2020 Top Books for Kids

The Youth Services staff have picked their favorite books published in 2020 for ages 0-13. We hope you and your family find some new favorites here, too!

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

Graphic novel recommended for ages 10-14.

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What Will Fit? by Grace Lin

Board book recommended for ages 1-4.

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Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett

Picture book recommended for ages 3-6.

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Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata

Chapter book recommended for ages 7-12.

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There Must Be More Than That! by Shinsuke Yoshitake

Picture book recommended for ages 4-8.

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Little Bird by Cynthia Voigt

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Literally Amazing Words and Where They Come From by Patrick Skipworth

Nonfiction picture book recommended for ages 6-10.

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Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror by Natasha Farrant

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Dewdrop by Katie O'Neill

Graphic novel recommended for ages 5-8.

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From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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In The Half Room by Carson Ellis

Picture book recommended for ages 4-8.

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The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Margaret's Unicorn by Briony May Smith

Picture book recommended for ages 3-6.

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Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley

Graphic novel recommended for ages 9-13.

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Three Keys by Kelly Yang

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-13.

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The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham

Picture book recommended for ages 6-10.

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The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-13.

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Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte

Graphic novel recommended for ages 9-13.

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R-E-S-P-E-C-T Aretha Franklin the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford

Picture book biography recommended for ages 4-8.

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Powwow A Celebration Through Song and Dance by Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane

Nonfiction book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Santiago's Road Home by Alexandra Diaz

Chapter book recommended for ages 10-13.

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Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee

Chapter book recommended for ages 6-9.

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All Because You Matter by Tami Charles

Picture book recommended for ages 4-8.

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Happy Paws by Vicky Fang

Chapter book recommended for ages 6-9.

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Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song

Graphic novel recommended for ages 5-8.

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Twins by Varian Johnson

Graphic novel recommended for ages 8-12.

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Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina

Picture book recommended for ages 5-8.

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Orphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Bloom by Kenneth Oppel

Chapter book recommended for ages 10-14.

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Outside In by Deborah Underwood

Picture Book recommended for ages 4-7.

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Darwin's Rival by Christiane Dorion

Nonfiction picture book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Alice's Farm A Rabbit's Tale by Maryrose Wood

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

Picture book recommended for ages 4-9.

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The Clockwork Crow by Catherine Fisher

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Cat Dog Dog - The Story of a Blended Family by Nelly Buchet

Picture book recommended for ages 4-7.

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Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

Chapter book recommended for ages 10-14.

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Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Chapter book recommended for ages 10-14.

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Lightfall - The Girl and the Galdurian by Tim Probert

Graphic novel recommended for ages 8-12.

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The Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest

Chapter book recommended for ages 10-14.

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Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure by Alex T. Smith

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake

Chapter book recommended for ages 7-11.

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Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Picture book recommended for ages 3-6.

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King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-14.

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My Best Friend by Rob Hodgson

Picture book recommended for ages 3-6.

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The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Here Comes Lolo by Niki Daly

Chapter book recommended for ages 5-8.

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Drew and Jot Dueling Doodles by Art Baltazar

Graphic novel recommended for ages 7-11.

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Fergus and Zeke and the Field Day Challenge by Kate Messner

Beginning reader recommended for ages 5-8.

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The Forest of Stars by Heather Kassner

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-13.

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A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese

Chapter book recommended for ages 10-14.

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Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott

Poetry book for ages 10 and up.

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If We Were Gone by John Coy

Nonfiction picture book recommended for ages 6-10.

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The Cool Cat Club by Nicola Colton

Chapter book recommended for ages 6-9.

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Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Picture book recommended for ages 5-8.

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The Perfect Pet by Christine A. Platt

Beginning reader recommended for ages 5-7.

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Astronauts - Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani

Nonfiction graphic novel recommended for ages 9-14.

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Me and Banksy by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

Chapter book recommended for ages 10-14.

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Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen

Picture book recommended for ages 3-6.

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Party Problems by C. L. Reid

Beginning reader recommended for ages 5-7.

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Aster and the Accidental Magic by Thom Pico

Graphic novel recommended for ages 8-12.

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Dragon Meets Boy by Michael H. Slack

Picture book recommended for ages 3-6.

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The Sunken Tower by Tait Howard

Graphic novel recommended for ages 8-12.

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Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

Graphic novel recommended for ages 9-13.

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Go With the Flow by Lily Williams

Graphic novel recommended for ages 9-14.

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Kerry and the Knight of the Forest by Andi Watson

Graphic novel recommended for ages 8-12.

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Bug Boys by Laura Knetzger

Graphic novel recommended for ages 8-12.

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We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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A Song Only I Can Hear by Barry Jonsberg

Chapter book recommended for ages 10-14.

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Middle School's a Drag - You Better Werk! by Greg Howard

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Grasping Mysteries - Girls Who Loved Math by Jeannine Atkins

Biographical novel-in-verse recommended for ages 10-14.

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Con Quest! by Sam Maggs

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Gurple and Preen by Linda Sue Park

Picture book recommended for ages 4-8.

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American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson

Chapter book recommended for ages 7-10.

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The Water Bears by Kimberly Baker

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Rick by Alex Gino

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-13.

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Kenzie Kickstarts a Team by Kit Rosewater

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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How to Make Friends with the Sea by Tanya Guerrero

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Fart Quest by Aaron Reynolds

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith

Graphic novel recommended for ages 9-13.

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A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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The Body Under the Piano by Marthe Jocelyn

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Don't Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise

Chapter book recommended for ages 7-12.

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Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

Chapter book recommended for ages 8-12.

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Willa the Wisp by Jonathan Auxier

Chapter book recommended for ages 5-9.

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Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

Chapter book recommended for ages 9-13.

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Sun Flower Lion by Kevin Henkes

Picture book recommended for ages 0-4.

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