Compiled by the Worlds of Words Center Board

November, December and January are every bookworm’s favorite months because many book awards are announced. The National Council of English broadcasts the Orbis Pictus and Charlotte Huck awards before Thanksgiving. In December, the National Book Awards are celebrated and then in the first month of the year, the American Library Association announces the children’s and young adult award winning books for numerous awards such as the Pura Belpré Award, Schneider Family Book Award and the Mildred L. Batchelder Award. At a recent Worlds of Words Center gathering, we discussed the many titles that were acknowledged, but were disappointed that some of our favorite 2022 books didn’t receive greater recognition. This month’s WOW Dozen shares the books that we think should have done better this awards season. What book titles do you think should have won a major award? Please share in the comments section.

 

WOW Dozen features a list of 12 global books for children and adolescents around a theme, topic, issue or personal favorites. Each Dozen consists of ten newly-published titles with two older “must have” books. Please share or recommend additional books that fit the theme in the comments section or on social media using #WOWDozen. Use the printer icon in the upper left corner of this post to print or save this list as a PDF.​

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• Themes: A Magic Steeped In Poison, Andrea Wang, Chioma Ebinama, Door of No Return, Emile and the Field, Farmhouse, Hyewon Yum, I Don't Care, Jacqueline Woodson, Juana Martinez-Neal, Judy I. Lin, Julie Fogliano, Kevin Young, Kwame Alexander, Leo Espinosa, Lindsey Eager, Love in the Library, Luli and the Language of Tea, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Margarita Engle, Molly Idle, Patron Thief of Bread, Singing with Elephants, Sophie Blackall, Where Butterflies Fill the Sky, Witch Hazel, World Belonged to Us, Yas Inamura, Zahra Marwan
• Descriptors: WOW Dozen