For Kids
Books for Great Kids
Chicago Public Library recommends the following books as some of the very best published for kids in 2009. For suggestions of more outstanding books available at your neighborhood library check out the Best Stories section of the KidsCat or ask your librarian. And be sure to look here for additional books to inspire healthy living and healthy reading. Best of the Best is a part of the Kraft Great Kids Initiative. Read, Learn, Discover!
Quicklinks: Picture Books | Folk and Fairy Tales and Poetry | Fiction for Younger Readers or Older Readers | Nonfiction | NatureConnections | Healthy Living | 2010 Award Winners
Picture Books
All of Baby, Nose to Toes
By Victoria Adler, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
Dial, 2009 (Ages birth-2)
A happy family finds a lot to love in their newest member, and their rhyming romp introduces her adorable body parts.
All the World
By Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee
Beach Lane, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
Whether your world is as big as the planet or as intimate as a cozy hug, let it be filled with love and peace.
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day • Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros
By Pat Mora, illustrated by Rafael López
HarperCollins/Rayo, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
Celebrate reading every day of the year with this beautiful and buoyant book!
A Book of Sleep
By Il Sung Na
Knopf, 2009 (Ages 3-6)
“When the sky grows dark” children will reach for this book and enter its sleepy world along with their many animal friends.
Chicken Dance
By Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Dan Santat
Sterling, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
Marge and Lola will do almost anything at the barnyard talent show to win tickets to the Elvis Poultry concert, and it turns out all it takes is being their own hilarious selves.
Clang! Clang! Beep! Beep!: Listen to the City
By Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Beppe Giacobbe
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (Ages 4-7)
Open your ears and experience the noises that surround you from your alarm clock ringing in the morning until your own snores sound at night.
Duck! Rabbit!
By Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Chronicle, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
This is one animal whose identity is strictly in the eye of the beholder, so what does it look like to you?
Harriet’s Had Enough
By Elissa Haden Guest, illustrated by Paul Meisel
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
After a disagreement with Mama about the toys in the living room, running away seems like the only option to Harriet until her family pitches in together in a realistic and reassuring way.
The Hat That Wore Clara B.
By Melanie Turner-Denstaedt, illustrated by Frank Morrison
FSG, 2009 (Ages 6-9)
After admiring her grandmother’s hat in church a young girl’s enthusiasm for one of her own may mean that neither generation will have one to wear on the next Mother’s Sunday.
Hello Baby!
By Mem Fox, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Beach Lane, 2009 (Ages birth-2)
The baby animals depicted here in appealing paper collage are clever and funny, yet the most special creature of all is the little one holding your hand and hearing these rhymes.
Henry’s Night
By D.B. Johnson and Linda Michelin
Houghton Mifflin, 2009 (Ages 7-10)
Continuing the exploration of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden begun in Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, this is the gentle account of a sleepless bear and his journey toward a night bird’s song.
Higher! Higher!
By Leslie Patricelli
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 3-6)
There’s no limit to how high you can soar in your dreams, so come along for a ride on this magical swing and you’ll soon be calling out for more.
Jeremy Draws a Monster
By Peter McCarty
Holt, 2009 (Ages 3-6 )
Alone without any friends Jeremy decides to create a monster, but quickly realizes to be careful what he wishes for when his creation takes over the apartment.
Let’s Do Nothing!
By Tony Fucile
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
It doesn’t take long for Frankie and Sal to discover that doing nothing is harder than it looks but that anything and everything can happen with a little imagination.
The Little Dump Truck
By Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Bob Kolar
Holt, 2009 (Ages 2-6)
With the help of Hard Hat Pete, this four-wheeled hero has a big job with heavy responsibilities in the even bigger city.
Otis
By Loren Long
Philomel, 2009 (Ages 4-7)
This lovely story, with the feel of the best of the classic picture books, tells how a little tractor and his friend help to make life on the farm better for everyone.
Over in the Hollow
By Rebecca Dickinson, illustrated by Stephan Britt
Chronicle, 2009 (Ages 5-7)
Count along to thirteen with this slightly spooky cast of characters who inhabit a hollow “where the cobwebs are spun.”
Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated
By Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Lane Smith
Schwartz & Wade, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
A princess with a problem, Hyacinth just can’t stay on the ground. But with the help of a friend she finds a way to have fun that crowns each day.
Robot Zot!
By Jon Scieszka, illustrated by David Shannon
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
When a small robot from another planet lands in an earthling’s kitchen he is determined to destroy its leader (a toaster) and all who inhabit there, but will true love (with a cell phone) foil his dastardly plans?
Sergio Saves the Game
By Edel Rodriguez
Little, Brown, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
Sergio is a little penguin with big dreams of soccer stardom which he’s determined to turn into reality with practice, practice, practice.
Shades of People
By Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly
Holiday House, 2009 (Ages 3-7)
This celebration of diversity showcases many joyful and loving faces and the beauty that is behind and within each of them.
The Snow Day
By Komako Sakai
Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, 2009 (Ages 4-7)
With kindergarten cancelled there’s not much to do but just enjoy the snow in this wonderfully atmospheric book to which Chicago kids can certainly relate.
Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles
By Darlene Friedman, illustrated by Roger Roth
HarperCollins/Bowen, 2009 (Ages 5-7)
As a young girl prepares to share her own special story at school she thinks about her birth parents in China and her loving life in America, knowing that “families are families . . . [no] matter how they’re formed.”
Tough Chicks
By Cece Meng, illustrated by Melissa Suber
Clarion, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
Not everyone on the farm is as impressed with Penny, Polly and Molly as their mother is, at least not until the chicks’ quick thinking, useful talents and proud individuality get Farmer Fred out of a sticky situation.
Two of a Kind
By Jacqui Robbins, illustrated by Matt Phelan
Atheneum, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
Anna comes to see just what a true friend she really has in Julisa in this sensitive portrayal of the challenges of cliques and bullying.
Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed
By J. C. Phillipps
Viking, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
Wink is having a tough time keeping quiet at ninja school, so with the help of a friend he discovers other ways to exercise his own strengths.
Folk and Fairy Tales and Poetry
African Acrostics
By Avis Harley, photographs by Deborah Noyes
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
Take a new look at many amazing African animals with creative poems that offer more than first meets the eye.
Button Up!
By Alice Schertle, illustrated by Petra Mathers
Harcourt, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
From Bob’s Bicycle Helmet to Emily’s Undies, each article of clothing in this lively book of verse describes its special relationship with the child who wears it.
Chicken Little
By Rebecca and Ed Emberley
Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, 2009 (Ages 3-6)
You’ll be squawking with laughter at this fresh adaptation of the classic story of feather-brained friends.
City I Love
By Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Marcellus Hall
Abrams, 2009 (Ages 8-11)
This collection of short poems celebrates all the joy to be found in the city, from down your block to across the planet.
The Earth Shook: A Persian Tale
By Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Hyperion, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
In this story inspired by the 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran, a young sole-surviving girl is rebuffed by threatening animals but wins them over by doing what human beings do—nuturing, laughing, dancing and sharing.
Hurry Up and Slow Down
By Layn Marlow
Holiday House, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
Parents will recognize this twist on the Aesop fable, as roles are reversed at the end of day when Hare pleads for Tortoise to “hurry up and slow down” while sharing a bedtime story.
The Lion and the Mouse
By Jerry Pinkney
Little, Brown; 2009 (Ages 3-8)
This is a masterful, wordless depiction of one of Aesop’s most beloved fables in which two noble animals display kindness and generosity in the African Serengeti.
Looking Like Me
By Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers
Egmont USA, 2009 (Ages 8 and up)
This rhythmic and dynamic urban ode celebrates what’s special in each of us and what we all have to share with the world.
Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons
By Rob D. Walker, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
Scholastic/Blue Sky, 2009 (Ages 6-10)
In twelve languages and cultures around the world, wisdom and love is passed through the generations as demonstrated in this gentle and inspiring work.
Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices
By Betsy Franco, illustrated by Jessie Hartland
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 7-9)
Find a friend and have some fun reading and laughing through these school poems together.
The Mitten
By Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Scholastic, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
You may be surprised to learn what’s happened to your lost mitten and who’s staying warm together in this retelling of the classic folktale.
Mother Poems
By Hope Anita Smith
Holt, 2009 (Ages 8 and up)
In emotionally moving poems, this author, through the eyes of a child and as an adult, shares memories of her mother’s cooking, walking in her mother’s high heels, her mother’s rule book and her own struggle to grieve her loss while keeping these memories alive.
my people
By Langston Hughes, photographs by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Simon & Schuster/Ginee Seo, 2009 (All ages)
Hughes’s beloved poem celebrating timeless human beauty is given new life with gorgeous photographs of today’s children and families.
Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai’i
By Gerald McDermott
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009 (Ages 4-7)
Chase after this greedy purple pig, a character drawn from Hawaiian mythology, as he avoids trouble just in time by changing his shape.
Rhymes Round the World
By Kay Chorao
Dutton, 2009 (Ages 3-5)
Warm and funny, familiar and new, this beautifully illustrated collection of rhymes and songs celebrates the culture of childhood, from Iran to Mozambique and from Australia to Korea.
Subway Ride
By Heather Lynn Miller, illustrated by Sue Ramá
Charlesbridge, 2008 (Ages 5-7)
It’s not just in Chicago but all over the world where kids take the subway to get where they want to go.
Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World
By Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Dial, 2009 (Ages 9-14)
With a backdrop of Victory gardens, World War II and Jim Crow laws, pawnshop instruments tell the story in verse of each of the women who played them in an interracial all-female swing band, giving joy and solace to those who listened and danced on the American home front.
There Was An Old Monster!
By Rebecca, Adrian and Ed Emberley
Scholastic/Orchard, 2009 (Ages 3-7)
Sing along and dance those ants out of your pants with this wildly colorful monster in a hilarious take on the traditional cumulative rhyme, created by three generations of the Emberley family.
The Three Little Tamales
By Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Valeria Docampo
Marshall Cavendish, 2009 (Ages 5-9)
In this Southwestern version of the Three Little Pigs, little tamales build their casitas out of sagebrush, cornstalks and cactus, and are soon visited by Señor Lobo threatening “to huff and puff like a Texas tornado.”
Truckery Rhymes
By Jon Scieszka, illustrated by David Gordon, Loren Long and David Shannon
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (Ages 3-6)
If Mother Goose ran on diesel, the result would be this fun, unique collection of everyone’s favorite rhymes set in Trucktown featuring Wrecker Rosie, who sat on a wall, and Peter Peter Payload Eater.
Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales
By Lucy Cousins
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 4-7)
With simple and direct writing, these eight familiar but shortened tales from folklore are presented with bold, cartoon-like illustrations that indicate they’re anything but sugar-coated.
Fiction for Younger Readers
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters
By Jane Lenore Look, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Schwartz & Wade, 2009 (Ages 6-10)
The laughs just keep coming when Alvin’s dad decides to instill in him a love of nature, which is one thing that Alvin definitely fears.
The Big Fat Cow that Goes Kapow
By Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Terry Denton
Feiwel & Friends, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
The countdown begins to explosive laughter with this collection of short, rhyming, nonsense stories for beginning readers.
A Birthday for Bear
By Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
Bear doesn’t like anything about birthdays, especially his own, until Mouse finds a way to soften his heart.
Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)
By Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat
Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, 2009 (Ages 8-11)
Bobby Ellis-Chan can’t seem to help getting into sticky situations, like being stuck to the REALLY smelly Koloff tree or having his young sister’s underpants adhere to his Election Day suit.
The Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity
By Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
Fans of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys will find a new hero and compatriot in Steve Brixton, and will laugh and cheer along as he applies true detective wisdom to eluding the Librarian Secret Agents who are hot on his trail.
Cork & Fuzz: Finders Keepers
By Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Lisa McCue
Viking, 2009 (Ages 6-9)
These two “kind of the same, but different” friends, a muskrat and a possum, are thrown for a loop when a little chipmunk comes on the scene, realizing that you can’t always keep the things you find, especially if they’re special to someone else.
Dying to Meet You
By Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
Be sure to introduce yourself to this brand new series, set in an unusual place called Ghastly, Illinois, and filled with scary, mysterious and hilarious things going bump in the night at 43 Old Cemetery Road.
Elephants Cannot Dance!
Pigs Make Me Sneeze!
Watch Me Throw the Ball!
The Elephant and Piggie Books
By Mo Willems
Hyperion, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
Elephant and Piggie build reading skills and tickle funny bones in each of these hilarious adventures.
The Gecko & Sticky: The Greatest Power
By Wendelin Van Draanen, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Knopf, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
Dave Sanchez is one guy who knows that while being invisible may make it easier to track down evil villains, you still want to keep your best friend close by your side at all times, especially if he’s a witty lizard.
Good Dog, Aggie!
By Lori Ries, illustrated by Frank W. Dormer
Charlesbridge, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
Aggie may not behave exactly the way Ben wants her to all the time, but the results always manage to bring these two friends closer together and make beginning readers smile.
Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware
By M.T. Anderson
Beach Lane, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
With this new adventure, the heroes and heroines of the Thrilling Tales series enter previously unknown territory (Delaware!) and proceed to provide an entertaining spoof of action stories for everybody in the family.
Downloadable Audio
Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels
By Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 7-9)
Hop in and ride along on the road trip of your life with tall Joe the giraffe and small Sparky the turtle.
Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt
By Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 6-9)
The Moody family is off to “Artichoke” Island for some sun and relaxation, but when this sister and brother run into Cap’n Weezil, they soon find themselves in search of buried treasure.
Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mix-up
By Melissa Thomson, illustrated by Frank Morrison
Dia,l 2009 (Ages 6-8)
Keena Ford journals about her run for student council and her close encounter with a member of Congress on her life-changing second grade class trip to the United States Capitol.
The Magician’s Elephant
By Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
It began as an ordinary day, but when an elephant falls through the ceiling things begin to change in this quiet and powerful tale.
Downloadable Audio
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel
Rich: A Dyamonde Daniel Book
By Nikki Grimes, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Putnam, 2009 (Ages 8-10)
Once you get to know Dyamonde, a smart and city-savvy third grader, you’ll cheer her on as she helps her family through some difficult financial challenges by solving a mystery and teaching those around her what it means to really be rich.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
By Rodman Philbrick
Scholastic/Blue Sky, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
This Civil War adventure is fun, fast, funny and respectful of the people who sacrificed so much back in Lincoln’s day.
Neil Armstrong is My Uncle & Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me
By Nan Marino
Roaring Brook, 2009 (Ages 8-11)
The summer of 1969 was a confusing time for the world and for the kids on Ramble Street as well, especially Tamara Ann Simpson who must learn to cope with the many changes in her life as well as in those around her.
Nikki & Deja: Birthday Blues
By Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Clarion, 2009 (Ages 6-9)
It’s the week before her 8th birthday and all Deja can think about is her party and if her Daddy will be there, but when Auntie Dee gets called away and her “nemesissis” throws a party on the same day, “just because,” everything may be ruined.
Odd and the Frost Giants
By Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
This short tale draws on Norse mythology to create a world of humor and magic where it’s perfectly normal for a boy named Odd to save the day.
Downloadable Audio
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
By David Benedictus, illustrated by Mark Burgess
Dutton, 2009 (Ages 5-9)
Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh and all of their friends are ready for new adventures in this charming authorized companion to the beloved books.
Audio
The Storm in the Barn
By Matt Phelan
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
This evocative graphic novel presentation of an 11-year-old’s experience growing up in the Dust Bowl clearly shows his desperation, loneliness and, ultimately, courage and love.
We Can’t All Be Rattlesnakes
By Patrick Jennings
HarperCollins, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
A gopher snake (named the very unladylike “Crusher” by her captor) has a few things to say about her new human, who plays too many video games and is unkind to his pets, but also learns many things about herself during her time in his human world.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
By Grace Lin
Little, Brown; 2009 (Ages 9-12)
As young Minli bravely sets off on a journey determined to reverse her family’s fortunes, she comes across magical creatures, hears enchanting stories and sees firsthand the value of gratitude over greed in this lyrical, moving tale.
Fiction for Older Readers
Al Capone Shines My Shoes
By Gennifer Choldenko
Dial, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
Life on Alcatraz goes on with some exciting, interesting and important new changes in this swell sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts.
Audio | Downloadable Audio
All the Broken Pieces
By Ann E. Burg
Scholastic, 2009 (Ages 11-13)
After leaving Vietnam in 1975, Matt is adjusting to life with his new American family and trying to come to terms with his past.
Also Known as Harper
By Ann Haywood Leal
Holt, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
When growing bills force a change, Harper’s family moves to a motel and discovers that people are complicated and that their family is stronger than they knew.
Anything But Typical
By Nora Raleigh Baskin
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
Twelve-year-old Jason is on the autism spectrum and has a hard time with social interaction until he meets a potential new friend on an online board where they both post stories.
Black Angels
By Linda Brown
Putnam, 2009 (Ages 12 and up)
In the final days of the Civil War, three lost children find each other in the woods and form a family of their own as they try to make their way north, toward freedom.
The Brooklyn Nine: A Novel in Nine Innings
By Alan Gratz
Dial, 2009 (Ages 10-14)
Beginning in 1845, nine generations of one family are linked by baseball and Brooklyn.
Burn My Heart
By Beverley Naidoo
HarperCollins/Amistad, 2009 (Ages 10-14)
On a Kenyan farm in the 1950s, the friendship between a white farmer’s son and a native African is threatened by suspicions, accusations and revolution.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
By Jacqueline Kelly
Holt, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
Calpurnia ignores the needlework and cooking she is expected to learn to pursue her love for science by the side of her grandfather in 1899 Texas.
The Girl Who Threw Butterflies
By Mick Cochrane
Knopf, 2009 (Ages 11-13)
Molly works through her grief over her father’s death by joining the eighth grade boys’ baseball team and perfecting her knuckleball.
Jane in Bloom
By Deborah Lytton
Dutton, 2009 (Ages 10-14)
After her sister dies from an eating disorder, Jane learns to see the world anew through the lens of her camera.
Kaleidoscope Eyes
By Jen Bryant
Knopf, 2009 (Ages 10-12)
In the summer of 1968, Lyza finds maps and a mysterious letter from her grandfather that may lead her to pirate treasure.
The Lost Conspiracy
By Frances Hardinge
HarperCollins, 2009 (Ages 10-14)
Neither Hathin nor her prophetess sister are what they seem and so must flee for their lives when lies, betrayal and murder threaten to reveal their secrets.
Love, Aubrey
By Suzanne M. LaFleur
Random House/Wendy Lamb, 2009 (Ages 10-12)
Aubrey is helped through the aftermath of a terrible accident by the love of her grandmother and through writing letters to those she has lost.
Audio | Downloadable Audio
Notes from the Dog
By Gary Paulsen
Random House/Wendy Lamb, 2009 (Ages 10-14)
Finn’s plan to spend his summer reading and avoiding people is upended when his beautiful neighbor, a breast cancer survivor, shares her joy and love of life with him.
Operation Yes
By Sara Lewis Holmes
Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, 2009 (Ages 10-12)
Bo’s sixth grade class on an air force base learns that everyone is facing a battle and that sometimes you have to step up and help each other through.
Peace, Locomotion
By Jacqueline Woodson
Putnam, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
Lonnie tries to make sense of his world and to find peace within it through a series of letters to his little sister, Lili.
Audio
Return to Sender
By Julia Alvarez
Knopf, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
When a Vermont farm girl and a Mexican immigrant become friends they learn the true meaning of patriotism.
The Rock and the River
By Kekla Magoon
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (Ages 12-14)
In 1968 Chicago, 13-year-old Sam is torn between following his father’s peaceful path toward Civil Rights and the more aggressive tactics of the burgeoning Black Panthers.
Scat
By Carl Hiaasen
Knopf, 2009 (Ages 11-13)
When their sixth grade biology teacher disappears, Nick and Marta don’t buy the principal’s explanation of a “family emergency” and decide to investigate.
Audio
When You Reach Me
By Rebecca Stead
Random House/Wendy Lamb, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
When a perplexed Miranda receives a note telling her “I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own,” she wonders where the message is coming from and just what it may mean for her.
Downloadable Audio | Downloadable Book
Nonfiction
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
By Tanya Lee Stone
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
They may never have walked on the moon, but these brave and amazing women took huge steps for all of humankind.
Benjamin Franklin, American Genius: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities
By Brandon Marie Miller
Chicago Review, 2009
Heading West: Life with the Pioneers: 21 Activities
By Pat McCarthy
Chicago Review, 2009
Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities
By Kerrie Logan Hollihan
Chicago Review, 2009
A Kid’s Guide to Latino History: More Than 50 Activities
By Valerie Petrillo
Chicago Review, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
Each of these practical and fun books covers its topic with fast-paced text, resources and activities that expand and encourage learning.
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
By Phillip M. Hoose
FSG, 2009 (Ages 12 and up)
A true voice of the Civil Rights Movement which has long gone unheard, Colvin now has the opportunity to tell the stunning and brave story of her refusal to give up her seat on an Alabama bus when she was a teenager.
Coretta Scott
By Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
HarperCollins/Amistad, 2009 (Ages 7-12)
This poetic and moving introduction to Mrs. King glows with reverential, yet very human, portraits of her life and work.
Denied, Detained, Deported: Stories from the Dark Side of American Immigration
By Ann Bausum
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
A truly groundbreaking book, this follows the stories of immigrants throughout American history and reveals how their situations have been affected by U.S. policy and opinions, and the impact all of this has had on a nation built by people from all around the world.
Dinosaurs Roar, Butterflies Soar
By Bob Barner
Chronicle, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
Butterflies really did share the earth with dinosaurs and this bright and colorful presentation depicts how they helped each other out through good and bad times.
The Dust Bowl Through the Lens: How Photography Revealed and Helped Remedy a National Disaster
By Martin W. Sandler
Walker, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
Each image says more than 1000 words in this stunning documentary about the role that photographs played in one of the most difficult periods in American history.
Every Human Has Rights: A Photographic Declaration for Kids
Forward by Mary Robinson
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
The 30 elements of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as freedom and education, are laid out and explained in an accessible and relevant way and are accompanied by powerful photographs and poetry that reinforce how important the words are in today’s world.
The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum
By Candace Fleming, illustrated by Ray Fenwick
Schwartz & Wade, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
Step right up ladies and gents and pull the curtain back on this account of the entertainer, practical joker and hard worker who created one of the greatest shows of all time.
Hurricanes!
Tornadoes!
By Gail Gibbons
Holiday House, 2009 (Ages 7-9)
These fascinating explorations of two of nature’s most powerful storms inform about how they come to be and how you can protect yourself from them.
I and I: Bob Marley
By Tony Medina, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson
Lee & Low, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
The lyrical verse and amazing art in this picture book biography sings out in celebration of the famous reggae musician.
Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary
By Elizabeth Partridge
Viking, 2009 (Ages 10 and up)
This insightful, dramatic and inspiring photo-essay illuminates the vital impact that ordinary kids and teens had on the Civil Rights Movement, particularly the 1965 March from Selma to Montgomery.
Mission to the Moon
By Alan Dyer
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
Hundreds of NASA photos, fascinating diagrams of rockets and out-of-this-world art pull readers into this book’s orbit and shed light on just what is so exciting out there.
Nevermore: A Photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe
By Karen Lange
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
Poe gets the credit for creating the genres of detective and horror stories and this reveals for fans of these exciting and spooky works how they came to be out of the troubled mind of one of the most famous writers in the world.
Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat
By Michael Pollan, adapted by Richie Chevat
Dial, 2009 (Ages 12 and up)
There’s a lot more to eating then just chewing, and this important book shows the impact of food on not just your stomach, but on society and the environment as well.
Our Abe Lincoln: An Old Tune with New Lyrics
By Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Scholastic, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
By adapting Lincoln’s life story to a familiar tune as performed by a multicultural cast of young students, this charming presentation brings history to life and can be enjoyed both in classroom and by campfire.
Remember Little Rock: The Time, the People, the Stories
By Paul Robert Walker
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
The solid “Remember” series turns its attention to school integration in the 1950s giving an intimate and well-illustrated day-by-day account of the Little Rock Nine.
Words to My Life’s Song
By Ashley Bryan
Atheneum, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
This Coretta Scott King and Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal-winning author and illustrator shares colorful images and words from his amazing body of work and calls on all of us to share our own story.
Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland
By Sally M. Walker
Carolrhoda, 2009 (Ages 10 and up)
Forensic anthropology brings a long-ago period of America to life in this fascinating blend of history and science.
NatureConnections
101 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet Before You’re 12!
By Joanne O’Sullivan
Lark, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
Through hands-on activities kids can explore easy ways to have an enormous and lasting impact on the environment.
Birds
By Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Greenwillow, 2009 (Ages 3-6)
A joyful birdwatcher muses about the nature of birds.
Clean Air
By Andrew Bridges
Clean Water
By Beth Geiger
Flash Point, 2009 (Ages 7-12)
Eminent scientist, researcher and astronaut Sally Ride has created a new series which shows children how to live green and use the Earth’s resources wisely.
Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea
By Steve Jenkins
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
There’s a lot going on under the surface of the ocean. With his careful science research a trademark paper art, Steve Jenkins shows us what the watery world is like for deep sea denizens.
Earth in the Hot Seat: Bulletins from a Warming World
By Marfé Ferguson Delano
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
This well organized look at the planet’s climate change both informs and inspires young readers to help make changes and find solutions.
Frogs!
By Elizabeth Carney
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 4-6)
Vivid color photography accompanies a fun text for beginning readers on a quest to know more about these marshy amphibians.
Heroes of the Environment
By Harriet Rohmer, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin
Chronicle, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
These 12 stories of everyday men and women who are quietly and effectively protecting our planet will inspire and challenge kids to do the same.
Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life
By Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
Scholastic/Blue Sky, 2009 (Ages 4-7)
Enjoy this poetic, gentle introduction to the power of plants and the cycle of photosynthesis on Earth.
A Mirror to Nature: Poems about Reflection
By Jane Yolen, photographs by Jason Stemple
Wordsong, 2009 (Ages 6-11)
These lovely concept poems, together with sharp, clear nature photographs, depict life in and around the water and give readers a cause for reflection.
Nic Bishop Butterflies and Moths
By Nic Bishop
Scholastic, 2009 (Ages 7-10)
Breathtaking photography and a playful, accessible text vividly bring the winged-world of butterflies and moths to life.
Panda Kindergarten
By Joanne Ryder, photographs by Dr. Katherine Feng
Collins, 2009 (Ages 4-7)
The panda cubs the Wolong Nature Reserve in China are rare, endangered and sought after for scientific charting. But they are growing fast and learning how to frolic, live and play together—just like kindergarteners everywhere.
Penguins!
By Anne Schreiber
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 5-7)
Bold photographs and descriptive scientific text make penguin facts waddle off the page for newly independent readers.
Picture the Seasons: Apples for Everyone
Picture the Seasons: Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie
By Jill Esbaum
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 3-5)
Bold, bright photographs encourage the youngest of readers to explore, celebrate and chomp into these favorite foods of fall: apples and pumpkins.
A Place for Birds
By Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Higgins Bond
Peachtree, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
This title presents a clear look at birds and bird survival in ever encroaching human environments.
Pond Circle
By Betsy Franco, illustrated by Stefano Vitale
Margaret K. McElderry, 2009 (Ages 3-6)
Rhythmic verses and verdant illustrations fill each page of this cumulative story about nature’s wonder outside of a child’s bedroom window.
Pumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature
By Heidi Mordhorst, illustrated by Jenny Reynish
Wordsong, 2009 (Ages 5-9)
Cycling through the seasons, this quiet book celebrates nature all around.
Quiet in the Garden
By Aliki
HarperCollins, 2009 (Ages 3-6)
Enter the quiet world of a little one’s garden as he uses his senses and imagination to engage the animals and insects in play and conversation.
Riki’s Birdhouse
By Monica Wellington
Dutton, 2009 (Ages 2-5)
Experience a bright and bold romp through a child’s experience of building a birdhouse and enjoying the seasons and fun of backyard bird watching.
Scientists in the Field: Extreme Scientists
By Donna M. Jackson
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
Explore the action-filled world of “extreme” scientists in their breathtaking and hair-raising quest for scientific understanding.
Scientists in the Field: The Frog Scientist
By Pamela S. Turner
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009 (Ages 8-11)
Biologist and environmentalist Dr. Tyrone Hayes explores his hypothesis that frogs can help predict environmental changes in this engaging text sure to peak children’s appetite for science exploration.
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder
By Mark Cassino
Chronicle, 2009 (Ages 4-6)
Distinguished color photographs of snowflakes are sprinkled in between a text which offers amazing background about these most beautiful of nature’s crystals.
What Bluebirds Do
By Pamela Kirby
Boyds Mills, 2009 (Ages 3-7)
Vivid color photography enhances a text which explores the world and life cycle of the bluebird.
Years of Dust: The Story of the Dust Bowl
By Albert Marrin
Dutton, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
Explore the environmental causes of the catastrophic Dust Bowl storms that swept through the Plains States in the 1930s in this riveting and meticulously researched text with sepia toned photographs which bring the story of this all-encompassing environmental impact to life.
Fit to Read: Books to Inspire Healthy Living
Body Needs series
Heinemann, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
Caring for Our Bodies
By Deborah Chancellor
Crabtree, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
Food for Thought: The Stories Behind the Things We Eat
By Ken Robbins
Flash Point, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
Food and You: Eating Right, Being Strong and Feeling Great
By Lynda Madison
American Girl, 2008 (Ages 9-12)
Good Enough to Eat: A Kid’s Guide to Food and Nutrition
By Lizzy Rockwell
Collins, 2009 (Ages 5-9)
Health and Fitness series
By Adam Schaefer
Heinemann, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
Health and Wellness
By Eve Hartman and Wendy Meshbesher
Raintree, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
Healthy Eating
By Deborah Chancellor
Crabtree, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
Keeping Fit
By Carol Ballard
Heinemann, 2008 (Ages 8-12)
My Life: A Guide to Health and Fitness
By Marlene Wallach
Aladdin, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
Shake a Leg!
By Constance Allen, illustrated by Maggie Swanson
Random House, 2010 (Ages 2-5)
A Young Woman’s Guide to Health and Well-Being series
Rosen, 2009 (Ages 13 and up)
2010 Award Winners
NEWBERY AWARD
When You Reach Me
By Rebecca Stead
Random House/Wendy Lamb, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
Downloadable Audio | Downloadable Book
CALDECOTT AWARD
The Lion and the Mouse
By Jerry Pinkney
Little, Brown, 2009 (Ages 3-8)
SIBERT MEDAL
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
By Tanya Lee Stone
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 10-13)
THEODOR SEUSS GEISEL AWARD
Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!
By Geoffrey Hayes
RAW Junior/TOON, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD FOR TEXT
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall
By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Lerner/Carolrhoda, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATION
my people
By Langston Hughes, photographs by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Simon & Schuster/Ginee Seo, 2009 (All ages)
PURA BELPRÉ AWARD FOR TEXT
Return to Sender
By Julia Alvarez
Knopf, 2009 (Ages 9-13)
PURA BELPRÉ AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATION
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day • Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros
By Pat Mora, illustrated by Rafael López
HarperCollins/Rayo, 2009 (Ages 6-8)
Great Kids Read, generously sponsored by The Kraft Foods Foundation, through the Chicago Public Library Foundation, is a collaboration created by the Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Park District to emphasize the importance of reading and family literacy at an early age.
Published in February 2010