Favorite Picture Book People Pick Favorite Picture Books Of 2009

Blog & website of children's book author Tara Lazar Favorite Picture Book People Pick Favorite Picture Books of  2009 Whoa, that’s a long title. But it’s accurate! I asked some of my favorite authors and illustrators to pick three stand-out picture books of 2009. It wasn’t an easy task. I know because I couldn’t decide myself! So I dumped the job on them, just like New Jersey got dumped with snow this weekend. Except they’re a lot warmer than I am, cuddled up with good books instead of buried beneath a foot of the white stuff. Check out their amazing selections and add a new book to your holiday wish list! Boni Ashburn Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas Beach Lane Books January 2009 A simple, hilarious introduction to rhyming that is not only adorable to look at, but also invites audience participation and is a perfect read-aloud. That’s right, perfect. You Never Heard Of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter and Andre Carrilho Schwartz & Wade February 2009 Striking illustrations coupled with a fantastic voiceâ€"this book makes you FEEL baseball. Jonah Winter is a picture-book biography geniusâ€"I had a hard time choosing between this one and Gertrude Is Gertrude Is Gertrude Is Gertrude (which has an equally excellent voice!). Egg Drop by Mini Grey Knopf Books for Young Readers July 2009 Excellent humor of the dark, dry and deadpan sort, coupled with Grey’s gorgeous art. This was impossibly hard! Three is too just too few. My “honor books” would be A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis, Monkey With A Toolbelt And The Noisy Problem by Chris Monroe and Thunder Boomer! by Shutta Crum and Carol Thompson. Jannie Ho Around the World with Mouk by Marc Boutavant Chronicle Books November 2009 Last year when I was in France, all I could think about was getting my hands on this book (which was originally published in French), but only to find out later that Chronicle books were publishing it in the US this year. Marc Boutavant is one of my favorite illustrators; I’ve read his style described as “the modern day of Richard Scarry,” and I agree! With so many little details to look over, there is always something new to discover each time I open it. Big Rabbit’s Bad Mood by Ramona Badescu and Delphine Durand Chronicle Books March 2009 Another one from Chronicle! I can’t resist Delphine Durand’s illustrationsâ€"so many funny little details to look at. I own many of her books, and am obviously a fan…(even wrote her a fan email!) Even though this story is about a grumpy rabbit, one can’t help but smile when looking at her silly characters. The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers HarperCollins Children’s Books April 2009 I’m a great admirer of those who write AND illustrate their books. Oliver Jeffers’ illustrations are super cozy and serene, I want to live in that forest with the animals! Thumbs up to this quirky, winter mystery story. Jacqui Robbins A Book by Mordecai Gerstein Roaring Brook Press April 2009 Kirkus called it “Metafiction for the picture-book set.” A young girl who lives in the book with her family struggles to find her story, trying on different genres and marveling at the giant mushy faces (that’s us) looking in on her. It’s funny, it’s smart, and it is truly unique. Plus, we read it five hundred times in the first month we had it and I never tired of it. Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle March 2009 I was smitten with this book from the start. The concept is simple: is it a duck or a rabbit? Two voices argue. Giggling ensues. As I blogged in July, we get extra giggling in our house because my preschool son does not have the cognitive ability to see it both ways and so he thinks the point of the book is that some poor dope thinks that bunny’s a duck. Okay, I would be lying if I didn’t pick Two of a Kind, by, um, me (and Matt Phelan). Atheneum July 2009 I’d like to be cool enough to pretend I didn’t dance like a four year-old fairy girl whenever I turn to the page with my name on it. But I’m not. And I do. More than that, though, I still love the story and the way it makes kids nod in recognition. Patricia Storms It’s really hard to pick just three books! Being a Canadian, you might wonder if my choices are Canuck books. Yup, they are…and they are all very unique and engaging. The Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid Scholastic October 2009 Barbara Reid is a treasured Canadian talent who once again creates a visual delight with her plasticine illustrations. Reid creates a delightful story about the joys of creating snowmen and snow forts in the perfect snow of a winter day. The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen and Irene Luxbacher Kids Can Press March 2009 Andrew Larsen’s The Imaginary Garden is a beautiful story about the special bond between a grandchild and grandparent, and the power of the creative imagination. Luxbacher’s illustrations are magical and bursting with colour. The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear by David Bruins and Hilary Leung Kids Can Press September 2009 And finally, The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear is charming and fun story about friendship, and celebrating the differences in others. Hilary Leung’s illustrations are bright and utterly adorable! Michael Sussman Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Scott Magoon Hyperion April 2009 Modesty prevents me from mentioning Otto Grows Down (darn, I mentioned it!) But I also loved Spoon, whichâ€"like Ottoâ€"was illustrated by the supremely talented and charming Scott Magoon. I’m always amazed at Scott’s versatility, and once again he has employed the perfect style for this sweet and quirky story. I also admire Amy, since I’ve tried unsuccessfully for years to come up with a picture book about an inanimate object. Not an easy task, and she makes it look simple. Starring Lorenzo, and Einstein Too by Mark Karlin and Sandy Nichols Dial April 2009 Mark, who is the author/illustrator of many fine picture books, including Mendel’s Ladder and Music Over Manhattan, has produced an endearing story which celebrates the importance of family and the power of the imagination. The cool, retro illustrations are superb. Finn Throws a Fit! by David Eliot and Timothy Basil Ering Candlewick August 2009 Finally, I’m wild about David Eliot’s Finn Throws a Fit! This book is hilarious, and it’s a model for writers striving to tell a compelling story in the fewest words possible. Timothy Basil Ering’s artwork is astounding. I don’t know of a more creative illustrator working today. So what were your favorite picture books of 2009? Please leave a comment!