2011 ALSC Notable Children's Book

Meanwhile begins as our young hero, in dire need of a bathroom, knocks on the door of a mysterious recluse. His mansion is in fact a wondrous laboratory filled with amazing inventions: a mind reading helmet, a doomsday device and a time travel machine (although it can only go back ten minutes). Which invention will young Jimmy play with? YOU, the reader get to decide! Meanwhile works via a network of tubes connecting each panel to the next. Sometimes these tubes split, giving the readers a choice of which path they would like to follow. Sometimes the tubes even lead off the page and onto tabs sticking out from other parts of the book. The branchiest and most complex interactive comic to date.

-Liam

Three easy-reader-style stories about the escapades of two mismatched friends-- happy-go-lucky Bink and uptight Gollie. The stories are cute, witty, and oddly touching (the story about the pet goldfish, especially). Animator Tony Fucile provides colorful and expressive illustrations.

-Vicky

Whenever he is free in the country, City Dog looks for his friend Country Frog so they can play their games together. But when winter comes, things change and Country Frog can't be found. A wonderful story of friendship and change written by the author of the well-known Pigeon and Elephant and Piggie series. It is beautifully illustrated by Jon J. Muth, who has illustrated many books, including Zen Shorts.

-Barbara

Elephant and Piggie discover that someone (the reader) is looking at them in this hilarious, interactive story about the joys of reading and being read.

-Bartan

Raina Telgemeier (who adapted The Babysitters Club into graphic novel form) tells her own true life story, from middle school to high school, in this entertaining book. After knocking out her two front teeth in sixth grade, Raina undergoes years of frustrating dental work-- headgear, braces, and even an embarassing retainer with fake teeth attached! On top of all that, there's still more to deal with-- a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. Though dental woes sound like an odd topic for a book, trust me-- it is a truly enjoyable read!

-Vicky

In the mid-19th century, there were literally millions of kakapo in New Zealand-- now there are just 87 of these flightless birds living on a small island sanctuary. The race to save these friendly, honey-scented parrots from extinction is described in thrilling prose and fascinating photographs in this Sibert Medal Winner for outstanding non-fiction for children.

-Kathy

Beautiful woodcut and watercolor illustrated pages highlight animals in the wild. Each animal has its own page with rhyming text. Fun to read and share aloud.
 

-Dawn

When most people are texting, emailing and Skyping to communicate with family members, it is refreshing to read a story about two cousins who communicate by writing letters. This is a charming story of Charlie and Carlitos-- and how they come to know each other-- although they've never met. Charlie lives in an American city, and takes the subway to school; while Carlitos lives on a Mexican farm, and rides his bicicleta to school. Charlie enjoys pizza, and Carlitos eats quesadillas. The cousins realize that despite their different environments, they are not so different after all. The book is sprinkled with Spanish words, and the illustrations are based on ancient Mexican art.

-Susan