ALSC Notable Children's Books

About this book list

ALSC Notable Children's Books is an annual list from the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. ALSC identifies books of especially commendable quality for children through age 14. Its published criteria ask the committee to consider how a work respects young people's intelligence and imagination, shows creativity, and addresses the interests of children and young adolescents. The list can include many books across formats and audiences; it does not place them in a best-to-worst order. Editions are usually divided into Younger Readers, Middle Readers, Older Readers, and All Ages. Those groups offer a practical starting point, though they are broader than reading-level measures and cannot account for every child's interests or experience. A parent might begin with the section closest to a child's age, read the committee's annotations, and compare subjects and formats that match the child's interests. Earlier editions are useful too, especially when looking for established titles that a library is more likely to have on hand.