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Elizabeth Bird

Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year

January 15, 2008

Colleen Mondor of the blog Chasing Ray had a good idea. She thought it might be nice if some bloggers posted a list of titles that they're really looking forward to reading in the coming months. I know I have a couple items on my plate that I'm keeping an eye peeled for. So here are some books I'm looking forward to reading at at some point in 2008.

Little Boy with a Big Horn by Jack Bechdolt, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Purdy. Plus it's always fun when people re-illustrated Little Golden Books.

A Curse as Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
They say it's YA. I think I'll err on the side of hoping for it to be middle grade so that I can justify reading it. It's on my shelf, waiting.

Thumbelina: Tiny Runaway Bride by Barbara Ensor
You know, I wasn't the biggest fan of her take on Cinderella, but I think that was just because I'm tired of that story. Thumbelina, on the other hand, doesn't get a lot of attention and it's one of my favorites. So this sounds like it might be fun. Tentatively enthusiastic.

All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn
Because here I am, practically 30, and I still can't get over Wait Till Helen Comes.

Babymouse #8: Puppy Love by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Aw yeah. Gimme gimme gimme that Babymouse luvin'.

Genius Squad by Catherine Jinks
Y'all read Evil Genius already, yes yes? Yes? No? Uh-oh. Get thee to a library and read Evil Genius, pookies. That was sweet succulent stuff and it had me hankering for more. Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Let's see here. A) I'm a Lenore Look fan. B) I'm a LeUyen Pham fan. C) It sounds rather magnificently awesome and is maybe even an early chapter book. Fingers crossed.

The Astronaut Handbook by Meghan McCarthy
Yay! A new Meghan McCarthy title! And it describes how toilets work in space. What more do you need?

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great by Gerald Morris
Yep. Mr. Morris is aiming younger these days. I'm intrigued.

That nameless Abraham Lincoln biography coming out in December by Kadir Nelson
I heard about it at ALA. When you see the pictures (not yet available), you'll want it too.

Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker
Pretty pretty. Me want.

The Dead and Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
I actually had a copy of this. It was in my hand, it looked so good, and then I went and took pity on a sixth grader who was desperate desperate to read it herself. So I lent it to her and have never seen the kid again. Ah well. Eventually I'll find another and read it.

A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
I got this one at ALA and haven't reviewed it yet. Still, hellooooooo future classic!

Trouble by Gary Schmidt
Don't know anything about it, actually. Just the author's name. Sometimes that's enough for me.

Jack and the Box by Art Spiegelman
Think of it this way. It's Art Spiegelman in easy reader graphic novel form.

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson
It's Wanda Gag meets Virginia Lee Burton. And gorgeous. Did I mention gorgeous? Gorgeous.

A Birthday for Cow! by Jan Thomas
Remember What Will Fat Cat Sit On? I knew Ms. Thomas had another book in the works, but jaded sap that I am I deduced that it would have to suffer second-novel-syndrome, even if it were a picture book. I wondered how anything could stack up to her debut. And then I managed to read it at the Harcourt booth at ALA and it is... quite possibly... even better than the first. Maybe. I dunno. I'd have to have a copy in front of a class of first graders to be certain but if there's one book I want this year, this is it. Gimme gimme gimme.

I Will Surprise My Friend! by Mo Willems
I Love My New Toy! by Mo Willems
Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems
And if he were to write a phone book for the state of Alabama I'd probably have some interest in reading that as well.

Muhammad Ali: Champion of the World by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Francois Roca
Jonah Winter always gets the best illustrators. For that matter, he does some great subjects, and Francois Roca has clearly put some work into his art.

That's all that I can think of at the moment. I haven't included some of my top books if only because I've already read them. The rest of these should be coming down the pike any day now. I can't wait. Do you guys have the inside skinny on upcoming cool pics? Lemme know.

Posted by Elizabeth Bird on January 15, 2008 | Comments (12)

January 14, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Little Willow commented:

Babymouse #8: Puppy Love is eight kinds of adorable.

I share your long-time admiration of Mary Downing Hahn.

I keep checking for A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann. Did you see the pictures are 7-Imp yesterday? Want.

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Sarah Miller commented:

Ooh! I'm an old time Wait Till Helen Comes fan, too. I'm stealing this idea for my blog -- although I'll have to pretend I haven't already read some of the stuff I'll claim to be looking forward to. ;)

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Alys commented:

>Because here I am, practically 30, and I still >can't get over Wait Till Helen Comes.

Yes! I am totally with you on this! One of my first purchases as a children's librarian was to make sure we had a copy of this book so that when kids asked me "Do you have anything scary?" I could say, "Why, of course."

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Jules, 7-Imp commented:

Word on Mo rewriting the phone book. Doesn't the phone book need to be illustrated anyway?

Love your list.

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Kate Messner commented:

A Curse Dark As Gold is amazing -- and definitely right on the edge of YA and upper MG. One of my 7th grade students snagged my ARC off my desk and loved it.

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Rose Green commented:

I'm really looking forward to A Curse Dark As Gold! A fantastic author paired with a fantastic editor means we can expect Great Things.

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Wizards Wireless commented:

I'm in the middle of the ARC for Trouble. It's great so far. I read A Kitten's Tale at my storytime this week (and last week). It was a big hit.

Now, Fuse, we're all dying to know your reaction to Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! winning the Newbery. Did you already post this and I missed it?
-Susan

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Leila commented:

Hooray for Evil Genius! Glad I'm not alone in my love.

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Fuse #8 commented:

Hi Susan. No, the problem is that I'm desperately trying to finish some edits on a book and it's reducing my blog time. I'll try to get out a response this week, but it'll be cutting it close.

January 15, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Wizards Wireless commented:

And there you go, coming up with a valid excuse and all. =) Good luck with the book!
-Susan

January 16, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
WendieO commented:

I picked up the ARC for the new Linda Sue Park -- Keeping Score --and can't wait to start it... I also picked up Nancy Springer's book Dusssie, thinking it was the Medusa-head book you had recently reviewed. But no -- the book you reviewed was Medusa Jones. Makes me wonder how two authors came up with the very same teen-angst problem during the same publishing year -- snakes for hair during puberty.....WendieO

January 16, 2008
In response to: Looking Forward: 2008 Titles in the Coming Year
Fuse #8 commented:

Actually, I think that there are THREE Medusa books out this year. Seems to be an odd new trend. I've always preferred the Medusa character in the book "Corydon", though. She's my one and only. I didn't realize that "Dussie" was by Nancy Springer, though. That gives it a leg up, in my opinion.