By
NYPL Staff
November 26, 2024
Every year, librarians and staff at The New York Public Library select noteworthy new books for readers of all ages and recommend them as ourBest Books of the Year. These lists continue the Library’s century-old tradition of recommending the best-loved titles published for children each year, and in recent years have expanded to encompass titles for teens and adults, as well as books in Spanish for younger readers. They have always sought to reflect the diversity of New York City's readership and encompass fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, poetry, and much more.
Here you can explore the Library's top 10 books in four categories: books for kids, books in Spanish for kids, books for teens, and books for adults. You can find even more outstanding recommendations in our complete lists forkids,teens, andadults, discover which Best Books titles are available in accessible editions, and explore our list of books in Spanish for kids en español.
Our full lists are also available to download so you can keep track of which ones you've read:
- Best New Books for Kids
- Best New Books for Teens
- Best New Books for Adults
- Los mejores libros nuevos para pequeños
Explore: Top 10 Books for Kids | Top 10 libros para edades 0–12 en español | Top 10 Books for Teens | Top 10 Books for Adults
Top 10 Books for Kids
Aloha Everything
by Kaylin Melia George; illustrated by Mae Waite
This poem sings off the page, encompassing the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. An enchanting vision of a girl experiencing her extraordinary home through lyrical verse and stunning collage.
Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat
by Li Chen
Where is Detective Beans' hat?! In this adorably illustrated and laugh-out-loud adventure, Beans is sent on a wild goose chase for his favorite accessory in his most important case yet!
Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem: The Vision of Roy DeCarava
by Gary Golio; illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Peer through the lens of Black photographer Roy DeCarava as we witness the beauty of 1940s Harlem. The unique majesty of the city shines in this illustrated chronicle of an artist whose keen eye for urban life captured the spirit of an iconic neighborhood.
Godfather Death
by Sally Nicholls; illustrated by Júlia Sardà
A poor fisherman sets out to find an honest man to be his son's godfather. Captivating and bold illustrations enhance this atmospheric retelling from the Brothers Grimm.
Made in Asian America: A History for Young People
by Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat
The rich history of Asian Americans is recounted in this comprehensive young readers’ adaptation. These stories highlight the work of generations who fought and are still fighting to have their voices heard.
Mallory in Full Color
by Elisa Stone Leahy
People-pleasing Mallory has a lot of secrets. The biggest one? She is the anonymous sci-fi webcomic creator, Dr. BotGirl. When she joins the library comic club and meets a cute enby kid named Noa, will she finally be able to be her true self?
Mishka
by Edward van de Vendel and Anoush Elma; illustrated by Annet Schaap; translated from the Dutch by Nancy Forest-Flier
After fleeing Afghanistan, Roya and her family are settled into their home in the Netherlands. With the help of a new pet rabbit to talk to, Roya pieces together the story of her family's traumatic journey.
The Spindle of Fate
by Aimee Lim
After an encounter with a monkey demon, Evie is shocked to find out her recently deceased mother was actually the head of a magical guild. With aspiring warrior Kevin at her side, Evie sets out to free her mother from Diyu, the realm of the dead.
We Are Definitely Human
by X. Fang
From the cover, readers can see that everyone in this book is Definitely Human. When some Definitely Humans get stranded on the Li's farm, the family offers to help—much to their pet's dismay! In this comical story, readers will learn what it means to be Definitely Human.
When I Wrap My Hair
by Shauntay Grant; illustrated by Jenin Mohammed
African American heritage shines in this richly and lovingly illustrated book celebrating Black hair traditions across continents and throughout generations.
Top 10 libros para edades 0–12 en español
Aire animal
por Teodora; ilustrado por Paula Álvarez
¿Qué animal tiene un pico enorme y una dieta llena de frutas? ¡Un tucán! Este libro colorido e informativo explora el mundo de las aves y otras criaturas que toman el cielo.
Cómo se come un mango
por Paola Santos; ilustrado por Juliana Perdomo
Un conmovedor relato en el que una niña descubre la belleza de la generosidad de la naturaleza a través de la sabiduría y el amor de su abuela.
Cuando seamos ranas
por Dipacho
¿Comó seremos cuando crezcamos? Esta divertida historia explora las grandes ideas de crecer... ¡desde el punto de vista de una rana!
Gracias
por Jarvis
Este libro fomenta la práctica diaria de la gratitud al apreciar el mundo natural que nos rodea. Los lectores siguen a la protagonista mientras reflexiona sobre lo que agradece, ofreciendo un mensaje más profundo sobre la atención plena y de encontrar alegría en el presente.
Llamando a mamá
por Anya Damirón; ilustrado por César Barceló
Max es un niño pequeño que siempre llama a su mamá, sin importar el tamaño del problema. Esta encantadora historia sobre la resolución de problemas te hará reír de las divertidas y comprensibles travesuras de Max.
Los mariachis de Adela
por Denise Vega; ilustrado por Erika Rodríguez Medina
Adela proviene de una familia de mariachis. Rodeada de música, su mayor deseo es unirse al conjunto. Con valentía, perseverancia y orgullo, ¡Adela se lanza a hacer su sueño realidad!
Ojalá pudiera decirte
por Jean-François Sénéchal; ilustrado por Chiaki Okada
¿Cómo escribes una carta para alguien que nunca la leerá? Este libro, con bellas ilustraciones, explora el vínculo entre una abuela y su nieto, y cómo navegar las emociones que acompañan la pérdida.
Un plato de esperanza: La inspiradora historia del chef José Andrés y World Central Kitchen
por Erin Frankel; ilustrado por Paola Escobar
Arroz, verduras y mariscos forman el delicioso plato nacional de España, la paella. El chef José Andrés utiliza estos ingredientes en su misión de compartir su amor por la comida por todo el planeta y sanar al mundo, un plato a la vez.
El río es mi mar
por Rio Cortez; ilustrado por Ashleigh Corrin
Una niña y su abuela dan un tranquilo paseo a lo largo del río Hudson. Visitan tiendas locales y se maravillan con la belleza y la magia de las aguas que fluyen por los ríos y océanos.
La vida secreta de las babosas
por Moesha Kellaway
¡Esta es una babosa gruñona! Pero tú también estarías de mal humor si la gente te llamara pegajosa o asquerosa. Acompaña a esta babosa en su viaje hacia el amor propio y descubre fascinantes datos en el camino.
Top 10 Books for Teens
Bright Red Fruit
by Safia Elhillo
Samira's reputation as a "bad girl" means her mother is always suspicious of her. Her only escape is her poetry, and her work gets noticed online by Horus, an older poet. But when things start to feel wrong, Samira is left feeling more lost than ever.
Canto Cantigo
by Jonny Garza Villa
What do you do when your rival is also your crush? When Rafie's life is upended by the loss of his beloved abuelo and a move to San Antonio, his desire to win as best mariachi vocalist gets complicated. Will his new romance get in the way of his love for the spotlight?
The Deep Dark
by Molly Knox Ostertag
There's something wrong with Mags. She sleeps through school, family life is tense, her make-out buddy won't be seen with her in public, and she spends her nights in a dark basement. When a (pretty) childhood friend breezes back into town, will Mags's darkness come to light?
Dragonfruit
by Makiia Lucier
Hanalei spends her exile researching seadragons, hoping to understand them and the secret of their eggs that saved her. There are some who would use her knowledge and the seadragons' magic for selfish gains, but Hanalei's only desire is to revive a sick royal and return home.
Gachiakuta, Volume 1
by Kei Urana and Hideyoshi Andou
Tossed out of his home like garbage for a crime he didn't commit, Rudo discovers that there is a twisted world below his own. To get revenge on those who discarded him, he must learn to navigate this new environment filled with horrifying monsters.
How the Boogeyman Became a Poet
by Tony Keith, Jr.
A poetry slam / with the boogey-man / in the back row. / How can you find your voice / if you've been hiding from yourself all along?
Leap
by Simina Popescu
Bucharest, Romania: an elite dance school where its students go on to do great things. Ana and Sara become roommates, then friends, and then navigate their lives as queer girls in a less-than-accepting culture. Love's a dance, missteps and all.
Looking for Smoke
by K.A. Cobell
Big Sky Country holds a lot of secrets, like who murdered Samantha White Tail in the middle of her rez. Now four teens on the Blackfeet Reservation are suspects who must solve her murder to clear their names... even though one of them might be the killer.
The No-Girlfriend Rule
by Christen Randall
Hollis adores the TTRPG Secrets & Sorcery, but her boyfriend and his friends won’t let her play. When she’s welcomed by a group of fun-loving, cosplaying girls, Hollis starts to discover parts of herself she didn't know existed—and for the first time, feels like she belongs.
Snowglobe
by Soyoung Park; translated from the Korean by Joungmin Lee Comfort
The world is a frozen wasteland; only citizens inside climate-controlled Snowglobe thrive. When Chobham is asked to pretend to be her favorite reality TV star, she must ask herself: When you’ve spent your life outside, what would you do to get in?
Top 10 Books for Adults
The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America
by Aaron Robertson
In this wide-ranging history, Robertson reflects on a diverse array of Black utopian visions, from the Reconstruction era through the countercultural fervor of the 1960s and 1970s and into the present day.
The Familiar
by Leigh Bardugo
Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil. But when her scheming mistress discovers she is hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands that Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position.
The God of the Woods
by Liz Moore
1975: A camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. But Barbara isn’t just any 13-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents.
I Was Working
by Ariel Yelen
A remarkable book of poems that mixes humor about the absurdities of office life with moments of Zen-like wisdom.
The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth
by Zoë Schlanger
It takes tremendous biological creativity to be a plant. Zoë Schlanger takes us across the globe, digging into her own memories and into the soil with the scientists who have spent their waking days studying these amazing entities up close.
Rare Flavours
by Ram V; art by Filipe Andrade
Young filmmaker Mo is approached by the zealous gourmand Rubin Baksh with an offer to make a documentary. But Rubin has a dark secret, and his tastes betray his insatiable nature.
Small Rain
by Garth Greenwell
A poet's life is turned inside out by a sudden, wrenching pain. The pain brings him to his knees, and eventually to the ICU. Confined to bed, plunged into the dysfunctional American healthcare system, he struggles to understand what is happening to his body.
A Sunny Place for Shady People: Stories
by Mariana Enriquez; translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell
A collection of 12 unsettling stories where ordinary people living in Argentina, particularly women, must confront terrifying and surreal encounters with the supernatural.
You Dreamed of Empires
by Álvaro Enrigue; translated from the Spanish by Natasha Wimmer
What really went down when Hernán Cortés met Moctezuma? Definitely not what happens in Enrigue's brilliant gonzo account of the last days of the Aztec empire.
You Should Be So Lucky
by Cat Sebastian
It's the 1960 baseball season. Ordered by the team's owner to give a bunch of interviews to reporter Mark Bailey, shortstop Eddie O'Leary finds himself slowly giving in to the attraction between them—and when it's just them against the world, they must decide if that's enough.
Get More from NYPL
- Explore the Best Books of 2024, including more than 200 titles for adults, teens, and kids—as well as books in Spanish for children and more.
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