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Cream of the Crop 2009 ListCream of the Crop.pdf, Note: PDF format requires the free Adobe Reader to view. KEY L = Library binding [M] = Maine Author, Illustrator, Setting P = Paperback R = Reinforced trade binding T = Trade binding All of the titles on this list have been favorably reviewed by members of the Southern Maine Library District (SMLD) Book Review Group. Publishing date for all books is 2008, unless otherwise noted. Total books: 119 Picture – Nonfiction [total books in this category: 21]
Picture Book – Fiction [total books in this category: 29]Barry, Frances. Big Yellow Sunflower. Candlewick Press. 978-0-7636-3724-8, T $5.99 (Preschool). Employing bright illustrations and using repetitive text, this novelty book shows the life cycle of a sunflower. The pages unfold in a circular sequence to reveal a sunflower in bloom. Delightful in its simplicity. Becker, Bonny. A Visitor for Bear. Candlewick. 978-0763-62807-9, R $16.99 (Pre-Grade 2). The importance of friendship shines in this tale of a bear that wants no visitors but is convinced otherwise by a very stubborn mouse. The text and watercolor and ink illustrations come together to make this book a winner. Berger, Carin. The Little Yellow Leaf. Greenwillow Books. 978-0-06-145223-9, T $16.99 (Pre-Grade 3). This spare, yet lyrical text tells the story of one yellow leaf remaining on a tree well into winter. When it discovers a red leaf is also hanging on, the two let go and are blown away, away, together. The author uses recycled paper collage for the illustrations. Bridges, Shirin Yim. The Umbrella Queen. Greenwillow Books. 978-0-06-075040-4, T $16.99 (Pre-Grade 3). Noot, a young Thai girl, dreams of becoming the Umbrella Queen at the festival held yearly in her village. However, her unconventional idea of decorating umbrellas with elephants instead of flowers challenges tradition. Artist Yoo’s linoleum prints rendered in subdued tones of green and orange enhance the story. Cyrus, Kurt. Tadpole Rex. Harcourt, Inc. 978-0-15-205990-3, R $16.00 (Pre-Grade 3). Unique visual perspectives document the transformation of a tadpole to adult amphibian during the age of dinosaurs. Rhyming text and large, richly-hued artwork will captivate the “inner tyrannosaur” of a dinosaur hungry audience. Fox, Paula. Traces. Boyds Mills Press. 978-1-932425-43-7, T $16.95 (Grade 4-6). A book about what is left behind, including tracks, scent, jet vapors, seeds, or our trash. Karla Kuskin’s illustrations are rendered in watercolor and collage. Gorbachev, Valeri. Turtle’s Penguin Day. Alfred A. Knopf. 978-0-375-84374-7, T $16.99 (Pre-Grade 1). A sweet book celebrating the innocence and imagination of preschoolers and the reach of a bed-time story. Gorbachev’s watercolors, warm, detailed and humorous, and careful integration of penguin facts make for a delightful romp as Turtle and friends spend a school day pretending to be penguins. Horacek, Petr. Choo Choo. Candlewick. 978-07636-3477-3, T $5.99 (Preschool). A board book about the sights and sounds a train makes on its journey.The acrylic collage illustrations are bright and bold. Yet another satisfying combination of text and picture! Jarrett, Clare. Arabella Miller’s Tiny Caterpillar. Candlewick.978-07636-3660-9, T $16.99 (Pre–Grade K). The traditional poem about a little girl and her caterpillar made fresh with rhyming text and large, simple pencil and collage illustrations. Includes information on the life cycle of a butterfly. Jenkins, Emily. Skunkdog. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 978-0374-37009-1, R $16.95 (Pre-Grade 3). Can the owners of a dog with no sense of smell survive when their dog finds happiness with a skunk? This is an excellent story of friendship and acceptance, with bright illustrations. Kahn, Hena. Night of the Moon. Chronicle Books. 978-0-8118-6062-8, T $16.99 (Pre-Grade 3). Kahn, a Pakistani-American, describes family activities during the Moslem holy month of Ramadan through the eyes of a young girl (lots of food and fun).The jewel-toned paintings by Julie Paschis, inspired by Islamic ceramic tiles, capture the phases of the moon and the importance of family. Includes author’s notes and glossary. Kimmel, Eric A. Stormy’s Hat: Just Right for a Railroad Man. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. 978-0-374-37262-0, T $16.95 (Pre-Grade 3). When Engineer Stormy Kromer finally listens to his wife Ida, all of his haberdashery problems are solved. Colorful art by Andrea U’Ren captures the historical period, humor and tension in this story based on the creation of the prototype railroad workers hat. Klise, Kate, and Sarah M. Klise. Little Rabbit and the Night Mare.Harcourt. 978-015-205717-6, T $16.00 (Pre-Grade 2). Little Rabbit has a recurring nightmare.His mother offers a solution that children will enjoy. The Klise sisters bring another Little Rabbit story to the reader with savvy text and acrylic illustrations that explain and solve a common childhood occurrence. Krull, Kathleen and Paul Brewer. Fartiste: An Explosively Funny, Mostly True Story. Simon & Schuster. 978-1-4169-2828-7, T $16.99 (Grade K-4). Hilariously funny. A fictionalized biography of Frenchman Joseph Pujol who, starting in 1892, became famous for his ability to entertain audiences with his musical farts. Boris Kulikov’s illustrations are rich in color and very expressive Lee, Suzy. Wave. Chronicle Books. 978-0-8118-5924-0, T $15.99 (All Ages). Using no words and only three colors, the illustrations in this picture book are expressive and tell a funny story of a young girl spending the day at the beach. Young children will be enchanted. Lowell, Susan. The Elephant Quilt: Stitch By Stitch to California. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 978-037-438223-0, T $16.95 (Grade K-3). An 1859 family trip from Missouri to California by covered wagon as recorded by the grandmother and her granddaughter, in a quilt. Text and pictures are quilt-like, taking the reader on quite a journey. See if you can figure out what the elephant is! McPhail, David. Dot and Bob. Harcourt. 978-0152-06547-8, T $12.95 (Grade K-3). A simple beginning reader about a girl and her dog.Short sentences give confidence to the reader while McPhail’s signature illustrations reinforce the text. It is a win-win combination. Milway, Katie Smith. One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference. Kids Can Press. 978-1-55453-028-1, T $18.95 (All Ages). Set in Ghana and based on a true story. Because of one small loan, Kojo grows up to own the largest poultry farm in West Africa. The colorful illustrations by Eugenie Fernandes are rendered in acrylic and show a positive, thriving African community. Includes biographical information on the real Kojo, information on microcredit/small loans, and a glossary. Nevius, Carol. Baseball Hour. Marshall Cavendish. 978-0761-45380-2, R $16.99 (Pre-Grade 3).The team that produced Karate Hour is back, now capturing a baseball practice session and game.Nevius' simple rhyming text and Bill Thompson’s sepia-toned photorealistic artwork featuring multicultural girls and boys make this sport book a home run. Plourde, Lynn. The Dump Man’s Treasures. Down East. 978-0-89272-725-4, T [M] $15.95 (Grade K-3). The beloved Mr. Pottle, who oversees the town’s dump, saves every discarded book. When he is injured and the townspeople realize he cannot read, the children visit daily and read to him from his vast collection. Readers will pore over Maine artist Mary Beth Owens’ detailed watercolor illustrations. Ruelle, Karen Gray. The Tree. Holiday House. 978-0-8234-1904-3, T $16.95 (Grade K-3). The history of New York City’s Madison Square Park is put in context with the life of a giant elm by showing the people and events the tree witnessed over the course of the city’s development. Large, double-paged watercolor illustrations, somberly hued, accompany each entry. A timeline of events is on each page. Historical notes included. Rumford, James. Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad. Roaring Brook Press. 978-1-59643-276-5, T $17.95 (Grade K-3). A humanizing glimpse into the life of a boy in Iraq during the current war.Ali loves his family, music and studying Arabic calligraphy, an art form that dominates Rumford’s creative and culturally insightful illustrations. Author’s note includes information on Yakut al-Musta’simi, a renowned 11th Century calligrapher. Rylant, Cynthia. Snow. Harcourt. 978-0152-05303-1, T $17.00 (Pre-Grade 2). Rylant captures in words and Lauren Stringer in pictures all that a reader hears, smells, sees and feels in experiencing a good, old-fashioned snow storm. Schertle, Alice. Little Blue Truck. Harcourt. 978-0152-05661-2, T $16.00 (Pre-Grade 2). A little blue truck, some farm animals and a rather unfriendly big dump truck are the main characters in this story. The rhyming text with animated illustrations by Jill McElmurry, tell the story to those not reading independently. Perfect for read aloud or lap read. Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. One Boy. Roaring Brook Press. 978-15964-3274-1, L $14.95 (Pre-Grade 2). A unique die-cut book focused on both counting and clever word-play.Ten pictures in bright, bold colors offer a surprising word recombination as each page is turned. An appealing one-of-a-kind concept book. Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor. Sutton, Sally. Roadwork! Candlewick. 978-07636-3912-9, T $15.99 (Preschool). This year’s truck selection is about the vehicles needed to build a road.Language puts readers at the site and illustrations are clear and realistic. This is a must for truck lovers! Thomas, Patricia. Red Sled. Boyds Mills Press. 978-15907-8559-1, R $16.95 (Pre-Grade 1). A red sled, a moonlit night, a snowy hill, and a boy and his dad are the elements brought to together with rhyming paired words and big watercolorart by Chris Demarest.Using a poetic form called a chiasmus (additional information given on the back pages), Thomas creates a book appealing to beginning readers. Useful for story time. Weinstein, Ellen Slusky. Everywhere The Cow Says, “Moo!” Boyds Mills Press 978-1-59078-458-7, T $14.95 (Preschool). Animals make different sounds in different languages except the cow that always says, “Moo!” Full page illustrations by Kenneth Andersson are brightly colored and include a famous landmark or dress from the four different countries: Spain, Japan, France, and Great Britain. Great for story time. Willey, Margaret. The 3 Bears and Goldilocks. Atheneum. 978-1-4169-2494-4, T $16.99 (Grade K-3). A spirited retelling of an old favorite. Heather Solomon’s lively illustrations, rendered in watercolors and collage, portray the bears’ home in a rustic, natural way, from beetles in their porridge to beds made out of leaves. A great addition to all collections.
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. Simon & Schuster. 978-1-4169-0585-1, T $16.99 (Grade7-12). Although freed by their owner’s will, thirteen year-old Isabel and her mentally disabled younger sister Ruth are sold back into slavery, and sent to live with wealthy Loyalists in vividly depicted New York City at the onset of the Revolutionary War. Protecting her sister from their cruel masters becomes Isabel’s greatest goal. Anderson, M.T. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation. Part II: The Kingdom on the Waves. Candlewick. 978-0-7636-2950-2, T $22.99 (Grade 9-12). The powerful conclusion to the imagined slave narrative of Octavian, this second volume focuses on his experience in the American Revolutionary War, alongside other slaves promised their emancipation in exchange for service with the British forces. Far-reaching in its scope and told in language true to the time period, this is a stunning, unique work of historical fiction. Printz Honor. Blume, Judy. Going, Going, Gone! With the Pain and the Great One. Random House. 978-0385-73307-6, T $12.99 (Grade 1-3). Abigail, aka “the great one” and Jacob “the pain” are at it again in this third book of stories about two siblings.Beginning readers will find success in the short chapters while quirky illustrations by James Stevenson add to the fun. An excellent choice for introducing chapter books to young readers. Booraem, Ellen. The Unnameables. Harcourt. 978-01520-6368-9, R $16.00 (Grade 5-8). An orphaned boy grows up on an island where everything and everyone has a specific purpose and is named for it. With an odd name and a talent for carving objects that are beautiful instead of functional, Medford Runyuin is spurred to unravel the mystery of his own history and make sense of his place in the world in this often funny, always insightful fantasy. Bradbury, Jennifer. Shift. Atheneum. 978-1-4169-4732-5, T $16.99 (Grade 8-12). A thoughtful and gripping mystery told in flashback form, Shift recounts the pre-college cross-country bicycle trip taken by two young men whose long-standing friendship is strained by their growing differences. When one of them goes missing during the trip, the other is forced to deal with the fall-out. Carter, Anne Laurel. The Shepherd’s Granddaughter. Groundwood Books. 978-0-8889-902-X, T $17.95 (Grade 7-9). Amani has one dream—to be a shepherd like her grandfather. In this family, it is not a career that is normally carried on by a female, especially one so young. Grandfather (Sido) takes her request into serious consideration and begins to groom her as his apprentice. Meanwhile, politics and ownership of contested lands festers among Amani’s area relatives and enemies. Amani’s family is torn apart, forced out by settlers, and find very few options for their future in the Oasis. A very timely read. Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. Harcourt. 978-0-1520-6396-2, T $17.00 (Grade 8-12). This epic fantasy-adventure follows Katsa, one of a select few born with two different colored eyes, the mark of one who is graced. She uses her skill as a warrior to unravel a complex web woven by an evil and shadowy villain. Intelligent characters, a moving love story between equals and superb pacing will keep readers engaged. Collins, Suzanne. Hunger Games. Scholastic. 978-0-439-02348-1, T $17.99 (Grade 6-10). To save her young sister from competing, Katniss Everdeen takes her place in the annual Hunger Games, a televised competition in which only one person, the winner, survives. By turns an adventure, a love story and a dystopian thriller, this is the first in a planned trilogy. Connor, Leslie. Waiting for Normal. Harper Collins. 978-0-06-089089-6, T $17.89 (Grade 6-9). Twelve-year-old Addie has learned to be resourceful since her unstable mother is unable to provide much of a home. Kind neighbors and a concerned stepfather make her life bearable but it’s her upbeat though believable attitude that makes this book a delight. Schneider Family Book Award for Middle School. Cowley, Joy. Snake and Lizard. Kane/Miller. 978-1-933605-83-8, R $14.95 (Grade 2-4). Young readers will enjoy the tug-of-war relationship between these two colorful, spirited, interesting creatures. The moral of this story is that “friendship is not made out of sameness but the accommodation of differences.” What a nice lesson to be reminded of—at any age. As a bonus, Gavin Bishop’s choice of color brings the reader right out into the heart of the desert. Coy, John. Box Out. Scholastic Press. 0-439-87032-1, T $16.99 (Grade 7-12). Liam, a talented sophomore basketball player gets called up to Varsity to replace an injured teammate. His coach believes in praying before, during, and after games. Is praying in school legal? Liam has two choices: (1) going along with the flock or (2) challenging the coach by standing up for his own beliefs and principles. Dowd, Siobhan. Bog Child. David Fickling Books. 0-978-03857-169-9, T $16.99 (Grade 8-12). After high school senior Fergus discovers in a bog the well preserved Iron Age body of a girl, he begins to dream of her tragic story, a tale that provides insight into his own difficulties in a land often torn by war. Typical for Dowd, every word is chosen with care and is pitch perfect. Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. Random House Children’s Books. 978-0-375-84976-3, T $15.99 (Grade 6-10). After his cousin Salim mysteriously disappears, seemingly before their eyes, Ted, whose brain “runs on a different operating system from others,” because he has Asperger’s Syndrome, and his older sister Kat investigate, finding a lot more common ground than they expected. An insightful portrayal celebrates Ted’s differences. Falkner, Brian. The Tomorrow Code. Random House Children’s Books. 978-0-375-84364-8, T $16.99 (Grade 7-12). High-schoolers Tane and Rebecca receive a coded message from the future: winning lottery numbers--and an SOS. It doesn’t take them long to figure out that the message came from their future selves and an imperiled world only they can save. Freitas, Donna. The Possibilities of Sainthood. Farrar, Strauss & Giroux. 978-0-374-36087-0, T $16.95 (Grade 6-12). Never been kissed, good Catholic Antonia is determined to become the world’s first living saint—if she can just convince the Vatican, in this hilarious look at life in a Rhode Island Italian family. Getting kissed would be okay, too. Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. Harper Collins. 978-0060530921, T $17.99 (Grade 5-12). Riffing on Kipling’s Mowgli stories, this effectively spooky novel introduces Nobody “Bod” Owens, the sole survivor of a murderous attack on his family, who is taken in by kindly ghosts in a graveyard near his house. Gaiman’s trademark wry wit is plentiful and the dialogue pitch-perfect for the setting. Newbery Medal. Geus, Mireille. Piggy. Front Street. 978-1-59078-636-9, T $14.95 (Grade 5-7). Translated from Dutch and told from the perspective of Dizzy, a girl with autism, this is a quietly powerful tale of bullying and its far-reaching effects. Richly drawn characters will keep readers engaged. Gibson, Sarah P. The Truth About Horses, Friends, and My Life as a Coward. Marshall Cavendish. 978-0-7614-54595, T [M] $15.99 (Grade 2-5). Sophie claims (only to the reader) that she is the “biggest weenie in Maine.” After her family inherits a few horses of varying shapes, sizes, and personalities, it’s Sophie’s challenge to learn to outsmart them, stand up to neighboring bullies, and trust in herself, her family, and friends. A great story to share with all horse lovers in varying shapes, sizes, and personalities. Golding, Theresa Martin. Niner. Boyds Mills Press. 978-1-59078-549-2, T $16.95 (Grade 6-9). Twelve-year-old Macey finds a locket with numbers in it and is sure it’s a gift from the birth mother she’s never met. In short, fast paced chapters, told first person, Macey fights off criminals and bullies, befriends an obese runaway, and discovers her true self. Grabenstein, Chris. The Crossroads. Random House. 978-0-375-84697-7, T $16.99 (Grade 5-7). A genuinely creepy ghost story mixes well with its cast of unique characters. Eleven-year-old Zach moves from New York City to his father’s small hometown in Connecticut where he, his new stepmother and his newly gained friend must unravel a mystery rooted 50 years in the past. Hardy, Mark. Nothing Pink. Front Street. 978-1-9324-2524-6, T $16.95 (Grade 8-12). Set in the late 1970s, this slim, powerful volume is part romance, part coming-of-age novel. Vincent, the son of a Baptist minister, has always known he is gay, and believes his shame is God’s will. It is not until his family moves and he meets a boy his age that has come to terms with his own orientation that Vincent begins to question his sense of guilt. Hinds, Gareth. Merchant of Venice. Candlewick. 978-0-7636-3024-9, T $21.99 (Grade 8-12). Shakespeare’s classic tale is retold here in graphic novel form, using a muted palette of ink and wash that is understated and engaging. Modern language and dress provide a fresh take and lay bare the constructs of the story. Horvath, Polly. My One Hundred Adventures. Schwartz & Wade Books. 978-0-375-84582-6, T $16.99 (Grade 4-6). Jane is 12 and on a mission for adventure. With the help of some very interesting characters, she learns hard and fast lessons about people: namely her family, friends, and her “psychic” preacher. Set in Massachusetts along the shore, Horvath has us riding the waves of this novel right until we run out of water. Hurwtiz, Johanna. Mighty Monty. Candlewick. 978-0-7636-2977-9, R $15.99 (Grade K-3). The asthmatic first grader Monty is back in another adventure. In short, episodic chapters, Monty takes karate lessons, helps an elderly neighbor, appears as an apple tree in the class play, and attends a party. A pleasing sequel. Kasischke, Laura. Feathered. Harper Teen. 978-00608-1317-8, T $16.99 (Grade 8-12). A story about two mid-western girls who, on a spring break trip to Cancun, allow an older man to take them to visit ancient Mayan ruins. Readers will likely be expecting a didactic thriller, but Kasischke artfully turns this expectation on its ear, offering a gripping, unusually rich, if still cautionary, tale. Katcher, Brian. Playing with Matches. Delacorte Press. 978-0-385-73544-5, T $15.99 (Grade 9-12). Leon, a seventeen-year-old nerd, inadvertently begins a relationship with Melody, shunned and humiliated ever since she started grade school with her face horrifyingly scarred by fire. She’s kept her heart safe until he--also interested in a popular girl--nearly breaks it. Sad, sweet and wholly believable. Kadohata, Cynthia. Outside Beauty. Atheneum. 978-0-689-86575-6, T $16.99 (Grade 7-10). Four sisters, four different fathers, one very superficial mother. Talk about a complex family! The sisters’ commitment of support towards each other and their resolve to stay together, no matter where they are and what they are doing, is quite heartening. Kephart, Beth. House of Dance. Harper Teen. 978-00614-2928-6, T $16.99 (Grade 7-12). Lush prose that borders on poetry distinguishes this quiet novel. During one summer in a small, unnamed town, Rosie contends with her flighty, troubled mother and takes dance lessons at a quirky studio in order to offer her grandfather one more chance to experience the music her grandmother loved, before he dies. Koertge, Ron. Deadville. Candlewick. 978-07636-3580-0, T $16.99 (Grade 8-12). Koertge offers a unique, often darkly comical novel about a teen who, along with his family, has ceased to function following the death of his younger sister two years before. Constantly stoned as a means of avoiding his grief, the hospitalization of one of his classmates offers an unexpected way for him to process his loss. Lanagan, Margo. Tender Morsels. Knopf. 978-03758-4811-7, T $16.99 (Grade 9-12). This heart-breaking story a woman’s escape to a magical, safe world after being repeatedly raped, first by her father and then by a gang of boys, is thickly woven with threads of traditional fairy and folk literature. Linguistically complex, brutal and moving, this will mesmerize older, strong readers. Printz Honor. Lecesne, James. Absolute Brightness. Harper Collins. 978-0-06-125628-8, T $18.89 (Grade 8-12). Flamboyantly gay fourteen-year-old Leonard is sent to live with his cousins, the near-perfect Deirdre, and Phoebe, the first person narrator. Caring and insightful, he is rejected for his differences by nearly everyone. Phoebe doesn’t really begin to understand him, herself or her sister until after he tragically disappears. Lockhart, E. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Hyperion. 978-07868-3818-9, T $16.99 (Grade 7-12). Intelligent and determined, sophomore Frankie challenges and eventually subverts an all-male secret society over which her boyfriend presides at their exclusive prep school. Deftly plotted and full of clever, memorable characters. Printz Honor. Lowry, Lois. The Willoughbys. Houghton Mifflin. 0-618-97974-3, L $16.00 (Grade 2-5). The four Willoughby children have a very big problem—their parents! When Mr. and Mrs. W. decide to put the family home up for sale, leave their children with one odious nanny, and take off for an extended trip around the world, life for the children starts to get quite interesting. A refreshing and spirited read for children of all ages. Lurie, April. The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine. Delacorte. 978-03857-3125-6, T $15.99 (Grade 8-12). Fifteen-year-old Dylan tries in vain to keep control of his increasingly messy home life after his mother leaves. Providing both poignancy and humor is Dylan’s talented, slacker brother and his stoned friends who essentially have taken over the house, and his best friend, whose insistence on making a documentary film about Dylan provides the teen with a nicely realized plot device to gain a better understanding of himself. Meldrum, Christina. Madapple. Alfred A. Knopf. 978-0-375-85176-6, T [M] $16.99 (Grade 10-12). Told in current time and flashbacks, this novel twists and turns through the lives of Aslaug and her family, like an old Maine back road--with lots of deep potholes. Family secrets, hints of divine intervention (or incest), and serious herbal potions make for a juicy, gripping, concoctive tale. Monninger, Joseph. Hippie Chick. Front Street. 978-1-59078-5980-0, T $16.95 (Grade 8-12). A philosophically engaging adventure story about a young woman’s survival when, during a solo voyage, her sailboat capsizes and she is Rescued in the water by a group of manatees. This short novel proves a deceptively action-oriented environmental tale. Morpurgo, Michael. The Mozart Question. Candlewick. 978-0-76363552-7, T $15.99 (Grade 5-8). A reporter dispatched to interview a famous violin player is cautioned against asking him “the Mozart Question.” When she nervously blurts it out anyway, he finally reveals why he will not play pieces by Mozart, taking her on a biographical journey through the Holocaust. This short, finely illustrated story is quietly chilling and memorable. Nanji, Shenaaz. Child of Dandelions. Front Street. 978-1-93242-593-2, T $17.95 (Grade 8-12). Set in Uganda in the early 1970’s, this moving novel explores the experience of one Indian-Ugandan family after dictator Idi Amin issues an edict that all Indians must vacate the country within 90 days. Naïve but determined, fifteen-year-old Sabine searches for her missing uncle and is abandoned by her Ugandan friends – a heartbreaking, taut work of historical fiction. Nicholls, Sally. Ways to Live Forever. Arthur A. Levine. 978-054506948-9, T $16.99 (Grade 5-7). A boy diagnosed with leukemia writes a sort of journal, including lists of plans and ideas he has for things he’d like to accomplish before he dies. Sam’s narrative voice is authentic and often funny, juxtaposing well with the somber plot. Nye, Naomi Shihab. Honeybee: Poems and Short Prose. Harper Collins. 978-0-06-085391-4, L $17.89 (Grade 6-9). This collection of poems and short stories is loosely connected by emphasis on the way that people interact and are part of a larger order. Artfully crafted, these works offer food for thought, lovingly constructed. Padian, Maria. Brett McCarthy: Work in Progress. Alfred A. Knopf. 978-0-375-84675-5, R [M] $15.99 (Grade 5-8). For eighth-grader Brett McCarthy, life is rough, unpredictable, and always changing. Brett realizes that she truly is a work in progress. (Aren’t we all?) Set along the coast of Maine, this novel has all the qualities of a great story and leaves the reader wanting more following this literary debut. Lupine Honor for J/YA. Parkinson, Siobhan. Blue Like Friday. Roaring Brook Press. 978-1-59643-340-3, T $16.95 (Grade 5-9). Olivia’s hilarious first-person narrative introduces us to her best friend Hal, a boy with synesthesia—he sees words in colors—who can’t get along with his prospective step-dad and determines to drive him away. He gets a lot more than he bargained for from his loving and clever mom. Pennypacker, Sara. Clementine’s Letter. Hyperion. 978-0-7868-3884-4, R $14.99 (Grade K-4). The feisty third-grader hatches a plan to keep her teacher, Mr. D’Matz from going on a year-long archeological dig in Egypt. Marla Frazee’s pen and ink illustrations effectively capture the flavor of the characters. A great read aloud or perfect for those transitioning into chapter books. Powell, Randy. Swiss Mist. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. 978-0-374-37356-6, T $16.95 (Grade 8-12). Following bright, stoic Milo from fifth grade until tenth, readers get to know a boy transformed by the departure of his self-absorbed, pseudo-hippy father. After many attempts to understand his dad, he eventually finds himself. Quietly quirky characters and razor-sharp wit set this apart from the pack of teen self-discovery novels. Pratchett, Terry. Nation. Harper Collins. 978-0-06-143302-3, T $17.89 (Grade 7-12). On the way back from his coming of age stay on another island, Mau’s South Seas world is swept away by a tsunami. Joining forces with a shipwrecked teen from England, Daphne, they gradually create a new nation. Abundant Pratchett wit accompanies a thoughtful look at what truly constitutes civilization. Printz Honor. Qamar, Amjed. Beneath My Mother’s Feet. Atheneum Books. 978-1-4169-4728-8, T $16.99 (Grade 7-12). Though a stand-out scholar, fourteen-year-old Nazio must leave school to work as a maid when her irresponsible father stops supporting their family. Her arranged marriage to a much old cousin in jeopardy, Nazia begins to take a close look at the things she’s always believed about male and female roles. Schmatz, Pat. Mousetraps. Carolrhoda Books. 978-0822-58657-9, T $17.95 (Grade 9-12). Maxie and Roddie were great friends in grade school but a horrible incident takes place in junior high,and Roddie moves away. During high school, he returns as “Rick” and the relationship between the two friends begins to build again slowly, but with something blatantly wrong. As the victim of a violent act, Rick quietly seeks revenge. Can he get satisfaction out of what he plans for his fellow classmates? A compelling story in a time where we are all in fear of what might happen at school when you least expect it. Seidler, Tor. Illustrated by Brock Cole. Gully’s Travels. Scholastic Books. 978-0-545-02506-5, T $16.95 (Grade 3-6). Snobbish Lhasa apso Gully is left by his professor-owner with the raucous family of the doorman. Not recognizing his own intentional abandonment, Gully goes to great lengths to find his way home, through a series of exciting yet somehow (more or less) plausible adventures. Spinelli, Jerry. Smiles to Go. Harper Collins. 978-0-06-028135-5, T $16.99 (Grade 6-12). The discovery of proton decay is one of the events that causes Will to take a more mature look at his relationship with his two best friends, BT and Mi-Su (who he’s just seen for the attractive young woman she’s become,) and his disdainful attitude toward his much younger sister, in this quite lovely tale of families and friends. Stein, Tammar. High Dive. Knopf. 978-0-375-83024-2, T $15.99 (Grade 8-12). After graduating from high school, a young woman decides en route to Germany to change her travel plans and accompany to Paris a group of girls she has just met. Arden is the opposite of her carefree, sheltered new traveling companions – she is terrified for her mom who is stationed with the army in Iraq and is still aching for her father, who recently died in a car accident. Emotionally true. Voake, Steve. Daisy Dawson Is On Her Way. Candlewick. 978-0-7636-3740-8, T $14.99 (Grade 1-2). Easy chapter book. Daisy Dawson, after saving a butterfly’s life, is rewarded with the gift of being able to understand animal talk. When Boom, a stray dog, is put in the pound, Daisy and the other animals find a way to save him. Jessica Meserve’s black and white sketches grace each page. Thoroughly imaginative. White, Ruth. Little Audrey. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. 978-0-374-34580-8, T $16.00 (Grade 5-9). Using her sister’s point of view, White tells a story (mostly true) of her family living in a coal mining camp in Southwest Virginia in the 1940s. Audrey’s voice makes it clear what it is like to be poor, hungry, and constantly hoping for a better life. Wilce, Ysabeau S. Flora’s Dare. Harcourt Children’s Books. 978-10152054274, T $17.00 (Grade 7-12). Flora Fydraaca, back after her first appearance in Flora Segunda, is determined to learn the secret, complex language of Grammatica, on her way to becoming a Ranger. She has a greater talent for it than she realizes, brought to light by surprising secrets from her past. Rollicking adventures within an inventive fantasy world. Nonfiction [total books in this category: 16]Alsenas, Linas. Gay America: Struggle for Equality. Amulet Books. 978-081099487-4, T $24.95 (Grade 7-12). Beginning in colonial times, this chronicle of GLBTQ history in the United States includes stories that are both familiar and more obscure. A fine general overview that employs a readable, storytelling style, it concludes with an entry about the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts. Aronson, Marc. Unsettled: The Problem with Loving Israel. Simon & Schuster. 978-1-41691261-3, T $18.99 (Grade 6-12). Claiming his bias early and often as an American-born Jew with relatives living in Israel, Aronson clearly and concisely explores the myriad factors that have gone into shaping the modern state of Israel. Focusing mainly on post-World War II history, this incredibly informative volume never over-simplifies or shies away from the issues. Childress, Diana. Barefoot Conquistador Cabeza de Vaca and the Struggle for Native American Rights. Twenty-First Century Books. 978-0-8225-7517-7, R $30.60 (Grade 7-12). Cabeza de Vaca accompanied a Spanish expedition to the New World in 1527. After several disasters, part of the group tried to trek from the Gulf Coast of Florida to settlements in Mexico. Along the way, de Vaca became a determined champion of Native American rights, a man far ahead of his time. An exciting and enlightening adventure. Fleming, Candace. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. Schwartz & Wade Books. 978-0-375-83618-3, T $24.99 (Grade 6-12). Fleming accomplishes what many Lincoln historians have failed to do in much longer works: she creates a vision of both Abraham and the much-maligned Mary, making them knowable as people rather than figureheads. A wonderful, well-researched and eminently readable work! Freedman, Russell. Washington at Valley Forge. Holiday House. 978-0-8324-2069-8, T $24.99 (Grade 5-8). Utilizing period illustrations, photographs, maps and many primary source comments, Freedman relates the fascinating, and sometimes almost unbelievable, story of the winter at Valley Forge, placed within the greater context of the Revolutionary War. Garlick, Mark A. Atlas of the Universe. Simon & Schuster. 978-1-4169-5558-0, T $19.99 (Grade 6-12). Beautifully illustrated, this atlas is packed with varied and timely information. Entries are included on Pluto’s demotion to a lesser planet and the recent Mars space probes. Hahn, Daniel and Leonie Flynn. Ultimate Teen Book Guide. Walker Publishing. 978-0-8027-9730-8, T $26.95 (Grade 6-12). Featuring creative lists and reviews from authors, librarians and teens alike, this resource serves nicely as a reader advisory tool as well as for an enjoyable read in itself. Jackson, Ellen. The Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes. Houghton Mifflin Books. 978-0-618-56325-8, T $18.00 (Grade 4-9). What is a supernova? A white dwarf? A crab nebula? Scientist Alex Filippinko opens his powerful telescope to explore and explain these astronomical phenomena. Photos and illustrations provided by Nic Bishop. Jarrow, Gail. Robert H. Jackson: New Deal Lawyer, Supreme Court Justice, Nuremberg Prosecutor. Boyd’s Mills Press. 978-1-59078-511-9, T $18.95 (Grade 6-12). Though not well known, Jackson certainly deserves greater fame: this engrossing biography provides a look at his fascinating life, and a glimpse of the inner workings of the Supreme Court, and the Nuremberg Trail that followed World War II, an area that receives insufficient coverage in children’s literature. Lawson, JonArno and Tjia, Sherwin. Black Stars in a White Night Sky. Boyd’s Mills Press. 978-1-59078-521-8, R $16.95 (Grade 4-9). From the briefest, “Silly Sally/ don’t sully your name--/if you didn’t do it,/ then don’t take the blame,” to longer verses with catchy rhythms and often thought provoking nonsense themes, this poetry collection, accompanied by whimsical black and white drawings, will fill an hour or so with adventure and fun! Li, Moying, Snow Falling in Spring: Coming of Age in China During the Cultural Revolution. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 978-0-374-39922-1, T $16.00 (Grade 8-12). When the Cultural Revolution began in China, it became near criminal to be well-educated, and the virtue of studiousness, previously celebrated, was shunned. For good students like twelve-year-old Moying, the world was turned upside down. She relates, in vivid prose, the horrors of growing up in China at that time. Nelson, Marilyn. The Freedom Business: Including a Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa. Front Street. 978-19324-2557-4, T $18.95 (Grade 6-12). Pairing a fascinating, lesser-know slave narrative with evocative poetry that packs an emotional punch, this is a unique look at the life of Venture Smith, from his brutal abduction from his home in Guinea to his adulthood when he bought his own and his family’s freedom. Sparse watercolor art complements the text seamlessly. Reich, Susanna. Painting the Wild Frontier The Art and Adventures of George Catlin. Clarion Books. 978-0-618-71470-4, T $21.00 (Grade 7-12). An irresponsible adventurer and talented artist, George Catlin traveled among, and painted detailed, accurate portraits of Native Americans, whose cultures would be nearly forgotten without his art. Reich tells two stories: of an artist who never quite achieved his goals in life, and the 19th century decline of Native American culture. Catlin’s illustrations, some in color, round out an outstanding and useful presentation. Rosen, Michael J. Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family’s Farm. Darby Creek Publishing. 978-1-58196067-9, T $18.95 (Grade 5-7). Spanning a year of life on an Ohio farm, each section of this well-balanced documentary begins with a list of numbers pertaining to things that have happened over each particular season. An ongoing narrative from each of the five kids and their parents provide a description of their lives, effectively allowing readers to relate to the family. Woods, Michael and Woods, Mary B. The Tomb of King Tutankhamen. Twenty-First Century Books. 978-0-8225-7506-1, R $30.60 (Grade 5-8). Amateur archaeologists will share in the thrill of Howard Carter’s 1922 discovery of the tomb of the boy king, Tutankhamen. Earlier chapters chronicling Tut’s life as well as other efforts to locate the tomb place the find in context. Tomb excavation is described in fascinating detail. Yolen, Jane. Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World. Charlesbridge Publishing. 978-1-58089-131-8, R $18.95 (Grade 4-9). From Artemisia, Admiral Queen of Persia in 480 BC to Madam Ching in China during the early 1800s, this book explains a history of tough, remarkable, female pirates. Sidebars and pen and ink on scratchboard illustrations give a mysterious flavor to these powerful women of the sea. The Awards at a GlanceNote: Award books listed here may or may not be included in the “Cream of the Crop” list.
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award – Awarded yearly for books published June-May; only 2008 winners & honorees are included (for a complete list, go to http://www.hbook.com/bghb/current.asp) Fiction and Poetry
Nonfiction
Caldecott Medal – Awarded yearly to recognize excellence in American illustrations for children 14 and under
King (Coretta Scott) Award – Awarded yearly to recognize excellence in writing and illustration by African-Americans Author Award
Illustrator Award
John Steptoe Award for New Talent Author Award
Lupine Award – Presented annually by the Youth Services Section of the Maine Library Association, to recognize an outstanding contribution to children’s literature of Maine Picture Book
J/YA
Newbery Medal – Awarded yearly to recognize excellence to American literature for children 14 and under
Printz (Michael L.) Award – Awarded yearly to recognize excellence in literature for young adults
Schneider Family Book Award – Awarded for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience; only 2008 winners are included Birth through Grade School
Sibert (Robert F.) Medal – Awarded yearly to recognize excellence in informational writing for children 14 and under
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award – Awarded for the most distinguished beginning reader book
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