2007 Nominations Fiction Picture Books

Jules here, organizer for the Fiction Picture Books committee. What exactly will we obsessive picture book lovers be doing and looking for?

"The picture book is a peculiar art form that thrives on genius, intuition, daring, wrote Maurice Sendak in 1997. A picture book gives us what no other type of book can: the merging of text, art, and design to entertain us or make us think -- or both. We're looking for what you think are outstanding examples of the fusion of the written word and illustration, those 2007 picture books you wanted to immediately read again for their originality, cleverness, outstanding child appeal, beauty, or all of the above ... Perhaps Lewis Carroll’s Alice put it best: What is the use of a book ... without pictures or conversations?

That's our story, and we're stickin' to it.

--Julie Danielson, organizer

Please leave a nomination -- including author and title -- for this category in the comments below.

Comments

[Cheryl Rainfield]

There are many picture books from 2007 that I love, it was hard for me to decide, but I finally settled on one: The Incredible Book-Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers, (HarperCollins). This book is incredibly well written, illustrated, and designed, even to the point of including a "bite" out of the back cover on both the hardcover and paperback. The artwork is immensely creative, with so much, visually, to look at, including what looks like text and images from books--and the storyline works beautifully, and promotes a real love of books. So this is my first choice for a picture book. (Though I wish I could suggest two, or three. :)

[Marcie Atkins]

I highly recommend Jack of All Tails by Kim Norman, a laugh out loud funny book in text and pictures!

[Marcie Atkins]

I highly recommend Jack of All Tails by Kim Norman, a laugh out loud funny book in text and pictures!

[Marcie Atkins]

Sorry--I didn't mean to double my comment. Feel free to delete. It said it didn't go through.

[Jo Knowles]

I'd like to nominate The Magic Rabbit, written and illustrated by Annette LeBlanc Cate.

Thanks!!

:-)

Jo

[Susan Kusel]

When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small

[Megan]

The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington and illustrations by Shelley Jackson

[Liz Jones]

There's a Yak in my Bed!, Lillian Kay Pluta, Blooming Tree

[Terrell]

I hope you will consider Carmen Agra Deedy's Martina the Beautiful Cochroach. It is a Cuban folktale told by a lively storyteller and illustrated with masterful humor by Michael Austin.

[Dori Chaconas]

Squirrel's World by Lisa Moser, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. A total delight!

[Elizabeth]

Wolf's Coming! by Joe Kulka

[Lisa Moser]

VIRGINNIE'S HAT by Dori Chaconas

This book is a romp in the swamp with a delightful end.

[Jennifer R]

Knuffle Bunny II by Mo Willems

[Tammi]

Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

[Pooja]

Mama's Saris by Pooja Makhijani

[Susan Thomsen]

Never Tease a Weasel, by Jean Conder Soule; illustrations by George Booth (Random House)

[Beth Binns]

I'd like to nominate PLAYING BY THE RULES: A STORY ABOUT AUTISM written by Dena Fox Luchsinger and illustrated by Julie Olson.

[Amanda]

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

[Alex De Luca]

I strongly nominate "Lost Treasures of the Pirates of the Caribbean" by James A. Owen, Jeremy Owen, Lon Saline and Mary McCray.

[Tasha]

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett

[Brooke]

I'd like to nominate LET IT SHINE by Ashley Bryan, but I'm not sure it's strictly fiction. Some libraries would put it with the picture books, others in with the music non-fiction.

Any help here?

[Donna Earnhardt]

I would like to nominate:

There's a Yak in my Bed!, Lillian Kay Pluta, Blooming Tree

[Jules]

Donna, that was has already been nominated and noted! Thanks, though.

Brooke, we're currently discussing where Let It Shine should go (fiction picture bookss or non-fiction) -- will get back to you soon to let you know!

[Sheila]

Psst! by Adam Rex

[Cory]

The Impossible Patriotism Project by Linda Skeers; illustrated by Ard Hoyt!

[Cheryl Rainfield]

Oh, I'm so glad you nominated Psst!, Jules; I love that book. And there are so many others here that look interesting that I want to check out. :) I love the Cybils; I always find such good books.

[MotherReader]

17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill

[Laurel Snyder]

The End, by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Richard Egielski

[Jules]

Alex, Lost Treasures of the Pirates of the Caribbean will be moved over to the Fiction Middle-Grade category, as it seems to be geared to those older readers. Thanks!

[Jules]

Thanks for the nominations today, everyone! Keep 'em coming.

General note: We will move titles to other categories if we think (1) it is a better fit with another category or (2) remove them if they are ineligible because of copyright year.

[Literacy Teacher]

Sugar Cane: A Caribbean Rapunzel by Patricia Storace. It's 48 pp., but it's worth the time to read it!

[Andrea B]

I'd like to nominate PEST FEST by Julia Durango and illustrated by Kurt Cyrus. Great rhyme. Funny story. And Fabulously cool illustrations.

[Katie U.]

IGGY PECK, ARCHITECT by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts. It's brand new!

[Jules]

Terrell, just wanted you to know that your nomination, Martina the Beautiful Cochroach, will get moved over to Non-Fiction Picture Books, because it's considered Folklore by the Library of Congress, as in a 398.2'er.

Thanks for the nomination!

[Jules]

Brooke, according to the Library of Congress, Let It Shine is a 782 classification. I think I'll send it over to the Non-Fiction Picture Books category. Thanks for the nomination! (It's a beautiful book).

[Jules]

Literacy Teacher, Sugar Cane is also considered a 398.2'er, so I'm moving it to Non-Fiction picture books. Thanks for the recommendation!

[SamRiddleburger]

Sock Monkey Rides Again
by Cece Bell!

[Melissa]

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy, by Jane O’Connor

[pussreboots]

I want to nominate Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It's already become a favorite in our family.

[Jessica Wald]

The Lonely Moose by John Segal. Funny, sweet and sad. Gorgeous art, too.

[Jen Barney]

LEMONDADE CLUB BY PATRICIA POLACCO

[Jules]

Terrell, Brooke, and Literacy Teacher, I TAKE IT BACK! :)

Last year, the Cybils looked at the categories this way: "Nonfiction" implied that information-based titles. And things like folklore, illustrated songs, etc. were considered other types of fiction. So, that's how we'll handle it this year, and I'll keep your three nominations in this category.

Thanks again for the nominations, and sorry if I confused anyway.

[Jim Walker]

"Hugo and Miles In I've Painted Everything" by Scott Magoon (Author and Illustrator) - I love reading this one to my two grandchildren. It is so much more than the run-of-the-mill children's book, with its tounge-in-cheek humor about everything from the Mona Lisa to travel by air. It introduces children to the ideas of art and what makes the artist click, while entertaining the adult reader with its creative play on words.

[Anne-Marie - A Readable Feast]

Samsara Dog by Helen Manos - this one made me cry.

[Jules]

To the person who posted under "pussreboots" -- Little Pea has an '05 copywright date. Thanks, but try again! :)

[Gina MarySol Ruiz]

Old Penn Station

[Gina MarySol Ruiz]

Old Penn Station

[Sarah]

A Story With Pictures by Barbara Kanninen

[EM]

PRINCESS JUSTINA ALBERTINA by Ellen Dee Davidson, illustrated by Michael Chesworth. (My own shameless plug.)

[Johanna I.]

Violet Goes to the Country (Mitford for Children, Book 2) by Jan Karon, Melanie Cecka, and Emily Arnold McCully