2017 Children’s Lit: The Year in Miscellanea

It’s time to take a look back at the year that was in children’s lit miscellanea.

Read previous Year in Miscellanea Posts:

2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

Dedication of the Year: I’m Just No Good at Rhyming by Chris Harris and Lane Smith (feat. Molly Leach)

(Click to Enlarge)

This lol-worthy dedication sets the perfect tone for one of the most hilarious (and best) books of 2017.

Best Dressed: Jerry Pinkney wearing The Lion & the Mouse

Pinkney is spotted here literally WEARING his greatest artistic achievement on his chest and still exudes his trademark graciousness. Yet another reason why he’s an all-timer, folks.

Copyright Page of the Year: Tidy by Emily Gravett

Badger gets rid of the copyright page clutter.

Book Spine of the Year: Alphabet Thief by Bill Richardson, illustrated by Roxanna Bikadoroff

Where did that letter go?

Book Title of the Year: Beauty and the Beak

This also gets the award for Cheekiest Nonfiction Title of the Year

The Dewey’s Christmas at the Library Memorial Award for Pandering: Creepin’ Through the Snow (The Creeper Diaries)

Minecraft, Wimpy Kid, Christmas – this book is pandering so hard, it almost explodes.

Picture Book Case Cover of the Year: All the Way to Havana illustrated by Mike Curato, written by Margarita Engle

I’m letting kids call this one. The case of All the Way to Havana received more storytime oohs and ahhs than any other book I read in 2017.

Best DJ: The yolk in Eggsistential Thoughts

I want to make a music pun joke here, but I’ll spare you.

Postage Stamp of the Year: The Snowy Day

Show me someone who isn’t a fan of this move by the USPS. I will be surprised.

Best Feeling Book of the Year – No, Not the Book That Gives You the Best Feelings, the Book That Literally Feels the Best When You Touch It: The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater, illustrated by The Fan Brothers

I’ve never felt a picture book like this before – textured to the point of roughness. Or, as Minh Lê puts it:

Just got my copy & u guys weren't kidding. I might use it to sand some furniture when I'm done w storytime ?? @100scopenotes @MrSchuReads https://t.co/69IhDnSFey

— Minh Lê (@bottomshelfbks) September 11, 2017

Two-Page Spread of the Year: Town Is by the Sea illustrated by Sydney Smith, written by Joanne Schwartz

Sun on water has never looked better.

Best Temporary Tattoo Artist: Oliver Jeffers

Seemingly Curmudgeonly Tweet That’s Actually a Question We Should All Ask Ourselves

Is "reading better with friends"? #editingreviews

— Roger Sutton (@RogerReads) August 10, 2017

‘Cause I gotta say, I’m pretty good with solitude on this one.

Word of the Year: Pants

Be they green, under, stolen, princess, giant, or the nonexistent variety, pants were everywhere in 2017 (Credit: Julie Danielson)

The “We’re Good” Award: Biographies of Pete Seeger

We’re good.

Boring Grown-Up Cereal of the Year (Runner Up): Cardboard

Boring Grown-Up Cereal of the Year (Winner): Leaves

Both are from the cereal aisle scene in Dan Santat’s After the Fall – one of the most memorable spreads of 2017:

Best Amos & Boris Tribute: Tea with Oliver by Mika Song

That boat in the picture on the wall looks familiar . . .

Best Seemingly Random Appearance of an Influential 90s Band in a Recent Young People’s Literature News Story: Blues Traveler weighing in on the Handbook for Mortals New York Times Bestseller List Controversy

There was some shady business behind YA book Handbook for Mortals hitting the NYT Bestseller list, and John Popper from Blues Traveller had an unlikely connection.

Best Collision of Hip Hop and Children’s Lit (Current): Ludacris and Llama Llama

Pete the Cat was watching this like “I need to get back into the studio.”

Best Collision of Hip Hop and Children’s Lit (After the Fact): Roald Dahl and Kanye West

via the Dissect podcast, I learned that the introduction to Kanye West’s 2010 masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is an adaptation of the Cinderella story from Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes.

Picture Book Cover of the Year: Lucía the Luchadora illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez, written by Cynthia Leonor Garza

Just the right amount of cute. Just the right amount of cool. Striking but not too busy. This cover is sure to be catching eyes for years to come.

Weirdest Book of the Year: My Valley by Claude Ponti

Originally published in France, My Valley made it to the U.S. in 2017. It’s a completely surreal and psychedelic experience from page one. I highly recommend it.

Cameos of the Year: Clifford and Pigeon in Mama Lion Wins the Race

The Pigeon is used to making cameos (he appears in every Mo Willems book), but a Clifford sighting is like spotting Daniel Day Lewis at Starbucks or something.

#BookfaceFriday of the Year: Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee is a novel written by American author Jerry Spinelli and published in 1990. #bookfacefriday @proyectoLEA @LAPublicLibrary pic.twitter.com/xncU6jjTai

— ProyectoLEA (@proyectoLEA) January 13, 2017

The best ongoing book-related hashtag in all of social media delivered us this stroke of genius in 2017.

The Slow Your Roll Award: Pantone

Look, Pantone, I love you. Great colors. But the Pantone editions of classic books are just a step too far.

Children’s Literature Movie Hype of 2017: Wonder

Children’s Literature Movie Hype of 2018: A Wrinkle in Time

Trend to Watch in 2018: ‘Roid Raging Lincoln

Filed under: Articles, Best of, Best of 2017