MotherReader

It’s not like you haven’t seen the list of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books already, since I’m late on the uptake. But for my own records and general comfort level that I’m paying attention to such things, here they are with my little thoughts.

Along a Long Road
written and illustrated by Frank Viva (Little, Brown)
Yeah, I can see why this was chosen. Interesting art, though not one of my favorite books this year.

A Ball for Daisy
written and illustrated by Chris Raschka (Schwartz & Wade)
Generally I don’t love Raschka’s art, but I liked it here. The loose style of his work matches the playfulness of a puppy very nicely.

Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures
written by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Pamela Dalton (Chronicle)
Simply gorgeous!

Grandpa Green
written and illustrated by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook)
Clever, touching, and brilliant in concept and illustration.

Ice
written and illustrated by Arthur Geisert (Enchanted Lion)
Really? The book with the pigs? Okay, I guess.

I Want My Hat Back
written and illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick)
Still trying to get on board with the hype on this title. Also, while I like the illustrations I don’t think it falls into the best illustrations of the year.

Me… Jane
written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell (Little, Brown)
Honestly, my favorite parts of the illustrations are the old engravings used under the text. But I like the book and like McDonnell’s work, so I give it my seal of approval.

Migrant
written by Maxine Trottier, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Groundwood Books)
Don’t know this one.

A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis
written by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Dial)
Or this, but it is Kadir Nelson who is probably contractually obligated to be listed whenever best illustrator lists are made. And rightly so.

A New Year’s Reunion
written by Yu Li-Qiong, illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang (Candlewick)
Don’t know this one either, but it just came out a week ago, so I shouldn’t have to take the blame for that.

As I’ve been making my way through the Cybils-nominated picture books, I’ve come across some favorites that I would have liked to see on the list. Books like Blackout, by John Rocco, Blue Chicken, by Deborah Freeman, and Naamah and the Ark at Night. Since I don’t know the last three books anyway, in my head I’ll be replacing them with my selections.