The 2011 USBBY Outstanding International Books List

 

All books on this list were published in 2010 and

selected by a committee of USBBY members.

Members of the 2011 USBBY Outstanding International Books

Committee• Elizabeth Poe (chair), Morgantown, WV• Seemi Aziz, Stillwater, OK• Therese Bigelow, Chesapeake, VA• Kathy East, Perrysburg, OH• Annette Goldsmith, Los Angeles, CA• Judith Lechner, Auburn, AL• Maria Salvadore, Washington, D.C.• Barbara Samuels, Houston, TX• Mary Wong, Peoria, AZ

Goal

The goal of this project is to produce a short list of outstanding books published each year for children in grades K-12 and originating outside the United States. Selections are based on the following criteria:

Criteria

The committee looks for books that• Represent the best of children’s literature from other

countries• Introduce American readers to outstanding artists and

writers from other countries• Help American children see the world from other points

of view• Provide a perspective or address a topic otherwise

missing from children’s literature in the U.S.• Exhibit a distinct cultural flavor• Are accessible to American readers.

Committee members consider both content and presentation. This includes

• Artistic and literary merit• Originality or creativity of approach• Distinctiveness of topic• Uniqueness of origin• Qualities that engage and appeal to

children

Not every book will meet every criterion, but the committee expects all titles selected to

• Represent the best of children’s literature from other countries

• Display artistic and literary merit• Be accessible to American readers.• Exhibit qualities that engage and appeal

to children

Grades K-2

Argueta, Jorge. Arroz con leche: Un poema para cocinar / Rice Pudding: A Cooking Poem. Illus. by Fernando Vilela. Groundwood (Canada)

Croza, Laurel. I Know Here. Illus. by Matt James. Groundwood. (Canada)

Dubuc, Marianne. In Front of my House. Tr. by Yvette Ghione. Kids Can. (Canada)

Graham, Bob. April and Esme, Tooth Fairies.Illus. by author. Candlewick. (Australia)

Prap, Lila. Dinosaurs?! IIlus. by author. NorthSouth. (Slovenia)

Tolman, Marije & Ronald Tolman. The Tree House. Illus. by authors. Lemniscaat/Boyds Mill. (The Netherlands)

Grades 3-5

Almond, David. The Boy Who Climbed into the Moon. Illus. by Polly Dunbar. Candlewick. (U.K.)

Fromental. Jean-Luc. OOPS! Illus. by Joëlle Jolivet. Tr. by Thomas Connors. Abrams. (France)

Gardner, Lyn. Out of the Woods. Illus. by Mini Grey. David Flicking/Random House. (UK)

Gravett, Emily. The Rabbit Problem.

Illus. by author. Simon & Schuster. (UK)

Hirsch, Odo. Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool.

Kane Miller. (Australia)

Hole, Stian. Garmann’s Street. Tr. by Don Bartlett. Eerdmans. (Norway)

Jordan-Fenton, Christy & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton.

Fatty Legs: A True Story. Illus. by Liz Amini-Holmes. Annick. (Canada)

Langrish, Katherine. The Shadow Hunt. HarperCollins. (UK)

Lightfoot, Gordon. Canadian Railroad Trilogy. Illus by Ian Wallace. Groundwood. (Canada)

McKay, Hilary. Wishing for Tomorrow: The Sequel to the Little Princess. Illus. by Nick Maland. Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster. (UK)

Mitton, Tony. The Storyteller’s Secrets. Illus. by Peter Bailey. David Flicking/Random House. (UK)

More information on this award can be found at www.usbby.org.

 

Article and Annotated List

• In the February issue of School Library Journal

• Also posted on the USBBY website