Best Books 2000
Trev Jones, Luann Toth, Daryl Grabarek, Barbara Auerbach, and Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 12/1/2000
From the more than 4000 books reviewed in SLJ's pages this year, the editors selected the 60 titles annotated below as the most outstanding. This year, natural science made a strong showing, and your dinosaur devotees will be delighted. Nonfiction in general was at its finest, with new takes on old topics and newly visited areas. Lap-sits and toddler programs will be enriched by the rousing picture books for the very young, and they're sure to produce some toothy grins or elicit some familiar refrains from favorite songs. A noteworthy knight, a baby superhero, some prolific cows, and an enchanting crocodile are to be found among this year's favorites. For older readers, it was a year of adventure in fiction and nonfiction--thrilling storms, valor under duress, amazing discoveries, and stories of courageous individuals prepared to go the extra mile. Memorable characterizations, effervescent or ingenious personalities, or rock-solid homebodies made their mark in strongly plotted picture books and novels. The selections are thought-provoking, discussion-inducing, informative, enlightening, or just plain terrific reads. So--booktalk them, read them aloud, spread the word about them to your teachers and parents--and pass them on to your young readers. The month in which the original review appeared in SLJ follows each annotation.--T. E. J.
ADLER, David A. America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle. illus. by Terry Widener. Harcourt/Gulliver. RTE $16. ISBN 0-15-201969-3.
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ALMOND,David. Kit's Wilderness. Delacorte. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-32665-3.
Gr 6-9-Kit's grandfather's stories about the generations of Watsons who worked in the coal mines lead the boy and his troubled new friend underground in search of the past. This haunting novel explores the complexities of friendship and of family ties. (Mar.)
ARNOLD,Caroline. Easter Island: Giant Stone Statues Tell of a Rich and Tragic Past. photos. by author. Clarion. RTE $15. ISBN 0-395-87609-5.
Gr 3-6-In their search for the meaning of the monolithic statues on a remote Polynesian island, archeologists have uncovered a fascinating tale of clashing clans and decimated resources. Spectacular color photos capture the mystery and drama of the stones and the setting. (Apr.)
ARONSON,Marc. Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado. Clarion. Tr $20. ISBN 0-395-84827-X.
Gr 7 Up-An expansive look at the intrepid explorer and adventurer, his brushes with fame and glory, his writings and royal connections, and his unfortunate demise. Through careful research presented with a literary bent, readers are led on an eventful and highly dramatic historical quest. (July)
BARASCH,Lynne. Radio Rescue. illus. by author. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks. Tr $16. ISBN 0-374-36166-5.
Gr 3-5-In 1923, a 10-year-old boy learns Morse code and follows his dream of becoming a licensed ham radio operator. Story and art unite together to telegraph one child's persistence and cool, focused attention in a crisis. (Oct.)
BAUER,Joan. Hope Was Here. Putnam. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-399-23142-0.
Gr 8 Up-An engaging teen is a crackerjack waitress but is less adroit at handling personal relationships and trusting others. An upbeat, offbeat, and wise novel. (Nov.)
BISHOP,Nic. Digging for Bird-Dinosaurs: An Expedition to Madagascar. photos. by author. Houghton. Tr $16. ISBN 0-395-96056-8.
Gr 5-8 -Readers follow paleontologist Cathy Foster to a fossil-rich island in the Indian Ocean for a look at recent theory and evidence concerning bird evolution. Close-up photos zero in on the search for clues onsite and in the laboratory. (May)
CERULLO,Mary M. The Truth About Great White Sharks. photos. by Jeffrey L. Rotman. illus. by Michael Wertz. Chronicle. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-8118-2467-5.
Gr 3-6-Reporting on the latest research by marine biologists, the author dispels myths about this elusive, often vilified creature. Exciting underwater shots, whimsical line drawings, and a snazzy book design create an appealing package. (July)
COLE,Brock. Buttons. illus. by author. Farrar. Tr $16. ISBN 0-374-31001-7.
Gr 1-4-When a portly gent bursts the buttons off his britches, his wife and daughters go to great lengths to procure new ones. A rib-tickling tale with comically unfettered illustrations. (Apr.)
COMAN,Carolyn. Many Stones. Front St. Tr $15.95. ISBN 1-886910-55-3.
Gr 8 Up-Berry and her father, whose relationship is prickly at best, go to South Africa to dedicate a memorial to her slain sister. A wrenching emotional and physical journey of grief, forgiveness, and reconciliation. (Nov.)
CREECH,Sharon. The Wanderer. illus. by David Diaz. HarperCollins/Joanna Cotler Bks. Tr $15.95. ISBN
0-06-027730-0; PLB $15.89. ISBN 0-06-027731-9.
Gr 5-9-A transatlantic sail Sophie, her three uncles, and two male cousins to her adopted family's ancestral homeland. Alternating points of view reveal disparate personalities and rocky relationships as the unseasoned crew pulls together to weather a whale of a storm. (Apr.)
CRONIN, Doreen. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. illus. by Betsy Lewin. S & S. RTE $15. ISBN 0-689-83213-3.
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CUSHMAN,Karen. Matilda Bone. Clarion. Tr $15. ISBN 0-395-88156-0.
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DICAMILLO,Kate. Because of Winn-Dixie. Candlewick. RTE $15.99. ISBN 0-7636-0776-2.
Gr 4-6-India Opal, a motherless preacher's daughter, is lonely in her new Florida home until a scraggly, smiling, stray mutt enters her life and together they win over the town. A heartfelt story that is sure to touch a chord with readers. (June)
DOWELL,Frances O'Roark. Dovey Coe. S & S/Atheneum. RTE $16. ISBN 0-689-83174-9.
Gr 4-7-A 12-year-old tomboy is accused of murdering her sister's spurned suitor in this drama set in the hills of North Carolina in 1928. Told in Dovey's frank, authentic voice, the story slowly builds momentum, right up to its surprising conclusion. (May)
FALCONER, , Ian. Olivia. illus. by author. S & S/Atheneum/An Anne Schwartz Bk. RTE $16. ISBN 0-689-82953-1.
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FITZPATRICK,Marie-Louise. Lizzy and Skunk. illus. by author. DK Ink. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-7894-6163-3.
PreS-Gr 2-A timid child finds comfort in her hand puppet, and when Skunk is in danger, Lizzy summons the courage to save him. Winsome watercolors work hand-in-hand with a heartwarming text. (July)
FRADIN,Dennis Brindell & Judith Bloom Fradin. Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Clarion. Tr $18. ISBN 0-395-89898-6.
Gr 5 Up-This compelling narrative examines the life of an unconventional, untiring, and often-overlooked crusader for justice. Graphic archival photographs document Wells's extraordinary life and times. (Apr.)
FREEDMAN,Russell. Give Me Liberty: The Story of the Declaration of Independence. Holiday House. Tr $24.95. ISBN 0-8234-1448-5.
Gr 5-8-In detailing events and describing the principal characters, Freedman sets the stage for the unfolding of one of America's most dramatic stories. Full-color reproductions round out this superlative account. (Oct.)
FRENCH,Vivian. Growing Frogs. illus. by Alison Bartlett. Candlewick. RTE $15.99. ISBN 0-7636-0317-1.
K-Gr 3-A playful mix of useful facts and a you-are-there sense of immediacy captures the excitement as a mother and daughter collect eggs from a pond and watch them develop into fully formed amphibians. (May)
GANTOS,Jack. Joey Pigza Loses Control. Farrar. Tr $16. ISBN 0-374-39989-1.
Gr 4-8-Having gotten his hyperactivity in hand at last, Joey visits his father and discovers an adult version of his off-kilter self. Insightful, outrageously funny, and heartbreakingly real, this novel is right on target and in perfect control. (Sept.)
GIFF,Patricia Reilly. Nory Ryan's Song. Delacorte. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-32141-4.
Gr 5-8-When the potato blight destroys an Irish community's sole source of food, Nory and her neighbors must draw on their inner strength to survive. A powerfully written historical novel with a spirited and resourceful heroine. (Aug.)
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PreS-Gr 1-Young Max has no interest in following in his superhero parents' footsteps, but when a baby bird is in peril, he leaps to the rescue with a single bound. Droll details and a tongue-in-cheek text create a caped crusader who is just a regular child. (Sept.)
GREENBERG,Jan & Sandra Jordan. Frank O. Gehry: Outside In. DK Ink. Tr $19.95. ISBN 0-7894-2677-3.
Gr 4-7-Clear, color photos witness this maverick's use of fluid line, sculptural form, and unusual materials that have redefined space and turned our ideas about architecture upside down. (Sept.)
HENKES,Kevin. Wemberly Worried. illus. by author. Greenwillow.Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-688-17027-7; PLB $15.89. ISBN 0-688-17028-5.
PreS-Gr 1 -The real and imagined "what ifs" about starting school are seen through the eyes of a dyed-in-the-wool worrywart. Whimsical watercolors will win over even the mousiest readers. (Aug.)
HESSE,Karen. Stowaway. illus. by Robert Andrew Parker. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. RTE $17.95. ISBN 0-689-83987-1.
Gr 5-9-A boy bribes his way onboard the Endeavour with Captain James Cook and learns that adventure can be deadly serious business. Nicholas records his impressions, insights, and internal dialogues in this deliberately paced and dutifully detailed diary. (Nov.)
HILL,Kirkpatrick. The Year of Miss Agnes. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. RTE $16. ISBN 0-689-82933-7.
Gr 2-5-Frederika has seen many teachers come and go in her small Alaskan village, but then Miss Agnes arrives. A simply told, gratifying story about a person who made a difference by tossing out the textbooks and daring her students to dream. (Sept.)
HORT,Lenny. The Seals on the Bus. illus. by G. Brian Karas. Holt. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-8050-5952-0.
PreS-Gr 2-In this rollicking spin on a favorite song, a ride to the fair takes a riotous turn when an unsuspecting family is joined by a variety of vivacious and very vocal animals. Hilarious art will keep kids in stitches—all around the town. (May)
IBBOTSON,Eva. Island of the Aunts. illus. by Kevin Hawkes. Dutton. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-525-46484-0.
Gr 4-6-Four aunts bring three children to their remote island to help them guard and care for the unique and magical wildlife that thrives there. A wacky fantasy of intrigue, kidnapping, and derring-do. (Nov.)
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K-Gr 4-While his friend works to earn the train fare to make a 30-mile journey, Henry hoofs it instead, taking the time to smell the roses. Simple text and parallel poses reveal both bears' experiences and guiding philosophies as they follow their paths. (June)
KONIGSBURG,E. L. Silent to the Bone. S & S/Atheneum/A Jean Karl Bk. RTE $16. ISBN 0-689-83601-5.
Gr 6-8-An intense psychological drama. When a 13-year-old is struck dumb after his infant half-sister falls into a coma and their au pair blames him, Bran's best friend pieces together the truth and helps him recover his voice. (Sept.)
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Gr 2-5-Spending the summer with his "river rat" grandmother, a city boy discovers the joys of rafting and of sketching the wildlife and "hitchhikers" he encounters. Luminous art filled with the wonders of nature capture the reflective text. (May)
LAWRENCE,Iain. Ghost Boy. Delacorte. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-32739-0.
Gr 8-10-An albino teen struggling to find his place in the world lands a job and a home among the freaks in a small circus. A colorful cast of characters enlivens this poignant and hugely entertaining look at the microcosm of the big top. (Sept.)
LILLEGARD, Dee. Wake Up House!: Rooms Full of Poems. illus. by Don Carter. Knopf/Borzoi. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-679-88351-7; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-679-98351-1.
PreS-Gr 1-Ordinary household objects take on depth, dimension, and even personality in these pithy poems. The creatively constructed artwork furnishes further fun in this dynamic domicle. (Feb.)
MCKISSACK, Patricia C. The Honest-to-Goodness Truth. illus. by Giselle Potter. S & S/Atheneum/An Anne Schwartz Bk. RTE $16. ISBN 0-689-82668-0.
K-Gr 3-Ruthie May is determined to tell only the truth, and alienates her friends, classmates, and a neighbor in the process. Quirky illustrations capture the rural setting and hurt feelings before things are set right. (Jan.)
MARTIN, Ann M. & Laura Godwin. The Doll People. illus. by Brian Selznick. Hyperion. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-7868-0361-4; PLB $16.95. ISBN 0-7868-2372-0.
Gr 3-5-Once the members of a Victorian doll household meet their new neighbors, the plastic Funcrafts, their staid existence is altered forever. Great characterizations, true friendship, and a mystery adventure are part of the mix in this fun-filled romp. (Nov.)
MATTHEWS, Kezi. John Riley's Daughter. Front St./Cricket Bks. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-8126-2775-X.
Gr 6-9-When her mentally disabled aunt wanders away, Memphis becomes the target of her grandmother's anger and realizes that she must leave the woman's home and find a place where she belongs. A provocative story with a vulnerable yet resilient heroine. (July)
MURPHY,, Jim. Blizzard! Scholastic Press. RTE $18.95. ISBN 0-590-67309-2.
Gr 5 Up-Dramatic period photos, news accounts, and personal stories take readers into the eye of a storm that battered the East Coast of the United States in March 1888, altering lives and public policy forever. (Dec.)
MYERS, Walter Dean. Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly. illus. by Leonard Jenkins. HarperCollins. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-06-027707-6; PLB $15.89. ISBN 0-06-027708-4.
Gr 2-5-Striking paintings in deep, rich colors, an informative text, and quotes from speeches trace the evolution of a fiery orator and political leader who was not afraid to question his own beliefs. (Feb.)
NAPOLI, Donna Jo. Beast. S & S/Atheneum. RTE $17. ISBN 0-689-83589-2.
Gr 8 Up-A Persian prince falls prey to an ancient curse, imprisoning him in the body of a lion until Belle affects his fairy-tale deliverance. Napoli's descriptions of Orasmyn's inner dialogue and beastly appetites are both eloquent and entrancing. (Oct.)
OSBORNE, Mary Pope. Kate and the Beanstalk. illus. by Giselle Potter. S & S/Atheneum/An Anne Schwartz Bk. RTE $16. ISBN 0-689-82550-1.
PreS-Gr 4-A saucy girl outwits an unctuous-looking giant, avenges her father's death, and recovers his castle in this clever twist on the traditional tale. (Oct.)
PARK, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. S & S/Atheneum/An Anne Schwartz Bk. RTE $15. ISBN 0-689-83912-X.
Gr 4-6-Embarrassed by his grandfather's increasingly erratic behavior, Jake learns about the horrors of Alzheimer's disease and about the real meaning of caregiving. A touching, perceptive, and heartening novel enriched by unforgettable characters. (Sept.)
PECK, Richard. A Year Down Yonder. Dial. RTE $16.99. ISBN 0-8037-2518-3.
Gr 5-8-Mary Alice is sent to live with her unscrupulous, conniving grandmother and comes to discover the soft side of this hardheaded individual. A warm and winning novel set in 1937. (Sept.)
PRINGLE, Laurence. Bats!: Strange and Wonderful. illus. by Meryl Henderson. Boyds Mills. RTE $15.95. ISBN 1-56397-327-8.
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PULLMAN,Philip. I Was a Rat! illus. by Kevin Hawkes. Knopf/Borzoi. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-375-80176-6; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-375-90176-0.
Gr 4-7-In this clever spin-off, a young boy who claims he was a rat footman for a pumpkin coach is taken in by a childless couple, kidnapped as a sideshow attraction, and sentenced to extermination before being rescued by a certain fairy-tale princess. (Mar.)
ST. GEORGE, Judith. So You Want to Be President? illus. by David Small. Philomel. RTE 17.99. ISBN 0-399-23407-1.
Gr 4-8-Quotes, quips, and comical anecdotes provide a lighthearted picture of our nation's highest office and the 42 men who have held it. The piquant political cartoons put a human profile--warts and all--on this powerful post. (Aug.)
SIERRA, Judy, retel. The Gift of the Crocodile: A Cinderella Story. illus. by Reynold Ruffins. S & S. RTE $17. ISBN 0-689-82188-3.
K-Gr 4-A young woman finds her prince through the help of a wily reptile. Sparkling jewel-toned illustrations reflect the fates and fortunes of the participants and the Indonesian setting. (Nov.)
SLOAN, Christopher. Feathered Dinosaurs. National Geographic. RTE $17.95. ISBN 0-7922-7219-6.
Gr 5-8-A lucid text and close-up photos, labeled drawings, and detailed paintings present some compelling arguments to suggest that not all dinosaurs died 65 million years ago. (Nov.)
SOREL, Edward & Cheryl Carlesimo. The Saturday Kid. illus. by Edward Sorel. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. RTE $18. ISBN 0-689-82399-1.
Gr 1-4-Leo imagines himself right alongside his Saturday matinee heroes. When his routine is threatened, the boy bests a bully by playing the violin and landing a spot on the silver screen. Gloriously rendered cartoon images bring the world of the 1930s to life. (Sept.)
STANLEY, Diane. Michelangelo. illus. by author. HarperCollins. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-688-15085-3; PLB $15.89. ISBN 0-688-15086-1.
Gr 4-7-An affectionate, anecdotal text and distinguished illustrations bring to life one of the world's most creative artists and the turbulent time in which he lived. (Aug.)
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PreS-Gr 2-As the parched African savanna is transformed by the first drops of rain, the animals delight in the changes the storm brings. Sun-drenched colors and textured brushstrokes create an evocative and elegantly told story. (May)
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PreS-Gr 2-A courageous cavalier hears a roar in the forest and investigates, only to discover three tiny dragons in need of tucking in. Warm watercolors and inventive language work together to take beginning readers on a delightful quest. (Mar.)
WAUGH,Sylvia. Space Race. Delacorte. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-32766-8.
Gr 4-7-Patrick and his father are en route to their spaceship and a prearranged return flight from Earth to their distant planet when they are tragically separated. A suspenseful, poignant tale that captures some very human emotions. (Aug.)
WHELAN,Gloria. Homeless Bird. HarperCollins. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-06-028454-4; PLB $14.89. ISBN 0-06-028452-8.
Gr 5-8-Widowed at 13, bereft of family and dowry, Koly must make a new life for herself in her native India. Whelan embroiders details and traditions into an artful contemporary novel that is as textured and seamless as her heroine's needlework. (Feb.)
WHIPPO,Walt & Bernard Zaritzky. Little White Duck. illus. by Joan Paley. Little, Brown. RTE $13.95. ISBN 0-316-03227-1.
PreS -Jaunty panoramas awash with color and a cacophony of pond creature sounds result in a dynamic version of a favorite nursery song. (Apr.)
WHITE,Ruth. Memories of Summer. Farrar. Tr $16. ISBN 0-374-34945-2.
Gr 7-10-Lyric agonizes over her feelings about her beloved older sister's downward spiral into mental illness, as she and her widowed father try to care for her. A compassionate novel of family strength. (Aug.)
WONG,Janet S. Buzz. illus. by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Harcourt. RTE $15. ISBN 0-15-201923-5.
PreS-K-A bright-eyed youngster enjoys the cozy cacophony of a busy morning at home, as everyday noises meld into a harmonious hum. The artwork has a graceful energy that echoes the rhythm of the text. (May)
WORMELL,Christopher. Blue Rabbit and Friends. illus. by author. Penguin Putnam/Phyllis Fogelman Bks. Tr $14.99. ISBN 0-8037-2499-3.
PreS -A bit of swapping is all that is needed for four dejected animals to feel right at home. Vibrant block prints capture the humorous nuances and the sublimely satisfying resolution as the creatures set their houses in order. (Feb.)
YOLEN,Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? illus. by Mark Teague. Scholastic/Blue Sky. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-590-31681-8.
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YUE,Charlotte & David Yue. The Wigwam and the Longhouse. illus. by authors. Houghton. Tr $15. ISBN 0-395-84169-0.
Gr 4-9-An engaging introduction to the Eastern woodland peoples, their dwellings, and their ways of life. Text and art provide a window into their world, which emphasized the value of community and a reverence for nature. (Oct.)
