Best Books of the Year
Menu

Chicago Public Library

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2010

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2010 names 123 books across 7 categories. 24 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Best Fiction for Older Readers

  1. As Simple as It Seems by Sarah Weekssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Boys Without Names by Kashmira Shethsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Chasing Orion by Kathryn Laskysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boycesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Countdown by Deborah Wilessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Forge by Laurie Halse Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapmansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Keeper by Kathi Appeltsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja by Simon Higginssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodessource (opens in a new tab)
  11. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Drapersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Reckless by Cornelia Caroline Funkesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Scumble by Ingrid Lawsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Smile by Raina Telgemeiersource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatowsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Sixty-eight Rooms by Marianne Malonesource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Toymaker by Jeremy De Quidtsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Water Seeker by Kimberly Willis Holtsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Trash by Andy Mulligansource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holmsource (opens in a new tab)

Best Fiction for Younger Readers

  1. Aggie the Brave by Lori Riessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Almost Zero by Nikki Grimessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Big Nate: In A Class by Himself by Lincoln Peircesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Daisy Dawson and the Big Freeze by Steve Voakesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. How Tía Lola Learned to Teach by Julia Alvarezsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-up by Melissa Thomsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Linsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorstsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Mouse and Mole: A Winter Wonderland by Wong Herbert Yeesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade by Stephanie Greenesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. School!: Adventures at the Harvey N. Trouble Elementary School by Kate McMullansource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Spaceheadz, Book 1 by Jon Scieszkasource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Spaceheadz, Book 2 by Jon Scieszkasource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowrysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Woodsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Anglebergersource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Watch Out World, Rosy Cole Is Going Green! by Sheila Greenwaldsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubbsource (opens in a new tab)

Best Folk and Fairy Tales and Poetry

  1. All Things Bright and Beautiful by Cecil Frances Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dust Devil by Anne Isaacssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczkasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Muu, moo!: rimas de animales = animal nursery rhymes by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Poetry Speaks Who I Am: [poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence, and Everything Else--] by Elise Paschen and Dominique Raccahsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Some Kind of Love: A Family Reunion in Poems by Traci Dantsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Switching on the Moon: A Very First Book of Bedtime Poems by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peterssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The 3 Little Dassies by Jan Brettsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Wonder Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Three Little Kittens by Jerry Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Time You Let Me in: 25 Poets Under 25 by Naomi Shihab Nyesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Very Short Fables to Read Together by Mary Ann Hobermansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Young Zeus by G. Brian Karassource (opens in a new tab)

Best Informational Books for Older Readers

  1. Birmingham Sunday by Larry Dane Brimnersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. FDR's Alphabet Soup: New Deal America, 1932-1939 by Tonya Boldensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Frederick Douglass: A Noble Life by David A. Adlersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lafayette and the American Revolution by Russell Freedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Liberty or Death: The Surprising Story of Runaway Slaves Who Sided With the British During the American Revolution by Margaret Whitman Blairsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Out of Iraq: Refugees' Stories in Words, Paintings and Music by Sybella Wilkessource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Peter Kent's City Across Time by Peter Kentsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Poop Happened!: A History of the World From the Bottom up by Sarah Albeesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The War to End All Wars: World War I by Russell Freedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  11. They Called Themselves the K.K.K: The Birth of An American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartolettisource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Yummy: The Last Days of A Southside Shorty by Greg Nerisource (opens in a new tab)

Best Informational Books for Younger Readers

  1. Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson by Charles R. Smith Jr.source (opens in a new tab)
  2. Clemente! by Willie Perdomosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hillsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fireboy to the Rescue!: A Fire Safety Book by Edward Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. For Good Measure: The Ways We Say How Much, How Far, How Heavy, How Big, How Old by Ken Robbinssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Fractions, Decimals, and Percents by David A. Adlersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Henry Aaron's Dream by Matt Tavaressource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Hot Diggity Dog: The History of the Hot Dog by Adrienne Sylversource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Run and Hike, Play and Bike: What Is Physical Activity? by Brian P. Clearysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sit-in: How Four Friends Stood up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Ultimate Dino-pedia: The Most Complete Dinosaur Reference Ever by Don Lessemsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Time Zones by David A. Adlersource (opens in a new tab)

Best Picture Books

  1. A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Beckersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Steadsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Animal Crackers Fly the Coop by Kevin O'Malleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Big Chickens Go to Town by Leslie Helakoskisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Brown Rabbit in the City by Natalie Russellsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willemssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuhsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Goal! by Mina Javaherbinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Heads by Matthew Van Fleetsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hillssource (opens in a new tab)
  12. If You're A Monster and You Know It by Rebecca Emberleysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. LMNO Peas by Keith Bakersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinnsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I Don't) by Barbara Bottnersource (opens in a new tab)
  16. My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peetesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Potty Animals: What to Know When You've Gotta Go! by Hope Vestergaardsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Say Hello! by Rachel Isadorasource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Shark Vs. Train by Chris Bartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Stand Straight, Ella Kate: The True Story of A Real Giant by Kate Klisesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Best Teen Fiction

  1. Annexed by Sharon Dogarsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peterssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchettasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williamssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Loresource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Incarceron by Catherine Fishersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Lockdown by Walter Dean Myerssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Matched by Allyson Braithwaite Condiesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Viviansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Num8ers by Rachel Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Revolution by Jennifer Donnellysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Revolver by Marcus Sedgwicksource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Sapphique by Catherine Fishersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupisource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Buncesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Body Finder by Kimberly Dertingsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitneysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Things A Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardtsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitassource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Greensource (opens in a new tab)

About the Chicago Public Library Best of the Best

Lists come from CPL's yearly Best of the Best pages on chipublib.org (2014-2025), which link to staff lists on chipublib.bibliocommons.com; titles and authors were read from those BiblioCommons lists. Year is the year in the list name, which is the publication year of the books. Category is the BiblioCommons list name with the year removed (for example "Best Teen Fiction", "Best Books: Top Ten", "Must-Read Books: Fiction"). From 2023 the adult picks are "Our Favorite Books" plus genre "Must-Read Books" lists, all linked from the Best of the Best page. Top 10 lists repeat titles from the full adult list; both are kept as separate categories. For 2007-2013 there is no CPL year page that is still live; we used CPL's own BiblioCommons lists in the same series (teen fiction 2007-2013, teen nonfiction 2008, kids lists 2010-2013). For 2009 kids lists we used the archived chipublib.org Best of the Best page via Wayback; CPL titled that page "Best of the Best 2010" but it covers books of 2009, so it is filed as 2009, and its section names were mapped to the BiblioCommons style ("Picture Books" to "Best Picture Books", "Nonfiction" to "Best Nonfiction"). Award-winner, NatureConnections and Healthy Living sections were left out. 2006 is left out because no archived list for books of 2006 was found. Adult lists from 2013 and earlier were left out because they compile outside sources, not CPL picks. Authors are the catalog's main author put in first-last order; editors are used for anthologies. Translators are filled only for a few titles where the CPL catalog record credits one, so most translated books lack a translator. Where one list names two books from the same series (e.g. Ty's Travels: All Aboard! and Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom!), the series and book title are joined with a dash so the catalog keeps them apart; catalog series tags such as "(I can read book, Book None)" are dropped.

Organization: Chicago Public Library. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2010