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BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
Best of Year 2009
Best of Year 2008
Notables from 2007
Notables from 2006
Notables from 2005
Notables from 2004
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THEMES
Animals
Anthologies
Bears
Bedtime
Classics
Concept Books
Dinosaurs
Families
Famous People
Fiction for the Young
Folk Literature
Friendship
Holiday/Special Days
Humor & Nonsense
Insects
Oceans, Lakes, Rivers,
& Ponds
Rhythm & Rhyme
Wordless Books
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Toddlers
Preschool
Kindergarten
Second Grade
Third-Fifth Grades
Middle Grades
Upper Grades
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FIRST GRADE
Children now begin the formal business of learning to read. Probably
no skill will be more important to a chld's future than reading. However,
the process of sounding out words can remove the enjoyment of a story.
This is where listening to good books can take on a new dimension.
Stories with vivid, precise words in flowing sentences are important.
They will provide a contrast to the repetitious words that are found
in school texts. There is still a need for numerous illustrations
to keep a child's attention and interest.
Good stories can take children outside of themselves and into another
world. They now are developmentally ready for greater flights of fantasy.
Now that they have a firmer grasp of real and make-believe, their
adventures into this world should still be a safe-scare experience.
Even with this firm fix on fantasy and reality, they still love humor.
It is satisfying when a young hero outsmarts the older, wiser, or
stronger character. It is important to hear stories of good triumphing
over evil.
Even though children are finding some independence, home and family
should provide a solid anchor for them. Books should now provide a
delicate balance between separation and attachment. Continue reading
aloud, especially books that are too difficult for children to read
independently. Be sure to include children in selecting books from
the library, keeping in mind their interests.
Every child's literary heritage should include folktales. Stories
that were too frightening during kindergarten are no longer intimidating
to them.
Through fairy tales, children understand and cope with struggles in
life. Characters meet obstacles and are victorious, often gaining
a kingdom and along with the respect of everyone. Unlike myths that
have tragic endings, or fables that teach lessons, fairy tales always
end happily giving listeners hope. Even though children are ready
for more sophisticated fairy tales now, they are not ready for the
more gruesome ones.
Children are now ready for more complex wordless books that require
closer attention and examination. Details must be interpreted in order
to understand what is happening. This skill is the basic ingredient
of reading comprehension.
At this age, children have an appetite for information about the real
world of animals, people, and things. They are beginning to understand
the existence of faraway places. They are fascinated by what dinosaurs
ate, where they lived and how they looked. While children can enjoy
non-fiction books that explain how things work, information in story
form will hold their interest much more.
As children master letters and numbers, they enjoy books that go beyond
the simple matching object with symbols. Many alphabet books are riddle-like
and definitely more challenging.
Listening is still a priority rather than reading. Children enjoy
the rhythmic sounds of verse and may join in and chant all or parts
of a particular favorite. Children seem to enjoy nonsense verse and
the fun of playing with words. As children develop their reading skills,
parents should read these books aloud. Eventually children will enjoy
switching roles and rereading these books on their own. Never should
easy-to-read books replace read-aloud books; both are needed.
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THE NIGHT
BEFORE CHRISTMAS
written by Clement C. Moore, illus. by Tom Browning, (Sterling Publishing, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-4027-5484-5), 48p, Ages 4-8.
Written as a Christmas present for his children in 1822, Dr.
Moore's classic poem tells the story of a magical visit one
Christmas Eve from Santa Claus. Hearing clatter on his roof,
the father of a sleeping family discovers "a right jolly old
elf" in his living room placing toys under their Christmas tree.
Upon completing his task, Santa winks, nods, zooms up the chimney,
and leaves in a sleigh pulled by eight miniature reindeer. An
introduction explains the background of the famous poem and
its printing history. This charming and memorable tale, accompanied
by exquisite paintings from award-winning artist, Tom Browning,
should be in all home libraries and read at least once a year.
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THUMBELINA
written by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Brian Alderson,
illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline, (Candlewick Press, $17.99, ISBN
978-0-7636-2079-0), 40p, Ages 4-8.
A tiny girl, the size of a thumb, is kidnapped by Mrs. Toad
and betrothed to her Toadikins. "Thumbelina wept big tears,
but the river fish heard what was going on, and they nibbled
at the lily pad stalk and-whisht!- away it floated down the
river." On her journey, Thumbelina meets selfish and fickle
maybugs, a manipulating Mrs. Fieldmouse, and a pompous marriage-minded
mole, who keeps her in his underground home. After rescuing
a hurt swallow, Thumbelina nurses him back to health until he
is well enough to fly. Because of her care and concern, the
swallow offers to fly her to his summer villa, where she finds
Crystal Fairies and her own fairy king. Throughout all of her
harrowing adventures, Thumbelina never loses her compassion
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REGARDS TO
THE MAN IN THE MOON
written/illus. by Ezra Jack Keats, (Viking Children's Books,
$15.99, ISBN 978-0-670-01137-7), 40p, Ages 5+.
Friends tease Louis about his father "the junkman," but his
father explains that imagination can transform junk into amazing
adventures. With help from his parents, Louis transforms junk
into a special spaceship called "Imagination I", which Louis
and a friend magically fly into outer space. "They floated past
strange and wondrous things . . . and on through worlds no one
had ever seen before." While gliding through space, they discover
two friends, who decide to follow in a converted bathtub. When
the friends become frightened during a rock storm, they lose
their imagination, and Louis tows them safely home. Reissued
for the fortieth anniversary of the first lunar landing, children
will learn about the power of dreams and imagination. The paint
and collage illustration are marvelous. |
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WENDEL'S
WORKSHOP
written/illus. by Chris Riddell, Katherine Tegen Books, ($16.99,
ISBN 978-0-06-1444929), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Robots abound in this enjoyable tale about creating, persevering,
and recycling. An enthusiastic and hardworking innovator, Wendel
worked night and day. "Sometimes he was so busy inventing, he
forgot to go to bed. And he never had time to tidy up." Realizing
that he needs help, Wendel creates a housekeeper robot, Clunk,
who ties clothes in knots, stores teacups in the sock drawer,
and serves coffee in shoes. Clunk ends up on the scrap heap.
The next robot, "Wendelbot", constantly chants "tidy" as it
shreds and crushes everything in sight and dumps Wendel down
the rubbish chute onto the scrap heap. There, Wendel discovers
Clunk, and the two team up to build a group of robots who stop
the crazy Wendelbot, tidy up the mess, and keep the workshop
in order. Realizing that no one is perfect, Wendel decides to
always recycle. "He smiled, patched this, mended that, and made
an adjustment here and there. But there was one thing he didn't
do . . . Wendel NEVER threw anything on the scrap heap again.
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PIGEON AND
PIGEONETTE
written by Dirk Derom, illus. by Sarah Verroken, (Enchanted
Lion Books, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-59270-087-5), 32p,
Ages 4-8.
Left behind for the winter, a small pigeon with wings too small
to support flight and an enormous blind pigeon form a lasting
friendship and dream of soaring like eagles in the clouds. With
Pigeonette's verbal directions, Pigeon's strong wings, and a
few mishaps along the way, they soar. "From then on,/all day
long right through the summer,/the chirping voice of Pigeonete/guides
Pigeon through the mighty forest." They also listen to an old
wise pigeon's advice on navigating storms. With a positive message
of overcoming obstacles, cooperation, and perseverance, this
heart-warming story of friendship will charm children and adults.
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RED TED AND
THE LOST THINGS
written by Michael Rosen, illus. by Joel Stewart, (Candlewick
Press, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-7636-4537-3), 40p, Ages
4-7.
Left at a train station by his owner, a small bear finds himself
placed in the lost property office with hundreds of other lost
belongings. A stuffed crocodile informs him that they reside
in the Place for Lost Things where most things never leave.
After crying a bit, the two devise a clever scheme to escape
and locate Red Ted's owner, Stevie. "The next morning, when
the Man in the Hat came in, Red Ted hopped down off the shelf.
So Crocodile hopped down off the shelf too, and together they
rushed out the door." The two are joined by a cheese-loving
white cat, who tracks Stevie's smelly trail. Many obstacles
await the trio, including a dachshund, which Crocodile frightens
off with his sharp teeth. Upon reaching home, all three are
accepted into Stevie's family and given plenty of love and cheese
for the cat. Where there is purpose, persistence, and a cheese-sniffing
cat, success is just a matter of time. |
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