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SLJ kicks off book award season with the unveiling of the December 2023 cover, which celebrates the Best Books of the year.

That first wiggly tooth and the subsequent visit by the tooth fairy is the stuff of childhood lore but it's still hard to explain! We've found a few of our favorite books on the subject to help you guide young patrons and their adults through this peculiar rite of passage.

This year's SLJ Best Books cover, was created by Guojing, author/illustrator of The Flamingo, a 2022 SLJ Best Book. Guojing is the 25th cover artist in an annual tradition of Best Books covers that began in 1998.

From picture books to novels, from romance to horror, these favorite titles that the SLJ reviews editors read in 2022 brought us the comfort that comes from reading a really good book.

Our 2022 Best Books are here! Download the complete list of the best picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, poetry, and graphic novels of the year.

Acclaimed creator Guojing talks with SLJ about her creative process, the cover image for SLJ's 2022 Best Books issue, and the timely and timeless themes in her stunning chapter book graphic novel The Flamingo.

Impeccable art and lyrical and child-friendly text set these 27 titles apart from everything else we read this year.

Chapter books are such an important part of literacy, and these six selections are not only perfect stepping stones on the learning journey, but also fun gems to secure children’s love of reading.

Rollicking adventures, coming-of-age woes, and long-lasting friendships are part and parcel of middle grade books, and these outstanding 25 picks fit the bill.