Top Picture Books 2012

Even in the middle school we read picture books! Teachers like them for concise examples of concepts that they can read and use the same day. Students like them because it eases some of the stress of middle school like: the testing, the teasing, the trying to figure out what how you want to be known. I just like them!

Top Picture Book reads of 2012

from Abram's Books for Young Readers

Kel Gilligan's Daredevil Stunt Show by Michael Buckley, ill by Dan Santat (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2012. 40p. $16.95. 9781419703799.)
From eating, to bathing, to sleeping, Buckley takes the ordinary day of a child and turns it into something special. And the illustrations by Santat are phenomonal and pull you even further into Kel's day!

from Random House

Boy + Bot by Amy Dyckman, ill by Dan Yaccarino (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2012. 32p. $16.99. 9780375867569.)
Great interpretation of what it means to be friends and how friends take care of each other.  We may be different, but we all want someone to love us the best way they can!

from HarperCollinsChildrens

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, ill by Jon Klassen (Balzer and Bray, 2012. 40p. $16.99. 9780061953385)
My favorite thing about this book are the illustrations.  Klassen has illustrated many books including The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (a great middle grade series full of mystery and humor), last year's I Want My Hat Back and this year's This is Not My Hat. His style is distinctive and full of character. 

from Random House

This Is Not My Hat written and ill by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press, 2012. 40p. $15.99. 9780763655990)
Though the title sounds like a follow-up to I Want My Hat Back, it isn't. This humorous story takes place underwater as that cool looking guppy on the cover tries to hide so he can keep the hat he found.

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