Shelf Awareness, the trusted publication of the indie bookselling community, proudly announces their Best Kids Books of 2025 chosen from more than 250 titles reviewed this year. This list of picture books, middle grade, and YA titles reflects the newsletter's pride in championing commendable creators, highlighting books with striking prose, distinctive premises, captivating author voices, and extraordinary artwork.

With more than half a million subscribers that include booksellers, librarians, publishing industry professionals, and consumer book lovers, Shelf Awareness's mission is to support independent booksellers and help them thrive. Shelf Awareness partners with more than 400 independent bookstores to provide expert and effective marketing services on their behalf--all free to the stores.

The Shelf Awareness Best Adult Books of 2025 was announced on December 12, 2025.

Picture Book

Cat Nap by Brian Lies (Greenwillow Books)

Everybelly by Thao Lam (Groundwood Books)

The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi, illus. by Monica Arnaldo (Kokila)

Island Storm by Brian Floca, illus. by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books)

The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole by Cecilia Heikkilä, translated by Polly Lawson (Floris Books)

Middle Grade

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, illus. by Elena Balbusso (Candlewick)

Higher Ground by Tull Suwannakit (Crocodile Books)

I'm a Dumbo Octopus: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods by Anne Lambelet (Graphic Universe/Lerner)

Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson (Quill Tree Books)

The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri (Levine Querido)

Young Adult

The Assassin's Guide to Babysitting by Natalie C. Parker (Candlewick)

The Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel (Scholastic Press)

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum (HarperCollins)

Hick: The Trailblazing Journalist Who Captured Eleanor Roosevelt's Heart by Sarah Miller (Random House Studio)

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride (Feiwel & Friends)

White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History by Ann Bausum (Roaring Brook Press)

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