Best Books of the Year
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School Library Journal

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2008

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2008 names 67 books across 3 categories. 23 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Fiction

  1. Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Clementine’s Letter by Sara Pennypackersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Coraline: Graphic Novel by Neil Gaimansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Graceling by Kristin Cashoresource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reevesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Impossible by Nancy Werlinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Little Brother by Cory Doctorowsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvathsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Nation by Terry Pratchettsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Paper Towns by John Greensource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Princess Ben: Being a Wholly Truthful Account of Her Various Discoveries and Misadventures, Recounted to the Best of Her Recollection, in Four Parts by Catherine Gilbert Murdocksource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myerssource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhartsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Door of No Return by Sarah Mussisource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collinssource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Leanin’ Dog by K. A. Nuzumsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowdsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Seer of Shadows by Avisource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connorsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Well Witched by Frances Hardingesource (opens in a new tab)
  25. What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundellsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryantsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Farmer George Plants a Nation by Peggy Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Helen’s Eyes: A Photobiography of Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller’s Teacher by Marfé Ferguson Delanosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Honeybee by Naomi Shihab Nyesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braaschsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Lincoln Shot: A President’s Life Remembered by Barry Denenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Nic Bishop Frogs by Nic Bishopsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row by Susan Kuklinsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Our White House: Looking in, Looking Out by National Children’S Book And Literacy Alliancesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulmansource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Paleo Bugs: Survival of the Creepiest by Timothy J. Bradleysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Sandy’s Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Show & Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration by Dilys Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West by Sid Fleischmansource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body by David Macaulay and Richard Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Washington at Valley Forge by Russell Freedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  19. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. What the World Eats by Faith D’Aluisiosource (opens in a new tab)
  21. What to Do About Alice? by Barbara Kerleysource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Wild Animals in Captivity by Rob Laidlawsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature’s Footprints by Jim Arnoskysource (opens in a new tab)

Picture Books

  1. A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazeesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Buffalo Music by Tracey E. Fernsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Chicken Said, “Cluck!” by Judyann Ackerman Grantsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Christopher Counting by Valeri Gorbachevsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Goose and Duck by Jean Craighead Georgesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time by James Howesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Grahamsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Little Rabbit’s New Baby by Harry Horsesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Mail Harry to the Moon! by Robie H. Harrissource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Old Bear by Kevin Henkessource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Skunkdog by Emily Jenkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Foxsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin, translated by Elisa Amadosource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Traction Man Meets Turbodog by Mini Greysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Wave by Suzy Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Way Up and Over Everything by Alice McGillsource (opens in a new tab)

About the School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

School Library Journal's annual Best Books list, 2006-2025. Year is the list year (published each November or December). Categories follow the sections SLJ used that year: 2006, 2007 and 2009 were one alphabetical list (category 'Best Books'); 2008 and 2010-2013 used Picture Books, Fiction and Nonfiction; 2014 onward split Fiction into Middle Grade and Young Adult; Chapter Books (SLJ also called it Transitional Chapter Books or Transitional Books) from 2016; Graphic Novels from 2018; Poetry in 2018 and from 2021; Manga (SLJ's Top 10 Manga, linked as a Best Books section) from 2019; Nonfiction split into Nonfiction Elementary and Nonfiction Middle to High School from 2023. A book SLJ placed in two sections appears in both. Excluded: the separately edited Adult Books 4 Teens and Top 10 Graphic Novels lists, and non-book lists (apps, audiobooks, music, DVDs). Sources: slj.com pages; Wayback Machine copies for 2006 (schoollibraryjournal.com), 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016-2017 (slj.com/bestofYYYY microsites), where the live pages no longer carry the list.

Organization: School Library Journal. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2008