Please welcome my guest author, Bola of SlimyBookworm.com, with her list of favorite children’s picture books for 2011. I am managing to make this into a short series of posts. I’ll continue with other guests’ favorite kid and young adult lit of 2011 until I run out of volunteers. Bola runs an online children’s bookstore so she is VERY qualified as both a bookseller and a mom. Please check out her eStore and her blog too!
Does anyone else want to email me with their list of favs for 2011? I’d love it! Or just please leave a comment on the books you and your kids enjoyed last year. Thank you!
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May I start with a disclaimer? This is not meant to be a list of Newberry Award contenders, they are merely a list of my Top 10 – My Favorite Children’s Books for 2011. My kids are younger than 5 so I naturally interact more with books appropriate for this age group. So here we go.
Best Picture Books for Kids
10. If You Give a Dog a Doughnut by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Some folks have complained about the lack of innovation from Laura Numeroff but I loved this picture book just as much as I loved the first in the series: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Maybe it’s nostalgia but it is a good read for a beginning reader.
9. Ladybug Girl Loves by Jacky Davis, illustrated by David Soman
Another published picture book that was partly an adaptation of the original. I guess the concept was to make a board book for the younger readers. This is a chick-lit for sure and makes for a good read-aloud book for little girls.
8. Spot Goes to the Library by Eric Hill
This is a Short and sweet one that I love for those tired nights or when I get the plea to read just one more book. The character ‘spot’ is adorable beyond words.
7. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle
The illustrations are vivid and captivating in the Eric Carle style. There is not much of a story here but I would say this, on those nights when I am almost asleep on my feet and my son pleads to be read to, I pick this picture book up because I can be done quickly and I know the illustrations keep him engaged.
6. Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Buket Erdogan
Simple picture book to teach a toddler or a preschooler about winter. Living in Southern California does have it’s downsides: My kids have never seen snow. Mouse’s First Snow piqued their interest for that reason.
5. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
I am a sucker for the Bear series by Karma Wilson, maybe because my preschooler just loves them. Bear Stays Up for Christmas emphasizes friendship like the other titles in the series but also highlights the Christmas traditions.
4. A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Diane de Groat
This is a Thanksgiving book with lessons that hold true year-round. This book touches on what Thanksgiving is about and de-emphasizes turkey as the main attraction of Thanksgiving.
3. Bear Feels Scared by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Did I mention that I love the Bear classics by Karma Wilson? Friendship is a central theme in her picture books. The bear titles are excellent for reading aloud.
2. Happy Hippo, Angry Duck: A Book of Moods by Sandra Boynton
This is one book a toddler can memorize easily and read along with you as you read. It will bring out the animated part of you as you dramatize the different moods and animal sounds. Sandra Boynton just gets kids!
1. Ilama Ilama, Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney
If you have ever had to stay home to care for a sick child you would most certainly relate with this book. The rhymes are delightful and we have read this book so many times, my preschooler knows when I miss a page. My son asked me what animal llama llama was, I could not give him an answer. Finally he decided it was probably a kangaroo without a pouch.
Bola Ajumobi is a mom of two boys under 5 who love to read. Good thing she also owns an online children’s bookstore, SlimyBookworm.com where you can find delightful books for young children.
p.s. Related posts:
10 Picture Books on People Protecting the Planet
111 (also known as 7) Math Picture Books to Count On
Picture Books Based on Song Lyrics
Picture Books with Birds as Inspiration or Character
Top 8 Picture Books Featuring Anthropomorphic Foods
New Children’s Picture Books on Koreans and Korean Americans
Picture Books to Get Kids Outdoors
Picture Books set in Asia or about Asian-Americans
Favorite New Picture Books of 2019
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
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Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We’ll have to check some of these out – especially the new Eric Carle book! I am a big fan of Sandra Boynton – didn’t really get it at first but my kids love and it grew on me! This years books… I couldn’t help but love Bumbleardy , Questions, Questions by Pfister, Press Here, I know there were more, have to look through my library log but those 3 are on my list to buy!
To Ann,
I’m so glad you liked SlimyBookworm’s picks. She knows her stuff! I keep hearing about Press Here but I haven’t read it yet… now I feel the need to track it down.
Same here, heard a lot about “Press Here”, certainly on my to-get list. “I want my hat back” has gotten a lot of buzz too.
To Bola,
Thanks. Will have to browse I Want My Hat Back too! Author? Sounds like an elephant and piggie title!
Wow, Great list. As we are abroad and the books for kids are limited, I don’t keep up with all the new books. We love a lot of these series: if you give a mouse, spot, llama llama etc. Fortunately, I am back stateside for awhile and can pick up some of these great reads!
Best,
Rajka
“I want my hat back” was written and illustrated by Jon Klassen. I believe it was published by Candlewick Press.
Thanks Bola! I need to make a library run this week!