Notable Children's Books

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Notable Children's Books - 2006

Selected annually by the American Library Association, these titles were published in 2005.
Call numbers for the Duluth Public Library are in ( ); for other titles, ask about our interlibrary loan service.

Click for the complete list (a printer-friendly version)

For Younger Readers:

Agee, Jon.
Terrific.
In this winningly illustrated picture book, grumpy Eugene Mudge anticipates the worst about a windfall trip to Bermuda and utters a sarcastic “terrific.” After he befriends a talking parrot, “terrific” takes on a whole new meaning.
( j )

Arnold, Katya.
Elephants Can Paint Too!
Arnold uses color photographs to compare the artistic processes of students in very different art classes – one for children in New York City, another for elephants in Thailand.
(j599.61 Arnold)

Beaumont, Karen. Illus. by David Catrow.
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!
Based on the tune “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More,” this picture book elicits giggles and audience participation as the young narrator paints his body. Catrow’s colorful illustrations are perfectly SPLAT-worthy.
( j )

Bloom, Suzanne.
A Splendid Friend, Indeed.
In a playful text and picture-book format perfect for emergent readers, a persistent goose wins the affection and friendship of a preoccupied polar bear. A 2006 Geisel Honor Book.
( j )

DiCamillo, Kate. Illus. by Chris Van Dusen.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue.

Meet Mercy, family pet and porcine wonder! Read and find out how her love for buttered toast saves the day during a family emergency.
(Juv Fic )

Click here for the complete list (printer-friendly version)

For Middle Readers:

Anderson, M.T. Illus. by Kurt Cyrus.
Whales on Stilts.
Holy Toledo! An intrepid trio saves the world from a plan to launch stilt-walking whales onto land.
(Juv Fic SF)

Armstrong, Alan. Illus. by S.D. Schindler.
Whittington.
Armstrong's glorious barnyard fantasy seamlessly weaves together three tales: Whittington the cat’s arrival on Bernie’s farm; the legend of Whittington's 14th-century namesake; and one boy’s struggle to learn to read. A celebration of oral and written language, friends, and the healing power of humor. A 2006 Newbery Honor Book.
(Juv Fic)

Birdsall, Jeanne.
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy.
Four sisters vacationing with their father in a summer cottage wreak havoc on the neighboring estate and rescue a boy in the process. A funny, old-fashioned novel with all the earmarks of a classic – endearingly quirky characters, fine dialogue, and a dog that gets into everything.
(Juv Fic)

Borden, Louise. Illus. by Allan Drummond.
The Journey that Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey.
The amazing story of Margret and H.A. Rey, who fled German troops during World War II and entered France with their first Curious George manuscript, unfolds in scrap book style with photographs, documents, and original illustrations.
(j921 R33bo)

Burleigh, Robert.
Toulouse-Lautrec: The Moulin Rouge and the City of Light.

A strikingly designed picture book introduction to the French artist is abundantly illustrated with photographs of Toulouse-Lautrec’s subjects and reproductions of his work.
(j759.49)

Click here for the complete list (printer-friendly version)

For Older Readers:

Armstrong, Jennifer.
Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War.

Armstrong tracks the influence of Mathew Brady, who changed the course of war photography, and whose stable of photographers shaped our vision of the Civil War.
(j973.7 Armstrong)

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow.
By weaving the stories of twelve young Germans into the larger fabric of Nazism and World War II, Bartoletti raises awareness of Hitler’s manipulations to a new level and offers readers an opportunity to consider how they might have acted in the same situation. A 2006 Newbery Honor Book, A 2006 Sibert Honor Book and A 2006 Best Book for Young Adults (YALSA).
(j943.086 Bartoletti)

Broach, Elise.
Shakespeare's Secret.
When sixth-grader Hero Netherfield moves into the famous Murphy Diamond House, she obsesses over finding the centuries-old diamond said to be inside. A funny historical mystery illuminates the debate over Shakespeare’s identity.
(Juv Fic M)

Bruchac, Joseph.
Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two.

Bruchac’s absorbing historical novel tells the story of a boy who became one of the brave Navajo code talkers, whose messages helped the U.S. achieve victory in World War II. A 2006 Best Book for Young Adults (YALSA).
(YA Fic)

Funke, Cornelia.
Inkspell.

Dustfinger, Farid, and Meggie and her family return to the world of the fictional Inkheart to discover that the darkness underneath the beauty of the Inkworld is busily enforcing its own reality on the text they thought they knew.
(Juv Fic SF)

Click here for the complete list (printer-friendly version)

Top of page

Previous Years' Lists: 2003 | 2004 | 2005

4/24/06
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802

	Agee, Jon. Terrific. In this winningly illustrated picture book, grumpy Eugene Mudge anticipates the worst about a windfall trip to Bermuda and utters a sarcastic “terrific.” After he befriends a talking parrot, “terrific” takes on a whole new meaning. ( j )
	Arnold, Katya. Elephants Can Paint Too! Arnold uses color photographs to compare the artistic processes of students in very different art classes – one for children in New York City, another for elephants in Thailand. (j599.61 Arnold)
	Beaumont, Karen. Illus. by David Catrow. I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! Based on the tune “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More,” this picture book elicits giggles and audience participation as the young narrator paints his body. Catrow’s colorful illustrations are perfectly SPLAT-worthy. ( j )
	Bloom, Suzanne. A Splendid Friend, Indeed. In a playful text and picture-book format perfect for emergent readers, a persistent goose wins the affection and friendship of a preoccupied polar bear. A 2006 Geisel Honor Book. ( j )
	DiCamillo, Kate. Illus. by Chris Van Dusen. Mercy Watson to the Rescue. Meet Mercy, family pet and porcine wonder! Read and find out how her love for buttered toast saves the day during a family emergency. (Juv Fic )

	Anderson, M.T. Illus. by Kurt Cyrus. Whales on Stilts. Holy Toledo! An intrepid trio saves the world from a plan to launch stilt-walking whales onto land. (Juv Fic SF)
	Armstrong, Alan. Illus. by S.D. Schindler. Whittington. Armstrong's glorious barnyard fantasy seamlessly weaves together three tales: Whittington the cat’s arrival on Bernie’s farm; the legend of Whittington's 14th-century namesake; and one boy’s struggle to learn to read. A celebration of oral and written language, friends, and the healing power of humor. A 2006 Newbery Honor Book. (Juv Fic)
	Birdsall, Jeanne. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. Four sisters vacationing with their father in a summer cottage wreak havoc on the neighboring estate and rescue a boy in the process. A funny, old-fashioned novel with all the earmarks of a classic – endearingly quirky characters, fine dialogue, and a dog that gets into everything. (Juv Fic)
	Borden, Louise. Illus. by Allan Drummond. The Journey that Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey. The amazing story of Margret and H.A. Rey, who fled German troops during World War II and entered France with their first Curious George manuscript, unfolds in scrap book style with photographs, documents, and original illustrations. (j921 R33bo)
	Burleigh, Robert. Toulouse-Lautrec: The Moulin Rouge and the City of Light. A strikingly designed picture book introduction to the French artist is abundantly illustrated with photographs of Toulouse-Lautrec’s subjects and reproductions of his work. (j759.49)

	Armstrong, Jennifer. Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War. Armstrong tracks the influence of Mathew Brady, who changed the course of war photography, and whose stable of photographers shaped our vision of the Civil War. (j973.7 Armstrong)
	Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow. By weaving the stories of twelve young Germans into the larger fabric of Nazism and World War II, Bartoletti raises awareness of Hitler’s manipulations to a new level and offers readers an opportunity to consider how they might have acted in the same situation. A 2006 Newbery Honor Book, A 2006 Sibert Honor Book and A 2006 Best Book for Young Adults (YALSA). (j943.086 Bartoletti)
	Broach, Elise. Shakespeare's Secret. When sixth-grader Hero Netherfield moves into the famous Murphy Diamond House, she obsesses over finding the centuries-old diamond said to be inside. A funny historical mystery illuminates the debate over Shakespeare’s identity. (Juv Fic M)
	Bruchac, Joseph. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two. Bruchac’s absorbing historical novel tells the story of a boy who became one of the brave Navajo code talkers, whose messages helped the U.S. achieve victory in World War II. A 2006 Best Book for Young Adults (YALSA). (YA Fic)
	Funke, Cornelia. Inkspell. Dustfinger, Farid, and Meggie and her family return to the world of the fictional Inkheart to discover that the darkness underneath the beauty of the Inkworld is busily enforcing its own reality on the text they thought they knew. (Juv Fic SF)