Kids’ Choices for Best Books!

The Irma Black award, designed by Maurice Sendak

The kids have spoken!

The Irma Black Award, given by The Bank Street School,  is unusual in that children are the final judges of the winning book.  This year’s award went to Big Mean Mike, written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Scott Magoon.  More than 7,500 first and second graders around the world voted  Big Mean Mike as their clear favorite.

There were three other Irma Black honor books, also chosen by kids themselves:

The Cook Prize medal, designed by Brian Floca

Children also choose The Cook Prize winners, sponsored by The Bank Street School:  The best science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) picture books published for children aged eight to ten. This year’s winner is:

The honor winners are:

Congratulations to all the winners!

2012 Best Illustrated Books, from the N.Y. Times

There’s always surprises and delights galore when perusing Best Books Lists. Here’s this year’s N.Y. Times picks, via Pamela Paul and the 2012 committee: Chris Raschka, @henryfingjames and Cathryn Mercier. Congratulations to the winners!

“Red Knit Cap Girl,” written and illustrated by Naoko Stoop (Megan Tingley/Little, Brown & Company)

Check out Naoko Stoop’s art blog here. She also has an Etsy shop featuring her works here.

“Bear Despair,” written and illustrated by Gaëtan Dorémus (Enchanted Lion)

Visit Gaëtan Dorémus’ website here. His previous books were published in France. A bio appears here.

“One Times Square: A Century of Change at the Crossroads of the World,” by Joe McKendry (David R. Godine)

Here is Joe McKendry’s website. A bio appears here. And here is a glimpse into his Times Square timeline:

“Stephen and the Beetle,” written by Jorge Luján and illustrated by Chiara Carrer (Groundwood Books)

Check out Chara Carrer’s website here.

“House Held Up by Trees,” written by Ted Kooser and illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press)

Check out selected spreads from Jon Klassen’s artwork here.

“Infinity and Me,” written by Kate Hosford and illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska (Carolrhoda Books)

Check out author Kate Hosford’s behind-the-scenes story on working with the illustrator here.

“The Beetle Book,” written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Houghton Mifflin)

“Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad,” written and illustrated by Henry Cole (Scholastic Press)

“The Hueys in the New Sweater,” written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel Books/Penguin)