USBBY Outstanding International Books List facts for kids

The USBBY Outstanding International Books List (often called the OIB List) is a special list of amazing children's books from all over the world. It's put together every year by the United States section of the International Board on Books for Young People (USBBY). This list helps kids in the U.S. discover fantastic stories and talented authors and illustrators from other countries. It's a way to see the world through different eyes!

Discovering Great Books from Around the World

The idea for the Outstanding International Books (OIB) list started in 2006. Each year, a special group of people from USBBY chooses the books for the list. Their main goal is to share the very best children's books from other countries. They want to introduce young readers to awesome authors and artists from different places. This helps kids in the United States understand the world better and see things from many different points of view.

The 2019 OIB List: A World of Stories

In 2019, 39 wonderful books were chosen for the OIB List. These books were picked for different age groups, from young children to teens.

Books for Young Readers (Pre K-2)

This section featured books perfect for younger kids. For example:

• On the Other Side of the Garden by Jairo Buitrago (from Chile)
• A Drop of the Sea by Ingrid Chabbert (from France)
• Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke (from Australia)
• Tomorrow by Nadine Kaadan (from Syria)
• Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings by Francie Latour (from Canada, set in Haiti)
• Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna (from the UK)

Books for Elementary School (Grades 3-5)

Kids in grades 3-5 could explore books like:

• Vacation by Blexbolex (from France)
• Eye Spy: Wild Ways Animals See the World by Guillaume Duprat (from France)
• The Colors of History: How Colors Shaped the World by Clive Gifford (from the UK)
• Missing Mike by Shari Green (from Canada)
• Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew (from Canada)
• Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr (from Norway)
• Peace and Me by Ali Winter (from the UK)

Books for Middle School (Grades 6-8)

For middle schoolers, the list included exciting titles such as:

• Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey (from Canada)
• Dodger Boy by Sarah Ellis (from Canada)
• Voices from the Second World War: Stories of War as Told to Children of Today by First News/Walker Books Ltd. (from the UK)
• The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (from the UK, set in the Philippines)
• No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen (from Canada)
• Small Things by Mel Tregonning (from Australia)

Books for High School (Grades 9-12)

Older teens had books like:

• Troublemakers by Catherine Barter (from the UK)
• Skating Over Thin Ice by Jean Mills (from Canada)
• We Kiss Them With Rain by Futhi Ntshingila (from South Africa)

The 2018 OIB List: More International Adventures

In 2018, 38 books were chosen for the OIB List. These books also covered a wide range of ages and countries.

Books for Young Readers (Pre K-2)

Some books for the youngest readers included:

• You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! by ATINUKE (from the UK)
• Walk With Me by Jairo Buitrago (from Chile)
• When the Rain Comes by Alma Fullerton (from Canada)
• Little Rabbit’s Questions by Dayong Gan (from China)
• The Way Home in the Night by Akiko Miyakoshi (from Japan)
• Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz (from Canada)

Books for Elementary School (Grades 3-5)

For elementary students, there were books like:

• Peter in Peril: Courage and Hope in World War Two by Helen Bate (from the UK, set in Hungary)
• Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan (from China)
• Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education by Raphaëlle Frier (from France, set in Pakistan)
• Yours Sincerely, Giraffe by Migumi Iwasa (from Japan)
• You Can’t Be Too Careful! by Roger Mello (from Brazil)

Books for Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Middle schoolers could read:

• Louis Undercover by Fanny Britt (from Canada)
• Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green (from Canada)
• Escape From Syria by Samya Kullab (from Canada, set in Lebanon)
• The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius (from Sweden)

Books for High School (Grades 9-12)

For high schoolers, the list included:

• Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley (from Australia)
• A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge (from the UK)
• The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew (from the UK)

The 2017 OIB List: Global Stories for All Ages

The 2017 OIB List featured 41 selected titles, bringing even more diverse stories to young readers.

Books for Young Readers (Pre K-2)

Some of the books for the youngest age group were:

• The Pros and Cons of Being a Frog by Sue Degennaro (from Australia)
• The Animals’ Ark by Marianne Dubuc (from Canada)
• Malaika’s Costume by Nadia L. Hohn (from Canada, set in the Caribbean)
• The Journey by Francesca Sanna (from the UK)
• The Blue Jackal by Shobha Viswanath (from India)

Books for Elementary School (Grades 3-5)

For elementary school students, the list included:

• Somos Como Las Nubes/We Are Like the Clouds by Jorge Argueta (from Canada)
• Who Built That? Bridges by Didier Cornille (from France)
• Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami (from Canada, set in India)
• Armstrong: The Adventurous Journey of a Mouse to the Moon by Torben Kuhlmann (from Germany)
• Don’t Cross the Line by Isabel Minhós Martins (from Portugal)
• Greenling by Levi Pinfold (from Australia)

Books for Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Middle schoolers could enjoy books such as:

• The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart (from Canada)
• Longbow Girl by Linda Davies (from the UK)
• Night Guard by Synne Lea (from Norway)
• Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community by Robin Stevenson (from Canada)

Books for High School (Grades 9-12)

For high school students, the list featured:

• The Head of the Saint by Socorro Acioli (from Brazil)
• Unbecoming by Jenny Downham (from the UK)
• The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge (from the UK)
• A Hundred Hours of Night by Anna Woltz (from the Netherlands)