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[CCBC-Net] Favorites of 2006
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From: Elliott BatTzedek <ebattzedek>
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 16:22:14 -0500
Re Lisa's pick: Wolves, Written and illustrated by Emily Gravett. Simon and Schuster ($15.95) This book is a joy, and a great read-aloud. It's all wonderfully designed -- the spread showing only a book with rips and a bite mark is just brilliant.
Other recent favorites:
Mini Grey "The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon", Knopf -- a clever, funny fractured fairytale, from the author/illustrator of "Traction Man"
Becky Birtha "Grandmama's Pride", Albert Whitman -- an established author's first children's book, showing the dignity, courage, and resilience of African Americans facing Jim Crow laws while teaching their children to love and honor themselves
Chinlun Lee "Good Dog, Paw!", Candlewick -- a small, sweet story about a veterian and her dog. It has a strong message about the power of love without being cloying or predictable.
The brilliant visual humor collection "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?", featuring many of the best illustrators working today. As a third grade boy reviewed it, "Awesome!"
Lauren Child "But Excuse Me that is My Book", Dial -- while I avoid most titles connected TV series, Child's Charlie and Lola books are great children's literature. In this adventure, Lola's favorite books, the one on bugs, has been checked out of the library by someone else, and older brother Charlie helps her broaden her reading passions after many books are suggested but rejected.
Patricia McKissack and Onawumi Jean Moss, "Precious and the Boo Hag", Atheneum -- a great read aloud for the 7+ range -- plenty of humor, but also just the right amount of scary, and the young heroine triumphs through courage and careful thinking.
And for the young crowd, Stephen Johnson's interactive board book "My Little Yellow Taxi" from Harcourt. The moving parts are all fun, but I fell in love with the book on the final page, which contains a lift-off cardstock taxi that children can remove and drive off to into their own adventures.
And then, as others have mentioned, there is The Astonishing Adventures of Octavian Nothing, which has more to say about race in the United States than any book -- YA or adult, fiction or nonfiction-- I've read in a very long time. I was at a panel in MA last year and heard M.T. Anderson speak. When someone said, somewhat accusingly, "Your books aren't for every reader," he answered proudly, "No, they're not. I write for who I was -- shy, geeky, painfully thoughtful kids who read to learn about themselves and the world. These aren't every child, but who deserves great books more than they do?" (from my notes, not an exact quotation) This is absolutely true of Octavian. I read it in pre-pub overnight at BEA, and had only one question for Candlewick staff in the morning -- when is the next one coming out???
Elliott batTzedek Curriculum and Collections Development Children's Literacy Initiative
Received on Fri 08 Dec 2006 03:22:14 PM CST
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 16:22:14 -0500
Re Lisa's pick: Wolves, Written and illustrated by Emily Gravett. Simon and Schuster ($15.95) This book is a joy, and a great read-aloud. It's all wonderfully designed -- the spread showing only a book with rips and a bite mark is just brilliant.
Other recent favorites:
Mini Grey "The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon", Knopf -- a clever, funny fractured fairytale, from the author/illustrator of "Traction Man"
Becky Birtha "Grandmama's Pride", Albert Whitman -- an established author's first children's book, showing the dignity, courage, and resilience of African Americans facing Jim Crow laws while teaching their children to love and honor themselves
Chinlun Lee "Good Dog, Paw!", Candlewick -- a small, sweet story about a veterian and her dog. It has a strong message about the power of love without being cloying or predictable.
The brilliant visual humor collection "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?", featuring many of the best illustrators working today. As a third grade boy reviewed it, "Awesome!"
Lauren Child "But Excuse Me that is My Book", Dial -- while I avoid most titles connected TV series, Child's Charlie and Lola books are great children's literature. In this adventure, Lola's favorite books, the one on bugs, has been checked out of the library by someone else, and older brother Charlie helps her broaden her reading passions after many books are suggested but rejected.
Patricia McKissack and Onawumi Jean Moss, "Precious and the Boo Hag", Atheneum -- a great read aloud for the 7+ range -- plenty of humor, but also just the right amount of scary, and the young heroine triumphs through courage and careful thinking.
And for the young crowd, Stephen Johnson's interactive board book "My Little Yellow Taxi" from Harcourt. The moving parts are all fun, but I fell in love with the book on the final page, which contains a lift-off cardstock taxi that children can remove and drive off to into their own adventures.
And then, as others have mentioned, there is The Astonishing Adventures of Octavian Nothing, which has more to say about race in the United States than any book -- YA or adult, fiction or nonfiction-- I've read in a very long time. I was at a panel in MA last year and heard M.T. Anderson speak. When someone said, somewhat accusingly, "Your books aren't for every reader," he answered proudly, "No, they're not. I write for who I was -- shy, geeky, painfully thoughtful kids who read to learn about themselves and the world. These aren't every child, but who deserves great books more than they do?" (from my notes, not an exact quotation) This is absolutely true of Octavian. I read it in pre-pub overnight at BEA, and had only one question for Candlewick staff in the morning -- when is the next one coming out???
Elliott batTzedek Curriculum and Collections Development Children's Literacy Initiative
Received on Fri 08 Dec 2006 03:22:14 PM CST
