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The Best Children’s Books of 2007
By Holly E. Newton
I’ve just compiled my annual list of
favorite books from 2007. Even though I only review the best books
every week, I still develop my top favorites because they are so
good. Most of these books have inspiring messages within them.
I’ll begin with picture books that
are great for all ages. Ivan the Terrier, written
and illustrated by Peter Catalanotto, is a hilarious interchange
between the storyteller and a small terrier that keeps interrupting.
600 Black Spots, by David A. Carter, is a rare look inside a brilliant pop-up artist's most brilliant
display! I've never seen anything like his pop-up books and
this one is NO disappointment!
Click to Buy
 Max’s
Magic Seeds, by Geraldine Elschner, and illustrated by Jean-Pierre
Corderoch, is a beautiful story about kindness and sharing and how
the earth grows richer with each seed planted!
The Story of Roy Campanella,
by David A. Adler, is about this inspiring hall-of-famer
and how he became the first African-American catcher in the major
leagues. This book powerfully displays Campanella’s positive outlook
on life even in the midst of negativity. Even when an auto accident
left him as a paraplegic, he continued his positive outlook and
his concern for helping others! The wonderful oil painting illustrations
are by Gordon C. James.
Henry’s Freedom Box: A True
Story From the Underground Railroad, by Ellen Levine, tells
about a young slave who escapes to freedom by mailing himself from
the South to Pennsylvania; Kadir Nelson painted the breathtaking
pictures.
Cherish Today: A Celebration
of Life’s Moments, by Cristina Evans, and illustrated by
Bryan Collier, encourages us to enjoy all that surrounds us and
to take each day one at a time!
Click to Buy
 Jesse
Owens: Fastest Man Alive, by Carole Boston Weatherford,
and illustrated by Eric Velasquez, is the amazing account of how
a sharecropper’s son and grandson of a slave became the first African-American
to win Olympic gold medals and show Hitler that color, race and
pedigree make no difference!
Click to Buy
 The
rest of the books are geared for ages 9 through adult and you won’t
be able to put any of these books down! The Invention of
Hugo Cabret, written and creatively illustrated throughout
by Brian Selznick, will most likely be in the running for this year’s
Newbery award. It begins and runs through 45 pages of an illustrated
story without words. The ensuing pages connect words and pictures
telling about this imaginative invention.
by M. J. Auch,
is a remarkable story about 11-year-old Norm, who lost his hand
while helping at his father’s meat market. Through hard work
and determination, he succeeds at his dream of playing baseball.
The story is loosely based on the author’s husband and is truly
inspirational.
Click to Buy
 Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J. K. Rowling, is her
last book in this incredible and ever popular series. It would
be very hard to continually top the previous book written and only
Rowling has proven time and time again, that she is a genius.
Click to Buy
 The
Mailbox, by Audrey Shafer, is an astonishing mystery about
12-year-old Gabe, who has left the foster home and gone to live
with his estranged uncle. The mystery lies in who his uncle really
is and the unknown person who delivers letters in their mailbox.
Reaching for Sun, by Tracie Vaughn
Zimmer, is written in free verse and reflects on a 7th
grade girl and her dealing with cerebral palsy.
Peter and the Shadow Thieves, by Dave
Barry and Ridley Pearson, is as good as their first book — Peter
and the Starcatchers. This magical book takes you back to
Peter’s early enchanted days when he’s searching for the magical
starstuff that can make you fly and keep you young.
Click to Buy
 Weedflower,by
Cynthia Kadohata, is about 12-year-old Sumiko, and her Japanese
family, as they are moved from their flower farm to an internment
camp. The story is rich in lessons of life and how to make the
best of everyday living and not discriminate.
Click to Buy
 The
Trap, by John Smelcer, is a northern wilderness adventure
about how Grandfather Albert gets caught in a wolf trap as the cold
weather worsens and his life-threatening predicament turns into
days of misery.
Jim Thorpe: Original All-American, by
Joseph Bruchac, is the inspirational story about how one Native
American who was born on a reservation overcame horrific challenges
and went on to play professional football, baseball and win Olympic
gold in track and field.
Snow Treasure, by Marie McSwigan,
is a reissue that’s based on a true account of Norwegian children
saving gold bullion from the Nazis during WWII. The illustrations
sprinkled throughout are by Mary Reardon.
Click to Buy
 Fundorado Island:
Redbeard’s Discoveries and His Adventures too, by
Captain Redbeard, and illustrated by Chris Murphy, would be terrific
fun to read aloud since the language of the old captain is in “pirate
talk.” The adventures are sure to capture your imagination.
Click to Buy
 The
Legend of Bass Reeves, by Gary Paulsen, is based on a largely
unknown hero. He was “the most successful federal marshal in
the history of the United
States” and lived from 1824 to 1910. He
was honest, brave and African American.
Yellow Star, by Jennifer Roy, is a
story that needs to be told through all generations. The author
gently relates her aunt’s story about her experience as a Jew
in one of the worst concentration camps in Poland
during WWII. It’s told very well and won’t soon be forgotten
and never should be.
And for the sports fans, Vanishing Act,
by John Feinstein, takes you behind the scene of professional
tennis. This terrific mystery takes place at the U. S. Open and
the two teenage reporters are attempting to solve the vanishing
of one of the tennis stars. Here is another terrific sports mystery
by Mr. Feinstein.
Click to Buy
 And
last but not least is Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star,
by Brandon Mull. This is the second in the series and won’t
disappoint you. The same brother and sister team are helping their
grandpa take care of a mythical magical refuge but things go awry.
If you’ve not read any of
Mull’s fantasies, you’re truly missing
out.
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Meridian Magazine.
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