2012 Best Illustrated Picture Books

Best Illustrated Children's Book 2012

It’s that time of year again when the “Best of 2012” lists start happening and you better believe that children’s books has its own lists!

This year marks the 60th anniversary of The New York Times Book Review “Best Illustrated Awards”. Each year a panel of judges is asked to choose the 10 best books from thousands of picture books published that year. The judges this year were: Chris Raschka, (illustrator whose book, A Ball for Daisy won the 2012 Caldecott Medal), Bruce Handy (Editor at Vanity Fair), and Cathryn Mercier (director of the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College). The print list was published in yesterday’s special children’s book review. House Held Up By Trees by Ted Kooser and Illustrated by Jon Klassen was one of the chosen books. Here are the rest of them.

2012 NEW YORK TIMES BEST ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Bear Despair written and illustrated by Gaëtan Dorémus (Enchanted Lion)
The Beetle Book written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Houghton)
House Held Up by Trees written by Ted Kooser; illust by Jon Klassen (Candlewick)
The Hueys in the New Sweater written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel)
Infinity and Me written by Kate Hosford; illust by Gabi Swiatkowska (Carolrhoda)
Little Bird written by Germano Zullo; illustrated by Albertine (Enchanted Lion)
One Times Square: A Century of Change at the Crossroads of the World written and illustrated by Joe McKendry (Godine)
Red Knit Cap Girl written and illustrated by Naoko Stoop (Tingley/Little)
Stephen and the Beetle written by Jorge Luján; illust by Chiara Carrer (Groundwood)
Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad written and illust. by Henry Cole (Scholastic)

The styles of illustration are so varied. Viewing them small on screen is really just a tease. I know I have to get to a bookstore ASAP to have a good look at the books!

Have any of you or your children read any of them this year?