The New York Public Library is proud to present our Best Books of 2020—more than 280 titles for kids, teens, and adults. Our Best Books committees have read hundreds of books to create a list that all readers can enjoy. In addition, all this year, Library staff have remained deeply committed to our patrons, offering resources, recommendations, and services in new and innovative ways, including Shelf Help and our new NYPL app. The Library has you covered for the holidays and beyond. Happy reading!

Lynn Lobash
Associate Director, Readers Services
The New York Public Library

Best Books of 2020

Introducing the Library’s Best Books of 2020

The New York Public Library is proud to present our Best Books of 2020. Our annual recommendations for kids, teens, and adults, curated by our expert librarians, encompass fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, poetry, kids’ books in Spanish, and much more. Discover our top 10 books in five categories and explore the lists in full.

The Harry Belafonte Black Liberation Speaker Series, with thanks to Kenneth Cole 

LIVE from NYPL: Bryan Washington with Vinson Cunningham

Wednesday, December 2 | 8 PM

Join author Bryan Washington, winner of the Library’s 2020 Young Lions Fiction Award, for a discussion of his first novel, Memorial, which features on our Best Books of 2020 list. Washington will talk with New Yorker staff writer Vinson Cunningham about the tale of love, vulnerability, alienation, family, and separation at the heart of his book.

KidsLIVE with Author Simran Jeet Singh

Wednesday, December 9 | 3:30 PM

Join us for a special program with author Simran Jeet Singh about his new picture book, Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon, which features on our Best Books of 2020 list. Singh will share what it was like to grow up as a Sikh in Texas and what inspired him to write this book! Tune in to watch him read from the book and chat with NYPL’s children’s librarians.

Service Updates

Get the Latest Library Service Updates

As NYC continues to cope with COVID-19, please check our website for the most up-to-date information on Library service, including grab-and-go locations, announcements, and multilingual COVID-19 help. Plus, find additional information about our digital resources, from educational tools for kids and teens to career and resilience coaching.

For Kids & Teens

Shelf Help: Get New Reads for Kids & Teens

Parents, do your kids need help finding new reads? Now you can receive personalized book bundles from an NYPL librarian! Just call us or fill out our form to let us know what your child likes to read. We'll select books just for them, delivered to the grab-and-go location of your choice in a handy Shelf Help tote bag (while supplies last!).

Join Us Online for Caregiver Conversations

Have you been missing those valuable connections with fellow caregivers and our expert children’s library staff? The New York Public Library is thrilled to announce a new kind of virtual program to connect caregivers of children up to 12 years old with helpful resources from one of our expert children’s librarians. Topics range from reading to toddlers and motivating reluctant readers to engaging in STEM activities at home. Find early literacy tips, homework help, and, of course, some of our favorite children’s books.

Virtual Comics Chat 

Tuesday, November 24 | 4 PM

Join us today for a virtual discussion of some of our favorite comics. This month we will focus on Native American Heritage Month and National Novel Writing Month and discuss titles including Tasha Spillett's Surviving the City, Akiko Higashimura's Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey, and Katherena Vermette's A Girl Called Echo. Don't wait to sign up!

Calling All NYC Teens: Become a Teen Reading Ambassador

The Library is looking for teens like you to join a new program that will produce a magazine written and designed for younger kids! Through a combination of virtual group workshops and independent work over a five-month period, you will use your unique voice to help younger kids develop their own love of reading and books. Deadline for applications is Friday, December 11.

More Resources & Events

Livestream Q&A with Louise Erdrich

Wednesday, December 2 | 7 PM

Tune in for a livestream Q&A with National Book Award winner Louise Erdrich about her latest novel, The Night Watchman, the November pick for our Get Lit book club with WNYC. The Night Watchman is based on the life of Erdrich's grandfather and the national fight he led against the dispossession of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and other Native American tribes. There's still time to download the book on our free e-reader app, SimplyE, and get started immediately—no holds or waiting. WNYC's Alison Stewart will moderate the conversation, take audience questions, and announce our December book club pick—so stay tuned!

Applications Open: New Research Fellowship 

The New York Public Library is happy to announce the National Endowment for the Humanities Long-Term Fellowships, which will provide support for advanced research in the humanities. Applications are open to scholars studying the history, literature, and culture of peoples represented in collections that are housed at the Library, and to professionals in fields related to the Library’s holdings, including librarianship and archives administration, special collections, photography, prints, and maps. The application deadline is Tuesday, January 15, 2021.

Changing Lanes Mid-Career

Monday, November 30 | 5 PM

Join career counselor Renée Lee Rosenberg for this interactive session demystifying the top myths about aging and job search. Learn strategies to help any job seeker no matter their age conduct an effective and a more fulfilling virtual job search. Find out how to navigate a potentially stressful virtual job search process to achieve great results.

Health Insurance Options in New York City

Tuesday, December 1 | 1 PM

Join Marci McCall, director of NYC outreach for New York State of Health, for a virtual information session on the insurance provider marketplace and all it has to offer. Learn about available low- or no-cost health coverage, the Special Enrollment Period due to COVID-19 and exceptional circumstances, and how to get free personalized enrollment help. 

Crafting the Collections: Virtual Art Classes

Beginning December 2

From the invention of the Polaroid to the pop art of Andy Warhol, The New York Public Library has been at the center of New York’s artistic and cultural life for 125 years. Celebrate this creative history with Crafting the Collections, a series of art workshops based on items from our collections. Learn to draw comics, practice watercolor illustration, make an art journal, and more!

Economic & Investment Outlook for 2021

Wednesday, December 2 | 12 Noon

BNY Mellon Wealth Management's Barbara Collins will help you make smart decisions about investing in 2021. Together, you’ll review current economic reports and investment market indicators, and discover what they mean for you. This discussion will cover economic growth, interest rates, market valuation indicators, and potential impacts of current events. Learn about the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio.

New & Noteworthy

22 Books for Fans of The Queen's Gambit

If the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit has inspired—or rekindled—a love of chess, you're not alone. Find a selection of fiction and nonfiction titles all about the thrills of the game, compiled by our librarians.

Women Are Leaders: Women in Government for Kids & Teens

The role of women in the U.S. government has slowly but surely been expanding. Here are some books for young people about the women who broke barriers and inspired others to work hard, overcome obstacles, and amplify women's voices.

Major Feelings: An Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Reading List

Inspired by the essay collection Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong, this list of noteworthy fiction, graphic novels, short stories, memoirs, and nonfiction explores the broad spectrum of writing by or about Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDA). Plus, check out titles for kids and teens, ranging from picture books to young adult novels that deal with difference, identity, and overcoming obstacles.

For Adults | For Kids & Teens

True Crime Stories from the Victorian Era

Revisit mysteries of the past with this book list of well- and lesser-known Victorian-era crimes, including a thoughtful exploration of the infamous case of Jack the Ripper. 

The Librarian Is In: Memoirs of Hadrian and "The Comet" 

Frank and Rhonda catch us up on what they've been reading. This week, Frank chose Marguerite Yourcenar's historical novel Memoirs of Hadrian and Rhonda opted for one of W.E.B. Du Bois's rare science fiction stories, "The Comet." Plus, tune in to hear their next book club pick from the Library's anniversary 125 Books We Love list.

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