Welcome to the 14th annual Wilde Awards Part 1, recommendations for the best picture books of the year.
For new parents: "The Boss Baby," Marla Frazee (Beach Lane, ages 4-adult). A funny take on the tyranny of this tiny, difficult boss.
Best early read-alouds: "Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion," Mo Willems (Hyperion, ages 3-6). In the third Trixie story, Knuffle Bunny is lost during a family vacation. A blend of warmth, emotions and surprises. "Seven Hungry Babies," Candace Fleming (Atheneum, ages 3-6). Rhythm, rhyme and wordplay abound as seven new babies challenge their dedicated mother.
Books to encourage imagination: "How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps," Jennifer LaRue Huget (Schwartz & Wade, ages 4-8). Humorous directives from a rebellious girl whose genius is in sarcasm, not housekeeping. "The Sandwich Swap," Queen Rania Abdullah (Hyperion, ages 4-8). Two girls from different cultures face relationship difficulties because of their sandwich prejudices. "Shark vs. Train," Chris Barton (Little Brown, ages 4-7). Two small boys pit their toys in a series of competitions. Lots of humor and imagining.
Best books to launch conversations: "The Quiet Book," Deborah Underwood (Houghton, ages 4-7). Soft illustrations show the many moods of quiet. "Back of the Bus," Aaron Reynolds (Philomel, ages 7-10). Lyricism and rich details show a small boy taking a Montgomery bus on a winter's day, his focus on his "a big ol' tiger's eye" marble, not Rosa Parks. "The Blue House Dog," Deborah Blumenthal (Peachtree, ages 6-9). Lyrical story of how a grieving boy and stray dog find each other. "Mirror," Jeannie Baker, (Candlewick, ages 8 and older). Two near-wordless books show the connections of seemingly contrasting worlds of an Australian and Moroccan boy.
Nonfiction: "How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships," Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Houghton, ages 5-10). Amazing collages and clear writing tell of strange animal collaborations. "Orangutans Are Ticklish: Fun Facts from an Animal Photographer," Steve Grubman with Jill Davis (Random, ages 5-19). Intriguing animal facts link with playful stories of photo difficulties.
Best biographies: "Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow," Gary Golio (Clarion, ages 7-10). Vivid art and sensory descriptions track the musician's youth from poverty to painting with sound. "Kubla Kahn: The Emperor of Everything," Kathleen Krull (Viking, ages 8-11). This engaging biography of the famous Mongolian ruler makes long-ago times and far-away worlds captivating. "Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down," Andrea Davis Pinkey (Little Brown, ages 6-10). Woolworth's lunch counter sit-in is remembered with text and illustration.
Retellings: "Little Red Riding Hood," adapted and illustrated by Gennady Spirin (Marshall Cavendish, ages 5-8). A simple retelling and lavish illustrations revive the classic early tale. "Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse," Marilyn Singer (Putnam, ages 6-10). Classic fairy tales are retold in poems, forward and backward, creating a new look at traditional stories, poetic forms and word sequencing.
