Brainstorm 98: Top 10s of 2016 (Part 4: Special Guest)

The Elementary Media Center Specialist I work with, Sarah Foit, is my special guest for this post. She's going to give you even more great reading ideas (and sometimes re-emphasize a book is a must read). She’s sharing her top 10s of her 2016 reads, which may have been published in any year, she just read them this year. Books are listed in no particular order. Clicking the title will take you to Sarah’s review of the book, or my review if she doesn’t have a review of the book on GoodReads. Hope you find some more great reads!

This will be the last Brainstorm of 2016. See you back here in 2017 with more reading recommendations. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Top 10 Juvenile Nonfiction Reads (including Poetry, Fables & Folktales)

The Big Book of Superheroes by Bart King, ill. by Greg Paprocki

Treaties, Trenches, Mud and Blood (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales) by Nathan Hale

One Dead Spy (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales) by Nathan Hale

The Gettysburg Address: a Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey, ill. by Aaron McConnell

Some Writer!: the Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet

The Pandas and Their Chopsticks: and other stories by Demi

Alpha by Isabelle Arsenault

My First Book of Korean Words: an ABC Rhyming Book by Kyubyoung Park & Henry J. Amen IV, ill. by Aya Padron

Instructions by Neil Gaiman, ill. by Charles Vess

How to Be a World Explorer (Not-for-Parents) by Joel Levy, ill. by James Gulliver Hancock


Top 10 Fiction Picture Books

Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol

Steve, Raised by Wolves by Jared Chapman

The Snow Rabbit by Camille Garoche

Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski, ill. by Lee Harper

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

The Race by Édouard Manceau

The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

This Is Sadie by Sara O’Leary, ill. by Julie Morstad

Ooko by Esme Shapiro


Top 10 Lower Grade Fiction

Bad Kitty School Daze (Bad Kitty) by Nick Bruel

Rabbit’s Bad Habits (Rabbit & Bear, #1) by Julian Gough, ill. by Jim Field

Hippopotamister by John Patrick Green

The Princess in Black and the Bunny Horde (The Princess in Black, #4) by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, ill. by LeUyen Pham

Dory and the Real True Friend (Dory, #2) by Abby Hanlon

Dory Dory Black Sheep (Dory, #3) by Abby Hanlon

Bunjitsu Bunny’s Best Move (Bunjitsu Bunny, #2) by John Himmelman

Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny (Bunjitsu Bunny, #1) by John Himmelman

Mrs. Noodlekugel (Mrs. Noodlekugel, #1) by Daniel Pinkwater, ill. by Adam Stower

The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems, ill. by Tony DiTerlizzi


Top 10 Middle Grade Fiction

The Search for WondLa (WondLa, #1) by Tony DiTerlizzi

Gathering Blue (Giver, #2) by Lois Lowry

Booked by Kwame Alexander

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom by Maragrita Engle

Mighty Jack (Mighty Jack, #1) by Ben Hatke

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhai Lai

Messenger (Giver, #3) by Lois Lowry

Hilda and the Troll (Hildafolk, #1) by Luke Pearson

The Secret Coders (Secret Coders, #1) by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by Mike Holmes

Brainstorm 97: Top 10s of 2016 (Part 3)

Top 10s of 2016 (Part 3): Nonfiction & Looking Forward to 2017 

I hope you've enjoyed these Top 10s of 2016 and found some new things to read. This is my last edition, but stay tuned later this week for a guest post. I've invited our Elementary Media Center Specialist, Sarah Foit, to share her favorite reads of 2016. If you missed the first two Top 10s of 2016, check out Part 1 featuring Picture Books, Lower Grade & Middle Grade Fiction, and Part 2 featuring Young Adult Fiction, Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels & Poetry. As mentioned previously, these blog posts are my top picks from what I read in 2016 to try and help others find books that look enticing. Unless otherwise noted, books may have been published in any year. Some books may appeal to multiple audiences, but I only allowed it in one of those levels' lists. I helped narrow down my choices by only allowing titles currently owned by the school's media centers where I work. (Because the ICS Bangkok community is the first audience I have in mind when I write these, and I want them to be able to snatch up any tempting title immediately.) In general, my absolute favorites appear on the top of the lists, and then somewhat in descending order of favoritism...but often consider everything just tied for second after that first one. In the interest of space, my summaries and reviews are not appearing here. Click on the book titles to see those. Enjoy!


Top 10 of Lower Grade & Middle Grade Biographies (published in 2016)

Some Writer: the Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet

Alamo All-Stars (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales) by Nathan Hale

Ada’s Violin: the Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood, ill. by Sally Wern Comport

Dorothea’s Eyes: Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth by Barb Rosenstock, ill. by Gerard duBois

Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor by Robert Burleigh, ill. by Raúl Colón

Ada’s Ideas: the Story of Ada Lovelace, the World’s First Computer Programmer by Fiona Robinson

Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist by Susan Wood, ill. by Duncan Tonatiuh

Mountain Chef: How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans, and Helped Cook up the National Park Service by Annette Bay Pimentel, ill. by Rich Lo

The Music in George’s Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue by Suzanne Slade, ill. by Stacy Innerst

The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking through Anne Frank’s Window by Jeff Gottesfeld, ill. by Peter McCarty


Top 10 of Lower Grade & Middle Grade Nonfiction (published in 2015 or 2016)

Yaks Yak: Animal Word Pairs by Linda Sue Park, ill. by Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Flying Frogs and Walking Fish by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Head-to-Head Record Breaking Animals by Anna Brett

Animal Groups by Jill Esbaum, photos by Frans Lanting

The Inside-Outside Book of London by Roxie Munroe

My First Book of Indonesian Words: an ABC Rhyming Book of Indonesian Language and Culture by Linda Hibbs, ill. by Julia Laud

Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science under Glass (Scientists in the Field) by Mary Kay Carson, photos by Tom Uhlman

A Nest Is Noisy by Dianne Hutts Aston, ill. by Sylvia Long

Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre, ill. by Steve Jenkins

Pink Is for Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfectly Pink Animals by Jess Keating


Top 10 of Young Adult/Adult Biographies/Autobiographies

The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell

The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum

Walking from East to West: God in the Shadows by Ravi Zacharias, with R.S.B. Sawyer

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

March: Book Three (March, #3) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, ill. by Nate Powell

Samurai Rising: the Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune by Pamela S. Turner, ill. by Gareth Hinds

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle, ill. by Edel Rodriguez

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: a Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi

We Will Not Be Silent: the White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler by Russell Freedman

Every Falling Star: the True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea by Sungju Lee, with Susan Elizabeth McClelland


Top 10 of Young Adult/Adult Nonfiction

The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony, with Graham Spence

The End of Me: Where Real Life in the Upside-Down Ways of Jesus Begins by Kyle Idleman

The Perfect Horse: the Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis by Elizabeth Letts

Dead Wake: the Last Crossing of the Lisutania by Erik Larson

Isaac’s Storm: a Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson

The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst

Called: the Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today by Mark Labberton

Birds of Pandemonium by Michele Raffin

A Is for Arsenic: the Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup

Creatures of the Night photography & text by Joe McDonald, photography by Mary Ann McDonald


Just a tiny sampling of what's on my to-read list for next year...


10 Fiction Books for Lower Grades & Middle Grades (includes Picture Books & Graphic Novels) I’m Looking Forward to Reading in 2017 (coming in 2017)

BE QUIET! by Ryan T. Higgins

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt, ill. by Adam Rex

The Great Art Caper (Pets on the Loose, #2) by Victoria Jamieson

Panda-monium (FunJungle, #4) by Stuart Gibbs

Saturdays at the Sea (Castle Glower, #5) by Jessica Day George

Fish Girl by Donna Jo Napoli, ill. by David Weisner

The Unbreakable Code (Book Scavenger, #2) by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

The Silver Mask (Magesterium, #4) by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

Giant Trouble (Hamster Princess, #4) by Ursual Vernon

The Dark Lord’s Daughter by Patricia C. Wrede


10 Young Adult & Adult Fiction Books (includes Graphic Novels) I’m Looking Forward to Reading in 2017 (published late 2016 or coming in 2017)

Wires and Nerve, Vol. 1 by Marissa Meyer

A Crown of Wishes (The Star-Touched Queen, #2) by Roshani Chokshi

Murder on the Moor (Drew Farthering, #5) by Julianna Deering

The Ship Beyond Time (The Girl from Everywhere, #2) by Heidi Heilig

The Wish Granter (Ravenspire, #2) by C.J. Redwine

Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Oathbringer (Stormlight Archive, #3) by Brandon Sanderson

King’s Cage (Red Queen, #3) by Victoria Aveyard

The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein


10 Nonfiction Books I’m Looking Forward to Reading in 2017

Penguin Day by Nic Bishop

Moto and Me: My Year as a Wildcat’s Foster Mom by Suzi Eszterhas

Kate Warne, Pinkerton Detective by Marissa Moss, ill. by April Chu

Sweet Dreams, Sarah: from Slavery to Inventor by Vivian Kirkfield, ill. by Chris Ewald

Babylon’s Ark: the Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo by Anthony Lawrence, with Graham Spence

Bleaker House: Chasing My Novel to the End of the World by Nell Stevens

The Great Penguin Rescue: 40,000 Penguins, a Devastating Oil Spill, and the Inspiring Story of the World’s Largest Animal Rescue by Dyan deNapoli

Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst

Irena’s Children: the Extraodrinary Story of the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Warsaw Ghetto by Tilar J. Mazzeo

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Brainstorm 96: Top 10s of 2016 (Part 2)

Top 10s of 2016 (Part 2): Young Adult Fiction, Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels & Poetry
As mentioned in Part 1, these are my top picks from what I read in 2016 to try and help others find books that look enticing. Unless otherwise noted, books may have been published in any year. Some books may appeal to multiple audiences, but I only allowed it in one of those levels' lists. I helped narrow down my choices on these lists by only allowing myself to include only one title per a series and only titles currently owned by the school's media centers where I work. (Because the ICS Bangkok community is the first audience I have in mind when I write these, and I want them to be able to snatch up any tempting title immediately.) My absolute favorites appear on the top of the lists, and then somewhat in descending order of favoritism...but often consider everything below the top just tied for second. In the interest of space, my summaries and reviews are not appearing here. Click on the book titles to see those. Enjoy!


Top 10 Young Adult Fiction: Historical Fiction or Contemporary Fiction (Includes Reimagined Histories)

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier

The Possibility of NOW by Kim Culbertson

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle

Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey

Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury


Top 10 Young Adult Fiction: Science Fiction or Fantasy

The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold, #1) by Traci Chee

Calamity (Reckoners, #3) by Brandon Sanderson

The Story of Owen (The Story of Owen, #1) by E.K. Johnston

Winter (Lunar Chronicles, #4) by Marissa Meyer

The Star-Touched Queen (Star-Touched Queen, #1) by Roshani Choski

The Girl from Everywhere (Girl from Everywhere, #1) by Heidi Heilig

Dark Energy by Robinson Wells

Railhead (Railhead, #1) by Philip Reeve

Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1) by C.J. Redwine

Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh


Top 10 Adult Fiction

The Bands of Mourning (Mistborn, #6) by Brandon Sanderson

Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, #8) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

Dressed for Death (Drew Farthering Mystery, #4) by Julianna Deering

Thief of Time (Discworld, #26/DEATH, #5) by Terry Pratchett

When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Yard (Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad, #1) by Alex Grecian

Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan

Portuguese Irregular Verbs (Portuguese Irregular Verbs, #1) by Alexander McCall Smith

The Masked City (The Invisible Library, #2) by Genevieve Cogman


Top 10 Young Adult & Adult Graphic Novels & Comics

Groot by Jeff Loveness, ill. by Brian Kesinger

White Sand (White Sand, #1) by Brandon Sanderson, Rik Hoskin, ill. by Julius M. Gopez

Invader Zim, Vol 1. by Jhonen Vásquez, Eric Trueheart, ill. by Aaron Alexovich, et. al.

Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by Sonny Liew

Cook Korean!: a Comic Book with Recipes by Robin Ha

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 2: Squirrel You Know It’s True by Ryan North, ill. by Erica Henderson

Ms Marvel, Vol. 4: Last Days by G. Willow Wilson, ill. by Adrian Alphona

Rocket Racoon, Vol. 2: Storytailer by Skottie Young, ill. by Filipe Andrade & Jake Parker

Leaf by Daishu Ma

Mooncop by Tom Gauld


Top 10 Lower Grade & Middle Grade Graphic Novels & Comics

Snow White: a Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Dragonslayer (Babymouse, #11) by Jennifer L. Holm, ill. by Matthew Holm

Alamo All-Stars (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, #6) by Nathan Hale

Hippopotamister by John Patrick Green

Razzle Dazzle Unicorn (Heavenly Nostrils, #4) by Dana Simpson

Red’s Planet (Red’s Planet, #1) by Eddie Pittman

The Rise of Herk (Nnewts, #2) by Doug TenNapel

The Only Child by Guojing

Firelight (Amulet, #7) by Kazu Kibuishi

Top 10 Poetry Collections/Novels in Verse

City I Love by Lee Bennett Hopkins, ill. by Marcellus Hall

Double Happiness by Nancy Tupper Ling, ill. by Alina Chau

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle, ill. by Edel Rodriguez

Booked by Alexander Kwame

A Strange Place to Call Home: the World’s Most Dangerous Habitats & the Animals That Call Them Home by Marilyn Stringer, ill. by Ed Young

Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems) by Linda Sue Park, ill. by Istvan Banyai

The Popcorn Astronauts: and Other Biteable Rhymes by Deborah Ruddell, ill. by Joan Rankin

Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths by Marilyn Singer, ill. by Josée Masse

Grumbles from the Town: Mother-Goose Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen & Rebecca Kai Dotlich, ill. by Angela Matteson


Check back next week on Tuesday for Part 3 featuring my top 10s of nonfiction, and later next week for a special guest featuring her top 10s for Part 4.

Brainstorm 95: Top 10s of 2016 (Part 1)

Top 10s of 2016 (Part 1): Fiction Picture Books, Lower Grade Fiction, and Middle Grade Fiction

It's hard to believe, but it is that time of year again. 2016 is wrapping up and 2017 will be here before we know it. The last three Fridays of school before Christmas break I come up with the top books I've read in the past year. The purpose is to help those looking for reading ideas hear about my top picks of books I've read this year. Sorting through hundreds of books read in the past 12 months is a long, laborious and grueling process. So many hard choices! But if it helps others find good reads, it is worth it.
Here are the Top 10s coming this year: Fiction Picture books, Lower Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction: Historical Fiction or Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction: Historical Fiction or Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Poetry/Novels in Verse, Lower Grade & Middle Grade Nonfiction, Lower Grade & Middle Grade Biography/Autobiography, Young Adult/Adult Nonfiction, Young Adult/Adult Biography/Autobiography, and Most Anticipated Reads of 2017.
Unless otherwise stated, the books in the lists could have been published in any year, but I read them in 2016 (or late Dec 2015 after last year's Top 10s). To help myself further in the selection process, I sometimes narrowed down the eligible candidates to just those that came out in 2016. If that's the case, it will be noted in the section heading. The titles are listed with my favorite in each category on top and kinda, sorta going down in favoritism but usually I love them all so much just consider the rest of the list tied for 2nd. In the interest of space, my summaries and reviews of the books are not provided here. Click on the titles to see those. Hope you find some great reads!


Top 10 Fiction Picture Books (published in 2016)

If I Had a Gryphon by Vikki VanSickle, ill. by Cale Atkinson

A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers & Sam Winston

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don’t! by Elsie (oops, typo!) Elise Parsley

The Water Princess by Susan Verde, ill. by Peter H. Reynolds

Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol

There Is a Tribe of Kids by Lane Smith

We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller & Mo Willems

Hotel Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

ABC Dream by Kim Krans

All Aboard for the Bobo Road by Stephen Davies, ill. by Christopher Corr



Top 10 Fiction Picture Books (published in 2015 or earlier...because those of us overseas sometimes can't get our hands on them 'til a year or two later)

The Snow Rabbit by Camille Garoche

This is Sadie by Sara O’Leary, ill. by Julie Morstad

Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds

Nerdy Birdy by Aaron Reynolds, ill. by Matt Davies

Look! by Jeff Mack

Double Happiness by Nancy Tupper Ling, ill. by Alina Chau

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

I Really Like Slop! by Mo Willems

Take Away the A by Michaël Escoffier, ill. by Kris Di Giacomo

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson



Top 10 Lower Grade Fiction Books (published in 2016)

Juana & Lucas (Juana & Lucas, #1) by Juana Medina

Bunjitsu Bunny’s Best Move (Bunjitsu Bunny, #3) by John Himmelman

Where are You Going, Baby Lincoln? (Tales from Deckawoo Drive, #3) by Kate DiCamillo, ill. by Chris Van Dusen

The Great Pet Escape (Pets on the Loose, #1) by Victoria Jamieson

Rabbit’s Bad Habits (Rabbit & Bear, #1) by Julian Gough, ill. by Jim Field

The Princess in Black and the Bunny Horde (The Princess in Black, #3) by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, ill. by LeUyen Pham

Mouse Scouts (Mouse Scouts, #1) by Sarah Dillard

Inspector Flytrap (Inspector Flytrap, #1) by Tom Angleberger, ill. by CeCe Bell

Hippopotamister by John Patrick Green

Stinky Cecil in Terrarium Terror (Stinky Cecil, #2) by Paige Braddock



Top 10 Middle Grade Fiction Books: Science Fiction or Fantasy (published in 2016)

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd

Ratpunzel (Hamster Princess, #3) by Ursula Vernon

Wild Robot by Peter Brown

How to Capture an Invisible Cat (The Genius Factor, #1) by Paul Tobin, ill. by Thierry Lafontaine

Troll Overboard (Life of Zarf, #3) by Rob Harrell

Red: the True Story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff

The Poet’s Dog by Patricia MacLachlan

The Dark Talent (Alcatraz Smedry, #5) by Brandon Sanderson

When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin



Top 10 Middle Grade Fiction Books: Historical Fiction or Contemporary (published in 2016)

Spy Ski School (Spy School, #4) by Stuart Gibbs

Ghost (Track, #1) by Jason Reynolds

Click Here to Start by Denis Markell

Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, #2) by Chris Grabenstein

Booked by Kwame Alexander

Summerlost by Ally Condie

Mark of the Plague (The Blackthorn Key, #2) by Kevin Sands

Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat by Gary Paulsen


Check back next week for Part 2 with Top 10s of Young Adult Fiction, Adult Fiction, and Poetry/Novels in Verse.