Younger Readers
APRIL AND ESME, TOOTH FAIRIES by Bob Graham.
On their first assignment, two young tooth fairy sisters journey by night into the huge world of humans to collect a young boy's tooth and fly it safely home.

Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds. Illus. by Floyd Cooper.
A young boy and his mother take a familiar ride on a city bus unaware of the historic event they are about to witness: passenger Rosa Parks refuses to move from her seat. ( j  Reynolds)

Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan. Illus. by Sophie Blackall.
Rubina’s excitement over an invitation to a birthday party is dimmed by her mother’s insistence that she take her younger sister Sana with her. ( j  Khan)

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee.
Dissimilar, yet steadfast friends, celebrate the ups and downs of their daily escapades in three lively chapters that explore compromise, asserting independence, and jealousy. Geisel Award Book (Juv Fic  DiCamillo)

Chalk by Bill Thompson.
In this wordless picture book, three young children arrive at the park to find a bag of colored chalk that turns their imaginary drawings into something very real. ( j Thompson)

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems. Illus. by Jon J. Muth.
Unleashed on his visit to the country, a dog meets a new friend in frog and together they experience the seasons and the cycle of life. ( j  Willems)

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh.
The universality of childhood experiences is shown through the lives of two cousins, one in the United States and one in Mexico. Belpré Illustrator Honor Book ( j  Tonatiuh)

Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla. Illus. by Amy Cordova.
The simple rhyme scheme is embellished by colorful illustrations of multicultural babies and toddlers celebrating at a local fiesta. Belpré Illustrator Honor Book ( j  Tafolla)

Grandma’s Gift by Eric Velasquez.
This personal tale is based on the author’s special relationship with his grandmother, who influenced his dream of becoming an artist. Belpré Illustrator Award ( j  Velasquez)

Hip-Pocket Papa by Sandra Markle. Illus. by Alan Marks.
The papa hip-pocket frog from Australia, who carries his babies in his hip pocket, is introduced with attractive watercolor illustrations. (j597.8  Markle)

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein.
This hilarious story presents Little Chicken and her long-suffering papa, who just wants to get through a bedtime story without his daughter’s metafictive disruptions. Caldecott Honor Book ( j  Stein)

In the Wild by David Elliott. Illus. by Holly Meade.
A joyful collection of brief poems paired with dynamic woodblock prints celebrates favorite animals from every continent. (j811.54  Elliott)

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin.
Six vignettes chronicle the daily adventures of identical twins as they get haircuts, make dumplings, perform magic and take a trip to the library. Geisel Honor Book (Juv Fic  Lin)

LMNO Peas by Keith Baker.
Tiny green peas take readers on a fun, whimsical tour of the alphabet. ( j  Baker)

Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson. Illus. by Sophie Blackall.
Unlike her friends and relatives, Gia is not looking forward to the birth of her first sibling, "that ding-dang baby". ( j  Woodson)

POCKETFUL OF POSIES: A TREASURY OF NURSERY RHYMES. by Salley Mavor.
Familiar and lesser known nursery rhymes, illustrated with superb needlework and appliqué, create a charming dollhouse of a book.

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood. Illus. by Renata Liwska.
Quiet comes in many varieties, from “Sleeping sister quiet” to “First snowfall quiet” to “Right before you yell ‘SURPRISE’ quiet”. ( j  Underwood)

RUBIA AND THE THREE OSOS by Susan Middleton Elya. Illus. by Melissa Sweet.
A bouncy, rhyming story about a little golden-haired niña who helps herself to everything in the house of the three bears.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead. Illus. by Erin E. Stead.
Zookeeper Amos McGee gets the sniffles and receives a surprise visit from his caring animal friends. Caldecott Medal ( j  Stead)

Tuck Me In by Dean Hacohen. Illus. by Sherry Scharschmidt.
Readers interact with this deceptively simple good night book, tucking sweet animals into bed. ( j  Hacohen)

We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems.
Elephant and Piggie discover that someone, the reader, is looking at them in this hilarious, interactive story about the joys of reading and being read. Geisel Honor Book (E  Willems)

Yucky Worms by Vivian French. Illus. by Jessica Ahlberg.
While digging with Grandma in the garden, a child learns why earthworms are so important in helping plants grow. (j595.146  French)

Middle Readers
Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan. Illus. by Brian Floca.
Spare, dramatic text and uncluttered watercolors relay the story of the collaborative creation of a classic American ballet. Sibert Honor Book (j792.84  Greenberg)

The Bat Scientists by Mary Kay Carson. Illus. by Tom Uhlman.
Exceptional photography and clear text captures the lives of bats and explores the myths and threats to these amazing mammals. (j599.4  Carson)

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill. Illus. by Bryan Collier.
Poetic text and lush illustrations tell the true story of an extraordinary artist living in 19th-century South Carolina. Caldecott Honor Book & ALA Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award (j738.092  Hill)

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O’Connor.
In this summer adventure, Owen is enthralled by his conviction that something amazing has fallen from a train. (Juv Fic  O'Connor)

Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature by Sarah Campbell. Illus. by Sarah and Richard Campbell.
Crisp design and clear photography introduce and depict Fibonacci patterns in nature. (j512.72  Campbell)

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka. Illus. by Peter H. Reynolds.
Six haiku for each season of the year, celebrating the interaction of boys and nature, combine with loose, expressive cartoons to make a winning combination. (j811.6  Raczka)

The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe by Loree Griffin Burns. Illus. by Ellen Harasimowicz.
After beekeepers discover the strange abandonment of hundreds of hives, scientists seek to understand this catastrophic phenomenon. (j638.1 Burns)

How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.
Animal partnerships often defy explanation; Jenkins and Page explore and clarify these relationships in concise text and glorious torn-paper collage. (j591.524  Jenkins)

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery. Illus. by Nic Bishop.
Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot – This book documents the successes and failures of a rescue effort in New Zealand dedicated to saving a species of flightless parrots numbering fewer than 100. Sibert Medal (j598.71  Montgomery)

Me, Frida by Amy Novesky. Illus. by David Diaz.
This story of newlywed artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in 1930 San Francisco is accompanied by paintings resembling Kahlo’s folkloric style. Belpré Illustrator Honor Book (j759.972  Novesky)

Nic Bishop Lizards by Nic Bishop.
Using photographs so vivid and sharply focused that one can see a bit of dry scale on a glass lizard’s skin, Bishop treats readers to new appreciations of the diversity within the lizard world. (j597.95  Bishop)

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz. Illus. by Angela Barrett.
Flory loses her wings after a bat attack and struggles to adapt to life as a day fairy. (Juv Fic  Schlitz)

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes.
In this story of survival, twelve-year-old Lanesha and her adopted grandmother have little choice but to stay in New Orleans and weather Hurricane Katrina. ALA Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book (Juv Fic M  Rhodes)

Ole! Flamenco by George Ancona.
In this nonfiction introduction to Spanish flamenco, the art form is described in easy, understandable language. Belpré Author Honor Book (j793.31  Ancona)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia.
Three sisters find adventure when they are sent to Oakland in 1968 to meet their estranged poet-mother, who prints flyers for the Black Panthers. Newbery Honor Book (Juv Fic  Williams Garcia)

Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey. Illus. by Floyd Cooper.
Using the Green Book, a guide to find welcoming places for African-Americans, Ruth's family travels through the segregated South of the 1950s. (Juv Fic  Ramsey)

SALTYPIE: A CHOCTAW JOURNEY FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT by Tim Tingle. Illus. by Karen Clarkson.
This picture book autobiographical vignette shows a modern Choctaw family enduring and supporting each other with love, courage and fortitude.

SHAKE, RATTLE & TURN THAT NOISE DOWN! HOW ELVIS SHOOK UP MUSIC, ME AND MOM by Mark Alan Stamaty.
An autobiography in graphic novel format shows how his love of Elvis and rock and roll, at first drove Stamaty’s mother crazy but ultimately made her proud.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier. Illus. by Raina Telgemeier and Stephanie Yue.
Through artwork showing the details, the reader shares Raina’s pain as the angst of middle school is exacerbated by her disfiguring dental mishap. (YA 741.5  Telgemeier)

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger.
In this hilarious tale, Tommy and his sixth grade friends must decide if the advice of an origami finger puppet can be trusted. (Juv Fic  Angleberger)

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz.
As dark and bloody as the title suggests, these six retellings tweak the classic fairy tale as Hansel and Gretel embark on an epic journey of self-discovery. (Juv Fic SF  Gidwitz)

Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection Edited by Matt Dembicki.
This collaborative effort by more than 40 writers and artists presents 21 Native American trickster tales in graphic novel format. (j398.2  Trickster)

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm. Random, $16.99
Sassy 11-year-old Turtle finds her life turned on end when she is sent to live with her aunt in Depression-era Key West. Newbery Honor Book (Juv Fic  Holm)

Older Readers
90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis.
The author’s experience, as one of 14,000 children moved from Cuba to a refugee camp in Miami in 1961, is told through engaging, fast-paced writing and well-developed characters. Belpré Author Honor Book (Juv Fic  Flores-Galbis)

Black Elk’s Vision: A Lakota Story by S.D. Nelson.
This handsome, large-format volume combines archival photographs, original acrylic paintings and powerful first-person narrative to present the devastating story of the painful changes in life forced upon the Lakota people. (j970.2 B56n)

Countdown by Deborah Wiles.
A “documentary novel” set in the 1960’s Cold War era, this title captures a girl’s fears about the world around her. (YA Fic  Wiles)

Departure Time by Truus Matti. Tr. by Nancy Forest-Flier.
An eleven-year-old mourns the death of her father in chapters that alternate between the real world and a dreamlike hotel staffed by odd creatures. Batchelder Honor Book (Juv Fic  Matti)

The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Illus. by Peter Sis.
In language inspired by the Nobel Prize-winner’s own poetry, Muñoz Ryan tells the stunning tale of young Pablo Neruda’s self-discovery and the development of his ideologies and artistic voice. Belpré Author Award (Juv Fic  Ryan)

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve.
A lone girl sets out on a mission to retrieve lost technology in a bleak and irrational London of the future. (Juv Fic SF  Reeve)

The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle.
A plantation owner’s daughter conspires with Swedish feminist Fredrika Bremer to secure the freedom of an African-born slave. Belpré Author Honor Book (YA Fic  Engle)

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus.
This swashbuckling adventure is based on the true story of Manjiro, the young fisherman believed to be the first Japanese person to visit America, who against all odds, became a samurai. Newbery Honor Book (YA Fic  Preus)

Lafayette and the American Revolution by Russell Freedman. Holiday, $24.95 (9780823421824).
This compelling biography of Lafayette looks at the whole of his life and illuminates the role he played in the American Revolution. Sibert Honor Book (j921 L1314fr)

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine.
Ten-year-old Caitlin who struggles with Asperger’s Syndrome seeks closure following the murder of her brother. (Juv Fic  Erskine)

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool.
Alternating between World War I and the Great Depression, this tale of the eclectic people and mysteries of Manifest, Kansas is told through a mix of letters, newspaper articles, and a fortune teller’s tales. Newbery Medal (Juv Fic  Vanderpool)

Nothing by Janne Teller. Tr. by Martin Aitlen.
As classmates struggle to convince a friend that life has meaning, they force each other to prove and provide meaning, with consequences that are deep, dark, and disastrous. Batchelder Honor Book & YALSA Printz Honor Book (YA Fic  Teller)

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.
Nailer, a teenage scavenger, works to take apart ancient oil tankers in a future world where he must choose between harvesting riches or saving a girl. YALSA Printz Medal (YA Fic SF  Bacigalupi)

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti.
The Ku Klux Klan’s rise from a club of restless young men into the largest domestic terrorist organization in American history is documented with archival photographs and other primary source material. YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults (j322.42  Bartoletti)

A Time of Miracles by Anne-Laure Bondoux. Tr. by Y. Maudet.
A young refugee searches for identity, safe haven and truth in a journey from war-torn Caucasus to the freedom of France. Batchelder Award (YA Fic  Bondoux)

Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors by Joyce Sidman. Illus. by Beckie Prange.
Three books in one! This amazing book of poetry is also a beautiful picture book and a nonfiction tribute to the adaptability of life on earth. (j811.54  Sidman)

We Shall Overcome: A Song that Changed the World by Stuart Stotts. Illus. by Terrance Cummings
This iconic song, handsomely illustrated here, serves as the framework for new understandings of the Civil Rights Movement. (j323.1  Stotts)

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by Greg Neri. Illus. by Randy DuBurke.
Based on true events, this graphic novel, told through the eyes of a younger boy, tells the story of Robert (Yummy) as he tries to navigate the dangerous world of a Chicago neighborhood. ALA Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book (YA 921 Sa565n)

All Ages
Bones: Skeletons and How They Work by Steve Jenkins.
Collage illustrations support exploration and comparison of various human and animal skeletons, from fingers to skulls. (j596.04  Jenkins)

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman. Illus. by Rick Allen.
Twelve elegantly crafted poems celebrating the night are accompanied by prose pieces about nocturnal flora and fauna. Newbery Honor Book (j811.54  Sidman)

Farm by Elisha Cooper. Illus. by the author. Orchard, $17.99 (9780545070751).
Experience life on a very real farm with very real farmers through the muddy month of March until the next winter. ( j  Cooper)

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga. Amulet Books, $15.95 (9780810984237).
Jimmy explores the lab of a mad scientist in this “Choose Your Own Adventure” style graphic novel. (j741.5  Shiga)

Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer. Illus. by Josee Masse.
What fun! Read the poem in one direction and it tells the folktale from one point of view. Read it in the opposite direction and the point of view is reversed. (j811.54  Singer)

Shadow by Suzy Lee. Illus. by the author.
A young girl's imagination morphs dark attic shadows into a fantastic jungle scene in this wordless book. ( j Lee)

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8/25/11
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802