This is Not My Hat
By: Jon Klassen
Medal Winner
Reviewed by: Deanna Knoll
Recommended age: ages 4-8
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a small fish snatches a hat from a large fish and then tries to get away with it. Kids will enjoy following the fish from page to page as it swims to its destination where it thinks it can hide! While the story is fun, it isn't particularly memorable.
Creepy Carrots
By: Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated by: Peter Brown
Honor
Reviewed by: Deanna Knoll
When I'm looking for books to share with children, first and foremost, they should be good, true, and beautiful. This one is none of those. This book creates fear where there shouldn't be any. I believe most children experience irrational fears, but this book almost embraces the idea of rationalizing the irrational rather than helping to dispel the fear of something that isn't there. I cannot recommend a story that brings fear rather than taking it away with knowledge.
Extra Yarn
By: Mac Barnett
Illustrated by: Jon Klassen
Honor
NOT REVIEWED
A young girl and her box of magical yarn transform a community in this stunning picture book. With spare, gently humorous illustrations and a palette that moves from black-and-white to a range of color, this modern fairy tale has the feel of a new classic.
From the publisher
Green
By: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Honor
Reviewed by: Deanna Knoll
Recommended age: ages 4-8
If you love green, this is the book for you! I've adored this author's books for a long time (One Boy, First the Egg, What If?) and am thrilled she won another honor for this one! The simple but important cutouts on each page bring this book to life and make you consider all the shades of color that adorn our world. Don't miss this one.
One Cool Friend
By: Toni Buzzeo
Illustrated by: David Small
Honor
Reviewed by: Deanna Knoll
Recommended age: ages 4-8
Reminiscent of Mr. Popper's Penguins, Elliot decides to adopt a penguin for he and his father's city apartment. What follows is a hilarious romp through life as one could imagine with a penguin living in your freezer. While it seems a bit far-fetched, many children will enjoy the silliness of this story.
Sleep Like a Tiger
By: Mary Logue
Illustrated by: Pamela Zagarenski
Honor
Reviewed by: Lara Lleverino
Recommended age: 6 - 12 years of age
The big draw for this Caldecott-winning book is the illustrations. The story cute story about a little girl who doesn't want to go to sleep at night is appropriate for much younger readers/listeners, but the illustrations beg to be studied, drowned in, mulled over, and inspected. Pamela Zagarenski's mixed-media illustrations are a feast for the eyes. Just when you think you have found every new texture and detail, a last glance will reveal something you missed. Older readers who can sustain attention won't want to put the book down. Younger readers will return over and over to see what they can find with each new perusal.
