Arts and Entertainment

Pennsylvania Center for the Book announces top children's titles of 2016

A panel of children's literature experts has selected A Baker's Dozen titles annually since 2004.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Among the many children's books published last year, 13 have been chosen by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book to form A Baker's Dozen: The Best Children's Books for Family Literacy for 2016.

Winners include:

  • "Bear and Squirrel are Friends…Yes, Really!" by Deb Pilutti (published by Simon/Paula Wiseman);
  • "A Bird is a Bird" by Lizzy Rockwell (Holiday);
  • "Bunnies!!!" by Kevan Atteberry (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen);
  • "Fire Engine No. 9" by Mike Austin (Random);
  • "In a Village by the Sea" by Muon Van, illustrated by April Chu (Creston Books);
  • "Night Animals" by Gianna Marino (Penguin/Viking);
  • "The Potato King" by Christoph Niemann (Owlkids);
  • "Sidewalk Flowers" by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Sydney Smith (Groundwood/House of Anansi);
  • "Simon's New Bed" by Christian Trimmer, illustrated by Melissa van der Paardt (Simon/Atheneum);
  • "Traveling Butterflies" by Susumu Shingu (Owlkids);
  • "Waiting" by Kevin Henkes (HarperCollins/Greenwillow);
  • "Whose Truck?" by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Jim Datz (Abrams/Abrams Appleseed); and
  • "Wolfie the Bunny" by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Zachariah OHora (Little).

A panel of children's literature experts has selected A Baker's Dozen titles annually since 2004. Selection criteria, annotations, tips for using the books, previous years' selections and more are available through A Baker's Dozen website.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, sponsored by Penn State's University Libraries, is one of 51 similar organizations nationwide established by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Its mission is to study, honor, celebrate and promote books, reading, libraries and literacy to the citizens and residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit http://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu or contact Caroline Wermuth, outreach coordinator, Pennsylvania Center for the Book, at cvw1@psu.edu or 814-863-5472.

Last Updated May 3, 2016