SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

November 22, 2011 by Travis Jonker

10 to Note: Winter Preview 2011-12

November 22, 2011 by Travis Jonker   9 comments

Interested in learning about some of the most intriguing children’s books coming out this winter but would like to keep the amount of titles to a number easily divisible by 5 and 2? This, friend, is the post for you. What follows are 10 books that had me pretending to stroke my whiskers, raise one eyebrow and let out a high-pitched “hmmmmmmmm”. Without further ado…

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Middle Grade Fiction:

Dumpling Days by Grace Lin

Jan. 2, 2012 | Little, Brown | Grades 3-6

Fans of Grace Lin’s beautifully understated Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat take note – Pacy and her family are back. This time out, they’re headed to Taiwan for a summer trip. As you might guess, there are some bumps along the way.

Cold Cereal by Adam Rex

Feb. 7, 2012 | Balzer + Bray | Grades 3-7

Adam Rex is odd. No, wait, that’s rude. Adam Rex writes about odd topics. He does this well. Take, for instance, this first book in a planned trilogy, which is a fantasy about saving the world from an evil cereal company. It also contains a talking rabbit-man. See what I mean?

Crow by Barbara Wright

Jan. 10, 2012 | Random House | Grades 3-7

The shocking reality of the Jim Crow laws can be difficult to get across to students today. Already sporting positive buzz (including a starred review from Kirkus), this story of the political changes happening for African Americans in 1898 looks to be a winner.

Fiction Picture Books:

And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Feb. 14, 2012 | Roaring Brook Press | Grades K-2

Are you ready for another dose of our reigning Caldecott winner? Erin E. Stead returns with Julie Fogliano in this story about a boy who decides to make a little spring happen by planting a garden.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Jan. 17, 2012 | Balzer + Bray | Grades PreK-3

Do you ever wonder if a publisher has placed some sort of listening device in your brain? I’m talking about you, Balzer + Bray. This is an author/illustrator pairing I can get behind. Mac Barnett, he of the Brixton Brothers series, Oh No!, and Guess Again! joins forces with Jon Klassen, who is fresh off writing and illustrating I Want My Hat Back, one of the most memorable picture books of 2011. And how can you deny this sort of cryptic book summary?

This looks like an ordinary box full of ordinary yarn.

But it turns out it isn’t.

I’m in.

Nonfiction:

A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by John Hendrix

Jan. 10, 2012 | Random House | Grades K-4

The publishing world is nothing if not game to celebrate milestones. Turns out that 2012 is the 200 anniversary of the Charles Dickens’s birth. Hopkinson and Hendrix (a moniker that would work well if this pair ever decide to put out an album of roots music – consider it, guys) are just the folks to celebrate with. This is after all the combo brought us Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek. Expect good things.

First Girl Scout : The Life of Juliette Gordon Low by Ginger Wadsworth

Dec. 6, 2011 | Clarion | Grades 5-7

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

You know what my libraries are lacking? Quality books on the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. With the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts coming up in 2012, it appears there will be a few titles to help fill part of that collection gap, including this one, which focuses on the Scouts founder.

The Comic Strip Big Fat Book of Knowledge by Tracey Turner, illustrated by Sally Kindberg

Feb. 14, 2012 | Bloomsbury | Grades 4-7

Sound the perfect storm siren! Or is it a fog horn? Yeah, probably fog horn. What we have here is a book that takes two things that kids love – books of various facts and comics – and puts them together in one 288 page illustrated piece of hold shelf gold.

Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of a Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard by Loree Griffin Burns, photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz

Feb. 14, 2012 | Henry Holt | Grades 3-6

When it comes to kids, hands-on takes the cake. Why learn about scientific studies when you can get in on the action? Loree Griffin Burns (Tracking Trash) shows readers how they can participate in ongoing studies of the animal world.

Graphic Novel:

Fangbone! Third-Grade Barbarian by Michael Rex

Jan. 5, 2012 | Penguin | Grades 2-4

Michael Rex – that name sounding familiar? You might know him from his recent  children’s lit parodies Goodnight Goon and The Runaway Mummy. Now he’s decided to bring the goofiness down a notch by taking on… a third grade student who is a barbarian from another world. I may have wildly overstated that whole “bring down the goofiness” thing. This is a graphic novel that should find some eager readers.

Look for Spring Preview 2012 in February.

Filed under: Articles

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Balzer + BrayBloomsburyClarionHenry HoltLittle BrownPenguinRandom HouseRoaring Brook

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

A Fuse #8 Production

How To Say Goodbye in Cuban: Excerpt Reveal PLUS Q&A with Daniel Miyares

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Godzilla: Skate or Die | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Our Mock Newbery List is Up to 52 Titles

by Steven Engelfried

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Happy Birthday, Anne of Green Gables. I have a present for you…, a guest post by Rex Ogle

by Amanda MacGregor

The Yarn

Behind the Scenes of a Caldecott Honor Winning Book: Molly Mendoza and Aida Salazar Discuss JOVITA WORE PANTS

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Tiffany D. Jackson Empowers Teens Through Gripping Page-Turners

Author A. A. Vacharat on YA Debut ‘This Moth Saw Brightness’ | 5 Questions and a Rec

Sophie Blackall and Julie Flett in Conversation | Children's Book Week 2025

Calista Brill and Nilah Magruder Tell All About 'Creaky Acres,' Their New Middle Grade Graphic Novel

My School Visit was Cancelled. I Fought Back and Won. | Opinion

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Abby says

    November 22, 2011 at 8:59 am

    Very excited to hear about FIRST GIRL SCOUT! We definitely get requests for books about scouts and about Juliette Gordon Low in particular, so this’ll fill a gap in our collection for sure! Thanks for the head’s up!

    • Travis says

      November 22, 2011 at 9:35 am

      Yes, this one will come in handy. Now we need a few Boy Scout titles and we’ll be all set.

  2. MotherReader says

    November 22, 2011 at 4:43 pm

    The things to love about this list! Grace Lin, Adam Rex, Mac Barnett, and then you hit me with a Girl Scouts book too! And that G.S. book has a great-looking cover – I may pass out. Thanks for the heads up on 2012.

    • Travis says

      November 23, 2011 at 11:26 am

      It looks to be a solid season.

  3. Kathi Appelt says

    November 23, 2011 at 11:05 am

    Don’t know the actual release date, but be prepared for goodness when you read K.A. Applegate’s THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN.

    I’m just saying . . .
    K. Appelt

    • Travis says

      November 23, 2011 at 11:28 am

      That does look like a book to watch for, Kathi – thanks for sharing!

  4. Julie Falatko says

    November 30, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    Ha! Totally laughed out loud about Hopkinson & Hendrix, roots musicians. THANKS for this list. Super psyched about Big Fat Book of Knowledge! Yes, that’s the perfect storm fog horn for my 8-year-old.

  5. Amy says

    December 4, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    Thanks for sharing the covers of Erin Stead’s and Jon Klassen’s new books. Do you think Citizen Scientists will be good? I want it to be.

    • Travis says

      December 4, 2011 at 11:25 pm

      I hope so – sounds like a solid premise

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books 2024
    • 2024 Stars So Far
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Pearls & Rubys
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Reasons to Love Libraries
    • 2025 Youth Media Awards
    • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Read Free Poster
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2025


    COPYRIGHT © 2025