SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • 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

December 16, 2014 by Travis Jonker

Top 20 Books of 2014: 20-16

December 16, 2014 by Travis Jonker   6 comments

Around this time of the year, John Schumacher and I get all reflective. While it would be cool if we shined brightly when you pointed a flashlight at us, I don’t mean that kind of reflective. I mean we looked back on the year in children’s literature. We reflected with a purpose: over the next four days, John and I will count down our favorite books of 2014. We love them all. Be sure to head over to Watch. Connect. Read. for additional resources for each book.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

#20-16 | #15-11 | #10-6 | #5-1

20. Little Elliot, Big City by Michael Curato [Henry Holt (Macmillan) | Grades PreK-2]

Click here for additional resources from Watch. Connect. Read.

It is not a secret that I have a soft spot for mice and elephants in children’s literature. I cannot get enough of them.  I want to wander around Central Park with Stuart, discuss books with Despereaux, and ask Ruby what she loves most about Ivan. When I discovered that Little Elliot, Big City featured an elephant and a mouse, it was love at first sight.

Elliot is a gentle polka-dotted elephant who often feels invisible, and Mouse desperately needs a friend to give her a little boost. This unlikely pair form a friendship that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. They show how a random act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life. Add it to your folders labeled: “A Great Read-Aloud” and “A Perfect Friendship Story for All Ages.”

-John Schumacher

19. Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers [Philomel (Penguin) | Grades K-3]

Click here for additional resources from Watch. Connect. Read.

For all the times you hear that making books is hard work (and I believe all of it, by the way), you almost forget that sometimes it might be a hell of a good time as well. I don’t know for a fact that Oliver Jeffers had a good time making this wildly creative ABC book in which every letter gets a short story (ask him for me, will you?), but it certainly seems like it. Rare is the book that changes your notion of what a book can be. Through a revolutionary format and excellent storytelling, this one does it.

-Travis Jonker

18. Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy [Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan) | Grades 3-5]

Click here for additional resources from Watch. Connect. Read.

Shark books are like Jon Hamm when he played Liz Lemon’s incredibly-handsome-yet-slow-witted boyfriend on the show 30 Rock. Yeah, you’re doing well, but you’re starting with an advantage, dude. Shark books begin from the enviably popular place of “This book has an awesome shark on the cover!” Given that, do the insides matter all that much? Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy shows that (of course) it does – full of in-depth, up-to-date, and often revealing information about the great whites that reside a mere 30 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge. All that and an awesome shark on the cover? It’s just not fair.

-Travis Jonker

17. The Right Word by Jen Bryant; illustrated by Melissa Sweet [Eerdmans | Grades 1-4]

Click here for additional resources from Watch. Connect. Read.

Institutions often begin with obsession. Someone has to be behind the scenes working like a maniac to get a big new idea off the ground, right? Because of the tireless list-making of Peter Mark Roget (creator of the Thesaurus) I can call him smart, but also perspicacious. This beautifully illustrated story of Roget’s life is a great example of how an unusual interest can lead to something much more.

-Travis Jonker

16. Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny by John Himmelman [Henry Holt (Macmillan) | Grades 1-4]

Click here for additional resources from Watch. Connect. Read.

If you only read one book on zen philosophy for kids in 2014, it should be this one. Sure Isabel is skilled at martial arts, but more than that, she’s smart. In each of the 13 short chapters Isabel overcomes obstacles by outwitting her opponent. It’s a book that will entertain readers, but also make them think. Is there a better combination?

-Travis Jonker

#20-16 | #15-11 | #10-6 | #5-1

Filed under: Best of, Best of 2014

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
EerdmansHenry HoltMacmillanPenguinPhilomelRoaring 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

January 2015

Top 10 Posts of 2014: #1

by Travis Jonker

January 2015

Top 10 Posts of 2014: #2

by Travis Jonker

December 2014

Top 10 Posts of 2014: #4

by Travis Jonker

December 2014

Top 10 Posts of 2014: #5

by Travis Jonker

December 2014

Top 10 Posts of 2014: #6

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Caldecott Jump

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Cover Reveal: This Book Is Banned – The Latest from Raj Haldar (With a Helpful Q&A for Spice)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Ben Mortara and the Thieves of the Golden Table | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Love, Family, and Mental Health, a guest post by Rajani LaRocca

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

13 Hi-Lo Titles, Including Speculative Fiction, Horror, Sports, and Graphic Novels

9 Nonfiction Titles that Showcase Pioneering Women in STEM

14 New Installments in Popular YA Series

6 Books About Ramadan and Eid for Picture Book, Middle Grade, and YA Readers

14 Fiction and Nonfiction Books to Celebrate Pi Day

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Barefoot Librarian says

    December 16, 2014 at 5:43 am

    YES!!!!!
    Hooray, thank you!

  2. Earl Dizon says

    December 16, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    Cool covers! Can’t wait for the rest!

    • Travis Jonker says

      December 17, 2014 at 11:15 am

      Thanks – John and I have a great time with this list

  3. Rebecca Jones says

    December 16, 2014 at 12:36 pm

    Excited to see the entire list! I loved Neighborhood Sharks, particularly. Any way to get your blog as an RSS feed? I would love to add it to my feeder.

    • Rebecca Jones says

      December 16, 2014 at 12:36 pm

      NM … I found it … 🙂

      • Travis Jonker says

        December 17, 2014 at 11:15 am

        I’m glad you found it – thanks for reading!

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
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • 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
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    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 © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023