Jan 4, 2012

Most anticipated picture books of 2012

I read the event "Waiting on Wednesday" hosted by Breaking the Spine, which I shouldn't, because it increases my To Be Read list every week. I've never posted because the books I covet don't seem to fit. Where are all the other adults who covet picture books? This year, 2012, there are quite a few books I am waiting impatiently for. Some of these are kids books and some aren't. And every single one of them makes me wish we had an English library within driving distance. These are my must-buy picture books for 2012, do you have any?

February 7, 2012
Chicken, Pig, Cow's First Fight (CAN, JP, US) by Ruth Ohi and published by Annick Press
We loved the first in the series. I thought of these three friends often as I was doing up my new year's cards. I wish they'd have a dragon friend for this year. ;) This edition looks good, as we are definitely dealing with sibling squabbles at the moment, and I'd be happy to have some beloved characters show my kids how to deal with a squabble productively.

March 1, 2012
Virginia Wolf (CAN, JP, US), written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, and published by Kids Can Press
My favourite book I read last year was most definitely Spork, and the amazing team behind that book have gotten together again to produce this book. If that wasn't enough to make me covet it (and of course it is), the characters are Virginia Wolf and Vanessa Bell, based on two of the most amazingly talented sisters of the 20th century.

April 10, 2012
Wanda's Freckles (CAN, JP, USA) by Barbara Azore, illustrated by Georgia Graham, and published by Tundra Books, is coming out in paperback.
I saw this before in hardback when I was visiting Canada, but at that time my son didn't have freckles and I was hoping he wouldn't get my curse. Now he most certainly does, and I want him to know others do too, not just him and I. Wanda is a great character and it will be fun to read, I hope.

May 8, 2012
The French Fry King (CAN, JP, USA) is written and illustrated by Rogé, and published by Tundra Books. Even if the words are terrible, I am already half in love with this dog from the cover alone. Rogé's works are always full of belly laughs and that makes my kids happy.

May 15, 2012
How? (CAN, JP, USA) from Catherine Ripley and Scot Ritchie, and published by Owlkids Books
This is the followup to the great "Why" book which should be required reading for all parents of preschoolers as the author seems to have anticipated every question my son asked in the last year. Hopefully How will have me covered for the next year!

What books scheduled for 2012 are you crushing on?

16 comments:

  1. Those are some really interesting books. I'll be looking out for them in the bookshops over here. Btw I've tagged you over at my blog.

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  2. Princess Lydia and the Fire Breathing Dragon which features a legally blind Princess who must "stare down" a misunderstood dragon to rescue the Prince! Out now everywhere. Just google it!

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  3. Virginia Wolf looks really good - at least, judging from the cover.

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  4. Okay I have a list of books that I add to all the time and from your blog I have added {from memory} Spork & the first chicken, pig, cow book you wrote about so you definitely are not the only adult to covert picture books.

    I am not sure what is coming out this year that I definitely want to buy but we have so many books at the moment, some we have not read yet, that I am trying to cut back on book buying. At least for first six months of this year {going to be hard when we go to Australia in March!}

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  5. Can I ask, where do you get info about the books that are going to be published in the coming months? I've found this info hard for the UK market unless I have the specific publisher's catalogue.

    On another note, do you know http://www.outsideinworld.org.uk/index.asp - great for translated children's books.

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  6. All the books on your list look WONDERFUL! I love PBs and I'm definitely going to have to check these out for our church's preschool. Thanks so much!

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  7. I'm looking forward to And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano, Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes, I'm Fast! by Kate McMullan, and A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play by Marilyn Singer.

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  8. Dominique, I hope you can find them in Singapore. Do you have a great selection on English children's books in bookstores there? The selection where I live in rural Japan is pretty depressing.

    Anonymous, thanks for the suggestion. Are you affiliated with the book?

    Madigan, if you go to
    Isabelle Arsenault's blog
    , she has a preview of the inside of the book and that looks even better. Can't.wait.

    Lulu, so sorry I am testing your resolution! ;) Do you guys have a good library up there?

    Zoe, I wish I had publisher's catalogues. Oooh that would be nice. No secret, I'm afraid, I just liked previous books from all these authors/illustrators and when I looked them up on Amazon there were these books which I could pre-order.

    Sandra, I hope you (and your church's preschool) like these books. All of these authors have really good previous books if you don't want to wait!

    Brimful Curiosities, those all look really good. I will definitely order Penny and Her Song. I am going to suggest A Stick is an Excellent thing to Lenore Skenazy of Free Range Kids, I think she'll like it.

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  9. I am a picture book-loving adult too! All these sound intriguing, and I will keep an eye out for them in Australia.

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  10. Virginia Wolf looks fascinating! Very pretty.

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  11. Looking forward to Ruth Ohi's new book since I am friend with her sister Debbie.

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  12. I was actually looking for Princess Lydia and the Fire Breathing Dragon. I got here from a Google search. It says this book is on your list. Is it?

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    1. No it's not. This list is for books being released in 2012, and that book was released in 2011.
      Also, when someone suggests a book "anonymously" on my site, without saying who they are or how they are related to the book it makes me feel like they are publicizing the book but aren't proud enough of it to give their name, and that makes me uncomfortable. I would be happy to add a relevant book to my list if contacted by the publisher/author/ illustrator/ their proud mama etc. but not if it is not relevant and not if they don't identify themselves. Please come back again and identify yourself, I'm happy to have you! It's easy to make a profile at Blogger.

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    2. Thanks! I couldn't think of a good name! lol Now I understand why the book isn't on the list. I will re-join using my email address name.

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    3. Btw, I was just looking for books FOR kids with vision-impairment. They are hard to find. There are lots for parents like me with blind children, but not a lot FOR kids on this topic. I found some purchase links, so I will pick it up! Thanks for having it on your blog at some point though because that's how I found you and now I have a great blog to follow for my kids!!

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    4. Thanks so much for signing in and coming back, I appreciate it! Sorry, I don't want to sound harsh and I welcome non-blogging commenters with open arms, but I really feel uncomfortable when people try to flog their books by pretending to be someone else. That's my hot button issue, I'm sorry you got caught up in it!
      I can imagine it is hard to find picture books dealing with visually impaired protagonists. Maybe have a look at ALA's Schneider award, they might have more appropriate suggestions than I am able to offer.

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