Best Book That's Already Got Lots of Awards:
"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Best for Ages 9 and Up
This semi-autobiographical tale from Sherman Alexie racked up a lot of honors this year — including the 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature — but we would have put it on our list, prizes or not. Narrator Arnold Spirit tells his story in the voice of a kid your kids will wish they knew. And the tale he tells is pretty great, too: Arnold is odd-man-out as the poor kid from an Indian reservation who has recently transferred to a school for super-wealthy kids, but with his attitude and some basketball skills, Arnold is pretty triumphant and readers can't help but root for him.
Purchase this book on Amazon.com.

Best Laugh-Out-Loud Funny Book:
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Best for Ages 8 and Up
The "wimpy kid" in question here is one Greg Heffley and Web-savvy readers might recognize the character from the site, funbrain.com, where author Kinney launched this "diary" as a comic. Told in handwritten words and illustrations, the reader follows Greg — forced by his mother into keeping a diary that he obstinately calls a journal — through the traumas of middle-school. The first book was so popular a series of five "novels in cartoons" starring Greg are planned, with the next emerging in 2008.
Purchase this book on Amazon.com.

Best Instructional Picture Book:
"Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners" by Laurie Heller

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Best for Ages 4 and Up
Emily Post could have used an illustrator like Laurie Heller. No one would forget what fork to use if cartoon otters modeled table manners in handy, colorful diagrams. In this picture book, Heller illustrates the do's and don'ts of the Golden Rule with Mr. Rabbit and his neighbors — the Otters, natch. Grown-ups take note: On Amazon.com, Heller's book page includes four exclusive illustrations on email "Otter-quette" to hang in your office.
Purchase this book on Amazon.com.

Best New Spin on an Old Tale:
"Nothing" by John Agee

Publisher: Hyperion
Best for Ages 4 and Up
The latest from kids' author and illustrator Agee brings to mind "The Emperor's New Clothes." Agee's tale focuses on a town full of eager consumers frenzied to buy ... nothing. Imported nothing, designer nothing, whatever's-of-the-moment nothing. Agee's illustrations are simple and vividly colored, and the tale imparts a good but subtle lesson on why getting what you want isn't always so great.
Purchase this book on Amazon.com.

Best Book By a Celebrity Mom:
"Freckleface Strawberry" by Julianne Moore and LeUyen Pham

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Best for Ages 3 and Up
Sometimes a celebrity-penned children's book comes out to much fanfare and applause but makes readers wish the actor-turned-author just designed some handbags or put their name on perfume instead. Julianne Moore's is a golden exception. With adorable illustrations by award-winner LeUyen Pham and Moore's tale of a girl desperate to end her freckled curse, "Freckleface Strawberry" feels like the kind of story Moore would tell her own kids. It's personal and conversational with a message parents and kids can appreciate.
Purchase this book on Amazon.com.

 
 

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