Top 10 Picture Books of 2011

This took longer than expected. As I mentioned in my last post, selections this year were hard. In addition, I discovered I needed to segregate picture books for little kids (babies, toddlers, preschoolers) from those for school-age children. While some books could overlap between the two age groups, there was no way for me to compile a fair list if I lumped them all into one group. For books where I couldn’t find an age listing, I put them where I felt they fit best. I’ll start off with my Top 10 for the youngest category and then list the Top 10 in the older category.

Top 10 Picture Books for Preschoolers and under

• Ricky’s Christmas Tree by Guido van Genechten
• A Cat’s Alphabet Book by Sally O. Lee
• My Daddy by Guido van Genechten
• Going to the Beach with Lily and Milo and Going to the Zoo with Lily and Milo by Pauline Oud (I reviewed these together, so I am counting them as one.)
• One Little Blueberry by Tammi Salzano
• Oops! by Leo Timmers
• 1-2-3- Count with Me and A is for Apple by Georgie Burkett (Again, I reviewed these together and count them as one.)
• Ricky is Brave by Guido van Genechten
• Thankyouplease by Pierre Winters and Barbara Ortelli
• Ian’s New Potty by Pauline Oud

There are repeat names on this list, but I felt these authors and publishers truly knew how to create books attractive to this market.

Top 10 Books of 2011 for Ages 3 and up

• A Dog is A Dog by Stephen Shaskan
• My Mom Has X-Ray Vision by Angela McAllister
• Will & Kate: A Love Story by Ink Robin
• Sea Monster’s First Day by Kate Messner
• The Butt Book by Artie Bennett
• Not Fat Because I Wanna Be by LaNiyah Bailey
• The Dancing Clock by Steve Metzger
• Humbug, A Christmas Carol by Lee Baker
• My Name is Not Alexander by Jennifer Fosberry
• Fifo “50 States” by Hayley Rose

Honorable Mentions

• A Christmas Secret by Candace Hall
• Frederico, The Mouse Violinist by Mayra Calvani
• The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger
• Marta’s Gargantuan Wings by J. Aday Kennedy
• Every-Day Dress-Up by Selina Alko
• Freckleface Strawberry Best Friends Forever by Julianne Moore
• Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson
• Don’t Worry Douglas! by David Melling
• Cinderfella and the Furry Godmother by Dixie Phillips
• Tumbleweed Christmas by Beverly Stowe McClure
• Secret Service Saint by Janet Ann Collins
• Seven Miles to Freedom by Janet Halfmann 

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia – Review and Giveaway

Family fun, great food, and adventure awaits young readers in Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia.

Aneel’s grandparents have come to live with them, all the way from India. One day, Aneel is eager to hear a story. His Dada-ji (paternal grandfather) tells him the story of a young lad from a village who wrestled water buffalo, tied cobras together, and spun elephants. His strength came from his Badi-ma’s (great grandmother’s) hot, hot roti that “sizzled and wizzled” on her wood hearth. So Aneel decides to whip up a batch of hot, hot roti for Dada-ji to see if he still has the strength of that lad. If only he knew how to make them.

This is a touching book of family, food, and fun. Young readers get a taste of a family together, enjoying each other’s company, and experiencing new adventures together. The love between Aneel and his dada-ji is evident from the start.  Aneel eagerly seeks out his dada-ji to tell him a story, reminding young readers of the importance and pleasure of listening to a more experienced generation. The conflict for Aneel comes in a bit later into the book, when he decides that his dada-ji must have a stack of hot, hot roti, but everyone else is too busy to make them. Not easily deterred, Aneel begins trying to make his own batch, which draws the rest of his busy family into the kitchen.

The artwork of Ken Min is beautiful in Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji. The pictures and the colors capture the family’s culture. Some of my favorite illustrations come from when Dada-ji relays his story of the young lad in the village, but the most touching are the scenes of Aneel and his dada-ji at the end after they’ve eaten their hot, hot roti.

Included at the back of the book is a glossary of terms. I found this very helpful.

Young readers will flip for Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia!

Rating:  🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

• Publisher:Lee & Low Books
• ISBN-10:1600604439
• ISBN-13: 978-1600604430
• SRP:  $17.95

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A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in conjunction with the author’s virtual blog tour. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I received no monetary compensation.