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New York Public Library Best Books 2018

New York Public Library Best Books 2018 names 150 books across 2 categories. 34 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Best Books for Kids

  1. A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Linsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Busy Creature's Day Eating! by Mo Willemssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Frog's Life by Irene Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. A Gift from Abuela by Cecilia Ruizsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. All the Animals Where I Live by Philip C. Steadsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Nealsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeedsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchinsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Be Prepared by Vera Brosgolsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Renée Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallacesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Big Foot and Little Foot by Ellen Pottersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Bird Builds a Nest by Martin Jenkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Steadsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Born to Swing: Lil Hardin Armstrong's Life in Jazz by Mara Rockliffsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Capsized! The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster by Patricia Suttonsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Captain Starfish by Davina Bellsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sellsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Crash: The Great Depression and the Rise and Fall of America by Marc Favreausource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Curiosity: The Story of the Mars Rover by Markus Motumsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Oldersource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Drawn Together by Minh Lêsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. El Chupacabras by Adam Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Fake Blood by Whitney Gardnersource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransomesource (opens in a new tab)
  26. First Laugh—Welcome, Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe and Nancy Bo Floodsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuiresource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Front Desk by Kelly Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransomesource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Go Show the World by Wab Kinewsource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Grains of Sand by Sibylle Delacroixsource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Hello, Door by Alastair Helmsource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife by Sarah Grace Tuttlesource (opens in a new tab)
  34. How Mamas Love Their Babies by Juniper Fitzgeraldsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoëtsource (opens in a new tab)
  36. I'm OK by Patti Kimsource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Imagine! by Raúl Colónsource (opens in a new tab)
  39. In the Past by David Elliottsource (opens in a new tab)
  40. Inkling by Kenneth Oppelsource (opens in a new tab)
  41. Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blakesource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Jabberwalking by Juan Felipe Herrerasource (opens in a new tab)
  43. Jerome by Heart by Thomas Scottosource (opens in a new tab)
  44. Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Lovesource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Knockout by K.A. Holtsource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten by Laura Veirssource (opens in a new tab)
  47. Look at the Weather by Britta Teckentrupsource (opens in a new tab)
  48. Lovely Beasts: The Surprising Truth by Kate Gardnersource (opens in a new tab)
  49. Mapping Sam by Joyce Hesselberthsource (opens in a new tab)
  50. Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea Davis Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  51. Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Baileysource (opens in a new tab)
  52. Mega Robo Bros by Neill Cameronsource (opens in a new tab)
  53. Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medinasource (opens in a new tab)
  54. Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School by Janet Halfmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  55. My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Nie Jun, translated by Edward Gauvinsource (opens in a new tab)
  56. My Pillow Keeps Moving! by Laura Gehlsource (opens in a new tab)
  57. Myth Match by Good Wives and Warriors (Partnership)source (opens in a new tab)
  58. New Shoes by Sara Varonsource (opens in a new tab)
  59. Night Job by Karen Hessesource (opens in a new tab)
  60. Old Misery by James Sagesource (opens in a new tab)
  61. Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere by Barb Rosenstocksource (opens in a new tab)
  62. Peter and Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annablesource (opens in a new tab)
  63. Red Sky at Night by Elly MacKaysource (opens in a new tab)
  64. Sci-Fu, vol. 1 by Yehudi Mercadosource (opens in a new tab)
  65. Seeing into Tomorrow: Haiku by Richard Wright by Richard Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  66. Seven Bad Cats by Moe Bonneausource (opens in a new tab)
  67. Speechless by Adam P. Schmittsource (opens in a new tab)
  68. Stanley Will Probably Be Fine by Sally J. Plasource (opens in a new tab)
  69. Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguezsource (opens in a new tab)
  70. Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  71. Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxiersource (opens in a new tab)
  72. The Boy, the Bird & the Coffin Maker by Matilda Woodssource (opens in a new tab)
  73. The Dam by David Almondsource (opens in a new tab)
  74. The Eye that Never Sleeps: How Detective Pinkerton Saved President Lincoln by Marissa Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  75. The Frog Prince by The Brothers Grimmsource (opens in a new tab)
  76. The Funeral by Matt Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  77. The Ghostly Carousel: Delightfully Frightful Poems by Calef Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  78. The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidmansource (opens in a new tab)
  79. The Great Cheese Robbery (Pocket Pirates, vol. 1) by Chris Mouldsource (opens in a new tab)
  80. The Horse's Haiku by Michael Rosensource (opens in a new tab)
  81. The House in Poplar Wood by K.M. Ormsbeesource (opens in a new tab)
  82. The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtissource (opens in a new tab)
  83. The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbetsource (opens in a new tab)
  84. The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  85. The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarkesource (opens in a new tab)
  86. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeldsource (opens in a new tab)
  87. The Rough Patch by Brian Liessource (opens in a new tab)
  88. The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art by Barb Rosenstocksource (opens in a new tab)
  89. The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow by Jan Thornhillsource (opens in a new tab)
  90. The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connorsource (opens in a new tab)
  91. The Yark by Bertrand Santinisource (opens in a new tab)
  92. They Didn't Teach THiS in Worm School! by Simone Liasource (opens in a new tab)
  93. They Say Blue by Jillian Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)
  94. Tom's Midnight Garden: A Graphic Adaptation of the Philippa Pierce Classic by Edithsource (opens in a new tab)
  95. Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School by Julie Falatkosource (opens in a new tab)
  96. Wallpaper by Thao Lamsource (opens in a new tab)
  97. Water Land: Land and Water Forms Around the World by Christy Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  98. Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  99. Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howellsource (opens in a new tab)
  100. When Paul Met Artie: The Story of Simon and Garfunkel by G. Nerisource (opens in a new tab)

Best Books for Teens

  1. A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathenasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Calettisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribaysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Alice from Dream to Dream by Giulio Macaione and Giulia Adragnasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedisource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Analee, in Real Life by Janelle Milanessource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Attucks! Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team that Awakened a City by Phillip Hoosesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend by Karen Blumenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridgesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Check, Please! #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazusource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemisource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorramsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisnersource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Devils Unto Dust by Emma Berquistsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Dread Nation by Justina Irelandsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Dream Country by Shannon Gibneysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shustermansource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Easy Prey by Catherine Losource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Fatal Throne by M.T. Anderson and et al.source (opens in a new tab)
  21. Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revissource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Grand Theft Horse by G. Nerisource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henrysource (opens in a new tab)
  25. I Have the Right to by Chessy Prout with Jenn Abelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Isola by Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschlsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Just Mercy: The True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. March Forward, Girl by Melba Pattillo Beals and Frank Morrisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Mech Cadet Yu by Greg Paksource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Moonrise by Sarah Crossansource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Penasource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Price of Duty by Todd Strassersource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Pride by Ibi Zoboisource (opens in a new tab)
  34. Proud by Ibithaj Muhammadsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. Royals by Rachel Hawkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Skyward Vol. 1: My Low-G Life by Joe Hendersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowmansource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)
  39. The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pansource (opens in a new tab)
  40. The Bride Was a Boy by Chiisource (opens in a new tab)
  41. The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary by NoNieqa Ramossource (opens in a new tab)
  42. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedosource (opens in a new tab)
  43. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wangsource (opens in a new tab)
  44. The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  45. The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goosource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Undead Girl Gang by Lily Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  47. Votes for Women!: American Suffragists and the Battle for the Ballot by Winifred Conklingsource (opens in a new tab)
  48. We Are Not Yet Equal by Carol Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  49. What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silverasource (opens in a new tab)
  50. X-Men: Grand Design by Ed Piskorsource (opens in a new tab)

About the New York Public Library Best Books

The New York Public Library's annual Best Books lists, chosen by NYPL librarians: Best Books for Kids and Best Books for Teens from 2014 (the earliest year NYPL's best-books app carried), Best Books for Adults from 2019 (NYPL's 2018 adults page is empty). 2018-2025 are read from NYPL's current best-books pages, one per audience and year. 2014-2017 come from NYPL's earlier best-books app, read through Wayback Machine snapshots of its kids and teens pages (each sourceUrl is the snapshot). Earlier NYPL lists (100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Stuff for the Teen Age) were not in that app and are left out. Year is the list year NYPL uses (books published that year). Category is the audience list. Every entry is a Selection. Author is the byline NYPL prints, with illustrator and translator credits split off. Where NYPL truncates a long byline with an ellipsis, the cut-off name is dropped. Five cards print no byline; their authors are taken from the book itself (Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta, Great Carrier Reef, Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock, A Work in Progress, Man Made Monsters). Expected counts are the 'N Books Found' totals NYPL prints on each page.

Organization: The New York Public Library. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2018