Occasionally, I can predict one or two books that the American Library Association judges will select because those books took everyone's breath away.
When I rooted for Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret in 2008 and David Wiesner's Flotsam in 2007 for Caldecott Medals and both won the top prize, it was exciting, but not surprising.
They were the A+ projects everyone knew were leagues ahead.
But this year, like most years, I am at a loss to predict whether any of my favorites will come close to winning. So instead of trying to predict, I've decided to list the books that stood out most for me.
Whereas my Holiday Gift Guide focused on fall/winter books that fit the spirit of the season, this list covers the entire year and includes books that came out before and after that list was posted, and books that aren't necessarily a light read.
Though I agree that any award-winner must be well-crafted, in the end, for me, it's not so much about the technical merits of the book, but how the words and pictures made me feel when I reached the last page.
Even if none of these books make the award lists on Nov. 10, they'll still be some of the best things I've read all year.
Which are your winners?
Which are your winners?
