Choosing the Best Children's Books

Choosing the Best Children's Books, p.1

The best children's books delight with their lyrical language, inspire with their imaginative illustrations, and excite with their memorable characters. Choosing the best of the best is a daunting task, given the fact that 4,000 books for children were published this year alone. But with the help of our nominating committee of experts in children's literature, Child set out to do just that. After many extraordinary hours of joyous reading and lively debate, we are proud to present the 50 most wondrous books of the year.

Ages 0 to 2

Baby Face

Text by Abigail Tabby, illustrations by Dan Yaccarino.
Watch your baby's face light up as a pull of a tab wiggles the eyes, ears, nose, and more of the babies featured in this endearingly silly interactive book. Adorable illustrations and chipper rhymes add to the fun and help teach about the various facial parts. HarperFestival/HarperCollins, $7.95.

Big and Little/What's There?
Text and illustrations by Melanie Walsh.
Surprises abound for wee ones in these two bright-as-a-button board books, which use flaps to explore opposites and position. Thus, in Big and Little, an all-black square (dark) opens up to reveal the view from a sunny window (light), while a flowerpot niftily discloses the little worm inside in What's There? Candlewick Press, $4.99 each.

Counting Kisses
Text and illustrations by Karen Katz.
Count down to bedtime with this exuberant tale of a baby gathering kisses ("ten little kisses on teeny tiny toes") from the whole family. Brimming with affection, the cheery, folk-art-inspired illustrations are simply irresistible. Pucker up! Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, $14.

Everywhere Babies
Text by Susan Meyers, illustrations by Marla Frazee.
True to the title, babies of all sizes and colors spill over the pages of this high-spirited book. Jaunty rhymes chronicle babies' busy lives -- eating and crawling, at sleep and at play -- and little ones will love seeing themselves reflected in the soft, expressive watercolors. Harcourt, $16.