The New York Times Book Review announced its annual 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books today, October 30. The selections include Maurice Sendak’s last children’s work and stellar offerings from Brian Floca, Kadir Nelson, and Fanny Brit.
The list has been published since 1952, curated every year by a panel of three independent judges from the world of children’s literature to honor picture books on the basis of artistic merit. This year’s panel is composed of Caldecott medalist and two-time winner Brian Selznick; SLJ blogger, author, and children’s librarian Elizabeth Bird; and Steve Heller, longtime art director at The Times. Children’s books editor for The New York Times Book Review Sarah Harrison Smith oversaw the panel.
The winning titles for 2013 are:
My Brother’s Book by Maurice Sendak
HarperCollins
Ballad by Blexbolex, translated by Claudia Z. Bedrick
Enchanted Lion
Jemmy Button by Jennifer Uman and Valerio Vidali
Candlewick
The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Little, Brown
Holland by Charlotte Dematons
Lemniscaat
Journey by Aaron Becker
Candlewick
Fog Island by Tomi Ungerer
Phaidon
Jane, The Fox and Me by Fanny Britt, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, translated by Christelle Morelli and Susan Ouriou
Groundwood
Locomotive by Brian Floca
S & S
Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson
HarperCollins