The Best Children and YA Books of 2007
By Ximena Diego -- Críticas, 1/15/2008
Something magnificent happened in 2007 in the children’s publishing industry. Many Spanish-language translations of American best-sellers were pretty good. Some even outstanding: their texts flow; they are a pleasure to read and a delight to hear. We usually don’t include translations in this list, but we’ve made an exception this year to include a few titles that libraries and bookstores should not be without. Find them in the Also in Translation category.
Another interesting thing was the small number of unique non-fiction titles that were published last year. Many library-bind series were too boring, frankly, and a few good biographies lagged in design. Let’s hope this new year brings new zeal for this much-sought-after category.
We made the list as short and wide-range as possible to include different grade-levels, categories, and subjects. As always, this list is, of course, subjective, and is only meant to inform librarians, teachers, booksellers, and parents on titles that children and young adult will treasure.
FICTION
Martina, una cucarachita muy linda: un cuento cubano.
(Martina, a Beautiful Cockroach. A Cuban Folktale)
Deedy, Carmen.
illus. by Michael Austin. U.S.: Peachtree Publishers. 2007. 32 p. ISBN 978-1561454259. $16.95.
K-Gr 3–The award-winning Cuban-born author retells the story of a green cockroach indigenous to her native country. When it is time for beautiful young Martina to find a husband, her grandmother gives her some wise advice: to always spill coffee on her suitor’s shoes to test his temper. The protagonist uses the coffee test on her first three suitors—a rooster, a pig, and a lizard—and is not pleased by their insulting and rude behavior. Martina immediately likes her fourth suitor, the humble gardener mouse; but before she can spill coffee on the gardener’s shoes, he spills some on hers. They both have a good laugh when the mouse reminds her he also has a Cuban grandmother. [Críticas, 07/15/07; starred]
Calvina.
Frabetti, Carlo.
Spain: Ediciones SM. 2007. 121p. ISBN 978-84-675-1850-4. pap. $15.95.
Gr 6+-This year’s winner of the prestigious El Barco de Vapor prize is a mind-bending fantasy about a child whose gender is unclear. The story begins eerily enough when Calvina (or is it Calvino?), accompanied by a large black wolf, confronts a burglar who is breaking into her/his house. The child draws the thief, Lucretio, into an Alice-in-Wonderland world of weirdness where the body of Calvino/Calvina’s deceased mother is being preserved in the refrigerator. Lucretio is later escorted to a strange library populated by literary characters, stealthily alluding at the importance of reading in the electronic age. [Críticas, 09/01; starred]
Gran libro de los retratos de animales.
(Great Book of Animal Portraits)
Junakovic, Svjetlan.
illus. by author. Spain: OQO Editora. 2006. unpaged. ISBN 849657380-X. $30.95.
Gr 5+–Winner of Spain’s National Publishing Award, this large picture book is artistically distinguished. The 26 portraits provide slightly absurd takes on masterpieces dating from the early Renaissance to the 19th century, with animals taking the place of the original human subjects. The portraits are all engaging: the lion doubling for Dürer’s self-portrait; the sheep with the white pearl, which niftily shows Vermeer’s command of light; Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson, conducted by frogs. Each flawless picture is accompanied by a sly commentary that often touches on the subject’s human foibles, like the fixation on wealth and power. A great introduction to major Western artists, styles, and techniques. [Críticas, 07/15/07; starred]
Antón sabe hacer magia.
(Anton Knows Magic).
Könnecke, Ole.
tr. by María Dolores Ábalos. illus. by author. Spain: Ediciones SM (El barco de vapor). 2007. 121p. ISBN 978-84-675-1594-7. $11.95.
PreS-Gr 1-Translated from the German, this little gem tells the story of a boy who wants to be a magician. Wearing his magician’s turban, Antón attempts to make a tree disappear without success. He then tries his magic on a bird sitting on a tree and succeeds (the animal have actually flown away when Antón opens his eyes after delivering the magic words). When he tries to make his friend Lucas dissappear, his playmate just walks off. The conceit that Antón can really do magic is cleverly resolved when the bird reappears in time for the young magician’s last trick. Not available in English, this picture book is perfect for beginner readers, storytimes, and read-alouds. [Críticas, 09/01/07; starred]
José.
Lázaro, Georgina.
illus. by María Sánchez. U.S.: Lectorum (Cuando los grandes eran pequeños). 2007. ISBN 978-1-933032-08-5. $14.99.
Gr 4-6–Featuring the national patriot of Cuba, this title is another keeper in the series that chronicles famous literary figures. Written in four-verse stanzas—with eight syllables per line and alternating rhyme—the story poetically mimics José Martí's own Versos sencillos (Simple verses). The easy-to-read stanzas, which effortlessly introduce children to poetry while telling the story of the young poet's writing and burgeoning social consciousness, may inspire beyond reading. [Críticas, 05/07; starred]
Lucila se llama Gabriela.
(Lucila Is Called Gabriela)
Montecino Aguirre, Sonia.
illus. by Luis San Vicente. Mexico: Ediciones Castillo, dist. by Holtzbrinck. 2006.55p. ISBN 970-200-828-X. pap. $12.95.
Gr 4-6–This cultural gem documents the struggles of Gabriela Mistral, born Lucila Godoy, in an era when provincial attitudes disdained unmarried, independent women. Committed to working for social justice by educating women, children, and the working poor, Mistral became the first Latin American woman to win a Nobel Prize in literature. [Críticas, 02/07; starred]
¿Dónde estoy?
(Where Am I?)
Slegers, Liesbet.
tr. by Agustín Gervás. illus. by author. Spain/U.S.: Edelvives (Dani), dist. by Urano Pub. 2006. unpaged. ISBN 978-8-4263-5645-1. BDB. $10.95.
PreS–This toddler board book is brief, charming, and involving. Two clues are given for each location in which a droll, bald baby finds himself. He picks a flower for his mother and runs in the grass. Where is he? The park, of course! From riding on the back of his father’s bike to riding in the cart at the grocery store, from playing in the bath to getting into bed, the clues are just leading enough and the lift-the-flap format suitably intriguing to make this title a parent-exhausting favorite. The acrylic artwork is bold, bright, and childlike, and the fact that the book is part of a series [others are ¿Qué estoy haciendo? ("What Am I Doing?") and ¿Quién soy? ("Who Am I?")] is a solid selling point. For children who are not quite ready for Eric Hill’s “Spot” books, this bouncing baby is just the ticket. Although the fold-out flaps are not sturdy enough to stand up to library circulation, this is an excellent purchase for home use; recommended for bookstores.—[Críticas, 01-15-07]
NONFICTION
Arco iris de poesía: Poemas de las Américas y España.
(Rainbow of Poetry: Poems from the Americas and Spain)
Andricaín, Sergio.
illus. by Olga Cuéllar. U.S.: Lectorum. 2008. 40p. index. ISBN 978-1-930-33259-1. $16.99.
PreS-Gr 2–A representative collection of poetry from Latin America and Spain, this volume fills a void in children’s literature. The poems are short and deal with elements that children can relate to, like nature, animals, and daily life. Some are sweet, such as “Sonnet for Baby,” from Nicaragua; others are nonsensical, such as “The Dancing Top,” from Puerto Rico. Most countries are represented with two selections each, and a number of well-known poets are included. [Críticas, 11/15/07; starred]
Quiúbole con ... tu cuerpo, el ligue, tu imagen, el sexo, las drogas y todo lo demás: Un libro para niñas, chavas, chicas o como quieras llamarles …
(What’s Going on with … A Book for Young Women)
Vargas, Gaby, and Jordi Rosado.
Mexico/U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2005. 314p. illus. ISBN 970-770-228-1. pap. $17.95
REVIEWED WITH:
Quiúbole con ... tu cuerpo, el ligue, tus cuates, el sexo, tu familia, las drogas y todo lo demás: Manual de supervivencia para hombres.
(What’s Going on with … Your Body, Your Relationships, Your Friends, Sex, Your Family, Drugs and Everything Else: A Survival Manual for Men)
Vargas, Gaby, and Jordi Rosado.
Mexico/U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2006./n/400p. illus. ISBN 970-770-409-8. pap. $19.95
Gr 7+–It is easy to see why this series is so successful (it sold more than 500,000 copies in Mexico): both volumes speak frankly about topics that adolescents are eager to learn about, and they do so in an informative yet often-entertaining manner. The first book focuses on critical issues facing girls such as peer pressure, the changing body, the first visit to the gynecologist, and how to build positive relationships. It doesn’t shy away from complex and sensitive issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, eating disorders, and the effects and risks of drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol. The volume for boys covers many of the same topics from a male perspective. Each designed for the intended audience, the volume for girls has brightly colored pink-and-gold pages, and the version for males mimics a Japanese manga. [Críticas, 07/15/07; starred]
BILINGUAL
My name is Gabito/Mi nombre is Gabito.
Brown, Monica.
illus. by Raúl Colón. U.S.: Luna Rising (My Name Is). 2007. 28p. ISBN 978-0-87358-908-6. $15.95.
K-Gr 3–In the tradition of her previous biographical accounts, My Name is Celia and My name is Gabriela, Brown dazzles readers in this telling of Gabriel García Márquez’s magical childhood. Mesmerizing color-pencil, full-page illustrations wrap around the text to create what seems to be a perfect balance of art and language. Based on García Márquez’s adult autobiography Living to Tell the Tale (Knopf, 2003), this wonderful, engaging narrative transports readers to Gabito’s early childhood in northern Colombia. An accessible, high-quality choice for bilingual families. [Críticas, 11/15/07; starred]
Mis colores, mi mundo/My Colors, My World.
Gonzales, Maya Christina.
illus. by author. U.S.: Children's Book Press. 2007. 24p. 978-0-89239-221-6. $16.95.
PreS-K–This is the first solo project by the established illustrator and recipient of the Pura Belpre Honor for My Diary From Here to There (Children's Book Press, 2002). Young Maya lives near the Mojave Desert. That means that when the wind blows, everything gets buried under a blanket of sand. When everything seems to be painted in a monotone brown, the youngster makes it her mission to find the lost colors. With the help of a bird friend, and by opening her eyes wide, Maya finds her favorite hues, like the black in her father's hair and the pink in the gorgeous sunset. [Críticas, 08/15/07]
ABeCedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish.
Weill, Cynthia.
illus. by Moisés and Armando Jiménez. U.S.: Cinco Puntos Press. 2007. unpaged. ISBN 978-1-933693-13-2. $14.95.
PreS-K-Seemingly the typical alphabet book with large type, this volume stands out for its artwork: gorgeous animal wood sculptures created in Oaxaca. Every letter is illustrated with a full-page photograph of a colorful hand-carved animal whose name either begins with or includes that letter. An outstanding alphabet book, this is highly recommended for all libraries and bookstores. [Críticas, 11/15/07; starred]
El joven Zorro: La marca de hierro.
(Young Zorro: The Branding Iron).
Adkins, Jan.
tr. by Zorro Productions. U.S.: Harper Collins. 2007. 251p. ISBN 978-0-06-115378-5. pap. $6.99.
Gr 4-8-Based on the novel Zorro, by Isabel Allende, this edition tells of some of Diego de la Vega's adventures as a maturing adolescent living in southern California when the territory was still under Spanish rule. When numerous cattle and some of the area's most esteemed craftsmen inexplicably disappear from the community, Diego and his friend Bernardo investigate and slowly piece together the puzzle. A superb translation, the text describes the harsh realities of the young Spanish settlement of Los Angeles, along with the history of the mission and the social customs of the time. [Críticas, 08/07]
10 patitos de goma.
(10 Little Rubber Ducks)
Carle, Eric.
tr. by Editorial Kókinos. illus. by author. U.S.: Rayo: Harper Collins. 2007. unpaged. ISBN 978-0-06-112623-9. $19.99.
PreS-Gr 1–From the true story of bathtub toys washed off a ship far off in the ocean, through the inspiration of Eric Carle, comes this absorbing story of 10 rubber ducks floating apart for 10 different adventures. From their birth on the assembly line, repeated text lulls readers along with the counting, as the ducks drift past barking seals and singing whales, screeching gulls and gliding turtles. One rubber duck tags along with a real mother duck and her ducklings, and to each one’s goodnight “cuac” he replies, with the push-button on the inside back cover, in a heartfelt squeak. [Críticas, 04/01/07; starred]
El libro peligroso para los chicos.
(The Dangerous Book for Boys)
Iggulden, Hal & Gon Iggulden.
tr. by A. Corriente, F. Corriente, M. Pino, M., Vásquez. U.S.: Rayo: HarperCollins. 2007. 260p. illus. ISBN 978-0-06-156286-0. $26.95.
Gr 3+–This fabulous encyclopedia-like volume is filled with topics likely to intrigue young adventurous minds. Written in accessible language, the book gives just the right amount of information on a remarkably wide range of topics, including invisible inks, soccer, dinosaurs, the solar system, extraordinary stories, and the poems everybody should know by heart. In an age of video games and technology-driven play, young independent readers will find the presented activities and trivia fascinating. They will learn dog tricks and the main parts of speech; how to use calligraphy; and how to build a tirachinas (slingshot), a tree house, and the best paper airplane, among other things. [Críticas, 07/15/07; starred]
El libro de oro de las historias de la vida de Jesús.
(The Golden Book: Stories from the Life of Jesus)
Lottridge, Celia Barker.
tr. by Marianne Delon. illus. by Linda Wolfsgruber. Venezuela: Ediciones Ekaré (Colección Libros de Oro), dist. by Lectorum Pub. 2007. 168p. ISBN 980-257-325-6. $10.99.
Gr 3+–Lottridge and Wolfsgruber have won numerous awards for their work, and their talents show in this compilation of well-known stories that follow the life of Jesus. In line with the oral tradition of the first centuries, these vignettes are meant to be read aloud. As the author explains in the prolog, the stories are based on the four gospels and adapted to give them context and “a satisfying beginning-middle-and-end structure”. Biblical notations in the margins provide the sources. This precious little book that fits into one big hand will appeal to anyone who wants to experience the life of Jesus in a new way. [Críticas, 11/15/07; starred]
¿Quién se esconde?
(Who’s Hiding?)
Onishi, Satoru.
illus. by author. U.S.: Kane/Miller (Libros del mundo). 2007. 32p. ISBN 978-1-933605-56-2. pap. $7.95.
PreS-Gr 2–Sharp-eyed youngsters will have fun with this search-and-find picture book. Eighteen simply drawn, brightly colored animals are laid out in the same order on each spread. After all the creatures are introduced, the following spread asks, “¿Quién se esconde?” (Who’s hiding?). The illustration shows all of them except for the yellow reindeer who is almost invisible now that the background color is the same as his. This question alternates with others throughout the book as the background color keeps changing. This is a clever puzzle book for caregivers and young children to share and to learn animals, colors, and concepts. [Críticas, 07/15/07]
El Conejito Knuffle. Un cuento aleccionador.
(Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale)
Willems, Mo.
tr. by F. Isabel Campoy. illus. by author. U.S.: Hyperion. 2007. unpaged. ISBN 978-1-4231-0566-4. $15.99.
PreS-Gr 1–Carefully translated by award-winning children’s author F. Isabel Campoy, this story is as captivating as the original. The concise text flows smoothly to retell the journey of Trixie and her daddy “down the block, through the park, past the school, to the Laundromat.” Campoy captures the cadence of the original tale and effortlessly recreates the youngster’s hilarious gibberish. This edition is, like the original version, “a seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text” (SLJ, starred review, 10/4/2004). Recommended for public libraries and bookstores.—[Críticas, 10/15/07; starred]
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