The children's literature Assembly, an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English, has selected thirty notable titles every year since 1997. The 2012 Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts were announced last week. It is an impressive list that will appeal to grades K-8.
I divided the thirty books into three posts. Click here to view part one.
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Heart and Soul. Written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Balzer + Bray, 2011. Grades 3-7.
The story of America and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. But it is also the story of injustice; of a country divided by law, education, and wealth; of a people whose struggles and achievements helped define their country. This is the story of the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton for their masters; it’s about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws; it’s about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. It’s a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination and triumphs.
"I love my grandmother to pieces, so I thought maybe I'd use my grandmother's voice because she really gives it to you straight, she's the matriarch of our family. But I also wanted to sweeten it up a little bit." -Kadir Nelson, from his interview on NPR.
Travis Jonker and I named Inside Out and Back Again a best book of 2011.
My personal copy of Inside Out and Back Again looks like it was attacked by a pack of neon Post-it notes. Every syllable, every word, every punctuation mark screamed, "Notice me. Underline me. Re-read me. I'm important." I wanted to travel back to 1975 and help ten-year-old HÃ as she and her family traveled from war-torn Saigon to Alabama. If only I could have protected her from the insults and ignorance of her new classmates and neighbors. Many times while reading, I imagined myself as Ha's school librarian, offering her a safe and encouraging environment. The passages I marked and underlined stayed with me for months–like these:
In the distance bombs lighten the sky, gunfire falls like rain.
Distant yet within ears, within eyes.
Not that far away after all.
One cannot justify war unless each side flaunts its own blind conviction.
Brother Quang says add an s to nouns to mean more than one even if there's already an s sitting there.
Glass Glass-es
All day I practice squeezing hisses through my teeth.
Whoever invented English must have loved snakes.
They chase me. They yell Boo-Da, Boo-Daâ at me. They pull my arm hair. They call me Pancake Face. They clap at me in class.
This novel-in-verse will lead to thoughtful and important discussions about war, immigration, grief, and hope. Thank you, Thanhha Lai, for telling Ha's story.
"I tell everyone, do not go into writing unless you can handle sitting still for hours and hours and hours. It’s shockingly boring. Like anything else, what you see is merely the end result of hours of practice, be it shooting hoops from midcourt or playing Chopin." -Thanha Lai
Part anagram, part rebus, part riddle--these poems capture a scene from a child's daily life and present a puzzle to solve. Sometimes sweet and sometimes funny, but always clever, these poems are fun to read and even more fun for kids to write. Bob Raczka is a fresh, new voice in children's poetry who knows that fun and games can turn a poetry lesson into lemonade!
Me...Jane. Written and Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell. Little, Brown, 2011. All grades.
Travis Jonker and I named Me...Jane a best book of 2011.
Spend time with the young Jane Goodall and her stuffed toy chimpanzee Jubilee. Jane and her faithful companion watch birds making their nests, read about plants and animals in books, and dream of a life in Africa helping all animals.  It is no surprise Jane grows up to be an animal activist, environmentalist, and a United Nations Messenger of Peace.  Patrick McDonnell’s detailed India ink and watercolor illustrations make this the most beautifully illustrated book of 2011.  Me…Jane proves that childhood dreams can come true.
Okay for Now. By Gary Schmidt. Clarion, 2011. Grades 6-8.
Travis Jonker and I named Okay for Now a best book of 2011.
No other 2011 release has been more dissected and discussed, disputed and adored than Gary D. Schmidt's return to the world of Doug Swieteck. This companion to TheWednesday Wars places “skinny-thug†Doug in a new town with no friends to speak of. Throw the turmoil of his abusive home life into the mix and you get a book where things could explode at any moment. Doug’s refuge comes if the form of two new loves: drawing to match the wildlife paintings of John James Audubon, and for a girl who sees the best in him. The highs are more moving, the lows are more jarring than anything else you’ll read in 2011. -Travis Jonker
Over and Under the Snow takes the reader into a secret world under the snow. "Under the snow is a whole secret kingdom, where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm. You're skiing over them now." Itis perfect for a primary animal unit, a winter display, and a must-have for your collection.
Once there was a little boy named Neftalí who loved wild things wildly and quiet things quietly. From the moment he could talk, he surrounded himself with words. Neftal' discovered the magic between the pages of books. When he was sixteen, he began publishing his poems as Pablo Neruda.
Pablo wrote poems about the things he loved-things made by his friends in the café, things found at the marketplace, and things he saw in nature. He wrote about the people of Chile and their stories of struggle. Because above all things and above all words, Pablo Neruda loved people.
Passing the Music Down. By Sarah Sullivan, illustrated by Barry Root. Candlewick, 2011. Grades K-3.
A young boy travels to the hills of Appalachia to meet the old-time fiddle player whose music he has admired, and so sparks a friendship that will forge a bond between generations. The boy develops under the man’s care and instruction, just as seedlings grow with spring rain and summer sun. From playing on the front porch to performing at folk festivals, the two carry on the tradition of passing the music down. This touching, lyrical story, inspired by the lives of renowned fiddlers Melvin Wine and Jake Krack, includes an author’s note and suggested resources for learning about the musicians and the music they love.
Happy 2025! Ruthie Rose's Big Idea, illustrated by Holly Hatam and written by me, releases on March 4! Hooray!
About our book, Holly Hatam said,
The inspiration for the illustrations in Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea came from my own love of poetry and art. I wanted Ruthie’s idea bubbles to be bright, bold, and filled with glitter and magic. The entire book’s color palette is joyful and vibrant, reflecting the excitement and creativity of Ruthie’s journey.
Old books and bookstores were also a significant source of inspiration. I often spent my weekends browsing through second-hand bookstores, searching for antique poetry books. I would then scan the pages into my computer to incorporate them into the illustrations, giving the artwork a unique and nostalgic feel.
Happy, happy Monday! I'm thrilled Lydia Lukidis returned to Watch. Connect. Read. to finish my sentences. We discussed poetry, writing, Katie Rewse's illustrations, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. Thank you, Lydia!
Up, Up High: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere is a poetic nonfiction picture book that’s a result of a ton of writing, editing, research, and interviews with various experts from NASA astronauts to seasoned meteorologists.
Happy Tuesday from North Dakota! I'm super excited to welcome back Jeanne Walker Harvey to Watch. Connect. Read. to finish my sentences. We discussed Khoa Le, I.M. Pei, Paris, picture books, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. Thank you, Jeanne!
The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei is a picture book biography of I.M. Pei’s triumph in redesigning the Louvre through problem-solving, patience and persistence.
Greetings from 32,000 feet over somewhere between Chicago and Boston. I'm looking forward to attending and presenting at the National Council of Teachers of English Conference (NCTE) and the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE (ALAN).
Happy Wednesday from Nashville! It is aways a special day when Sandra Nickel drops by Watch. Connect. Read. to finish my sentences. We discussed Clara Driscoll, Julie Paschkis, tiffany lamps, nonfiction books, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. Thank you, Sandra!
Making Light Bloom: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps tells the story of the true creator of the Tiffany lamps. For years, we thought Louis C. Tiffany was the designer.
Happy Monday! I'm excited to welcome back Erin Soderberg Downing to Watch. Connect. Read.! She stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed What Happened Then's cover, Avery, writing, school libraries, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. Thank you, Erin!
Oriol Vidal’s cover illustration and Christopher Stengel’s cover design for What Happened Then gave me chills.
Happy Friday! I'm grateful N.H. Senzai stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed Abdulrahman Ibrahima Sori, Anna Rich, nonfiction picture books, writing, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black.
Prince Among Slaves tells the story of a scholar, a warrior, a husband, a father and a prince, Abdulrahman Ibrahima Sori. Fluent in five languages and instrumental in his father’s court in Fouta Djallon, West Africa, Abdulrahman was destined to be king.
Happy, happy Wednesday! I'm sooooo excited Lynda Mullaly Hunt stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed Wish in a Tree, Nancy Carpenter, Oliver, picture books, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. Thank you, Lynda!
Wish in a Tree, a picture book spin-off of Fish in a Tree, tells the story of Oliver who struggles with focus at school.
Happy Picture Book Month! Colby Sharp and I teamed up to create a 2025 Mock Caldecott list.
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Principal Brian Sammons created a 2025 Mock Caldecott Unit packet. Download it HERE. Thank you, Brian!
Just Like Millie | Illustrations and words by Lauren Castillo
"Just Like Millie tells the story of a little girl and her mom who move to a new city. The child is uninterested in any of the social activities her mom offers . . .
Hello, Erin Moonyeen Haley! Welcome to Watch. Connect. Read.! I’m grateful you stopped by to share Miss Liberty’s cover. What ran through your heart the first time you saw Bev Johnson’s cover illustration?
Erin: Hi John! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me about Miss Liberty. I’m beyond thrilled to dig into my debut novel.
Excitement. Pure, sugary, heart-thumping, stay-up-all-night excitement. I don’t even know where to begin.
Happy, happy Thursday from Virginia! I'm thrilled to welcome back Aaron Becker to Watch. Connect. Read.! He stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed NÖA, picture books, libraries, RISD, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and he wrote the words in black. Thank you, Aaron!
The Last Zookeeper tells the story of NÖA, a ten-story tall construction robot who's found new purpose as the caretaker of an abandoned zoo in a flooded world.
Happy, happy Wednesday from Maryland! It is always a good day when Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly stops by to finish my sentences. We discussed Joey Guerrero, nonfiction books, writing, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. Thank you, Erin!
Anna and Elena Balbusso’s illustration and Sylvie Le Floc’h’s cover design for At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom absolutely blew me away.
Happy Tuesday! I'm excited to welcome back Erica S. Perl to Watch. Connect. Read.! She stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas, Jonathan Fenske's illustrations, puns, Dolly Parton, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. Thank you, Erica!
The book trailer for How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas was a lot of fun to make.
Happy, happy Monday! I'm grateful Chris Baron stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed Spark, poetry, research, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and he wrote the words in black. Thank you, Chris!
Tom Cole’s cover illustration and Rich Deas' art direction and cover design for Spark is miraculous. Spark is an action-packed story with a heart full of hope and wonder in the face of the unknown.
Hello, Karla Arenas Valenti! Welcome back to Watch. Connect. Read.! Thank you for stopping by to discuss Lola. What are three things you want everyone to know about ten-year-old Lola?
Karla Arenas Valenti: Hi John! Thanks for having me back on your blog. It’s always nice to story chat with you. I’m especially excited to talk about Lola (this is a book that took me close to 10 years to write! There’s quite a lot going on beneath the surface of this magical realist adventure).
Hello, Meg Eden Kuyatt! Welcome to Watch. Connect. Read.! Thank you for stopping by to celebrate The Girl in the Walls. What ran through your heart the first time you saw James Firnhaber’s cover illustration and Cassy Price’s cover design?
Meg Eden Kuyatt: I feel like I had a certain vibe I wanted for the cover, and their work captures it perfectly! I can’t stop looking at it! As soon as I saw it, I thought, yes, this feels right.
Hi, Travis Jonker! Welcome back to Watch. Connect. Read.! I’m super excited you’re here today to celebrate Just One Wave. What are three things you want everyone to know about it?
Design Credit: Heather Kelly
1. It continues the story of Liam from JUST ONE FLAKE.
2. JUST ONE WAVE introduces a new character (you can spot her in the full jacket) who plays a key role.
3. The soundtrack to this story is "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones.
Hello, Jyoti Rajan Gopal! Welcome back to Watch. Connect. Read.! Congratulations on the recent release of Sister Day! What are three things you want everyone to know about this wonderful picture book?
Jyoti Rajan Gopal: Thank you, John for having me back and thank you for your kind words!
So here are the three things:
One: Sister Day was inspired by my two daughters who were the best of friends growing up (they are now 27 and 25 and still the best of friends).
Happy, happy Wednesday! Jamie Michalak and Matt Myers stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed Hazel the Handful's cover, Matt Myers' illustrations, story, picture books, and more. I wrote the words in purple, Matt wrote the words in black, and Jamie wrote the words in green. Thank you, Jamie and Matt!
Hazel the Handful’s cover was the first idea I showed anyone. Usually, it takes several tries to get a cover right, but it just seemed natural to let Hazel do her thing.
Greetings from 32,000 feet over somewhere between Chicago and San Diego! I'm looking forward to spending three days at the American Library Association's Annual conference.
6:00 p.m. on Friday: I'm signing Louder Than Hunger with Children's Plus. (Booth #530)
Happy, happy Wednesday! Dan Gutman and I are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the My Weird School series together today! I wrote the words in purple, and he wrote the words in black. Thank you, Dan!
In 2004, my daughter Emma was in second grade, and one day she brought a Junie B. Jones book home from school. We started reading it together and an idea popped into my head—there should be something like this told from a boy’s point of view.
Happy Tuesday! I'm grateful Loren Long stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed The Yellow Bus, the color yellow, school libraries and more. I wrote the words in purple, and he wrote the words in black. Thank you, Loren!
The Yellow Bus tells the story of the life of a particular yellow school bus. The story takes place over the span of about 50 years and there are unexpected plot twists and turns in the life of this school bus.
Happy Tuesday! I'm celebrating Tate's Wild Rescue's book birthday with Jenny Turnbull! We discussed Tate, Izzy Burton's illustrations, pandas, picture books, and more. I wrote the words in purple, and Jenny wrote the words in black.
Hello, Jyoti Rajan Gopal! Welcome back to Watch. Connect. Read.! I always love celebrating books together. What ran through your heart the first time you saw Nabi H. Ali’s cover illustration for Love Is Here with You: A Lullaby of Blessings?
Jyoti Rajan Gopal: John, so lovely to be back. Thank you for having me! I love celebrating books with you.
I cannot describe the feelings I had on seeing this cover.
Gordon Korman's books circulated nonstop in my former school library. Students always asked when Gordon's next book would be added ...
About John Schu
About John Schu
John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people that connect them. John is a children’s book author, part-time lecturer at Rutgers University, and the children’s librarian for Bookelicious. His greatest joy is sharing his love of reading with countless educators and students around the world.
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