That’s right, it’s officially “Best” season. And we’re kicking things off with a list that I look forward to each year – The New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books. The list was announced yesterday (official press release) and as usual, it’s a beautiful and diverse group of books.

Let’s meet the class of 2013.

My Brother’s Book by Maurice Sendak (Michael de Capua Books/HarperCollins Publishers)

Ballad by Blexbolex (Enchanted Lion Books)

Jemmy Button by Jennifer Uman and Valerio Vidali (Templar Publishing/Candlewick Press)

The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Little, Brown and Company)

Holland by Charlotte Dematons (Lemniscaat)

Journey by Aaron Becker (Candlewick Press)

Fog Island written and illustrated by Tomi Ungerer (Phaidon Press)

Jane, The Fox and Me by Fanny Britt, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press)

Locomotive by Brian Floca (Richard Jackson/Atheneum)

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins Publishers)

This list is nearly impossible to predict. Would I have guessed books by legends Maurice Sendak and Tomi Ungerer would have been among the ten? I would not. I hadn’t read Ballad when I put together my Wildest Books of 2013 list, but after reading it last week I’m giving it an honorary spot there. I love seeing a graphic novel, the outstanding Jane, the Fox and Me, among this group. And, as always, I’ll be running off to check out some of the books here that weren’t on my radar – Holland, anyone?

What stands out to you?

Click here for a gallery of the 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2012