BookPage Best Children's Books of 2012

Every year, it seems the books being published for children just get better and better. That's good news for anyone looking for a special gift for a child! Once again, we at BookPage enjoyed revisiting the books we loved this year as we came up with our list of the best children's books of 2012.

PICTURE BOOKS

And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Bear Has a Story To Tell by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
hello! hello! by Matthew Cordell
A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead
Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Otter and Odder by James Howe, illustrated by Chris Raschka
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
When Blue Met Egg by Lindsay Ward

MIDDLE GRADE

Crow by Barbara Wright
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente
Katerina's Wish by Jeannie Mobley
Keeping Safe the Stars by Sheila O'Connor
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
On the Road to Mr. Mineo's by Barbara O'Connor
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Precious Bones by Mika Ashley-Hollinger
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed

YOUNG ADULT

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
The Diviners by Libba Bray
Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
Son by Lois Lowry