Top Picks of 2007

Grades K-2

Chester by Melanie Watt.
Kids Can Press (9781554531400)
The story is about a mouse, but Chester, the cat, keeps interfering.

The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice M. Harringon
Farrar (9780374312510)
She loves to chase chickens, but she leaves Miss Hen alone.

Dog and Bear by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press (9781596430532)
Two friends help each other, discover books, and consider new names.

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press (9781596432727)
How the first thing becomes the next in the order of things.

A Good Day by Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow (9780061140181)
A bad day turns positive for each of the characters

Ivan the Terrier by Peter Catalanotto
Simon & Schuster (9781416912479)
Ivan gets in the middle of every fairy tale.

Living Color by Steve Jenkins
Houghton (9780618708979)
A portrait of some of the most stunning and vividly colored animals on the planet.

17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill
Schwartz & Wade (9780375835964)
What seemed to be a good idea turns out otherwise.

What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas
Harcourt (9780152060510)
Here comes fat cat, and there could be trouble.

Wolf's Coming! by Joe Kukla
Carolrhoda (9781575059303)
Wolf is coming, and the other animals hide!

Grades 3-4

The Curious Adventures of the Abandoned Toys by Julian Fellowes
Holt (9780805075267)
Teamwork helps replaced toys comfort those in need.

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell
Holt 958080508150X)
Animals cause unexpected reactions in people.

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal by Paul Fleischman
Holt (978080507953X)
Versions of Cinderella show variety / constants of cultures.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Scholastic (9780439813785)
Hugo has a secret that is threatened when he meets a toyseller and his goddaughter.

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. Illustrated by Christopher Myers
Hyperion (9781423103721)
The poem is a modern tale through sports imagery .

Spiders by Nic Bishop
Scholastic (9780439877565)
There are more than 35,000 spiders, and they live almost everywhere!

The Wall by Peter Sis
Farrar (9780374347017)
The illustrator describes his life behind the Iron Curtain.

Grades 5-8

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Bloomsbury ((9781599900518)
The princess' maid stays with her no matter what.

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic (9780439023443)
Elijah uses wits and skills to make things right.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! by Laura Amy Schlitz
Holt (9780763615789)
Short monologues of 13th century characters.

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor
Farrar (9780374334970)
Georgiana plans to steal a dog to get the reward money.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart
Little Brown (9780316057776)
What is really going on at the elite school?

Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
Roaring Brook Press (9781596431083)
When Robot goes for a swim, the results are disastrous.

The Seems: The Glitch in Sleep by John Hume and Michael Wexler
Bloomsbury (9781599901299)
Becker must help people fall asleep again.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
Clarion (9780618724834)
Holling discusses Shakespeare with Mrs. Baker.