AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S
NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS
2001
Younger Readers
America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle by David A. Adler
Against all odds, Ederle is determined to be the first woman to swim the English Channel, 21 arduous miles of cold, choppy water. Her success is a personal triumph and a victory for all womankind.
Night Worker by Kate Banks
Alex visits his father's construction site one night and discovers a world that is as fascinating and mysterious as it is warm and inviting.
Radio Rescue by Lynne Barasch
In an exciting story about the heroism of ordinary people, a 10-year-old boy earns his amateur radio license and aids in the rescue of hurricane victims.
Uncommon Traveler: Mary Kingsley in Africa by Don Brown
Finally freed from the stifling responsibilities of family, Mary embarks on a courageous voyage to West Africa in 1893.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Using the barnyard typewriter, Farmer Brown's cows draft ultimatums while negotiating better living conditions for all the farm animals.
Days like This: A Collection of Small Poems Ed. by Simon James
Illustrated with cartoon watercolors outlined in ink, this anthology of brief, expressive poems, both traditional and modern, celebrates everyday experiences like jumping on the bed.
Olivia by Ian Falconer
The days of one irrepressible pig are busy from morning to night, as Olivia excels at everything, including wearing people out!
Max by Bob Graham
Although Max has been born into a family of flying superheroes, he just cannot seem to get the hang of flying.
Iris and Walter by Elisa Haden Guest
In four easy-to-read chapters, Iris discovers a new friend and decides that maybe life in the country is not so bad after all.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Wemberly worries about everything, especially about beginning nursery school. Her courage grows with family support and a successful first day.
Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Virgie, a strong young African American girl living in the post-Civil War South, is determined to join her brothers at the local Quaker school.
In Every Tiny Grain of Sand: A Child's Book of Prayers and Praise Ed. by Reeve Lindbergh
A diverse collection of prayers, affirmations and poems in praise of God, nature and the good things in life is supported by joyous, colorful illustrations by a number of artists.
Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story by Angela Shelf Medearis
In an original Kwanzaa tale, seven bickering brothers must use the seven principles of Nguzo Saba and work together to make gold from thread and claim their inheritance.
Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne
After selling the family cow for magic beans, brave young Kate climbs the beanstalk and meets the giant who has murdered a knight and stolen his castle. A feminist version of a familiar tale.
Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck by Lisa Westberg Peters
Arriving one cold and miserable spring day to discover the pond is still frozen, a little duck begins to wish and dream, filling the sky with thoughts of spring.
Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto
Chato throws a surprise pachanga for his carnal Novio Boy, who, as an orphan, isn't sure he wants a birthday party.
Ernest L. Thayer's Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888 by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
In this stunning example of contemporary bookmaking, the most sophisticated electronic techniques have been used to re-create the baseball world of 1888. Thayer's poem is illustrated with Bing's scratchboard drawings, and fictional newspaper articles amplify issues suggested in the text.
Good Night, Good Knight by Shelley Moore Thomas
The Good Knight comes to the rescue of three little dragons as they try to settle down for the night. A humorous story for beginning readers.
Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa, and Other Talking Drum Rhymes by Uzo Unobagha
A colorful collection of more than 75 original nursery rhymes reflects the writer's Nigerian roots while conjuring up images and sounds of Africa.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen
In playful artwork and lively text, dinosaur kids with a catalog of familiar bedtime woes are plunked into bed as perplexed, sometimes vexed parents look on.
Middle Readers
Digging for Bird-Dinosaurs: An Expedition to Madagascar by Nic Bishop
Paleontologist Cathy Forster travels to Madagascar in search of fossils that will further her research on the relationship between dinosaurs and birds.
Crazy Horse's Vision by Joseph Bruchac
Embodying the spirit and culture of the legendary Lakota warrior, this fictionalized biography focuses on his journey to adulthood.
Satchel Paige by Lesa Cline-Ransome
The life of one of baseball's greatest pitchers, the first African American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, is celebrated in a biography that captures the spirit of this sports legend.
Liberty by Lynn Curlee
This book uncovers the history and construction of one of the most famous symbols of the U.S., the majestic Statue of Liberty.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
During her first summer in a Florida town, Opal is lonely, and her yearning for her missing mother leads the young girl to her first new friend, an ugly dog with a winning smile.
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos
Joey, much calmer and now in control of his life since starting his "good meds," spends his summer with his out-of-control father and eccentric grandmother, trying to pitch his father's baseball team to the championships.
Norman Rockwell: Storyteller with a Brush by Beverly Gherman
With a stroke of his brush, Norman Rockwell captured the emotion of everyday America. His life and his legacy are recounted in the same warm, affectionate style that characterized his paintings, which graced the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.
The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin by James Cross Giblin
An illustrated biography traces the life, accomplishments, disappointments and triumphs of one of America's greatest scientists and statesmen.
Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
Twelve-year-old Nory Ryan and her family and friends learn how to survive and help one another during the great potato famine in Ireland.
Frank O. Gehry: Outside In by Jan Greenberg & Sandra Jordan
A photo-biography presents the life and work of one of America's most provocative architects, giving us a close-up look at a creative genius at work.
The Doll People by Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin
Annabelle Doll has been 8 years old for more than 100 years. Being cooped up in the same dollhouse with the same people is boring--until the pink plastic Funcrafts arrive.
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
Judy Moody, an irrepressible third-grader, is working on her class project, a "Me Collage," in this contemporary story full of humor and situations that will appeal to children. An accessible, attractive generously illustrated book.
Wings by Christopher Myers
Ikarus Jackson's ability to fly makes him an outsider in his new neighborhood until a shy, quiet girl finds the courage and voice to speak for her friend's special gift. Myers' cut-paper collages are beautiful and open, with fluid perspectives of the urban scene.
Surviving Brick Johnson by Laurie Myers
Fifth-grader Alex discovers that the classmate he fears as a bully is nothing of the sort; in fact, he becomes a friend. With an open format and quirky, humorous illustrations, this is a perfect choice for reluctant readers.
Osceola: Memories of a Sharecropper's Daughter Ed. by Alan Govenar
Osceola Mays grew up in an era plagued by the legacy of slavery's oppression. Govenar has collected stories and anecdotes from years of taped conversations with Osceola about her childhood memories of Texas.
Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney
In this collective biography, vivid, stylized portraits introduce 10 extraordinary African American women who have shown courage in their struggles against inequality and prejudice.
Freedom River by Doreen Rappaport
John Parker, an ex-slave and successful businessman from Ohio, is also a conductor on the Underground Railroad. On one of his trips, Parker must convince Jim and his family to leave the plantation for freedom.
Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth by Anne Rockwell
A picture-book biography based primarily on the autobiography of Sojourner Truth. Rockwell's proud, eloquent prose is accompanied by powerful and visceral impressionistic paintings.
So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George
Entertaining trivia, intriguing scandals and thought-provoking lessons embellish an overview of the presidency and the men who lead our country. Through illustrations rendered in a harmonious mix of watercolor, ink, and pastel chalk, Small employs wiry and expansive lines with an echo of political cartooning. His pictures humanize the presidents, liberating them from years of bulletin-board duty.
Space Race by Sylvia Waugh
Father and son aliens from the planet Ormingat race to recover their spaceship before time runs out and they are stranded on Earth.
My Season with Penguins: An Antarctic Journal by Sophie Webb
With clear prose and engaging illustrations, Webb's journal entries document her two-month expedition to study Ad�lie penguins in Antarctica in 1996. She includes absorbing details of the daily life of a scientist in the field as well as her observations on the life and behavior of penguins.
Older Readers
In an old coal-mining town, 13-year-old Kit meets a boy who invites him to play the game of Death, and Kit discovers the stories and ghosts of his child-ancestors.
Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado by Marc Aronson
Authoritative and rigorous research informs this biography, which explores the larger-than-life adventurer who explored the New World, fought the Spanish, courted Queen Elizabeth's favor, and engaged in political intrigue that was his ultimate downfall.
Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
At her family diner in rural Wisconsin, 16-year-old Hope encounters issues as diverse as her customers: corruption in politics, a new love, serious illness and the meaning of family.
Samir and Yonatan by Daniella Carmi
In this moving novel translated from the Hebrew, Samir, a Palestinian boy, enters an Israeli hospital for surgery, and his initial fear and antagonism are mitigated by his growing bond with Yonatan, an Israeli boy.
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
Sophie and her cousin Cody keep journals during their voyage aboard the sailboat Wanderer on their way to see their ailing grandfather in England.
The Longitude Prize by Joan Dash
Illustrated with lighthearted ink drawings, this fascinating biography of the eighteenth- century English country clockmaker John Harrison explains how he developed a series of instruments that used time to establish a ship's east-west position.
Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement by Dennis Brindell Fradin & Judith Bloom Fradin
Quotations from contemporaries, excerpts from letters, grim photographs of lynchings, and Wells' own words create an engrossing portrait of the civil right activist and cofounder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
How God Fix Jonah by Lorenz Graham
Breathtaking blockprints, the vibrant vernacular of West Africa and lyrical retellings showcase 23 Bible stories in this pioneering collection.
The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph
A young writer living in the Dominican Republic discovers her daring words have the power to build community, threaten life and keep the memory of her beloved brother alive.
Ghost Boy by Iain Lawrence
Tired of the taunts and indignities of the local residents, 14-year-old Harold, an albino, runs away to join the circus.
Ultimate Game by Christopher Lehmann
Translated from the French, this powerful novel is about three high-school boys who get into a new virtual-reality computer game that transports them to different battlefields through history. One of them has a need for power that propels him to play the game as judge, jury, and, finally, prey. The strong language of teens marks this well-plotted novel.
Freedom like Sunlight: Praisesongs for Black Americans by J. Patrick Lewis
A collection of 13 original poems and museum-quality portraits celebrates outstanding African Americans, including Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, Billie Holiday and Arthur Ashe.
The Art of Keeping Cool by Janet Taylor Lisle
During World War II in the United States, two cousins face family secrets and community violence aimed at a refugee from Nazi Germany. The story raises questions about mob action, creativity and survival.
Gold Dust by Chris Lynch
Baseball and race relations in Boston in the early 1970s are the backdrop for this story of baseball-obsessed Richard Riley Moncrief, who befriends a new boy at his parochial school, Napoleon Charlie Ellis, who has just arrived from the Dominican Republic.
Building Big by David Macaulay
An up-close examination of famous large-scale construction projects around the world and throughout time celebrates people's ability to imagine and build.
Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America by Jim Murphy
This gripping account of one of America's greatest natural disasters, the Blizzard of 1888, focuses on the human-interest angle. Personal writings, newspaper articles, and archival photographs document this chilling weather event.
The Wind Singer by William Nicholson
Kestrel Hath and her twin brother, Bowman, escape their stifling city of Aramanth to rescue the key to the wind singer and free their people.
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
During the Depression, Mary Alice spends a year in small-town Illinois with Grandma Dowdel, whose sharp, overbearing ways hide a heart of gold. Peck tells his story with wit, gentleness, and outrageous farce.
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
As war rages and dust rains from the sky, the fate of the living and the dead depends on Lyra and Will, two ordinary children with extraordinary powers.
Voices: Poetry and Art from around the World Ed. by Barbara Brenner
A sampler of traditional, ancient and modern poetry from six continents is interspersed with illustrations of world art and sculpture.
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
As tradition dictates, 13-year-old Koly enters into an ill-fated arranged marriage, only to find herself a homeless widow who must find the courage to change her life.
Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned by Judd Winick
In graphic-novel format, cartoonist Winick tells the true story of his friendship with AIDS educator Pedro Zamora, whom he met on MTV's Real World. After Pedro's death, Winick decided to continue his friend's work. Important lessons are presented in a style friendly to young teens.
All Ages
More than 60 of Aesop's most compelling tales have been selected and paired with lavish, eloquent watercolors.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: A Commemorative Pop-Up by L. Frank Baum
Spectacular paper engineering and pop-up effects, reminiscent of W. W. Denslow's illustrations, highlight an abridgment of Baum's classic fantasy.
The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale by Mary Casanova
After being rewarded with the ability to speak to animals, Hai Li Bu sacrifices his life to save the village from a disastrous flood.
Cold Feet by Cynthia DeFelice
Loose, lively watercolors match this shivery, just-scary-enough Scottish tale of a cold, bootless, wandering bagpiper and what happens after he "borrows" a new pair of boots from a dead man.
The Jack Tales by Ray Hicks & Lynn Salsi
Jack searches for the North Wind, knocks off a man-eating giant and outsmarts good-for-nothing robbers in this rousing collection of Appalachian folktales.
Christmas Gift: El Regalo de Navidad by Francisco Jim�nez
As Christmas approaches, a migrant family finds disappointment, compassion and love in this bilingual memoir illustrated with glowing folk-art-style illustrations.
Gershon's Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year by Eric A. Kimmel
Gershon never makes reparations for the wrongs he commits. Instead, he throws his misdeeds into the sea each year until they grow into a monstrous demon that threatens the lives of his children.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
As he enter his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry suffers from bad dreams about the evil Voldemort and is mysteriously entered in the Triwizard Tournament, which seriously endangers his life.
Stone Bench in an Empty Park Ed. by Paul B. Janeczko
Urban landscapes and experiences are the subjects of 33 haiku poems illustrated with expressive, sepia-tone photographs.