Best Picture Books 2004
Atwood, Margaret Rude Ramsay And The Roaring Radishes {GL 5yr-3}-Fic-Bloomsbury Children : 9/2004, 32p 1582349509 $16.95
Previously published in Canada in 2003 by Key Porter Books Ltd. -- With tongue-twisting phrases heavily peppered with words beginning with r, this tale follows a little boy named Ramsay as he travels with his friend Ralph the red-nosed rat.
Baker, Jeannie Home: {GL 5yr-3,823.914} -- Greenwillow : 3/2004, 32p 0066239354 $9.59
This wordless picture book observes the changes in a neighborhood from before a girl is born until she is an adult. The efforts of the neighborhood residents bring about the revitalization of the neighborhood.
Banks, Kate The Cat Who Walked Across France {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Farrar Straus Giroux : 3/2004, 40p 0374399689 $9.60
After his owner dies, a cat wanders across the countryside of France, unable to forget the home he had in the stone house by the edge of the sea.
Beaumont, Karen Baby Danced The Polka {GL 2yr-1,-E-} -- Dial : 3/2004, 32p
0803725876 $11.04
Lift-the-flap pages. The little ones will love to dance with this lift-the-flap book time and time again.
Borden,Louise The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story From The Netherlands. {GL 4-7,-Fic-} -- McElderry : 10/2004, 48p 0689845022 $11.37
During World War II in the Netherlands, a ten-year-old boy's dream of skating in a famous race allows him to help two children escape to Belgium by ice skating along the frozen canals past German soldiers.
Bottner, Barbara Wallace's Lists {GL 4yr-2,-E-} -- HarperCollins : 6/2004, 40p 0060002247 $9.59
Devoted to making lists about everything in his life, Wallace the mouse discovers the joys of spontaneity and adventure when he becomes friends with his neighbor Albert.
Child, Lauren I Am Too Absolutely Small For School {GL 3yr-1,-E-} -- Candlewick Press : 8/2004, 32p 0763624039 $16.99
First published: Great Britain: Orchard Books, 2003. When Lola is worried about starting school, her older brother Charlie reassures her.
Connor, Leslie. Miss Bridie Chose A Shovel {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Houghton Mifflin : 5/2004, 32p 0618305645 $16.00
Miss Bridie immigrates to America in 1856 and chooses to bring a shovel, which proves to be a useful tool throughout her life. Elegant woodcuts bring a richness to the spare story of a life full of blessings, but not without challenges.
Crews, Nina The Neighborhood Mother Goose {GL 3yr,398.8} -- AMISTAD : 1/2004, 64p 0060515740 $16.89
Crews combines detailed, vibrant illustrations that feature life in the inner city with familiar and new rhymes to create a unique collection.
Cronin, Doreen Duck For President {GL 3yr-3,-E-} -- Simon & Schuster : 4/2004
0689863772 $15.95
From the creators of CLICK, CLACK, MOO comes a send-up of U.S. politics that provides an easy primer on voting while offering insightful, tongue-in-cheek peeks at past and current office holders and the overall electoral process.
Demas, Corinne Saying Goodbye To Lulu {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Little, Brown & Co. : 6/2004, 32p 0316702781 $15.95
When her dog Lulu dies, a girl grieves but then continues with her life.
Dodds, Dayle Ann Minnie's Diner: A Multiplying Menu {GL 5yr-3,-E-} -- Candlewick Press : 8/2004, 40p 0763617369 $16.99
Rhyming tale of five boys and their father who forget about their chores on the farm to enjoy Minnie's good cooking, each requesting double what the previous one ordered.
Dunbar, Polly Dog Blue{GL 2yr to 5yr,-E-} -- Candlewick : 8/2004, 40p 0763624764 $14.99
Bertie, who loves the color blue and really wants a dog, finally gets his wish, even though the dog he meets is white with black spots.
Edwards, Wallace Monkey Business {GL 1-5,428.1} -- Kids Can Press: 9/2004, 32p
1553374622 $16.95
A perfect meld of nonsense and lesson, this intriguing picture book approach to teaching idioms will appeal to readers of all ages. Fantastically detailed illustrations entertain, as well as provide food for thought.
Ehlert, Lois Pie In The Sky {GL 3yr-2,-E-} -- Harcourt : 4/2004, 40p 0152165843 $16.00
A father and child watch over their backyard cherry tree, and all the colorful living things surrounding it, throughout the seasons. At the end of the summer, they harvest the cherries together and make a delicious pie.
English, Karen Hot Day On Abbott Avenue {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Clarion Books : 6/2004, 32p 0395985277 $15.00
It is the hottest day of summer and tempers are short. Two best friends are mad at each other, until a simple game of jump rope helps them through the crisis. Stunning collage illustrations enhance this lyrical friendship story.
Feiffer, Jules The Daddy Mountain {GL 2yr,-E-} -- Michael Di Capua : 5/2004, 32p
0786809124 $15.95
Contains one fold-out page. A little girl scales her father the way she would a mountain in this picture book. A gatefold is featured at the end.
Fleischman, Paul Sidewalk Circus {GL 5yr-4,-E-} -- Candlewick : 4/2004
0763611077 $15.99
A young girl watches as the activities across the street from her bus stop become a circus.
Fox, Mem Where Is The Green Sheep? {GL 1yr to 5yr,-E-} -- Harcourt : 4/2004, 32p 015204907X $15.00
Sleepy rhymes and bright illustrations guide readers through the red sheep and blue sheep, wind sheep and wave sheep, scared sheep and brave sheep, to look for the green sheep.
Friedrich, Molly You're Not My Real Mother! [BL]{GL 3yr,-E-} -- Little Brown Children's Books : 10/2004, 32p 0316605530 $15.99
After an adoptive mother tells her daughter all the reasons that she is her "real mother," the young girl realizes that her mother is right, even though they do not look alike.
Fuchs, Bernie Ride Like The Wind: A Tale Of The Pony Express {GL 4yr-5,-Fic-} Blue Sky Press : 2/2004, 32p 0439266459 $16.95
Known for their courage, self-confidence, speed, and willingness to face adversity, the riders of the Pony Express quickly became legendary heroes in their time. Now dramatic oil paintings by award winner Bernie Fuchs capture the spirit, strength, and stamina of one young rider, Johnny Free, as he and his beloved pony, Jennysoo, set off at top speed. After racing with his Paiute friend, Little Grey Wolf, Johnny Tree goes on to face unexpected danger and only Jennysoo can save him.
Gelman, Rita Golden Doodler Doodling {GL 5yr-5,-E-} -- Greenwillow : 8/2004, 24p
0688166458 $15.99
Includes double page fold-out. A little girl imagines on paper what will happen if she combines certain phrases together. The quirky doodles created by Zelinsky add more character to the little girl and her story.
Graham, Bob Tales From The Waterhole {GL 4yr-3,-Fic-} -- Candlewick : 5/2004
0763623245 $16.99
In five amusing interrelated stories, Morris the crocodile and his friend celebrate the merriment and mishaps of friendship as they do what kids do during a long hot summer: swim, play soccer, do stunt dives into the water, and more.
Hall, Bruce Edward Henry And The Kite Dragon{GL 4yr-3,-Fic-} -- Philomel : 6/2004, 40p 0399237275 $15.99
In New York City in the 1920s, the children from Chinatown go after the children from Little Italy for throwing rocks at the beautiful kites Grandfather Chin makes, not realizing that they have a reason for doing so.
Harrington, Janice N. Going North {GL 5yr-3,-E-} -- Farrar Straus Giroux : 9/2004, 40p 0374326819 $16.00
An African-American family becomes a new kind of pioneer by leaving behind Big Mama, loving relatives, and the familiar red soil and cotton fields of Alabama, to move to Nebraska in their search for a better life.
Henkes, Kevin Kitten's First Full Moon {GL 3yr,-E-} -- Greenwillow : 3/2004, 40p 0060588284 $15.99
When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it. Eventually, Kitten finds her way home where something special awaits.
Hesse, Karen The Cats In Krasinski Square {GL 2-5,-Fic-} -- Scholastic : 8/2004, 32p
0439435404 $16.95
The courage of young women and men who risked their lives to help those trapped behind the Warsaw Ghetto walls is depicted in this picture book for older children.
Hest, Amy Mr. George Baker {GL 5yr-3,-E-} -- Candlewick Press : 8/2004, 32p
0763612332 $16.99
Harry sits on the porch with Mr. Joe Baker, an African American who is one hundred years old but can still dance and play the drums, waiting for the school bus that will take them both to the class where they are learning to read.
Hopkinson, Deborah Apples To Oregon: Being the (slightly) true narrative of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries to Oregon. {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Atheneum : 9/2004, 40p 0689847696 $15.95
In this very tall tale, Papa builds special wagons to transport his beloved fruit trees along the Oregon Trail when the family relocates. Enduring river crossings, deserts, mountains, and more, the entire crop reaches Oregon in fine shape.
Hopkinson, Deborah A Packet Of Seeds {GL 5yr-4,-E-} -- Greenwillow : 4/2004, 32p
0060090898 $15.99
When a pioneer family moves west, the mother misses her old home. To cheer her mother, a daughter works hard to dig a garden for her.
James, Simon Baby Brains: {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Candlewick : 9/2004, 32p
0763625078 $15.99
The smartest baby in the whole world -- From the author and illustrator of LITTLE ONE STEP comes a wry story of Baby Brains, the smartest baby in the world, who can read the paper, fix the family car, and even work as a doctor in the local hospital.
Kimmel, Elizabeth Cody My Penguin Osbert {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Candlewick : 9/2004, 40p 0763616990 $16.99
When a boy finally gets exactly what he wants from Santa, he learns that owning a real penguin may not have been a good idea after all.
Kinsey-Warnock, Natalie A Christmas Like Helen's {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Houghton Mifflin : 10/2004, 32p 0618231374 $16.00
In a world before electricity, telephones, or cars, Helen and her family capture the true meaning of Christmas with a celebration consisting of horse-drawn sleigh rides, skating by moonlight, magical stories, and real maple syrup.
Kutner, Merrily Down On The Farm{GL 3yr-1,-E-} -- Holiday House : 3/2004 0823417212 $16.95
Simple rhyming text describes the sounds and activities of animals during a day on the farm.
Larochelle, David The Best Pet Of All {GL 5yr-3,-E-} -- Dutton : 6/2004, 32p
0525471294 $15.99
A child enlists the help of a dragon in trying to persuade his mother to let him have a dog. Bright, witty artwork complements the story to perfection.
Lucas, David Halibut Jackson {GL 3yr-1,-E-} -- Alfred A. Knopf : 2/2004, 32p 0375826904 $16.95
In this dazzling picture book debut about coping with shyness, children will be reassured by Halibut, a charming, endearing new character who suddenly finds himself the most popular guy in town because of his unusual suit.
Macken, Joann Sing-Along Song {GL 3yr-3,-E-} -- Viking : 5/2004, 32p 0670058904 $15.99
A child sings along with the songs made by everyday sounds, from the chirping of a robin in the morning to the cooing of baby sister as she falls asleep in the evening.
Mac Lachlan, Patricia Bittle {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- HarperCollins : 6/2004, 40p 0060009616 $15.99
Nigel the cat and Julia the dog think they will have no use for the new baby in their house. Then, the two realize how much fun a baby can be. This humorous, yet endearing story is made even more enjoyable by the playful illustrations.
Manzano, Sonia No Dogs Allowed! {GL 3yr,-E-} -- Atheneum : 4/2004 0689830882 $15.95
Manzano, also known as Maria on Sesame Street, offers up a slightly slapstick, yet heartwarming story of a close-knit Puerto Rican community and the daytrip outing they all take to the beach, only to encounter some unexpected doggy trouble.
Mccarty, Peter T Is For Terrible: {GL 3yr-3,-E-} -- Henry Holt & Company : 8/2004 080507404X $15.95
A tyrannosaurus rex explains that he cannot help it that he is enormous and hungry and is not a vegetarian.
Millen, C. M Blue Bowl Down: An Appalachian Rhyme: {GL 2yr to 5yr,-E-} -- Candlewick : 5/2004 0763618179 $16.99
Rhyming text reveals the process of preparing bread dough so that it will rise overnight and be ready to bake into loaves before the family awakens the next morning.
Moss, Marissa Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen: {GL 5yr-3,796.357} -- Simon & Schuster : 2/2004, 32p 0689863292 $16.95
Accompanied by vibrant, larger-than-life illustrations, Moss tells the inspiring but little-known true story of a seventeen-year-old female pitcher who struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig during an exhibition game in 1931.
Neubecker, Robert Wow! City! {GL 3yr} -- Hyperion : 9/2004 0786809515 $16.99
Everyone dreams of visiting the big city, with its bright lights, tall buildings, and millions of people. One lucky girl named Izzy climbs into her stroller and rides, dazzled, through all the hustle and bustle.
Polacco, Patricia John Philip Duck{GL 5yr-3,-Fic-} -- Philomel : 6/2004, 40p 0399242627 $16.99
During the Depression, a young Memphis boy trains his pet duck to do tricks in the fountain of a grand hotel and ends up becoming the Duck Master of the Peabody Hotel.
Rand, Gloria Mary Was A Little Lamb{GL 4yr,-E-} -- Henry Holt & Company : 5/2004 0805068163 $16.95
Mrs. Paradise figures out what to do with Mary, a wayward, abandoned lamb. Based on a true story.
Rash, Andy Agent A To Agent Z {GL 4yr,-E-} -- Arthur A. Levine : 1/2004, 40p
0439368820 $16.95
A spy named Agent A inspects his fellow spies, all similarly named after letters of the alphabet.
Rogers, Gregory The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard {GL 5yr-4,823.4} -- Roaring Brook : 10/2004, 32p 1596430095 $16.95
A boy bounces his soccer ball through the window of an empty theater at the beginning of this wordless picture book. When he follows the ball, he meets Shakespeare inside. Shakespeare chases the boy out into 17th century London.
Rostoker-Gruber, Karen Rooster Can't Cock-A-Doodle-Doo {GL 4yr-3,-E-} -- Dial Books For Young Readers : 6/2004, 32p 0803728778 $15.99
When Rooster's throat is too sore for him to crow, the other farm animals help both him and Farmer Ted.
Roth, Susan L.Hard Hat Area: {GL 5yr-3,-E-} -- Bloomsbury : 9/2004, 40p
1582349460 $17.95
From the author/illustrator who wrote HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. KANG comes a unique day-in-the-life look at a girl who works as an ironworker's apprentice on one of New York City's tallest buildings. Collage illustrations accompany the
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro Lemons Are Not Red: {GL 2yr to 5yr,535.6} -- Roaring Brook : 10/2004, 32p 1596430087 $14.95
Seeger's vividly colored and textured paintings combine with clever cutouts in the pages to make a simple but original introduction to color.
Shange, Ntozake Ellington Was Not A Street:{GL 3-5,811} -- Simon & Schuster : 1/2004, 40p
0689828845 $15.95
In a powerful poem accompanied by majestic paintings of influential men, Shange reflects on her childhood when her home was often filled with visionaries and talented artists like Ellington, DuBois, Gillespie, and Robeson.
Sierra, Judy What Time Is It, Mr. Crocodile?:{GL 3yr-2,-E-} -- Gulliver : 8/2004, 32p
0152164456 $16.00
Mr. Crocodile has big plans for finally catching and eating five pesky monkeys. But as the hours pass, the monkeys dupe him again and again. In the end they teach persnickety Mr. Crocodile something about friendship.
Sierra, Judy Wild About Books: {GL 4yr,-E-} -- Alfred A. Knopf : 8/2004, 40p
037582538X $16.95
A librarian named Molly McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake.
Slaymaker, Melissa Eskridge Bottle Houses: The Creative World Of Grandma Prisbrey: {GL 5yr-4,745.92} -- Henry Holt : 4/2004 0805071318 $16.95
Vibrant, colorful illustrations accompany this introduction to the world of folk artist Grandma Prisbrey, capturing her spunky style and humor.
So, Meilo Gobble, Gobble, Slip, Slop: A Tale Of A Very Greedy Cat {GL 3yr,398.2} -- Alfred A. Knopf : 3/2004, 32p 0375825045 $15.95
In this brightly illustrated story based on a folk tale from India, a very greedy cat eats five hundred cakes, his friend the parrot, the nosy old woman, and much more.
Taylor, Sean Boing! {GL 5yr,-E-} -- Candlewick : 7/2004 0763624756 $16.99
Gasp in wonder and amazement as the Great Eastic Marvel bounces from one danger to another in this high-flying tale, captured in bright, bold color by an acclaimed illustrator.
Thompson, Lauren Polar Bear Night {GL 3yr to 5yr} -- Scholastic : 10/2004, 32p 0439495245 $15.95
One keen, clear night, a polar bear cub wakes inside her warm den. Something in the moonlit stillness quietly beckons, and the baby cub goes to investigate.
Todd, Mark Monster Trucks! {GL 3yr-2,-E-} -- Houghton Mifflin Company : 9/2003
061818208X $15.00
The illustrations and easy-to-read text depict a wide variety of trucks, including bulldozers, eighteen-wheelers, garbage trucks, and fire trucks.
Vestergaard, Hope Hello, Snow! {GL 3yr-1,-E-} -- Farrar Straus Giroux : 10/2004, 32p
0374329494 $16.00
The joys of a winter day come to life in this exuberant title that has striking watercolor illustration.
Willems, Mo Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale {GL 3yr,-E-} -- Hyperion : 9/2004
0786818700 $15.99
Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood laundromat. The exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes some bunny was left behind.
Winter, Jeanette September Roses {GL 2-5,-E-} -- Farrar Straus Giroux : 9/2004, 40p
0374367361 $14.00
Based on a true story, Winter tells of two sisters from South Africa who arrived in New York City on September 11, 2001, with roses for a flower show. When they learned of the terrorist attack, they found a use for their flowers.
Winters, Kay My Teacher for President {GL 5yr,-E-} -- Dutton Children's Books : 9/2004, 32p 0525471863 $14.99
A second-grader writes a television station with reasons why his teacher would make a good president, but only if she can continue teaching till the end of the year.
Woodson, Jacqueline Coming On Home Soon {GL 5yr-4,-E-} -- G.P. Putnam's Sons : 10/2004, 32p 0399237488 $16.99
After Mama takes a job in Chicago during World War II, Ada Ruth stays with Grandma but misses her mother who loves her more than anything. Set during WWII, this story has a timeless quality that will appeal to all who wait and hope.
Selected by Sue Rokos, Youth Services Consultant, MVLS
Annotations courtesy of BWI TitleTales, www.bwibooks.com