ALSC Notable Lists
I know I’m always looking for great books suggestions and I’ll often look at book awards and notable book lists, but as a blogger and librarian, I’ll often know where to look to find these great suggestions. I’m not always sure that the general public knows how to find these great resources that were pulled together by some librarians who have spent a lot of work combing through hundreds of titles to provide the public with great suggestions.
ALSC, the Association for Library Services to Children, creates notable lists for children’s books, recordings or audiobooks, and digital media annually filled with dozens of titles for families with kids and teens of all ages.
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Notable Children’s Books
Endlessly Ever After: Pick YOUR Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Dan Santat
Award-winning creators Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat transform a crowd of classic tales into an ever-changing, fascinating, laugh-out-loud choose-your-own-adventure picture book, in which you may find a sleeping maiden, waste away in a sticky licorice cage, discover the gold at the end of a wild goose chase, or maybe (just maybe) save yourself—and the day!
Hello, Puddle! by Anita Sanchez, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Hello, puddle! Who’s here?
A normal everyday puddle may not seem very special. But for a mother turtle, it might be the perfect place to lay her eggs. For a squirrel, it might be the only spot to cool off and get a drink when the sun is shining down in July. And for any child, it can be a window into the elegant, complex natural world right outside their window.
Yoshi and the Ocean: A Sea Turtle’s Incredible Journey Home by Lindsay Moore
In 1997, a young loggerhead sea turtle was rescued from the ocean after an injury to her shell. The fishermen who rescued her named her Yoshi and took her to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa. She was rehabilitated there and grew stronger—and larger!—every day. She also became one of the most popular exhibits at the aquarium. After twenty years in captivity, Yoshi was released back into the ocean and traveled more than 25,000 miles in 1,003 days to find her way home. A tracking device on her shell transmitted data about her journey to marine biologists and turtle enthusiasts of all ages around the world.
A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga
Meet Resilience, a Mars rover determined to live up to his name.
Res was built to explore Mars. He was not built to have human emotions. But as he learns new things from the NASA scientists who assemble him, he begins to develop humanlike feelings. Maybe there’s a problem with his programming….
Human emotions or not, launch day comes, and Res blasts off to Mars, accompanied by a friendly drone helicopter named Fly. But Res quickly discovers that Mars is a dangerous place filled with dust storms and giant cliffs. As he navigates Mars’s difficult landscape, Res is tested in ways that go beyond space exploration.
As millions of people back on Earth follow his progress, will Res have the determination, courage, and resilience to succeed… and survive?
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
Twelve-year-old Adela “Addie” Ramírez has a big decision to make when her stepfather proposes adoption. Addie loves Alex, the only father figure she’s ever known, but with a new half brother due in a few months and a big school theater performance on her mind, everything suddenly feels like it’s moving too fast. She has a million questions, and the first is about the young man in the photo she found hidden away in her mother’s things.
Addie’s sleuthing takes her to a New Mexico ranch, and her world expands to include the legendary Bravos: Rosie and Pancho, her paternal grandparents and former professional wrestlers; Eva and Maggie, her older identical twin cousins who love to spar in and out of the ring; Uncle Mateo, whose lucha couture and advice are unmatched; and Manny, her biological father, who’s in the midst of a career comeback. As luchadores, the Bravos’s legacy is strong. But being part of a family is so much harder—it’s about showing up, taking off your mask, and working through challenges together.
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. He’s warned though, to never go to the river at night. His brother tells him ”There are things about the water you do not know. “ Like what? Kofi asks. “The beasts.” His brother answers.
One fateful night, the unthinkable happens and in a flash, Kofi’s world turns upside down. Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life and what happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves.
The Patron Thief of Bread by Lindsay Eagar
Fished from the river as an infant and raised by a roving band of street urchins who call themselves the Crowns, eight-year-old Duck keeps her head down and her mouth shut. It’s a rollicking life, always thieving, always on the run—until the ragtag Crowns infiltrate an abandoned cathedral in the city of Odierne and decide to set down roots. It’s all part of the bold new plan hatched by the Crowns’ fearless leader, Gnat: one of their very own will pose as an apprentice to the local baker, relieving Master Griselde of bread and coin to fill the bellies and line the pockets of all the Crowns.
But no sooner is Duck apprenticed to the kindly Griselde than Duck’s allegiances start to blur. Who is she really—a Crown or an apprentice baker? And who does she want to be? Meanwhile, high above the streets of Odierne, on the roof of the unfinished cathedral, an old and ugly gargoyle grows weary of waiting to fulfill his own destiny—to watch and protect. Told in alternating viewpoints, this exquisite novel evokes a timeless tale of love, self-discovery, and what it means to be rescued.
Victory, Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile
On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. Both men were forced to leave the Olympics, received death threats, and faced ostracism and continuing economic hardships.
In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest. Cowritten with Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Honor recipient Derrick Barnes and illustrated with bold and muscular artwork from Emmy Award–winning illustrator Dawud Anyabwile, Victory. Stand! paints a stirring portrait of an iconic moment in Olympic history that still resonates today.
For even more great titles, check out the ALSC Notable Children’s Books.
Notable Children’s Recordings
A is for Oboe by Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Paul Hoppe
Two widely acclaimed poets—one a composer and classical pianist as well—have come together to create this extraordinary portrait of the orchestra in all of its richness and fascination, using the structure of the alphabet in a way that’s entirely new and delightful. A is for the first note you hear as you take your seat in the concert hall, played by the headstrong oboe. B is for the bassoon, “the orchestra’s jester, complaining impatiently through his nose”. And C is for the conductor, “like the captain on the bridge of a great ship, navigating the composer’s musical charts”.
Onward the text goes, soaring in reverie and making thought-provoking observations while not taking itself too seriously—illuminating all the various details that flow together to create the nourishing experience of playing or listening to music.
Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
Readers will delight in turning their book sideways and upside down to follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith.
Sometimes, you might fall down, down, down,
before you learn to fly up, up, up…
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Once there was a bridge and a terrible and VERY hungry troll lived underneath it. When the three Billy Goats Gruff decide to clip-clop across the bridge to get to the grassy ridge, the troll is already imagining all the way to prepare a delicious goat dinner. But the troll underestimates those seemingly sweet but oh-so-savvy goats! This is the first in a groundbreaking new collection of fractured fairy tales crafted by one of today’s most celebrated and acclaimed authors, Mac Barnett, and brought to stunning visual life by award-winning and beloved creator of I Want My Hat Back, Jon Klassen.
Told with pitch perfect timing and pacing, hilarious detail, and Barnett’s signature narrator voice, this is Billy Goats Gruff as never before. High-stakes page turns will have readers on the edge of their seats and giggling along, as they join each goat and anticipate the arrival of the hungry and terrible troll living under the bridge. With Klassen’s brilliantly restrained scenes, arresting characters, and celebrated artistic style, this first of three fairy tales is destined to be a true publishing event!
With a multitude of Caldecott Medals, Honors, international awards, and New York Times bestsellers to their names both independently and in collaboration, this is a creative pairing that is electric. So get ready to experience picture book magic… all you have to do is cross the bridge!
Daughter of the White Rose by Diane Zahler
April. England. 1483. The king is dead. Long live the king.
Nell Gould is the daughter of the royal butcher, a commoner, but she has been raised as the playmate of King Edward and Queen Elizabeth’s royal children: Princess Cecily, Princess Bess, Prince Dickon, and Prince Ned, heir apparent and Nell’s best and closest friend. They think alike, her and Ned, preferring books and jousts to finery and gossip and the sparkle of the court. But when King Edward dies, Prince Ned is imprisoned in the Tower of London by his scheming uncle, the evil Richard III—and Nell with him. Can they escape? Is Nell the key?
Based on the real royal scandal of the Princes in the Tower, Daughter of the White Rose covers a shocking episode in medieval history that has captured the imagination for 530 years. A story of murder, betrayal, resilience, and growing up, this girl-led medieval middle-grade novel will make a perfect companion to Catherine, Called Birdy and The Mad Wolf’s Daughter.
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu
Onyeka has a lot of hair—the kind that makes strangers stop in the street and her peers whisper behind her back. At least she has Cheyenne, her best friend, who couldn’t care less what other people think. Still, Onyeka has always felt insecure about her vibrant curls…until the day Cheyenne almost drowns and Onyeka’s hair takes on a life of its own, inexplicably pulling Cheyenne from the water.
At home, Onyeka’s mother tells her the shocking truth: Onyeka’s psycho-kinetic powers make her a Solari, one of a secret group of people with super powers unique to Nigeria. Her mother quickly whisks her off to the Academy of the Sun, a school in Nigeria where Solari are trained. But Onyeka and her new friends at the academy soon have to put their powers to the test as they find themselves embroiled in a momentous battle between truth and lies…
Real Pigeons Eat Danger by Andrew McDonald
What do Real Pigeons do? They EAT DANGER, of course! This squad of crime-fighting feathered friends is nonstop action and nonstop laughs. Watch them as they infiltrate a secret warehouse full of bottled birds and take down a truly criminal ostrich. The DANGER is REAL. And so are the REAL PIGEONS.
Gallant by V. E. Schwab
Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for Girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home; it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile, or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.
Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.
Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?
Inheritance: A Visual Poem by Elizabeth Acevedo
They tell me to “fix” my hair.
And by fix, they mean straighten, they mean whiten;
but how do you fix this shipwrecked
history of hair?
In her most famous spoken-word poem, author of the Pura Belpré-winning novel-in-verse The Poet X Elizabeth Acevedo embraces all the complexities of Black hair and Afro-Latinidad—the history, pain, pride, and powerful love of that inheritance.
The Peach Rebellion by Wendelin Van Draanen
Ginny Rose and Peggy were best friends at seven, picking peaches on hot summer days. Peggy’s family owned the farm, and Ginny Rose’s were pickers, escaping the Oklahoma dust storms. That didn’t matter to them then, but now, 10 years, hard miles, and a world war later, Ginny Rose’s family is back in town and their differences feel somehow starker. Especially since Peggy’s new best friend, Lisette, is a wealthy banker’s daughter.
Still, there’s no denying what all three girls have in common: families with great fissures that are about to break wide open. And a determination to not just accept things as they are anymore.
This summer, they will each make a stand. It’s a season of secrets revealed. Of daring plans to heal old wounds. Of hearts won and hearts broken. A summer when everything changes because you’re 17, and it’s time to be bold. And because it’s easier to be brave with a true friend by your side.
For plenty more great titles, check out the ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings.
Notable Children’s Digital Media
Art Adventure
App: iOS and Google Play. Younger. Middle. Crafts & Hobbies. https://www.foxandsheep.com/apps-for-kids/art-adventure/
Art Adventure is an app designed to encourage children and their caregivers to be creative with various shapes, colors, and texts as they design their own masterpiece. The collage art style differentiates this app from many of the other coloring and drawing apps for children. Available in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
Audio Adventure
App: iOS and Google Play. Younger. Middle. Literature. https://www.foxandsheep.com/apps-for-kids/audio-adventure-sound-studio/
Audio Adventure is an app that allows children to create their own radio dramas, using their own sound creations and a selection of various sound effects and background music. Controls are intuitive and easy to use, making this a fun, creative storytelling experience. Available in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
Thinkrolls Play & Code School
App: iOS. Younger. Middle. Computer Science. https://www.avokiddo.com/
Thinkrolls Play & Code School is a paid, subscription-model app where children can solve various logic puzzles, play memory games, create their own puzzles, play puzzles created by others, and more. The wide variety of activities are fun and help to build computational thinking skills. Available in English, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Swedish.
Ology: Science for Kids
App: iPadOS. Younger. Middle. Natural History, Science. https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology
Created by the educators at the American Museum of Natural History, the free Ology app allows school-aged children to play fun interactive games, watch videos, and read articles about all kinds of science. The interface is bright and eye-catching, and content areas are well organized while also creating plenty of opportunity for discovery. Available in English, with some videos also available in Spanish.
Light and Color by Tinybop
App: iOS. Younger. Middle. Science, Nature, Environment. https://tinybop.com/apps/light-and-color
Light and Color, a paid app by Tinybop, teaches about color and light by allowing children to explore these topics in a variety of ways. Children can mix colors, hunt for colors in their world, line up blocks in order of shades, tints and gradients, and play with color and light. Use the “Understand” section to see the world through a dog’s eye view, or “Connect” to think about how colors and emotions interact. Interactive labels can toggle on and off. Available in 50+ different languages.
National Museum of African American History and Culture Learning Lab
Website. Younger. Middle. American History. Civil Rights. History. Social Sciences. https://learninglab.si.edu/org/nmaahc?
This interactive website shares resources from the National Museum of African American History and Culture organized in curated collections for a variety of age groups. Utilizing objects, documents, imagery, and videos that enhance historical content knowledge as well as the guided activities and lessons provided, users can hone historical thinking skills and be inspired to see themselves as agents of change. Available in English.
Swift Playgrounds
App: iOS. Middle. Computer Science. https://www.apple.com/swift/playgrounds/
Swift Playgrounds is a free app created specifically for iPad and Mac that teaches users how to use Swift, a programming language created by Apple. Fun activities and interactive walkthroughs show beginners where to start, while advanced users can learn to create their own, real-life apps. The interface is user-friendly and intuitive, creating a fun learning experience. Available in 14 different languages.
Teach Monster: Number Skills
App: iOS and Android. Younger. Science. https://www.teachyourmonster.org/numberskills
Teach Monster: Number Skills is a free app designed for children to practice number recognition, counting, and simple addition through various games. The focus is up to number 5. Participants have opportunities to revisit favorite games and build their skills. Available in English.
Sesame Street in Communities
Website. Younger. Parents/Caregivers. Crafts & Hobbies. Health & Medicine. https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/
A free website that provides activities, videos, and tips for parents in family interactions and conversations, from the everyday to the more difficult. Topics include grief, divorce, daily routine, eating well, family bonding, and more. Each video or activity is accompanied by a helpful list of opportunities and suggestions for conversation. Available in English and Spanish.
For a lot more great titles, check out the ALSC Notable Children’s Digital Media.
