Lee & Low Books is hanging shining starred reviews on these books and wrapping up our best of the year titles with a bow! As 2022 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the achievements of the year.
Alicia and the Hurricane / Alicia y el huracán: A Story of Puerto Rico / Un cuento de Puerto Rico 📚
by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Elizabeth Erazo Baez
📚 Best Books of 2022 by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature
Bottle Tops: The Art of El Anatsui 📚★★
by Alison Goldberg, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
📚 Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2022
★ “[An] excellent biography . . . [that] deserves a place on public library shelves.” —Booklist
★ “From cover to cover, Bottle Tops is a sensational reading experience.” —Shelf Awareness
by Monica Zepeda
📚 Los Angeles Public Library Best Books of 2022
Cómo Aidan llegó a ser un hermano 📚
by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
📚 Best Spanish Books for Kids 2022 by the New York Public Library
Copycat: Nature-Inspired Design Around the World 📚★★
by Christy Hale
📚 Best Books for Kids 2022 by the New York Public Library
★ “Hale’s accessible tanka poems pack a lot into five lines. The softness of her detailed relief prints effectively contrasts with the photographs highlighting human invention.” —The Horn Book
★ “A fascinating and creative look at a little-known STEM topic that is accessible to a wide audience. Highly recommended.” —School Library Journal
Echoes of Grace 📚★★
by Guadalupe García McCall
📚 The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 2022 Blue Ribbon List
📚 Kirkus Reviews’ Best Young Adult Books of the Year 2022
★ “A nouveau gothic tale with roots as deep as mesquite and a heart as wide as the Texas sky.” —Kirkus Reviews
★ “Employing a carefully guided first-person voice and sensory-rich imagery that centers nature . . . García McCall crafts a haunting, intrigue-laden update on the genre that . . . demands accountability and action.” —Publishers Weekly
by Laleña Garcia, illustrated by Caryn Davidson
★ “An important message for all young people, this is approachable but profound in its message, and a welcome addition to any elementary library.” —School Library Journal
by Shirley Reva Vernick
★ “[An] engrossing novel.” —The Horn Book
★ “Balanced narratives and steady pacing effectively highlight an often-overlooked period in both Japanese and American history.” —Publishers Weekly
Still Dreaming / Seguimos soñando 📚
by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, illustrated by Magdalena Mora
📚 Best Spanish Books for Kids 2022 by the New York Public Library
by Ying-Hwa Hu
📚 Best Books for Kids 2022 by the New York Public Library
📚 Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books for Kids 2022
📚 Best Books of 2022 by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature
El cuarto turquesa / The Turquoise Room 📚
by Monica Brown, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia
📚 Best Spanish Books for Kids 2022 by the New York Public Library
Vámonos: Mexican Folk Art Transport in English and Spanish ★
by Cynthia Weill, photographs of Mexican folk art by Oaxacan craftsmen Augustín Tinoco Cruz, Martín Melchor, Maximino Santiago, and Avelino Pérez
★ “This is one extraordinary picture-book journey to the library . . . Gorgeous, unique art makes this an illustrative standout.” —Kirkus Reviews
by Xelena González, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia
📚 Kirkus Reviews’ Best Picture Books of the Year 2022
📚 Best Books of 2022 by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature
★ “Enchanting. . . It’s a sweet summoning emboldened by González’s starry-eyed text, an assortment of phrases and statements that gesture toward the promise found in young readers everywhere. Garcia’s muralist background lends itself here to striking, gorgeous artwork that embodies a whimsical sense of cosmic compassion. . . Simply dazzling.” —Kirkus Reviews
★ “Lyrical words by González (a member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation) emphasize the intergenerational ties that bind the characters and show Indigenous knowledge in the process of being passed down. Garcia’s portraits center affectionate familial gestures alongside mural-like views of sunset skies and evocative representations of fire, earth, air, and water.” —Publishers Weekly
by Xelena González, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia
📚 Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books for Kids 2022