Best Children's Songs List
Since 1952, we’ve convened a rotating annual panel of three expert judges, who consider every illustrated children’s book published that year in the United States. They select the winners purely on the basis of artistic merit. The judges this time were Leonard Marcus, a children’s literature historian and critic; Jenny Rosenoff, a children’s librarian at the New York Public Library; and Bryan Collier, the author and illustrator of many acclaimed picture books and a past winner of the award.
The annual U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals rankings, now in their 12th year, offer guidance to parents seeking the best place for their very sick child. The top 50 medical centers are ranked. These Top 10 Tunes For Toddlers are just some of the best nursery rhymes for toddlers and have been chosen after many years of teaching music to small children. People have often asked me which are the best nursery rhymes for toddlers – and it’s very difficult to pick only ten songs when there are so many hundreds to choose from!
Below you’ll find images from each winning book, with commentary from the judges.
[See photos of the artists at work in their studios.]
Morales’s colorful collages create a wonderful dreamlike effect in this powerful story of a mother and child leaving Mexico on an unexpected journey in search of a new life. — B.C.
Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 32 pp., $18.99.
FLORETTE
Written and illustrated by Anna Walker
Anna Walker’s earth-toned, claustrophobic cityscapes are overtaken by lush greenery, giving glorious visual representation to the increasing hopefulness of a little girl settling into her new urban landscape. — J.R.
Clarion Books, 32 pp., $16.99.
AYOBAMI AND THE NAMES OF THE ANIMALS
Written by Pilar Lopez Avila
Illustrated by Mar Azabal
In this beautiful gem about a girl who wants to learn to read, letters burst forth from imagery done in cut-paper collage and a rainbow of color, each page telling its own story with a quiet, understated voice. — B.C.
Cuento de Luz Books, 32 pp., $16.95.
THE FOREST
Written by Riccardo Bozzi
Illustrated by Violeta Lopiz and Valerio Vidali
Like a fairy-tale walk in the woods, “The Forest” is a thrilling visual excursion into uncharted territory featuring elaborate die-cuts, gatefolds and embossed images created by two artists from Italy and Spain. — L.M.
Enchanted Lion Books, 72 pp., $24.95.
A HOUSE THAT ONCE WAS
Written by Julie Fogliano
Illustrated by Lane Smith
In this tale of children who discover an abandoned house, Lane Smith’s deftly layered and lyrical pictorial world shimmers with a whirr of woodland color and line work that caroms from wispy to razor-sharp. — L.M.
Roaring Brook Press, 48 pp., $18.99.
OUR CAR
Written by J. M. Brum
Illustrated by Jan Bajtlik
Less is way more in the Polish artist Jan Bajtlik’s exhilarating, toy-bright ode to vehicles that don’t just go, they positively grip the road. — L.M.
Neal Porter/Roaring Brook Press, 32 pp., $16.99.
SHE MADE A MONSTER: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein
Written by Lynn Fulton
Illustrated by Felicita Sala
Felicita Sala’s archly horror-struck portraits and faux-eerie settings open a magnificent, cobwebbed window into the English novelist Mary Shelley’s wild and fiery imagination. — L.M.
Knopf, 40 pp., $17.99.
THE FUNERAL
Written and illustrated by Matt James
Matt James’s colorful acrylics and playful collage lend a youthful exuberance to a normally dreary subject, giving poignant insight into a child’s understanding of the adult world. — J.R.
Groundwood Books, 40 pp., $18.95.
RUN WILD
Written and illustrated by David Covell
Running at top speed and with reckless abandon, Covell’s watercolors and handwritten text take us on a madcap, carefree adventure through nature’s wide-open spaces. — J.R.
Viking, 40 pp., $17.99.
THE VISITOR
Written and illustrated by Antje Damm
In Antje Damm’s remarkable “The Visitor,” a boy rushes into a lonely woman’s black-and-white 3-D collage world, bringing an explosion of color, light and life. — B.C.
Gecko Press, 32 pp., $17.99.
These days, many 3-year-olds have their own tablets. So by the time children start advancing in elementary school and doing serious homework, they may need to have laptops, too. We’ve rounded up the best affordable student laptops for your child in every age range, whether you’re looking for a Chromebook for your elementary school child or a gaming laptop for a high school senior. For post-secondary students, see our list of best college laptops.
6 Quick Buying Tips
- What's the right age for a laptop? Forgot about age numbers. A good sign that your child needs their own laptop is that they're already using computers -- not tablets or phones -- a lot at home or school.
- What's the school's laptop policy? Some schools provide students with laptops to take home so you don't need to buy one. Other districts give kids computers they can use in class only, which means you may want to get a similar software and OS for home.
- Chrome OS, Windows or macOS? Chrome OS is popular with schools, because it's easy to use and nearly impossible to infect with a virus. However, if your kid is learning how to program, needs to edit media files, requires access to Microsoft Office or wants to play PC games, Windows or macOS is a much better choice.
- Size: For children under 12, get a laptop with an 11.6-inch screen that weighs under 3 pounds. For teens, a 13- or 14-inch laptop that weighs up to 4 pounds is acceptable. Buy larger laptops only if you plan to keep them at home.
- Keep it cheap: Don't spend over $500 on a laptop for a child under 12, because they may break it and will outgrow it. Even when shopping for a teenager, try to keep the cost under $800.
- Make it durable: Kids are clumsy, so a laptop that can survive bumps, drops or spills is a big plus.
Best Laptops for Kids
Popular Children's Songs List
Best Windows Laptop for Young Kids: Acer Spin 1
For just $329, the Acer Spin 1 offers key features that you won't find in many 2-in-1s that cost hundreds more. Kids will appreciate the 1080p, 11.6-inch touch screen which is one of the most vibrant displays on the market while parents gawk at the all-aluminum chassis. At just 2.65 pounds, the Spin 1 is more than light enough for young kids to carry to school. An included pressure-sensitive stylus allows children to draw or scribble notes on the screen, which bends back 360 degrees into tablet mode. A small, but highly-tactile keyboard is great for young typists.
Age Group: 7 to 12
Pros: Vibrant screen; Aluminum chassis; Stylus included
Cons: So-so battery life; Limited internal storage
Key Specs: 11.6-inch / 1920 x 1080 screen; Intel Celeron N3350 CPU; 4GB of RAM; 32GB eMMC storage; 2.65 pounds
Best Chromebook for Young Kids: Asus Chromebook Flip C213SA
Best Children' S Songs List 2016
With any notebook for young children, durability has to be a top concern and the Asus Chromebook Flip C213 is the sturdiest 2-in-1 we've ever tested. The C213 survived multiple 4-foot drops onto concrete, coming away with a few scratches.
The keyboard is one of the best we've seen on any notebook this size, providing plenty of travel and feedback, while the bendback design allows kids to use this laptop in tablet, tent or stand modes. With Google's Chrome OS on-board and the ability to run Android apps, this convertible is simple, secure and loaded with possibilities. It also lasted a full 11 hours and 8 minutes on our battery test.
Age Group: 7 to 12
Pros: Long battery life; durable design; Great keyboard
Cons: Mediocre cameras
Key Specs: 11.6-inch / 1366 x 768 Screen; Intel Celeron N3060 CPU; 4GB RAM; 32GB eMMC Storage; 11:08 Battery Life
Best Sub-$200 Laptop for Kids: Dell Inspiron 11 3000
Available in vibrant colors such as glossy red and blue, the Inspiron 11 3000 looks great and sounds even better, with strong audio output. This 11.6-inch Windows clamshell lasts an epic 13 hours and 45 minutes on a charge, making it ideal for getting through a long school day or maybe even two.
With its Intel Celeron CPU and 2GB or 4GB of RAM, the Inspiron 11 3000 is particularly powerful, though and its 1366 x 768 screen isn't particularly bright. However, this laptop will be adequate for younger users and, with its starting price of $179, you won't feel terrible if your child breaks or outgrows it.
Age Group: 7 to 12
Pros: Colorful chassis; Long battery life; Low price
Cons: Dim display; Modest performance
Key Specs: 11.6-inches / 1366 x 768 Screen; Intel Celeron N3060 CPU; 2GB RAM; 32GB eMMC Storage; 2.4 Pounds; 13:39 Battery life
Best Budget Laptop for Any Age: Acer E 15 (E5-575-33BM)
The 15-inch Acer E 15 E5-575-33BM provides strong performance, a colorful 1080p display, a comfy keyboard and plenty of storage for under $350. However, this 5-pound Windows notebook is too heavy to bring to class and too large for all but the oldest kids to use on their laps, so it's a good choice for kids who mainly need a computer at home.
If your child wants to kick the E 15's performance up a notch after you buy, the bottom panel comes off so you can upgrade its 4GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive to 8GB and an SSD. The laptop also lasts over 8 hours on a charge so your kid can use it on the couch or the dining room table, without hunting for an outlet.
Age Groups: 7 - 12; 13+
Pros: Great value; Sharp colorful display; Solid performance; Long battery life
Cons: Too heavy to bring to school
Key Specs: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 Screen; Core i3-7100U; 4GB of RAM; 1TB Hard drive; 8:16 Battery life
Best Chromebook for Teens: Asus ChromeBook Flip C302CA
With its classy aluminum chassis, colorful 1080p screen and ability to bend back into tablet, tent or stand modes, the C302CA is the cream of the Chromebook crop. Its 12.5-inch screen is extremely bright and its 2.6-pound chassis is light enough not to weigh down a student's backpack. The Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA also lasts nearly 9 hours on a charge.
However, because the C302CA costs around $500 and isn't made to be particularly durable, we recommend it for older children.
Age Group: 13+
Pros: Bright, 1080p screen; Attractive design; Long battery life
Cons: Not built to be durable; Expensive for a Chromebook
Key Specs: 12.5-inch / 1920 x 1080 Screen; Core m3 CPU; 2.6 Pounds; 8:53 Battery Life
Best Windows Laptop for Teens: Asus ZenBook UX330UA
The $749 Asus ZenBook UX330UA isn't dirt cheap, but it's an incredible value for a laptop that's powerful and portable enough for your teen to keep well into their college years. The 13-inch features a vibrant 1080p screen, speedy 8th-Gen Core i5 processor and blazing-fast 256GB SSD.
At just 2.7 pounds, the UX330UA is lighter than many notebooks with 11-inch displays, and it can fit easily into a backpack full of books. Asus' laptop comes with a wide selection of ports, including both USB 3.0 and USB Type-C connectors, HDMI for outputting to a monitor and an SD card slot for grabbing pictures off a camera. Best of all, this aluminum-clad clamshell lasts for 9 hours on a charge.
Age Group: 13+
Pros: Colorful full HD screen; Long battery life; Wide port selection
Cons: Stiff touchpad; Plenty of bloatware
Key Specs: 13.3-inch / 1920 x 1080 screen; Core i5-8250U processor; 8GB of RAM; 256GB SSD; 2.7 pounds
Best Gaming Laptop for Teens: Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Powerful enough to edit video projects for school and play the latest PC games (at decent settings), Dell's Inspiron 15 7000 is a good choice for parents with $950-plus budgets and teens who don't need to carry their laptops to school every day. This attractive 15-inch laptop features a powerful quad-core Intel processor, speedy Nvidia GTX 1050 or 1060 graphics and plenty of storage space. The laptop also lasts over 7 hours on a charge, which is good for a gaming system, but because it's a bulky 5.99 pounds and an inch thick, your kid will probably use it around the house, rather than lugging it to class.
Though it's marketed as a gaming machine, the Inspiron 15 7000 has a number of homework-friendly features, including a high-res display that helps you see a lot of text on screen at once and plenty of ports for connecting to peripherals. However, we're not big fans of the keyboard so touch typists might want to consider attaching an external one.
Age Group: 13+
Pros: Powerful performance; Comfortable keyboard; Long battery life
Cons: Heavy; Dim display
Key Specs: 15.6-inch / 1920 x 1080 or 3840 x 2160 Screen; Intel Core-i5-7300HQ or Core i7-7700HQ; Nvidia GTX 1050 or 1050Ti GPU; 11:23 Battery life