The New York Public Library Celebrates Its Anniversary, Mission, and Patrons With the Release of 125 Kids Books We Love

The list—released to mark the Library’s 125th anniversary on May 23—celebrates books that spark a true, lifelong love of reading.      

MAY 22, 2020 - To mark its 125th anniversary, The New York Public Library is giving patrons two much-needed treats: a list of 125 children’s books from the last 125 years that spark a lifelong love of reading, and a special video featuring 125 book recommendations from writers, actors, artists, NYPL librarians, and more. 

125 Kids Books We Love—available online at nypl.org/125—was curated by expert librarians, and features books published after May 23, 1895 (the Library system’s incorporation) for kids from age 0 to 12. The list is a follow-up to the Library’s 125 Books We Love list featuring titles for adults which was released on Valentine’s Day earlier this year.

As the Library’s locations are temporarily closed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, most of the books on the list are available to borrow digitally (in audio or e-book format) via the Library’s catalog and its e-reader app SimplyE (available in iOS and Android). 

“The best way to honor our anniversary is to be true to our mission and support the people of our City, who are going through a period of unprecedented challenges,” said NYPL President Anthony W. Marx. “We are doing that in many ways; this list, which gives families ideas for books to read together, is just one way we’re trying to help. The hope is that these magical, timeless titles provide a much-needed positive distraction, support for remote learning, discussion that brings people together around books, and maybe a challenge goal to achieve over the summer: can you read them all?”

A team of children’s librarians from across the organization—led by Associate Director of Readers Services Lynn Lobash, who serves on several American Library Association book committees—spent months discussing, debating, and deciding on the list, which includes books that: 

  • Inspire a love of reading

  • Make kids want to continue reading

  • Remind kids why reading is fun, exciting, and enlightening

  • Survive the test of time

Books that were considered included:

  • Books published after May 23, 1895 (when The New York Public Library was incorporated)

  • Titles for children ages 0-12 

  • Currently available in NYPL’s collections

  • Only one title or series per author

All of the following elements were taken into consideration as the list was developed:

  • Literary merit

  • Checkouts/popularity over the last 125 years

  • Diverse voices (ensuring that New York City’s diverse voices are represented as best as possible)

  • The opinions/observations of longtime librarians (AKA – reading experts)

“We all remember the children’s book that first captured our imaginations and got us hooked on reading,” said Lynn Lobash, the Library’s assistant director of readers services. “Those books hold special places in our hearts, and this list is tribute to that excitement and nostalgia, but also to our role helping families find their next great reading experience. For families trying to cope during a difficult time, for kids who want to get lost in a good book, and for parents trying to model readers, we hope this list is a good starting point. It wasn’t easy to narrow it down to 125 books--people are passionate about kids books--but we think the end result is strong.”

The Library will continue to release content around this list all summer long, as well as host virtual activities and programs. For example, the Library has been sharing daily online storytimes, and books from the list will be included moving forward. To receive the latest updates and schedules, patrons should sign up for the NYPL Connect newsletter. 

The Library will release the final installment of its “Books We Love” list series in the fall, with the release of 125 Books We Love for Teens. 

In addition to the release of the kids list, the Library marked its anniversary with the May 22 release of the video “Reading Brings Us Together,” whcih that showcases 125 people--staff members, authors, and notable book lovers--sharing book recommendations and more for NYPL’s anniversary. The video, as well as full versions of special contributor videos, can be viewed at nypl.org/readingbringsustogethervideos; a list of the guest contributors with links to their chosen titles here.

And on May 23, the Empire State Building will be lit up in New York Public Library red and white to mark the occasion.

The New York Public Library system was founded on May 23, 1895, with the goal of making knowledge, information, and opportunity available to all New Yorkers, regardless of background or circumstance. The Library, which serves the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, continues to aspire to its original mission, offering not only books and other materials, but providing e-books via its own reading app SimplyE, access to databases, workshops, classes, talks with notable authors, and much more.  

The Library has served New York City through good times and bad, including the current COVID-19 crisis. While its physical locations have been temporarily closed since March 14, the Library system is very much open, offering a wide range of robust virtual resources, including:

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming, and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves nearly 17 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.