Favorite Picture Books of 2011 from Casey
The editors here at Picture This would like to share with you five of our favorite books of 2011.
Here are my five favorites:
Zita The Spacegirl Written and Illustrated By Ben Hatke
My son and I picked this up from our library, yes our library rocks enough to have fabulous graphic novels! (Talk to your librarian today about getting a healthy graphic novel section.) We couldn’t stop reading and wound up returning it late. It is due to be part of our permanent collection. Ben Hatke’s story is complex yet able to be enjoyed by two year old. The full cast of characters each tug on your heart strings for their own uniqueness. Sure to be enjoyed by all ages.
You Will Be My Friend Written and Illustrated by Peter Brown
We were lucky enough to go to a book signing to get our hands on this book. Peter Brown is a fun speaker. He kept all of the kids in the audience entertained. We enjoy this story for its characters with big personalities, use of speech bubbles that look cut and pasted onto each page, and the many choices of spread layout from close ups to mapping. This story makes us giggle and we love Lucy.
Little Pig Joins the Band Written and Illustrated by David Hyde Costello
Little Pig Joins the Band is a delightful tale about a little pig finding how he can participate with his older siblings. With each spread we see a new instrument and how it is paired with one of Little Pig’s siblings. Climaxing with how Little Pig fits into the band. As the story progresses the text provides funny little quips to keep the adult entertained. David Hyde Costello and written and illustrated a winner, sure to keep any reader marching along.
Tricky Journeys #3 Tricky Fox Tales Written by Chris Schweizer and Illustrated by Shelli Paroline
Who didn’t love choose your own adventure stories? Here is a choose your own adventure comic! This is one in a series of choose your own adventure comics. Chris Schweizer weaves many different ways for this story to travel and Shelli Paroline’s did a fabulous job illustrating out each of those possibilities and carefully crafting each of the characters.
Just Being Audrey Written by Margaret Cardillo and Illustrated by Julia Denos
This eloquently written and beautifully illustrated book perfectly captures Audrey Hepburn. It rings true to any fan and simply explains this woman to a new audience, allowing a whole new group of girls to look up to her. I found this story so encouraging from its messages always be true to yourself and kindness is priceless. Julia Denos’s illustrations tenderly stand beside Margaret Cardillo’s words. Making a brilliant partnership for a book about Audrey Hepburn.
My criteria for choosing these books is based on the books reaching my hands, their entertainment for my reading them with my son or their lasting message that touches my heart, and their power to be read over and over again.
