Welcome to Fanfare, the Horn Book’s annual best books list! What a way to close out the Horn Book’s centennial year, with our fifty-three (think of it as one per week plus a bonus!) most highly recommended titles. All year long we’ve been exploring the theme of “Past, Present, and Future of Children’s Literature,” with reminiscences from colleagues and friends (including this issue’s special Five Questions interview with Wicked author Gregory Maguire!), and with the books on Fanfare providing both a snapshot of the times and a broader view of what may endure. Every selection has its own unique traits and character, with picture books, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry spanning all age groups and many formats, interests, and voices. There’s something for everyone — from right-now favorites to books to grow into, to reflect on, and return to. Maybe even when the Horn Book turns two hundred! In the meantime, please enjoy.

Elissa Gershowitz
Editor in Chief

Read more by and about Fanfare authors and illustrators here

Picture Books

Ahoy!
written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall; Schwartz/Random
(Preschool, Primary)

In a brilliantly constructed picture book about imaginary play, a child gathers items for a pretend sea voyage while an adult vacuums. Soon, readers are plunged into a world where child and adult are aboard a schooner on the high seas. Mixed-media and digital illustrations are alternately gorgeous and rich in character and humor. Review 3/24.

Let’s Go!
written and illustrated by Julie Flett; Greystone Kids
(Preschool, Primary)

Using Mom’s old board, a child explores skateboarding: practicing, watching other kids, and building up the courage to join in. The empathetic, childlike text — punctuated with the Cree/­English refrain “haw êkwa! Let’s go!” — and ­digitally composed pastel and pencil drawings in muted tones beautifully capture the nervousness and joy of learning something new. Review 5/24.

A Friend for Eddy
written and illustrated by Ann Kim Ha; Greenwillow
(Preschool, Primary)

Lonely fish Eddy, swimming in his bowl, mistakes a lurking feline’s pair of fish-shaped eyes for potential playmates. He eagerly propels himself out of the bowl — and quickly recognizes his precarious position. Mercifully, a surprise final turn ends this sly and unpredictable, visually appealing odd-couple/new-friendship tale. Review 3/24.

How We Share Cake
written and illustrated by Kim Hyo-eun, translated from Korean by Deborah Smith; Scribble
(Preschool, Primary)

In this clever, humorous Korean import, a girl describes how she and her four siblings share everything fairly. Even when she has a chance to pick whatever cake she wants, she chooses an easily shareable one. Simply drawn characters nimbly convey the wide range of ­emotions involved depending on what’s being shared. Review 1/25.

Monster Hands
written by Karen Kane and Jonaz McMillan, illustrated by Dion MBD; Paulsen/Penguin
(Preschool, Primary)

Using American Sign Language, his flashlight, and ideas from a neighbor looking out her window, Milo sign-shouts and shadow-plays a bedtime monster into oblivion. With its dynamic, inventive visual qualities, this book naturally shows ASL as the language these children use — allowing the story’s drama to take center stage. Review 5/24.

Noodles on a Bicycle
written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang; Random House Studio/Random
(Preschool, Primary)

Readers experience a wild bicycle ride through the busy streets of mid-­twentieth-century­ Tokyo alongside a delivery man balancing an impossibly tall, precarious tower of stacked soup bowls and noodle boxes. The text is energetic and animated, while ink-and-gouache illustrations capture the circus-like thrill of the cyclist’s feat. A final reveal brings the story to a cozy and delicious end. Review 9/24.

Meena’s Saturday
written by Kusum Mepani, illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail; Kokila/Penguin
(Primary)

A captivating ode to the foods, activities, and traditions shared by a group of friends and extended family. Young Meena describes the day, noting the tightly knit fabric of her Gujarati immigrant community, questioning gender norms, and offering matter-of-fact commentary on her bicultural experience. The mixed-media illustrations are appropriately busy and vibrant. Review 11/24.

The Midnight Panther
written and illustrated by Poonam Mistry; Candlewick Studio
(Primary)

This fable-like story follows a gentle panther who wants to look more like other majestic cats but learns to love his own sparkling coat that “shimmer[s] like jewels” at night. Mistry uses patterns reminiscent of indigenous South Asian art forms to create mesmerizing visuals that underline the beauty of nature and of embracing oneself. Review 1/25.

The First Day of May
written and illustrated by Henrique Coser Moreira; Em Querido/Levine Querido
(Preschool, Primary)

This wordless Portuguese import celebrates — with abundant style — the blossoming of spring. A child sees the sun is shining, bolts outside, takes flight, and visits a forest. Most of the action is conveyed in small, square panels filled with clever surprises and changes in scale. The protagonist’s boundless energy propels the narrative; playful and exceptionally funny moments make the story sing. Review 1/24.

Joyful Song: A Naming Story
written by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal; Levine/Levine Querido
(Preschool, Primary)

It’s Zachary’s baby sister’s first Shabbat, and Zachary, en route to her naming ceremony with their mothers, is bursting to share her name. Vivid, colorful illustrations are as perfectly paced as the text in this positive, inclusive story about welcoming a new sibling into a community through a Jewish ritual. Review 5/24.

Heatwave
written and illustrated by Lauren ­Redniss; Random House Studio/­Random
(Preschool, Primary)

“No way. Too hot.” Spare, evocative text accompanies imagery of a family trying to cool off at a city beach during a heatwave. Arresting red and blue illustrations of elongated figures are imbued with a fine-art aesthetic. Along with being an immersive picture book, this is a brilliantly conveyed meditation on life during our contemporary environmental crisis. Review 7/24.

The Mango Tree / La mata de mango
written and illustrated by Edel Rodriguez; Abrams
(Preschool, Primary)

In this wordless picture book, two boys play in a mango tree until a storm whisks away the tree — still carrying one of the boys. After a choppy night at sea, child and tree reach a new island home. Striking woodblock and digital illustrations are dynamic and well-balanced, and a mango’s sunset-glow guides viewers through even the darkest spreads. Review 7/24.

My Daddy Is a Cowboy
written by Stephanie Seales, illustrated by C. G. Esperanza; Abrams
(Primary)

An affirming picture book celebrates contemporary Black cowboys and the closeness between a Panamanian ­American girl and her daddy. The duo leaves before daylight to ride horses through town, enjoying quiet “just us” time. Vibrant oil-paint illustrations feature boldly colored backgrounds that infuse even the pre-sunrise scenes with energy. Review 1/25.

Tove and the Island with No Address
written and illustrated by Lauren Soloy; Tundra
(Primary)

In red boots signaling adventure, a girl named Tove sets out on a stormy day to visit her secret friend and his five mischievous, birdlike daughters. Moody illustrations capture the atmosphere of this fitting homage to beloved Finnish author Tove Jansson, which pairs a strange escapade in the wild with a warm, cozy welcome home, epitomizing the appeal of her Moomin books. Review 1/25.

The House Before Falling into the Sea
written by Ann Suk Wang, illustrated by Hanna Cha; Dial
(Primary)

Kyung lives in coastal Busan, Korea, in 1950. When her family takes in refugees from the north, Kyung grudgingly shares her home, food, parents’ attention, and sleeping mat but eventually learns grace: “Visitors are…people, our neighbors, to help and to love.” Illustrations pay exquisite attention to the landscape’s beauty; rich greens and blues swirl, capturing the ocean’s constant movement. Review 1/24.

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Fiction

Puppet
written by David Almond, illustrated by Lizzy Stewart; Candlewick
(Intermediate)

In this moving fable/fantasy, an elderly puppet-maker makes one last creation: a wooden marionette the size of a seven-year-old. Then Puppet comes to life. In short chapters, generously illustrated with pencil drawings in spots and panels, Almond splendidly revisits his singular theme of what it means to be human. Review 11/24.

Henry and the Something New
written by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song; Chronicle
(Primary)

Though he’s ambivalent about a museum field trip, Henry, who presents as being on the autism spectrum, is looking forward to the dinosaur exhibit — if he can get his classmates to pay attention to his wishes. Relatable characters, familiar scenarios, gentle humor, and ­emotion-filled limited-palette illustrations make this second short chapter book (Henry, like Always, rev. 3/23) a remarkably satisfying read. Review 1/24.

The Judgment of Yoyo Gold
written by Isaac Blum; Philomel
(High School)

A rabbi’s eldest daughter begins to question her responsibilities and beliefs in this nuanced coming-of-age story. Yoyo models integrity that feels both genuine and aspirational, and characters within and outside her insular Orthodox community are portrayed with dimension and agency. A thought-provoking depiction with themes that resonate on a universal level. Review 11/24.

Everyone Gets a Turn
written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc, translated from French by Celyn Harding-Jones; Princeton ­Architectural
(Preschool, Primary)

Four animals take turns caring for an egg and then the chick that hatches from it. Little Bird builds her own house and proves she’s quite an independent thinker. Easily digestible sections and appealing illustrations filled with recurring details make Dubuc’s satisfying picture book/graphic novel hybrid a perfect match for reading novices and slightly younger listeners. Review 5/24.

Next Stop
written and illustrated by Debbie Fong; RH Graphic/Random
(Intermediate, Middle School)

Middle schooler Pia embarks on a multi-day bus tour to the subterranean bioluminescent Cessarine Lake, complete with kitschy roadside attractions along the way. Flashbacks and daily phone calls home gradually reveal what led to this solo trip, including a family tragedy. Elements of magical realism appear in this deeply affecting graphic novel’s imaginative, varied illustrations. Review 1/24.

Young Hag and the Witches’ Quest
written and illustrated by Isabel Greenberg; Amulet/Abrams
(Middle School, High School)

This spirited, intelligent graphic-novel mashup of Arthuriana puts Morgan le Fay — now Ancient Crone, cheerfully saggy-bosomed and thin-haired — and her granddaughter, Young Hag, at the center of a fresh new story. Epic tragedy and grave betrayals are conveyed with a light touch, while Young Hag’s arduous personal growth and development have a heartwarming gravitas, enhanced by Greenberg’s skillfully naive comic drawing style. Review 7/24.

Island of Whispers
written by Frances Hardinge, ­illustrated by Emily Gravett; Amulet/Abrams
(Intermediate, Middle School)

Milo inherits the role of Ferryman and must transport the Dead to their next destination; he comes to realize that listening, recording, and sharing can be part of his job. Spectacularly misty, atmospheric illustrations heighten the elusive, poignant themes of sorrow, mortality, and the significance of last messages in a layered, poetically written fantasy. Review 7/24.

Still Sal
written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes; Greenwillow
(Primary)

In this touching fourth installment (most recently Oh, Sal, rev. 9/22), six-year-old Sal faces lots of changes, including having to share her bedroom with her toddler sister, beginning first grade, and dealing with shifting friendships. Black-and-white spot art supports the text as Henkes navigates the vicissitudes of his young protagonist’s life with warmth, humor, and utmost respect. Review 11/24.

How It All Ends
written and illustrated by Emma ­Hunsinger; Greenwillow
(Middle School, High School)

Tara’s runaway thoughts come with her when she skips eighth grade to go directly to high school. As she learns the ropes, her feelings for another girl unfold gently. Detailed vignette-style illustrations blend Tara’s lived experience with elaborate scenes from her mind in this funny, honest graphic novel. Review 9/24.

Death at Morning House
written by Maureen Johnson; ­HarperTeen
(High School)

Marlowe takes a summer job leading tours of Morning House, historic home of the cursed Ralston family and site of suspicious incidents. With chapters alternating between the past and the present, this is a superb mystery with well-researched historical authenticity and a hilarious, self-deprecating teen detective. Review 11/24.

A New Car for Pickle
written and illustrated by Sylvie ­Kantorovitz; Holiday
(Primary)

Dog Pickle overreacts to a car breakdown and goes through the tribulations of car shopping before landing on a simpler solution. This highly entertaining beginning reader in comics format is ideal for readers building independence. Restful blues and greens complement the story’s gentle tone; patterns add whimsy and visual interest. Review 5/24.

Pick the Lock
written by A.S. King; Dutton
(High School)

Jane, sixteen, and her brother live trapped with, and in thrall to, their manipulative father. Their mother, a punk rock star, is frequently on tour — and confined to a system of pneumatic tubes at home. Via artistic expression, and in varied narrative form, Jane’s process of unlearning begins. The emotional landscape is vast and cathartic: bewilderment, rage, regret, sorrow, empathy, enlightenment. Review 11/24.

The Forbidden Book
written by Sacha Lamb; Levine/Levine Querido
(Middle School, High School)

On the eve of her arranged marriage to the rebbe’s son, seventeen-year-old Sorel feels compelled to flee. Disguised as a boy, she doubles back and encounters allies, enemies, and otherworldly forces. Dubious motivations, gripping twists and turns, questions of faith and orthodoxy, and a stolen book “written by an angel” drive this un-put-downable narrative. Review 9/24.

Telephone of the Tree
written by Alison McGhee; Rocky Pond/Penguin
(Intermediate)

Ten-year-old Ayla’s neighbors make “calls” to lost loved ones on a phone that appears in a birch tree (inspired by a real-life phone booth in Japan). Ayla’s loose, dreamy narration allows readers to piece together what she cannot admit: that she is dealing with a loss of her own. A spare, heart-rending portrait of processing grief and of poignant community support. Review 7/24.

Not the Worst Friend in the World
written by Anne Rellihan; Holiday
(Intermediate)

This pitch-perfect middle-grade mystery unfolds when new-girl Cece confides in Lou that she thinks her dad has kidnapped her. Lou welcomes the distraction after having ruined things with her best friend, but will she lose Cece’s friendship too? A creative whodunit with keen insight into early adolescent relationships. Review 1/24.

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now…: A Love Story
written by Jason Reynolds; Dlouhy/Atheneum
(High School)

“Tonight is for our first time.” A story told backward by witty, vulnerable seventeen-year-old Neon drops readers immediately into the action, and then zooms out to contextualize his relationship with Aria. A fully realized, frequently hilarious cast of friends and family offers advice on sex and relationships in this thoughtful, tender novel. Review 1/25.

Pearl
written by Sherri L. Smith, illustrated by Christine Norrie; Graphix/Scholastic
(Intermediate, Middle School)

Japanese American Amy is visiting family near Hiroshima when America enters World War II. She is nearly killed during the eventual atomic bomb explosion. But the words of her pearl-diver great-grandmother (“life is a treasure”) compel her to survive. Black-and-white illustrations colored with a slate blue suit this solemn, powerful graphic novel. Review 9/24.

Deep Water
written by Jamie Sumner; Atheneum
(Intermediate, Middle School)

After her mother leaves the family, twelve-year-old Tully impulsively takes on a challenging, risky marathon swim. Each passing hour of the swim reveals more about mother and daughter, giving readers a peek into the thoughts and feelings that underpin childhood trauma. A propulsive and affecting verse novel. Review 7/24.

Mid-Air
written by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff; Dlouhy/Atheneum
(Middle School)

Isaiah processes the sudden death of a friend and begins a journey of ­self-acceptance in a resonant verse novel. Accessible language quickly draws ­readers into the carefully handled story of sensitive topics (death, grief, racism, violence, racial and gender expression). Moving grayscale illustrations are interspersed. Review 5/24.

Lunar New Year Love Story
written by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham; First Second
(Middle School, High School)

The reveal of her family’s romantic curse ruins Vietnamese American Valentina’s long-beloved namesake holiday. She later begins to date a lion dancer she meets at a Tết celebration, but is the relationship real? Yang’s text and Pham’s digital illustrations in this unique, engaging, often humorous graphic novel weave fantasy elements into a story of fractured families and of romance. Review 1/24.

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Poetry

Black Girl You Are Atlas
written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes; Kokila/Penguin
(Middle School, High School)

In this semiautobiographical work, Watson encapsulates her experience of Black girlhood and womanhood. Using various poetic forms, she honors the multifaceted nature of her upbringing and the women who paved the way for her. “And what would we do / without the knowing women?” Holmes’s accompanying collages are magnificent and celebratory. Review 3/24.

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Nonfiction

Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos
written by Nathalie Alonso, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez; Calkins/Astra
(Primary, Intermediate)

An inspiringly told story of the Puerto Rican baseball legend who rose to Major League stardom and was known for his exceptional talent, fierce pride in his heritage, advocacy, and humanitarian spirit. ­Clemente’s journey, reflected in the inventive, energetic art, honors individuality and the power of staying true to oneself. Review 9/24.

Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube
written by Kerry Aradhya, illustrated by Kara Kramer; Peachtree
(Primary)

Readers follow Rubik’s quest to “build a big cube out of smaller cubes that moved around each other and stayed connected.” Mixed-media and digital-collage illustrations add playfulness to the story of the man behind the eponymous cube, while the text stresses the importance of curiosity and perseverance. Review 7/24.

Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall
written by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Jason Chin; Porter/Holiday
(Primary, Intermediate)

After a blue whale dies, her body sustains other creatures’ lives for the next few hundred years. Brunelle’s engaging voice strikes the right balance between narration and exposition. Chin’s always-exquisite watercolors dominate the varied layouts, even as supplemental maps, models, and cross-sections effortlessly impart complex visual information. Review 5/24.

The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants
written and illustrated by Philip ­Bunting; Crown
(Primary)

Expressive-eyed ants march across the cleverly designed pages of this humorous, informative book. Lively illustrations help relay scientific facts about the insects in an accessible way. The text makes parallels between ants and people, conveying how they survive through cooperation. Clearly, “we can learn a lot from these marvelous little creatures.” Review 3/24.

Virus Hunters: How Science Protects People When Outbreaks and Pandemics Strike
written by Amy Cherrix; Harper/­HarperCollins
(Intermediate, Middle School)

Illuminating the scope and importance of epidemiologists’ work, Cherrix examines six case studies, including a nineteenth-century cholera outbreak, HIV/AIDS medical activism, a mysterious illness threatening the Navajo Nation, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Short chapters keep the pace brisk as Cherrix’s riveting narrative demonstrates how health and science professionals cooperate, collaborate, and corroborate to develop increasingly effective vaccines. Review 1/25.

The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II
written by Candace Fleming; Focus/Scholastic
(Middle School, High School)

An engrossing and thorough account focuses on the role teenage girls and young women played in an extensive code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park in WWII Britain. Fleming tells the stories of ten of them while seamlessly interspersing information about larger historical events and clear explanations of codes and ciphers. Review 5/24.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic
written by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Deena So’Oteh; Schwartz/Random
(Primary)

This gripping picture book immerses readers in the life of a narwhal through the seasons. Fleming presents such challenges as hungry orcas and dangerous blizzards as a natural part of survival. So’Oteh’s digital illustrations — including­ a striking and informative vertical ­gatefold — detail the majestic settings while emphasizing narwhals’ grace. Review 11/24.

Dive, Dive into the Night Sea
written and illustrated by Thea Lu; Candlewick Studio
(Primary)

Innovative bookmaking, including a horizontal binding and elegantly ­incor­porated informational flaps, brings readers along on a nighttime dive. Evocative mixed-media illustrations, mostly rendered in gray tones with occasional color, put us in unfamiliar territory, revealing a variety of life thriving in a wondrous underwater world. Lu has produced a beautiful exploration of the “inky depths.” Review 11/24.

Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller
written by Breanna J. McDaniel, ­illustrated by April Harrison; Dial
(Primary)

Few people have had more of an impact on African American children’s literature than griot, educator, and ­librarian Augusta Baker. ­McDaniel gives an account of Baker’s life that is as celebratory as the heroes in her folktales. ­Harrison’s ­exuberant ­mixed-media collages capture the vibrancy of both the storyteller and her stories, creating worlds and words that leap off pages. Review 1/24.

Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez
written by Belen Medina, illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro; Atheneum
(Primary)

A propulsive picture-book biography introduces readers to an extraordinary Indigenous ultramarathoner. Rhythmic text is punctuated with onomatopoeia and emphasizes Ramírez’s connection to Rarámuri traditions. Richly colored digital illustrations depict the runner’s surroundings during her many races all over the globe and her daily life at home. Review 9/24.

The Iguanodon’s Horn: How Artists and Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together Again and Again…and Again
written and illustrated by Sean Rubin; Clarion/HarperCollins
(Primary)

What did dinosaurs really look like? The best attempts to answer this question are constantly changing. Rubin shows how each major find in paleontology, as well as the techniques and creativity used by paleoartists, have produced improvements in scientifically grounded artistic illustrations. An accessible text, humorous asides, and eye-pleasing “digital collages” illuminate scientific breakthroughs at work. Review 3/24.

A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer — and Beyond
written by Elizabeth Rusch; ­Greenwillow
(High School)

In tracing the United States Women’s National Team’s battle for equal pay and equal treatment, Rusch keeps readers enthralled by edge-of-their-seats descriptions of World Cup and Olympic soccer games while educating them about gender bias, Title IX, the effects of concussion, contract negotiations, grass versus turf fields, class action lawsuits, and more. A remarkably comprehensive and unvarnished account. Review 11/24.

Remembering Rosalind Franklin: Rosalind Franklin & the Discovery of the Double Helix Structure of DNA
written by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Gretchen Ellen Powers; Ottaviano/Little, Brown
(Primary, Intermediate)

Stone’s dedication — “for anyone who did something awesome and didn’t feel the love” — sets the reparative tone for this tribute to the woman who cracked the DNA code but didn’t receive the recognition (or the Nobel Prize). ­Powers’s art combines realism with evocative visual commentary. An author’s note explains the Matilda Effect, in which men take credit for women’s work. Review 1/24.

Cicely Tyson
written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Sherry Shine; Amistad/HarperCollins­
(Primary)

Watson honors legendary actor Tyson as “a bright light / shining in a world that was sometimes dark” in this picture-book biography told in poems. Shine’s outstanding digitally rendered illustrations, created with “fabric, quilting and embellishments,” add depth and texture. Review 1/25.

The One & Only Googoosh: Iran’s Beloved Superstar
written and illustrated by Azadeh Westergaard; Viking
(Primary, Intermediate)

A stunning tribute to Iranian popstar Googoosh is set in context of the 1979 revolution, whose upheaval included the banning of women’s singing. Complex, layered illustrations theatrically depict the performer’s childhood stardom and eventual triumphant return to the world stage. Review 1/25.

Up, Up, Ever Up!: Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains
written by Anita Yasuda, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu; Clarion/HarperCollins
(Primary)

Japanese mountaineer Tabei became the first woman to conquer Mount Everest, overcoming cultural expectations and gender stereotypes. Yasuda’s evocative prose makes readers feel as if they are right there with Tabei. Shimizu’s brilliant India ink and digitally colored art ­further immerses us in the natural world. Review 11/24.

Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire.
written by Paula Yoo; Norton
(High School)

Using extensive research and original reporting, Yoo provides deeply humanizing portraits of King, Harlins, and Lee, contextualizing their stories within a comprehensive, kaleidoscopic account of what happened before, during, and after the 1992 Los Angeles uprising. A variety of perspectives come together in a powerful, compelling look at historical events. Review 5/24.

Read more by and about Fanfare authors and illustrators here