Staff Picks

In November the new Children’s Center at 42nd Street opened in The New York Public Library’s landmark Fifth Avenue building. John E. Peters, the Children’s Center’s new Supervising Librarian, shares his staff’s picks of the best children’s books they read during 2008.
 
YOUNGER AUDIENCES:

Krull, Kathleen & Brewer, Paul. Fartiste. (Simon & Schuster).

What? You've never heard of renowned French performance artist Joseph Pujol? Blast yourself over to the nearest children's room and check out this airy picture book biography.
 
 
 
 
 
Miller, Heather Lynn. This Is Your Life Cycle. (Simon & Schuster).

Oprah-on-the-pond.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MIDDLE LEVEL AUDIENCES:

Law, Ingrid. Savvy. (Dial).

This first novel features a Midwestern Odyssey and a truly ingenious McGuffin.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Morris, Gerald. The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great. (Houghton).

The first episode for newer readers from the author of the Best. Arthurian. Retellings. Ever. If you haven't read him, start with Squire's Tale.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

OLDER AUDIENCES NOT AFRAID TO BE SEEN WITH A CHILDREN'S BOOK:

Greenberg, Jan & Jordan, Sandra. Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond. (Roaring Brook).

What they do, and why they do it--explained with brilliant concision.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. (Jump At The Sun).

The story has been told before, but the pictures will knock your socks off.