Look no further than these 2023 Sakura Medal Nominees

Will Horace, the Boston Terrier befriend Bunwinkle, the cheerful and adorable pot-bellied pig work together to solve this fast-paced barnyard mystery? Will the barnyard animals continue to disappear? If. you enjoyed reading Mercy Watson, you’re sure to love this new dynamic duo!

This is another story of two unlikely characters learning to accept each other’s differences and become friends. You are sure to laugh-out-loud while reading this book.

Answering Kids’ Questions

Congratulations Mustangs! The ASIJ Elementary Library will be sending 15 incredible pieces of student-drawn art to the All-Tokyo Sakura Art Competition this year.

English Picture Book

Japanese Picture Book

English Chapter Book

Japanese Chapter Book

English Graphic Novel

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott.

This medal has been awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children since 1938.

Where can we find Caldecott Medal books in our library?

Caldecott Gold Medal stickers at the bottom of the spine. These books can be found on a special collection bookshelf near the circulation desk.

Caldecott Honor stickers at the top of the spine. These books can be found throughout the E picture book section of the library.

Past Caldecott Gold Medal Winners…Why do you think these books are distinguished picture books?

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

Notable Children’s Books 2022

(2023 list coming soon)

Amazon Best Books of the Year

Ages 3-6

Ages 6-8

Ages 9-12

ALSC Best Graphic Novels

Grades K-2

Grades 3-5

Bank Street Books Best Children’s Books 2022

Best Books of the Year Collated List – This is an excellent resource for finding fantastic read alouds, diverse reads and is organized by age appropriateness.

Fuse 8 Blog – 31 Days, 31 Lists by Betsy Bird

December 1 – Great Board Books

December 2 – Picture Book Readalouds

December 3 – Simple Picture Book Texts

December 4 – Transcendent Holiday Picture Books

December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books

December 6 – Funny Picture Books

December 7 – CaldeNotts

December 8 – Picture Book Reprints

December 9 – Math Books for Kids

December 10 – Gross Books

December 11 – Books with a Message

December 12 – Fabulous Photography

December 13 – Translated Picture Books

December 14 – Fairy Tales / Folktales / Religious Tales

December 15 – Wordless Picture Books

December 16 – Poetry Books

December 17 – Unconventional Children’s Books

December 18 – Easy Books & Early Chapter Books

December 19 – Comics & Graphic Novels

December 20 – Older Funny Books

December 21 – Science Fiction Books

December 22 – Fantasy Books

December 23 – Informational Fiction

December 24 – American History

December 25 – Science & Nature Books

December 26 – Unique Biographies

December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books

December 28 – Nonfiction Books for Older Readers

December 29 – Best Audiobooks for Kids

December 30 – Middle Grade Novels

December 31 – Picture Books

Goodreads Choice Awards

Middle Grade & Children’s

Kirkus Reviews

Best Picture Books 2022 – can scroll by category

Best Middle Grade Books 2022 – can scroll by category

National Public Radio

Children’s Books We Love 2022

National Science Teachers Association

Outstanding Science Books of the Year – 2022

Notable Social Studies Books for Young People

2021 List

2022 List not released yet in PDF format

School Library Journal

Best Books of 2022 – by category

School Library Journal’s Best Picture Books of 2022.

School Library Journal’s Best Chapter Books of 2022.

School Library Journal’s Best Middle Grade Books of 2022.

The List of All Lists – collated by Publisher’s Weekly

JAPAN, JAPANESE CULTURE AND #OWNVOICES

The National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA)

50 Asian and Asian-American Children’s Books 2022

Social Justice Books – Teaching for Change Project

Pragmatic Mom Asian-American Book Lists for Kids

Books for Kids about Japan and Japanese Culture

81 Best Kid’s Books about Japan

11 Adorable Japanese Children’s Books

10 Books about Japan that Expat Parents Should Read to Their Kids

Learning About Japan for Kids: Picture Books

Japanese History for Kids

New Trends in Transnational Japanese Books

Haiku Poetry Books for Kids

25+ Beautiful Picture Books for Asian Pacific American Heritage

Chapter Books Set in Asia

60 children’s books with Asian and Pacific Islander Representation

Asian and Asian-American Children’s Books by #OwnVoices Authors

Best #OwnVoices Japanese American Books for Kids & Teens