Best Picture Books of 2009

It's that time of year again!  Susan Bloom, Professor Emeritus from Simmons College, was back again this past Saturday for her annual "Best Books" list here at The Carle. Susan says 2009 is the year for heights.  Whether it's an egg who wants to fly, a princess that floats, or space shuttle to the moon, these books will take you higher and higher!  If you missed her wonderful presentation in our auditorium, don't worry - here's her list of the best of the best: Higher and Higher: Picturebooks of Distinction in 2009 1. Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli 2. Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter 3. Princess Hyacinth: the Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Lane Smith 4. Only a Witch Can Fly by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo 5. Button Up! by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Petra Mathers 6. Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum, illustrated by Carol Thompson 7. Egg Drop by Mini Gray 8. The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett 9. Hook by Ed Young 10. Georgia Rises: A Day in the Life of Georgia O'Keeffe by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Ora Eitan 11. Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty 12. Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Polly Dunbar 13. Bear  Flies High by Michael Rose, illustrated by Adrian Reynolds 14. Birds by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek 15. How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham 16. Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice by Judy Schachner 17. Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon by Andrew Chaikin and Victoria Kohl, illustrated by Alan Bean 18. Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan 19. Moonshot by Brian Floca 20. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year of Colors by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski 21. Redwoods by Jason Chin 22. The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney 23. Down  Down Down by Steve Jenkins 24. There by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick 25. All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee. If you'd like to print out a copy, it's available as a PDF. Also, check out Susan's best book picks from previous years on our website. What picture books did you love this year?  Do you have a favorite from 2009 that didn't make the list?