All right. Here is a list of my favorite picture books from 2006. In alphabetical order.









ADELE & SIMON by Barbara McClintock
...because kids love searching illustrations for hidden items.


CHEEP! CHEEP! By Julie Stiegemeyer, illustrated by Carol Baicker-McKee
...because for the youngest of littlies, this one can't be beat. So cute!


DUCK AND GOOSE by Tad Hills
...because it is full of bright colors and giggles!


EDWINA, THE DINOSAUR WHO DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS EXTINCT by Mo Willems
...MO WILLEMS. Need I say more?


EMILY'S BALLOON by Komako Sakai
...because this tender book perfectly captures the love and concern of a toddler.


FANCY NANCY by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
...because I'm a serious girly-girl, and I like pink glitter.


FLETCHER AND THE FALLING LEAVES by Julia Rawlinson, pictures by Tiphanie Beeke
...because it is a heartfelt change-of-season book.


HALF OF AN ELEPHANT
by gusti
...This one makes the list for having an interesting story, while being very unique.


LEARNING TO FLY by Sebastian Meschenmoser
...for being inspirational and simple.


LIBRARY LION by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
...because the text and illustrations are gorgeous.


LOOKING FOR A MOOSE by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Randy Cecil
...for rollicking sounds and an adventure-filled moose hunt.


MAX'S WORDS by Kate Banks
...because of its cleverness. (All right, and because I'm a word-lover.)


SCAREDY SQUIRREL by Melanie Watt
...because, despite being a happy-go-lucky kinda person, books don't make me laugh-out-loud very often, but this one definitely did.


THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA by Lauren Child, capture by Polly Borland
...for a unique twist on a beautiful tale.


THE PRINCE'S BEDTIME by Joanne Oppenheim, illustrated by Miriam Latimer
...for bright paintings, smooth rhyme, and a fun story.


TUDLEY DIDN'T KNOW by John Himmelman
...for its heart.


WAITING FOR GREGORY by Kimberly Willis Holt, illustrated by Gabi Swiatowska
...for its beauty and daVinci-like uniqueness.


WALK ON! A GUIDE FOR BABIES OF ALL AGES by Marla Frazee
...because it is clever, whether you're one or eighty-one.


WINTER IS THE WARMEST SEASON by Lauren Stringer
...because you can't beat it for a snuggly-by-the-fire with loved ones book.



AND A FEW RANDOM-GENRE NOVELS I LOVED...


FINDING NOEL by Richard Paul Evans
...mainly because I am a Christmas fanatic and, of all the Christmas novels I've read over the years, I think this one takes the mistletoe.


LETTERS FOR EMILY by Camron Wright
...because it is an adult book that I actually really, truly enjoyed.


RIVER SECRETS by Shannon Hale
...because I wish I could live in Bayern, the magical location of The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets, which I happen to like best of all.


SHUG by Jenny Han
...because it is sincere and realistic.


UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld, and the sequels: Pretties and Specials
...because the characters are so bubbly-making, and the plot is unbelievably fascinating to me.