2019 Children’s Lit: The Year in Miscellanea

December 4, 2019 by Travis Jonker 11 comments

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

2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

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Read previous Year in Miscellanea Posts:

READ Poster of the Year: Gene Luen Yang for Dragon Hoops

Yang’s book Dragon Hoops doesn’t come out until 2020, but can it even top the Michael Jordan-inspired READ poster that was sent out with the Dragon Hoops ARCs?

The WINGS— I mean, READ poster that comes in the #DragonHoops sneaker box! For a chance to win, follow me and @01FirstSecond by this Friday! pic.twitter.com/KO2E0PJV40
— Gene Luen Yang (@geneluenyang) November 18, 2019

Best Feeling Book of 2019, and by “Best Feeling” I Don’t Mean the Book That Makes You Feel the Best, But the Book That Literally Just Feels Really Cool in a Tactile Way: Ogilvy by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by T. L. McBeth

If you get a chance, rub your hand across that wooly-feeling title, people – you won’t be sorry.

Best Act of Sewing: Giving the Beekle plush a butt

Kohl’s began selling plush characters to go along with some of Dan Santat’s books:

I guess the cat's out of the bag and some of you have discovered that your local @Kohls stores are carrying plush dolls of characters from some of my books. (Beekle, Are We There Yet, Dude, Carnivores, After the Fall) If you've always wanted a Beekle doll then now's your chance! pic.twitter.com/e89Ug8oqsU
— Dan Santat (@dsantat) June 19, 2019

@StoryOwl asked the question all Beekle fans were thinking: will the Beekle doll have a butt?

I hope Beekle has his butt. pic.twitter.com/Qt0XPLBxP3
— StoryOwl (@StoryOwl) June 19, 2019

@StoryOwl discovered the plush Beekle didn’t have distinct cheeks. Most people would have stopped there. @StoryOwl got out a needle and thread . . .

No butt, but with a little time and thread… pic.twitter.com/BRGZEpuVKH
— StoryOwl (@StoryOwl) June 20, 2019

. . . and gave Beekle a proper rump.

its… Its… PERFECT! I have literally been giggling for 5 minutes now. Can’t wait for my students to see this sweet angel. #beekle pic.twitter.com/hHWJu1y1rJ
— StoryOwl (@StoryOwl) June 25, 2019

Best Use of Children’s Literature in a Meme: Frog vs. Kermit by Isaac Fitzgerald

I laugh every time I read this.

How I look in the mirror vs. how I look in photos. pic.twitter.com/YqJXE3Lsg6
— Isaac Fitzgerald (@IsaacFitzgerald) October 11, 2019

Cover Recreation of the Year, (Runner Up): Minh Lê, Let Me Finish!

AHHHHH HELLLP THE PURPLE RHINO IS REAAAL!!!! 😳 #MetaNonFiction @studioroxas @DisneyBooks pic.twitter.com/VEny2sdEB0
— Minh Lê (@bottomshelfbks) September 20, 2019

Cover Recreation of the Year: Crown

This student was SO excited to find a book starring him on the cover! Having books that reflect students matter! PS the pose was his idea 😍!! @HunterPrincipal @hunter_pta @suanne_mckay pic.twitter.com/gqrSH37KUW
— Erin Wasko (@MsWaskoMedia) August 28, 2019

Funniest Award Reaction Tweet of the Year: Sergio Ruzzier

Honor.

https://twitter.com/SergioRuzzier/status/1089956202111475712

Two-Page Spread of the Year: Saturday by Oge Mora

The composition, the color, the element of surprise – no 2019 two page spread had more impact than this one did.

Best Use of Normally Unused Space: AstroNuts by Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg

Doppelgänger of the Year (Runner Up): Arthur A. Levine and Walter White from Breaking Bad

Do not mess with the head of Levine Querido.

Why do people keep saying I look like the guy from Breaking Bad??? pic.twitter.com/zdpmAq6j57
— Arthur A. Levine (@ArthurALevine1) June 5, 2019

Doppelgänger of the Year: Dave Eggers and Raúl the Third

Shout out to Minh Lê for this fantastic bit of “separated at birth”.

Wait, is it just me or is Dave Eggers actually Raúl the Third’s doppelgänger/stunt double? 😳😳 @raulthe3rd pic.twitter.com/Jz0EeoeibW
— Minh Lê (@bottomshelfbks) June 26, 2019

Cover Controversy of the Year: The Poet X

I think I speak for most people when I say “Whyyyyyy????”

*UPDATE* HarperCollins has revised the cover credit for this book.

https://twitter.com/boricuatears/status/1145526989488566272

Book Cover of the Year (Reissue): Bunnicula

Never has red velvet been put to better use than on the 40th anniversary edition of Bunnicula.

OK so there is a signed 40th anniversary edition of Bunnicula that is MADE OF VELVET and has GLOWING EYES???? 🐰 🧛🏻‍♂️ 🥕 #Bunnicula pic.twitter.com/E4HmDSIb3F
— Jennifer Laughran (@literaticat) May 25, 2019

Bird of the Year: Book Expo Bird

I love BookExpo pic.twitter.com/jeWxzr8mTX
— Chad Felix (@ballerdeath) May 28, 2019

The Best Reason Not to Delete Your Facebook Account: Author Derrick Barnes

The Crown author’s Facebook is the most inspiring place on the internet.

Unexpected Children’s Literature Reference of the Year (Runner Up): Jeopardy champ James Holzhauer

How did the current Smartest Guy Ever get so smart? Children’s literature.

The secret to becoming a Jeopardy champion.

What is children's nonfiction?

SLJ Talks to Jeopardy Champ James Holzhauer About His Love of Librarieshttps://t.co/BzPC1k06ZT pic.twitter.com/LqCl4pOM81
— SchoolLibraryJournal (@sljournal) May 16, 2019

Unexpected Children’s Literature Reference of the Year: Jennifer Garner reads We Found a Hat to her bagels

I have been alerted that Jennifer Garner read my book to her bagels this morning & I will take it pic.twitter.com/JuCuYuAaqv
— jon klassen (@burstofbeaden) May 10, 2019

Librarian Win of the Year: Chicago Librarian breaks historic Jeopardy run

Remember that Smartest Guy Ever guy I talked about a couple awards ago? Who broke his historic Jeopardy run? A librarian.

https://twitter.com/libraryvoice/status/1135689588993941504

Mystery I’m Least Interested in Solving: Poodunnit

Worst Bookmark: A Taco

The Chex Mix bookmark meme brought out the best and worst in us all.

Don’t have a bookmark? Try using a taco. (Actual photo of an actual book found in the book drop at my library in Indiana a few years back) pic.twitter.com/yU9jrKoFkF
— Amanda Mae (@miss_amandamae) September 14, 2019

Book Plate of the Year: King Mouse by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dena Seiferling

So I’m casually opening up King Mouse and DAAANG! Gold foil EX-LIBRIS???

Barcode of the Year: Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe

It’s just perfect, isn’t it?

Baseball Stat of the Year: Favorite Book

Home runs? Not important. RBIs? Get out of here. The Little League World Series shared the most important information.

I watch the Little League World Series for the book recs. #LLWS pic.twitter.com/XRWzT3EIhy
— Travis Jonker (@100scopenotes) August 18, 2019

Book Jacket of the Year: Frankly in Love by David Yoon

The three dimensional effect of this cover stopped me in my tracks.

Human Jacket of the Year: Mo Willems Pigeon Jacket

When you have an event at the Kennedy Center, you bring out your finest.

Book Dedication of the Year, YA: Ben Philippe for The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

I hope Ben Philippe’s mom has come to terms with the fact that her son is a writer.

Dedication of the Year, Picture Book: Josh Lieb, for Chapter Two is Missing!

I don’t know who Dana is. I don’t know the severity of the torture, but well done, Dana.

Picture Book Animal of the Year: Unicorn

In a landslide.

Artist Studio of the Year: Christian Robinson

The image is from a studio slideshow of New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books winners. I want to go to there.

Mutual Respect award : LeVar Burton and Jason Reynolds

The admiration levels were high at this B&N store event in October.

So many wonderful learnings from an evening with @JasonReynolds83 and @levarburton at @BNEventsGrove.

7) Loved that the evening ended with “Mr. LeVar” (as Jason calls him) publicly loving on Jason Reynolds. 🖤 #ProjectLITWatts #ProjectLITChat @ProjectLITComm pic.twitter.com/VRubqGsw5v
— Geneviève DeBose, NBCT (@GenevieveDeBose) October 13, 2019

Case Cover of the Year: At the Mountain’s Base by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre

At the Mountain’s Base’s case cover (@tracisorell @weshoyot) pic.twitter.com/GZtVxR0g7h
— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) August 31, 2019

Weirdest Book of the Year: Apocalypse Taco by Nathan Hale

There were plenty of astonishingly unconventional books this year, but this book about aliens making creepy copies of the human world via the local taco place was the weirdest.

Cover Trope of the Year: Flora all over the book

Having trouble telling them apart.

Children’s Literature Related Political Scandal of the Year: Baltimore Mayor Resigns

The questionable sale of thousands of children’s books is to blame for the resignation of Baltimore’s mayor.

Pumpkin of the Year (Carved): Elephant & Piggie

https://twitter.com/The_Pigeon/status/1186689837232984066

Pumpkin of the Year (Dressed Up): Dory Fantasmagory

@studiocastillo Hey Lauren! I believe you know Abby Hanlon. My daughter loves her books and I thought Abby may want to see this pic of her pumpkin project! 😊 pic.twitter.com/y4VmT7b2GV
— jaime zollars (@jaimezollars) October 21, 2019

Pumpkin of the Year (Painted): Gaston and Pups

Book character pumpkins from today’s school visit! #gaston #zombieinlove #gilbertgoldfishwantsapet pic.twitter.com/2rJUxmYUaU
— Kelly DiPucchio (@kellydipucchio) October 16, 2019

Slyest Self-Promotion: Jonathan Stutzman Reads His Book at Target

Author tours? Ads? Who needs them? If you want to move copies of your book, head over to your nearest Target and do this:

Finds book at Target

*people walk by*@dustdancestoo: pic.twitter.com/7tYtB5qCxa
— Heather Fox (@adoodlefox) October 26, 2019

2019 Trend Showing No Signs of Stopping: Cuteness Overload Mashups

In 2019 we toyed with combining things with unicorns and mermaids. In 2020 we will perfect it.

The 2019 “Am I Watching Vevo Right Now?” Award: Yuyi Morales Pura Belpré reaction video.

She’s been raising the picture book bar for years – now Yuyi Morales takes award reaction videos to the next level. This is incredible.

Incredible Author Story of the Year: Dan Santat’s 44th birthday rant

You really should read this.

Weeded Book of the Year: Those Amazing Leeches

The toenail is a nice touch, isn’t it?

I have weeded some big weeds in my day but wow
(also I believe that is a leechy dash in the title)
(also sorry about this) pic.twitter.com/ZReXApafGV
— Shannon Ozirny (@shannonozirny) November 13, 2019

Book Idea of the Year: “Something Happens”

I think we all can relate to Cindy Derby’s note to herself.

just looking up my book ideas from my notes folder. good job Cindy. good job. pic.twitter.com/43I8ZTJbwr
— Cindy Derby (@CindyDerby) November 13, 2019

Filed under: Articles, Best of 2019

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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.

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