Tag Archive for: best-books
And the Winner Is…Young Readers!
Golden Globes.
Grammys.
Oscars.
Youth Media Awards!
It’s award season and, on January 23, the American Library Association recognized its annual selection of the best of the best books through the Youth Media Awards. One of the most well-known awards is the Newbery Medal winner, which is presented each year to the “author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” This year’s Newbery winner is The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers, an adventure featuring Johannes, a free dog, who loves to sprint faster than the speed of light around the urban park he calls home. After a harrowing experience, Johannes becomes determined to free the park’s bison. Yet will the appearance of mysterious rectangles, new buildings, and a strange new hoard of animals prevent him from liberating his friends?
There are a number of different awards that celebrate books for readers from birth through age 18. Check out the winners and honorees! What would you put on this list? What were your favorite books in 2023?
Plus, don’t forget to take a look at our Youth Services staff’s favorite books of 2023.
https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newbery
Favorite Books of 2023
As 2023 draws to a close (Can you believe it?!), Youth Services staff has been reflecting on some of the most exciting contributions to children and teen literature this year. We have compiled our absolute favorites to share with you. We trust there will be titles on this list that will become (or maybe already are) favorites for you and your family as well! The list features a mixture of books that are funny, poignant, creative, mind-bending, and more from our various collections in Youth Services (board books and picture books as well as juvenile and teen graphic novels, fiction, and nonfiction).
➜ Without further ado, here is the list of Youth Services’ Favorite Books of 2023.
What were your favorites this year? Let us know! Want more suggestions for great books for babies, children, and teens? Check out our collection of book lists here and here, or chat with us at the Youth Services desk during your next library visit.
Here’s to another great year of reading!
Spooky Stories for the Season
As soon as I learned to read, I discovered a love of spooky stories. To this day, my favorite scary stories are still the ones from my youth. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few of my favorites, as well as a whole list of scary stories to explore at the library.
Picture Books
The Dark by Lemony Snicket
Laszlo is afraid of the dark which lives in the same big, creaky house as him, until one night the dark pays him a visit. | Check it out!
I Don’t like Koala by Sean Ferrell
A little boy receives a new stuffed koala as a gift, but does not like his stuffed koala because of its terrible eyes, terrible face, and terrible paws. But each time he tries to get rid of it, Koala comes back. This is a fairly creepy picture book with a comforting twist at the end. | Check it out!
Early Readers
Bears in the Night by Stan Berenstain
My earliest memory of a family member reading to me was this book, and I loved how my aunt built suspense, then read super fast at the end. This one is an only “slightly scary” bedtime story winner! | Check it out!
In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz
I remember reading this all by myself and feeling very accomplished. Heads up that there are some quite scary stories in here, including the story “The Green Ribbon” which I still think about to this day! | Check it out!
Chapter Books
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn (both chapter book and graphic novel)
This may be my all-time favorite ghost story, and for good reason. A new little step sister, a new house with a graveyard in the back, and a mysterious headstone all add up to a fantastic ghost story for chapter book readers! | Check it out!
Took by Mary Downing Hahn
Mary Downing Hahn is my very favorite spooky author, and well over 30 years after her first book, she still continues to write today. This is my favorite of her newer titles, and if you are in the mood for a scary story about a witch, this is the book for you. I’d recommend this for older elementary readers, and those that can handle a good scare! | Check it out!
The library is also offering scary book displays for all levels of readers now until the end of October, and we have an online booklist here for even more fun scary stories. Enjoy!!
Where did all the Graphic Novels Go?
Have you noticed your favorite graphic novels are hard to find? Graphic novels are incredibly popular and circulate like crazy, especially in the summer months. Take a look at the 25 most popular graphic novels of 2023!
We own multiple copies of each title, some of which we own up to 15 copies. Each of these books have been taken home over seven times this year. It is currently August, which means these books are rarely on the shelf. In order to ensure you get to read these popular titles, we suggest placing books on hold.
Unclear how to place a hold? Follow the instructions below!
Step 1: Go to the More catalog and click “log in/My More”
Step 2: Click Log In / Register
Step 3: Enter your library card number and pin and click, “Log In”
Need help with a pin? Call the library, we would be happy to help! 715-839-5003
Step 4: search for title and click “place hold”
imension
Best New Books of 2022 for Kids and Teens
It’s no surprise that we love talking about books here at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, and the end of the year is a perfect time to gather together favorites. With that in mind, three of our Youth Services librarians thought we’d share our top picks of 2022 for kids and teens. Check them out, and view our complete list of recommendations!
And while you’re at it, be sure to participate in our best books giveaway!
