1 School Library Journal | Best Books • DecemBer 2016

The Big ListSchool Library Journal’s

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Picture BooksThe White Cat and the MonkBy Jo ellen Bogart, illus. by sydney smithgRoundwood

The Uncorker of Ocean BottlesBy michelle cuevas, illus. by erin e. steaddial

Owl Sees OwlBy Laura Godwin, illus. by rob DunlaveyRandom/sChwaRtz & wade

Flora and the PeacocksBy molly Idle, illus. by authorChRoniCle

I Hear a Pickle: and Smell, See, Touch, & Taste It, Too!By rachel Isadora, illus. by authorPenguin/nanCy Paulsen Bks.

We Found a HatBy Jon klassen, illus. by author.CandlewiCk

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to ReadBy curtis manley, illus. by kate Berubes. & s./Paula wiseman Bks.

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting BookBy Juana medina, illus. by authorViking

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Best Books 2016

2 School Library Journal | Best Books • DecemBer 2016

Rudas: Niño’s Horrendous HermanitasBy Yuyi morales, illus. by authorRoaRing BRook/neal PoRteR Bks.

Frank and Lucky Get SchooledBy Lynne rae Perkins, illus. by authorgReenwillow

School’s First Day of SchoolBy Adam rex, illus. by christian robinsonRoaRing BRook/neal PoRteR Bks.

This Is Not a Picture Book!sergio ruzzier, illus. by authorChRoniCle

Little PenguinsBy cynthia rylant, illus. by christian robinsonRandom/sChwaRtz & wade

The JourneyBy Francesca sanna, illus. by authorFlying eye

Before MorningBy Joyce sidman, illus. by Beth krommeshmh

Ideas Are All AroundBy Philip c. stead, illus. by authorRoaRing BRook/neal PoRteR Bks

They All Saw a CatBy Brendan Wenzel, illus. by authorChRoniCle

Chapter BooksJuana and LucasBy Juana medina, illus. by authorCandlewiCk

A Complicated Case (Detective Gordon)By Ulf Nilsson, illus. by Gitte speegeCko

3 School Library Journal | Best Books • DecemBer 2016

Middle GradeMs. Bixby’s Last DayBy John David AndersonHarper/WalDen ponD

The Girl Who Drank the MoonBy kelly Barnhillalgonquin

The Wild RobotBy Peter Brown, illus. by authorlittle, BRown

Raymie NightingaleBy kate DicamilloCandlewiCk

MakoonsBy Louise erdrich, illus. by authorhaRPeRCollins

The Inquisitor’s TaleBy Adam Gidwitz, illus. by Hatem Alydutton

Garvey’s ChoiceBy Nikki GrimesBoyds mills/woRdsong

The Land of Forgotten GirlsBy erin entrada kellygReenwillow

When the Sea Turned to SilverBy Grace Lin, illus. by authorlittle, BRown

The Best ManBy richard Peckdial

PaxBy sara Pennypacker, illus. by Jon klassenhaRPeRCollins/BalzeR + BRay

As Brave As YouBy Jason reynoldsatheneum/Caitlyn dlouhy Bks.

4 School Library Journal | Best Books • DecemBer 2016

Ghost (Track)By Jason reynoldsatheneum/Caitlyn dlouhy Bks.

Wolf HollowBy Lauren Wolfdutton

YAAshes (The Seeds of america Trilogy)By Laurie Halse Andersonatheneum/Caitlyn dlouhy Bks.

The Passion of DolssaBy Julie BerryViking

The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold)By traci cheePutnam

The Great American WhateverBy tim Federles. & s.

The Lie TreeBy Frances HardingeaBRams/amulet

We Are the AntsBy shaun David Hutchinsons. & s./simon Pulse

Still Life With TornadoBy A.s. kingdutton

Character, Driven: A NovelBy David LubartoR teen

Female of the SpeciesBy mindy mcGinnishaRPeRCollins/katheRine tegen Bks.

Burn, Baby, BurnBy meg medinaCandlewiCk

5 School Library Journal | Best Books • DecemBer 2016

Asking For ItBy Louise o’NeillqueRCus

Salt to the SeaBy ruta sepetysPhilomel

Scythe (arc of a Scythe)By Neal shustermans. & s.

The Raven King (The raven Cycle, Book 4)By maggie stiefvatersCholastiC

Highly Illogical BehaviorBy John corey Whaleydial

NonfictionSabotage: The Mission to Destroy Hitler’s Atomic BombBy Neal BascombsCholastiC/aRthuR a. leVine Bks.

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley BryanBy Ashley Bryan, illus. by authoratheneum/Caitlyn dlouhy Bks.

Jason and the ArgonautsBy robert Byrd, illus. by authordial

When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All SeasonsBy Julie Fogliano, illus. by Julie morstadRoaRing BRook/neal PoRteR Bks.

Vietnam: A History of the WarBy russell Freedmanholiday house

Bubonic Panic: When Plague Invaded AmericaBy Gail JarrowBoyds mills/Calkins CReek

6 School Library Journal | Best Books • DecemBer 2016

March: Book ThreeBy John Lewis & Andrew Aydin, illus. by Nate PowelltoP shelF

Otters Love to PlayBy Jonathan London, illus. by meilo soCandlewiCk

The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden & the Trial of the CenturyBy sarah millerRandom/sChwaRtz & wade

Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous PhotographBy roxane orgil, illus. by Francis VallejoCandlewiCk

Best in SnowApril Pulley sayre, illus. by authors. & s./BeaCh lane

Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek MythsBy marilyn singer, illus. by Josée massedial

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel BasquiatBy Javaka steptoe, illus. by authorlittle, BRown

Some Writer: The Story of E.B. WhiteBy melissa sweet, illus. by author.hmh

The Tragic Tale of the Greak AukBy Jan thornhill, illus. by authorgRoundwood

The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two VolcanoesBy Duncan tonatiuhaBRams

Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto YoshitsuneBy Pamela turner, illus. by Gareth HindsChaRlesBRidge

Freedom in Congo SquareBy carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by r. Gregory christielittle Bee