For the second year, we are pleased to present a terrific tabulation of the consensus Best of the Best Children’s Books of 2020. Drawing on 20 selective sources in all, the data naturally provided a clear set of top titles across young adult, middle grade, and picture books. With more lists focused on young adult books than any other segment, we also have a top 10 young adult list to share. Top 3 Young Adult Books of the Year 1. Stamped, Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi (Little, Brown Children’s) 2. Clap When You Land, Elizabeth Acevedo (Quill Tree) 3. […]
The Final, Very Best of the Best Books of 2020
With 59 votes tabulated we’re ready to present the final and ultimate aggregation of selective “best of 2020” book lists from all over — including major publications of all kinds, but also retailer and library selections, major award nominees, public votes, new “tastemakers” and more. This year Isabel Wilkerson’s CASTE led as “book of the year” from start to finish — and it becomes the first work of nonfiction to claim that distinction since we started compiling these aggregated lists. In fiction, Brit Bennett’s THE VANISHING HALF also led the field the entire way. A big five of the top […]
Holiday Sales Update
NPD Bookscan issued their weekly analysis of print book sales, which remain strong heading into the final holiday sales week. The big question is whether that last week of sales before the holiday — which is the single biggest week of the year — can remain strong given the limitations of everything from store capacity to shipping times and inventory availability. For the sales week ending December 12 (week 49 of the sales year), unit sales of 30 million were approximately 2.9 million units above the comparable week a year ago. Year to date, sales of 679 million prints units […]
Tidings of Research at a Discount
As we first announced yesterday, during this quiet holiday week, we have an opportunity to try a deep dive into the full resources of PublishersMarketplace.com at a substantial discount. Use the “promo code” 15gift in the indicated field when you register and enjoy the first month of service for just $15. Feel free to share this offer with anyone you think might be interested. (Please note, you must enter code in the “Promo Code: ___” box when registering to work.) This code is valid for this week only, and expires December 27.
Briefs
Riky Stock will join North South Books as managing director on January 1. She will focus on “strengthening transatlantic ties to the company’s head office in Zurich, Switzerland and developing a more international approach to marketing and communications.” Stock was head of the German Book Office in New York and represented the Frankfurt Book Fair in the US. (That office was recently closed.) One of the year’s unanswered questions has been what France’s Vivendi — and controlling owner Vincent Bolloré — wants from its sizable 27 percent stage in Lagardere. Reuters suggests the battle for control of the company may […]
Counting Down to the Very Best of the Best Books of 2020
Here is our weekly updated aggregation of the best of Best Books of 2020 lists, now with over 50 lists tabulated. As has been the case all along, Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste leads the overall Top 10 and is in line to be the first nonfiction book to rank as Book of the Year since we started these compilations. Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half continues to lead among works of fiction, where a pretty clear top 10 list is emerging as well: The Very Best of the Best Books of 2020: Top 10 Overall 1. Caste, Isabel Wilkerson [22] 2. The […]