Random Thoughts About the Bestselling Books (So Far) of 2023

Publishers Weekly just shared the bestselling books from the first half of 2023 and I have a few thoughts:
1. Dog Man
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
If you combine the Adult, YA, and Children’s lists Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea is the fourth bestselling book of the year so far.
2. Oh, the Half-Million Copies You’ll Sell
In the first half of this year, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! sold nearly 500,000 copies. This made me do a double take. Things will likely cool off in the second half (since much of the sales happen around grad season), but that’s still a huge number.
3. Cuddle Bug Surprise
I’m a school librarian. I follow children’s books closely. Therefore, I am always shocked when I’ve never heard of a top 10 bestselling book. Such is the case with You’re My Little Cuddle Bug – a book that’s sold 268,580 copies so far.
Filed under: Articles
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SLJ Blog Network
Tentacles!! I Talk Hilarity and Board Books with Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham
Dracula’s Brunch Club | Exclusive Preview
30 Contenders? Our Updated Mock Newbery List
When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?
ADVERTISEMENT