AlfieThyra HederThe reader gets both sides of the story in this clever tale of a lost pet and the search for a perfect birthday gift.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD490LATOS Book Level 2.5View book detailsALSC Notable Children's Books 2018
The 2018 edition contains 97 selections published by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALA). The source organizes the selections into Younger Readers, Middle Readers, Older Readers, and All Ages. It is the annual record of titles designated Notable by the ALSC committee.
2018 ALSC Notable Children's BooksSee the original list
Selections97
Published byAssociation for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Sections4 sections
Browse sections4 sections
Younger Readers
38 selections
AlfieThyra HederThe reader gets both sides of the story in this clever tale of a lost pet and the search for a perfect birthday gift.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD490LATOS Book Level 2.5View book details
All Around UsXelena GonzálezA young girl and her grandfather explore the world around them and discover how circles are relevant to and shape their experiences. (Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD680LATOS Book Level 2.8View book details
All the Way to HavanaMargarita EngleIn this beautifully illustrated book, a family drives to Havana, Cuba, in their well-worn car, experiencing the sights and sounds of the streets.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD890LATOS Book Level 4.2View book details
Baby Goes to MarketAtinuke, illustrated by Angela BrooksbankIn a vibrant Nigerian marketplace, mama shops while baby delights the various vendors, picking up a few unexpected items along the way.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD460LATOS Book Level 2.1View book details
Big Cat, Little CatElisha CooperDistinctly expressive lines, boldly contrasting illustrations, and minimal text draw the reader into this beautifully poignant story of love, learning, and loss. (Caldecott Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD370LATOS Book Level 2.6View book details
Blue Sky, White StarsSarvinder NaberhausStrikingly beautiful paintings and just a few words invite readers to rethink the meaning of patriotic phrases and ideas.Younger ReadersWord Count 72View book details
The Book of MistakesCorinna LuykenStunning illustrations illuminate the creative process about how mistakes are not always negative and can open the door to a bigger picture.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD520LATOS Book Level 2.4View book details
The Boy and the WhaleMordicai GersteinA young boy faces a moral choice when a whale gets caught in the family fishing net.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD510LATOS Book Level 2.4View book details
Charlie & MouseLaurel SnyderCharlie and Mouse, two hilarious brothers, talk to bed lumps, plan a spontaneous neighborhood party, sell rocks, and invent new bedtime traditions. (Geisel Award Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Frida Kahlo and Her AnimalitosMonica BrownA fictional account of the life of young artist Frida Kahlo that celebrates her connection to the animals she loved and painted. (Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure 750LATOS Book Level 4.8View book details
Good Night, PlanetLiniersStuffed animal Planet makes new friends and has adventures all while his owner sleeps in this gentle, engaging graphic novel for young readers.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure 290LATOS Book Level 2.2View book details
A Greyhound, a GroundhogEmily JenkinsBrand new friends, greyhound and groundhog, romp together through the enchantingly illustrated pages in this clever chase of words, rhythm, and shape.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD200LATOS Book Level 1.8View book details
Home in the RainBob GrahamDuring a long drive home from Grandmother's in the rain, Francie and her mother discover profound beauty and comfort in ordinary moments.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD590LATOS Book Level 3.8View book details
I See a CatPaul MeiselYoungest readers will find success in the story of a dog that is increasingly frustrated by the glass door that separates it from the things it sees outside. (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure BR50LATOS Book Level 1View book details
Jabari JumpsGaia CornwallToday is the day Jabari is going to jump from the high dive and he is almost, absolutely sure he is ready.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD490LATOS Book Level 2.3View book details
King and Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog TreatsDori Hillestad ButlerKing, the dog, and Kayla, his human, solve the mystery of missing dog treats and make some interesting discoveries along the way. (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure 440LATOS Book Level 2.2View book details
La Princesa and the PeaSusan Middleton ElyaThis lively, playful retelling of the classic fairy tale is set in Peru and incorporates Peruvian cultural elements. (Belpré Illustrator Award Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD530LATOS Book Level 3.1View book details
Life on MarsJon AgeeIn this sly, well-paced story, a young space explorer, certain there is life on Mars, sets out to prove it.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD470LATOS Book Level 1.4View book details
The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC’s (the Hard Way)Patrick McDonnellIn this engaging, unconventional book, Little Red Cat is chased across the pages and experiences all the letters of the alphabet.Younger ReadersView book details
My Kite Is Stuck! And Other StoriesSalina YoonBold, vibrant illustrations, word recognition, and repetition make these short and hilarious stories of three friends a fun experience for early readers. (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure 340LATOS Book Level 2.5View book details
Noodleheads See the FutureTedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, Mitch WeissWith a nod to folktales, two zany brothers named Mac and Mac (who happen to be macaroni noodles) wow audiences with their hilarity and gullibility. (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
NowAntoinette PortisA young girl's simple joys and experiences will guide readers into appreciation of the here and now in this charmingly illustrated meditation.Younger ReadersWord Count 139View book details
The Only Fish in the SeaPhilip C. SteadPack your fishing poles and paint buckets and embark on a quest with Sadie and Sherman to rescue Ellsworth the goldfish.Younger ReadersView book details
A Perfect DayLane SmithThe cat, the dog, the chickadee, and the squirrel are having a perfect day until the bear shows up and invites the reader to rethink what perfect means.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD260LATOS Book Level 1.6View book details
Professional CrocodileGiovanna ZoboliThis wordless, charming book follows Mr. Crocodile through his morning routine and commute to a job for which he is perfectly suited.Younger ReadersView book details
The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!Carmen Agra DeedyThe new mayor of La Paz has outlawed singing of any kind, but a rooster arrives that will just not be quiet.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD550LATOS Book Level 3.1View book details
Snail & Worm AgainTina KüglerGood friends support each other through three easy-to-read, gently humorous stories. (Geisel Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
Stay: A Girl, a Dog, a Bucket ListKate KliseA gentle tale of the warm love between a girl and her aging dog and the value of time well spent together.Younger ReadersView book details
Town Is by the SeaJoanne SchwartzA miner’s son thinks about his father, deep underground, with both respect for and quiet resignation about his own future.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD550LATOS Book Level 3.6View book details
TriangleMac BarnettTriangle decides to play a mean joke on Square, but things don’t quite turn out the way he hoped.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD310LATOS Book Level 2.1View book details
Walk with MeJairo BuitragoA young girl shows great courage as she takes on adult tasks and waits for her mother to come home from the factory.Younger ReadersView book details
When a Wolf Is HungryChristine Naumann-VilleminDapper wolf Edmond Bigsnout attempts to eat a fellow city-dwelling rabbit but is thwarted at every turn by the bunny and his neighbors. (Batchelder Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
When’s My Birthday?Julie FoglianoA child clamors to know the answer to the most important question of all in this cheerful celebration of self.Younger ReadersView book details
WindowsJulia DenosOn a walk through the neighborhood, a child invites readers to imagine what might be happening behind the windows he passes every day.Younger ReadersView book details
Wolf in the SnowMatthew CordellIn this wordless picture book, a girl and a wolf pup, both lost in a snowstorm, need help from each other to find their way home. (Caldecott Medal Book)Younger ReadersWord Count 41View book details
The Wolf, the Duck, & the MouseMac BarnettA mouse and duck discover that there are upsides to being swallowed by a wolf.Younger ReadersLexile Text Measure AD470LATOS Book Level 2.2View book details
You Can’t Be Too Careful!Roger MelloCause and effect is explored in this imaginative and unexpected tale of a rose, a cat, a gardener, and a broken heart. (Batchelder Honor Book)Younger ReadersView book details
The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights ActivistCynthia LevinsonThe 1963 Birmingham protest was successfully accomplished by youth. The youngest, nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks, proved that even the smallest voice makes a difference.Younger ReadersView book detailsMiddle Readers
15 selections
All’s Faire in Middle SchoolVictoria JamiesonWitness Imogene’s growth and pride in her family and in herself as she quests for connection and identity in this graphic novel.Middle ReadersView book details
Bronze and SunflowerCao WenxuanWhile navigating the challenges of poverty in rural China in the 1970s, a mute boy named Bronze and an orphan named Sunflower develop a powerful friendship.Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 790LATOS Book Level 5.6View book details
Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food RemixJacqueline Briggs Martin, June Jo LeeGraffiti-inspired illustrations bring to life the story of food-truck and fresh-food-movement pioneer Chef Roy Choi. (Sibert Honor Book)Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 710LATOS Book Level 4View book details
Clayton Byrd Goes UndergroundRita Williams-GarciaClayton idolizes his grandfather and mentor, blues legend Cool Papa Byrd. When Cool Papa dies, Clayton adventures underground and emerges with a true blues voice.Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 720LATOS Book Level 4.4View book details
A Different PondBao PhiIn this gentle, honest tale of immigrant survival, a young Vietnamese American boy and his father go on an early morning fishing trip. (Caldecott Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
How to Be an Elephant: Growing Up in the African WildKatherine RoyExpressive and immersive illustrations invite readers to witness the miracle of a newborn elephant learning how to walk, smell, communicate, and eat.Middle ReadersView book details
Impact! Asteroids and the Science of Saving the WorldElizabeth RuschReaders meet the scientists who study asteroids past and present and work to protect our planet in the future.Middle ReadersView book details
Malala: Activist for Girls’ EducationRaphaële FrierReaders discover Malala Yousafzai’s early family life in Pakistan and how she became a global advocate for social justice.Middle ReadersView book details
Mama Africa! How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her SongKathryn ErskineThe inspiring life story of Miriam Makeba, an activist and singer best known as Mama Africa, is illustrated with art as vibrant as the woman herself.Middle ReadersView book details
Older than Dirt: A Wild but True History of EarthDon Brown, Mike PerfitPacked with 14 billion years of history, this slim and entertaining science comic explains the formation of our planet, from the big bang to the present day.Middle ReadersView book details
Princess Cora and the CrocodileLaura Amy SchlitzA princess’ wish gone wrong leads to cream-puff-loving, wig-wearing, chandelier-swinging, king- chasing Crocodile and, in the end, a happier royal family.Middle ReadersLexile Text Measure 590LATOS Book Level 4.1View book details
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. InequalityJonah WinterThe woman who would go on to become America’s second female Supreme Court Justice faced and conquered injustice through her young life.Middle ReadersView book details
Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an EcosystemPatricia NewmanNewman invites readers into a modern science mystery: an amazing discovery about sea otters that gave scientists insight into the delicate balance of ecosystems. (Sibert Honor Book)Middle ReadersView book details
Trudy’s Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English Channel and Took the World by StormSue MacyIn 1926, Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle makes her second attempt to cross the English Channel, determined to become the first woman to do so. Already a record-setting swimmer, she faces cold, storms, exhaustion, cramps, jellyfish, driftwood, and choppy water. Food is passed to her from an accompanying boat as she adjusts her route, adding five miles. After 14 hours and 39 minutes, she reaches a beach in England.Middle ReadersView book details
WishtreeKatherine ApplegateRed, a quiet wishing tree, is the recipient of neighborhood hopes and dreams. When an immigrant family is harassed in the community, Red is motivated to act.Middle ReadersView book detailsOlder Readers
36 selections
Amina’s VoiceHena KhanA Pakistani American Muslim middle-school girl attempts to blend her family’s traditions and her experience in school to be accepted.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 800LATOS Book Level 5View book details
Armstrong and CharlieSteven B. FrankA strong friendship develops between two boys from different economic and racial environments.Older ReadersView book details
Ashes to AshevilleSarah DooleyTwo sisters set off without adults on an impromptu road trip to scatter their mother's ashes in this moving, sensitive novel.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 800LATOS Book Level 4.9View book details
Beyond the Bright SeaLauren WolkIn a stunningly beautiful novel, orphan Crow decides to investigate her own past and in doing so uncovers the complicated history of a nearby former leper colony.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 770LATOS Book Level 4.8View book details
Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art of ConfusionChris BartonStunning art nouveau–inspired illustrations showcase a little-known WWI British and U.S. military strategy of camouflaging ships with dazzling effect.Older ReadersView book details
The Epic Fail of Arturo ZamoraPablo CartayaArturo struggles to keep the family business, a Cuban restaurant, alive in the face of the gentrification of his Florida neighborhood in a fresh, often very funny novel. (Belpré Author Honor Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 750LATOS Book Level 5View book details
A Face Like GlassFrances HardingeRestless, impulsive Neverfell, with no memory of her past, finds herself in the underground city of Caverna, where faces are expressionless and her life is in incredible danger.Older ReadersView book details
Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us TodayCynthia Levinson, Sanford LevinsonThis nonfiction analysis connects current U.S. political issues with decisions made during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It examines how disputes over the Constitution’s creation shaped institutions such as the Electoral College, gerrymandering, and the Senate. Chapters cover events around the convention and consider their continuing effects on rights and government. The book also discusses possible responses to these enduring problems and includes a timeline, notes, bibliography, constitutional articles and amendments, and an index.Older ReadersView book details
The First Rule of PunkCelia C. PérezMalu and her “SuperMexican” mother move across the country, leaving behind the father who gets her punk identity. Through new friends and zines, she connects to her roots in an authentic way. (Belpré Author Honor Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 670LATOS Book Level 4.5View book details
Flying Lessons & Other StoriesEllen OhReaders will recognize themselves in this varied collection of sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant stories.Older ReadersView book details
Forever, or a Long, Long TimeCaela CarterIn a heartbreaking and lovely novel, foster-child Flora and her brother invent a past and struggle to trust their new family.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 570LATOS Book Level 3.7View book details
Hello, UniverseErin Entrada KellyIn this story told from various viewpoints, including a bully, a deaf girl, a fortune-teller, and more, a rescue is performed, revealing bravery in the midst of fear. (Newbery Medal Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 690LATOS Book Level 4.7View book details
Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Reveal’dMary LosureDiscover the life and times of Isaac Newton, an alchemist who brilliantly transformed and advanced scientific understanding of chemistry.Older ReadersView book details
Life on Surtsey: Iceland’s Upstart IslandLoree Griffin BurnsBurns chronicles the fascinating birth and evolution of Surtsey, the youngest island on Earth, and one researcher’s almost 50-year study of the environs.Older ReadersView book details
The ListPatricia FordeIn this compelling and terrifying science fiction novel, Letta, the wordsmith of the city of Ark, learns of a horrific plan to control and censor the language of her people.Older ReadersView book details
Long Way DownJason ReynoldsWill descends in an elevator carrying his murdered brother’s gun. This novel in verse explores Will’s struggle with avenging his brother’s death. (Newbery Honor Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure HL720LATOS Book Level 4.3View book details
Louis UndercoverFanny BrittIn this poignant graphic novel, Louis struggles to make sense of his father’s alcoholism and parents’ separation while secretly pining for a beautiful girl at school.Older ReadersView book details
Lucky Broken GirlRuth BeharIn this emotionally charged tale, Ruthie is uprooted from Cuba to NYC. An unexpected accident traps her in a body cast, which leads her to find freedom through art. (Belpré Author Award Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 670LATOS Book Level 4.2View book details
Midnight without a MoonLinda Williams JacksonIn the summer of 1955, Rose Lee Carter dreams of life beyond her Mississippi cotton fields. Emmett Till’s murder places her on a new trajectory.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 870LATOS Book Level 5.6View book details
The Murderer’s ApeJakob WegeliusDetermined to clear her friend, the Chief, of murder, remarkable ape Sally Jones sets off on an epic journey and meets a fascinating cast of characters. (Batchelder Award Book)Older ReadersView book details
Orphan IslandLaurel SnyderJinny lives on an idyllic, secluded island with eight other children. The fundamental mystery of the island’s rules is exposed amid distress and anxiety.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 650LATOS Book Level 4.3View book details
PatinaJason ReynoldsPatty’s triad of home, track, and school lives forces her to become reliant on others while altering her self-confidence and core values.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 710LATOS Book Level 4.7View book details
Piecing Me TogetherRenée WatsonShouldering her mother’s expectations, Jade enters a mentor program with an inconsistent mentor. The unfulfillment she feels galvanizes her to follow her own artistic path. (Newbery Honor Book)Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 680LATOS Book Level 4.5View book details
PostedJohn David AndersonWhen their school bans cell phones, Frost and his friends communicate through Post-its instead. But when their idea catches on, a sticky-note war begins.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 750LATOS Book Level 4.8View book details
Quicksand PondJanet Taylor LisleIn this thought-provoking, eerie story, two girls from disparate backgrounds build a raft where two murders occurred nearly 80 years prior.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 600LATOS Book Level 4.3View book details
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a LibraryCarole Boston WeatherfordThe handsome biography of Afro-Puerto Rican Schomburg introduces his efforts to collect and correct the history of the contributions of “Africa’s sons and daughters.”Older ReadersView book details
SidetrackedDiana Harmon AsherDespite learning disabilities, Joseph joins his school’s track team and discovers the value of achieving a personal best, both on and off the cross-country course.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 690LATOS Book Level 4.4View book details
Silent Days, Silent DreamsAllen SayThe fictionalized biography of self-taught artist James Castle, who grew up deaf, mute, and autistic, and used art to express himself, is as beautiful as it is affecting.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 790LATOS Book Level 4.59View book details
The Stars beneath Our FeetDavid Barclay MooreLolly deals with the grief of losing his older brother by escaping into the world of LEGOs in this thought-provoking coming-of-age story set in Harlem.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 650LATOS Book Level 4.2View book details
Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest SongGary GolioArt and text combine to re-create the discomfort and power of Billie Holiday and her iconic song "Strange Fruit."Older ReadersView book details
ThornhillPam SmyIn this cinematic, heavily illustrated novel, two stories, decades apart, come together as Ella is drawn into the dark and tragic mystery of Thornhill Hall.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 730LATOS Book Level 4.6View book details
Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961Larry Dane BrimnerThis riveting account of the 1961 Freedom Rides, when 13 civil rights activists rode buses to challenge Jim Crow practices, has visual and emotional impact. (Sibert Medal Book)Older ReadersView book details
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football TeamSteve SheinkinThis compelling account of Native American athlete Jim Thorpe focuses on his impact on football and how his team transformed the game despite tremendous racism.Older ReadersView book details
The War I Finally WonKimberly Brubaker BradleyAs WWII continues, Ada discovers that her disability doesn’t define her and that family takes many shapes in this stunning sequel.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure HL520LATOS Book Level 3.7View book details
The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine KidColin MeloyLoner Charlie Fisher finds himself lured into the exciting underworld of Marseille pickpockets where he finds unlikely friendships in this rollicking tale.Older ReadersLexile Text Measure 840LATOS Book Level 5.4View book details
The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked & FoundMartin W. SandlerThe story of an eighteenth-century slave ship, its capture by pirates, sinking, and eventual discovery off Cape Cod make for a fresh and thrilling adventure.Older ReadersView book detailsAll Ages
8 selections
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh CutDerrick BarnesIn a vibrant, joyful tribute to the barbershop experience, a young black boy relishes in the majesty of a fresh new cut. (Newbery Honor Book & Caldecott Honor Book)All AgesLexile Text Measure 700LATOS Book Level 3.8View book details
Grand CanyonJason ChinConcise explanations of natural history run in tandem with a visual story of a girl and her father hiking in this stunning depiction of the Grand Canyon. (Caldecott Honor Book & Sibert Honor Book)All AgesLexile Text Measure 1000LATOS Book Level 6.9View book details
Her Right FootDave EggersPart history and part call to action, this nonfiction picture book reminds readers of the genesis of the Statue of Liberty and its relevance today.All AgesLexile Text Measure NC800LATOS Book Level 4.5View book details
I’m Just No Good at Rhyming and Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and ImmatureChris HarrisChris Harris’s poetry collection uses nonsense, wordplay, and visual and verbal surprises to turn familiar expectations upside down. Its poems approach the world through wit and playful tricks rather than conventional verse. One poem begins with a speaker admitting difficulty with rhyme, while another considers the possibility of holding a gecko. The collection makes room for poems that are deliberately odd, mischievous, and unexpected.All AgesView book details
Grown-UpsChris HarrisHilarity and nonsense characterize this illustrated poetry collection, which engages the reader in a lively conversation between the writer and illustrator.All AgesView book details
Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask about Having a DisabilityShane Burcaw, photographed by Matt CarrCandidly addressing questions about his disability and its impact on his life, Burcaw offers readers an opportunity to develop empathy for what it means to be “different.” (Sibert Honor Book)All AgesView book details
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating PoetsKwame Alexander with Chris Colderley, Marjory WentworthIn this bold homage, the authors emulate the style of their favorite poets. Stunning collages illuminate this joyful celebration of poetry.All AgesView book details
The Street beneath My FeetCharlotte Guillain, illustrated by Yuval ZommerThis beautiful, sturdy foldout book digs right down to the center of the Earth. 2018 Notable Children's Books Committee Maeve Knoth, chair, Phillips Brooks School, San Carlos, Calif. Skye Corey, Meridian (Idaho) Library District Tiffeni Fontno, Boston College, Cambridge, Mass. Melody Frese, Ladue Middle School, Webster Grove, Mo. Mary Garrett, Atlanta, Ga. Ariana Hussain, Alexandria, Va. Jennifer Knight, North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles, Wash. Amy Laughlin, New Haven, Conn. Benjamin Martin, Saint James School, Montgomery, Ala. Patty Saidenberg, New York Maria Simon, Wood County District Public Library, Bowling Green, OhioAll AgesView book details