Watching the stars—starred reviews, that is—is a great way to find books that might otherwise have slipped past a bookseller’s notice. Even with subscriptions to the major bookselling, school, and library trade journals and magazines, it’s difficult to catch all of the reviews. For more than a decade, I’ve wished someone would keep a running list of the year’s starred-review children’s books, and send it out quarterly to subscribers—or even just to me. I’d pay.
There’s almost such a list in existence: one bookish, organized, and hardworking colleague, Jonathan Hunt, compiles the stars accumulated for middle grade and YA titles and posts them every two or three months to the Adbooks online discussion list (a group geared toward books written for adolescents). I always look forward to these and gratefully share Jonathan’s list (with all due credit) with my New England children’s bookselling colleagues and the members of the Association of Booksellers for Children. Enormously useful as it is, the list doesn’t include picture books.
Well, my friends, inspired by Jonathan’s list, I finally stopped whingeing, as our friends in the UK might say, and got to work. Jonathan pointed me in helpful directions, but any mistakes are mine; I combed the 2008-2009 reviews of Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, The Horn Book, Booklist, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, and Kirkus Reviews in search of their 2009 stars.
Here, for your delectation, are the 2009 titles that have earned 5, 4, or 3 stars thus far. (If people would like me to post the 1- and 2-star lists as well, let me know in the comments field.)
One more thing: there are many fantastic, worthy books that earn no starred reviews and yet go on to reach gajillions of adoring readers. So I do realize that stars are not everything, but they’re a pretty good indication of what not to miss.
***** 5 STARS *****
CHARLES AND EMMA: THE DARWINS’ LEAP OF FAITH. Deborah Holt Heiligman. (ISBN 978-0805087215. $18.95. YA.)
CLAUDETTE COLVIN: TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE. Phillip Hoose. (Melanie Kroupa/FSG. ISBN 978-0374313227. $19.95. MG/YA.)
MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD. Francisco X Stork. (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic. $17.99. ISBN 978-0545054744. YA.)
MOONSHOT: THE FLIGHT OF APOLLO 11. Brian Floca. (Richard Jackson/Atheneum. ISBN 978-1416950462. $17.99. Grades 2-5.)
TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA. Shaun Tan. (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic. $19.99. ISBN 978-0545055871. YA.)
WHEN YOU REACH ME. Rebecca Stead. (Wendy Lamb/Random House. $15.99. ISBN 978-0385737425. MG.)
WINTERGIRLS. Laurie Halse Anderson. (Viking, $17.99. ISBN 978-0670011100. YA.)
**** 4 STARS ****
A SEASON OF GIFTS. Richard Peck. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-080373082. MG.)
BUTTON UP! Alice Schertle. Illustrated by Petra Mathers. (Harcourt. $16. ISBN 978-0152050504. PreS-Grade 2.)
DINOTHESAURUS: PREHISTORIC POEMS AND PAINTINGS; written and illus. by Douglas Florian. (Simon & Schuster. $17.99. ISBN 978-1416979784. Grades 2-5.)
THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE. Jacqueline Kelly. (Holt. $16.95. ISBN 978-0805088410. MG.)
HEROES OF THE VALLEY. Jonathan Stroud. (Disney-Hyperion. $17.99. ISBN 978-1423109662. MG/YA.)
HOOK. Ed Young. (Neal Porter/Roaring Brook. $17.95. ISBN 978-1596433632. PreS-Grade 1.)
IF I STAY. Gayle Forman. (Dutton. $16.99. ISBN 978-0525421030. YA.)
RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS. Joyce Sidman. Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. (Houghton. $16.00. ISBN 978-0547014944. Ages 5-8.)
THE SNOW DAY. Komako Sakai. (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545013215. Ages 3-5.)
*** 3 STARS ***
A WHIFF OF PINE, A HINT OF SKUNK: A FOREST OF POEMS. Deborah Ruddell. Illustrated by Joan Rankin. (McElderry/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1416942115. $16.99. Gr. 3-5.)
ALL THE BROKEN PIECES. Ann E. Burg. (Scholastic. $16.99. ISBN 978-054508092. YA.)
ALL THE WORLD. Liz Garton Scanlon. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. (Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster. $17.99. ISBN 978-1416985808. Ages 4-7.)
ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 W
OM
EN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Tanya Lee Stone. (Candlewick. $24.99. ISBN 978-0763636111. Grades 5-8.)
ASHLEY BRYAN: WORDS TO MY LIFE’S SONG. Ashley Bryan. Photos by Bill McGuinness. (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster. $18.99. ISBN 978-141690541. Ages 8-12.)
BIRDS. Kevin Henkes. Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. (Greenwillow. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061363047. Ages 3-5.)
BUBBLE TROUBLE. Margaret Mahy. Illustrated by Polly Dunbar. (Clarion. $16. ISBN 978-0547074214. Ages 3-7.)
BURN MY HEART. Beverley Naidoo. (HarperCollins/Amistad. $15.99. ISBN 978-0061432972. MG.)
THE CARBON DIARIES 2015. Saci Lloyd. (Holiday House. $17.95. 978-0823421909. Grades 9-12.)
CATCHING FIRE. Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439023498. MG/YA.)
CHICKEN LITTLE. Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley. (Neal Porter/Roaring Brook. $16.95. ISBN 978-1596434646. PreS-K.)
CORETTA SCOTT. Ntozake Shange. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. (Harper/Tegen/Amistad. $17.99. ISBN 978-006125364. Ages 4-9.)
CREATURE OF THE NIGHT. Kate Thompson. (Roaring Brook. $17.95. ISBN 978-1596435117. Grades 9-12)
DARWIN. Alice B. McGinty. Illustrated by Mary Azarian. (Houghton Mifflin. $18. ISBN 978-0618995318. Grades 1-4)
THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS: THE TRUE STORY OF BOB AND JOE SWITZER’S BRIGHT IDEAS AND BRAND-NEW COLORS. Chris Barton. Illustrated by Tony Persiani. (Charlesbridge. $18.95. ISBN 978-157091673. Ages 8-12.)
THE DEMON’S LEXICON. Sarah Rees Brennan. (Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster. $17.99. ISBN 978-1416963790. YA.)
DINOTRUX. Chris Gall. (Little, Brown. $16.99. ISBN 978-031602777. Ages 4-8.)
THE DUNDERHEADS. Paul Fleischman. Illustrated by David Roberts. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763624989. Ages 6-10.)
ELEANOR, QUIET NO MORE. Doreen Rappaport. Illustrated by Gary Kelley. (Disney-Hyperion. $16.99. ISBN 978-0786851416. Grades 2-5.)
THE ETERNAL SMILE. Gene Luen Yang. Illustrated by Derek Kirk Kim. (Roaring Brook/First Second. $16.95. ISBN 978-1596431560. YA.)
FIRE. Kristin Cashore. (Dial. $17.99. ISBN 978-0803734616. YA.)
A FOOT IN THE MOUTH: POEMS TO SPEAK, SING, AND SHOUT. ed. by Paul B. Janeczko, illus. by Chris Raschka. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0763606633. Ages 8-12.)
GERTRUDE IS GERTRUDE IS GERTRUDE IS GERTRUDE. Jonah Winter. Illustrated by Calef Brown. (S&S/Atheneum. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416940883. Ages 4-10.)
HIGHER! HIGHER! Leslie Patricelli. (Candlewick. $15.99. ISBN 978-0763632410. Preschool.)
THE LION & THE MOUSE. Jerry Pinkney. (Little, Brown. $16.99. ISBN 978-0316013567. PreS-Grade 1.)
LITTLE CHICK. Amy Hest. Illustrated by Anita Jeram. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-763628901. Ages 3-6.)
THE LOST CONSPIRACY. Frances Hardinge. (HarperCollins. $16.99. ISBN 978-0060880415. Grades 6-10.)
THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763644109. Grades 4-7.)
MISSION CONTROL, THIS IS APOLLO: THE STORY OF THE FIRST VOYAGES TO THE MOON. Andrew Chaikin and Victoria Kohl. Illustrated by Alan Bean. (Viking. $23.99. ISBN 978-0670011568. Grades 5-8.)
MY PEOPLE. Langston Hughes. Photos by Charles R. Smith, Jr. (Atheneum/Ginee Seo. $17.99. ISBN 978-1416935407. Ages 4-8.)
THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS. Langston Hughes. Illus. by E.B. Lewis. (Disney-Jump at the Sun. $16.99. ISBN 978-0786818679. Ages 4-8.)
NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL. Justina Chen Headley. (Little, Brown. $16.99. ISBN 978-0316025058. YA.)
ORANGUTAN TONGS: POEMS TO TANGLE YOUR TONGUE. Jon Agee. (Disney-Hyperion. $16.99. ISBN 978-1423103158. Ages 4-8.)
PHARAOH’S BOAT. David Weitzman. (Houghton Mifflin. $17. ISBN 9780547053417. Grades 4-7.)
REDWOODS. Jason Chin. (Neal Porter/Roaring Brook. $16.95. ISBN 978-1596434301. PreS-Grade 3.)
A SAVAGE THUNDER: ANTIETAM AND THE BLOODY ROAD TO FREEDOM. Jim Murphy. (Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster. $17.99. ISBN 978-0689876332. Grades 6-10.)
THUNDER-BOOMER! Shutta Crum. Illustrated by Carol Thompson. (Clarion. $16. ISBN 978-0618618651.Ages 4-7.)
TSUNAMI! Kimiko Kajikawa. Illus. by Ed Young. (Philomel. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399250064. Grades K-3.)
THE VAST FIELDS OF ORDINARY. Nick Burd. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 97800803733404. Grades 9-12)
WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON. Grace Lin. (Little, Brown. $16.99. ISBN 978-0316114271. Ages 8-12.)
WRITTEN IN BONE: BURIED LIVES OF JAMESTOWN AND COLONIAL MARYLAND. Sally M. Walker. (Carolrhoda. $22.95. ISBN 978-0822571353. MG/YA.)
YEARS OF DUST: THE STORY OF THE DUST BOWL. Albert Marrin. (Dutton. $22.99. ISBN 978-0525420774. Grades 5-8.)
YOU NEVER HEARD OF SANDY KOUFAX?! Jonah Winter. Illustrated by André Carrilho. (Schwartz & Wade/Random House. $17.99. ISBN 978-0375837388.
Starred-review lists are the equivalent of meeting a group of passionate readers, each clamoring to share with you a fantastic new find. Last week, I posted a list of books for children and teens published in 2009 that have, thus far, earned three, four, or five starred reviews from the major trade publications: Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, The Horn Book, Booklist, The Bulletin of the Cente
r for Children’s Books, and Kirkus Reviews. Here’s a list of the books that, so far, have received one or two starred reviews. Since there are so many titles here, I’m afraid I can’t include cover art.
As I go through these lists, I notice so many wonderful books, many from smaller presses. Reviewers are as varied in their loves as booksellers; one man’s star may be another man’s remainder. That diversity is one of the joys of going to independent bookstores: you never know what hidden treasures you will find there. I still remember discovering Anne Lamott via the copy of Operating Instructions I bought from the staff picks table at Shakespeare & Co. on the Upper West Side in 1993.
I hope you’ll check out some of the titles below, books you might never have considered, in the spirit of discovery.
(These lists will continue to be updated as reviews come out. Check monthly until the final round-up in December.)
* 1 STAR *
3 WILLOWS: THE SISTERHOOD GROWS. Ann Brashares. (Delacorte. $18.99. ISBN 978-0385736763)
AL CAPONE SHINES MY SHOES. Gennifer Choldenko. (Dial. $17.99. 978-0803734609)
ALEX AND LULU: TWO OF A KIND. Lorena Siminovich. (Candlewick. $14.99. ISBN 978-0763644239)
ALIS. Naomi Rich. (Viking. $17.99. ISBN 978-0670011254)
ALVIN HO: ALLERGIC TO CAMPING, HIKING, AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS. Lenore Look. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. (Random House/Schwartz & Wade. $15.99. 978-0375857058)
ALWAYS. Alison McGhee. Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre. (S&S. $15.99. 978-1416974819)
THE AMARANTH ENCHANTMENT. Julie Berry. (Bloomsbury. $16.99. ISBN 978-1599903347)
THE ANATOMY OF WINGS. Karen Foxlee. (Knopf. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375856433)
ANDROMEDA KLEIN. Frank Portman. (Delacorte. $17.99. ISBN 978-0385735254)
ANNE FRANK. Menno Metselaar & Ruud Van der Rol. Translated by Arnold J Pomerans. (Flash Point. hardcover, $19.99. ISBN 978-1596435469. paperback, $12.99. ISBN 978-1596435476)
THE ANNE FRANK CASE: SIMON WIESENTHAL’S SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. Susan Goldman Rubin. Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. (Holiday. $18.95. ISBN 978-0823421091)
APPLESAUCE SEASON. Eden Ross Lipson. Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. (Roaring Brook. $16.99. ISBN 978-1596432161)
THE ASK AND THE ANSWER. Patrick Ness. (Candlewick. $18.99. ISBN 978-0763644901)
ATTICA. Garry Kilworth. (IPG/Atom. $11.95. ISBN 978-1904233565)
ATTILA THE HUN: LEADER OF THE BARBARIAN HORDES. Sean Stewart Price. (Scholastic/Franklin Watts. $5.95. ISBN 978-0531207376)
THE AWAKENING (DARKEST POWERS 02). Kelley Armstrong. (HarperCollins. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061662768)
BAIT. Alex Sanchez. (S & S. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416937722)
BARNYARD SLAM. Dian Curtis Regan. Illustrated by Paul Meisel. (Holiday House. $16.95. 978-0823419074)
BARTLEBY SPEAKS! Robin Cruise. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. (Farrar/Melanie Kroupa Bks. $16.99. ISBN 978-0374305147)
BAYOU. V.1. Jeremy Love. (DC Comics/Zuda. $14.99. ISBN 978-1401223823)
BECAUSE I AM FURNITURE. Thalia Chaltas. (Viking. $15.99. ISBN 978-0670062980)
BENNY AND PENNY IN THE BIG NO-NO! Geoffrey Hayes. (Raw Junior. $12.95. 978-0979923890)
THE BEST BAD LUCK I EVER HAD. Kristin Levine. (Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399250903)
BETTINA VALENTINO AND THE PICASSO CLUB. Niki Daly. (Farrar. $16. ISBN 978-0374307530)
BIG AND SMALL, ROOM FOR ALL. Jo Ellen Bogart. Illustrated by Gillian Newland. (Tundra. $18.95. 978-0887768910)
BILL PENNANT, BABE RUTH, AND ME. Timothy Tocher. (Cricket. $17.95. 978-0812627558.)
BILLY TWITTERS AND HIS BLUE WHALE PROBLEM. Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Adam Rex. (Hyperion. $16.99. 978-0786849581)
BINKY THE SPACE CAT. Ashley Spires. (Kids Can. hardcover, $16.95. ISBN 978-1554533091. paperback, $7.95. ISBN 978-1554534197)
BIRD, BUTTERFLY, EEL. James Prosek. (S&S. $16.99. ISBN 978-0689868290)
BLADE: PLAYING DEAD. Tim Bowler. (Philomel. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399251863)
BLUE MOON. Alyson Noël. (St. Martin’s Griffin. $9.95. ISBN 978-0312532765)
BLUE MOUNTAIN TROUBLE. Martin Mordecai. (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545041560)
BOATS: SPEEDING! SAILING! CRUISING! Patricia Hubbell. Illustrated by Megan Halsey. (Marshall Cavendish. $17.99. ISBN 978-0761455240)
BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY). Lisa Yee. Illustrated by Dan Santat. (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic. $15.99. ISBN 978-0545055925)
BREAK. Hannah Moskowitz. (Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse. $8.99. ISBN 978-1416982753)
BRENDA BERMAN, WEDDING EXPERT. Jane Breskin Zalben. Illustrated by Victoria Chess. (Clarion. $16. ISBN 978-0618313211)
BRIDGET FIDGET AND THE MOST PERFECT PET! Joe Berger. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-0803734050)
THE BROOKLYN NINE. Alan Gratz. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-0803732247)
BUILDING ON NATURE: THE LIFE OF ANTONI GAUDI. Rachel Rodriguez. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. (Holt. $16.99. ISBN 978-0805087451)
CALLIE’S RULES. Naomi Zucker. (Egmont. $15.99. ISBN 978-1606840276)
CAROLINA HARMONY. Marilyn Taylor McDowell. (Delacorte. $16.99. ISBN 978-0385735902)
A CAROUSEL TALE. Elisa Kleven. (Tricycle. $15.99. ISBN 978-1582462394)
CARTER FINALLY GETS IT. Brent Crawford. (Disney-Hyperion. $15.99. ISBN 978-1423112464)
THE CASE OF THE STINKY SOCKS. Lewis B. Montgomery. Illustrated by Amy Wummer. (Kane Press. paperback. $6.95. ISBN 978-1575652856)
CATHERINE THE GREAT: EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. Zu Vincent. (Scholastic/Franklin Watts. $5.95. ISBN 978-0531207383)
CELESTINE, DRAMA QUEEN. Penny Ives. (Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545081498)
CHICKEN CHEEKS. Michael Ian Black. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. (S&S. $15.99. ISBN 978-14169488643)
CHRISTO AND JEAN-CLAUDE: THROUGH THE GATES AND BEYOND. Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan. (Neal Porter/Roaring Brook. $19.95. 978-1596430716)
THE CHOSEN ONE. Carol Lynch Williams. (St. Martin’s Griffin. $16.95. ISBN 978-0312555115)
THE CIRCUS SHIP. Chris Van Dusen. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763630904)
CLOVER OMNIBUS EDITION. Clamp. (Dark Horse Manga. paperback. $19.95. ISBN 978-1595821966)
COLD HANDS, WARM HEART. Jill Wolfson. (Henry Holt. $17.99. ISBN 978-0805082821)
COLD SKIN. Steven Herrick. (Front Street/dist. Boyds Mills. $18.95. ISBN 978-1590785720)
THE COMPOSER IS DEAD. Lemony Snicket. Music by Nathaniel Stookey. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. (HarperCollins. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061236273)
COOL CAT. Nonny Hogrogian. (Roaring Brook. $17.99. ISBN 978-1596434295)
CREEPY CRAWLY CRIME. Aaron Reynolds. Illustrated by Neil Numberman. (Holt. $16.95. ISBN 978-0805082425. paperback. $9.95. ISBN 978-0805087864)
THE CURIOUS GARDEN. Peter Brown. (Little, Brown. $16.99. ISBN 978-0316015479)
DARKWOOD. M.E. Breen. (Bloomsbury. $16.99. ISBN 978-1599902593)
DAYS OF LITTLE TEXAS. R.A. Nelson. (Knopf. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375855931)
DESSERT FIRST. Hallie Durand. Illustrated by Christine Davenier. (S&S/Atheneum. $14.99. ISBN 978-1416963851)
DIEGO: BIGGER THAN LIFE. Carmen T. Bernier-Grand. Illustrated by David Diaz. (Marshall Cavendish. $18.99. ISBN 978-0761453833)
DINOSAUR WOODS: CAN SEVEN CLEVER CRITTERS SAVE THEIR FOREST HOME? George McClements. (Beach Lane./S&S. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416986263)
DISTANT WAVES: A NOVEL OF THE TITANIC. Suzanne Weyn. (Scholastic. $17.99. ISBN 978-0545085724)
DO NOT BUILD A FRANKENSTEIN! Neil Numberman. (Greenwillow. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061568169)
THE DOLL SHOP DOWNSTAIRS. Yona Zeldis McDonough. Illustrated by Heather Maione. (Viking. $14.99. ISBN 978-0670010912)
DOWN DOWN DOWN. A JOURNEY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. Steve Jenkins. (Houghton. $17.00. ISBN 978-0618-966363)
DRAGONBREATH. Ursula Vernon. (Dial. $12.99. ISBN 978-0803733633)
THE DREAM STEALER. Sid Fleischman. Illustrated by Peter Sis. (Greenwillow. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061755637)
DUCK TENTS. Lynne Berry. Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata. (Holt. $16.95. ISBN 978-0805086966)
THE DUEL: THE PARALLEL LIVES OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON & AARON BURR. Judith St. George. (Viking. $16.99. ISBN 978-0670011247)
EARTH IN THE HOT SEAT: BULLETINS FROM A WARMING WORLD. Marfé Ferguson Delano. (National Geographic. $16.95. ISBN 978-1426304347)
EARTHGIRL. Jennifer Cowan. (Groundwood. $17.95. ISBN 978-0888998897)
EL BARRIO. Debbi Chocolate. Illustrated by David Diaz. (Holt. $16.95. ISBN 978-0805074574)
THE ELEVATOR MAN. Stanley Trachtenberg. Illustrated by Paul Cox. (Eerdmans. $18. ISBN 978-0802853158)
EMMA-JEAN LAZARUS FELL IN LOVE. Lauren Tarshis. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-0803733213)
EMMALINE AND THE BUNNY. Hannigan. Katherine. Illustrated by Katherine Hannigan. 112p. Greenwillow. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061626548)
THE ENEMY: A BOOK ABOUT PEACE. Davide Cali. Illustrated by Serge Bloch. (Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. $15.99. ISBN 978-0375845000)
ERIKA-SAN. Allen Say. (Houghton Mifflin. $17. ISBN 978-0618889334)
ERNEST HEMINGWAY: A WRITER’S LIFE. Catherine Reef. (Clarion. $20. ISBN 978-0618987054)
EVERY HUMAN HAS RIGHTS: A PHOTOGRAPHIC DECLARATION FOR KIDS. National Geographic. $17.95. ISBN 978-1426305108)
EVOLUTION REVOLUTION. Robert Winston. (DK. $16.99. ISBN 978-0756645243)
EXTREME SCIENTISTS: EXPLORING NATURE’S MYSTERIES FROM PERILOUS PLACES. Donna M. Jackson. (Houghton. $18. ISBN 978-0618777068)
EYES LIKE STARS (THEATRE ILLUMINATA, ACT I . Lisa Mantchev. (Feiwel & Friends/St. Martin’s. $16.99. ISBN 978-0312380960)
THE FABULOUS FEUD OF GILBERT AND SULLIVAN. Jonah Winter. Illustrated by Richard Egielski. (Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. $16.99. ISBN 978-0439930505)
FACE TO FACE WITH GORILLAS. Michael "Nick" Nichols & Elizabeth Carney. (National Geographic. $16.95. ISBN 978-1426304064)
THE FACELESS ONES (SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT 03). Derek Landy. (HarperCollins. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061240911)
FAITH. Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis, & Cynthia Pon. (Charlesbridge. hardcover, $16.95. ISBN 978-1580891776. paperback, $7.95. ISBN 978-1580891783)
FAITH, HOPE, AND IVY JUNE. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. (Delacorte. $16.99. ISBN 978-0385736152)
THE FANTASTIC UNDERSEA LIFE OF JACQUES COUSTEAU. Dan Yaccarino. (Knopf. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375855733)
THE FATAL CHILD. John Dickinson. (Fickling/Ranom House. $17.99. ISBN 978-0385751100)
THE FETCH. Laura Whitcomb. (Houghton. $17. ISBN 978-0618891313)
FINN THROWS A FIT. David Elliott. Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763623562)
FLETCHER AND THE SPRINGTIME BLOSSOMS. Julia Rawlinson. Illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. (Greenwillow. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061688553)
FLYGIRL. Sherri L. Smith. (Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399247095)
FRANKIE PICKLE AND THE CLOSET OF DOOM. Eric Wight. (S&S. $9.99. ISBN 978-1416964841)
FRANNY PARKER. Hannah Roberts McKinnon. (Farrar. $16. ISBN 978-0374324698)
FROGS. Nic Bishop. (Scholastic. $17.99. ISBN 978-0439877558)
FUNNY HOW THINGS CHANGE. Melissa Wyatt. (FSG. $16.95. ISBN 978-0374302337)
THE GEORGES AND THE JEWELS. Jane Smiley. Illustrated by Elaine Clayton. (Knopf. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375862274)
THE GIRL WHO THREW BUTTERFLIES. Mick Cochrane. (Knopf. $15.99. ISBN 978-0375856822)
THE GIRL WHO WANTED TO DANCE. Amy Ehrlich. Illustrated by Rebecca Walsh. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0763613457)
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS. Adapted by Gennady Spirin. (Marshall Cavendish. $17.99. ISBN 978-0761455967)
THE GOLDSMITH’S DAUGHTER. Tanya Landman. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763642198)
GOOD DOG, AGGIE. Lori Ries. Illustrated by Frank W. Dormer. (Charlesbridge. $16.99. ISBN 978-1599902401)
GREENER GRASS. Caroline Pignat. (Red Deer. paperback. $12.95. ISBN 978-0889954021)
HAMLET: A NOVEL. John Marsden. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763644512)
HAPPENSTANCE FOUND. P. W. Catanese. (S&S/Aladdin. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416975199)
HARPER LEE. Kerry Madden. (Viking. $16.99. ISBN 978-0670010950)
HARRY AND HORSIE. Katie Van Camp. Illustrated by Lincoln Agnew. (Balzer & Bray/HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061755989)
HENRY’S NIGHT. D.B. Johnson and Linda Michelin. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. $16. ISBN 978-0547056630)
HOW DO I LOVE YOU? Marion Dane Bauer. Illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church. (Cartwheel/Scholastic. $8.99. ISBN 978-0545072700)
HOW DO YOU WOKKA-WOKKA? Elizabeth Bluemle. Illustrated by Randy Cecil. (Candlewick. $15.99. ISBN 978-0763632281)
HOW MANY BABY PANDAS? Sandra Markle. (Walker. $15.99. ISBN 978-0802797834)
HOW OLIVER OLSON CHANGED THE WORLD. Claudia Mills. Illustrated by Heather Maione. (Farrar. $15.95. . ISBN 978-0374334871)
HOW TO SCRATCH A WOMBAT: WHERE TO FIND IT…WHAT TO FEED IT…WHY IT SLEEPS ALL DAY. Jackie French. Illustrated by Bruce Whatley. (Clarion. $16. ISBN 978-0618868643)
HURRY UP AND SLOW DOWN. Layn Marlow. (Holiday House. $16.95. ISBN 978-082342178-7)
I AND I: BOB MARLEY. Tony Medina. Illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson. (Lee & Low. $19.95. ISBN 978-1600602573)
I HEARD GOD TALKING TO ME: WILLIAM EDMONDSON AND HIS S
TONE CARVINGS. Elizabeth Spires. (Farrar/Frances Foster Bks. $17.95. ISBN 978-0374335281)
I WANT TO BE FREE. Joseph Slate. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. (Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399243424)
THE IMAGINARY GARDEN. Andrew Larsen. Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. (Kids Can. $16.95. ISBN 978-1554532797)
THE ISLANDS OF THE BLESSED. Nancy Farmer. (Atheneum. $18.99. 978-1416907374)
IT’S USEFUL TO HAVE A DUCK. Isol. (Groundwood. $10. ISBN 978-0888999276)
IT’S A SECRET! John Burningham. Illustrated by John Burningham. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763642754)
ITTY BITTY. Cece Bell. (Candlewick. $9.99. ISBN 978-0763636166)
JACK TUMOR. Anthony McGowan. (Farrar. $17.95. ISBN 978-0374329556)
JASPER DASH AND THE FLAME-PITS OF DELAWARE. M. T. Anderson. (Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416986393)
JEREMY DRAWS A MONSTER. Peter McCarty. (Holt. $16.99. ISBN 978-0805069341)
JESSICA’S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE. Beth Fantaskey. (Harcourt. $17. ISBN 978-0152063849)
JOE AND SPARKY GET NEW WHEELS. Jamie Michalak. Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. (Candlewick. $15.99. ISBN 978-0763633875)
JOURNEY OF DREAMS. Marge Pellegrino. (Frances Lincoln/PGW. $15.95. ISBN 978-1847800619)
JUMPING OFF SWINGS. Jo Knowles. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763639495)
THE KING’S TASTER. Kenneth Oppel. Illustrated by Lou Fancher. (HarperCollins. $17.99. ISBN 978-0060753726)
LADYBUG GIRL AND BUMBLEBEE BOY. David Soman and Jacky Davis. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-0803733398)
LEAVING GLORYTOWN: ONE BOY’S STRUGGLE UNDER CASTRO. Eduardo F. Calcines.( Farrar. $17.95. ISBN 978-0374343941)
LET’S DO NOTHING! Tony Fucile. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763634407)
LIFE IN THE BOREAL FOREST. Brenda Z. Guiberson. Illustrated by Gennady Spirin. (Holt. $16.99. ISBN 978-0805077186)
LINCOLN AND HIS BOYS. Rosemary Wells. Illustrated by P.J. Lynch. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763637231)
LINCOLN SHOT: A PRESIDENT’S LIFE REMEMBERED. Barry Denenberg. Illustrated by Christopher Bing. (Feiwel.
LITTLE PANDA. Renata Liwska. (Houghton. $12.95. ISBN 978-0618966271)
LIVING SUNLIGHT: HOW PLANTS BRING THE EARTH TO LIFE. Molly Bang and Penny Chrisholm. (Scholastic/Blue Sky. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545044226)
LOUSY ROTTEN STINKIN’ GRAPES. Margie Palatini. Illustrated by Barry Moser. (S&S. $15.99. ISBN 978-0689802461)
LOVE, AUBREY. Suzanne LaFleur. (Random/Wendy Lamb. $15.99. ISBN 978-0385737746)
LOVEY AND DOVEY. Elle van Lieshout, Mies Van Hout, & Erik van Os. (Lemniscaat. $16.95. ISBN 978-1590786604)
LYONESSE: THE WELL BETWEEN THE WORLDS. Sam Llewellyn. (Orchard. $17.99. ISBN 978-0439934695)
MAGIC AND MISERY. Peter Marino. (Holiday. $17.95. ISBN 978-0823421336)
MAMA SAYS: A BOOK OF LOVE FOR MOTHERS AND SONS. Rob D. Walker. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. (Scholastic/Blue Sky. $16.99. ISBN 978-0439932084)
A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD. Lisa Ann Sandell. (Scholastic. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545069700)
MARCHING FOR FREEDOM: WALK TOGETHER, CHILDREN, AND DON’T YOU GROW WEARY. Elizabeth Partridge. (Viking. $19.99. ISBN 978-0670011896)
MARE’S WAR. Tanita S. Davis. (Knopf. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375857140)
MARTHA DOESN’T SAY SORRY! Samantha Berger. Illustrated by Bruce Whatley. (Little, Brown. $15.99. ISBN 978-0316066822)
ME AND YOU. Geneviève Côté. (Kids Can. $16.95. ISBN 978-1554534463)
ME AND YOU. Janet A. Holmes. Illustrated by Judith Rossell. (NorthSouth. $14.95. ISBN 978-0735822504)
MELONHEAD. Katy Kelly. Illustrated by Gillian Johnson. (Delacorte. $12.99. ISBN 978-0385734097)
MERMAID QUEEN: THE SPECTACULAR TRUE STORY OF ANNETTE KELLERMAN, WHO SWAM HER WAY TO FAME, FORTUNE & SWIMSUIT HISTORY! Shana Corey. (Scholastic. $17.99. ISBN 978-0439698351)
MILES BETWEEN. Mary Pearson. (Holt. $16.99. ISBN 978-0805088281)
A MIRROR TO NATURE: POEMS ABOUT REFLECTION. Jane Yolen. Photos by Jason Stemple. (Boyds Mills/Wordsong. $17.95. ISBN 978-1590786246)
MORIBITO II: GUARDIAN OF THE DARKNESS. Nahoko Uehashi. Translated by Cathy Hirano. (Scholastic/Levine. $17.99. ISBN 978-0545102957)
THE MORGUE AND ME. John C. Ford. (Viking. $17.99. ISBN 978-0670010967)
MOST LOVED IN ALL THE WORLD: A STORY OF FREEDOM. Tonya Hegamin. Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. (Houghton Mifflin. $17. ISBN 978-0618419036)
THE MOSTLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF HOMER P. FIGG. Rodman Philbrick. (Scholastic/Blue Sky. $16.99. ISBN 978-0439668187)
THE MOUNT RUSHMORE CALAMITY (FLAT STANLEY’S WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES 01). Sara Pennypacker. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. (Harper. hardcover, $15.99. ISBN 978-0061429910. paperback, $4.99. ISBN 978-0061429903)
MOUSE WAS MAD. Linda Urban. Illustrated by Henry Cole. (Harcourt. $16. ISBN 978-0152053376)
MOXY MAXWELL DOES NOT LOVE PRACTICING THE PIANO: BUT SHE DOES LOVE BEING IN RECITALS. Peggy Elizabeth Gifford. Photos by Valorie Fisher. (Schwartz & Wade/Random House. $12.99. ISBN 978-0375844881)
MRS. LINCOLN’S DRESSMAKER: THE UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP OF ELIZABETH KECKLEY AND MARY TODD LINCOLN. Lynda Jones. (National Geographic. $18.95. ISBN 978-1426303777)
MY BROTHER BERT. Ted Hughes. Illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson. (Farrar. $16.95. ISBN 978-0374399825)
THE MUSEUM OF MARY CHILD. Cassandra Golds. (Kane/Miller. $16.99. ISBN 978-1935279136)
MY LIFE IN PINK AND GREEN. Lisa Greenwald. (Amulet/dist. by Abrams. $16.95. ISBN 978-0810983526)
MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE. Kate Feiffer. Illustrated by Diane Goode. (S&S/Wiseman. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416941002)
NEVERMORE: A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY OF EDGAR ALLAN POE. Karen E. Lange. (National Geographic. $17.95. ISBN 978-1426303982)
NEW YEAR AT THE PIER: A ROSH HASHANAH STORY. April Halprin Wayland. Illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-0803732797)
THE NINE LIVES OF ROTTEN RALPH. Jack Gantos. Illustrated by Nicole Rubel. (Houghton Mifflin. $16. ISBN 978-0618-800469)
NO MORE US FOR YOU. David Hernandez . (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061173332)
NOT ALL ANIMALS ARE BLUE: A BIG BOOK OF LITTLE DIFFERENCES. Béatrice Boutignon. (Kane/Miller. $15.95. ISBN 978-1933605968)
NOTHING BUT GHOSTS. Beth Kephart. HarperTeen. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061667961)
THE ODD EGG. Emily Gravett. (S&S. $15.99. ISBN 978-1416968726)
ODDLY. Joyce Dunbar. Illustrated by Patrick Benson. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763642747)
OK GO. Carin Berger. (HarperCollins/Greenwillow. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061576669)
ON THE FARM. David Elliott. Illu
strated by Holly Meade. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763633226)
ONCE WAS LOST. Sara Zarr. (Little, Brown. $16.99. ISBN 978-0316036047)
THE ONE AND ONLY MARIGOLD. Florence Parry Heide. Illustrated by Jill McElmurry. (Schwartz & Wade/Random House. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375840319)
ONE LONELY DEGREE. C.K. Kelly Martin. (Random House. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375851636)
ONE WORLD, ONE DAY. Barbara Kerley. (National Geographic. $17.95. ISBN 978-1426304606)
ONLY A WITCH CAN FLY. Alison McGhee. Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. (Feiwel & Friends/dist. by St. Martin’s. $16.99. ISBN 978-0312375034)
OPEN THE DOOR TO LIBERTY!: A BIOGRAPHY OF TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE. Anne Rockwell. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. (Houghton. $18. ISBN 978-0618605705)
ORANGE. Benjamin. (Tokyopop. paperback. $14.99. ISBN 978-1427814630)
OSCAR AND ARABELLA AND ORMSBY. Neal Layton. (Hodder (IPG. dist). $14.95. ISBN 978-0340884546)
OTTER MOON. Tudor Humphries. (Boxer/dist. by Sterling. $16.95. ISBN 978-1906250693)
OUR CORNER GROCERY STORE. Joanne F. Schwartz. Illustrated by Laura Beingessner. (Tundra. $19.95. ISBN 978-0887768682)
OUTLAW. Tony Lee. Illustrated by Sam Hart and Artur Fujita. (Candlewick. hardcover, $21.99. ISBN 978-0763643997. paperback, $11.99. ISBN 978-0763644000)
PANORAMA: A FOLDOUT BOOK. Fani Marceau. Illustrated by Joelle Jolivet. (Abrams. $19.95. ISBN 978-0810983328)
PEARL AND WAGNER: ONE FUNNY DAY. Kate McMullan. Illustrated by R. W. Alley. (Dial. $14.99. ISBN 978-0803730854)
PEARL HARBOR: A PRIMARY SOURCE HISTORY. Jacqueline Laks Gorman. (Gareth Stevens. $31.00. ISBN 978-1433900471)
PEEP!: A LITTLE BOOK ABOUT TAKING A LEAP. Maria Van Lieshout. (Feiwel & Friends. $12.99. ISBN 978-0312369156)
PELÉ. KING OF SOCCER/PELÉ. EL REY DEL FUTBOL. Monica Brown. Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez. (Rayo/HarperCollins. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061227790)
A PENGUIN STORY. Antoinette Portis. (HarperCollins. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061456886)
PERSEPHONE. Sally Pomme Clayton. Illustrated by Virginia Lee. (Eerdmans. $18. ISBN 978-0802853493)
POP. Gordon Korman. (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061742287)
POSY. Linda Newbery. Illustrated by Catherine Rayner. (S&S/Atheneum. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416971122)
PRETTY DEAD. Francesca Lia Block. (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061547850)
THE PRINCESS AND THE BEAR. Mette Ivie Harrison. (HarperTeen. $17.99. ISBN 978-006155314X)
THE PROBLEM WITH THE PUDDLES. Kate Feiffer. Illustrated by Tricia Tusa. (S&S/Wiseman. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416949619)
PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS. Michelle Zink. (Little, Brown. $17.99. ISBN 978-0316027427)
PUNKZILLA. Adam Rapp. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763630317)
PUPPET. Eva Wiseman. (Tundra. $17.95. ISBN 978-0887768288)
PUT IT ON THE LIST! Kristen Darbyshire. (Dutton. $16.99. ISBN 978-0525479062)
QUINITO’S NEIGHBORHOOD /EL VECINDARIO DE QUINITO. Ina Cumpiano. Illustrated by José Ramírez. (Children’s Book Press. $7.95. ISBN 978-0892392292)
RACHAEL RAY: FOOD ENTREPRENEUR. Dennis Abrams. (Chelsea House. library edition. $30. ISBN 978-1604130782)
READ IT, DON’T EAT IT! Ian Schoenherr. (HarperCollins/Greenwillow. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061724558)
RECYCLE THIS BOOK: 100 TOP CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHORS TELL YOU HOW TO GO GREEN. Dan Gutman, ed. (Random House/Yearling. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0385737210)
THE RED BLAZER GIRLS: THE RING OF ROCAMADOUR. Michael D. Beil. (Knopf. $15.99. ISBN 978-0375848148)
THE REFORMED VAMPIRE SUPPORT GROUP. Catherine Jinks. (Harcourt. $17. ISBN 978-0152066093)
RIVER OF DREAMS: THE STORY OF THE HUDSON RIVER. Hudson Talbott. (Putnam. $17.99. ISBN 978-0399245213)
ROAWR! Barbara Joosse. Illustrated by Jan Jutte. (Philomel. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399247774)
ROBOT ZOT! Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by David Shannon. (S&S. $17.99. ISBN 978-1416963944)
THE ROCK AND THE RIVER. Kekla Magoon. (Aladdin. $15.99. ISBN 978-1416975829)
ROSIE AND SKATE. Beth Ann Bauman. (Wendy Lamb/Random House. $15.99. ISBN 978-0385737357)
RUINED: A NOVEL. Paula Morris. (Scholastic/Point. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545042154)
SAME DIFFERENCE. Siobhan Vivian. (Push/Scholastic. $17.99. 978-0545004077)
SAME SAME. Marthe Jocelyn. Illustrated by Tom Slaughter. (Tundra. $15.95. ISBN 978-0887768859)
SAY THE WORD. Jeannine Garsee. (Bloomsbury. $16.99. ISBN 978-1599903330)
SCAT. Carl Hiaasen. (Knopf/Borzoi. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375834868)
THE SECRET LIFE OF PRINCE CHARMING. Deb Caletti. (Simon & Schuster. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416959403)
THE SECRET WORLD OF WALTER ANDERSON. Hester Bass. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0763635831)
SECRETS OF TRUTH AND BEAUTY. Megan Frazer. (Disney-Hyperion. $15.99. ISBN 978-1423117117)
SEPTEMBER 11: A PRIMARY SOURCE HISTORY. Alan Wachtel. (Gareth Stevens. $31.00. ISBN 978-1433900488)
SERENDIPITY MARKET. Penny Blubaugh. (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061468754)
SHIVER. Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press. $17.99. ISBN 978-0545123266)
SHOOTING STAR. Fredrick McKissack, Jr. (Atheneum. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416947450)
SIGNING THEIR LIVES AWAY: THE FAME AND MISFORTUNE OF THE MEN WHO SIGNED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. Denise Kiernan & Joseph D’Agnese. (Quirk. $19.95. ISBN 978-1594743306)
SILKSINGER (DREAMDARK 02). Laini Taylor. (Putnam. $18.99. ISBN 978-0399246319)
SILVER PHOENIX: BEYOND THE KINGDOM OF XIA. Cindy Pon. (Greenwillow. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061730214)
THE SINGING (BOOKS OF PELLINOR 04). Alison Croggon. (Candlewick. $18.99. ISBN 978-0763636657)
SKY HIGH: THE TRUE STORY OF MAGGIE GEE. Marissa Moss. Illustrated by Carl Angel. (Tricycle. $16.99. ISBN 978-1582462806)
SKY MAGIC. Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illustrated by Mariusz Stawarski. (Dutton. $17.99. ISBN 978-0525478621)
SLEEPSONG. George Ella Lyon. Illustrated by Peter Catalanotto. (Atheneum. $16.99. ISBN 978-0689869738)
THE SLEEPY LITTLE ALPHABET: A BEDTIME STORY FROM ALPHABET TOWN. Judy Sierra. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. (Knopf. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375840029)
SLITHER AND CRAWL: EYE TO EYE WITH REPTILES. Jim Arnosky. (Sterling. $14.95. ISBN 978-1402739866)
SLOB. Ellen Potter. (Philomel. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399247057)
THE SMALL ADVENTURE OF POPEYE AND ELVIS. Barbara O’Connor. (FSG. $16.99. ISBN 978-0374370558)
SO PUNK ROCK (AND OTHER WAYS TO DISAPPOINT YOUR MOTHER). Micol Ostow. Illustrated by David Ostow. (Flux. paperback. $9.95. ISBN 978-0738714714)
SOLDIER’
S SECRET: THE STORY OF DEBORAH SAMPSON. Sheila Solomon Klass. (Holt/Christy Ottaviano. $17.95. ISBN 978-0805082005)
THE SONG OF FRANCIS. Tomie DePaola. (Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399252105)
SOPHOMORE SWITCH. Abby McDonald. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0763639362)
SOUL ENCHILADA. David Macinnis Gill. (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061673016)
SPIDERS. Nic Bishop. (Scholastic. $17.99. ISBN 978-0439877565)
STAGECOACH SAL. Deborah Hopkinson. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. (Disney-Hyperion. $16.99. ISBN 978-1423111498)
STARCLIMBER. Kenneth Oppel. (HarperCollins/Eos. $17.99. ISBN 978-0060850579)
STEADY HANDS: POEMS ABOUT WORK. Tracie Vaughn Zimmer. Illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy. Clarion. $16. ISBN 978-0618903511)
STORIES FROM THE BILLABONG. James Vance Marshall. Illustrated by Francis Firebrace. (Frances Lincoln. $19.95. ISBN 978-1845077044)
THE STORY BEHIND TOILETS. Elizabeth Raum. (Heinemann. $28.21. ISBN 978-1432923501)
STRAWBERRY HILL. Mary Ann Hoberman. Illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin. (Little, Brown. $15.99. ISBN 978-0316041362)
THE SUPER HUNGRY DINOSAUR. Martin Waddell. Illustrated by Leonie Lord. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-0803734463)
SUPERHERO SCHOOL. Aaron Reynolds. Illustrated by Andy Rash. (Bloomsbury. $16.99. ISBN 978-1599901664)
SWIM THE FLY. Don Calame. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763641573)
SWOON. Nina Malkin. (Simon Pulse. $17.99. ISBN 978-1416974345)
T-MINUS: THE RACE TO THE MOON. Jim Ottaviani. Illustrated by Zander Cannon and Kevin Cannon. (Aladdin/Simon. hardcover, $21.99. ISBN 978-1416986829. paperback, $12.99. ISBN 978-1416949602)
TACKY GOES TO CAMP. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. (Houghton. $16. ISBN 978-0618988129)
TAKEN BY STORM. Angela Morrison. (Razorbill. $16.99. ISBN 978-1595142382)
TEEDIE: THE STORY OF YOUNG TEDDY ROOSEVELT. Don Brown. (Houghton. $16. ISBN 978-0618179992)
THE TERRIBLE PLOP. Ursula Dubosarsky. Illustrated by Andrew Joyner. (FSG. $15.99. ISBN 978-0374374280)
THANK YOU, GOD, FOR EVERYTHING. August Gold. Illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin. (Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399240492)
THERE. Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick. (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. $17.95. ISBN 978-
1596430877)
THIRTEENTH CHILD (FRONTIER MAGIC 01). Patricia C. Wrede. (Scholastic. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545033428)
THREE LITTLE KITTENS AND OTHER FAVORITE NURSERY RHYMES. Comp. and Illustrated by Tony Ross. (Holt. $16.95. ISBN 978-0805088854)
THUMB AND THE BAD GUYS. Ken Roberts. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. (Groundwood. $17.95. ISBN 978-0888999160)
TILLIE LAYS AN EGG. Terry Golson. photos by Ben Fink. (Scholastic. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545005371)
TOBY ALONE. Timothée de Fombelle. Illustrated by Francois Place. Translated by Sarah Ardizzone. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0763641818)
THE TOLL BRIDGE. Aidan Chambers. (Abrams/Amulet. $8.95. ISBN 978-0810983588)
TOUCH. Francine Prose. (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061375170)
TRICKING THE TALLYMAN. Jacqueline Davies. Illustrated by S. D. Schindler. (Knopf. $17.99. ISBN 978-0375839092)
TROPICAL SECRETS: HOLOCAUST REFUGEES IN CUBA. Margarita Engle. (Holt. $16.95. ISBN 978-0805089363)
TRUCKS GO. Steve Light.
TUMTUM & NUTMEG: ADVENTURES BEYOND NUTMOUSE HALL. Emily Bearn. Illustrated by Nick Price. (Little, Brown. $16.99. ISBN 978-0316027038)
THE TWILIGHT PRISONER. Katherine Marsh. (Disney-Hyperion. $17.99. ISBN 978-1423106937)
UNDER SIEGE: THREE CHILDREN AT THE CIVIL WAR BATTLE FOR VICKSBURG. Andrea Warren. (Farrar/Melanie Kroupa. $17.95. ISBN 978-0374312558)
THE UNINVITED. Tim Wynne-Jones . (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763639846)
THE UNKNOWNS. Benedict Carey. (Amulet. $16.95. ISBN 978-0810979918)
UP CLOSE: BILL GATES. Marc Aronson. (Viking. $16.99. ISBN 978-0670063487)
UP CLOSE: HARPER LEE. Kerry Madden. (Viking. $16.99. ISBN 978-0670010950)
UP CLOSE: THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Michael L. Cooper. (Viking. $16.99. ISBN 978-0670011346)
A WALK IN NEW YORK. Salvatore Rubbino. (Candlewick.$16.99. ISBN 978-0763638559)
THE WATERS & THE WILD. Francesca Lia Block. (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061452444)
WE’RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT. Zachary Shapiro. Illustrated by Jack E. Davis.
(Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399243936)
WHAT BLUEBIRDS DO. Pamela F. Kirby. (Boyds Mills. $16.95. ISBN 978-159078-6147)
WHAT IS THIS? Antje Damm. (Frances Lincoln /PGW. dist.. $15.95. ISBN 978-1845078997)
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HUMPTY: FROM THE FILES OF A HARD-BOILED DETECTIVE. Jeanie Franz Ransom and Joe Dumpty. Illustrated by Stephen Axelsen. (Charlesbridge. $15.95. ISBN 978-1580891097)
WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?: HOW ALICE ROOSEVELT BROKE THE RULES, CHARMED THE WORLD, AND DROVE HER FATHER TEDDY CRAZY. Barbara Kerley. Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. (Scholastic.
WHAT WOULD EMMA DO? Eileen Cook. Simon Pulse. paperback, $7.99. ISBN 978-1416974321)
WHEN ROYALS WORE RUFFLES: A FUNNY & FASHIONABLE ALPHABET! Chesley McLaren and Pamela Jaber. Illustrated by McLaren. (Schwartz & Wade. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375851667)
THE WHITE WITCH. Janet Graber. (Roaring Brook. $17.95. ISBN 978-159643373)
WHITEFOOT: A STORY FROM THE CENTER OF THE WORLD. Wendell Berry. Illustrated by Davis Te Selle. (Counterpoint. $22. ISBN 978-1582434322)
WHY IS SNOT GREEN? AND OTHER EXTREMELY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS (AND ANSWERS). Glenn Murphy. (Flash Point. $9.95. ISBN 978-1596435001)
WILD GIRL. Patricia Reilly Giff. (Wendy Lamb/Random House. $15.99. ISBN 978-0375838903)
WILD THINGS. Clay Carmichael. (Front Street/ dist. by Boyds Mills. $18.95. ISBN 978-1590786277)
WILLOUGHBY AND THE LION. Greg Foley. (HarperCollins/Bowen. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061547508)
WILSON AND MISS LOVELY: A BACK-TO-SCHOOL MYSTERY. John Stadler. (Random/Corey. $9.99. ISBN 978-037584478-2)
WINK: THE NINJA WHO WANTED TO BE NOTICED. J. C. Phillipps. (Viking. $15.99. ISBN 978-0670010929)
WINTER WOOD (TOUCHSTONE TRILOGY 03). Steve Augarde. (David Fickling/Random House. $17.99. ISBN 978-0385750749)
WOMBAT WALKABOUT. Carol Diggory Shields. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. (Dutton. $16.99. ISBN 978-0525478652)
WONDERLAND. Tommy Kovac. Illustrated by Sonny Liew. (Disney. $19.99. ISBN 978-1423104513)
THE YANKEE AT THE SEDER. Elka Weber. Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. (Tricycle. $16.99. ISBN 978-1582462561)
THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY. Kathryn Fitzmaurice . (Harper. $16.99. ISBN 978-006124971)
YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS. Patrick
O’Brien. Illustrated by Patrick O’Brien. (Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399246340)
THE YOUNG INFERNO. John Agard. Illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura. (Frances Lincoln. $19.95. ISBN 978-1845077693)
YOUNG SAMURAI: THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR. Chris Bradford. (Disney-Hyperion. $16.99. ISBN 978-1423118718)
YUM YUM! WHAT FUN! Mara Bergman. Illustrated by Nick Maland. (Greenwillow. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061688607)
ZENITH. Julie Bertagna. (Walker. $16.99. ISBN 978-0802798039)
ZERO IS THE LEAVES ON THE TREE. Betsy Franco. Illustrated by Shino Arihara. (Tricycle. $15.99. ISBN 978-1582462496)
** 2 STARS **
11 BIRTHDAYS. Wendy Mass. (Scholastic. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545052399)
14 COWS FOR AMERICA. Carmen Agra, with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. (Peachtree. $17.95. ISBN 978-1561454907)
1968. Michael T. Kaufman. (Roaring Brook/Flash Point. $22.95. ISBN 978-1596434288)
ADVENTURES IN CARTOONING: HOW TO TURN YOUR DOODLES INTO COMICS. James Sturm and Andrew Arnold et al. (Roaring Brook/First Second. $12.95. ISBN 978-1596433694)
AFRICAN ACROSTICS: A WORD IN EDGEWAYS. Poems by Avis Harley. Illustrated with photos by Deborah Noyes. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0763636210)
AFTER THE MOMENT. Garret Freymann-Weyr. (Houghton. $16. ISBN 978-0618605729)
ALL GOD’S CRITTERS. Bill Staines. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. (Simon & Schuster. $16.99. ISBN 978-0689869594)
ALL IN A DAY. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Nikki McClure. (Abrams. $17.95. ISBN 978-0810983212)
ALL OF BABY, NOSE TO TOES. Victoria Adler. Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata. (Dial. $14.99. ISBN 978-0803732179)
ALONG FOR THE RIDE. Sarah Dessen. (Viking. $19.99. ISBN 978-0670011940)
ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL. Nora Raleigh Baskin. (Simon & Schuster. $15.99. 978-1416963783)
BILLY AND MILLY, SHORT AND SILLY. Eve B. Feldman. Illustrated by Tuesday Mourning. (Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399246517)
BLOODLINE. Katy Moran. (Candlewick. $16.99. ISBN 978-0763640835)
A BOOK. Mordicai Gerstein. (Roaring Brook. $16.95. ISBN 978-1596432512)
BRING ME SOME APPLES AND I’LL MAKE YOU A PIE: A STORY ABOUT EDNA LEWIS. Robbin Gourley. (Clarion. $16. ISBN 978-0618158362)
BROKEN SOUP. Jenny Valentine. (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0060850715)
CARS ON MARS: ROVING THE RED PLANET. Alexandra Siy. (Charlesbridge. $18.95. ISBN 978-1570914621)
A CHAIR FOR ALWAYS. Vera B. Williams (Greenwillow. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061722790)
CHASING LINCOLN’S KILLER: THE SEARCH FOR JOHN WILKES BOOTH. James L. Swanson. (Scholastic Press, $16.99. ISBN 978-0439903547)
CHILDREN OF WAR: VOICES OF IRAQI REFUGEES. Deborah Ellis. (Groundwood. $15.95. ISBN 978-0888999078)
CITY I LOVE. Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. (Abrams. $16.95. ISBN 978-0810983274)
THE COLOR OF EARTH. Kim Dong Hwa, trans. from the Korean by Lauren Na. (Roaring Brook/First Second. ISBN 978-1596434585)
THE CUCKOO’S HAIKU AND OTHER BIRDING POEMS. Michael J. Rosen. Illustrated by Stan Fellows. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0763630492)
DENIED, DETAINED, DEPORTED: STORIES FROM THE DARK SIDE OF AMERICAN IMMIGRATION. Ann Bausum. (National Geographic. $21.95. ISBN 978-1426303326)
THE DEVIL’S PAINTBOX. Victoria McKernan. (Knopf. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375837500)
DOG AND BEAR: TWO’S COMPANY. Laura Vaccaro Seeger. (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. $12.95. ISBN 978-1596432734)
DOPE SICK. Walter Dean Myers. (HarperTeen/Amistad. $16.99. ISBN 978-0061214776)
DUCK! RABBIT! Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. (Chronicle. $16.99. ISBN 978-0811868655)
EVERYTHING FOR A DOG. Ann M. Martin. (Feiwel and Friends. $16.99. ISBN 978-0312386511)
THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH. Carrie Ryan. (Delacorte. $16.99. ISBN 978-0385736817)
THE FROG SCIENTIST. Pamela S. Turner. Illustrated with photos by Andy Comins. (Houghton. $18. ISBN 978-0618717163)
GENTLEMEN. Michael Northrop. (Scholastic Press. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545097499)
GHOSTS OF WAR: MY TOUR OF DUTY. Ryan Smithson. (HarperTeen/Collins. $16.99. ISBN 978-006166468-7)
GOING BOVINE. Libba Bray. (Delacorte. $17.99. ISBN 978-0385733977)
THE GREAT AND ONLY BARNUM: THE TREMENDOUS, STUPENDOUS LIFE OF SHOWMAN P. T. BARNUM. Candace Fleming. Illustrated by Ray Fenwick. (Random House/Schwartz & Wade. $18.99. ISBN 978-0375841972)
HANNAH’S WINTER. Kierin Meehan. (Kane/Miller. $15.95. ISBN 978-1933605982)
HEART OF A SHEPHERD. Rosanne Parry. (Random House, $15.99. ISBN 978-0375848025)
HEARTSINGER. Karlijn Stoffels, trans. from the Dutch by Laura Watkinson. (Scholastic/Levine. $16.99. ISBN 978-0545069298)
HELLO BABY! Mem Fox. Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. (S&S/Beach Lane. $15.99. ISBN 978-1416985136)
HIGHWAY ROBBERY. Kate Thompson. Illustrated by Johnny Duddle and Robert Dress. (Greenwillow. $15.99. ISBN 978-0061730344)
HOME ON THE RANGE: JOHN A. LOMAX AND HIS COWBOY SONGS. Deborah Hopkinson. Illustrated by S.D. Schindler. (Putnam. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399239960)
HONK, HONK, GOOSE! CANADA GEESE START A FAMILY. April Pulley Sayre. Illustrated by Huy Voun Lee. (Holt. $16.95. 978-0805071030)
JUMPED. Rita Williams-Garcia. (HarperTeen/Amistad. $16.99. ISBN 978-0060760915)
KALEIDOSCOPE EYES. Jen Bryant. (Knopf. $15.99. ISBN 978-0375840487)
KING OF THE SCREWUPS. K.L. Going. (Harcourt. $17. ISBN 978-0152062583)
THE LAST OLYMPIAN. Rick Riordan. (Hyperion. $17.99. ISBN 978-1423101475)
THE LION’S SHARE: A TALE OF HALVING CAKE AND EATING IT, TOO. Matthew McElligott. (Walker. $16.99. ISBN 978-0802797681)
LISTEN TO THE WIND: THE STORY OF DR. GREG & THREE CUPS OF TEA. Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-0803730588)
LUCY LONG AGO: UNCOVERING THE MYSTERY OF WHERE WE CAME FROM. Catherine Thimmesh. (Houghton. $18. ISBN 978-0547051994.
MACHINES GO TO WORK. William Low. (Holt. $14.95. ISBN 978-0805087598)
THE MAN WHO LIVED IN A HOLLOW TREE. Anne Shelby. Illustrated by Cor Hazelaar. (Atheneum. $17.99. ISBN 978-0689861697)
MOON RABBIT. Natalie Russell. (Viking. $16.99. ISBN 978-0670011704)
MY UNCLE EMILY. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. (Philomel. $17.99. ISBN 978-0399240058)
NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED. Mo Willems. (Hyperion. $16.99. ISBN 978-1423114376)
NEIL ARMSTRONG IS MY UNCLE AND OTHER LIES MUSCLE MAN MCGINTY TOLD ME. Nan Marino. (Roaring Brook. $16.95. ISBN 978-1596434998)
NIC BISHOP BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. Nic Bishop. (Scholastic. $17.99. ISBN 978-0439877572)
ONCE UPON A TWICE. Denise Doyen. Illustrated by Barry Moser. (Random. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375856129)
ONE BEETLE TOO MANY: THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF CHARLES DARWIN. Kathryn Lasky. Illustrated by Matthew Trueman. (Candlewick. $17.99. ISBN 978-0763614362)
THE ORANGE HOUSES. Paul Griffin. (Dial. $16.99. ISBN 978-0803733466)
OUR ABE LINCOLN. Jim Aylesworth. Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. (Scholastic. $16.99. ISBN 978-0439925488)
OUR CHILDREN CAN SOAR: A CELEBRATION OF ROSA, BARACK, AND THE PIONEERS OF CHANGE. Michelle Cook. Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera, R. Gregory Christie, Bryan Collier et al. (Bloomsbury. $16.99. ISBN 978-1599904184)
PEACE, LOCOMOTION. Jacqueline Woodson. (Putnam. $15.99. ISBN 978-039924655)
PIPPO THE FOOL. Tracey E. Fern. Illustrated by Pau Estrada. (Charlesbridge. $15.95. ISBN 978-1570916557)
PRINCESS HYACINTH: THE SURPRISING TALE OF A GIRL WHO FLOATED, by Florence Parry Heide. Illustrated by Lane Smith. (Random House/Schwartz & Wade. $17.99. ISBN 978-0375937538)
RATTLE AND RAP. Susan Steggall. (Frances Lincoln (PGW, dist). $15.95. ISBN 978-1845077037)
RIOT. Walter Dean Myers. (Egmont USA. $16.99. ISBN 978-1606840009)
THE SECRET SCIENCE ALLIANCE AND THE COPYCAT CROOK. Eleanor Davis. (Bloomsbury. $18.99. hardcover ISBN 978-1599901428; paperback, $10.99. 978-1599903965)
SNEAKY WEASEL. Hannah Shaw. (Knopf. $15.99. ISBN 978-0375856259)
THE STORM IN THE BARN. Matt Phelan. (Candlewick. $24.99. ISBN 978-0763636180)
THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY. Jenny Han. (Simon & Schuster. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416968238)
SURFACE TENSION: A NOVEL IN FOUR SUMMERS. Brent Runyon. (Knopf. $16.99. ISBN 978-0375844461)
SURPRISE SOUP. Mary Ann Rodman. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. (Viking. $15.99. ISBN 978-0670062744)
SYLVIE AND THE SONGMAN. Tim Binding. Illustrated by Angela Barrett. (Random House/David Fickling. $15.99. ISBN 978-0385751575)
TALES OF THE MADMAN UNDERGROUND: AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE 1973. John Barnes. (Viking. $18.99. ISBN 978-0670060818)
THIS FULL HOUSE. Virginia Euwer Wolff. (HarperTeen/Bowen. $17.99. ISBN 978-0061583049)
TRAVELING THE FREEDOM ROAD: FROM SLAVERY AND THE CIVIL WAR THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION. Linda Barrett Osborne (Abrams. $24.95. ISBN 978-0810983380)
A VOICE OF HER OWN: BECOMING EMILY DICKINSON. Barbara Dana. (HarperTeen. $16.99. ISBN 978-0060287047)
WHEN STELLA WAS VERY, VERY SMALL. Marie-Louise Gay. (Groundwood. $16.95. ISBN 978-0888999061)
WHEN THE WHISTLE BLOWS. Fran Cannon Slayton. (Philomel. $16.99. ISBN 978-0399251894)
WHY I FIGHT. J. Adams Oaks. (Atheneum. $16.99. ISBN 978-1416911777)
YUMMY: EIGHT FAVORITE FAIRY TALES. Lucy Cousins. (Candlewick. $18.99. ISBN 978-076364474)
Please post the once and twice starry books, too! Great list. Will be tweeting it right now!
Elizabeth, this is wonderful! Thanks so much for going to all this work–I know it will benefit many!
What a great idea – thanks for doing this, E!
Great list. Thanks for doing this!
I, too, have always wanted that list, so thanks so much for doing it!
We keep a list going for starred titles for use in our library system. I also keep my own list at home, but I key it to what books I have and what I’ve read, so that I can use it for workshops, etc. It isn’t very shareable. Do you plan to update this on a regular basis?
I do plan to update, Ellen. In fact, I just checked the 8/10 PW starred reviews for PW. None of them kicked any books into the 3, 4, or 5 category. I’m thinking in October and late November, I’ll post updates.
Thank you so much! I read the reviews, but don’t always remember the titles – shame on me!
Yes, please post the one and two stars! Many good books there. Thank you for doing this.
Eliabeth, Thanks for performing a great service. As the author of a Kirkus starred book (Bill Pennant, Babe Ruth, and Me) that has only garnered 2 reviews, I would love for you to post the extended list. Thanks again.
Oh, you heroine! I love your star list (hmm, that keeps coming out “star lust” on my iPhone spell corrector LOL. Not a bad alternate title, methinks.) I have used Jonathan’s Star List for ages and value it beyond measure. But your addition of picture books and, especially, jacket art deserves 5 stars!
My librarian-husband also commented that PW and Horn Book review very few books and that SLJ Reviews are often later than others, so an expanded and updated list would be of particular use to him. Thanks again!
Is highlighting the few rare 5 and 4 star books really going to bring good books that might slip past a bookseller’s notice to light? It seems to me that it’s giving yet more attention to books that are already getting quite a bit of play. And those books that have garnered a mere TWO or ONE aren’t even mentioned.
If you read the post, you’ll see that I offered to post the one- and two-star books if readers were interested. There are too many titles to put all in one place, and I saved the lower stars to give reviews time to catch up. The twos are ready to go except for the cover art. I don’t think one post dedicated to rounding up the starcatchers will obliterate the effect of other posts highlighting quieter books. It’s an extremely helpful resource for booksellers and librarians. As I also said in my post, there are MANY books that garner no stars and are as adored as (sometimes more than) the starred books. Indie booksellers are particularly good at finding and promoting those gems. That doesn’t mean we aren’t interested in critically acclaimed titles.
Did read the post. Should not have said they weren’t mentioned. Just that they’re not listed nor are their covers featured. I stand by my view that this listing contributes to the situation where a few titles get lots and lots and lots of attention and others next to (and sometimes) none. I’m sure these books are very worthy. But stars don’t happen in a vacuum. To quote Joni Mitchell, there’s a star-maker machinery at work in the kid-lit world.
A few more thoughts, Contrarian, and an appreciation for yours. Dialogue is good. : ) So much decision-making and thought go into every blog post. The issue of which cover art to display was careful; I only showed jackets in the 4- and 5-star categories because for those, I could display all the winners instead of having to choose between them. Again, as I said, the 1- and 2-star lists are being prepared for posting if people asked, and since they have, they will be posted. However, as with the 3-star titles, there are way too many to include all of the book jackets, so there will be no art for them. In all honesty, in addition to the necessity for breaking up the post into two segments for length considerations, I was concerned about including the single stars because my own book is among them, and I was concerned about how that would come across (a legitimate concern, given the other conversation going on today in another thread). So it seems there is no winning for losing. Starred reviews, awards, etc., are all subjective, of course, but I do believe the people who give them are doing so in good faith, doing their best to assess works according to the critical criteria laid out for them. Teachers, booksellers and librarians worth their salt consider and read as many of the season’s books as they can, and buy based on what they love and what they think their kids/customers/patrons will love. Some starred-review books never get a second glance from kids, and most unstarred books are definitely worth reading, if not stellar contributions to children’s literature, but that’s another post for another day. My point is that this is just one blog post, one helpful resource among *many* for people in the field. It’s valuable even if it just raises questions, as with you, about what is starred or not.
From a bookseller’s point of view, the books get ordered from publishers WAY before anyone sees any reviews, stars or no stars. We all miss things the first time around – no one can predict the winners with 100% accuracy. So lists like this are super helpful as a reminder for what we might have skipped the first time around.
I, too, received two stars for CITY I LOVE (Abrams) — PW and SLJ — so it’s a plea for all one-two stars, too! Thank you so much for this list. Lee Bennett Hopkins
PS: And a one-starred review for SKY MAGIC (Dutton) in THE HORN BOOK. Lee Benentt Hopkins
Thank you for taking the time Elizabeth! I loved your comment “most librarians worth their salt”… As a publisher, I have been told several times by librarians that they “ONLY really consider purchasing books that have been given starred reviews by such and such magazine”…. to which I WISH I could reply…. “then why don’t we hire a trained monkey to do your job instead?” :o)
Phewey! Held my breath and scrolled down the lists and was sooo relieved my book wasn’t on any of them. ;-p Wendy Wahman “Don’t Lick the Dog,” Henry Holt BFYR
There should be one more title on the Four Star list! Bad News for Outlaws, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, received stars from Horn Book, SLJ, PW, and Kirkus. Thanks for the list, Elizabeth! I appreciate seeing the round-up.
Hi, Elizabeth. There’s a more updated version of the starred books here: publishersweekly.com/blog/660000266.html#1010050501
Thanks for pointing me to the updated, list, Elizabeth! Sorry for the confusion.