As we come to the end of the first month of 2021, and what a month it’s been, it’s easy to try to move on from 2020 completely and hope for the best for 2021. We deserve it. But 2020 wasn’t all bad. It allowed us time to check in with ourselves and with each other, really think about what it is we do and don’t like, and test out new hobbies (or get back into old ones). If I had to give this last year a word to sum it all up, it would be: reflection. So in honor of that, I want to share something good from 2020. Below is a list of Penguin Young Readers titles that appeared on ‘Best of’ lists this last year. Even though this year really tested us, books continued to be a learning tool, a pastime, and an escape. We’re so proud of what these authors and illustrators have been able to accomplish. To see the full list of titles, click on the list names below.
New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2020
The Blackbird Girls 9781984837356
Girl on a Motorcycle 9780593116296
Brick by Brick 9780525517306
Before the Ever After 9780399545436
Dark Was the Night 9781524738884
I Am Every Good Thing 9780525518778
Fauja Singh Keeps Going 9780525555094
Fighting Words 9781984815682
Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer 9780525552857
Shirley Chisholm is a Verb 9780803730892
When Stars Are Scattered 9780525553915
Wink 9781984815149
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet 9780593109212
This Is What I Know about Art 9780593095188
The New Queer Conscience 9780593093689
Concrete Kids 9780593095195
Imaginary Borders 9780593094136
Taking on the Plastics Crisis 9780593223338
Beyond the Gender Binary 9780593094655
We Are Not From Here 9781984812261
Watch Over Me 9780593108970
Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best 2020
Brick by Brick 9780525517306
Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots 9781984816269
I Am Every Good Thing 9780525518778
Letters From Cuba 9780525516477
Before the Ever After 9780399545436
Old Rock (Is Not Boring) 9780525518181
The Cat Man of Aleppo 9781984813787
The Blossom and the Firefly 9781524737900
The Kingdom of Back 9781524739010
Ten Ways to Hear Snow 9780399186332
Fauja Singh Keeps Going 9780525555094
Stand Up, Yumi Chung! 9780525554974
Echo Mountain 9780525555568
Every Body Looking 9780525556206
Watch Over Me 9780593108970
Fighting Words 9781984815682
Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! 9780525554189
When Stars Are Scattered 9780525553915
Shirley Chisholm is a Verb 9780803730892
Dancing at the Pity Party 9780525553021
Lifting As We Climb 9780451481542
All The Days Past, All the Days to Come 9780399257308
Beyond the Gender Binary 9780593094655
Concrete Kids 9780593095195
Imaginary Borders 9780593094136
The New Queer Conscience 9780593093689
Taking on the Plastics Crisis 9780593223338
This Is What I Know about Art 9780593095188
We Are Not From Here 9781984812261
Evanston Public Library Great Books for Kids 2020
Fauja Singh Keeps Going 9780525555094
Stand Up, Yumi Chung! 9780525554974
Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots 9781984816269
I Am Every Good Thing 9780525518778
What Lane? 9780525518433
Dark Was the Night 9781524738884
Danbi Leads the School Parade 9780451478894
The Blackbird Girls 9781984837356
Fighting Words 9781984815682
Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! 9780525554189
Wink 9781984815149
Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer 9780525552857
Shirley Chisholm is a Verb 9780803730892
Echo Mountain 9780525555568
Old Rock (Is Not Boring) 9780525518181
The Cat Man of Aleppo 9781984813787
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet 9780593109212
Three Billy Goats Buenos 9780399547393
The Best of Iggy 9781984813305
Clever Hans 9780525514985
School and Library Journal’s Best Books of 2020
How It All Blew Up 9780593202876
Lifting as We Climb 9780451481542
Sanctuary 9781984815712
Super Fake Love Song 9781984812230
We Are Not From Here 9781984812261
Dancing at the Pity Party 9780525553021
When Stars Are Scattered 9780525553915
Fighting Words 9781984815682
Every Little Letter 9780525554028
Flowers in the Gutter 9780525555414
Echo Mountain 9780525555568
What Lane? 9780525518433
I Am Every Good Thing 9780525518778
Horn Books Best Books of 2020
I Am Every Good Thing 9780525518778
Fighting Words 9781984815682
Echo Mountain 9780525555568
BookPage’s Best of 2020
For the full list of titles, go here for YA, here for Middle grade, and here for Picture books.
From Here 9781984812261
Echo Mountain 9780525555568
Fighting Words 9781984815682
In a Jar 9780525514596
BCCB Blue Ribbon 2020
I Am Every Good Thing 9780525518778
Girl on a Motorcycle 9780593116296
Dancing at the Pity Party 9780525553021
The Cat Man of Aleppo 9781984813787
Booklist Editor’s Choice 2020
I Am Every Good Thing 9780525518778
Fighting Words 9781984815682
Dancing at the Pity Party 9780525553021
The Ocean Calls 9781984814869
Dress Coded 9781984816436
Girl on a Motorcycle 9780593116296