At the very end of 2024, we were able to share a bounteous serving of news about books from our publishers that had earned spots on an array of “best of the year” lists from librarians, educational associations, professional journals, and more. The lists continue to arrive, with the most recent from the United States Board on Books for Youth (USBBY). USBBY is the United States’ section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), a “non-profit organisation that was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1953. Today, it is composed of 84 National Sections all over the world. It represents countries with well-developed book publishing and literacy programmes, and other countries with only a few dedicated professionals who are doing pioneer work in children’s book publishing and promotion.”
The annual list of USBBY of Outstanding International Books honors titles of high merit selected by an expert committee from children’s books published or distributed in the US during the previous year while originating or first published outside the US. The 2025 list includes a number of our own friends and favorite kids’ books from 2024 so start making your own list of must-reads and must-shares here!
From Transit Children’s Editions, you’ll find A SLEEPLESS NIGHT, first published in Argentina, and A DAY WITH MOUSSE, originating in France. Also among the books for very young readers, we find Little Island’s THE SLUG AND THE SNAIL, coming from Ireland, and MARCELO, MARTELLO, MARSHMALLOW, a classic from Brazil made available to American readers by Tapioca Stories. These picture books have appeared on many “best” lists of the year, and now they share this added honor!
For older picture book readers, brought from Iceland by Swiss publisher Helvetiq, is VIGDIS: A BOOK ABOUT THE WORLD’S FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT.
Tween readers will find THE MAILBOX TREE from Australia, and made available in the US by its publisher, Walker Books Australia.
In addition to presenting the list ordered by intended audience age, USBBY also discusses the honored books by themes, including Thank You, Life; Exploring Language; History and Legends; Coming of Age; and The Other Side. You can find a guide through these themes in the selection committee’s presentation in late January. USBBY also provides an interactive world map showing where each of the 40 books on the 2025 Outstanding Books for Youth list originated.
Want to learn more about USBBY? You can join their mailing list here. We can assure you that what you receive will be carefully curated and newsworthy.