NYT Books

Crafting The New York Times Book Review’s annual list involves arguments, politicking and, every once in a while, a rare consensus.

Here are the year’s most notable picture and middle grade books, selected by our children’s books editor.

It’s been a good one. Dwight Garner, Alexandra Jacobs and Jennifer Szalai discuss the books that have stayed with them.

Matt Dinniman introduced his series about an alien reality TV show free on the web. But readers ate up the goofy humor, now to the tune of 6 million books sold.

Here are the year’s most notable collections of verse as chosen by our poetry columnist.

A candy-colored story collection, sisters who lust after Hitler and harrowing reportage from a riot in India.

Alexandra Jacobs, Jennifer Szalai and Dwight Garner look back at the books that, as Jacobs writes, “bonked me on the head this year.”

This season’s bounty includes volumes on far-out artists, unusual cats and enviable gardens.

King Juan Carlos I of Spain abdicated and left for exile years ago. Now, his attempted comeback is giving his family a royal headache.

The staff of the Book Review recommends unforgettable books that made our personal best-of-the-year lists.