Children's Book Recommendations

We are happy to assist you in all your readers’ advisory needs. Below are curated lists on a variety of topics. If you don’t find something you’re looking for, just ask and we’d love to find you the perfect book.

Dinosaurs

Children's Holiday Books

Children's Seasonal Books

Back to School

Bedtime Stories

Great Graphic Novels

Read with Pride

Anti-Racist Reads for Children

Social & Emotional Development

Children's Award Winners & Nominees

ALSC Notable Seal

The ALSC Children’s Notable List

Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children’s books, recordings, and videos. Use the links below or on the menu at the left to access current and past children’s notable lists, learn about the submission process, and access the current selection committee rosters.

The Batchelder Award Seal

The Batchelder Award

The Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.

The Belpre Medal

The Belpre Medal

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate. 

The Carnegie Medal

The Carnegie Medal

The Andrew Carnegie Medal honors the most outstanding video productions for children released during the previous year.

The Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the American Library Association to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for
children.

The Geisel Award

The Geisel Award

The Geisel Award, named after Dr. Seuss, is given annually by the American Library Association to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.

The Newbery Medal

The Newbery Medal

The Newbery Medal was named for British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the American Library Association to the author of the most distinguished contribution to
American literature for children.

Nutmeg Book Award

The Nutmeg Award

The Nutmeg Book Award encourages children in grades 2-12 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of ten nominated titles. The children of Connecticut vote during the month of April for their favorite Nutmeg nominated book and the winner is announced in May.

The Odyssey Award

The Odyssey Award

This annual award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.

Silbert Medal

The Sibert Medal

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois. ALSC administers the award.

Book with Rainbow pages

The Rainbow Book List

The Rainbow Book List is created by the Rainbow Book List Committee of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association. Originally a joint project between the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Roundtable and the Social Responsibilities Round Table, the Rainbow Book List presents an annual bibliography of quality books with significant and authentic GLBTQ content, which are recommended for people from birth through eighteen years of age.

Amelia Bloomer

The Amelia Bloomer Book List

The Amelia Bloomer Project, a committee of the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table, compiles the Amelia Bloomer List, an annual annotated book list (or bibliography) of well-written and well-illustrated books with significant feminist content, intended for young readers ages birth through 18.