As Franki reminded us all last week, predicting the Newbery was the reason this blog was born 4 years ago.
We started by trying to predict the winner.
That devolved to having read the winner.
Then we decided that it was good enough to have the winner in our Amazon shopping cart.
Last year, Franki and a few other people around here had read The Graveyard Book, even though it wasn't necessarily their pick for the winner.
This year, Bill and Karen at Literate Lives are putting us to shame with their series of Newbery posts.
Here are my favorite books of 2009. I'd be happy if any of them won!
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Crossing Stones by Helen Frost
The Sweethearts of Rhythm by Marilyn Nelson
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg
Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graf
The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan (I'm glad it already won a shiny sticker!)
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Mare's War by Tanita Davis
Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmes
Wild Things by Clay Carmichael
Last year was the first year I ventured into Caldecott territory, when I was cheering for River of Words from the moment I set eyes on it. Because of that one "honorable" pick, I'll give it a try again this year. Here are some of my favorite picture books for 2009:
The Lion and the Mouse, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
14 Cows for America, illustrated by Thomas Gonzales
All the World, illustrated by Marla Frazee
Day is Done, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Tsunami, illustrated by Ed Young
More for me to read. Yay! I love Day is Done.
ReplyDelete:) Thanks, Mary Lee!
ReplyDeleteSomeone at book club this past Sunday was talking about Crossing Stones---have to read that!
I like your Newbery list, I'm trying to narrow mine down. We agree on all but two of the Caldecotts and I can't disagree with Tsunami. I've not read Day is Done, how did I miss it?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the list! I missed Day is Done as well. One more book to find at the library. I checked out Claudette Colvin, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and Almost Astronauts to cover my Newbery bases. I think The Lion and the Mouse will bring Jerry Pinkney a well deserved Caldecott Medal.
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm going off to the library to look for these. I have not read ONE of these novels. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI can very happily The Graveyard Book was my pick for '09 and my favorite Gaiman book by far.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read Mare's War by Tanita Davis and Wild Things by Clay Carmichael.
Great lists. ;D
Last year, I was totally surprised when The Graveyard Book won, because for some reason it had escaped me that Gaiman in living in the U.S. now. lol.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with your assessment on the Lion and the Mouse for Caldecott this year though.
I'm dying to read When You Reach Me. For some reason, every time I go to the bookstore, the title escapes me. Have fun tomorrow at Cover-to-Cover. Wish I could be there!
ReplyDeleteStacy