Books Make the Best Gifts

I love to give books as gifts and this year there are some great books to give.  I read about new books daily and try to keep up with reading those I can.   Here are some lists of best books of the year to peruse:  The School Library Journal is an informative magazine for, well, school librarians and others interested in books and reading.  Their best book list  has some of my favorites this year and a few I haven't read yet. The New York Times has a list each year of the Best Illustrated Books with some that overlap.  Here are some I think would make great gifts from these lists:

Fiction

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

This basketball book is so much more than a basketball book.  It tells the story of two brothers and their love for the game.  It's told in poems that are beautifully written and lively.  

 

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

I wrote a little about this book in a previous post. I loved the story and the language. This would be a great pick for the fantasy fans.

Revolution by Deborah Wiles

This book is the second in a 3 series set of documentary novels that tell different stories of the 1960s in America.  Great historical fiction for anyone.

  Picture Books

I love picture books, I think they are truly enjoyable for all ages.   Some of these are for your younger readers and some are for everyone.

My Bus by Byron Barton

The story is fun and full of cats, dogs and counting.  The illustrations are bright and cheerful and the story is complete.  My 6 year old loved hearing this over and over again.  It's a winner for our family.






Draw by Raul Colon
This wordless book tells the story of a boy and his wonderful imagination.  The animals in the jungle play a part in the story as does the boy.  The story is easy to follow even though there aren't any written words.  The artwork is wonderfully realistic and beautifully done.













The Pilot and The Little Prince by Peter Sis
This is a picture book for older children as well as younger kids.  The illustrations are intricate and interesting and the biographical text is arranged on the page in patterns and a style that add to the story.  There is sparser text on the page that could be read alone to tell part of the story for kids who can't sustain for all of the other information provided.  So much to know about Antoine de Saint-Exupery. 



Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
This beautiful book has puppets and papel picado with wonderful bilingual message to follow your dreams.  Anyone who loves the art and spirit of Frida Kahlo will enjoy this book.



The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee
Another wordless book telling the sad story of a little circus clown who tumbles off the train.  The farmer is delightful and kind and ends up saving the day.  The train passengers are reminiscent of The Little Engine That Could in the best way possible.  A quiet, happy book. 

Autobiography

These are two of my very favorite books of the whole year.  The story of people's lives are complex and funny and heartbreaking and these two women tell those stories with such beauty and talent. 

El Deafo by  CeCe Bell

This is a graphic autobiography.  The drawings are wonderful and the story both hilarious and touching.  Just the book for your graphic novel lovers and those who like a good autobiography.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
An autobiography told in poetry.  Each poem a memory from Woodson's life in different areas of the nation.  Growing up and finding herself while those around her help.