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Young Reading: Best kids' page-turners listed for end-of-the-year planning
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Published: November 22, 2009
Our most difficult (because of space constraints) and easiest (because of the incredible literature that comes our way) column of the year!
Best All-Around: AFTER. By Amy Efaw. Penguin. Ages 14 and up. 304 pages. $17.99. This disturbing book about a straight-A student who throws her newborn in the trash provokes thought, conversation and analysis -- everything good literature should inspire.
Best All-Around Picture Book: THE SCARECROW'S DANCE. By Jane Yolen. Simon & Schuster. Ages 4-8. $16.99. Rhythmic, captivating and full of incredible illustrations, this sweet book about a scarecrow finding his place in the world is a keeper.
Best Bedtime Book: FREE FALL. By David Weisner. HarperCollins. Ages 3-8. $17.99. Remake of a Caldecott classic.
Best Retake on a Classic: SNORING BEAUTY. By Bruce Hale. Harcourt. Ages 5-8. $16. A parody of Sleeping Beauty, this princess turns into a snoring dragon that can be saved only by a quince. Yes, a quince.
Best Biography: LANG LANG: Playing with Flying Keys. By Lang Lang with Michael French. Random House. Ages 9 and up. 240 pages. $16.99. Lang Lang's journey from China to America to become a superstar pianist is amazing.
BEST MERMAID QUEEN. By Shana Corey. Scholastic. Ages 8-11. $17.99. Hannah says this is a great book for budding feminists! I say it's a great one for swimwear-design history. Annette Kellerman changed history.
Best Nonfiction: CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER. By James Swanson. Scholastic. Ages 10 and up. 194 pages. $16.99. The author shares a birthday with Lincoln and has been fascinated with Lincoln's assassination since he was young. This book analyzes behind-the-scenes details of Lincoln's death.
Best Poetry Book: TELL THE WORLD: Teen Poems from WritersCorps. HarperCollins. Ages 12 and up. 116 pages. $16.99. In this anthology, many teen authors write about their different cultures and experiences.
Best Fantasy: SHIMMER. By Dallas Reed. HarperCollins. Ages 14 and up. 314 pages. $8.99. A creepy fantasy thriller that centers on the seven deadly sins and a Pandora's Box theme, this book is not for the weak of heart!
Best African-American Book: STITCHIN' AND PULLIN': A Gee's Bend Quilt. By Patricia C. McKissack. Random House. Ages 6-10. $17.99. Maybe we're biased since this book features a community near where we once lived. The colorfully illustrated story connects generations of quilt makers and the historical significance of their art.
Best Historical Fiction: CHAINS. By Laurie Halse Anderson. Simon & Schuster. Ages 10 and up 316 pages. $16.99. Isabel, a young slave longing to be free, believes that the Revolutionary War will mean freedom for her, too. Dramatic and historic, this is the first in a series by Laurie Halse Anderson. Great for adults, too!
Best Sports Book: POP. By Gordon Korman. HarperCollins. Ages 12 and up. 260 pages. $16.99. A rare book for guys and their dads to read together, Pop tells the story of an NFL player with Alzheimer's and a promising young player he befriends.
Best Silly Book: GRANDPAPPY SILLY SNAPPIES. By Lynn Plourde. HarperCollins. Ages 3-6. $17.99. Silly use of onomatopoeia about Grandpappy's suspenders snapping and his pants drooping!
Best Book Starring North Carolina: ALONG FOR THE RIDE. By Sarah Dessen. Penguin. Ages 14 and up. 383 pages. $19.99. North Carolina author extraordinaire Sarah Dessen appeals to older teens as well as their moms. Great beach setting; better plot. Our favorite of Dessen's nine books!
Best Winston-Salem Author Visit: FUNNY FARM. By Mark Teague. Scholastic. Ages 3-6. $16.99. Mark Teague visited with Head Start preschoolers at Barnes & Noble in April. It's no small feat to keep 30 active kids captivated, but Teague managed with his delivery and art.
Best Religious Book: THE ANYTIME BIBLE. By Mary Manz Simon. Scholastic. Ages 7-10. 318 pages. $14.99. Part biblical storybook, part workbook, this spiral-bound starter Bible is a good beginning to daily Bible study.
THE AMERICAN MUSLIM TEENAGER'S HANDBOOK: For Muslims and Non-Muslims Alike. By Dilara, Yasmine and Imran Hafiz. Simon & Schuster. Ages 12 and up. 168 pages. $11.99. A must-read for all ages from all faith backgrounds.
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