Ten children’s books have been selected by a panel of booksellers as the best debuts of the Winter/Spring season. Here are the titles:

MIDDLE GRADE

Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn

Mostly the Honest Truth by Jody J. Little

Nikki on the Line by Barbara Roberts

 

YOUNG ADULT

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman

Izzy + Tristan by Shannon Dunlap

Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju

Nocturna by Maya Motayne

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

White Rose by Kip Wilson

XL by Scott Brown

 

The Scarecrow’s Wedding by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler has garnered some criticism from parents for having an evil scarecrow who smokes.  Evidently, it’s not enough that the bad guy is the one smoking, nor that the other characters actually say out loud that smoking is bad, but just the image of a cigar is enough to cause concern for children.

I have a copy of the book and wanted to see what the fuss was about.  I must admit I was surprised at how clearly smoking was dealt with as something bad and then that even the bad guy doesn’t really successfully smoke.  I’ve taken a picture of the page in question, and honestly it is just a single page in the entire book.  This way you can make up your mind if it’s appropriate for your school, library or children.

I also appreciate the fact that the cigar is actually part of the plot.  When it falls from Reginald’s hand, it starts a fire that is important to the progress of the story. 

So what do you think?  Should children’s books have smoking in them?  Is it ever OK? 

Publisher’s Weekly has released their Spring 2015 sneak preview for children’s books.  The list includes picture books, middle grade and teen.  Listed by publisher, this is a great way to see the books long before they arrive, build your future must-read list, and start a list of books to keep an eye on for your library purchases. 

Enjoy!

The American Booksellers Association has a preview of their Spring Kids’ Indie Next List which features fifty titles picked by booksellers at independent bookstores from across the nation.  They also select a top ten:

  

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

Cress by Marissa Meyer

 

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Following Papa’s Song by Gianna Marino

  

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

The Secret Box by Whitaker Ringwald

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

 

Sparky! by Jenny Offill

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Here are the top ten titles in the new Indie Next List just for children’s books.  Head to the American Booksellers Association website to see more than the top ten.  All of the books are selected from nominations from independent booksellers across the U.S. 

TOP TEN

  

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

  

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by K.G. Campbell

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Skottie Young

 

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

Journey by Aaron Becker

 

The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty, illustrated by Thomas Docherty

The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde

The American Booksellers Association has announced the ten picks for the fall crop of New Voices titles.  The books must be by a first-time author and be published between July 1 and December 31, 2013.  The picks are listed in two categories:

Ages 8-12

  

After Iris by Natasha Farrant

The Mysterious Woods of Whistle Root by Christopher Pennell

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

 

The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson

What We Found in the Sofa and How It Saved the World by Henry Clark

 

Teen

  

The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

 

The Paradox of Vertical Flight by Emil Ostrovski

The Theory of Everything by Kari Luna

Publisher’s Weekly gives us a glimpse into the children’s titles coming next spring.  Hot picks will include:

The fifth book in the Origami Yoda series

The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems

W.A.R.P. Book Two: The Hangman’s Revolution by Eoin Colfer

Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century by Jane O’Connor

Chu’s First Day of School by Neil Gaiman and Adam Rex

Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure by James Dean

Panic by Lauren Oliver

The final book in the Hero’s Guide Series: The Hero’s Guide to Being an Outlaw

Rupert Can Dance by Jules Feiffer

 

What can you spot on the list that would make your must-read pile for next year?

Publisher Weekly has released their list of the best books coming this summer.  Here are their top picks for Children’s books:

PICTURE BOOKS

  

If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin Stead

Odd Duck by Cecil Castelucci

Yes, Let’s by Galen Goodwin Longstreth and Maris Wicks

 

CHILDREN’S FICTION

  

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick

The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

  

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia

 

Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

A new Lemony Snicket series is coming this fall.  The “All the Wrong Questions” series will begin with “Who Could That Be At This Hour,” the first of four books in the series.  The series will be a prequel to the very popular “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

In keeping with the persona of Lemony Snicket, the author is apparently trying to postpone the announcement and wonders “why anyone would be interested” in the books.  Sounds like it’s going to be another smash hit!