Evanston Public Library announces its '101 Great Books for Kids' list for 2022

It’s back, just in time for the holiday book-gifting season: Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids! 

Once again, the hardworking staff of the Evanston Public Library have spent their entire year culling through thousands of brand new children’s books in order to bring young readers the best of the best. 

Throughout 2022, EPL librarians and staff have been reading books in every possible format – audiobooks, hardcovers, board books, PDFs, you name it – in the hunt for the best children’s books of the year. This year’s list exemplifies some of the best children’s literature being published today. 

"We had a much harder time cutting down this list to a mere 101,” EPL Collections Development Manager Betsy Bird said. “We truly are in a golden age of children's book publishing and this list represents some of the best of the best for kids. Our children are so lucky to have these books!"

The books are categorized by reading levels and genres to help adults find the best titles for their young readers. A sample of this year’s notable titles includes: 

- My Fade is Fresh, by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Kitt Thomas. When one young girl walks into her local hair salon, she knows exactly what she wants: a fresh fade. So why does everyone else have an opinion about her hair?

- Tâpwê and the Magic Hat, by Buffy Sainte-Marie, illustrated by Buffy Saint-Marie and Michelle Alynn Clement. When Tâpwê goes to visit his relatives for the summer, he little suspects the troubles and adventures he and his magic hat will get into. A mix of Cree stories and songs.

- Book of Questions/Libro de las Preguntas: Selections, by Pablo Neruda, illustrated by Paloma Valdivia, translated by Sara Lissa Paulson. Neruda’s last great work of poetry is reimagined for kids in this sumptuous collection. Seventy questions of the original 320 are presented thematically to kids, with results ridiculous, thoughtful, and often unanswerable. 

- The Flamingo by Guojing. While visiting her grandmother, a child hears story after story about a girl long ago that raised a flamingo chick from an egg. An artful, nearly wordless tale with the feel of a Miyazaki film. 

- Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy Theories, by Elise Gravel. How do you know what to believe when you read something online? Using the fake news that underwear can kill you, this book breaks down all the different ways to figure out if news is trustworthy or not.

Find the full list, with notes from our staff and call numbers so you can find the top picks on our shelves, at epl.org.

Want more? The librarians and staff of the Evanston Public Library will be celebrating our 101 Great Books all season long with events geared towards adults in search of great kids’ books. 

Drop by the Main Library from Monday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 27, during regular library hours for the 101 Great Books for Kids Open House. The entrance to our children’s room will be transformed into a display of all 101 books for patrons to peruse or reserve. 

On Saturday, Dec. 3, join EPL Collections Development Manager (and Fuse #8 blogger) Betsy Bird, and EPL Children’s Librarian (and 2017 Caldecott Committee Member) Brian E. Wilson for their annual 2022 Best Picture Books Presentation, which includes several selections from the 101 Great Books list. Registration for this adult-geared presentation of what’s happening in the world of children’s literature this year begins on Nov. 7. 

Visit epl.org or stop by EPL’s Main Library or Robert Crown Branch Library for even more book recommendations for your young bibliophile.