The Best Books for Children - 2013
Award season is upon us!
But did you know that the very best of the best in books for children are also recognized this month? In less than two weeks (Monday, January 28th) the American Library Association will name the recipients of their 2013 ALA Youth Media Awards, including the John Newbery Medal, the Randolph Caldecott Medal, and the Coretta Scott King Book Awards.
In preparation for this exciting news, Richland Library’s team of Children’s Librarians has put together a list featuring some of our favorite books from 2012. Check out the titles, below, or stop by your favorite library location for more great recommendations. And check back on the 28th to discover if your favorite book or author won.
Leah B. Says: Board Book
Amazon Says: This interactive board book allows children to learn their ABC's with 26 durable sliding panels and a whole alphabet of colorful creatures. Kids will love reading this book a...
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Leah B. Says: Board Book
Amazon Says: Children and parents alike will delight in this joyous declaration of toddler independence. This book celebrates the feats of growing out of babyhood and starting to embrace t...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: WINNER OF THE 2013 CALDECOTT MEDAL! From the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling and award-winning I Want My Hat Back comes a second wry tale. When a tiny f...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: Die cut pages bring surprise after surprise in this magical new book from the "Queen of the concept book"—an intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creat...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: The lights are out—and so are the impy house mice—in this delightful nighttime cat-and-mouse adventure.Could it be true that mice are…nice? That’s certainly wh...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: It's time for bed, and a little boy chooses his favorite book for his mother to read to him. The bear in the book is preparing for his own deep slumber, hibernating through t...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: Winner of a 2013 Caldecott Honor and the 2012 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Picture Books. It looks like an ordinary box full of ordinary yarn. Bu...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: Z is for Zebra.Zebra is absolutely certain he’ll be able to direct everyone to appear on the correct page, at the appropriate time, without any mishaps, unnecessary drama, o...
Amazon
Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: It was almost winter and Bear was getting sleepy. But first, Bear had a story to tell...Bear found his friend Mouse, but Mouse was busy gathering seeds and didn't have time to...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: Two adorably floppy dogs confront unexpected change in this endearing picture book from two-time Caldecott Honor medalist Marla Frazee.Boot and Shoe were born into the...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. One day—for no particular rea...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: As Elephant counts from one to ten, all the animals find special places to hide. When it's time to seek, will he be able to find everyone . . . even Chameleon? Like Na's prev...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: Following a snow-filled winter, a young boy and his dog decide that they've had enough of all that brown and resolve to plant a garden. They dig, they plant, they play, they w...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: While out foraging for interesting things, Vernon the toad finds a new friend - a small blue bird who is curiously silent. Vernon shows Bird the river and the forest and some ...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: Late at night, when all is quiet and everyone is asleep, a ninja creeps silently through the house in search of treasure. Soon he reaches his ultimate goal...and gets a big su...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: "This picture book reads like an instant classic.... Oh, yes!" raved Kirkus Reviews in a starred review. Young children will delight in repeating the refrain "OH, NO!" as one...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: On August 28, 1963, a remarkable event took place--more than 250,000 people gathered in our nation's capital to participate in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Th...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: Two giant, imposing dragons confront their greatest fears…each other!East Dragon and West Dragon live on opposite sides of the world. They have never met—and they ...
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Leah B. Says: Picture Book
Amazon Says: The #1 New York Times Bestseller This irresistible sequel to the New York Times bestselling How Rocket Learned to Read is "a perfect choice to inspire new readers and ...
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Leah B. Says: Beginning Reader
Amazon Says: Take a tour of a medieval castle. Every part of the castle has a function. Walls keep the enemy out. Towers protect the lord and the soldiers. From the moat and portcullis to...
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Leah B. Says: Beginning Reader
Amazon Says: Cork is a muskrat who likes small, safe adventures. Fuzz is a possum who likes big, exciting adventures. When Fuzz convinces Cork to go with him on a snowy exploration in the ...
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Leah B. Says: Beginning Reader
Amazon Says: “Get up!” cries Mac. “It’s hot outside.So hot we need to take a ride. The bus will take us to the sea. Get up now, Cheese, and come with me!”Best friends Mac and Che...
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Leah B. Says: Beginning Reader
Amazon Says: WINNER OF A 2013 GEISEL HONOR! Rabbit’s carefully planned visit with Robot doesn’t work out exactly as he imagined in this offbeat tale about two comically mismatched ...
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Leah B. Says: Novel
Amazon Says: Lulu loves animals. When Lulu finds a duck egg that has rolled out of its nest, she takes it to class to keep it safe. Lulu isn't allowed to bring pets to school. But she's no...
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Leah B. Says: Novel
Amazon Says: Wahoo Cray lives in a zoo. His father is an animal wrangler, so he's grown up with all manner of gators, snakes, parrots, rats, monkeys, snappers, and more in his backyard. Th...
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Leah B. Says: Novel
Amazon Says: "We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful" is the motto of Deza Malone's family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teache...
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Leah B. Says: Novel
Amazon Says: I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from ...
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Leah B. Says: Novel
Amazon Says: Feisty Lulu sets out to earn some cash in this illustrated chapter book from children’s book legends Judith Viorst and Lane Smith.The stubbornly hilarious Lulu has d...
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Leah B. Says: Novel
Amazon Says: An instant New York Times bestseller, Liar & Spy is a story about games and friendship. Seventh-grader Georges moves into a Brooklyn apartment building and meets Safer, a twe...
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Leah B. Says: Nonfiction
Amazon Says: A paean to play from an award-winning poet and a New York Times best-selling illustrator. The trappings of childhood change from generation to generation, but there are so...
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- American Library Association
Award announcements will be posted on the American Library Association's website on Monday, January 28th. You can also see a list of previous years' award winners by clicking the Awards & Grants link in the left-hand column and then clicking on Book, Print & Media Awards.