2024 Children’s Lit: The Year in Miscellanea
It’s time to take a look back at the year that was in children’s lit miscellanea.
Read previous Year in Miscellanea Posts:
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2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
BEST UNINTENTIONAL POP MUSIC TRIBUTE TO CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: THE FACT THAT BEYONCE’S TEXAS HOLD ‘EM KINDA SOUNDS LIKE THE THEME SONG TO THE FRANKLIN CARTOON
I can hear it.
BEST SURPRISE ENDING: PRETTY UGLY BY DAVID SEDARIS & IAN FALCONER
Sedaris famously didn’t really want to write a book for children, and I think it’s this carefree attitude that allowed him to come up with the gross-out final twist in this picture book.
TWEET (OR WHATEVER WE CALL THEM NOW) OF THE YEAR: KATE MESSNER
In a single Bluesky post, the author perfectly sums up the irrationality of book bans.
BEST PRESIDENTIAL READ ALOUD: BARACK OBAMA READS SANTA’S GOTTA GO IN CHICAGO CLASSROOM
I have to admit – the first time I saw this, I thought it was photoshop. There are so many celeb-holding-a-book dupes out there. But The Chicago Sun-Times confirms this is 100% real and 100% great.
BEST-FEELING BOOK OF THE YEAR AND NOT ‘IT MAKES YOU FEEL THE BEST’ BUT IT FEELS GOOD IN A TACTILE WAY: MÉTIS LIKE ME BY TASHA HILDERMAN & RISA HUGO
Here’s to the book designers, art directors, and publishers who chip in a little extra to make a book feel great in your hands. This one stands out for its treatment of the beaded elements on the cover.
COVER OF THE YEAR (PICTURE BOOK): DALMARTIAN BY LUCY RUTH CUMMINS
Reminiscent of early space race posters, this cover stands out for it’s simplicity and instant impact.
BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHILDREN’S LIT CREATOR ENDORSEMENT DEAL: GREG PIZZOLI AND THE NEW ‘PIZZOLI’ FROM MARCO’S PIZZA
Not only does the name match, but Greg Pizzoli even made an entire book dedicated to pizza in all forms. Get Marco’s on the horn ASAP.
BEST NEW CAR FOR BOOK LOVERS: THE HONDA PROLOGUE
Thank you, Honda, for creating this vehicle for people who like to read.
BEST PHOTO ID: YOUR OWN BOOK (AUTHOR ADAM SILVERA USES A COPY OF INFINITY KINGS TO GET THROUGH TSA)
I don’t know if there was a 2024 social media post I enjoyed more than YA author Adam Silvera explaining how he used his author photo in Infinity Kings to get through TSA.
THE ‘WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS?’ AWARD (RUNNER UP): THE KELCE BROTHERS
I’ve been noticing that Little Golden Books has been getting more into pop culture zeitgeisty topics in recent years, and this is a prime example.
THE ‘WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS?’ AWARD (WINNER): GILMORE GIRLS FUNKO POP
My first thought upon seeing this cover was, WHAT??!! Multiple layers of confusion here. Why Gilmore Girls in a book meant for 5 year olds? Also, WHY ARE THEY FUNKO POPS?!?!
BEST CLASSIC GAME REINVENTED: RENEE BEAUREGARD LUTE’S CHILDREN’S LIT GUESS WHO?
Swapping out the usual cast for children’s lit characters. This is genius.
GATEFOLD OF THE YEAR: THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS SOMETIMES BY KILEY FRANK AND K-FAI STEELE
The best gatefolds feel essential to the story. And the gatefold in That Always Happens Sometimes is exactly that, perfectly accentuating the “working together” resolution of this book.
DEDICATION OF THE YEAR (SECOND RUNNER UP): JORAN CULL IN I AM BOOK
“For Print -Joren”
A fitting dedication for a story that celebrates the physical book.
DEDICATION OF THE YEAR (FIRST RUNNER UP): DREW BECKMEYER IN THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL
“For Nobody”
It should be noted that the space alien in this book is named Nobody.
DEDICATION OF THE YEAR: JESS HANNIGAN IN THE SPIDER IN THE WELL
“To my mom, Bev, for letting my ego get too big. Look what you did. -J.H.”
Mostly you hear about big egos leading to bad things. But, apparently, a big ego led to one of the most unique and memorable picture books of the year, so maybe big egos are underrated?
DEDICATION OF THE YEAR (ILLUSTRATED): JULES FEIFFER IN AMAZING GRAPES
“For my wife, JOAN”
Shout out to the legend for bringing the rare illustrated dedication to the beginning of this truly wild graphic novel.
MOST FAMOUS CHILDREN’S BOOK CREATOR SPOTTED IN THE CROWD AT THE NBA FINALS: JEFF KINNEY
Is it weird that I saw Jeff Kinney in the crowd while I was watching the NBA finals and I paused it and took this picture to include in this post six months later? Don’t answer that. I say this is EXACTLY the sort of thing that belongs in this post. I hope the Diary of a Wimpy Kid creator enjoyed the game (it was a Celtics win after all).
BEST CELEBRITY READER: AUBREY PLAZA AT THE WNBA FINALS
The Parks and Recreation star made the most of her WNBA JumboTron moment.
ONION ARTICLE OF THE YEAR: ‘B’ FOR BOOKS:
With all the “Ditch Dewey” sentiment out there, the time was right for The Onion to swoop in for some satire.
CHILDREN’S LIT TATTOO OF THE YEAR: SANDRA BOYNTON HIPPOS
Thanks to the Kate & Fuse 8 Podcast for alerting me to this excellent use of ink.
BEST PRO ATHLETE READER (RUNNER UP): VICTOR WEMBANYAMA
The French NBA rookie living the life of a middle-aged librarian: airplane mode after 9:30, reading, and an early bedtime. I predict a good career for the youngster. Wise beyond his years.
BEST PRO ATHLETE READER: JAYSON TATUM
NBA all-star Jayson Tatum has good taste in comics.
SCATALOGICAL AWARD: SPACE: THE FINAL POOPING FRONTIER
I would say that this is the jump the shark moment for scatalogical books, but I think that category might be jump the shark-proof.
#BOOKFACE FRIDAY OF THE YEAR: HELLO DAY BY CHARLIE MYLIE
The Rabbit HOle has the best #bookfacefriday submissions, and this one was my favorite of 2024.
BEST SPRAYED EDGES: REPEAT AFTER ME BY JESSICA WARMAN
It’s been brewing for a little while, but I think 2025 is going to be The Year of the Sprayed Edges for novels. I already saw that Grace Lin’s next book will have them. And I’m guessing more will follow. In this fine 2024 example, the cover extends onto the pages.
BEST SECURITY DETAIL: JARRETT LERNER’S AUTHOR VISIT
Do not try to mess with Jarrett Lerner during his author visit, or you’ll have these two to contend with.
BEST JACK-O-LANTERN: LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
I’ve seen quite a few book character jack-o-lanterns, but this is the first I’ve seen to feature a Little Free Library.
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES OF THE YEAR: LA OINK OINK AND DONNY DOLLARS
Incredible recreation of the wrestlers from Raúl the Third’s El Toro & Friends series by @rhondaratray.
FILM ADAPTATION OF THE YEAR: THE WILD ROBOT
It’s the rare children’s book adaptation that pleased critics and audiences. I’ll be looking for that Best Animated Feature nomination when the Oscars are announced.
THE ‘I’M NOT SURE WE NEEDED THIS’ AWARD: DECODING CRYPTO
BEST CHILDREN’S LITERATURE RE-ENACTMENT: THE SANTATS RECREATE A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Dan Santat couldn’t resist recreating a scene from A First Time for Everything during a visit to Vienna
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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.
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This is great, I love your lists. They are much of the reason for the constantly-embarrassingly-huge stack of library books in my home!