More Best Fiction for Young Adults from ALA

You probably know that every year the American Library Association's YALSA (Young Adult Services) group puts out a list of Best Fiction for Young Adults. These are new nominees since August that I would like to read. Book summaries are by YALSA.

 Bunce, Elizabeth C. Star Crossed. Scholastic, Inc./Arthur A. Levine Books. 2010.

Escaping the city, Digger, a thief, ends up in a remote castle full of nobles and becomes involved in political intrigue in a country where magic has been forbidden.


 Donnelley, Jennifer. Revolution. Delacorte. 2010.


Haunted by the death of her brother, Andi is taken to Paris by her estranged father where an encounter with a mysterious diary may bring her back from the edge.

 Fisher, Catherine. Incarceron. Penguin Group USA/Dial. 2010.

Trapped in the massive prison world of Incarceron, Finn searches for his true identity; outside, Claudia searches for the truth about Incarceron and its warden, her father.

 Freitas, Donna. This Gorgeous Game. Farrar Strauss Giroux. 2010.

After meeting her idol, Olivia thinks she is living a dream, but Father Mark’s enthusiasm for her writing quickly turns into something more like a nightmare she can’t escape.

 Giles, Gail. Dark Song. Little, Brown. 2010.


When Ames’ world falls apart after her father loses his job, she seeks solace in the arms of Marc, the seemingly perfect “boy” with a strange obsession and dangerous past.

 Goto, Hiromi. Half World. Illus. Jillian Tamaki. Penguin Group (USA) Inc./Viking Juvenile. 2010.

Overweight and over-teased Melanie Tamaki must follow her mother into Half-world, where the cycles are out of balance and fight the horrible Mr. Glueskin.



 Milford, Kate. The Boneshaker. Clarion. 2010.


In Arcane, Missour, in 1914, Natalie stands at the crossroads, looks the devil directly in the face, conquers him, and saves her family and her town.

 Yovanoff, Brenna. Replacement. Penguin Group. 2010.


Mackie is sixteen when the latest baby is stolen away, a monstrous replacement left in her crib. Now it’s time for Mackie to face his true identity.

Get Well Soon Storytime

 Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox by Erin Dealey, Illus. by Hanako Wakiyama

Uh-Oh Sick! (Adventure of Meno) by Tony & Angela DiTerlizzi

One Cow Coughs by Christime Loomis, Illus. By Pat Dypold

 Pigs Make Me Sneeze! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems

 How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

Denise Fleming's New Bedtime Book

Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming has a simple premise: babies of all types are falling asleep near their parents. Very little text is needed and Fleming's pulp paper illustrations are big and beautiful. From the yawning child of the front cover, to the ostrich, giraffe and elephant young, the babies featured in this book are dear and soft in dreams. This makes a sweet bedtime book to read to little ones.

Other favorite Fleming books:

Be Brave Storytime

 I'm Not Scared! by Jonathan Allen


 Sheila Rae, the Brave by Kevin Henkes


I Want My Light On!: A Little Princess Story by Tony Ross

 Melvin Might? (Trucktown) by John Scieszka


 Pouch! by David Ezra Stein

 Bear Feels Scared by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman


Going On a Lion Hunt

Goin' on a lion hunt.

Goin to catch a big one.

I'm not afraid.

Look, what's up ahead?

Mud!

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Gotta go through it. [Make sloshing sounds and move hands as if slogging]


Refrain.

Tree!

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Gotta go through it. [Make gestures climbing up and down.]



Refrain

Gate!

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Gotta go through it. [Make gate-opening gestures.]


Refrain

River!

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Gotta go through it. [make swimming gestures]


Refrain
Grass!

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Gotta go through it. Grass [move hands together and apart]


Refrain

Cave!

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Gotta go through it. [act like you are feeling your way in a dark cave]


Feel yourself along the wall.

Oh, oh, what's this?

Something funny.

With a long soft thing on it's end!

With two sharp things!

Two big gleaming sharp things!

A LION!!!

Run for your life!


Run out of the cave!

Crawl through the grass!

Swim across the river!

Run through the gate!

Run around the tree!

Slosh through the mud!

Run into the house!

Close the door!

Run up the front stairs!

Crawl under your bed!

Run! It's the Monster Storytime!

 Five Ugly Monsters by Tedd Arnold


 Birthday Monsters! (Boynton on Board) by Sandra Boynton


 Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley


If You're A Monster And You Know It by  Rebecca  Emberley & Ed Emberley


 There Was An Old Monster! by Rebecca, Adrian & Ed Emberley

 The Monster at the End of this Book (Sesame Street) (Big Little Golden Book) by Jon Stone


 I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll, Illus. by Howard McWilliam (This one's for K & up)