Best Books of 2010 according to me :)
First a few statistics (as of December 29):
Books read in 2010: 252
Adult books read: 24
YA books read in 2010: 75
Juvenile books read: 147
I don’t keep track of picture books/ easy readers… but it’s a goal for next year. Just so I have the number 🙂
Best Book Published in 2010 (Adults)
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson
Best Book Published in 2010 (Young Adults)
Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
Best Book Published in 2010 (Kids)
On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells
Best Book Published in 2010 (Beginning Readers)
Can I Play Too? By Mo Willems
Best Book Published in 2010 (Picture Books)
Milo Armadillo by Jan Fearnly
Best Nonfiction
Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox
Best Graphic Novel
The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger
Best Re-read
The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
Top 5 Adult Books
1. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Steig Larsson
4. Shades of Gray by Jasper Fforde
5. Ape House by Sara Gruen
Top 5 Graphic Novels
1. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger
2. Binky to the Rescue by Ashley Spires
3. Jellaby by Karen Soo
4. Owly Volume 1 by Andy Runton
5. Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Top 5 YA Books
1. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
2. The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
3. My Boyfriend’s Dogs by Dandi Daley Mackall
4. Girl in the Arena by Lisa Haines
5. Breathless by Jessica Warman
Top 5 Kids Books
1. The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi
2. Countdown by Deborah Wiles
3. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
4. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
5. Keeper by Kathi Appelt
Top 5 Beginning Readers
I didn’t read very many good ones.
1. I am Going! By Mo Willems
Top 5 Picture Books
1. Ernest the Moose Who Doesn’t Fit by Catherine Rayner
2. Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
3. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead
4. Knuffle Bunny Free 2010 by Mo Willems
5. Swim! Swim! By Lerch
Top 5 Nonfiction
1. Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams
2. Simeon’s Story by Simeon Wright
3. Kakapo Rescue by Sy Montgomery
4. Bulu: African Wonder Dog by Dick Houston
5. Poop Happened by Sarah Albee
Top 5 Rereads
1. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
2. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
3. Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
#1: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963)
#2: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (1947)
#3: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1979)
#4: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1962)
#5: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (2003)
#6: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (1941)
#7: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (1955)
#8: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (1939)
#9: Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag (1928)
#10: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems (2004)
#11: The Story of Ferdinand by Monroe Leaf, ill. Robert Lawson (1936)
#12: Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann (1994)
#13: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (1948)
#14: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, ill. Lane Smith(1989)
#15: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (1996)
#16: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen (1987)
#17: Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (1947)
#18: In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (1970)
#19: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (1982)
#20: George and Martha by James Marshall (1972)
#21: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer (1999)
#22: The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone, ill. by Mike Smollin (1971)
#23: Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban (1964)
#24: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, ill. Lois Ehlert (1989)
#25: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (1942)
#26: Corduroy by Donald Freeman (1976)
#27: The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (1902)
#28: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, ill. Ray Cruz(1972)
#29: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig (1969)
#30: Brown, Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? by Bill Martin Jr., ill. Eric Carle (1967)
#31: No, David by David Shannon (1998)
#32: Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, ill. by Betsy Lewin (2000)
#33: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ron Barrett (1978)
#34: Olivia by Ian Falconer (2000)
#35: Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, ill. Blair Lent (1968)
#36: Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, ill. Lane Smith (1992)
#37: Eloise by Kay Thompson, ill. Hilary Knight (1955)
#38: Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, ill. by Margaret Bloy Graham (1956)
#39: The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood (1984)
#40: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton (1939)
#41: The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Stephen Gammell (1985)
#42: Curious George by H.A. Rey (1941)
#43: Tuesday by David Wiesner (1991)
#44: Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola (1975)
#45: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1985)
#46: Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt (2006)
#47: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff (1985)
#48: The Big Orange Splot, by Daniel Pinkwater (1977)
#49: King Bidgood is in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood, ill. Don Wood (1985)
#50: Black and White by David Macaulay (1990)
#51: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (1981)
#52: Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard, ill. James Marshall (1977)
#53: The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (1978)
#54: The Three Pigs by David Wiesner (2001)
#55: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, ill. George & Doris Hauman (1961)
#56: Frederick by Leo Lionni (1967)
#57: Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, ill. Harry Bliss (2003)
#58: Flotsam by David Wiesner (2006)
#59: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears (1975) by Verna Aardema, ill.Leo and Diane Dillon (1975)
#60: Chicken Soup With Rice: A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak (1962)
#61: Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (2005)
#62: The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack (1933)
#63: Traction Man is Here!, by Mini Grey (2005)
#64: “I Can’t,” Said the Ant: A Second Book of Nonsense by Polly Cameron (1961)
#65: Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner (2003)
#66: Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (1995)
#67: Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni (1959)
#68: The Arrival by Shaun Tan (2006)
#69: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, ill. Helen Oxenbury (1989)
#70: Miss Fanshawe and the Great Dragon Adventure by Sue Scullard (1986)
#71: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, ill by Michael Martchenko (1980)
#72: The Little Brute Family by Russell Hoban, ill. Lilian Hoban (1966)
#73: The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant (1933) by Jean de Brunhoff
#74: Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown (1942)
#75: Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (1940)
#76: Zoom at Sea by Tim Wynne-Jones, ill. Eric Beddows (1983)
#77: The Library by Sarah Stewart, ill. David Small (1995)
#78: How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
#79: Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm, by Alice and Martin Provensen (1974)
#80: The Jolly Postman: or, Other People’s Letters by Janet Ahlberg (1986)
#81: Possum Magic by Mem Fox, ill. Julie Vivas (1983)
#82: Who Needs Donuts? by Mark Alan Stamaty (1973)
#83: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (1971)
#84: Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes (1988)
#85: Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats (1964)
#86: Yoko by Rosemary Wells (1998)
#87: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2004)
#88: Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (1993)
#89: A Hole is to Dig: A First Book of First Definitions by Ruth Krauss, ill. Maurice Sendak (1952)
#90: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis (2006)
#91: Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures With the Family Lazardo by William Joyce (1988)
#92: Swimmy by Leo Lionni (1963)
#93: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (1964)
#94: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood (1984)
#95: The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, ill. David Small (1997)
#96: The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle (1990)
#97: Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, ill. Judy Horacek (2004)
#98: Anatole by Eve Titus (1956)
#99: Little Pea by Amy Krause Rosenthal, ill. by Jen Corace (2005)
#100: Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley (1992)
#101: More, More, More Said the Baby: Three Love Stories by Vera B. Williams
76/100
bolded – the top 100 books of children’s lit that i’ve read.
93. Caddie Woodlawn – Brink (1935)
64. A Long Way from Chicago – Peck (1998)
28. A Little Princess – Burnett (1905)
20. Tuck Everlasting – Babbitt (1975)
17. Maniac Magee – Spinelli (1990)
4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – Lewis (1950)
powerpoint woes
i wish i could blog powerpoints!
busy as a bee
i’m ridiculously busy with these two jobs. plus i was dogsitting for five days… i have a zillion things to do and i wish updating blogs was higher on my priority list.
the rock and the river
Thirteen year-old Sam Childs has a lot to live up to in his house. His father, Roland Childs, is one of the most prominent faces of the Civil Rights movement in Chicago; and his brother, Steven (Stick), has just joined the Black Panthers, much to his father’s disappointment. Sam doesn’t know who to follow. At first, Sam goes to Panther breakfasts at his school because he is hungry, but after he witnesses the brutal police beating of his brother’s best friend Bucky, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated, Sam begins to wonder whether nonviolence is the path after all. The Rock and the River shows a side of the Civil Rights Movement that isn’t often portrayed in young adult literature – and the difficulty in Dr. King’s nonviolent belief in the necessity of turning the other cheek.
I don’t know how I missed this book when it was published, but somehow I did.*
It’s everything I wished One Crazy Summer could have been, as far as teaching about the Black Panthers goes. I like the story of Sam even better than Delphine’s, maybe because I like reading about boys more than girls, maybe because Sam’s has what seems to me to be a larger dilemma. Either way, The Rock and the River is one of the best Civil Rights novels I have read in a long time (and I should know, I did research for a paper that never ended up getting written in college for a class on the Nation of Islam about presence of non-nonviolent fiction for kids and young adults. There isn’t much. With the publication of this book, which won ALA’s 2008 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent award, and One Crazy Summer, (on many Mock Newbery 2011 lists so far, including my own) I hope that the Nation and the Panthers start to get more positive notice in youth fiction and literature. I didn’t know a thing about the Nation of Islam or the Black Panthers until I took a seminar on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. my junior year in college. We didn’t entirely focus on Dr. King – we learned about all the black Civil Rights leaders – violent and nonviolent. The class got me hooked on the Civil Rights Movement, and segued into the Nation of Islam class, which I TA’d. There’s a whole side of the CRM that isn’t taught in schools that kids should know about, and I hope some pick up this book and get started.
Alright, enough about my interest in the CRM and its “hidden” leaders. I’m going to go finish this book.
*This is actually the first book I’ve blogged about in a while that I haven’t even finished yet, but had to stop to write about it because it was so good.
my first booktalk
i finished the list!
https://emilybrary.wordpress.com/assorted-bibliographies/3rd-grade-book-talk/
to read list sort of … didn’t work out as planned
but i’ve still been reading a lot. I’ll try and get an update on here at some point soon.
let’s pause for a book review – WHITE CAT BY HOLLY BLACK
The Sharpe family is full of curse workers, con artists, mobsters, thieves, and generally tricksy people. Cassel is no different, except that out of all the members of his family, he is not a worker, and wants nothing to do with the mafia. He’s perfectly content attending Wallingford, a private school where he runs a betting circle and keeps to himself, his secrets buried under a handsome facade of normalcy. Cassel Sharpe has it made. But like all seemingly perfect, charming, handsome guys, Cassel has a secret. Three years ago, he stabbed his best friend Lila (his older brother’s girlfriend) to death.
every time a book is read it is something different 
