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September 08, 2007
The Best Books of 2007 (So Far)
MotherReader is compiling a list: The Best Books of 2007 (So Far). She has a whole buncha categories (click to see what’s what), but I only feel as though I’ve read enough 2007 releases to participate in a few: Picture Books, Early Elementary, and Elementary. Honestly, Early Elementary and Elementary are a stretch. I’m always up on my picture book reading, but I have read few 2007 releases that are longer than 32 pages. My middle school and high school reading has been devoted exclusively to Meg Cabot’s newest releases and books published prior to 2007 (with a big notable exception for Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature, which is awesome, by which I mean, “go read it now”).
“Best” is one of those words that’s difficult to define. Rather than go for anything silly like literary or artistic merit, I’m going to go for books that are good enough that I feel like I’d happily read them again (and again). Here goes:
Picture Books
[Note: MR says we have to limit our picks to five per category. This was hard for me here, and I wound up leaving off books I really love. Just FYI, great year for picture books.]
Cowboy & Octopus by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
I’ve read this a million times, and it is still dang funny. I wish I could talk like a cowboy.
Fabian Escapes by Peter McCarty
I love McCarty’s style of illustration, and it ties in perfectly with his understated stories of Hondo the dog and Fabian the cat. In this book, I am endlessly amused by Fabian jumping the fence and rolling in the dirt. Nary a page is a loser.
Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems
Everyone’s going to be picking this one, since the story is solid and the illustrations are AMAZING. The combination of photographs and drawings in Knuffle Bunny was excellent, but Willems managed to kick it up a notch here with illustrations one can only marvel over.
Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett
I stand amazed at the way Gravett took four simple words and made them fresh and interesting on every page.
Pssst! by Adam Rex
I LOVE THIS GUY’S BOOKS. I haven’t read Smekday yet, but it’s hard to imagine something more brilliant than this book about a girl at the zoo who is inconvenienced at every turn by animals who want her to run their errands. The girl is interested and annoyed at the same time, and the illustrations are typical Rex – completely rewarding repeated viewings with layered detail and wit.
Early Elementary
Dogs and Cats by Steve Jenkins
I don’t usually groove on the nonfiction, but I love Jenkin’s illustrations, the flip-book format, and the content. It’s a fresh take on a popular topic, and even I learned some things I didn’t know. Huzzah!
Today and Today by Issa, illustrated by G. Brian Karas.
You could argue with me and say Karas’ collection of haiku by Issa is really a picture book, but I could only put five books in the Picture Book category and I’ve been under a lot of strain with my car breaking down every other day and I don’t think you want to test me right now. Anyway, you know that poem where Keats (John, not Ezra Jack) goes on about that whole truth and beauty thing? This book is exactly what he meant. Categories aside, this is probably my favorite book of the whole year.
Today I Will Fly by Mo Willems
I love all of the Elephant and Piggie books, but this one’s the best. The back-and-forth is at its wry best here. It’s a great read-aloud, too, which is a sadly rare quality in the world of very beginning readers.
Elementary
I Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos
We could argue about whether or not this is a book for elementary-aged kids. I’d give it to the right fifth or sixth grader, though, and I loved the book without reservation.
The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Marla Frazee
This book is just so funny and wonderful. I love the text. I love the illustrations. I love the name “Pennypacker.” I love the pretty orange cover. Of course it’s one of the best books of the year.
Posted by adrienne at September 8, 2007 08:41 AM
Comments
These are great choices. One of these days, I'll get around to writing up my list. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Vivian at September 8, 2007 05:44 PM
Love lots of your choices. (Guess which ones stand out for MoReader?) Some I haven't seen yet. I'll bet that a lot of the others that you loved will be loved by someone else and will make it on the Big List.
Posted by: MotherReader at September 8, 2007 08:15 PM
Great list! I hope to do mine this week. There will be many similarities, I think (this is not a surprise to me. I think we think alike).
Posted by: Jules at September 10, 2007 10:59 AM
So, what'd you leave off?
Posted by: Marcia at September 10, 2007 12:42 PM
Jules, So true. :)
Marcia, I was thinking of doing a post on this at some point. I usually do some kind of favorites a little closer to the end of the year. Anyway, off the top of my head, for picture books I considered:
Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell
Pretty Salma by Niki Daly
The Zoo by Suzy Lee
and
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
They are all quite excellent as well.
Posted by: adrienne at September 10, 2007 09:40 PM