I am committed to finding books with excellent writing, illustration, and message, but one of my primary criteria of book selection is discovering books that will be loved by children. In and out of classrooms and constantly sharing books, I've put together a list of books that children have most loved during 1998.
Keith Faulker's The Long-Nosed Pig: A Pop-up Book (Dial, $11.99; ages 3-6) tells a cautionary tale about pride when a snooty long-nosed pig misses seeing a tree and is responsible for the short snouts of pigs today. Message is good, but the very young most enjoy the repeatable refrains and the startling pop-out at book's end.
Rhyme, rhythm, and silliness reign in Sarah Weeks' Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash (Harper Collins, $9.95; ages 3-6). Mrs. McNosh is a fastidious woman so dedicated to cleaning that she cheerfully hangs up phone, dinner, and finally herself at the end of an exhausting day of cleaning.
Mary Ann Hoberman extends the familiar chant-clap game in Miss Mary Mack (Little Brown, $14.95; ages 4-7). This Mary Mack trades her silver buttons to gain the elephant as a pet. Nadine Westcott's illustrations add silly detailing that perfectly accompany the text. A favorite is the pacaderm-shaped swimming pool created by the elephant's landing.
Multicultural understanding comes to the young in Rosemary Wells' Yoko (Hyperion $14.95; ages 4-7). The heroine is a young Asian kitty whose lunches seem strange to the others in her class. When the wise teacher arranges an International Food Day, another student falls in love with sushi. Children have enjoyed talking of different foods, I love the underpinning realism. Only one child understands, but sometimes that's all it takes to make a child feel part of the whole.
Humor runs Mordicai Gerstein's unlikely Stop Those Pants! (HBJ, $14.00; ages 5-7). When Murray wakes, he has a hard time dressing for school. All his clothes are alive and his unruly pants just won't be tamed. Adults and children will relate to the difficulties of a child having a hard morning. I know one third grader who could hardly read this aloud because he was laughing so hard!
Two books by Laura Simms' were popular picks. The Bone Man : A Native American Modoc Tale (Hyperion, $14.95; ages 7 and up) has scary illustrations by Michael McCurdy which suck students into the story of a boy who must face the skeletal monster who has devoured his people. The story's loaded with conflict that holds child interest. As an adult, I also appreciate the tale of a boy who learns integrity, courage and respect for his elders.
Simms' Rotten Teeth (Houghton Mifflin, $15.00; ages 7-10) finds Melissa Herman looking for the perfect Show and Tell. Her big brother recommends taking their dentist father's bottle of floating rotten teeth. Melissa agrees and her life is changed forever. Not only does she bring the best Show and Tell, but she's launched as a storyteller. The author does a great job of realistic and ridiculous portraits of classroom life and David Catrow's illustrations add a wonderful element of fantasy and humor.
David Shannon's strong colors pull children into the story of a young girl who cares more about what her peers think than what she herself desires until she comes down with A Bad Case of Stripes (Scholastic, $15.95; ages 6 and up). Camilla comes down with stripes, which spread to spots and before long every peer, expert, and specialist adds another oddity to her appearance. The ending is totally predictable, but all children have loved the journey getting there.
Three tales that are consistently chosen have given way to fabulous philosophical conversations. Odds Bodkin rewrites the Japanese legend The Crane Wife (HBJ, $16.00; ages 8 and up) with glorious illustrations by Gennady Spirin. The story tells of a poor sail maker who pushes his mysterious wife beyond her capacities and breaks his promise because of greed. As a result he loses his wife and all prospects for love and wealth.
Alma Flor Ada's The Malachite Palace (Atheneum, $16.00; ages 8 and up) tells the story of an overprotected young princess whose haughty caretakers deprive her of fun and peer relationship. Many are the metaphors, deeper meanings, and feelings that have opened conversation.
Natalie Babbit retells a Grimm story in Ouch! (Harper Collins, $14.95; ages 8 and up)about a young boy who takes on a controlling, cruel king. Fred Marcellino's illustrations highlight the king's devilment and how his evil makes for his sorry ending. Lots of twists and turns keep children thinking on their toes.
Edward Sorel's Johnny on the Spot (McElderry, $16.00; ages 6-10) transported students to another time and place with a mingling of science fiction and history in this long picture book. When Johnny's radio breaks and his parents have no money to fix it, a mad scientist, Mr. Zaga transforms it into a future telling instrument. Though somewhat predictable in outcome, there are questions of honesty and lots of wonderment along the way.
I teased many classrooms with excerpts from David Wisniewski's wonderful The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups (Lothrop, $16.00; ages 7-12). Wisniewski , well-known for his cut paper illustrations, brightens his work to match the colorful, zany secrets behind eight worn out adult sayings. Take for example Grown-up Rule #31: Eat your vegetables. The Official Reason is: They're good for you. With a quick page turn, kids can learn the truth, Wisniewski style. You see, once meat-eating vegetables ruled the earth and now you've got to eat vegetables to "keep the little horrors fearful and demoralized and to protect modern civilization."
This year my daughter grew into the Young Adult novels I love so much. She, like her mom, likes best the books she can cry over and her very favorite this year was Petey by Ben Mikaelsen (Hyperion, $16.00, ages 10 and up) . The story begins with Petey's infancy and the sad discovery that there is something very physically wrong. Prevented by accurate diagnosis by historical ignorance, Petey who suffers from cerebral palsy is deemed an idiot and imprisoned for his entire life in institutions. The story is told in a series of the people who grow to love him and how each tragically deserts him after a period of time.
And the book that got the most use around our house this year: Judy Ann Sadler's small paperback Making Candles (Kids Can Press, $5.95; ages 8 and up). My daughter and several of her friends have used photos and easy-to-follow directions to make frosted cupcake candles, molded and chunky candles. The book has provided so many self-made gifts and hours of enjoyment that I almost haven't minded cleaning up all the mess!