Boston Globe-Horn Picture Book Honor

2008

Coffelt, Nancy. (2007). Fred stays with me. (Illustrated by Tricia Tusa). New York : Little, Brown. PRIM-FIC C6743fr 

A child describes how she lives sometimes with her mother and sometimes with her father, but her dog is her constant companion.

2008

Frazee, Marla. (2008). A couple of boys have the best week ever. Orlando, Fla. : Harcourt.

Friends James and Eamon enjoy a wonderful week at the home of Eamon's grandparents during summer vacation.

2007

Fromental, Jean-Luc. (2006). 365 penguins. (Illustrated by Joëlle Jolivet). New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers. PRIM-FIC F9313th

When a box containing a penguin arrives anonymously on New Year's Day, a family of four is puzzled, but as they continue to receive one penguin each day their problems--and food budget, and storage issues--are multiplied.

2007

Gravett, Emily. (2006). Wolves. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. PRIM-FIC G7765wo

When a young rabbit checks out a library book about wolves, he learns much more about their behavior than he wanted to know.

2006

Winter, Jeanette. (2006). Mama : a true story in which a baby hippo loses his mama during a tsunami, but finds a new home and a new mama. Orlando : Harcourt. 599.63 W785m 

When the tsunami struck on December 26, 2004, a herd of hippos was swept out to sea and an infant hippo was separated from his mother. He was rescued and taken to a park where he headed for a 130-year-old male giant tortoise, which eventually took on the role of "Mama" for the orphan.

2006

Hopkinson, Deborah. (2006). Sky boys : how they built the Empire State Building. (Illustrated by James Ransome). New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

In 1931, a boy and his father watch as the world’s tallest building, the Empire State Building, is constructed, step-by-step, near their Manhattan home.

Jenkins, Emily. (2005). That newanimal. (Pictures by Pierre Pratt). New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux. PRIM-FIC J524th

The lives of two dogs change after a new animal, a baby, comes to their house.

Juster, Norton. (2005). The hello, goodbye window. (Pictures by Chris Raschka). New York : Hyperion Books for Children. PRIM-FIC J964he

The kitchen window at her grandparents’ house is a magic gateway for one little girl. The story depicts the special relationship she has with her grandparents.

Browne, Anthony. (2003). The shape game. New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 708 B882s

The author/illustrator describes how his mother’s wish to spend her birthday visiting an art museum with her family changed the course of his life forever.

Perkins, Lynne Rae. (2003). Snow music. New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC P4495sn

When a dog gets loose from the house on a snowy day, his owner searches for him and experiences the sounds of various animals and things in the snow.

Myers, Walter Dean. (2003). Blues journey. (Illustrated by Christopher Myers). New York : Holiday House. 811.54 M9966bl

The poetry of the blues, America's music, outlines a history of the black experience sung by the people who lived it. The book is cast in classic blues structure of "call and response", the writer exploring the poetry of the blues and the artist responding with his own pictorial riffs.

McClintock, Barbara. (2002). Dahlia. New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux. PRIM-FIC M1267da

Charlotte does not like dolls, until she receives a special doll from her aunt and they become good friends.

McMullan, Kate & Jim. (2002). I stink! New York : Joanne Cotler Books. PRIM-FIC M1686i

A big city garbage truck makes its rounds, consuming everything from apple cores and banana peels to leftover ziti with zucchini.

Bang-Campbell, Monika. (2002). Little Rat sets sail. (Illustrated by Molly Bang). San Diego : Harcourt. PRIM-FIC B2163Li

With a little courage and a lot of practice, Little Rat overcomes her fear of sailing.

Jenkins, Emily. (2001). Five creatures. (Pictures by Tomek Bogacki). New York : Frances Foster Books. PRIM-FIC J524fi

In words and pictures, a girl describes the three humans and two cats that live in her house, and details some of the traits that they share.

Simont, Marc. (2001). The stray dog : from a true story by Reiko Sassa. New York : HarperCollins Publishers. PRIM-FIC S6115ST

A family befriends a stray dog, names him Willy, and decides to keep him.

Cole, Brock. (2000). Buttons. New York : Farrar Straus Giroux. PRIM-FIC C6893bu

When their father eats so much that he pops the buttons off his britches, each of his three daughters tries a different plan to find replacements.

Vincent, Gabrielle. (1999). A day, a dog. Asheville, N.C. : Front Street. PRIM-FIC V7714DA

Pictures tell the story of a dog's day, from the moment he is abandoned on the highway until he finds a friend in a young boy.

Jones, Bill T. (1998). Dance. (Photographed by Susan Kuklin). New York : Hyperion Books for Children. 792.8 J76d

Introduces basic concepts of dance through poetic text and photographs.

Lear, Edward. (1998). The owl and the pussycat. (Illustrated by James Marshall). New York : HarperCollins. 821.8 L438OW

After a courtship voyage of a year and a day, Owl and Pussy finally buy a ring from Piggy and are blissfully married.

Hearne, Betsy Gould. (1997). Seven brave women. (Illustrated by Bethanne Andersen). New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC H4365SE

A young girl recounts the brave exploits of her female ancestors, including her great-great-great grandmother who came to America in a wooden sailboat.

Stevenson, James. (1998). Popcorn : poems. New York : Greenwillow Books. 811.54 S8475p

A collection of short poems with such titles as "Popcorn," "Driftwood," and "My new bird book."

Karas, G. Brian. (1996). Home on the bayou : a cowboy's story. New York, N.Y. : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. PRIM-FIC K182ho

Because he loves cowboys but can't imagine one living in a swamp, Ned hates the move which he and his mom make to live with Grandpa near a bayou.

Lied, Kate. (1997). Potato : a tale from the Great Depression. (Illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst). Washington, DC : National Geographic Society : Distributed by Publishers Group West. PRIM-FIC L7184PO

During the "Great Depression," a family seeking work finds employment for two weeks digging potatoes in Idaho.

Buehner, Caralyn. (1996). Fanny's dream. (Pictures by Mark Buehner). New York : Dial Books for Young Readers. PRIM-FIC B9283fa

Fanny Agnes is a sturdy farm girl who dreams of marrying a prince, but when her fairy godmother doesn't show up, she decides on a local farmer instead.

Perkins, Lynne Rae. (1995). Home lovely. New York : Greenwillow Books.

Hoping for trees or a flower garden, Tiffany transplants and cares for some seedlings that she finds and is surprised by what they become.

Isaacs, Anne. (1994). Swamp Angel. (Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky). New York : Dutton Children's Books. PRIM-FIC I73S

Along with other amazing feats, Angelica Longrider, also known as Swamp Angel, wrestles a huge bear, known as Thundering Tarnation, to save the winter supplies of the settlers in Tennessee.

Henkes, Kevin. (1993). Owen. New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC H513O

Owen's parents try to get him to give up his favorite blanket before he starts school, but when their efforts fail, they come up with a solution that makes everyone happy.

Sís, Peter. (2001). A small, tall tale from the Far, Far North. New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux. PRIM-FIC S6226sm

With the help of Eskimos, Jan Welzl survives a perilous journey from central Europe to the Arctic regions in the late 1800s.

Sís, Peter. (1993). Komodo! New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC S6226ko

A young boy who loves dragons goes with his parents to the Indonesian island of Komodo in hopes of seeing a real dragon. Includes factual information about the Komodo dragon.

McDermott, Gerald. (1993). Raven : a trickster tale from the Pacific Northwest. San Diego : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 398.2 M134R

Raven, a Pacific Coast Indian trickster, sets out to find the sun.

Fleming, Denise. (1991). In the tall, tall grass. New York : H. Holt. PRIM-FIC F5973it

Rhymed text (crunch, munch, caterpillars lunch) presents a toddler's view of creatures found in the grass from lunchtime till nightfall, such as bees, ants, and moles.

Jonas, Ann. (1990). Aardvarks, disembark! New York : Greenwillow Books. 222.11 J76a 

After the flood, Noah calls out of the ark a variety of little-known animals, many of which are now endangered.

Mathers, Petra. (1991). Sophie and Lou. New York : HarperCollins Publishers. PRIM-FIC M4274so

Shy Sophie, enticed by the dancing that she sees in the studio across the street, sets out to learn on her own.

Martin, Bill, Jr., & Archambault, John. (1989). Chicka chicka boom boom. (Illustrated by Lois Ehlert). New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. PRIM-FIC M3793ch

An alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree.

Cooney, Barbara. (1991, c1988). Island boy : story and pictures. New York : Puffin Books. PRIM-FIC C7755is

Matthais grows from a little boy to a grandfather on a small island off the coast of New England.

Vivas, Julie. (2005, c1986). The Nativity. Orlando, Flo. : Harcourt Inc. 232.92 N2783

Illustrates the story of the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the wise men and shepherds at the manger.

Baker, Jeannie. (1987). Where the forest meets the sea. New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC B1677WH

On a camping trip in an Australian rain forest with his father, a young boy thinks about the history of the plant and animal life around him and wonders about their future.

Williams, Vera B. (1988). Stringbean's trip to the shining sea. (greetings from Vera B. Williams, story and pictures, and Jennifer Williams, more pictures). New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC W7277st

Stringbean describes his trip to the west coast in a series of postcards.

Hendershot, Judith. (1987). In coal country. (Illustrated by Thomas B. Allen). New York : Knopf : Distributed by Random House. PRIM-FIC H4955IN

A child growing up in a coal mining community finds both excitement and hard work, in a life deeply affected by the local industry.

Williams, Vera B. (1986). Cherries and cherry pits. New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC W7278CHE

Bidemmi draws pictures and tells stories about cherries.

Blos, Joan W. (1987). Old Henry. (Illustrated by Stephen Gammell). New York : Morrow. PRIM-FIC B6564ol

Henry's neighbors are scandalized that he ignores them and lets his property get run down, until they drive him away and find themselves missing him.

Browne, Anthony. (1983). Gorilla. New York : Knopf : Distributed by Random House. PRIM-FIC B882GO

Neglected by her busy father, a lonely young girl receives a toy gorilla for her birthday and together they take a miraculous trip to the zoo.

Jonas, Ann. (1999, c1985). The trek. Topeka, KS : Bt Bound. PRIM-FIC J763tr

The city streets become a jungle, then a desert, as a child forges her way to school, observing and avoiding all the wild animals posing as trees, chimneys, fences, and even fruit.

Van Allsburg, Chris. (1985). The Polar Express . Boston : Houghton Mifflin. PRIM-FIC V217PO

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.

Jukes, Mavis. (1984). Like Jake and me. (Pictures by Lloyd Bloom). New York, NY : Knopf : Distributed by Random House. PRIM-FIC J93LI

Alex feels that he does not have much in common with his stepfather Jake until a fuzzy spider brings them together.

Schwartz, David M. (1985). How much is a million? (Pictures by Stephen Kellogg). New York : Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. 513.2 S399h

Text and pictures try to make possible the conceptualization of a million, a billion, and a trillion.

Van Allsburg, Chris. (1984). The mysteries of Harris Burdick. Boston : Houghton Mifflin. PRIM-FIC V217MY

Presents a series of loosely related drawings each accompanied by a title and a caption which the reader may use to make up his or her own story.

Bang, Molly. (1983). Dawn. New York : W. Morrow. PRIM-FIC B216DA

In this adaptation of "The Crane Wife," a shipbuilder marries a mysterious woman who makes him promise never to look at her while she weaves.

Duke, Kate. (1983). The guinea pig ABC. New York : Dutton. PRIM-FIC D8773gu

Each letter of the alphabet is illustrated by a word which applies to pictured guinea pigs.

Lobel, Arnold. (1984). The rose in my garden. (Pictures by Anita Lobel). New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC L7975RO

A variety of flowers grows near the hollyhocks that give shade to the bee that sleeps on the only rose in a garden.

Heine, Helme. (1982). Friends. New York : Atheneum. PRIM-FIC H4684FR

"Good friends always stick together." That's what Charlie Rooster, Johnny Mouse and fat Percy, the pig, always said--and that was what they did all day long.

Louie, Ai-Ling. (1982). Yeh-Shen : a Cinderella story from China. (Illustrated by Ed Young). New York : Philomel Books. PRIM-FIC L8882ye

This version of the Cinderella story, in which a young girl overcomes the wickedness of her stepsister and stepmother to become the bride of a prince, is based on ancient Chinese manuscripts written 1000 years before the earliest European version.

Steig, William. (1990, c1982). Doctor De Soto. New York : Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. PRIM-FIC 5818doc

Dr. De Soto, a mouse dentist, copes with the toothaches of various animals except those with a taste for mice, until the day a fox comes to him in great pain.

De Paola, Tomie. (1981). The Friendly beasts : an old English Christmas carol. New York : Putnam. 783.6 F9113

In this old English Christmas carol the friendly stable beasts tell of the gifts they have given to the newborn Jesus.

Baker, Olaf. (1981). Where the buffaloes begin. (Drawings by Stephen Gammell). New York : F. Warne. 398.2 B1684W

After hearing the legend retold by the tribe's oldest member, Little Wolf hopes to someday witness the beginning of the buffaloes at the sacred lake.

Lobel, Anita. (1981). On Market Street. (Pictures by Anita Lobel ; words by Arnold Lobel). New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC L7974ON

A child buys presents from A to Z in the shops along Market Street.

Van Allsburg, Chris. (1981). Jumanji. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Co. PRIM-FIC V217J

Left on their own for an afternoon, two bored and restless children find more excitement than they bargained for in a mysterious and mystical jungle adventure board game.

Bang, Molly. (1980). The grey lady and the strawberry snatcher. New York : Four Winds Press. PRIM-FIC B216GR

In this story without words, an old woman is pursued by a strange man with a passion for strawberries.

Bowden, Joan Chase. (1979). Why the tides ebb and flow. (Illustrated by Marc Brown). Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company. 398.2 B784w

In this folktale explaining why the sea has tides, an old woman threatens to pull the rock from the hole in the ocean floor if Sky Spirit does not honor his promise to give her shelter.

Calhoun, Mary. (1986, c1979). Cross-country cat. (Illustrated by Erick Ingraham). New York : Mulberry Books. PRIM-FIC C1524cr

When he becomes lost in the mountains, a cat with the unusual ability of walking on two legs finds his way home on cross-country skis.

Isadora, Rachel. (1979). Ben's trumpet. New York : Greenwillow Books. PRIM-FIC I744BE

Ben wants to be a trumpeter, but plays only an imaginary instrument until one of the musicians in a neighborhood night club discovers his ambition.

Dumas, Philippe. (1977). The story of Edward. New York : Parents' Magazine Press.

The adventures of a clever donkey with a talent for waltzing.

Gauch, Patricia Lee. (1978). On to Widecombe Fair. (Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman). New York : Putnam. PRIM-FIC G2653on

Seven men who don't like to walk borrow an old mare to ride to the Widecombe fair.

O'Hare, Colette. (1978). What do you feed your donkey on? : Rhymes from a Belfast childhood. (Illustrated by Jenny Rodwell). London ; Cleveland : Collins.

An illustrated collection of traditional rhymes, songs, and street chants from Belfast.

Anno, Mitsumasa. (1977, c1975). Anno's Counting book. New York : Crowell. PRIM-FIC A6156ACO

A counting book depicting the growth in a village and surrounding countryside during twelve months.

Musgrove, Margaret. (1976). Ashanti to Zulu : African traditions. (Pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon). New York : Dial Press. 960 M987A

Explains some traditions and customs of 26 African tribes beginning with letters from A to Z.

Steig, William. (1976). The amazing bone. New York : Farrar, Straus, Giroux. PRIM-FIC S818AMA

On her way home from school, Pearl finds an unusual bone that has unexpected powers.

Baylor, Byrd. (1975). The desert is theirs. (Illustrated by Peter Parnall). New York : Scribner. 591.5 B358D

Simple text and illustrations describe the characteristics of the desert and its plant, animal, and human life.

Conover, Chris. (1976). Six little ducks. New York : Crowell.

A retelling of the nursery song about the six little ducks who go to market with a quack, quack, quack.

Graham, Lorenz B. (1975). Song of the boat. (Pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon). New York : Thomas Y. Crowell.

A small African boy helps his father locate the right tree to make a new canoe to replace the one broken by an alligator.

Greenfield, Eloise. (1974). She come bringing me that little baby girl. (Illustrated by John Steptoe). Philadelphia : Lippincott. PRIM-FIC G812SH

A child's disappointment and jealousy over a new baby sister are dispelled as he becomes aware of the importance of his new role as a big brother.

McGovern, Ann. (1974). Scram, kid! (Illustrated by Nola Langner). New York : Viking Press. PRIM-FIC M146SC

In his frustration at being left out of the baseball game, a young boy imagines some strange and funny things.

McLeod, Emilie. (1975, c1974). The bear's bicycle. (Illustrated by David McPhail). Boston : Little, Brown. PRIM-FIC M1653be

A boy and his bear have an exciting bicycle ride.

Brown, Marcia. (1974). All butterflies; an ABC. New York : Scribner. PRIM-FIC B8787AL

Pairs of words, such as "All Butterflies," "Cat Dance," and "Elephants Fly," are set against illustrative woodcuts.

Kraus, Robert. (1999, c1974). Herman the helper. (Pictures by Jose Aruego & Ariane Dewey). New York, NY : Sagebrush. PRIM-FIC K917her

Herman the helpful octopus is always willing to assist anyone who needs his help--old or young, friend or enemy.

Kurelek, William. (1973). A prairie boy's winter. Boston : Houghton-Mifflin. 917.1 K96p

Text and twenty color paintings depict the rigors and simple pleasures of winter on the prairies during the stark 1930's.

McDermott, Gerald. (1973). The magic tree : a tale from the Congo. New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 398.2 M134M

Retells a Congolese tale in which an ugly and unloved twin discovers a magic tree that gives him everything he wants.

Raskin, Ellen. (1973). Who, said Sue, said whoo? New York : Atheneum. PRIM-FIC R2255WH

Cumulative verse reveals the sounds made by various animals, but who said chitter-chitter-chatter?

Ward, Lynd. (1973). The silver pony; a story in pictures. Boston : Houghton Mifflin. PRIM-FIC W259SI

Recounts without words the adventures of a boy and his winged horse.

1972

No honor book

Domanska, Janina. (1971). If all the seas were one sea. New York : Macmillan. PRIM-FIC D666IF

Speculates on what would happen if all the world's trees were one tree and all the world's seas were one sea.

Sleator, William. (1970). The angry moon. (Pictures by Blair Lent). Boston : Little, Brown. 398.2 S632a

An Indian girl insults the moon and is held prisoner by him until her friend reaches the sky country to rescue her.

Waber, Bernard. (1970). A firefly named Torchy. Boston : Houghton Mifflin.

A little firefly is unhappy because his light is so bright all the plants and animals think it is daytime.

Haley, Gail E. (1970). A story, a story; an African tale. New York : Atheneum. 398.2 H1688st

Recounts how most African folk tales came to be called "Spider Stories."

Atwood, Ann. (1969). New Moon Cove. New York : Scribner. 779 A887n

Color photographs and brief text capture the inconstant patterns of a sea cove which change with every tide and season.

Preston, Edna Mitchell. (1968). Monkey in the jungle. (Illustrated by Clement Hurd). New York : Viking Press.

In spite of the advice, pleas, and threats of the other jungle animals, a little monkey refuses to go to sleep until his efforts to stay awake finally exhaust him.

Turkle, Brinton. (1969). Thy friend, Obadiah. New York : Viking Press. PRIM-FIC T939TH

A seagull befriends a Quaker boy, much to his embarrassment, and it is not until he has helped the bird that he can accept its friendship.

Bryson, Bernarda. (1967). Gilgamesh : man's first story. New York : Holt, Rinehart & Winston. 398.22 B916g

A retelling of the ancient legend of Gilgamesh, part god part man, whose wanderings and adventures in search of his faithful companion Enkidu provide the source for later mythological and religious epics.

Hutchins, Pat. (1968). Rosie's walk. New York : Macmillan. PRIM-FIC H9746ro

Although unaware that a fox is after her as she takes a walk around the farmyard, Rosie the hen still manages to lead him into one accident after another.

1968

Grimm, Jacob. (1968). Jorinda and Joringel. (Translated by Elizabeth Shub. Illustrated by Adrienne Adams). New York : Scribner. 398.2 G864jo

When a witch changes Jorinda into a nightingale, her sweetheart Joringel discovers through a dream how to save her.

1968

Johnson, Elizabeth. (1968). All in free but Janey. (Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman). Boston : Little, Brown.

A little girl was not very good at playing Hide and Seek with her friends, but she was expert at finding castles, knights, pixies, and gnomes in strange places.

1967

No honor award