We thought that a great way to close out our 2020 blog would be to celebrate some of our faculty whose books have shown up on the “Best of 2020” book lists. We’ve been so uplifted by their support of our faculty during this difficult year!
This is not even close to a comprehensive list, so we’d like to offer our congratulations and admiration for all the creatives on all the lists–and also for everyone in our wonderful community who are not on the lists. We’re so grateful to be part of your lives!
In no particular order:
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Overground Railroad
Illustrated by James Ransome
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Picture Book
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
Leaving Lymon
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
Meg Medina
Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away
Illustrated by Sonia Sanchez
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Picture Book
Publishers Weekly Best Books 2020, Picture Book
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Picture Book
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
Lauren Castillo
Our Friend Hedgehog
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Chapter Book
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
Renée Watson
Ways to Make Sunshine
Illustrated by Nina Mata
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
Publishers Weekly Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
New York Times 25 Best Children’s Books 2020
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
Traci Chee
We Are Not Free
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Young Adult
Publishers Weekly Best Books 2020, Young Adult
Time Magazine 10 Best YA and Children’s Books of 2020
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Young Adult
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
Lamar Giles
Not So Pure and Simple
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Young Adult
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Young Adult
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
Carole Boston Weatherford
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul
Illustrated by Frank Morrison
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Nonfiction
BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom
Illustrated by Michele Wood
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Picture Book
Beauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Young Adult
Mike Curato
Flamer
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Graphic Novel
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Young Adult
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
Horn Book Fanfare 2020
Varian Johnson
Twins
Illustrated by Shannon Wright
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Graphic Novel
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
NPR Best Books 2020
Horn Book Fanfare 2020
Nikki Grimes
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures
Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Publishers Weekly Best Books 2020, Picture Book
Daniel Nayeri
Everything Sad is Untrue
Publishers Weekly Best Books 2020, Young Adult
New York Times 25 Best Children’s Books 2020
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
NPR Best Books 2020
Linda Sue Park
Prairie Lotus
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
NPR Best Books 2020
Lucy Ruth Cummins
From Ed’s to Ned’s
Written by Gideon Sterer
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Picture Book
Colleen AF Venable
The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom
Illustrated by Lian Cho
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Picture Book
Oge Mora
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read
Written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard
School Library Journal Best Books 2020, Nonfiction
New York Public Library Best Books 2020
Jessica Love
Julián at the Wedding
Publishers Weekly Best Books 2020, Picture Book
Jerry Pinkney
The Little Mermaid
New York Times 25 Best Children’s Books 2020
Don Tate
William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Picture Book
Patrice Caldwell
A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Young Adult
Ruth Behar
Letters from Cuba
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
David Bowles
Rise of the Halfling King
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Middle Grade
Illustrated by Charlene Bowles
Susan Campbell Bartoletti
1789: Twelve Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and Change
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Young Adult
Edited by Susan and Marc Aronson
Anna-Marie McLemore
Dark and Deepest Red
Kirkus Best Books 2020, Young Adult
