A roundup of the year-end "best of" lists and children's literature prizes. Most of the books on these lists were published in 2014; a few lists include titles from prior years, too. I will update this page regularly, so if you see something not mentioned here, give me a holler in the comments or on Twitter @Susan_Thomsen. Comments are open but moderated, due to spam woes.

See also the lists for 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008. 

©Susan Thomsen, 2014.

The blog Largehearted Boy maintains a huge list of all the online "best books" lists. Also, Confessions of a Science Librarian collects lists of best science books (for adults).

A

Amazon

American Booksellers Association

B

Blackwell's. Recommendations by booksellers. (UK)

Blue Peter Book Awards. Shortlists announced Dec. 4. (UK)

Boing Boing. Gift guide includes some books for kids.

A Book Long Enough. Picture book nonfiction.

Booklist: Arts
Booklist: Black history
Booklist: Religion and spirituality
Booklist: Science and health
Booklist: Sports
Booklist: Sustainability

Brain Pickings

British Comic Awards (via Forbidden Planet International)

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. "Guide book to gift books." (PDF)

C

Caldecott Medal. To be announced Feb. 2, 2015.

Canadian Children's Book Centre. Holiday reads.

Carnegie Medal. Nominations. (UK)

Chapters Indigo (Canada)

Christchurch City Libraries (New Zealand) 

Costa Children's Book Award. Shortlist. (Scroll down longer list.) UK

F

Financial Times (UK)

G

Geek Dad. Gift book list includes some children's titles.

Globe and Mail. Top 100 list includes some children's books.

Goodreads Choice Awards. Middle grade & children's. Winner announced Dec. 2.
Goodreads Choice Awards. Picture books. Winner announced Dec. 2.
Goodreads Choice Awards. Young adult. Winner announced Dec. 2.

H

Hockey Book Reviews. Not a "year's best," per se, but a list of 2014 hockey books includes books for children.

I

International Latino Book Awards

K

Kate Greenaway Medal. Nominations. (UK)

King County (Washington) Library. Teens.

Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews: "Best picture books that celebrate diversity."

L

Latinas for Latino Lit

Lire. In French, list of best books includes a jeunesse category. (via L'Express)

Longitude Books. Travel books.

M

Mumsnet. Books for the children aged 3 and younger. (UK)

N

National Book Award for Young People's Literature (Scroll down on page for kids' category.)

National Science Teachers Association. "Outstanding science trade books for students K–12."

National Outdoor Book Awards. Children's book category included.

New England Book Awards. List includes kids' book. (via Boston Globe)

Newbery Medal. To be announced Feb. 2, 2015.

New Jersey Family

New York Times Best Illustrated Books Award (slide show)

P

Parents Magazine

Publishers Weekly. Middle grade.
Publishers Weekly. Picture books.
Publishers Weekly. Young adult.

R

Readings. Gift guide. (Australia)
Readings. Young adult books. (Australia)

The Root: Nonfiction by black authors includes one kids' book.

Royal Society Young People's Book Prize (UK)

S

SF Gate/San Francisco Chronicle. Children's books gift guide.

School Library Journal

School Run (UK)

Smart Books for Smart Kids

Smithsonian: Gift guide for kids and babies includes a few books. Science nerd gift guide has more; some appropriate for older kids and teens.

Spectator (UK)

T

Teaching for Change

Telegraph (UK)

Toledo Blade

Toronto Public Library. Books for children under five. (Canada)

W

Wall Street Journal