The best children’s and YA books of 2023

From a bear who stockpiles dreams to a sisterhood of knights via a tiger sea captain, our critics pick their favourite titles for children and young adults

After the years of huddling at home, it was time to party. There were landmark birthdays: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler toasted 30 years of working together with a hit exhibition at the Lowry in Salford (until 1 Jan) and Benji Davies marked 10 years of bestseller The Storm Whale with a shindig and a fantastic sequel, The Great Storm Whale (Simon and Schuster). Elsewhere, pioneers were celebrated: a British Library show honouring Malorie Blackman’s career threw open its doors, free of charge and ready to inspire the next generation (until 25 Feb), while Michael Rosen won the 2023 PEN Pinter prize with the judges praising his “rare, invaluable gift: the ability to address the most serious matters of life in a spirit of joy, humour and hope”.