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    Notable Children's Books 2018 

    Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) 

    LINK

     

    Alfie. By Thyra Heder
    The reader gets both sides of the story in this clever tale of a lost pet and the search for a perfect birthday gift. 
     
    All Around Us. By Xelena González
    A young girl and her grandfather explore the world around them and discover how circles are relevant to and shape their experiences. (Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)
     
    All the Way to Havana. By Margarita Engle
    In this beautifully illustrated book, a family drives to Havana, Cuba, in their well-worn car, experiencing the sights and sounds of the streets. 
     
    Baby Goes to Market. By Atinuke 
    In a vibrant Nigerian marketplace, mama shops while baby delights the various vendors, picking up a few unexpected items along the way. 
     
    Big Cat, Little Cat. By Elisha Cooper 
    Distinctly expressive lines, boldly contrasting illustrations, and minimal text draw the reader into this beautifully poignant story of love, learning, and loss. (Caldecott Honor Book)
     
    Blue Sky, White Stars. By Sarvinder Naberhaus
    Strikingly beautiful paintings and just a few words invite readers to rethink the meaning of patriotic phrases and ideas.
     
    The Book of Mistakes. By Corinna Luyken
    Stunning illustrations illuminate the creative process about how mistakes are not always negative and can open the door to a bigger picture. 
     
    The Boy and the Whale. By Mordicai Gerstein 
    A young boy faces a moral choice when a whale gets caught in the family fishing net.
     
    Charlie & Mouse. By Laurel Snyder
    Charlie and Mouse, two hilarious brothers, talk to bed lumps, plan a spontaneous neighborhood party, sell rocks, and invent new bedtime traditions. (Geisel Award Book)
     
    Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos. By Monica Brown
    A fictional account of the life of young artist Frida Kahlo that celebrates her connection to the animals she loved and painted. (Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)
     
    Good Night, Planet. By Liniers
    Stuffed animal Planet makes new friends and has adventures all while his owner sleeps in this gentle, engaging graphic novel for young readers.
     
    A Greyhound, a Groundhog. By Emily Jenkins
    Brand new friends, greyhound and groundhog, romp together through the enchantingly illustrated pages in this clever chase of words, rhythm, and shape. 
     
    Home in the Rain. By Bob Graham
    During a long drive home from Grandmother's in the rain, Francie and her mother discover profound beauty and comfort in ordinary moments. 
     
    I See a Cat. By Paul Meisel
    Youngest readers will find success in the story of a dog that is increasingly frustrated by the glass door that separates it from the things it sees outside. (Geisel Honor Book)
     
    Jabari Jumps. By Gaia Cornwall
    Today is the day Jabari is going to jump from the high dive and he is almost, absolutely sure he is ready. 
     
    King and Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats. By Dori Hillestad Butler
    King, the dog, and Kayla, his human, solve the mystery of missing dog treats and make some interesting discoveries along the way. (Geisel Honor Book)
     
    La Princesa and the Pea. By Susan Middleton Elya
    This lively, playful retelling of the classic fairy tale is set in Peru and incorporates Peruvian cultural elements. (Belpré Illustrator Award Book)
     
    Life on Mars. By Jon Agee
    In this sly, well-paced story, a young space explorer, certain there is life on Mars, sets out to prove it.
     
    The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC’s (the Hard Way). By Patrick McDonnell
    In this engaging, unconventional book, Little Red Cat is chased across the pages and experiences all the letters of the alphabet. 
     
    My Kite Is Stuck! And Other Stories. By Salina Yoon
    Bold, vibrant illustrations, word recognition, and repetition make these short and hilarious stories of three friends a fun experience for early readers.  (Geisel Honor Book)
     
    Noodleheads See the Future. By Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, and Mitch Weiss. 
    With a nod to folktales, two zany brothers named Mac and Mac (who happen to be macaroni noodles) wow audiences with their hilarity and gullibility. (Geisel Honor Book)
     
    Now. By Antoinette Portis
    A young girl's simple joys and experiences will guide readers into appreciation of the here and now in this charmingly illustrated meditation. 
     
    The Only Fish in the Sea. By Philip C. Stead
    Pack your fishing poles and paint buckets and embark on a quest with Sadie and Sherman to rescue Ellsworth the goldfish. 
     
    A Perfect Day. By Lane Smith
    The cat, the dog, the chickadee, and the squirrel are having a perfect day until the bear shows up and invites the reader to rethink what perfect means.
     
    Professional Crocodile. By Giovanna Zoboli
    This wordless, charming book follows Mr. Crocodile through his morning routine and commute to a job for which he is perfectly suited. 
     
    The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! By Carmen Agra Deedy
    The new mayor of La Paz has outlawed singing of any kind, but a rooster arrives that will just not be quiet. 
     
    Snail & Worm Again. By Tina Kügler
    Good friends support each other through three easy-to-read, gently humorous stories. (Geisel Honor Book)
     
    Stay: A Girl, a Dog, a Bucket List. By Kate Klise 
    A gentle tale of the warm love between a girl and her aging dog and the value of time well spent together.
     
    Town Is by the Sea. By Joanne Schwartz
    A miner’s son thinks about his father, deep underground, with both respect for and quiet resignation about his own future.
     
    Triangle. By Mac Barnett
    Triangle decides to play a mean joke on Square, but things don’t quite turn out the way he hoped.
     
    Walk with Me. By Jairo Buitrago
    A young girl shows great courage as she takes on adult tasks and waits for her mother to come home from the factory.
     
    When a Wolf Is Hungry. By Christine Naumann-Villemin
    Dapper wolf Edmond Bigsnout attempts to eat a fellow city-dwelling rabbit but is thwarted at every turn by the bunny and his neighbors. (Batchelder Honor Book)
     
    When’s My Birthday? By Julie Fogliano
    A child clamors to know the answer to the most important question of all in this cheerful celebration of self.
     
    Windows. By Julia Denos 
    On a walk through the neighborhood, a child invites readers to imagine what might be happening behind the windows he passes every day.
     
    Wolf in the Snow. By Matthew Cordell
    In this wordless picture book, a girl and a wolf pup, both lost in a snowstorm, need help from each other to find their way home. (Caldecott Medal Book)
     
    The Wolf, the Duck, & the Mouse. By Mac Barnett
    A mouse and duck discover that there are upsides to being swallowed by a wolf.
     
    You Can’t Be Too Careful! By Roger Mello
    Cause and effect is explored in this imaginative and unexpected tale of a rose, a cat, a gardener, and a broken heart. (Batchelder Honor Book)
     
    The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist. By Cynthia Levinson
    The 1963 Birmingham protest was successfully accomplished by youth. The youngest, nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks, proved that even the smallest voice makes a difference.