This past Saturday I attended a lecture at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA. The topic of the lecture was taking a look at picture books of distinction for 2009 and the lecturer was Susan P. Bloom, Professor Emeritus, Simmons College, Boston. Some of the books mentioned I was was familiar with and others I'm looking forward to taking a closer look. Here are the first 10 on the list with more to follow.
Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli Who hasn't pushed a child on a swing and heard the words "Higher! Higher!"? In this story as a child is pushed on the swing each time she see's things further and further away including inside the zoo, the top of a building, and an explorer at the North Pole as well as things that are further away.
Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. This picture book is one of my favorites of 2009. Imogene is a young girl who is fascinated by history. From an early age her passion for history is obvious from her costumes to her current discovery of the town's historical society. When she finds out that the historical society is being torn down to make way for a shoelace factory Imogene, in the words of a famous american, has not yet begun to fight. From the end papers that tell where historical quotes come from to the spunky and passionate Imogene this book is wonderful for girls who are looking for the next level from Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious. It is also a great book to show older children that picture books are appropriate no matter what age you are.
Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated. by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Lane Smith. Princess Hyacinth has a problem: She floats. The king and queen employ a variety of "solutions" to keep her down to earth. Finally Princess Hyacinth had enough and after shedding her weighted down clothing (and thanks to the help of a balloon man) she gets to experience what it is like to float free.
Only a Witch Can Fly by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. One little girl wants nothing more than to fly and tries repeated with the help of a cat, an owl and her little brother. A book that reminds us to reach for the stars by following your heart.
Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Petra Mathers. Each of these rhymes focuses on a piece of clothing in a rhyme and the relationship it has with its owner.
Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum, illustrated by Carol Thompson Nothing feels better in the summer on a hot, steamy day than an old fashion summer storm a.k.a. a thunder boomer. For this farm family a thunder boomer brings relief and an unexpected surprise.
Egg Drop by Mini Grey Humpty Dumpty may have had a great fall but in this tale a mother hen tells her chicks about the egg who wanted to fly which has its ups and downs.
Odd Egg by Emily Gravett For fans of Leo Lionni's An Extraodinary Egg this tale of a duck who wants an egg of his own to hatch when he sees all the other birds with their eggs will be a wonderful companion book.
Hook by Ed Young In the latest book from Caldecott winner Ed Young, a young Native American boy finds an abandon egg and gives it to his hen to hatch. Hook is a young eagle who is named for his curved beak and his young friend is determinded to help teach Hook to fly.
Georgia Rises: A Day in the Life of Georgia O'Keefe by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Ora Eitan. Kathryn Lasky imagines a day in the life of Georgia O'Keefe while she lives in New Mexico. The day begins early in the morning and the colors convey the desert that O'Keefe drew inspiration from.
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