Speaking Volumes

I’ve already seen a fair share of ‘best of…” lists for 2010. Best movies, best music, best blogs, and yes, best books. I can’t help but create my own list for 2010. Drum roll please…here are just a *few* of my faves:
 
Young readers:
 
Chalk, by Bill Thompson

 
Chalk is a beautiful wordless picture book in which three children find some magical chalk and use it to draw pictures that come to life. Check it out and let your imagination run wild!
 
How Rocket Learned to Read, by Tad Hill

 
A little yellow bird teaches Rocket the dog how to read, enticing him by reading stories aloud. Rocket practices his letters all winter as he waits for his teacher to return. This story, and its illustrations, are adorable. 
 
We are in a Book! by Mo Willems

 
I'm a die hard Mo Willems fan so its no surprise that I loved this latest edition to his Elephant and Piggie series. It's pretty much garunteed to make kids laugh out loud.
 
Junior Fiction and Young Adult:
 
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book 1: The Mysterious Howling, by Maryrose Wood

 
I loved this book! School Library Journal described it best as, “Jane Eyre meets Lemony Snicket in this smart, surprising satire of a 19th-century English governess story.” Follow 15 year old governess Penelope as she tries to teach (and tame) the three children who were literally raised by wolves and found on her masters property. This funny mystery is just the first in the series, so be on the look out for the next one, The Hidden Gallery, out in February.

Cosmic, by Frank Cottrell Boyce
 

12 year old Liam is very tall is already sprouting a beard, so he is often mistaken for an adult. Taking advantage of this, he enters a ‘World’s Best Dad’ contest with his friend and wins them a trip into outer space as the adult chaperone! Before I even read this one I loved the premise - and the book certainly lived up to my expectations. It is very funny and would be a great pick as a holiday gift.

Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins

   

Hunger Games fans waited anxiously for this third and final installment in the trilogy. What would happen to Panem? Who would Katniss choose – Peeta or Gale? Our questions were answered in this exciting (and violent!) finale.