Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke And Bookish and was created by Jamie at the Perpetual Page Turner.
Today’s theme is Top 10 Book Covers, but you can take it in any direction you want and get more specific. SO y’all that is totally what I did. This week’s list, with the exception of a book or two is comprised of my Top 10 Favorite Middle Grade fantasy book covers, the exceptions being like 2 YA books. Instead of giving a big long explanation for each one, I’ll just let the covers do the talking for themselves. If any of the covers peaks your interest, feel free to ask about it in the comments, I’ve read all the books listed and would be happy to let you know if you should read it or not.
Top 10 Mostly Middle Grade With A YA Exception Fantasy Book Covers
1. The Aviary by Kathleen O’Dell
The Aviay
2. Peter Nimble And His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
Peter Nimble And His Fantastic Eyes
3. Down The Mysterly River by Bill Willingham
Down The Mysterly River
4. Wildwood by Colin Meloy
Wildwood
5. Plain Kate by Erin Bow
Plain Kate
6. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
The Last Unicorn
7. Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne
Noah Barleywater Runs Away
8. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
The Goose Girl
9. A Tale Dark And Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
A Tale Dark And Grimm
10. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Akata Witch
Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)
- House Of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen | Audiobook Review - March 23, 2025
- Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan | Book Review - March 16, 2025
- Prince Of The Palisades by Julian Winters | Audiobook Review - March 8, 2025
I don’t read much MG but those book covers do tempt me 🙂
Lovely covers 🙂 Do you know the illustrator who did the cover for The Aviary? I’ve been trying to find out but it doesn’t seem to say it anywhere online!
I hadn’t seen some of these covers before – they’re really good. A Tale Dark and Grimm reminds me of the cover of Jackson Pearce’s Sweetly.
Gorgeous covers – my favorites from your list are Wildwood & Akata the Witch.
There is something so wonderful about beautiful book covers.
Thank you for sharing these.
Here’s my
Top Ten Book Covers. I’d love to have you stop by!
I’ve only read Down the Mysterly River and The Last Unicorn from your list, but seeing the other book covers makes me want to read the rest. ^_^
Oooh look at Aviary — love love love that one!
Lovely covers, I think the sense of adventure really comes out with the tree-scapes and rooftops.
All of these covers are fantastic (I think Akata Witch is one of my favorites)! I wish my copy of The Goose Girl had the same cover 🙂
Love your variety of covers–no girls in dresses here! Down a Mysterly River was a great book and then there’s that classic, The Last Unicorn. Great choices.
So pretty! I love MG, although I don’t read nearly enough. There’s something that’s just fun about it – you get great stories without all the teenage angst/drama that’s sometimes in YA. These all look fantastic and since you’re recommending them, I’m sure they actually are!
Those first four children’s book covers are beautiful, I love the artwork they get these days! Always makes me want to read them.
And the Noah Barleywater one – love it too. The artwork reminds me of Oliver Jeffers’ picture books.
I haven’t seen/heard of that Nnedi Okorafor book before – is it a new one of hers?
Here’s my list.
I love the focus on middle grades books! I’m trying to beef up my library’s collection of legit MG titles, and I added some of these to my recent book order (after reading the reviews). The kids do love the cover of Akata Witch and A Tale Dark and Grimm…and I can’t imagine The Aviary staying on the shelf long with a pretty cover like that. Great list!
Great covers. Some of these are definitely new to me. Great picks!
JJ iReads
Check out my Top Ten Favorite Under Water Covers
I love middle-grade covers! They’re usually so whimsical and fun. Plain Kate made it onto my list, too, and so did The Goose Girl although it was the other edition. 🙂
I love the cover of The Aviary! I saw is it on Amazon’s bargain book list one time and knew I needed to own it because of the cover. (I don’t actually own it yet due to lack of funds, but I will :P).
I really like the cover of Plain Kate too. It draws me to it every time I’m in the library.
And for the record, MG covers are totally the bomb. This cover is gorgeous too http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3301978-bird
I love the cover for A Tale Dark and Grim. I definitely am going to check out some of the MG novels you’ve listed here. I have read a couple lately I really liked and need to get more! Great list =]
Here’s my Top Ten.
Fantastic picks! All of those are going to my TBR pile.
I noticed that several of your picks are MG books. Those indeed have the best covers.
I love these! Almost all of them have such a whimsical feeling to them, both lovely and adorable. Fantastic choices.
My favorites are the really imaginative-looking ones like Mysterly River, The Aviary, Peter Nimble, and A Tale Dark & Grimm. When I want a MG read, I want a cover like that…that’s what my eyes are looking for, particularly in the library. Good choices. Middle grade forever!
*hides in shame* I have only read The Goose Girl out of all of these.
plain kate and goose girl are my favs. so pretty 🙂
I love these covers! The Wildwood one is my favorite. Carson Ellis is amazing! And the new cover for The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls has this feel as well.
YO!! Goose Girl is one of my FAVORITE covers of EVER!! I love it sooo much, and my love is only solidified by the fact that the book is awesome, too.
I’ve been meaning to check out so many of these, but Peter Nimble and Down the Mysterly River have been on my TBR for a while. I need to check them both out ASAP.
I love that you did MG, and not only did you pick awesome covers, they’re attached to some pretty sweet books! I think my favorite here was Noah Barleywater, which is also probably the only one I hadn’t heard of. I’ll have to investigate!
I’m a middle grade teacher, and these titles & covers really appeal to me. Thanks for sharing.
My TTT: http://sosimplesara.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-ten-covers.html
Very nice. I like the look of a lot of MG covers!
My TTT
Fantastic list! I love The Goosegirl and Wildwood covers.
Love that cover for The Goose Girl and felt bad that they decided to change the cover design for the third book in the series. Makes me wish I collected them in hardcover format so I’ll have matching covers.
I think the cover for Plain Kate looks beautiful too.
I LOVE MG covers!! I usually love them more than YA covers. Plain Kate is on my list as well!
I can see why you like these covers 🙂
NOTE THE LACK OF SAD GIRLS IN PRETTY DRESSES.
High five.
have read non/ hides//
alll look awesome