Before looking ahead to the new year and the exciting titles to come, critics and readers reflected on their most memorable children’s and YA picks. Check out our roundup of notable 2025 Best Books lists.
Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s and YA Books of 2025.
The New York Times Best Children’s Books of 2025.
School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2025.
Kirkus Reviews’ Best Picture Books.
Kirkus Reviews’ Best Middle Grade Books.
Kirkus Reviews’ Best YA Books.
Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2025.
The Wall Street Journal’s Best Children’s Books of 2025.
The New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2025.
Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books 2025.
Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year.
The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books 2025.
Goodreads Readers’ Favorite YA Books 2025.
Book Riot’s Best Children’s and Young Adult Books of 2025.
Reactor’s Notable Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2025.
Amazon’s Best Children’s Books of 2025.
Amazon’s Best Teen and Young Adult Books of 2025.
Barnes & Noble’s Best Picture Books
Barnes & Noble’s Best Middle Grade Books.
Barnes & Noble’s Best YA Books.
Waterstones’ Best Baby and Toddler Books.
Waterstones’ Best Children’s Fiction.
Waterstones’ Best Teenage & Young Adult Books.
The Guardian’s Best Children’s Books of 2025.
The Times of London’s 20 Best Children’s Books of 2025.
The Globe and Mail’s Best Kids’ Books.
Good Housekeeping’s 2025 Kids’ Book Awards.
BookPage’s Best Picture Books of 2025.
BookPage’s Best Middle Grade of 2025.
BookPage’s Best Young Adult Books of 2025.
The National Science Teaching Association’s Best STEM Books for Young Readers.
