2014: A Great Year to Read

12/28/2014

When you read to a child, you bring emotion, love, and adventure into their life. The best part is, you share that experience with them. Priceless.

In two short months, I've read over two hundred fiction picture books as a CYBILS panelist, and hundreds of others in the prior months. While there are many that deserve praise, the selected titles below set a great model for children, teachers, writers and illustrators. 2014 was a great year to read! Bring on 2015.

Feel-Good Illustrations:

Laugh-out-Loud:

Tender Relationships:

Compassion & Diversity:

Mind-Engaging Illustrations:

Nature-ific:

Tell Me a Story:

20 Comments

Stacy S. Jensen link

12/28/2014 11:15:17 am

Oh I haven't read several of these. I need to add to my library list!

Carrie Charley Brown

12/28/2014 11:40:23 am

Happy reading (and studying), Stacy!

Angela Henderson link

12/28/2014 11:44:54 am

Can't wait to take this list to the library with me. Thanks!

Carrie Charley Brown

12/29/2014 11:43:58 am

You are welcome, Angela. :) Enjoy!

Teresa Robeson link

12/28/2014 12:19:43 pm

I own a couple of these, and got a number of others from the library but there are a bunch more to explore. Thanks for the recommendations, Carrie!

Carrie Charley Brown

12/29/2014 11:44:38 am

Glad to help spread book love, Teresa! :)

Kirsti Call link

12/28/2014 10:56:17 pm

I can't wait to read more of these. This list is fantastic!

Carrie Charley Brown

12/29/2014 11:45:11 am

Thanks, Kirsti! I'm sure your kids will enjoy them, too! :)

Ellen L. Ramsey link

12/28/2014 11:15:44 pm

I love Easter Cat, Maple, and Lion and Bird, and I look forward to tracking down the other titles on your list.

Carrie Charley Brown

12/29/2014 11:45:43 am

Happy reading, Ellen! :)

Erik Ammon link

12/29/2014 11:06:38 am

I loved This Is A Moose! I also really loved, loved, loved What Do You Do With An Idea? I recommend it highly!!!!

Carrie Charley Brown

12/29/2014 11:47:29 am

That one had great art, Erik! Great to see you here! :)

Penny Parker Klostermann link

12/30/2014 11:31:53 am

Yay! I just put several that I haven't read on hold! Thanks, Carrie...and congrats on being a CYBILS judge :-)

Carrie Charley Brown

1/10/2015 09:30:02 am

Enjoy, Penny, and thanks!

Meg Miller link

12/31/2014 01:50:19 pm

Love several, but see several I need to read! What an amazing task Carrie!!!

Carrie Charley Brown

1/10/2015 09:30:42 am

I hope they serve you well as mentor texts, too, Meg!

Linda Schueler link

1/1/2015 08:27:47 am

I have read several, but I see others that I am looking forward to reading. Thanks for your list.

Carrie Charley Brown

1/10/2015 09:32:27 am

You are welcome, Linda! Enjoy studying these great models!

Keila Dawson link

1/2/2015 04:55:47 am

Thanks for this list Carrie. Will surely read those I haven't yet. Love how you sorted them into categories.

Carrie Charley Brown

1/10/2015 09:33:25 am

You are welcome, Keila! Thanks for the compliment. I hope the sorting helps you use them as mentor texts.

Carrie Charley Brown

As a children’s writer, and a teacher, my goal is to help you carry on. Sometimes learning is challenging, so why go it alone? Your journey will be more meaningful and comfortable with friends to share it with. Together, we'll get up close and personal with authors, illustrators, and the best of picture books. If we work together, great things will follow!