Children's Choices for 2007

A Project of the International Reading Association and The Children's Book Council

What Is the Children's Choices Project?

Each year 10,000 school children from different regions of the United States read and vote on the newly published children's and young adults' trade books that they like best. The Children's Choices for 2007 list is the 33rd in a series that first appeared as “Classroom Choices” in the November 1975 issue of The Reading Teacher (RT), a peer-reviewed journal for preschool, primary, and elementary levels published eight times a year by the International Reading Association (IRA). This list is designed for use not only by teachers, librarians, administrators, and booksellers, but also by parents, grandparents, caregivers, and everyone who wishes to encourage young people to read for pleasure.

Children's Choices is a project of a joint committee supported by IRA and The Children's Book Council (CBC). IRA is a nonprofit educational organization whose members include classroom and reading teachers, school administrators and supervisors, parents, college/university faculty, and others who are dedicated to improving reading instruction and promoting literacy worldwide.

The Children's Book Council is the nonprofit professional association of U.S. publishers and packagers of books for young people. It encourages childhood literacy through sponsorship of national programs including Young People's Poetry Week and the annual observance of Children's Book Week, as well as working cooperatively with other professional associations.

In 1969, IRA and CBC formed a liaison committee to explore areas of mutual interest to reading teachers and publishers. Among the committee's initial charges was the development of a core selection of trade books for the classroom. This list of Children's Choices has remained an important activity of the committee, which each year produces this child-selected bibliography identifying titles that can be used successfully in reading programs, can be related to the classroom curricula, and are known to engage children.

How Are Books Selected and Annotated?

More than 630 books were evaluated by children for Children's Choices for 2007. The books to be tested were selected by publishers from the books they published in 2006 and were sent to five review teams located in different regions of the United States. Each team consisted of a children's literature specialist plus one or more classroom teachers who in turn worked with other classroom teachers, school librarians, and more than 2,000 children. Throughout the school year the books were in classrooms, being read to or by children.

Children's votes were tabulated in March, and the top 99 titles for 2007 were announced at the annual International Reading Association Convention in May. The review teams provided an annotation for each title on the list.

What Bibliographic Information Is Provided?

Books selected for the Children's Choices list have been grouped by reading levels:

Beginning readers (ages 5–7)

Young readers (ages 8–10)

Advanced readers (ages 11–13)

Users should note that many books read easily by beginning readers are also enjoyed by more advanced readers, and many titles for advanced readers are accessible to younger readers or can be read aloud in the classroom.

The title, author, illustrator, publisher, and price are provided for each book as well as a brief annotation prepared by a review team. All books listed are hardcover unless otherwise noted. Prices are accurate as of late spring 2007; they are subject to change without notice. These abbreviations are provided for easy reference:

All books on this list should be available through your local library or a local bookseller.

Beginning Readers

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon

Mini Grey. Ill. by the author.

The dish and the spoon journey to America, appear in a vaudeville act, make lots of money, squander it all, borrow money from shady characters, rob a bank, land in jail, meet in a junk shop, and finally join forces to perform for modern audiences. (Team 2)

Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children's Books. 32 pp. US$18.99 (library). CAN$26.99. US$16.95 (trade). CAN$23.95.

Aliens Are Coming! The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast

Meghan McCarthy. Ill. by the author.

From the story in this book, children view the reaction as radio listeners believe that aliens have landed in New Jersey. Cartoon Martians and information on 1930s radio illustrate the humor in this historic miscommunication. (Team 3)

Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children's Books. 40 pp. US$18.99 (library). CAN$26.99. US$16.95 (trade). CAN$23.95.

Amazing Dolphins!

Sarah L. Thomson. Ill. with photographs.

Colorful photographs accompany this factual book. Readers will learn about everything from echolocation to blowholes, along with many other interesting tidbits about these fascinating mammals, such as how they communicate with sound. (Team 4)

HarperCollins Publishers. 32 pp. US$15.99 (trade). CAN$21.99.

Amazing Snakes!

Sarah L. Thomson. Ill. with photographs.

This book has many close-up photographs and interesting facts about snakes that will amaze you. Beginning readers will enjoy all the facts, especially how snakes can be helpful to humans. (Team 1)

HarperCollins Publishers. 32 pp. US$15.99 (trade). CAN$21.99.

Bad Boys Get Cookie!

Margie Palatini. Ill. Henry Cole.

In this variation of the Gingerbread Man story, “smart cookie” runs away from the baker. Willy and Wally (wolf detectives) scheme to catch the clever cookie—they even disguise themselves as Hansel and Gretel! Cookie finally escapes on the back of an alligator—or does he? (Team 2)

Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins Publishers. 32 pp. US$16.99 (trade). CAN$21.99.

Bear Dreams

Elisha Cooper. Ill. by the author.

Bear refuses to take the usual long winter nap as bears always do. He goes out to play with all his animal friends. And play he does, until he is so tired that he falls asleep. (Team 5)

Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers. 32 pp. US$16.99 (trade). CAN$21.99.

Burger Boy

Alan Durant. Ill. Mei Matsuoka.

What happens when a boy eats so many burgers that he turns into one? Children will enjoy reading about the adventures the boy has as a burger. The colorful and imaginative illustrations will hold readers' attention. (Team 3)

Clarion Books. 32 pp. US$16.00 (trade).

Charlie and Lola: But Excuse Me That Is My Book

Lauren Child. Ill. by the author.

Join Charlie as he tries to convince his little sister, Lola, that there are more exciting books in the library. Lola is reluctant to read any book but her favorite, Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies. (Team 1)

Dial Books for Young Readers. 32 pp. US$16.99 (trade).

The Cow Who Clucked

Denise Fleming. Ill. by the author.

The cow wakes up to find that she now clucks. As she exchanges greetings with different animals, she discovers who has taken her moo. Young readers will enjoy the illustrations of the farm and the cow's search for her voice. (Team 5)

Henry Holt. 32 pp. US$16.95 (trade). CAN$22.95.

Duck and Goose

Tad Hills. Ill. by the author.

Duck and goose find what they think is a huge, spotted egg. They argue over it constantly. Finally, they become friends and protect the egg together. One day a bird asks if he can play ball with them, and they realize their mistake. (Team 2)

Schwartz & Wade Books/Random House Children's Books. 40 pp. US$16.99 (library). CAN$23.99. US$14.95 (trade). CAN$21.00.

Fancy Nancy

Jane O'Connor. Ill. Robin Preiss Glasser.

Nancy loves being fancy, but her family needs lessons. During an elegant evening of parfaits and limousines, a catastrophe happens. Nancy learns her family is just fine and that there is no fancy way to say, “I love you.” (Team 3)

HarperCollins Publishers. 32 pp. US$16.99 (trade). CAN$21.50.

Fast Food

Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers. Ill. with photographs by the authors.

A delightful and delicious display depicts various forms of transportation made from fruit and vegetables, with creative poetic text. Humorous photographs and rhythmic style allow children and adults to relate existing and newfound knowledge of diverse travel options to healthy produce. (Team 3)

Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic. 32 pp. US$12.99 (trade). CAN$16.99.