The Library and Information Technology Association released its first Excellence in Children's and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists at the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting in Denver. The annotated Lists are designed to assist children, their parents, and librarians in selecting books that use (future) science and technology rather than fantasy or magic. The selections focus on titles with the most interest and appeal to three age groups.

• The Golden Duck List recognizes picture books for preschool and early readers, ages up to 6 years old;
• The Eleanor Cameron List recognizes illustrated chapter books or short novels for grade school students, ages 7-11;
• The Hal Clement List recognizes young adulte books for teens, ages 12-18.

The 2018 selections are: Golden Duck List (picture books)

• Aliens Get the Sniffles Too! Ahhh-Choo! by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by K.G. Campbell. Candlewick.
• Life on Mars by Jon Agee. Dial Books.
• Rufus Blasts Off! by Kim Griswell, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Sterling Children’s Books.
• Zelda’s Big Adventure by Marie Alafaci, illustrated by Shane McG. Clarion Books.
• Charlotte the Scientist is Squished by Camille Andros, illustrated by Brianne Farley. Clarion Books.
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: The Classic Illustrated Storybook by Kim Smith. Quirk Books.

Eleanor Cameron List (middle grade books)

• Lucy and the Rocket Dog by Will Buckingham, illustrated by Monica Arnaldo. Alfred A Knopf.
• Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King. Arthur A. Levine Books.
• Watchdog by Will McIntosh. Delacorte Press.
• The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole by Michelle Cuevas. Dial Books.
• Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Walden Pond Press.
• Castle in the Stars: The Space Race of 1869 by Alex Alice, illustrated by Alex Alice. First Second. (Graphic novel).
• The Countdown Conspiracy by Katie Slivensky. HarperCollins.
• Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson. Walden Pond Press.
• Crash Course #1 by Landry Q. Walker, illustrated by Keith Zoo. Penguin Workshop.
• One Trick Pony by Nathan Hale. Amulet Books. (Graphic novel).

Hal Clement List (young adult books)

• Jek/Hyde by Amy Ross. Harlequin Teen.
• The Innocence Treatment by Ari Goelman. Roaring Brook Press.
• Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray. Little Brown.
• Nyxia by Scott Reintgen. Penguin Random House.
• Spliced by Jon McGoran. Holiday House.
• Dark Intercept by Julia Keller. Tor Teen.
• This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada. Simon Pulse.
• What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy. Bloomsbury USA Childrens.
• Dare Mighty Things by Heather Kaczynski. HarperTeen.
• All Rights Reserved by Gregory Scott Katsoulis. Harlequin Teen.
• Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld, illustrated by Alex Puvilland. First Second. (Graphic novel).
• The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber. Thomas Nelson.

Visit the LITA Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists website for an annotated list of these titles and more information about the selection committee. The Lists are designed to encourage good science fiction literature for children and will be announced every year at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Submissions for the 2019 Notable Lists are now being accepted. Members of the 2018 LITA Excellence in Children's and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists are: Helen Gbala, chair, College of DuPage; Valeria J. Fike, College of DuPage Library; Diana T. Herald, Mesa County Libraries; Breanne A. Kirsch, University of South Carolina-Upstate Library; Jonathan Kirsch; and Laura Pearle, Milton Academy.