Every year ICPL staff vote on their top books published that year, identifying their favorite reads in 10 categories: FICTION; YOUNG ADULT; PICTURE BOOKS; MIDDLE GRADE AND CHILDREN'S; MYSTERY; ROMANCE; SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY; BIOGRAPHIES and MEMOIRS; NONFICTION; and GRAPHIC NOVELS.
Join us as we share our favorites in each category, then be sure to check out what titles were named BEST OF THE BEST for 2019. To make our BEST OF THE BEST list, a book had to be nominated by more than one employee. The book with the most staff nominations is ICPL's BEST BOOK of 2019!
We'll announce the BEST OF THE BEST for 2019, and our pick for BEST BOOK of 2019, on December 31. For now, enjoy our favorite PICTURE BOOKS of 2019!
Hair love
Matthew A Cherry
jE Cherry
Picture Books
A little girl's daddy steps in to help her arrange her curly, coiling, wild hair into styles that allow her to be her natural, beautiful self.
Mr. Scruff
Simon James
jE James
Picture Books
"Everyone knows that owners and their dogs belong together in a unique way. Polly belongs to Molly, Eric belongs to Derek, Berry belongs to Terry. But poor Mr. Scruff, alone in the rescue shelter, doesn't belong to anyone. Then a boy named Jim walks in, and they seem to get along. Jim and Mr. Scruff don't look anything alike, and their names certainly don't rhyme, but they may end up belonging to each other just the same. From author-illustrator Simon James comes a warm, winning story about friendship and finding a home. A sweetly silly story of a little boy and a dog who make an unlikely (but perhaps perfect) pair."--
Once upon a goat
Dan Richards
jE Richards
Picture Books
When a proper king and queen ask their fairy godmother for a child, they find themselves gifted instead with a baby goat.
Nova the Star Eater
Lindsay Leslie
jE Leslie
Picture Books
When Nova eats Earth's Sun, panicked scientists from around the world tell her why they need it back and using a little girl's suggestion, Nova is happy to help. Includes glossary and facts about the sun.
Who wet my pants?
Bob Shea
jE Shea
Kids, Picture Books
When Reuben the bear brings doughnuts to his forest friends, they discover that his pants are wet and he angrily accuses them of the dirty deed.
Try not to wet your pants as you make your way through this hilarious take on a common childhood mishap.
Reuben the bear has a problem. His pants are wet. In, you know, the front and center zone. Reuben is seemingly dumbfounded. Who wet his pants? Let the wild accusations begin. Reuben throws everyone under the bus before coming to terms with the true identity of the culprit. Who Wet My Pants? is a book for us all. It’s sure to be one of the funniest of 2019.
- Angie
Juana & Lucas. Big problemas
Juana Medina
jREADER Medina Juana
Picture Books
"Juana's life is just about perfect. She lives in the beautiful city of Bogotá with her two most favorite people in the world: her mami and her dog, Lucas. Lately, though, things have become a little less perfect. Mami has a new hairdo and a new amigo named Luis with whom she has been spending a LOT of time. He is kind and teaches Juana about things like photography and jazz music, but sometimes Juana can't help wishing things would go back to the way they were before. When Mami announces that she and Luis are getting married and that they will all be moving to a new casa, Juana is quite distraught. Lucky for her, though, some things will never change -- like how much Mami loves her."--Amazon.com.
Sulwe
Lupita Nyong'o
jE Nyongo
Picture Books
When five-year-old Sulwe's classmates make fun of her dark skin, she tries lightening herself to no avail, but her encounter with a shooting star helps her understand there is beauty in every shade.
Pride colors
Robin Stevenson
jBOARD BOOK Stevenso
Board Books
"In this photographic concept book, babies and toddlers are introduced to the PRIDE flag and the meaning behind each color."--
This book is both cute and funny! Goats are my favorite animal so I found the illustration of a baby goat, also called a "kid" but not be mistaken with a "child" adorable, and I definitely LOLed at the twist. I also really enjoyed the title page with a cut-out goat bite!
- Mari