Introducing NYPL's Best Books of 2020
2020 has been an extraordinary year (as in very much outside of the ordinary) but also a great year for readers. The New York Public Library's Best Books Committees have read widely and rigorously, searching out the most innovative, vibrant, and relevant books for New Yorkers today. Today we are proud to announce our Best Books of 2020—our annual lists of recommendations for kids, teens, and adults.
These lists celebrate the diversity of stories, authors, styles, and genres published this year. From literary fiction to fantasy, picture books to poetry, nonfiction to graphic novels, these books will inspire, engage, and surprise readers of all kinds and all ages.
Here you can explore the Library's top 10 books in five categories: books for kids, books in Spanish for kids, books for teens, books for adults, and poetry. Then you can find even more outstanding recommendations in our full lists for kids, teens, and adults, and discover which Best Books titles are available in accessible editions.
Top 10 Books for Kids
Whether your kid is still mostly looking at the pictures or is gradually becoming a reader in their own right, whether they love graphic novels or absorbing narrative tales, our Best Books for Kids list (with 100 titles) is full of books with incredible illustrations and spellbinding stories!
Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez
Go with the Flow by Lily Williams & Karen Schneemann
Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Land of the Cranesby Aida Salazar
Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnetby Zanib Mian, illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik
When Stars Are Scatteredby Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
You Matterby Christian Robinson
Top 10 libros para edades 0–12 en español
This list has some books you may have seen in English, and quite a few from around the world that you probably haven’t seen yet. Friendship, family, and nature are major themes, and there are some truly breathtaking illustrations. Discover the list in Spanish.
¿Cómo lo ves? by Vera Galindo
Amigasby Lauren Ace, illustrated by Jenny Løvlie
La bañera by Lisa Biggi, illustrated by Paloma Corral
La belleza del finalby Alfredo Colella, illustrated by Jorge González
Los carpinchos by Alfredo Soderguit
Manos a la tierra: crea tu propio jardín by Kirsten Bradley, illustrated by Aitch
Mi abuelo by Émilie Chazerand, illustrated by Nicolas Duffaut
Mi lazarilla, mi capitánby Gonzalo Moure, illustrated by Maria Girón
Música en el jardín by Mariana Ruiz Johnson
Los tomates de Mila by Sanne Dufft
Top 10 Books for Teens
These books cover such a wide expanse: family, immigration, Japanese incarceration during World War II, empowerment, gender identity, consent, masculinity, Black joy, magic, and fairy tales. Our librarians have selected 50 titles for young adults, and there is bound to be something here for every teen. Here's our top 10.
All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
Displacement by Kiku Hughes
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought for Their Lives and Warned the Nation by Candy J. Cooper with Marc Aronson
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
We Are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Top 10 Books for Adults
Our librarians have put together a list of 100 books for adults—literary fiction, genre fiction, graphic novels, and nonfiction—and these 10 are the ones that appeared most frequently on individual lists of favorites. There are books here that provide escape, books that lean into the moment we’re in, books that help us learn from the past, and books that imagine futures both dark and bright.
The City We Became: A Novelby N.K. Jemisin
Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague by Maggie O'Farrell
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
Interior Chinatown: A Novelby Charles Yu
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Luster by Raven Leilani
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Sacrifice of Darkness by Roxane Gay & Tracy Lynne Oliver
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires: A Novel by Grady Hendrix
Temporary: A Novel by Hilary Leichter
Top 10 Poetry Books
Whether you're already a poetry lover or have never read any before, there are treasures to be discovered in these books. Immigrant identity, the complexity of motherhood, and the powerful balm of art and poetry in impossible times are recurring themes. If you love the rhythms of city life, start with the vibrant Finna by Nate Parker. For contemplative family histories read Grimoire by Cherene Sherrard or The Galleons by Rick Barot.
Finna: Poems by Nate Marshall
The Galleons: Poems by Rick Barot
Grimoire by Cherene Sherrard
Gut Botanyby Petra Kuppers
Homie by Danez Smith
Kontemporary Amerikan Poetryby John Murillo
My Baby First Birthday: Poems by Jenny Zhang
A Nail the Evening Hangs On by Monica Sok
The Nancy Reagan Collection by Maxe Crandall
Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz