Caldecott-winner Jon Klassen and The Series of Unfortunate Events author Lemony Snicket (talk about a dynamic duo) tackle one of childhood’s toughest topics: the dark.
Readers are led into a dark basement in this charming and beautifully illustrated tale about conquering your fear of the dark. Just slightly spooky, but ultimately sweet, this picture book will have you reading and rereading long after lights out.
-Erin
The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen; Little Brown; $16.99
I’m a pretty critical reader. I guess that’s because I read a lot of things, so inevitably I start to feel a little jaded. But when a special book crosses my path, one that jolts me out of my stupor with its originality or voice or what have you, I get very excited.
For this reason, I love Goodreads. Not only can I keep track of what I’ve read, but I can organize books based on how I rated them. And at the tippy-top of the list is my handful of five star picks, the books that I think are just plain extraordinary.
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen; Candlewick Press; 15.99; Ages 3-adult
Opening line: “This hat is not mine. I just stole it.”
For fans of: I Want My Hat Back; I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean
Also, it’s this year’s Caldecott medalist.
Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett, illus. by Adam Rex; Hyperion (HarperCollins); 16.99; Ages 3-8
Opening line: “This is me, Mac. I’m the author of this book.”
For fans of: The Three Pigs; Oh, No!: or How My Science Project Destroyed the World
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente; Square Fish (Macmillan); 6.99; Ages 9-adult
Opening line: “Once upon a time, a girl named September grew very tired indeed of her parents’ house, where she washed the same pink-and-yellow teacups and matching gravy boats every day, slept on the same embroidered pillow, and played with the same small and amiable dog.”
For fans of: The Chronicles of Narnia; Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu; HarperCollins; 6.99; Ages 9-adult
Opening line: “It snowed right before Jack stopped talking to Hazel, fluffy white flakes big enough to show their crystal architecture, like perfect geometric poems.”
For fans of: Peter Pan; Liesl and Po
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt; Clarion (Houghton Mifflin); 16.99; Ages 10-adult
Opening line: “Joe Pepitone once gave me his New York Yankees baseball cap. I’m not lying. He gave it to me. To me, Doug Swieteck. To me.”
For fans of: The Wednesday Wars; Al Capone Does My Shirts
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz; Candlewick Press; 17.99; Ages 10-adult
Opening line: “The witch burned. She tossed in a sea of blankets, dizzy with heat. It was fever, not fire, that tormented her, fever and the nightmares that came with it.”
For fans of: Charles Dickens; Catherine, Called Birdy
And it’s a 2013 Newbery Honor Book!
Want to read more from any of these awesome titles? Call us and we’ll put them on hold! (703) 548-4092.
Read on, readers!
Miss Megan
We’ve been sifting through new books all year, narrowing down our favorites in preparation for the Caldecott awards on January 23! Here’s the second half of our predictions for the coveted prize.
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray, illus. by Marla Frazee; Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster); Ages 3-7
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, illus. Christopher Silas Neal; Chronicle Books; Ages 3-7
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen; Candlewick Press; Ages 3-6
Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan; Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan); Ages 3-6
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith; Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan); Ages 3-6
Interested in picking our booksellers’ brains for more of their favorites of this past year? Stop by and chat up our front desk any time!
Each of us here at Hooray for Books has our favorites that we’ve fallen in love with throughout the year. Today, Miss Megan shares the books that became her favorites over the past 12 months.
A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness; Candlewick Press, $16.99, ages 12+
Okay for Now, by Gary Schmidt; Clarion Books, $16.99, ages 10+
Chime, by Frannie Billingsley; Dial Books, $17.99, ages 14+
I Want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen; Chronicle Books, $15.99, ages 3+
Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu; Walden Pond Press, $16.99, ages 10+
Everybody Sees the Ants, by A.S. King; Little Brown Books for Young Readers, $17.99, ages 14+
If you would like us to reserve a copy of any of these titles, call us at 703-548-4092 or come on in! We would love to show you more of our favorite books!
