2008 Nominations
Fiction Picture Books
A good picture book is a pleasing merger of text and artwork. A great picture book is a celebration of story and illustration, with lasting appeal for kids and/or adults. The best picture books completely excel in art, story, kid-friendliness, and adult appeal.
A Cybils-winning picture book adds that special "It Factor." In message, in world-view, in connection, in humor, in reach, a book with "It Factor" rises to a higher level. These are the picture books we bring home to show our seventh-grade daughter. These are the titles that we recommend repeatedly to everyone who will listen. These are the ones we buy even if we have no preschool children, and the ones we pull out to read again and again. And at the end of the Cybils judging, these are the books that we hope to share with you.
--Pam Coughlan, organizer
Please leave a nomination -- including author and title -- in the comments below. One nomination per person, per category, please. Avoid duplicate nominations--it only takes ONE nomination to add a book to the list.
I nominate A VISITOR FOR BEAR by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady Macdonald Denton. This one is so, so many things that a picture book should be -- and so perfectly suited for kids and adults to read together (especially adults who can be a little grumpy, like bear at times!)
Posted by: Kate | October 01, 2008 at 04:17 AM
forever young, text by Bob Dylan
illustrated by Paul Rogers
Atheneum Books for Young Readers,
Simon & Schuster
Posted by: Julia McCready | October 01, 2008 at 04:52 AM
Not a Stick, by Antoinette Portis
Posted by: Melissa | October 01, 2008 at 05:06 AM
Where's My Mummy? by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by John Manders
Candlewick Press
Posted by: JoAnn Early Macken | October 01, 2008 at 05:41 AM
Metal Man by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Paul Hoppe
Posted by: EM | October 01, 2008 at 06:00 AM
In a Blue Room, Jim Averbeck
Posted by: Charlotte | October 01, 2008 at 06:13 AM
Wave by Suzy Lee
Posted by: Mindy | October 01, 2008 at 06:18 AM
Traction Man meets Turbodog by Mini Grey
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | October 01, 2008 at 06:30 AM
Big Chickens Fly the Coop by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Henry Cole
Posted by: Jennifer | October 01, 2008 at 06:49 AM
Pilot Pups by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Dan Andreasen (Simon & Schuster, 2008).
Posted by: Cynthia Leitich Smith | October 01, 2008 at 06:57 AM
Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty
Posted by: Katie | October 01, 2008 at 07:39 AM
I nominate Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty
Posted by: Katie | October 01, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Oops. It posted twice. Sorry about that.
Posted by: Katie | October 01, 2008 at 07:47 AM
The Boy Who Wouldn't Share by Mike Reiss and illustrated by David Catrow
Posted by: Jen | October 01, 2008 at 07:48 AM
My Jacob's favorite book was Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler. Gotta nominate it!
Posted by: Amanda | October 01, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Sally and the Purple Socks by Lisze Bechtold
Posted by: Amanda | October 01, 2008 at 08:51 AM
CESAR TAKES A BREAK by Susan Collins Thoms
Posted by: Lisa Schroeder | October 01, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett.
Posted by: Steven | October 01, 2008 at 09:31 AM
In a Blue Room, by Jim Averbeck
Posted by: Joan Paquette | October 01, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Monsoon Afternoon by Kashmira Sheth
Posted by: Bridget Zinn | October 01, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I Get So Hungry by Bebe Moore Campbell, illustrated by Amy Bates
Posted by: Kelly Starling Lyons | October 01, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Blackberry Banquet by Terry Pierce, illustrated by Lisa Downey. Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2008. An eBook preview and book trailer are available at http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/BlackberryBanquet.php!
Posted by: Sara Dobie | October 01, 2008 at 11:56 AM
That website link won't work. Instead, try http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/BlackberryBanquet.php
Posted by: Sara Dobie | October 01, 2008 at 11:57 AM
EVERYONE: Please note than only one nomination per person AND once a book is nominated a second nomination doesn't help its chances. Pick another book instead.
Posted by: MotherReader | October 01, 2008 at 12:20 PM
I Know an Old Teacher by Anne Bowen, illustrated by Stephen Gammell.
The colorful illustrations add a great "yuck" factor to this fun rendition of the classic children's song!
Posted by: Lindsay | October 01, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Little Mouse's Big Book of Fear by Emily Gravett
Posted by: Becky | October 01, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Me Hungry by Jeremy Tankard
Posted by: Stephanie | October 01, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I would like to nominate:
Angel Girl by Laurie Friedman. (Illustrations by Ofra Amit)
It's a beautiful story!
Posted by: Robin | October 01, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 01, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Princess Peepers by Pam Calvert
Posted by: Kim | October 01, 2008 at 03:21 PM
The Pencil by Alan Ahlberg. Illustrated by Bruce Ingman.
Posted by: Kyle Kimmal | October 01, 2008 at 03:26 PM
I nominate Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton. (HarperCollins, July 2008). It was so funny.
Posted by: Cheryl Rainfield | October 01, 2008 at 03:38 PM
RUNNING SHOES, 2008 - CHARLESBRIDGE PUBLISHING, MA
Set in Cambodia where poor, at-risk girls have little chance of being heard, let alone find a way to continue school beyond the sixth grade. This story is a gentle wake up call for children who have so much we label "entitlement" and helps kids see beyond to those in the world without a voice for self-determination. A true story about how a pair of shoes changes one girl's life. True story.
Posted by: Frederick Lipp | October 01, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Hold on to Your Horses by Sandra Tayler
Posted by: Janci | October 01, 2008 at 04:05 PM
"A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever" by Marla Frazee
Posted by: KT Horning | October 01, 2008 at 04:25 PM
UNCLE BOBBY'S WEDDING by Sarah Brannen
Posted by: Mary Cronin | October 01, 2008 at 04:33 PM
The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum by Kate Bernheimer (ill. Nicoletta Ceccoli)
Posted by: Jill | October 01, 2008 at 05:12 PM
I nominate McFig & McFly: A Tale of Jealousy, Revenge, and Death (with a Happy Ending) by Henrik Drescher
Posted by: Nan Hoekstra | October 01, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Monkey With a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe
Posted by: Fuse #8 | October 01, 2008 at 07:01 PM
Too Many Toys by David Shannon
Posted by: Gina | October 01, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! by Kyle Mewburn, Ali Teo, and John O'Reilly (Peachtree, September 1).
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 01, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Cat Nights by Jane Manning (Greenwillow Press, July 2008)
Posted by: Terry | October 02, 2008 at 05:29 AM
Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff
Posted by: Heather | October 02, 2008 at 05:31 AM
The Origami Master, by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer. Illustrated by Aki Sogabe.
Posted by: Susan (Chicken Spaghetti) | October 02, 2008 at 05:46 AM
Monkey With a Toolbelt by Chris Monroe. Not to be confused with Monkey and Me (which is also lovely), of course.
Posted by: Fuse #8 | October 02, 2008 at 06:57 AM
We're Off to Look for Aliens by Colin McNaughton.
Oh, I can't remember - does it have to be a U.S. author?
If so, Madam President by Lane Smith.
Posted by: your neighborhood librarian | October 02, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff with illustrations by Sophie Blackall.
http://us.macmillan.com/jumpyjackgoogily
Posted by: Sara O'Leary | October 02, 2008 at 07:13 AM
Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff with illustrations by Sophie Blackall.
http://us.macmillan.com/jumpyjackgoogily
Posted by: Sara O'Leary | October 02, 2008 at 07:17 AM
Okay, can I rescind that nomination? When it was posted (twice?) I saw the second page and see someone got there first. So I would like to nominate, instead, Jellaby by Kean Soo. Only it's a graphic novel, so does this count as the right category?
http://www.amazon.com/Jellaby-1-Kean-Soo/dp/1423103033/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222957440&sr=1-1
Posted by: Sara O'Leary | October 02, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury
Posted by: Laurie Slagenwhite | October 02, 2008 at 08:46 AM