Picture Books can be funny, touching, beautiful, quirky, or just plain-ol' breathtaking. Nominate your favorite 2006 picture book today, with one sentence explaining why this title is so very special. We're looking for books that wow the kids, books they want to read just one more time.
Keep in mind there's a Poetry category, so no collections of verse for this category. We want picture books with great writing and fabulous illustrations. Nominate away.
--Kelly Herold, Big A little a
Leave your nomination for this category in the comments below. Nominations close Nov. 20.
An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long (Chronicle, 2006).
Posted by: Cynthia Leitich Smith of Cynsations | October 18, 2006 at 01:59 PM
Duck and Goose by Tad Hills (January 24th, 2006)
Posted by: Little Willow | October 18, 2006 at 08:26 PM
Shadow: The Curious Morgan Horse
Posted by: Ellen Feld | October 19, 2006 at 05:42 AM
Shadow: The Curious Morgan Horse by Ellen F. Feld
Posted by: Ellen Feld | October 19, 2006 at 05:43 AM
BRINGING ASHA HOME by Uma Krishnaswami, Illustrated by Jamel Akib (Lee and Low, 2006)
Posted by: Pooja | October 19, 2006 at 07:25 AM
WHEN GIANTS COME TO PLAY by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2006)
This picture book is full of whimsy and wonder. Truly magical.
(It will be neat to see all the nominations! What a great way to build a reading list!)
Posted by: Page Mathis | October 19, 2006 at 07:51 AM
Granny Gert and the Bunion Brothers by Dotti Enderle, Illustrated by Joe Kulka (Pelican 2006).
A really funny book that everyone in the family will love.
Posted by: Nancy Cavanaugh | October 19, 2006 at 08:36 AM
"Fly, Little Bird" by Tina Burke: A wonderful, wordless picture book about friendship and learning to let go.
"Learning to Fly" by Sebastian Meschenmoser: A pint-sized tale about believing in yourself, and in the impossible.
"Half of an Elephant" by Gusti: A magical adventure about an elephant searching for his missing half.
"Singing Shijimi Clams" by Naomi Kojima: A classically illustrated tale about friendship, kindness and determination.
Posted by: Sondra LaBrie | October 19, 2006 at 10:02 AM
Sondra:
Just one book per category please :)
But, I have to add, after thinking about this category for a long, long time...
Learning to Fly, by Sebastian Meschenmoser is my top pick of the year too.
Posted by: Kelly | October 19, 2006 at 10:16 AM
Ceci Ann's Day of Why by Christopher Phillips, illustrated by Shino Arihara (Tricycle Press, Fall 2006).
Posted by: Hayley Gonnason | October 19, 2006 at 11:41 AM
I would like to nominate "Wolves" by Emily Gravett since my other favorite, "An Egg is Quiet" has already been suggested.
Posted by: Nixie Knox | October 19, 2006 at 12:40 PM
Since Sondra broke the one-nomination rule (naughty girl!), I'll pick "Learning to Fly" as my book to nominate. Why? Because it's so funny and so true, in a fictional kinda way.
Posted by: Anne | October 19, 2006 at 02:06 PM
I, too, love AN EGG IS QUIET--but it is classified as nonfiction. Should it be nominated in the nonfiction picture book category?
Posted by: Elaine Magliaro | October 19, 2006 at 03:28 PM
I would like to nominate Little Dog by Lisa Jahn-Clough. this book is based on herself and her dog. A heartwarming story of two being who find eachother in this big world.
Posted by: lisa | October 19, 2006 at 04:19 PM
Flotsam by David Wiesner
Posted by: holly | October 19, 2006 at 06:27 PM
sound of colors, by Jimmy liao
Posted by: grace | October 19, 2006 at 06:40 PM
I love Learning to Fly but the book that gets requested over and over and over and over again by our in-house picture book expert (an actual six year old!) is Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt. It's nutty, accessible, a tiny bit scary, funny graphically and the words just dance. Hurray for Scaredy Squirrel!
Posted by: Paul Acampora | October 19, 2006 at 08:53 PM
John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith
Posted by: Judy Freeman | October 20, 2006 at 08:31 AM
Beach by Elisha Cooper.
Posted by: Elizabeth Bird | October 20, 2006 at 09:40 AM
Paul Brett Johnson
On Top of Spaghetti
Posted by: Beverly Bixler | October 20, 2006 at 12:30 PM
I'm typically very law-abiding (honestly). I have to admit that I did not read the rules until AFTER breaking them.
Please accept my apologies.
Posted by: slabrie | October 20, 2006 at 12:48 PM
No problem, Sondra :)
Posted by: Kelly | October 20, 2006 at 01:19 PM
A Canadian entry: Augustine by Melanie Watt, about a penguin.
Posted by: Becky | October 20, 2006 at 07:50 PM
MOMMY? art by Maurice Sendak, paper engineering by Matthew Reinhart, scenario by Arthur Yorinks
Posted by: Mary | October 20, 2006 at 08:04 PM
Bats at the Beach, written and illustrated by Brian Lies
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | October 20, 2006 at 08:30 PM
The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers
by Caroline Arnold and John Sandford
FANTASTIC illustrations and fun story.
Posted by: AaronZenz | October 20, 2006 at 11:12 PM
Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex.
Posted by: | October 21, 2006 at 04:08 PM
I would like to nominate Sparks Fly High: The Legend of Dancing Point by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Leonid Gore.
Beautiful art and an engaging storytelling voice bring to life this carefully researched re-telling of a colonial American folktale.
Posted by: Christopher David | October 21, 2006 at 07:30 PM
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illus. Kevin Hawkes (Candlewick)
Posted by: Cynthia Lord | October 22, 2006 at 03:19 AM
WALK ON: A GUIDE FOR BABIES OF ALL AGES by Marla Frazee
Posted by: lin | October 22, 2006 at 05:55 AM
Nutmeg, by David Lucas
Posted by: Emily Jenkins | October 22, 2006 at 07:01 AM
"Carrot Soup" by John Segal.
A delicious, lovely book.
Posted by: Mathew Lake | October 22, 2006 at 07:13 AM
A shout out for Max's Words by Kate Banks. A great story about telling stories.
Posted by: Susan Moorhead | October 22, 2006 at 11:48 AM
For You Are a Kenyan Child by Kelly Cunnane
Posted by: Carrie K. | October 22, 2006 at 08:10 PM
The Flower Ball by Sigrid Laube
Posted by: Rachael | October 22, 2006 at 08:33 PM
Mine! Mine! Mine! By Shelly Becker :)
Posted by: Shelly | October 23, 2006 at 07:34 AM
I would like to nominate: GLITTER GIRL AND THE CRAZY CHEESE
by Frank Hollon, Mary Grace and Dusty Baker and illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba
Posted by: Candie Moonshower | October 23, 2006 at 11:00 AM
The True Story of Stellina, by Matteo Pericoli
Posted by: GraceAnne | October 23, 2006 at 12:48 PM
Probuditi! by Chris Van Allsburg
His new title won't disappoint!
Posted by: Jenny Williams | October 24, 2006 at 12:56 PM
Adele & Simon, by Barbara McClintock
Posted by: Alkelda the Gleeful | October 25, 2006 at 10:01 AM
I'd like to nominate HIPPO! NO, RHINO by Jeff Newman.
Posted by: Alvina | October 25, 2006 at 10:26 AM
The Adventures of Margaret Mouse, School Days
Children learn universal values about following rules in this exciting story featuring Margaret Mouse, a little mouse who is not pretty, but lives by the motto "Pretty is as Pretty does".
Posted by: Pat Arnold | October 25, 2006 at 10:56 AM
The Adventures of Margaret Mouse, The Picnic
Margaret is almost swept downstream in a sudden storm, only to be saved by a huge, black creature that scares the tiny mouse family. Children learn to judge by inside values, not on the outer shell in Book Two of this series.
Posted by: Pat Arnold | October 25, 2006 at 10:57 AM
The Quilt of Belonging: Stitching Together the Stories of a Nation by Janice Weaver (Maple Tree Press 1897066-50-3)
Posted by: | October 25, 2006 at 11:14 AM
Mom and Dad are Palindromes by Mark Shulman and Adam McCauley is about the most clever book I've seen in a long, long time. Somehow the author wove 101 palindromes into the text, and made a very funny story that is a word game unto itself. McCauley's kinetic art is a terrific addition to the word-oriented mayhem.
Posted by: Carla Mulroney | October 25, 2006 at 11:54 AM
The Prince's Bedtime
Written by Joanne Oppenheim, Illustrated by Miriam Latimer, Barefoot Books 2006
Posted by: Jeanne Nicholson | October 25, 2006 at 12:35 PM
Shelby
Written by Stacy A. Nyikos, illustrated by Shawn N. Sisneros, Stonehorse Publishing 2006.
Posted by: Rainer Kohrs | October 25, 2006 at 02:22 PM
Across the Alley by Richard Michelson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis.
This is a wonderful book about unexpected friendship and overcoming prejudice. Lewis' beautiful illustrations capture the lives of two boys separated by an alley and culture.
Posted by: Joe | October 25, 2006 at 02:39 PM
Caleb's Birthday Wish, by David Villanueva, published 2/2006 by A Better Be Write Publisher (www.abetterbewrite.com). The book is about a little boy in a wheelchair whose one wish is to fly! This is a lovely book with great illustrations and a story that gives parents and children with disabilities hope that anything is possible.
Posted by: Mystique Evans | October 25, 2006 at 03:17 PM
I'd like to nominate
Eric and the Enchanted Leaf: A Visit with Canis Lupis, ISBN 0-9663629-8-5, By Grace Enterprises, 2005, because this book combines science facts with a fantasy adventure. This is the best way young children learn. It is also a bilingual book (English and Spanish) so children can practice a second lauguage.
Posted by: Deborah K. Frontiera | October 25, 2006 at 04:24 PM