2008 Notable Children's Books | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

Follow PHEBINHVANHOC on

YOU ARE READING: 2008 Notable Children’s Books | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) AT PhebinhvanhocEN

Each year, a committee of the Association of Library Services for Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children’s books. according to the notable criteria, “notable” is defined as: worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children’s books, notables should be thought of as including books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit bold creativity, and fiction, information, poetry, and picture books for all age levels (birth to age 14) that reflect and foster children’s interests. in an exemplary manner.

You are reading: List of 2008 kids books

per alsc policy, the current year’s newbery, caldecott, belpré, sibert, geisel, and batchelder award and honors books are automatically added to the list of notable children’s books.

for your convenience, notable children’s books that have also received other wing awards, such as the coretta scott king award , michael l. the printz award, the schneider family book award and/or were named best book for young adults are all mentioned on this list.

younger readers

uh, jon. nothing. illus. hyperion. (9780786836949)

When suzie, the wealthy customer, asks the shopkeeper “what’s for sale”, his answer is “nothing”. “Okay,” Suzie says, “I’ll pay you $300 for it.” and so begins the mad rush to not buy anything.

bang-campbell, monika. the little rat makes music. illus. by molly bang harcourt. (9780152053055).

The little rat loves to play the violin, but hates to practice. her hard work with kitty culminates in her duet recital.

brooch, elise. when the dinosaurs came with everything . illus. by small david. Simon & schuster / athenaeum. (9780689869228).

errands are no longer boring when a child discovers that every purchase includes a gift: a dinosaur! The dilemma comes when he brings his dinosaurs home.

brown, monica. my name is gabito: the life of gabriel garcía márquez/my name is gabito: the life of gabriel garcía márquez. illus. by raul colon rising moon. (9780873589086)

Evocative tropical illustrations draw attention to the imaginative world of Gabriel García Márquez, introducing children to the early life of the celebrated Colombian author. a book of honor by illustrator belpré from 2008.

coffee, nancy. fred stays with me! illus. by tricia tusa small, brown. (9780316882699)

fred the dog goes with his young lover to mom and dad’s houses, wreaking havoc on both of them. “Fred can’t stay here,” both parents say, but his young owner says emphatically, “Fred stays with me!” cabbage, brock. good enough to eat . illus. farrar (9780374327378)

When the villagers sacrifice a scruffy street girl to a terrible ogre, she must use all her wits not only to survive but also to emerge victorious.

deedy, carmen agra. Martina the beautiful cockroach: a Cuban folk tale. illus. by miguel austin peach tree. (9781561453993)

With the help of shocking advice from her grandmother, Martina interviews a cast of unlikely suitors to find her true love in a lively and hilarious retelling of a classic folk tale. a book of honor of author of belpré of 2008.

dillon, leo and diane dillon. loose mother goose numbers. illus. harcourt. (9780152056766).

An array of animal and human characters, many wearing masks, illustrate 24 traditional rhymes that leap off the page in this math quiz for young children.

Fuck, brian. lightship . illus. Simon & Schuster/Richard Jackson. (9781416924364)

simple and majestic prose, perfectly complemented by luminous watercolors, introduces the lightship ambrose, her crew and her cat. a sibert honor book from 2008.

the world fund for children. global babies . illus. charles bridge (9781580891745)

“Babies everywhere are beautiful, special, and loved” is the simple message of this illustrated board book featuring seventeen photographs of babies from around the world.

gonzalez, maya cristina. my colors, my world/my colors, my world. illus. children’s book press (9780892392216)

The young Mayan’s journey from a sand-covered setting to a world brimming with rich violet and pink hues offers a visual feast of vibrant color and magical realism. a book of honor by illustrator belpré 2008.

graham, Bob. dimity dumpty: the story of humpty’s little sister. illus. candlewick. (9780763630782)

Boisterous Humpty along with his parents Dominic and Dorothy amaze audiences as members of the high-flying acrobatic Scavengers, but it’s his quiet, shy sister who rescues him after that famous fall.

gravett, emily. apple pear orange bear . illus. Simon & schuster (9781416939993)

Combining the four words of the title, this first conceptual book on shapes, colors and sequences presents punctuation and language games in soft-toned watercolor illustrations.

harrington janice n. the chicken hunter queen of lamar county. illus. by shelley jackson. farrar / melanie kroupa. (9780374312510)

This fast-moving, fast-talking ‘chicken hunting queen’ is a cheerful little girl on her grandmother’s farm, who comes to understand and respect Miss Chicken when she discovers the prized hen’s well-kept secret! !

henkes, kevin. good day . illus. green willow. ( 9780061140181)

At first it seems to be a bad day for the bird, the dog, the fox, and the squirrel, but then the tide turns and it’s a good day for everyone, including a little girl.

here is a little poem: a first book of poetry. edited by jane yolen and andrew fusek peters. illus. by Polly Dunbar candlewick. (9780763631413)

More than 60 short English poems, collected from around the world, appear in four richly illustrated sections that represent the central interests of young children: me, home, outside, and bedtime.

isadora, rachel. yo, yo! illus. harcourt. (9780152057831)

Brilliant collage illustrations show a lively young boy greeting his friends in urban colloquialism, while reserving more traditional English for his grandfather.

lunde, darrin. Hello, bumblebee bat. illus. by Patricia J. wyne charles bridge (9781570913747)

Simple text stands out against a sparse background, allowing this small mammal to describe its habitat and characteristics in an intriguing and accessible way. a 2008 geisel honor book.

Mckissack, Patricia C. the Christmas doll of everything I’ll ever want. illus. by jerry pinkney. schwartz & wade. (9780375837593).

all nella wants for christmas is a betty doll, a nearly impossible dream for a depression era girl, but when her dream comes true despite her sisters’ predictions, she finds it’s more fun. share it.

montes, marisa. black cats on halloween . illus. by yuyi morales. copse. (9780805074291)

rhyming text describes creepy monsters of many kinds who gather for a ball. the 2008 belpré illustrator award book and a 2008 belpré author honor book.

morales, wow. little night . illus. roaring creek/neal porter. (9781596430884)

little night is summoned by mother sky to perform all the familiar routines experienced by children everywhere, and just like these children, little night responds with mischievous games of hide-and-seek throughout the land and sky. (A Spanish version of this book is also available.)

perkins, lynne rae. photos from our vacations. illus. green willow. (9780060850975)

With her sketchbook and camera in hand, a girl creates a visual mosaic of what begins as an all-too-familiar underwhelming family vacation at daddy’s childhood home, but ends as a fun-filled game with relatives.

pinky, jerry. little red riding hood . illus. small, brown. (9780316013550)

Luxurious pencil and watercolor illustrations featuring a colorful little red riding hood, a cunning wolf, and a skilled lumberjack bring a unique perspective to this traditional tale.

sayre, april pulley. vulture view. illus. by Steve Jenkins. copse. (9780805075571)

lyrical rhyming text and dramatic textured collage present a day in the life of turkey vultures. a 2008 geisel honor book.

seeger, laura vaccaro. dog and bear: two friends, three stories. illus. roaring creek/neal porter. (9781596430532)

In three easy-to-read stories, a playful dachshund and a multicolored teddy bear uncover the ironies and humor of family friendship for little ones.

seeger, laura vacarro. first the egg . illus. roaring creek/neal porter. (9781596432727)

Simple words and pictures create a jewel-like package that introduces the age-old chicken-and-egg puzzle to the younger reader. a 2008 caldecott honor book & geisel honor book 2008.

thompson, lauren. ballerina dreams: a true story. illus. by james estrin feiwel & friends. (9780312370299)

This pink and purple princess photo essay depicts five girls with muscular disorders, whose year of ballet classes culminates in a recital complete with tutus, makeup, ballet slippers and tiaras.

wheel, smooth. jazz baby. illus. by r. gregory christie. harcourt. (9780152025229)

Bebop rhymes and repeated verses are the perfect beat for young readers in this nostalgic celebration of dancing, singing, and music. a 2008 geisel honor book .

willems, mo. knuffle bunny too: a case of mistaken identity. illus. hyperion. (9781423102991)

The masterful photo collages take trixie and her dad through their brooklyn neighborhood to pre-k class where trixie discovers her beloved knuffle bunny isn’t “so unique” anymore. a 2008 caldecott honor book.

willems, mo. there’s a bird on your head! illus. hyperion. (9781423106869)

gerald the elephant learns that there is something worse than having a bird on your head: having two birds on your head. Trying to help her friend, the ever-playful little pig ends up with a problem of her own. the 2008 geisel book awards.

intermediate readers

bishop, nic. nic bishop spiders illus. scholastic nonfiction, an imprint of scholasticism. (9780439877565)

More than a dozen types of spiders are introduced through vibrant and dramatic close-up photos and compelling, well-informed text. a sibert honor book from 2008.

downson, nick. footprints of a panda. illus. for you rong candlewick. (9780763631468)

This introduction to the species that follows a baby panda and its mother as the two find food, change locations, and avoid danger is beautifully illustrated in Chinese style with brush and ink paintings.

giblin, james cross. the many walks of paul revere. archive photographs. scholastic press, a scholastic imprint. (9780439572903).

Going far beyond Longfellow’s poem, it presents Paul Revere as an artist, statesman, revolutionary, businessman, family man, and more, with archival illustrations. an interesting addendum compares the poem with actual events.

goscinny, rene. Nicholas and the gang. illus. by Jean-Jacques Sempe. tr. From the French by Anthea Bell. phaidon. (9780714847887)

Brisk text and playful pen-and-ink art combine to recount the escapades of a schoolboy and his classmates at an all-boys school. a book of honor from 2008.

well, Amy. remembering mrs. rossi. illus. by heather maione candlewick. (9780763621636)

Third grade is a difficult time to lose a mother. As the seasons come and go, her interactions with her sometimes clueless but loving father and her mother’s sixth graders help Annie deal with her grief.

judge, lita. a thousand tracings: healing the wounds of the second world war. illus. hyperion. (9781423100089)

After World War II, the narrator’s family sent a package to a German friend in need, starting the project described in these 14 poems, which sent shoes and clothes, coats, and canned food to European survivors.

kobayashi, issa. today and today . illus. by g. brian karas. scholastic press, a scholastic imprint. (9780439590785)

karas creates a serene pictorial arc for a selection of issa’s haiku poems moving forward through a single year of loss and rebirth.

lehman, barbara. rain storm. illus. houghton. (9780618756391)

It’s a rainy day when a bored boy finds a key that opens a trunk with a ladder inside. he goes down and begins the amazing adventure of him.

levine, ellen. Henry’s Liberty Box: A True Story of the Underground Railroad. illus. by kadir nelson. scholastic press, a scholastic imprint. (9780439777339)

henry “box” brown’s ingenious design to send himself in a box from slavery to freedom is rendered in luminous illustrations. a 2008 caldecott honor book.

lewin, ted. in gleason’s gym. illus. roaring creek/neal porter. (9781596432314)

lewin captures the sights and sounds of the busy and noisy brooklyn gym, four world-famous arenas of boxing and wrestling action, where nine-year-old sugar boy younan trains for the silver glove national championship .

blackberry, pat. hmm! MMM! Yummy!: shoots from America. illus. by rafael lopez. read & bass. (9781584302711)

Fourteen haiku celebrate foods that are native to North, Central, and South America. vibrant illustrations energize the poems, while informative sidebars invite further investigation.

park, pretty sue. rooftop tap dance . illus. by istvan banyai. clarion. (9780618234837)

A collection of 28 whimsical sijo poems, accompanied by equally amusing and often surprising illustrations, introduce readers and aspiring poets to this traditional Korean form.

ray, deborah kogan. across the colorado: john wesley powell, the one-armed explorer. illus. farrar (9780374318383).

Follow John Wesley Powell and his team through the Grand Canyon as they collectively map the route and collect scientific data, and Powell follows his personal dream of becoming a naturalist.

richer, jutta. the cat: or how I lost eternity . illus. by Rotraut Susanne Berner. tr. From the German by Anna Brailovsky. milkweed editions. (9781571316769)

In this timeless fable, headstrong young christine tries to understand the nature of true learning and friendship. a book of honor from 2008.

schlitz, laura amy. The Bear Skinner: A Grimm Brothers Tale. illus. by max graphe. candlewick. (9780763627300)

A soldier makes a terrible deal with the devil and must survive seven years as an outcast to gain wealth, hope, and love.

selznick, brian. the invention of hugo cabret. illus. scholastic press, a scholastic imprint. (9780439813785)

Suspenseful text and a wordless double-page spread tell the story of young Hugo, an orphan who secretly lives within the walls of a train station where he works to complete a mysterious invention left behind by his father. the 2008 caldecott medal book and yalsa’s best book for young adults .

stewart, trenton lee. the mysterious Benedictine society. petite, brunette/megan tingley. (9780316057776)

Four gifted orphans selected by their benefactor, Mr. benedict, embark on a dangerous mission to save the world from a scientist bent on world domination through mind control.

male, sara. robot dreams . illus. roaring stream/first second. (9781596431089)

In a wordless graphic novel, a rusty robot, marooned on a beach, dreams of being rescued while his old companion, a dog, tries various means to save him with an outcome that surprises them both.

older readers

alexander, lloyd. carlo chuchio’s golden dream copse. (9780805083330)

Set in an imaginary land reminiscent of the Arabian Nights, Carlo Chuchio and his companions, in search of an elusive treasure, discover that “the journey is the treasure.”

alexander, elizabeth and marilyn nelson. miss crandall’s school for colored ladies and little ladies. illus. by floyd cooper boyds mills/word song. (9781590784563)

Through twenty-four sonnets, two Connecticut poets imagine the voices of “little colored ladies” selected to tell the courageous story of Prudence Crandall, who opened her 19th century academy to young African American girls.

bausum, ann. muckrakers: how ida tarbell, upton sinclair, and lincoln steffens helped expose scandals, inspire reform, and invent investigative journalism. illus. national geographic. (9781426301377)

bausum covers the period from 1858 to 2007 in his timeline and focuses on the early 20th century investigative reporters who exposed city government corruption, standard oil improprieties, and packinghouse scandals of meat as reporters from mcclure magazine.

barakat, ibtisam. Savoring the sky: a Palestinian childhood. farrar / melanie kroupa. (9780374357337)

On the fortieth anniversary of the six-day Arab-Israeli War (1967-1971), ibtisam barakat writes a compelling memoir of his childhood during the war that shows the value and beauty of ordinary life.

bernier-grand, carmen t. frida: long live life! live life! illus. Marshall Cavendish. (9780761453369)

lyrical poems in free verse form the heart of this comprehensive biographical work on the life of artist frida kahlo. a 2008 belpré author honor book.

burns, loree griffin. Litter Tracking: Flotsam, Debris, and the Science of Ocean Movement. illus. houghton. (9780618581313)

an introduction to the science of ocean motion describing the work of dr. Curt Ebbesmeyer, which tracks the distribution of trash, such as spilled sneakers and bath toys at sea, across the Pacific Ocean.

competition, ying chang. the revolution is not a dinner. copse. (9780805082074)

In this coming-of-age story, Ling recounts the terrifying changes her family and neighborhood underwent during China’s Cultural Revolution. yalsa’s best book for young adults.

curtis, christopher paul. elias of buxton scholastic press, a scholastic imprint. (9780439023443).

Elijah, the first freeborn child in Buxton, a Canadian runaway slave community in 1860, transforms from a “frail” 11-year-old boy into a fearless hero. a 2008 newbery book honors and 2008 coretta scott king author book awards .

English, daisy. the slave poet of cuba: a biography of juan francisco manzano. illus. by Sean Qualls. copse. (9780805077063)

This collection of haunting poems, using multiple voices, illuminates the daily terror and hypocrisy of the slave system. After witnessing the young apple tree’s harsh punishments for reading and writing, readers will marvel at his enduring strength and his persistence in achieving freedom. belpré book author award 2008 .

freedman, russell. Who was the first to discover the Americas? illus. clarion. (9780618663910).

A treasure hunt back in time reveals the multiplicity of cultures and peoples who lived in and contributed to the Americas long before Columbus’ fateful voyage in 1492.

gore, al. an inconvenient truth: the global warming crisis . illus. viking/rodale (9780670062720)

the gore movie tie-in book, rewritten for kids, uses the original storyline and most of the original illustrations to introduce the problem, show symptoms, describe effects, and suggest things to do about the most important problem of our time .

thank you, john. blue lipstick: concrete poems. clarion. (9780618568604)

Thirty-three poems, often insightful and always original, reveal the upside-down feelings of 15-year-old Jessie.

holm, jennifer. high school is worse than meatloaf: a year told through stuff. illus. by elicia castaldi. Simon & schuster/ginee seo. (9780689852817).

ginny davis recounts the ups and downs of her seventh grade year in a colorful collage of newspaper clippings, report cards, homework, personal notes and more.

krull, kathleen. Marie Curie: Giants of Science. illus. by Boris Kulikov. viking. (9780670058945).

Marie Curie broke new scientific ground by discovering radium, from which both she and her husband died. Krull’s conversational narrative brings to life a giant among scientists and their work. miyabe, miyuki. brave story . tr. from Japanese by alexander o. blacksmith. namely, the media. (9781421511962)

wataru’s chaotic life leads him to enter the world of vision infused in video games to alter his destiny. the wisdom and power he gains on his journey allows him to embrace the transformed reality he returns to. the 2008 batelder award book.

nery. gram. chess fight . illus. By Jesse Joshua Watson. read & bass. (978-1-58430-279-7)

Marcus, a troubled eleven-year-old struggling with his own anger, gains coping skills after learning to play chess from a neighborhood teacher. This novel in verse, written in street vernacular, is illustrated in striking black and gray acrylics.

rowling, j.k. harry potter and the deathly hallows. arthur a. levine books, a trace of scholasticism. (9780545010221)

In this seventh and final Harry Potter volume, the young hero and his companions’ battle against dark evil comes to a haunting and adventurous conclusion. a best yalsa book for young adults

schlitz, laura amy. good teachers! sweet ladies! voices of a medieval town . illus. by robert byrd pabilo. (9780763615789)

13th century England is brought to life in 21 dramatic individual narratives featuring the young inhabitants of the village and the manor. the newbery 2008 medal book.

schmidt, gary. Wednesday wars . clarion. (9780618724833)

A screaming hooded seventh grader is convinced his teacher hates him. Through her Wednesday afternoon shakespeare sessions, she helps him deal with events that are both wildly funny and deadly serious. a 2008 newbery honor book and a yalsa best book for young adults.

yes, peter. the wall: growing behind the iron curtain . illus. farrar (9780374347017)

In her deeply felt memoir set in mid-20th-century Prague, Sís contrasts the constricting walls of the communist state with her personal quest for artistic freedom. the 2008 sibert medal book, a 2008 caldecott honor book, and a yalsa best book for young adults.

tan, shaun. arrival . illus. arthur a. levine books, a trace of scholasticism. (9780439895293)

A man leaves his family, travels to a new world, and slowly assimilates into his strange new culture. In this riveting graphic novel, sepia-toned illustrations wordlessly reveal the loneliness and isolation of the immigrant experience. yalsa’s best book for young adults.

thompson, kate. the new cop. green willow. (9780061174278)

hoping to buy some time for his mother’s birthday, j.j. liddy discovers that time is escaping from the world of him to the land of fairies. through music and his own ingenuity, he navigates both worlds to try to correct the imbalance. yalsa’s best book for young adults.

wells, rosemary. red moon in sharpsburg . viking. (9780670036387)

The blood of civil war (red moon) and the complex issues of divided loyalties are seen through the eyes of india moody, coming of age in virginia and determined, despite everything, to become a scientist.

williams, marcia. chaucer’s canterbury tales. illus. candlewick. (9780763631970)

Chaucer’s nine bawdy tales of the Canterbury Pilgrims are tamed and retold in modern English and graphic novel format with fragments of the original language included in the borders, decorated in the manner of medieval manuscripts.

woodson, jacqueline. feathers . putnam. (9780399239892)

The arrival of a new child in a sixth grade classroom helps Frannie recognize the barriers that separate people and the importance of hope as a bridge. a 2008 newbery honor book.

wynne-jones, Tim. rex zero and the end of the world . farrar / melanie kroupa. (9780374334673)

When ten-year-old Rex’s family moves to Ottawa in 1962, he finds new friends outside of his immediate neighborhood, grapples with life during the Cold War, and uncovers the mystery of a missing panther.

all ages

bryan, ashley. let it shine: three favorite spirituals. illus. Simon & schuster / athenaeum. (9780689847325)

Vibrant paper-cut collages illustrate inspirational spirituals: “this little light of mine,” “oh, when the saints march in,” and “he holds the whole world in his hands.” an artist’s note explains its historical context and significance. the 2008 coretta scott king illustrator award book .

prelutsky, jack. good sports: rhymes about running, jumping, throwing and more. illus. by chris raschka. knopf. (9780375837005)

bright, gestural watercolors and seventeen poems capture the experiences and feelings of young athletes as they participate with varying success in a variety of sports, including karate, baseball, swimming, and running.

prevert, jacques. how to paint a bird portrait . illus. and tr. by mordicai gerstein. roaring stream. (9781596432154).

How do you paint a bird? a child uses imagination and color to create a surreal interpretation of this complex French poem.

featured children’s book committee of 2008

Caroline Ward, chair, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, Conn.

kay bowes, brandywine hundred library, wilmington, del.

betty carter, coppell, texaselise deguiseppi, pierce county library system, tacoma, washington.eliza t. Dresang, College of Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla. roxanne hsu feldman, the dalton school, new york, n.y.

darwin l. henderson, college of education, university of cincinnati, cincinnati, ohiobarbara immroth, school of information, university of texas, austin, texaskathleen isaacs, pasadena, Maryland. carol k. phillips, east brunswick public library, east brunswick, new jersey.

marta m. walke, new england children’s literature, inc., south strafford, vt.

Other content

2008 Notable Children’s Books | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

younger readers

intermediate readers

older readers

all ages

featured children’s book committee of 2008

Leave a Reply Cancel reply