Best of 2013

Younger Readers

Barnett, Mac. Extra Yarn.
A selfish archduke threatens to halt a little girl's transformation of a colorless town and steal her box of magical yarn.  (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

Bell, Cece. Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover.
Rabbit and Robot disagree about everything on Rabbit’s “To Do” list at their sleepover, including Robot’s insistence for pizza toppings of nuts, bolts, and screws. And everything comes to a halt when Robot’s batteries run low. (A 2013 Geisel Honor Book)

Bingham, Kelly. Z Is for Moose.
An unconventional alphabet book features best friends, Moose and Zebra, wreaking A-Z laugh-out-loud havock. Their zany actions are highlighted in cartoon mixed-media illustrations.

Buzzeo, Toni. One Cool Friend.
Energetic line and dizzying perspective combine for a rollicking tale of Father, Elliot, and a highly improbable pet (or two).  (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

Coat, Janik. Hippopposites.
A hippo demonstrates a clever variety of opposites in this oversized board book designed to amuse and instruct the youngest readers.

DaCosta, Barbara. Nighttime Ninja.
A ninja stealthily goes about his mission until his mother catches him and puts him to bed. A dark palette of cut paper and mixed-media illustrations intensify the story's intrigue.

Davies, Nicola. Just Ducks.
A young girl observes mallard ducks as they eat, swim, and dive. Appealing watercolors draw readers into the informative but gentle narrative.

Fleming, Candace. Oh, No!
With exuberant rhythmic phrases and jungle colored illustrations, five animals are disturbed by a grinning tiger and fall into a hole, one by one. This suspenseful cumulative tale is an engaging read-aloud.

Fogliano, Julie. And Then It's Spring.
A spare, lyrical narrative and delicate woodblock print and pencil illustrations capture the anticipation of spring. Accompanied by a coterie of animals, a boy plants seeds and waits expectantly for them to sprout.

Hale, Christy. Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building.
Poetry combined with images illustrates how children’s play influences the creative process as it pertains to the buildings we inhabit and will inspire readers to dream big.

Henkes, Kevin. Penny and Her Doll.
Softly rendered illustrations in this beginning reader reveal Penny's determination to find the perfect name for her doll.

Hest, Amy. Charley's First Night.
An adorable puppy is comforted his first night in a new home by a young boy who cares for Charley throughout the long hours. Pastel watercolors infuse the story with warmth and intimacy.

Hosford, Kate. Infinity and Me.
Children will relate to Uma's experience of feeling small as she considers the universe and her place in it. Idiosyncratic illustrations contrast with the warm relationship between Uma and her grandmother. Finally, infinity in terms Uma can understand.

Jeffers, Oliver. This Moose Belongs to Me.
Wilfred thinks he owns a moose, but the moose has other ideas. This offbeat tale is humorously illustrated using an incongruous mix of stick figures and painterly landscapes.

Johnson, D. B. Magritte's Marvelous Hat : A Picture Book.
An imaginatively-constructed picture book captures the essence of creativity and play while also introducing the paintings of the unique artist, René Magritte.

Klassen, Jon. This Is Not My Hat.
In this darkly humorous tale, a tiny fish knows it’s wrong to steal a hat, but it fits him just right. And the big fish wants his hat back. (The 2013 Caldecott Medal Book)

Litwin, Eric. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.
A blue mellow-eyed feline keeps losing his groovy buttons. But does he cry? Goodness no! For after all, it’s all good! (A 2013 Geisel Honor Book)

Long, Ethan. Up, Tall, and High!
A bevy of birds performs a play in three acts, while teaching the concepts of up, tall, and high. Children will delight in reading additional words hidden beneath thick flaps. (The 2013 Geisel Medal Book)

Logue, Mary. Sleep Like a Tiger.
Parents coax their young child to bed in a whimsical bedtime story with universal appeal.  (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

Low, William. Machines Go to Work in the City.
Elegant illustrations portray a variety of gritty, urban machines in all their burly glory as they work under, through, and above the city.

Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. Dogs on Duty.
Brave, loyal dogs are hard to resist, especially those trained to serve on difficult military missions. Easy-to-read blocks of text are paired with photos to walk readers through the history of these hero hounds.

Pinfold, Levi. Black Dog.
Here’s a story that demonstrates that even the smallest family member has the courage to save everyone. Both the illustrations and the text move from scary to comforting with a satisfying ending.

Reynolds, Aaron. Creepy Carrots!
Jasper Rabbit loves carrots until he notices they are everywhere and becomes convinced that they’re coming for him! (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

Schaefer, Lola M. One Special Day: A Story for Big Brothers and Sisters.
Spencer undergoes a remarkable transformation from a wild and raucous boy to a gentle big brother in a joyful, tender story sweetly illustrated for “big brothers and sisters.”

Schmidt, Gary D. Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert.  
This illustrated biography of the first African-heritage saint of the Américas captures both historical fact and legend. (The 2013 Belpre Illustrator Medal Book)

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. Green.
Seeger engages all the senses with her fresh approach to the multiple meanings of “green” in this highly original concept book.  (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

Stead, Philip C. Bear Has a Story to Tell.
Seasons change but friendship remains as Bear patiently awaits to tell his story in a world created through delicate illustrations and a strong message.

Willems, Mo. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs.  
A humorously fractured fairy tale tells the story of Goldilocks. Sly humor underlies significant changes to the expected script and setting.

Willems, Mo. Let's Go for a Drive! 
Good friends Elephant and Piggie’s best plans in preparing to take a drive go awry when they realize they have no car. (A 2013 Geisel Honor Book)

Middle Readers  

Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan.
This unique gorilla’s-eye-view of the world delivers wry humor, deep emotion, and thought-provoking insights into the nature of friendship, hope, and humanity. (The 2013 Newbery Medal Book)

Burleigh, Robert. George Bellows: Painter with a Punch!
Illustrated with Bellows' paintings, this biography captures the essence of the painter's life and art -- his early years, training, and his passion for the gritty underbelly of New York City.

Byrd, Robert. Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin.   Renaissance man and American founding father, Benjamin Franklin, surges to life in this electrifying informational book. (A 2013 Sibert Honor Book)

Chin, Jason. Island: A Story of the Galápagos.
Vivid illustrations and brief text explain the evolution of one Galápagos island and its animal inhabitants.  Back matter adds weight to the information and prompts further research.

Cole, Henry. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad.
In a wordless, yet eloquent, picture book, a courageous farmgirl secretly provides food to a runaway slave. Evocative, monochromatic pencil drawings capture the story's drama.

DeCristofano, Carolyn Cinami.  A Black Hole Is Not a Hole.
Using analogies within a child's experience, this deceptively clear, engaging introduction to black holes describes, explains, excites, and sparks a sense of wonder.

Freedman, Russell. Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglass: The Story behind an American Friendship.
Though one was born a free man and the other a slave, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass had much in common.  In this dynamic study, Freedman explains how their influential lives intersected and benefitted a nation.  

Gidwitz, Adam. In a Glass Grimmly.
Inspired by the tales of Grimm and Andersen, Gidwitz leads Jack and Jill on a quest full of adventure and fantastical creatures. Wit and wisdom packaged as fun.

Hoose, Phillip M. Moonbird : A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95.
B95, a four-ounce shorebird, is the subject of this fast-paced tale of endurance. (A 2013 Sibert Honor Book and a YALSA Finalist for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults)

Hopkinson, Deborah. Titanic: Voices from the Disaster.
This story of the ill-fated ship is told in compelling detail, offering a gripping account through the voices of survivors. (A 2013 Sibert Honor Book and a YALSA Finalist for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults)

Jenkins, Steve. The Beetle Book.
With jewel-like collage art, this over-sized edition examines different beetle species and their distinctive characteristics.

Johnson, Rebecca L. Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead.
Illustrated with amazing photographs, this shivery introduction to some of the fungi, parasites and viruses that invade bugs, mammals and sometimes humans, examines how they control the hosts' behavior to ensure their own survival.

Knowles, Jo. See You at Harry's.
Fern's family life revolves around her family's restaurant and upbeat-three-year-old Charlie until tragedy strikes.  A surprisingly funny book about a family coming together as they grieve.

Lin, Grace. Starry River of the Sky.
Rendi, a runaway, finds work at a small inn. A mysterious guest shares mystical stories, helping Rendi discover truths about himself and the world. Lovely Chinese-style illustrations make the complete package.

McKay, Hilary. Lulu and the Duck in the Park.
Despite her teacher's stern warning, tender-hearted Lulu inadvertantly and unexpectedly adds a new animal to the classroom in a laugh-out-loud transitional story.

McPherson, Stephanie Sammartino. Iceberg, Right Ahead!: The Tragedy of the Titanic.
Drawing from official documents, logs, and diaries and illlustrated with plentiful photographs, this well-organized, gripping chronicle records the tragic story, from the original design and construction to the discovery of the ship's remains and motion picture recreations.

Obed, Ellen Bryan. Twelve Kinds of Ice.
In a nostalgic look back to childhood winters with her close-knit family and neighbors, Obed describes the pleasures of playing and skating on the ice.

Palacio, R. J. Wonder.
Born with facial deformities, August chooses to attend "regular" school for the first time.  Told from many perspectives, this is a powerful novel about friendship and acceptance.

Rappaport, Doreen. Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller.
Elegant text, direct quotes and big, beautiful illustrations express how Helen Keller's world became larger once she found a way to identify and give voice to her experiences.  

Rose, Caroline Starr. May B.
In this verse novel, dyslexic May B. is sent to help a couple in a soddy on the Kansas plains. Suddenly, May B. must fend for herself as winter approaches. A grittier story for Little House fans.  

Rusch, Elizabeth. The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity.
Follows the creation and launch of the first two Mars rovers in 2004, their explorations of the Red Planet for the following six years, and the challenges that faced the scientists who built and guided them.  

Schlitz, Laura Amy. Splendors and Glooms.
Lizzie Rose, Parsefall, and Clara are caught in the clutches of a wicked puppeteer and a powerful witch in this deliciously dark and complex good-versus-evil tale set in Dickensian England. (A 2013 Newbery Honor Book)

Sheinkin, Steve. Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon.
This riveting historical nonfiction drama explores the complex series of events that led to the creation of the ultimate weapon and introduces many memorable personalities involved in the pursuit. (A 2013 Newbery Honor Book, The Sibert Medal Book, and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults)

Stead, Rebecca. Liar & Spy.
What's real and what's deception? This subtle story, with unlikely friendships and secrets to be revealed, will intrigue readers and encourage a second reading.

Turnage, Sheila. Three Times Lucky.
Rising sixth-grader Mo LoBeau leads eccentric residents of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, on a rollicking journey of mystery and adventure as she investigates a murder and searches for her long-lost mother. (A 2013 Newbery Honor Book)

Vernick, Audrey.  Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team.
The Acerra family had twelve sons who all played baseball together from the time they were children, through World War II, and into adulthood. The story of their camaraderie and positive family attitude is as inspiring as their baseball records. Retro illustrations take readers back to the 1930s and 1940s.

Woodson, Jacqueline. Each Kindness.
A story of disconnections and regret when a child misses an opportunity of being a friend; while the illustrations reflect a beautiful outside world, the personal world shows isolation and loneliness. (A 2013 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book)

Older Readers  

Blumenthal, Karen. Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different.
From birth, early adoption, and early education through his failures and successes, this even-handed biography presents the enigmatic innovator in all his complexity for readers who have never known a world without computers.  (A 2013 YALSA Finalist for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults)

Hartman, Rachel. Seraphina.
In Goredd, dragons and humans live in uneasy peace. Hartman pulls Seraphina, a half-human/half-dragon teen musician, into the intrigue at court.  Internally logical, suspenseful with just a hint of romance. (The YALSA 2013 William C. Morris Award Book)

Levinson, Cynthia Y. We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March.
Four children, who risked their lives in the momentous march, provide their personal accounts of that historic event. Beautifully designed and illustrated with archival photographs.  

Lowry, Lois. Son.
The powerful conclusion of The Giver quartet, Son stands alone as a story of friendship, love, loss, and sacrifice.

Montgomery, Sy. Temple Grandin: How the Girl who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World.
Using interviews, blueprints, and accessible narrative, the author explains the workings of the autistic brain while introducing the life of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman famous for her animal rights advocacy.

Murphy, Jim and Alison Blank. Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure.
This meticulously organized and thorough account of the disease tracks its ancient history, its treatments, and the ongoing pursuit of a cure.

Pitcher, Annabel. My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece.
A painful, sometimes comic, but ultimately hopeful, story about a family coping with grief, while confronting their own biases against Muslims.  

Rappaport, Doreen. Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance during the Holocaust.
Faces draw us into history. Filled with abundant photographs and stirring personal accounts, this inspiring, well-researched history reveals and recognizes courageous Jews and righteous Gentiles who fought back during the Holocaust.  

Telgemeier, Raina. Drama.
Callie's personal drama on the tech-crew -- unrequited crushes, a first kiss, middle-school cliques -- is a spot-on tribute to teamwork, strong friendships, and individuality.  (A 2013 Stonewall Honor Book)

All Ages 

Coombs, Kate. Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems.
Twenty-three poems illustrated in loosely-flowing watercolors include ʺsongsʺ in praise of the ocean and the life within. A memorable sea excursion.

Farrar, Sid. The Year Comes Round : Haiku through the Seasons.
A cycle of seasons is vividly described and lushly illustrated in this collection of haiku.

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs that Squeak, Soar, and Roar! Ed. by J. Patrick Lewis. illus. National Geographic.
In a collection for all ages, Lewis pairs poems by classic and modern poets with breathtaking photos from the National Geographic archives that capture the amazing diversity of the animal world. 

Zullo, Germano. Little Bird.
The expressive, simple illustrations wordlessly show how a man’s kindness is repaid by a grateful bird; a graphic depiction of “It’s the little things that count.”