Brainstorm 330: Top 10s of 2024 Part 4: Guest Post

Welcome to the Top 10s of 2024 Week 4!

This week’s Brainstorm features the favorite reads of the year from the wonderful Elementary librarian I have the privilege of working with, Mrs Nat Cho. Click the links to see Mrs Nat’s full reviews for each book. I hope you’ve enjoyed the Top 10s of 2024. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Part 1: Nov 29 – Nonfiction, Leveled Readers, and Artwork

Part 2: Dec 7 – Contemporary & Historical Fiction, Lower Grade, YA & Adult Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics

Part 3: Dec 13 – Fantasy & Science Fiction, Asian

Part 4: Dec 20 – Guest post

Top 10 Fiction Picture Books 

(excluding Asian & Christian picture books)

The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson, ill. by Kazu Kibuishi 

Bad Drawer by Seth Fishman (and friends)

What Do You Do with a Problem? (What Do You Do with….) by Kobi Yamada, ill. by Mae Besom

They Came by Mark Tatulli

You Don't Want a Unicorn! (You Don’t Want a…) by Ame Dyckman, ill. by Liz Climo

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

Journey (Journey, #1) by Aaron Becker

Take a Chance by Sujean Rim

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! (Pigeon) by Mo Willems

Top 10 Asian Fiction Picture Books

Built to Last by Minh Lê, ill. by Dan Santat

Father's Chinese Opera by Rich Lo

Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions by Darshana Khiani, ill. by Dow Phumiruk

Sari-Sari Summers by Lynnor Bontiago

Masala Chai, Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca, ill. by Neha Rawat

Spicy Spicy Hot! by Lenny Wen

The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland, ill. by Tatsuro Kiuchi

Where's Halmoni? (Halmoni & Family, #1) by Julie Kim

Scroll by Hui Li

That's Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed

Top 10 Easy Christian Picture Books

His Grace Is Enough: How God Makes It Right When We’ve Got It Wrong by Melissa Kruger, ill. by Isobel Lundie

The Man in the Tree and the Brand New Start: a True Story about Zacchaeus and the Difference Knowing Jesus Makes (Tales That Tell the Truth) by Carl Laferton, ill. by Catalina Echeverri

The Big Wide Welcome: a True Story about Jesus, James, and a Church That Learned to Love All Sorts of People (Tales That Tell the Truth) by Trillia Newbell, ill. by Catalina Echeverri

Seek and Find: Old Testament Bible Stories (Seek and Find) by Sarah Parker, ill. by André Parker

Susannah Spurgeon: The Pastor's Wife Who Didn't Let Sickness Stop Her (Do Great Things for God) by Mary Mohler, ill. by Cecilia Messina

One Perfect Plan: the Bible’s Story in Tiny Poems by Nancy Tupper Ling, ill. by Alina Chau

Big Feeling Days: a Book about Hard Things, Heavy Emotions, and Jesus' Love by Aubrey Sampson, ill. by Natalia Vasilica

God, I Feel Sad: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God by Michelle Nietert & Tama Fortner, ill. by Nomar Perez

Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer: a True Story of How You Can Talk with God (Tales That Tell the Truth) by Laura Wifler, ill. by Catalina Echeverri

The Heart Who Wanted to be Whole (StrongHeart Stories) by Beth Guckenberger, ill. by Irina Mileo

Top 10 Lower Grade Fiction Books

Jasmine Toguchi, Peace-Maker (Jasmine Toguchi, #6) by Debbi Michiko Florence, ill. by Eilzabet Vukovic

Best Friends Fur-Ever (Waffles and Pancake, #4) by Drew Brockington

Mindy Kim and the Mid-Autumn Festival (Mindy Kim, #10) by Lyla Lee, ill. by Dung Ho

Anne Dares (Anne Chapter Book, #5) by Kallie George, adapted from the novel by L.M. Montgomery, ill. by Abigail Halpin

Super Happy Magic Forest (Super Happy Magic Forest, #1) by Matty Long

The Harmonica by Tony Johnston, ill. by Ron Mazellan

Burt the Beetle Lives Here (Burt the Beetle, #2) by Ashley Spires

Catch That Wave (Magic Bone, #2) by Nancy Krulik, ill. by Sebastien Braun

Bink & Gollie (Bink & Gollie, #1) by Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGhee, ill. by Tony Fucile

Jasper & Scruff (Jasper & Scruff, #1) by Nicola Colton

Top 10 Lower Grade Nonfiction Books 

(includes folklore)

Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion by Dave Eggers, ill. by Júlia Sardà

The Story of the Saxophone by Lesa Cline-Ransome, ill. by James E. Ransome

Tsunami! by Kimiko Kajikawa, ill. by Ed Young

Amy Carmichael: The Brown-Eyed Girl Who Learned to Pray (Do Great Things for God) by Hunter Beless, ill. by Heloïse Mab

10 Days of the Easter Story: A Family Experience Through the Feelings of the Holy Week by Josh & Christi Straub, ill. by Angelika Scudamore

Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang, ill. by Kana Urbanowicz

The Empty Pot by Demi

Paper Son: the Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung, ill. by Chris Sasaki

Your One and Only Heart by Rajani LaRocca, ill. by Lauren Paige Conrad

C.S. Lewis: The Writer Who Found Joy (Here I Am!) by Dan DeWitt, ill. by Marcin Piwowarski

Top 10 Middle Grade Fiction Books

Running out of Time (Running out of Time, #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden (Vanderbeekers, #2) by Karina Yan Glaser

The Van Gogh Deception (Lost Art Mystery, #1) by Deron Hicks

The Penderwicks: a Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (The Penderwicks, #1) by Jeanne Birdsall

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

Palace of Stone (Princess Academy, #2) by Shannon Hale

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Rats of NIMH, #1) by Robert C. O’Brien

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Echo by Pam Muñez Ryan

War Horse (War Horse, #1) by Michael Morpurgo