This week I am sharing my favorite books that I read in 2016.
They don't have to be published in 2016.
They don't have to have an author or illustrator that lives in the United States.
I just had to love the book.
Or know that kids are going to love the book.
Clever Books
These books caught my attention because they were just so darn clever. Whether because of the witty discussion with the reader, or because of the multiple story lines hidden between the pages, the endpages.
![Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book)](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434189243m/25489475.jpg)
Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book)
by Julie Falatko
![The Airport Book The Airport Book](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442851701m/25689050.jpg)
The Airport Book
by Lisa Brown
Best Cute Books
The books that make you say "awww", or "arrrrrgh"!
![Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455049919m/25332014.jpg)
Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching
by Laura Gehl
![Mighty Truck Mighty Truck](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444893313m/25817146.jpg)
Mighty Truck
by Chris Barton
![Pirasaurs! Pirasaurs!](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453867372m/28691944.jpg)
Pirasaurs!
by Josh Funk
My Favorite Books to Teach Lessons
Whether you're teaching theme or you want students to have a great discussion, these books were my go to's in 2016.
![Normal Norman Normal Norman](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444057230m/24612756.jpg)
Normal Norman
by Tara Lazar
![Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445549974m/25861925.jpg)
Follow the Moon Home
by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson
![A Bike Like Sergio's A Bike Like Sergio's](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458323189m/28588028.jpg)
A Bike Like Sergio's
by Maribeth Boelts
![Unicorn Named Sparkle, A Unicorn Named Sparkle, A](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454880543m/25689017.jpg)
A Unicorn Named Sparkle
by Amy Young
![The Bear and the Piano The Bear and the Piano](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436842375m/25897952.jpg)
The Bear and the Piano
by David Litchfield
![Everyone Loves Cupcake Everyone Loves Cupcake](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447086173m/27414479.jpg)
Everyone Loves Cupcake
by Kelly DiPucchio
![Be a Friend Be a Friend](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449997679m/25663943.jpg)
Be a Friend
by Salina Yoon
Best Folktale
This book caught my attention on the first read. Beautiful story and gorgeous illustrations.
![The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456379343m/28818354.jpg)
The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes
by Duncan Tonatiuh
Best Going to Bed Stories
Although with Lauren Castillo's beautiful illustrations, maybe they won't inspire sleep!
![It Is Not Time for Sleeping It Is Not Time for Sleeping](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453389557m/27431978.jpg)
It Is Not Time for Sleeping
by Lisa Graff
![Twenty Yawns Twenty Yawns](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449339756m/24833423.jpg)
Twenty Yawns
by Jane Smiley
Apparently I Like Sarcasm
I really like those books that have surprise ending - and not necessarily the happy ones!
![You Must Be This Tall You Must Be This Tall](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457284837m/25785742.jpg)
You Must Be This Tall
by Steven Weinberg
![A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1452817600m/25785644.jpg)
A Hungry Lion, or a Dwindling Assortment of Animals
by Lucy Ruth Cummins
![Leave Me Alone Leave Me Alone](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451244885m/27414464.jpg)
Leave Me Alone
by Vera Brosgol
![Penguin Problems Penguin Problems](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453059424m/28439554.jpg)
Penguin Problems
by Jory John
![Poor Little Guy Poor Little Guy](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453059027m/26796307.jpg)
Poor Little Guy
by Elanna Allen
![Dragon Was Terrible Dragon Was Terrible](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438969496m/23872955.jpg)
Dragon Was Terrible
by Kelly DiPucchio
My Favorite Holiday Book
I love seeing Penguin and friends in a holiday book. It has a memorable dedication and really captures the beauty of the season.
![Penguin's Christmas Wish Penguin's Christmas Wish](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1460908607m/28260596.jpg)
Penguin's Christmas Wish
by Salina Yoon
Mail Theme (not really, but...)
Snail mail can't really go away!
![It Came in the Mail It Came in the Mail](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466358565m/27206403.jpg)
It Came in the Mail
by Ben Clanton
![Dear Dragon Dear Dragon](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454604436m/28186319.jpg)
Dear Dragon: A Pen Pal Tale
by Josh Funk
Heartwarming Books
Those books that warm your heart - the ones you finish and hold just a bit tighter.
![Tell Me a Tattoo Story Tell Me a Tattoo Story](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477849763m/25861929.jpg)
Tell Me a Tattoo Story
by Alison McGhee
![The Thank You Book (Elephant & Piggie, #25) The Thank You Book (Elephant & Piggie, #25)](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454296147m/27247476.jpg)
The Thank You Book
by Mo Willems
Books That Have Characters That Are a Bit Pessimistic Until They Are Shown The Brighter Side of Things
![Horrible Bear! Horrible Bear!](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444603926m/26030690.jpg)
Horrible Bear!
by Ame Dyckman
![School's First Day of School School's First Day of School](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442849331m/25689022.jpg)
School's First Day of School
by Adam Rex
This list is by no means exhaustive or accurate. Even as I made the list I realized I forgot books. There are so many books that touched me in some way or another, something inevitably gets left off. Please know I probably forgot a book or two or ten.
What books were on your 2016 favorites list? Check out my other 2016 favorite lists:
2016 Nonfiction Picture Books favorites
2016 Middle Grade favorites
Be sure to return next week when I share books to look forward to in 2017!
by Julie Falatko
![The Airport Book The Airport Book](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442851701m/25689050.jpg)
The Airport Book
by Lisa Brown
Best Cute Books
The books that make you say "awww", or "arrrrrgh"!
![Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455049919m/25332014.jpg)
Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching
by Laura Gehl
![Mighty Truck Mighty Truck](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444893313m/25817146.jpg)
Mighty Truck
by Chris Barton
![Pirasaurs! Pirasaurs!](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453867372m/28691944.jpg)
Pirasaurs!
by Josh Funk
My Favorite Books to Teach Lessons
Whether you're teaching theme or you want students to have a great discussion, these books were my go to's in 2016.
![Normal Norman Normal Norman](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444057230m/24612756.jpg)
Normal Norman
by Tara Lazar
![Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445549974m/25861925.jpg)
Follow the Moon Home
by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson
![A Bike Like Sergio's A Bike Like Sergio's](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458323189m/28588028.jpg)
A Bike Like Sergio's
by Maribeth Boelts
![Unicorn Named Sparkle, A Unicorn Named Sparkle, A](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454880543m/25689017.jpg)
A Unicorn Named Sparkle
by Amy Young
![The Bear and the Piano The Bear and the Piano](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436842375m/25897952.jpg)
The Bear and the Piano
by David Litchfield
![Everyone Loves Cupcake Everyone Loves Cupcake](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447086173m/27414479.jpg)
Everyone Loves Cupcake
by Kelly DiPucchio
![Be a Friend Be a Friend](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449997679m/25663943.jpg)
Be a Friend
by Salina Yoon
Best Folktale
This book caught my attention on the first read. Beautiful story and gorgeous illustrations.
![The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456379343m/28818354.jpg)
The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes
by Duncan Tonatiuh
Best Going to Bed Stories
Although with Lauren Castillo's beautiful illustrations, maybe they won't inspire sleep!
![It Is Not Time for Sleeping It Is Not Time for Sleeping](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453389557m/27431978.jpg)
It Is Not Time for Sleeping
by Lisa Graff
![Twenty Yawns Twenty Yawns](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449339756m/24833423.jpg)
Twenty Yawns
by Jane Smiley
Apparently I Like Sarcasm
I really like those books that have surprise ending - and not necessarily the happy ones!
![You Must Be This Tall You Must Be This Tall](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457284837m/25785742.jpg)
You Must Be This Tall
by Steven Weinberg
![A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1452817600m/25785644.jpg)
A Hungry Lion, or a Dwindling Assortment of Animals
by Lucy Ruth Cummins
![Leave Me Alone Leave Me Alone](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451244885m/27414464.jpg)
Leave Me Alone
by Vera Brosgol
![Penguin Problems Penguin Problems](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453059424m/28439554.jpg)
Penguin Problems
by Jory John
![Poor Little Guy Poor Little Guy](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453059027m/26796307.jpg)
Poor Little Guy
by Elanna Allen
![Dragon Was Terrible Dragon Was Terrible](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438969496m/23872955.jpg)
Dragon Was Terrible
by Kelly DiPucchio
My Favorite Holiday Book
I love seeing Penguin and friends in a holiday book. It has a memorable dedication and really captures the beauty of the season.
![Penguin's Christmas Wish Penguin's Christmas Wish](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1460908607m/28260596.jpg)
Penguin's Christmas Wish
by Salina Yoon
Mail Theme (not really, but...)
Snail mail can't really go away!
![It Came in the Mail It Came in the Mail](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466358565m/27206403.jpg)
It Came in the Mail
by Ben Clanton
![Dear Dragon Dear Dragon](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454604436m/28186319.jpg)
Dear Dragon: A Pen Pal Tale
by Josh Funk
Heartwarming Books
Those books that warm your heart - the ones you finish and hold just a bit tighter.
![Tell Me a Tattoo Story Tell Me a Tattoo Story](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477849763m/25861929.jpg)
Tell Me a Tattoo Story
by Alison McGhee
![The Thank You Book (Elephant & Piggie, #25) The Thank You Book (Elephant & Piggie, #25)](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454296147m/27247476.jpg)
The Thank You Book
by Mo Willems
Books That Have Characters That Are a Bit Pessimistic Until They Are Shown The Brighter Side of Things
![Horrible Bear! Horrible Bear!](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444603926m/26030690.jpg)
Horrible Bear!
by Ame Dyckman
![School's First Day of School School's First Day of School](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442849331m/25689022.jpg)
School's First Day of School
by Adam Rex
This list is by no means exhaustive or accurate. Even as I made the list I realized I forgot books. There are so many books that touched me in some way or another, something inevitably gets left off. Please know I probably forgot a book or two or ten.
What books were on your 2016 favorites list? Check out my other 2016 favorite lists:
2016 Nonfiction Picture Books favorites
2016 Middle Grade favorites
Be sure to return next week when I share books to look forward to in 2017!
I love A Hungry Lion, and Tell Me a Tattoo Story both so much. Lots of fun titles here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the list. Be a Friend and the Bear and the Piano are our favorites too. Look forward to reading others on your list. Happy New Reading Year!
ReplyDelete