Children and Teens

2009 Favorite Books - Picture Books

PICTURE BOOKS

The Lion & the Mouse (Hardcover)

By Jerry Pinkney
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780316013567
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Jerry Pinkney’s retelling of Aesop’s fable, THE LION AND THE MOUSE (Little Brown, $16.99) captivates the imagination and holds the eye.  On the cover, a lion’s eyes direct attention to the back cover where a mouse returns the beast’s gaze.  Slip the jacket off and the title of the book is revealed in pictures. Such is the thoughtful detail in this tale of a tiny mouse who repays an unexpected act of kindness with a brave deed.  Told entirely through pencil and watercolor art, with only the occasional sounds of the animals added to enhance the story, Pinkney’s insightful portrayal of nature and animals makes this one of the finest picture books ever created.  All Ages.  MAG

Bubble Trouble (Hardcover)

By Margaret Mahy, Polly Dunbar
$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780547074214
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Clarion Books, 4/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Little Mabel’s bubble bibble-bobbles, traps the baby in the bubble and causes lots of BUBBLE TROUBLE (Clarion, $16) when the baby wafts away. It’s trouble for Greville Gribble, and the Canon Dapple, and the people playing Scrabble, but most especially for the reader, who, despite the perfect meter, will find the rhymes by Margaret Mahy may just drive her bla-hy, while the drawings by Polly Dunbar are most truly wunderbar.  Ages 2-6.  DDL

Birds (Hardcover)

By Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek
$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780061363047
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Greenwillow Books, 3/2009
Other Editions of this Title
BIRDS (HarperCollins, $17.99) come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  Imagine what the sky would look like if clouds were birds, or if birds made marks with their tail feathers when they flew.  Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek show birds’ grace, beauty, and more in their lovely new book.  Ages 3-6.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (Hardcover)

By Mo Willems, Mo Willems
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9781423114376
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Hyperion, 1/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Wilbur the NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED (Hyperion, $16.99). Clothes allow Wilbur to let his imagination run wild, but what will grandfather naked mole rat do when he discovers Wilbur’s secret?  Only Mo Willems could come up with such a hero.  Ages 3-6.  DDL

Truckery Rhymes (Hardcover)

By Jon Scieszka, David Shannon, Loren Long
$17.99
ISBN-13: 9781416941354
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 8/2009
In Trucktown, Jon Scieszka turns Mother Goose Rhymes into TRUCKERY RHYMES (Simon & Schuster, $17.99).  Parodies such as “Peter Peter Payload Eater”, “Swing Around with Rosie”, or “Pop! Blows the Diesel” are whimsically illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long, and David Gordon with characters such as Dan the Dumper and Izzy the Ice Cream Truck. Truck lovers will put pedal to metal to hear these rhymes over and over.  Ages 3-6.  LC-H

Brave Charlotte and the Wolves (Hardcover)

By Anu Stohner, Henrike Wilson
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9781599904245
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 9/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Wolfie and his gang of young sheep love to pretend to be real wolves and to pick on Jack, the old sheep dog.  But one night when the herd hears real howling, the big bad gang hides in the bushes.  It is up to the bravest, and, it turns out, most cunning member of the herd to solve all manner of wolf problems. BRAVE CHARLOTTE AND THE WOLVES (Bloomsbury, $16.99) written by Anu Stoher and illustrated by Henrike Wilson is a worthy successor to Brave Charlotte.  Ages 3-6.  DDL

The Three Robbers (Hardcover)

By Tomi Ungerer
$16.95
ISBN-13: 9780714848778
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Phaidon Press, 4/2009
Other Editions of this Title
A hearty welcome is due to the reissue of Tomi Ungerer’s brilliant 1963 picture book, THE THREE ROBBERS (Phaidon, $16.95). The three fierce robbers have a neat operation: the first has a blunderbuss, the second has a pepper-blower, and the third has a huge red axe. When they stop carriages, the first throws pepper into the horses’ eyes, the third chops the wheels with his axe, and the second threatens the passengers with his blunderbuss and robs them of their valuables. On the night when the only valuable is a little orphan named Tiffany, the robbers have more than met their match! Ages 4-7. JKS

Duck! Rabbit! (Hardcover)

By Amy Krouse Rosenthal
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780811868655
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Chronicle Books, 3/2009

Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s clever illustration is a visual puzzle. The picture could be a duck with a white bill or a rabbit with long ears folded straight back. Each scene can be interpreted as DUCK! RABBIT! (Chronicle, $16.99) It all depends on how you look at it. Ages 4-8.

The Imaginary Garden (Hardcover)

By Andrew Larsen, Irene Luxbacher
$16.95
ISBN-13: 9781554532797
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Kids Can Press, 3/2009

When Poppa moves to an apartment, Theo misses his old garden, so they plant THE IMAGINARY GARDEN (Kids Can Press, $16.95) on his balcony, using paints and a large canvas. Together, grandfather and granddaughter “plant” the first flowers of spring, and they even add a hungry robin. When Poppa goes away on holiday, Theo tends the garden, adding beautiful new flowers and colors, and a special surprise for Poppa. Irene Luxbacher’s gorgeous illustrations accompany Andrew Larsen’s heartwarming story. Ages 4-8. HWP

Which Puppy? (Hardcover)

By Kate Feiffer, Jules Feiffer
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9781416991472
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 4/2009

The Obamas are looking for a puppy, and every animal in the animal kingdom is abuzz. Guinea pigs, kittens, even turtles are convinced they can be puppies and that a White House life is their destiny.  Oh, how to chose WHICH PUPPY? (Simon & Schuster, $16.99).  There is a solution, and Kate and Jules Feiffer have imagined perfect companions for Bo.  Ages 4-7.  DDL


Strega Nona's Harvest (Hardcover)

By Tomie dePaola, Tomie dePaola
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780399252914
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Putnam Juvenile, 9/2009
STREGA NONA’S HARVEST (Putnam, $16.99) is bountiful.  The wise grandmother carefully planned her garden with the assistance of bossy Bambolona and blundering Big Anthony.  Big Anthony, goaded by Bambolona’s chiding that he is incapable of creating a perfect garden, secretly plants his own. His harvest is also plentiful, but out of control, and Big Anthony’s solution is to secretly leave the produce at Strega Nona’s door.  Strega Nona channels the abundance to those in need.  Tomie dePaola’s art is a feast that will prompt conversation.  Ages 4 -8.  MAG

The Bog Baby (Hardcover)

By Jeanne Willis, Gwen Millward
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375861765
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Schwartz & Wade, 10/2009
Other Editions of this Title
While fishing in a magic pond, two sisters find THE BOG BABY (Schwartz & Wade, $16.99), a little blue creature the size of a frog.  They put him in a jam jar and secretly keep him in the shed as a pampered pet.  And yet, despite all their love, the wild creature does not thrive.   Like bog babies, Gwen Millward’s beautiful illustrations and author Jeanne Willis’ magical slice of childhood are a rare find.   Ages 4-8.  DDL

 

Cool Cat (Hardcover)

By Nonny Hogrogian
$17.99
ISBN-13: 9781596434295
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Roaring Brook Press, 9/2009
Wordlessly, with the inspiration of an abandoned paint set, COOL CAT (Roaring Brook, $17.99) and his many animal friends create a small aquatic paradise. Then, Cool Cat moves on to find his own quiet place in the tall grass. In two-time Caldecott medal winner Nonny Hogrogian’s lovely, soft watercolor illustrations, a colorful world emerges that needs no text.  Ages 3-7. JEH

 

Imogene's Last Stand (Hardcover)

By Candace Fleming, Nancy Carpenter
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375836077
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Schwartz & Wade, 10/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Imogene Tripp loves history.  She even punctuates her conversations with quotes from famous historical figures.  When Imogene learns of the mayor’s plan to tear down the town’s centuries-old Historical Society, Imogene vows to save the Society and goes to remarkable lengths to engage the support of her fellow citizens.  It is IMOGENE’S LAST STAND (Random House, $16.99).  Author Candace Fleming and illustrator Nancy Carpenter introduce a spunky heroine who is determined to preserve her small town’s history.  Ages 4-8.  HWP

Thunder-Boomer! (Library Binding)

By Shutta Crum, Carol Thompson
$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780618618651
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Clarion Books, 6/2009
In August, a THUNDERBOOMER (Clarion, $16) can drop from the sky at a moment’s notice.  It booms its way into a hot day at the farm, where Dad’s out in the corn field on his tractor, Mom and the kids are at the pond, and Scooter the dog is ready to play.  Then zzzzt… rumble-brum-brum… splash! sploosh!... a big storm is coming and the family rushes to get inside. Filled with storm sounds and wet adventure Shutta Crum’s lyrical text and Carol Thompson’s lively illustrations are a perfect storm for story time.  Ages 3-6.  JEH

 

Otis (Hardcover)

By Loren Long, Loren Long
$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780399252488
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Philomel, 9/2009
Other Editions of this Title
OTIS (Philomel, $17.99) is a faithful and winsome old tractor who loves to work on the farm, especially after the birth of a calf who becomes his special friend. One day the farmer arrives with an enormous, powerful yellow tractor.  Poor Otis is left out in the field for the weeds to cover. With a nod to children's authors Virginia Lee Burton, Munro Leaf, and Margery Williams, Loren Long’s versatile fresh gouache and pencil illustrations bring new life to a classic story.  Ages 3-6.  JKS


Erika-San (Hardcover)

By Allen Say
$17.00
ISBN-13: 9780618889334
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Even though she has never been there, Erika loves Japan.  As a child, she stared longingly at a Japanese print of a small teahouse that hung in her grandmother’s house.  After college, Erika moves to Japan and quickly makes her way to a remote island where she becomes a sensei (teacher).  With the help of her fellow teacher, Aki-san, Erika sets out to find the teahouse in her grandmother’s painting, hoping to become ERIKA-SAN (Harcourt, $17). Writer and illustrator Allen Say’s vivid paintings of Japanese houses, clothing, and landscapes will make you long to visit Japan yourself.  Ages 4-7.  DDL

The Mitten (Hardcover)

By Jim Aylesworth
$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780439925440
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Press, 10/2009
Gleefully sledding down a hill, a little boy doesn’t notice that he’s lost his mitten, but the animals in the forest discover it.  It’s fine when a chipper squirrel crawls into the mitten to get warm, and there is room when a rabbit and a fox join him.  But can THE MITTEN (Scholastic, $16.99) accommodate a bear and then squeeze in one tiny mouse?  Barbara McClintock’s animals are full of life and personality adding an extra dimension to Jim Aylesworth’s retelling of a classic winter tale.  Ages 3-7.  DDL

 


Let's Do Nothing! (Hardcover)

By Tony Fucile, Tony Fucile
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780763634407
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Candlewick, 5/2009
Other Editions of this Title
If you’ve played all your board games, read all your comic books, painted pictures, baked cookies, and played every sport invented, you’ll know how Frankie and Sal feel when they proclaim, “LET’S DO NOTHING!” (Candlewick, $16.99).  But doing nothing—not moving—isn’t as easy as the boys thought.  Frankie’s imagination always seems to get the better of him: pigeons land on him when he’s a statue in the park; when he’s a redwood, Sal’s dog comes by and relieves himself.  Finally Sal realizes something about the nature of doing nothing.  Feature film animator Tony Fucile captures the essence of childhood boredom and creativity in this entertaining first picture book.  Ages 4-7.  HWP

Looking Like Me (Hardcover)

By Walter Dean Myers, Christopher Myers
$18.99
ISBN-13: 9781606840016
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: EgmontUSA, 10/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Snappy verse and intriguing collage abound in the latest collaboration by author and illustrator team Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers.  A young boy, Jeremy, discovers that to each person he meets he is unique.  He is brother, son, writer, dancer, artist, and dreamer, and these roles sum up LOOKING LIKE ME (Egmont, $18.99).  This jubilant picture book is an invitation for each child to discover their own exceptional qualities.  Ages 5-9.  MAG

My Name Is Sangoel (Hardcover)

By Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed, Catherine Stock
$17.00
ISBN-13: 9780802853073
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 6/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Sangoel is a Sudanese refugee.  He leaves his homeland with little besides his name, which has been handed down from generation to generation.  When Sangoel arrives in the United States he feels confused and homesick.   Joining the soccer team at his new school helps, but still, no one can pronounce his name.  Tired of repeating MY NAME IS SANGOEL (Eerdmans, $17), Sangoel has an ingenious idea to help his new friends say—and remember—his name.  This book was written by Karen Lynn Williams (Galimoto) and Khadra Mohammed and illustrated by Catherine Stock (Galimoto, Gugu’s House).  Ages 5-8.  HWP

 

Spells (Hardcover)

By Emily Gravett, Emily Gravett
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9781416982708
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 10/2009
Other Editions of this Title

A frog escapes from a jar and finds a book of SPELLS (Simon & Schuster, $16.99) by Emily Gravett. Disappointed that the book is not about pirates or castles, the frog shreds its pages. From the shreds, the frog attempts to formulate the spell to become a prince, but the spells, which emerge through split- page images, form magical creatures, not a prince. Finally, a spell, mostly right, produces a prince. Alas, he overlooked a crucial condition noted in small print and the prince reverts to a small green frog—gribbitt! Light-hearted drawings set against a dramatic background and cheeky touches will delight older readers of picture books.  Ages 4-8.  MAG

Stories from the Billabong (Hardcover)

By James Vance Marshall, Francis Firebrace
$19.95
ISBN-13: 9781845077044
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Frances Lincoln Ltd, 4/2009
Other Editions of this Title
Long, long ago, the Aboriginal people of Australia told stories that explained the origins of the natural world, such as how the earth began, how the kangaroo got her pouch, and why the platypus is such a special creature.  The stories were told by word of mouth, generation after generation. These STORIES FROM THE BILLABONG (Perseus, $19.95) have been collected and retold by James Vance Marshall, who prefaces each story with interesting background information. Aboriginal artist Francis Firebrace’s illustrations are full of Aboriginal symbols, whose meanings readers can decipher using the guide at the back of the book.  Ages 5 and up.  HWP