Next Monday is a big day in children’s literature. The winners of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards will be announced. So today seems like a good time to look back at some of the highly-regarded titles published last year.
There’s no doubt about it. 2020 was a phenomenal year for nonfiction, and it seems like more people were paying attention than ever before.
Here’s a roundup of the lists I’m aware of. Please let me know if there are others I should add.
Mock Sibert Lists
Sibert Smackdown! (picture books)
Sibert Showdown! (MG science titles)
Individual Lists
Betsy Bird at A Fuse #8 Production: Nonfiction Picture Books
Betsy Bird at A Fuse #8 Production: Nonfiction Books for Older Readers
Betsy Bird at A Fuse #8 Production: Unique Biographies
Betsy Bird at A Fuse #8 Production: Science & Nature Books
Betsy Bird at A Fuse #8 Production: American History
Group Lists
AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize Finalists
CRA Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Awards
Cybils Award: Elementary Nonfiction Finalists
Cybils Award: Middle Grade Nonfiction Finalists
Cybils Award: High School Nonfiction Finalists
Nerdy Book Club: Nonfiction Picture Books
Nerdy Book Club: Long-form Nonfiction
NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award
Library Lists
Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Younger Readers
Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Older Readers
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids: Nonfiction
Review Journals
Booklist Editor’s Choice Books for Youth
(Would you believe nonfiction is first on this list? Hooray!)
Horn Book Fanfare 2020
(Scroll to bottom for nonfiction.)
Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book Biography of 2020
Kirkus Reviews Best Informational Picture Books of 2020
Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Biography and Memoir of 2020
Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade History of 2020
Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Nonfiction of 2020
Now it’s time to look ahead to 2021. So far, it seems like we’re going to have another great year of nonfiction. Time to start reading!
