Miscellaneous Favorites of 2013

This final post for 2013 is going to be a mixture of some of my favorite books in various categories for the year.  Hope you have enjoyed each of the posts with my favorite books from 2013.  May everyone have a fabulous New Year and exceed all of your reading goals.

Previous posts:
Favorite Picture Books
Favorite Graphic Novels
Favorite Middle Grade

Early Readers:

Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting; Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier (Clarion Books, March 5, 2013) - If you haven't seen this one, it's adorable and would make a great read aloud.

Early Middle Grade:

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books, September 17, 2013) - This one was recognized by the Nerdy Awards. It certainly is good.

Poetry:

Follow, Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer; Illustrated by Josée Masse (Dial, February 7, 2013) - A follow-up to Mirror, Mirror, Singer has another wonderful book with reverse poems.

The Pet Project: Cute and Cuddly Vicious Verses by Lisa Wheeler; Illustrated by Zachariah Ohora (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, April 2, 2013) - This book was witty and funny and wonderful. 

Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More!: Poems for Two Voices by Carole Gerber; Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt, February 5, 2013) - My students love poems for two voices and this was a favorite in the spring.

Favorite Baseball Book:

Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige Vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio by Robert Skead; Illustrated by Floyd Cooper (January 1, 2013) - I had to sneak in a favorite picture book on baseball.  I had so much fun with my baseball post earlier in the year.

Favorite Young Adult & Audiobook:

Far, Far, Away by Tom McNeal (Random House, June 11, 2013) - Most of the Young Adult books I read this year will have to wait to be discussed.  However, I can tell everyone how much I enjoyed this one now.

Favorite Professional Text:

Reading in the Wild: The Book Whisperer's Keys to Cultivating Lifelong Reading Habits by Donalyn Miller (Jossey-Bass; November 4, 2013) - Donalyn has another inspiring book for teachers to encourage and support student reading habits.


So, any quirky or special books pop up for you this year?

Favorite Middle Grade Novels of 2013

Recently, I started my count down to the new year by listing my favorite books from this year.  Today, I am sharing my favorite middle grade novels.   However, this list was probably my hardest one to create.  Some books that I loved this year, I will not be able to share with you until after January 28, 2014.  Others, I never had a chance to read because of the classes I took this year, which really cut into my reading time. So, today I am sharing just a few of the ones that I loved but I do encourage you to check the posts of others in order to not miss any of the amazing stories that were written this year. 

Earlier Posts:
Favorite Picture Books of 2013 Post
Favorite Graphic Novels of 2013 Post

In no particular order, here are few of my favorites of 2013...

Doll Bones by Holly Black (Margaret K. McElderry, May 7, 2013)

The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher (HarperCollins, June 18, 2013) - Click here to check out the book trailer.

From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, September 24, 2013)

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins,  September 17, 2013) - Click here to check out the book trailer for the book.

Every Day After by Laura Golden (Random House, June 11, 2013)

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle (Simon & Schuster, February  5, 2013) - Click here to listen to author, Tim Federle talk about the book.

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo; Illustrated by K. G. Campbell (Candlewick Press, September 24, 2013) - Click here to watch the book trailer.

The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson (Random House,  September 10, 2013)

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein (Random House, June 25, 2013)

And yes, I do know that this one below isn't a fiction novel, but since I did not read enough longer middle grade nonfiction to do a separate post, I decided to squeeze this one in here. It is too good to miss. 

Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America's First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Stone (Candlewick Press, January 22, 2013) - Click here to see a short video about the book.

So, what where your favorite Middle Grade Novels in 2013?

Favorite Graphic Novels of 2013

Yesterday, I posted my favorite picture books of 2013.  Today, I am sharing my favorite graphic novels of the year.  There is a huge range of interests and appeal in the list below.  I love these books and have shared them often and look forward to future work from each of these authors and illustrators. 

In no particular order, here are my top 10 for 2013...

Extreme Babymouse (Babymouse #17) by Jennifer L. Holm; Matt Holm (Random House, January 22, 213)

Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain (Lunch Lady #9) by Jarrett Krosoczka (Random House, April 23, 2013)

Game On! Squish #5 by Jennifer L. Holm; Matt Holm (Random House, May 1, 2013)

Odd Duck by Cecil Castelucci; Illustrated by Sara Varon (First Second, May 14, 2013)

Bluffton by Matt Phelan (Candlewick Press, July 23, 2013) - Click here to see the book trailer for Bluffton.

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdkis by Jim Ottaviana (First Second, June 11, 2013)

The Great American Dustbowl by Don Brown (HMH Books for Young Readers, October 8, 2013) - Click here to see a video of Don Brown talking about his book.

Poseidon: Earth Shaker (Olympians #5) by George O'Connor (First Second, March 19, 2013)

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley (Macmillan, April 2, 2013)

Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt, Isabelle Arsenault (Groundwood Books, September 1, 2013)

So, what are your favorite graphic novels of the year?

Favorite Picture Books of 2013

It's that time of year!  Now is the time to look through my list of books read throughout the year and pick my favorites.  I love remembering what I was thinking and feeling at the time of reading those books.  There is something special about deciding on which ones will find a place on this special list. 

Below are my top 13 for 2013. There were so many more that I wanted to add to the list but I decided to limit my list.  Also, I haven't listed the books in any special order.   And, though I would love to see some of them end up with shiny stickers at the end of January, this is really the list of books that  resonate with me after a year of reading.

Bluebird by Bob Staake (Schwartz & Wade, April 9, 2013) - Click here to view book trailer.

Journey by Aaron Becker (Candlewick, August 6, 2013) - Click here to view book trailer.

Fossil by Bill Thomson (Two Lions, November 5, 2013) - Click here to view book trailer.

Little Red Writing by Joan Holub; Illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Chronicle Books, September 24, 2013)

The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman (Viking Juvenile, June 13, 2013)

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September 3, 2013) - Click here to view book trailer.

The Mighty LaLouche by Matthew Olshan; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Schwartz & Wade, May 14, 2013)

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywelt; Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel, June 27, 2013)

Mysterious Traveller by Mal Peet, Elspeth Graham; Illustrated by P.J. Lynch (Candlewick Press, October 8, 2013)

No Fits, Nilson by Zachariah Ohora (Dial, June 13, 2013)

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle (Chronicle Books, February 5, 2013) - Click here to view book trailer.

Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunnane; Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi (Schwartz & Wade, October 8, 2013)

One Gorilla: A Counting Book by Anthony Browne (Candlewick Press, February 12, 2013)

What picture books would end up on your list?

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - 2013 Wrap Up

At the beginning of 2012, I challenged myself to read more Nonfiction Picture Books.  I continued the challenge into 2013 and was excited to see more people joining in and linking up their nonfiction picture book reviews and posts.  Since this is technically the last Wednesday in 2013, I wanted to look back and see how I did.


Throughout the year, I read 54 nonfiction picture books and 25 more nonfiction books from previous years.  I had so many more on my list, but just ran out of time. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order) from 2013....

No Monkeys, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart,  Allen Young; Illustrated by  Nicole Wong (Charlesbridge Publishing, August 1, 2013)

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtmakers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel; Illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth, Illustrated by Cindy Trumbore (Lee & Low, September 1, 2013)

Papa is a Poet: A Story About Robert Frost by Natalie S. Bober; Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon (Henry Holt and Co., October 15, 2013)

Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives by Lola M. Schaefer; Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (Chronicle Books, September 24, 2013)

The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins; Illustrated by Jill McElmurry (Beach Lane Books; September 17, 2013)

Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared Into America's Hearts by Julie Cummins; Illustrated by Malene R Laugesen (Roaring Brook Press, July 23, 2013)

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligeman; Illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Roaring Brook Press, June 25, 2013)

The Beatles Were Fab (And They Were Funny) by Kathleen Krull, Paul Brewer; Illustrated by Stacy Innerst (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 19, 2013)

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson (Katherine Tegen Books, January 2, 2013)

What were your favorite nonfiction picture books in 2013?

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews and end of the year wrap ups.