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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
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
First Grade
Third-Fifth Grades
Middle Grades
Upper Grades
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SECOND GRADE
Books take on a new dimension for seven year olds. Because children are still in the formal business of learning to read, however, there is a great difference between what they can read independently and what they can listen to, understand and enjoy.
Children are now ready for more complex wordless books because they require closer attention and examination. Details must be interpreted in order to understand what is happening. This skill will help children in their reading comprehension.
At this age, children have an appetite for information about the real world and they are beginning to understand the existence of faraway places.
As children master their letters and numbers, they now enjoy books that go beyond the simple matching object with symbols. Many riddle-like alphabet books are definitely more challenging.
As children develop their reading skills, parents should continue to read aloud. Eventually children will enjoy reading these books on their own. Never should easy-to-read books replace read-aloud books, as both are needed.
Children are now at an age where they can understand that other people have feelings and experiences similar to theirs. A good story will offer them an opportunity to step outside of themselves and into someone else's shoes. While they may enjoy non-fiction books; the same information gathered in the context of a story has greater meaning.
Offer children a variety of books with more complex plots and characters. Expand on their interests and provide plenty of easy-to-read books. Always read aloud books that may be a little difficult for them to read independently.
Children now have a greater grasp of the real and make-believe. Stories that were once too frightening are no longer intimidating to them. Tales that belong to "once upon a time" are now adventurous places to visit. Stories should contain good triumphing over evil. If there is danger involved, it should demand great courage.
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 should always end happily. Even though children are ready for more sophisticated fairy tales now, they still are not ready for the more gruesome ones.
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THE NUTCRACKER
AND THE MOUSE KING
written by E. T. A. Hoffmann, illus. by Gail deMarcken, (Orchard
Books, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-545-03773-0), 56p, Ages
4-8.
On Christmas Eve, a young girl falls in love with a handsome
nutcracker doll, given to her family by Godfather Drosselmeier.
When Marie claims him as her own, her godfather explains that
the nutcracker was once human. Upon saving the life of a princess,
he was turned into a wooden doll by the wicked seven-headed
Mouse King. When the Mouse King and his army threaten Marie,
the Nutcracker comes to her rescue. "Hello, you filthy pack
of mice!/You've come to meet your doom!/My army is ready to
crush you,/Let us battle in this room!" With the enemy defeated,
the Nutcracker takes Marie to his enchanted Toyland, where she
discovers ballet dancers, golden dolphins, and sugared forests.
Her family believes the stories to be a dream, but years later
Marie's nutcracker prince, now human, returns for her, and together
they reign over Toyland. Gail deMarcken's beautiful illustrations
perfectly capture this tale of adventure, bravery, and honor.
An Introduction provides the history behind the unforgettable
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AMOS & BORIS
written/illus. by William Steig, (Square Fish, $6.99, ISBN
978-0-312-53566-7), 32p, Ages 5-8.
This charming and whimsical tale concerns a life-long friendship
between a mouse, Amos, and a whale, Boris, who have nothing
in common but their desire to help their fellow mammals. Amos
loves sailing, but one day he accidentally falls overboard and
meets Boris, who kindly takes him back home to the Ivory Coast
of Africa. It seems that Boris was on his way to a convention
of whales from the seven seas. During the trip, the two strike
up a lasting friendship. "Boris admired the delicacy, the quivering
daintiness, the light touch, the small voice, and gemlike radiance
of the mouse. Amos admired the bulk, the grandeur, the power,
the purpose, the rich voice, and the abounding friendliness
of the whale." Hoping the repay the kindness someday, Amos pledges
his help, if ever needed. Little does Boris realize that one
day he will need a rescuing that only Amos can provide. Appealing
to all ages on many levels, these two characters will wind their
way into every reader and listener's heart. |
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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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