.NCTE Orbis Pictus Award® for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Recommended Book
E. B. Goodale also has a Substack called A Tiny Room.
The Indestructible Tom Crean: Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic (2023) by Jennifer Thermes. This book contains true stories about interesting Antarctic exploration adventures.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book, and Bank Street College of Education: The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award Younger Reader winner (inspirational nonfiction)
The Secret Elephant: The True Story of an Extraordinary Wartime Friendship (2023) by Ellan Rankin. Based on events that took place in Ireland 🇮🇪 during World War II, this sweet (and sweetly illustrated) picture book is narrated by a young elephant who is scared of wartime bombings and feels comforted when one of the first female zookeepers at the Belfast Zoo secretly takes her home at night.
Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Best Illustrated Book shortlisted
This Is a Story (2023) by John Schu, illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Introducing the joys of books and reading to young readers, this delightfully illustrated and written, touching book speaks directly to my bookish heart. It is wonderful!
CLEL Bell Award winner (READ category)
“Here are some more readers with minds full of questions … with ideas to explore … with hopes for the future … with imaginations ready to spark. They all have hearts that can grow … endlessly.” — This Is a Story
Tumble (2023) by Adriana Hernández Bergstrom. Tumbleweeds are just cool, and this visually lovely picture book about them is both informative and interesting.
an American Library Association’s Notable Children's Book
We Are Starlings: Inside the Mesmerizing Magic of a Murmuration (2023) by Robert Furrow and Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Marc Martin. This very nice, informative picture book about starlings (a type of bird that flocks together in a wondrous way) features lovely illustrations and a little drama.
a Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award book
Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story About an Amazing Swimmer (2023) by Lynne Cox, illustrated by Richard Jones. This interesting picture book is about a real sea turtle that went on an incredibly long swim.
a Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award book
You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce! The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce (2023) by Chiquita Mullins Lee and Carmella Van Vleet, illustrated by Jennifer Mack-Watkins. This is an interesting biography of folk artist Elijah Pierce.
Ohio Book Award Juvenile Literature finalist
Yukie’s Island: My Family’s World War II Story (2023) by Yukie Kimura, Kōdo Kimura, and Steve Sheinkin, illustrated by Kōdo Kimura. This true story illustrates the World War II wartime perspective of a Japanese 🇯🇵 child who lived on an isolated, tiny island at the time.
I also recommended this book in my post “Graphic Novels, Manga, and Picture Books About Japanese, Japanese American, and Japanese Canadian Individuals’ World War II Experiences.”
Freeman Book Award Children’s Literature Book of Note
Wow! I'm so impressed with this in-depth analysis of so many amazing books! Bravo!!
And gracias for giving our book, and my substack a shout out!
Thanks, D, for giving The Bees of Notre-Dame a nod! This is an amazing post, and your depth and breadth of reading and analysis blew my mind. All best for 2025!