Have you ever heard the expression: time flies when you are having fun? Sure you have. It’s an expression that certainly rings true for the Children’s Book Review. March 18 marked our first anniversary, and so I thought I would share with you some of our highlights.
- In fall 2008, The Children’s Book Review was selected for inclusion in the American Library Association’s Great Web Sites for Kids. Thank you to the ALSC’s GWS Committee members who voted for us.
- All of the author interviews were so much fun, but making my first podcast from my interview with Emily Gravett was a gratifying moment — click here to check it out. Click here to read the interviews from the following fabulous authors: Graeme Base, Bonny Becker, Tomie dePaolo, Deborah Diesen, Bobbie Hinman, Ingrid Law, Jon Scieszka, David Shannon, and Eric Wight.
- Growing my team from me to three, with two enthusiastic book lovers. The first addition was Luisa LaFleur. Her specialty is reviewing bilingual books for “budding linguists”. Our latest induction is Amanda Lynch — an English major, book selling (and lover) extraordinaire — stay tuned for an official introduction.
Our favorite wordless picture books that scored a review:
Wave
by Suzy Lee
Reading level: Ages 2-6
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 16, 2008)
Review: Click here.
by Tao Nyeu
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Dial Books (September 18, 2008)
Review: Click here.
by Patrick McDonnell
Reading level: Ages 3-6
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (September 1, 2008)
Review: Click here.
Our favorite picture books that scored a review:
Reading level: Ages 2-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Orchard Books;
1 edition (January 1, 2008)
Review: Click here.
Chimpanzees of Happy Town
by Giles Andreae(Author), Guy Parker-Rees(Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 2-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Orchard Books; 1 edition (October 1, 2006)
Review: Click here.
by Lauren Thompson (author) and Jonathan Bean (illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 2-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Children’s Publishing (July 24, 2007)
Review: Click here.
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?
Reading level: Ages 2-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Rising Moon (February
25, 2003)
Review: Click here.
by Emily Gravett (I really enjoyed her playful website)
Reading level: Ages 2-6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (March 4, 2008)
Review: Click here.
by Alison McGhee (Author), Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 2 – 6
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Atheneum (February 27, 2007)
Review: Click here.
by Anita Lobel
Reading level: Ages 0 – 5
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow (March 25, 2008)
Review: Click here.
by Carin Berger
Reading level: Ages 3-6
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow (August 26, 2008)
Review: Click here.
Our favorite multi-concept, or interactive books that scored a review:
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Hardcover: 20 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (April 8, 2008)
Review: Click here.
by Karen Beaumont
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (May 27, 2008)
Review: Click here.
Our favorite novels, graphic novels, and chapter books that scored a review:
Sara Pennypacker (Author), Marla Frazee (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 7-10
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Hyperion (April 1, 2008)
Review: Click here.
by Tony DiTerlizzi
Reading level: Ages 8-12
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (August 5, 2008)
Review: Click here.
by Rene Goscinny (Author) Jean-Jacques Sempe (Illustrator), Anthea Bell (Translator)
Reading Level: Ages 7 – 10
Hardcover: 132 pages
Publisher: Phaidon Press Ltd (October 31, 2008)
Review: Click here.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
by Jeff Kinney
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Amulet (February 1, 2008)
Review: Click here.
by Lois Lowry
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books; 1 edition (March 31, 2008)
Review: Click here.
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (January 30, 2007)
Review: Click here.
by Ingrid Law
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Dial (May 1, 2008)
Review: Click here.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
By Avi
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (August 10, 2004)
Review: Click here.
Our favorite videos:
BOOK BY BOOK: the making of a monkey man from Jarrett Krosoczka on Vimeo.
The five most popular pages visited:
- 2009 Caldecott and Newbery Winners
- Ages 4 – 8: Books for preschoolers to second grade
- Books for Boys
- Link and a Quote: Drummer Boy by Loren Long
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw: Book 3
Thank you to everyone who has made our first year so great. And most importantly, thanks for reading!