The Best Picture
Books of 2006
By Holly E. Newton
I’ve carefully selected my favorite 2006 picture books. There’s a nice variety of topics, to be enjoyed by all ages. There are books to inspire, motivate, enjoy and those that will simply make you laugh. After last week’s annual listing of top fiction books (which was very difficult to narrow down), I thought that this list would be easier. But choosing this week’s list for younger kids proved to be just as hard!
Here Comes Darrell, by Leda Schubert, and illustrated by Mary Azarian, is a story about selflessness. This story, based on Darrell K. Farnham, is an inspiring story about an older gentleman who goes out at all times of the day and night to help his neighbors dig out from a snowstorm. If only we had more people in this world like Darrell!
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The
King’s Highway, retold and illustrated by Howard Fullmer, is the
type of story that every family should read aloud again and again. A young
shepherd hears about the King giving his kingdom to the individual who best
travels his road. The wonderful lessons taught in this inspiring tale will
surely motivate all who read it!
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The
Bake Shop Ghost, by Jacqueline K. Ogburn, is a delectable tale about
a ghost who haunts her old bakery, and the new owner. Can this new baker
discover the secret recipe to appease the lonely ghost and finally make
her leave? The ending is so fulfilling, you’ll almost feel full!
Hold the Flag High, by Catherine Clinton, and illustrated by Shane W. Evans, is the true account of how the first African American Union soldier was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He refused to let the American flag touch the ground while in the line of fire.
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Flamingos
on the Roof, by Calef Brown, is a clever and humorous poetry book
that includes Bug Show about mosquitoes, crickets and slugs. The
catch line questions, How do slugs applaud, you ask? Perhaps they tap
their shiny tails and wag them to and fro.
I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children, selected by Marian Wright Edelman, and with beautiful illustrations by Barry Moser, is a collection of familiar stories, poems and quotes to inspire, motivate and encourage children to become better people. One such inspiring tip is from The Little Engine That Could. The encouraging words from this story, writes Ms. Edelman, is I can make a difference by persevering and not giving up.
Memories
of Survival, by Esther Nisenthal Krinitz and Bernice Steinhardt,
recounts Esther’s memories of her Jewish family’s experience living in
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Museum
Trip, by Barbara Lehman, is a clever wordless book that takes you
on a field trip through a museum. The adventure begins when a young boy
loses the rest of the group and ends up inside one of the exhibits. A rare
treat!
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Look
Closer: Art Masterpieces through the Ages, by Caroline Desnoettes,
is an art adventure that will captivate even the non-artist. The gorgeous
art covers one side of the page and the opposite brings the detail closer
as you lift a flap and learn.
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Follow
the Line, by Laura Ljungkvist, is very clever picture book where
the author/illustrator begins with one line that curves, circles and loops
to make different scenes as you follow it to the culminating end!
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Duck
& Goose, written and illustrated by Tad Hills, is a story about
conflict and competition, but eventually compatibility and conformity.
These two animals find what they think is an egg — but what they discover
about the egg and each other will help teach kids how to get along.
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Eats,
Shoots & Leaves: Why Commas Really Do Make a Difference!, by
Lynne Truss, and illustrated by Bonnie Timmons, will at last teach the true
meaning of why punctuation is important in our language. The simple examples
throughout will prove this to be true. Look at that huge hot dog! Above
this statement is an illustration of a hot dog on a bun that’s larger than
the children pictured. On the opposite side reads, Look at that huge,
hot dog! This picture has a very large dog that appears to be very
hot.
The Ladder, by Danish poet Halfdan Rasmussen, translated by Marilyn Nelson, and colorfully illustrated by Pierre Pratt, is an unusual story about a very tall ladder with people and objects beyond the clouds. Fold-outs, both horizontal and vertical, make this story a creative delight!
Luck: The Story of a Sandhill Crane, by Jean Craighead George, and illustrated by Wendell Minor, will take you on a long trip as these beautiful birds travel thousands of miles every Spring from Northern Canada to Siberia in order to lay their eggs. The paintings, along with this amazing story, are breathtaking!
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