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Bright's 2020 Highlights: A Final Farewell the Year Nobody Will Miss
last updated 24 December 2020
The year that swept normalcy from under our feet has finally come to an end. Some days were longer, spent slowing down wondering what to do with so much time. Other days came and went, blending together into what felt like the same day repeating itself over…and over…and over…
It would be easy to reflect on this year and only see mask mandates, a drawn out election, and all of the sourdough attempts turned failures. However, we are focusing on the “bright” moments of 2020 and how much we have to celebrate in the world of children’s publishing. From New York Times Bestsellers to Starred Reviews, #BrightArtists brought whimsy and delight to our homes through illustrations that have received well deserved praise. Read along for a full list of various awards and reviews our artists received this year! Enjoy!
Artwork by Gerry Selian
New York Times Bestsellers
Top: The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by designer and television personality Joanna Gaines, and illustrated by #BrightArtist Juliana Swaney. Published with Thomas Nelson.
Bottom: The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary by Robb Pearlman and illustrated by #BrightArtist Melanie Demmer. Published with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. This twist on the beloved television show landed a spot for 10 weeks on the Bestsellers list!
Top: Superheroes Are Everywhere by Vice President Elect Kamala Harris and illustrated by #BrightArtist Mechal Roe. Published with Philomel Books.
Bottom: Every Night is Pizza Night by J. Kenji López-Alt and illustrated by #BrightArtist Gianna Ruggiero. Published with Norton Young Readers.
Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2020
Left: Construction People by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by #BrightArtist Ellen Shi. Published with Wordsong.
Right: A Story for Small Bear by Alice B. McGinty and illustrated by #BrightArtist Richard Jones. Published with Penguin Random House.
Left: Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and illustrated by #BrightArtist Luisa Uribe. Published with The Innovation Press.
Right: Winged Wonders by Meeg Pincus and illustrated by #BrightArtist Yas Imamura. Published with Sleeping Bear Press.
Kirkus Best Middle Grade Books 2020
Left: Finish the Fight by Veronia Chambers and cover illustrated by #BrightArtist Steffi Walthall. Published with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Right: The Maps of Memory: Return to Butterfly Hill by Majorie Agosín and illustrated by #BrightArtist Lee White. Published with Simon & Schuster.
Society of Illustrators 2020
Top: The Very Oldest Pear Tree, illustrated by Yas Imamura. Published with Albert Whitman.
Bottom: A Story for Small Bear, illustrated by Richard Jones. Published with Schwart & Wade.
Top: Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room 5, illustrated by Luisa Uribe. Published with Albert Whitman.
Bottom: Fly, Firefly!, illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki. Published with Sleeping Bear Press.
Top: The Magical Yet, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gomez. Published with Little, Brown Books For Young Readers.
Bottom: Red Shoes, illustrated by Ebony Glenn. Published with Schloastic.
Top: Lights on Wonder Rock, author-illustrated by David Litchfield. Published with Clarion Books.
Bottom: Tad, author-illustrated by Benji Davies. Published with HarperCollins.
Top: Winged Wonders, illustrated by Yas Imamura. Published with Sleeping Bear Press.
Bottom: Your Name is a Song, illustrated by Luisa Uribe. Published with The Innovation Press.
Give our Society of Illustrators 2020 Blog a read if you haven’t already!
Publisher’s Weekly Starred Reviews: Picture Books & Middle Grade
Left: Language of Ghosts, cover illustrated by Julia Iredale. Published with HarperCollins.
Middle: A Story for Small Bear, illustrated by Richard Jones. Published with Schwartz & Wade.
Right: Tristian Strong Destroys the World, cover illustrated by Eric Wilkerson. Published with Rick Riordan Presents.
Check out the full list of Publisher’s Weekly Starred Reviews!
Amazon’s Best Books of 2020
Baby to 2 Years
Happy Hair author-illustrated by #BrightArtist Mechal Roe.
Ages 3 to 5 Years
A Story for Small Bear illustrated by #BrightArtist Richard Jones.
New York Public Library Best Books of 2020
Left: Finish the Fight, cover illustrated by Steffi Walthall. Published with Clarion Books.
Right: Your Name is a Song, illustrated by Luisa Uribe. Published with The Innovation Press.
Washington Post Best Books of the Year
Finish the Fight, cover illustrated by Steffi Walthall. Published with Clarion Books.
Best Hanukkah Books of 2020
The Eight Knights of Hanukkah, cover illustrated by Galia Bernstein. Published with Holiday House.
We are so thankful to have another year of wonderful art and titles to celebrate. Though this year was different, it has brought meaning to the things that truly matter, and that is what we hope to take into 2021. Wishing you all a merry and healthy holiday, and a wonderful new year.