Press Releases - A Baker's Dozen | Pennsylvania Center for the Book

2018 'A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy' announced

July 17, 2018

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Among the many children’s books published last year, 13 were chosen by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book to form 2018’s "A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy." The annual booklist, celebrating its 15th edition this year, is compiled by a panel of children’s literature experts who choose from among the many children’s books published in each calendar year.

Titles for the 2018 list include:

“Bulldozer Helps Out,” by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann (Atheneum/Simon)
“The Carpenter,” by Bruna Barros (Gibbs Smith)
“Charlotte and the Rock,” by Stephen W. Martin, illustrated by Samantha Cotterill (Dial/Penguin Random)
“Different? Same!” by Heather Tekavec, illustrated by Pippa Curnick (Kids Can)
“I Want That Nut!” by Madeline Valentine (Knopf/Random)
“Jabari Jumps,” by Gaia Cornwall (Candlewick)
“No Kimchi for Me!” by Aram Kim (Holiday)
“A Perfect Day,” by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook)
“Plankton is Pushy,” by Jonathan Fenske (Scholastic)
“Still Stuck,” by Shinsuke Yoshitake (Abrams)
“Trio: The Tale of a Three-legged Cat,” by Andrea Wisnewski (Godine)
“Who Am I? An Animal Guessing Game,” by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Houghton)
“Whose Poop is That?” by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Kelsey Oseid (Charlesbridge)

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book assesses hundreds of new children’s books each year and prepares book lists, activities and curriculum materials. Working with its youngest audience, preschool children, the Baker’s Dozen list complements the center’s family literacy activities to help parents and caregivers create and nurture lifelong readers. Tips for using the books with children and families, previous years’ selections, annotations, selection criteria and more are available at A Baker’s Dozen website.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, encourages Pennsylvania’s citizens and residents to study, honor, celebrate and promote books, reading, libraries and literacy. In addition to A Baker’s Dozen, it also administers the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize, the Public Poetry Project, Letters About Literature; Poems from Life; and the interactive Literary & Cultural Heritage Map of Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Center for the Book website or contact Caroline Wermuth, outreach coordinator, at cvw1@psu.edu or 814-863-5472.

June 14, 2017

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Committed to providing an annual list of the best books to support family literacy, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book has announced its 13 books for the 2017 edition. "A Baker's Dozen: The Best Children's Books for Family Literacy for 2017" was compiled by a panel of children's literature experts from the many children's books published last year.

The titles for the 2017 list include:

"123 Dream" by Kim Kranz (published by Random);
"ABCs on Wheels” by Ramon Olivera (Little Simon);
“D Is for Dress-Up: The ABC’s of What We Wear” by Maria Carluccio (Chronicle);
“Ella and Penguin Stick Together” by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet (HarperCollins);
“Faraway Fox” by Jolene Thompson, illustrated by Justin K. Thompson (Houghton);
“Lion Lessons” by Jon Agee (Dial);
“Owl Sees Owl” by Laura Godwin, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey (Random/Schwartz & Wade);
“The Saddest Toilet in the World” by Sam Apple, illustrated by Sam Ricks (Simon/Aladdin);
“They All Saw A Cat” by Brendan Wenzel (Chronicle);
“Walter’s Wonderful Web” by Tim Hopgood (Farrar);
“We Found A Hat” by Jon Klassen (Candlewick);
“A Well-Mannered Young Wolf” by Jean Leroy, illustrated by Matthieu Maudet (Eerdmans); and
“When Spring Comes” by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek (Greenwillow)

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, assessing hundreds of new children’s books each year, prepares book lists, activities and curriculum materials. Working with its youngest audience, preschool children, the Baker’s Dozen list complements the center’s family literacy activities to help parents and caregivers to create and nurture lifelong readers. Tips for using the books with children and families, previous years' selections, annotations, selection criterial and more are available through the "A Baker's Dozen" website.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, sponsored by Penn State’s University Libraries and Barbara I. Dewey, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications, 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.

April, 2016

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

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.

May 18, 2015

For Immediate Release

University Park, PA—Among the many children’s books published last year, 13 were chosen by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book to form A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy for 2015.

Winners include: "Adventures with Barefoot Critters: An ABC Book" by Teagan White (Tundra); "Blizzard" by John Rocco (Disney/Hyperion); "Five Trucks" by Brian Floca (Atheneum); "Found" by Salina Yoon (Walker/Bloomsbury); "The Girl and the Bicycle" by Mark Pett (Simon); "I Spy in the Sky" by Edward Gibbs (Candlewick/Templar); "I’m My Own Dog" by David Ezra Stein (Candlewick); "Little Humans" by Brandon Stanton (Farrar); "Nana in the City" by Lauren Castillo (Clarion); "Shh! We Have a Plan" by Chris Haughton (Candlewick); "This Book Just Ate My Dog" by Richard Byrne (Holt); "Tugboat" by Michael Garland (Holiday); and "Two Tough Crocs" by David Bedford, illustrated by Tom Jellett (Holiday).

Selection criteria, annotations, tips for using the books, and more are available at 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 814-863-5472.

2014 Baker's Dozen Announced

For Immediate Release

Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy for 2014 Announced

April 15, 2014

For Immediate Release

University Park, PA—Among the many children’s books published last year, thirteen were chosen by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book to form A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy for 2014.

Winners include: "Alphabet Trucks" by Samantha R. Vamos, illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke (Charlesbridge); "Bear and Bee" by Sergio Ruzzier (Disney/Hyperion); "Come Back, Moon" by David Kherdian, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian (Beach Lane); "Daisy Gets Lost" by Chris Raschka (Schwartz & Wade); "Flight 1-2-3" by Maria van Lieshout (Chronicle); "Hank Finds an Egg" by Rebecca Dudley (Peter Pauper Press); "Hero Mom" by Melinda Hardin, illustrated by Bryan Langdo (Amazon Children’s Publishing); "Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives" by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (Chronicle); "The Long, Long Line" by Tomoko Ohmura (Owlkids); "Mr. Tiger Goes Wild" by Peter Brown (Little, Brown); "Take Me Out to the Yakyu" by Aaron Meshon (Atheneum); "That is Not a Good Idea!" by Mo Willems (Balzer + Bray); and "This Is Our House" by Hyewon Yum (Frances Foster/Farrar, Straus, Giroux).

Selection criteria, annotations, tips for using the books, and more are available at A Baker’s Dozen website:

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, sponsored by Penn State’s University Libraries, is one of fifty-one 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 www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu or contact Caroline Wermuth, outreach coordinator, Pennsylvania Center for the Book, at 814-863-5472.

2013 Baker's Dozen Announced

For Immediate Release

Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy for 2013 Announced

Winners are: “Alphabet Everywhere” by Elliott Kaufman (Abbeville Kids); “Animals and Their Families” by Barbara Nascimbeni, translated by Lesley Zimic (Owlkids); “Chopsticks” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Scott Magoon (Hyperion); “Don’t Copy Me!” by Jonathan Allen (Boxer); “Frog and Fly: Six Slurpy Stories” by Jeff Mack (Philomel); “It’s A Tiger!” by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Jeremy Tankard (Chronicle); “A Kiss Means I Love You” by Kathryn Madeline Allen, photographs by Eric Futran (Whitman); “Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy” by Jan Thomas (Beach Lane/Simon); “Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic” by Monica Carnesi (Nancy Paulsen/Penguin); “Little Tug” by Stephen Savage (Neal Porter/Roaring Brook); “Living with Mom and Living with Dad” by Melanie Walsh (Candlewick); “Oh No, Little Dragon!” by Jim Averbeck (Atheneum); and “This Is Not My Hat” by Jon Klassen (Candlewick).

Selection criteria, annotations, tips for using the books, and more are available at A Baker’s Dozen website.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries, is one of fifty-one 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 www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu or contact Karla M. Schmit, assistant director, Pennsylvania Center for the Book at 814-863-5521.

2012 Baker's Dozen Announced

For Immediate Release

Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy for 2012 Announced

May 5, 2012

Winners include: "ABC Kids" by Simon Basher (Kingfisher/MacMillan); "Blackout" by John Rocco (Hyperion/Disney); "Bring On the Birds" by Susan Stockdale (Peachtree); "Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow?" by Susan A. Shea, illustrated by Tom Slaughter (Blue Apple); "Eddie Gets Ready for School" by David Milgrim (Scholastic/Cartwheel); "Everything I Need to Know Before I’m Five" by Valorie Fisher (Random/Schwartz & Wade); "I Spy With My Little Eye" by Edward Gibbs (Candlewick/Templar); "I Want My Hat Back" by Jon Klassen (Candlewick); "The Loopy Coop Hens" by Janet Morgan Stoeke (Dutton); "Melvin and the Boy" by Lauren Castillo (Holt); "Mother Goose Picture Puzzles" by Will Hillenbrand (Cavendish); "RRRalph" by Lois Ehlert (Simon/Beach Lane); and "The Twins’ Blanket" by Hyewon Yum (Farrar).

Selection criteria, annotations, tips for using the books, and more are available at A Baker’s Dozen website.

For more information, visit www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu or contact Karla M. Schmit, assistant director, Pennsylvania Center for the Book at 814-863-5521

2011 Baker's Dozen Announced

For Immediate Release

Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy for 2011 Announced

February 21, 2011

Winners include: "Bunny Days" by Tao Nyeu (Dial); "Chalk" by Bill Thomson (Cavendish); "City Dog, Country Frog" by Mo Willems, illustrated by Jon J. Muth (Hyperion); "Dogs" by Emily Gravett (Simon & Schuster); "Frankie Works the Night Shift" by Lisa Westberg Peters, illustrated by Jennifer Taylor (Greenwillow); "I Am a Backhoe" by Anna Grossnickle Hines (Tricycle); "Little Pink Pup" by Johanna Kerby (Putnam); "Mad at Mommy" by Komako Sakai (Arthur A. Levine); "Our Grandparents: A Global Album" by Maya Ajmera, Sheila Kinkade, and Cynthia Pon (Charlesbridge); "Please Take Me for a Walk" by Susan Gal (Knopf); "Roly Poly Pangolin" by Anna Dewdney (Viking); "Soup Day" by Melissa Iwai (Holt); and "We Are in a Book!" by Mo Willems (Hyperion).

Selection criteria, annotations, tips for using the books, and more are available at A Baker’s Dozen website.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries, is one of fifty-one 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 www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu or contact Karla M. Schmit, assistant director, Pennsylvania Center for the Book at 814-863-5521

2010 Baker's Dozen Announced

For Immediate Release

Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy for 2010 Announced

March 12, 2010

Winners include: Birds by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek (Greenwillow); Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld (Chronicle); The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown); Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith (Toon Books); Machines Go To Work by William Low (Henry Holt); Put It On The List by Kristen Darbyshire (Dutton); Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas (Beach Lane); Shades of People by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly (Holiday House); The Snow Day by Komako Sakai (Arthur A. Levine); Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Scott Magoon (Hyperion); Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story by Yumi Heo (Schwartz & Wade Books); Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Golson, photographs by Ben Fink (Scholastic); Yes Day! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld (HarperCollins). S

election criteria, annotations, tips for using the books, and more are available at A Baker’s Dozen website.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries, is one of fifty-one 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 www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu or contact Karla M. Schmit, Assistant Director, Pennsylvania Center for the Book, 814-863-5521.

2009 Baker's Dozen Announced

For Immediate Release

Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy for 2009 Announced

March 2, 2009

Winners include: Chicken, Pig, Cow by Ruth Ohi (Annick Press); A Child’s Day: An Alphabet of Play by Ida Pearle (Harcourt); Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea (Hyperion Books for Children); The Doghouse by Jan Thomas (Harcourt); Fabulous Fishes by Susan Stockdale (Peachtree); Friends and Pals and Brothers, Too by Sarah Wilson, illustrated by Leo Landry (Henry Holt); How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham (Candlewick); A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann (Alfred A. Knopf); The Life of a Car by Susan Steggall (Henry Holt); Me Hungry! by Jeremy Tankard (Candlewick); Old Bear by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow); One by Kathryn Otoshi (Ko Kids Books); Sergio Makes a Splash! by Edel Rodriguez (Little, Brown & Co.).

Selection criteria, annotations, tips for using the books, and more are available at A Baker’s Dozen website.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries, is one of fifty-one 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 www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu or contact Karla M. Schmit, Assistant Director, Pennsylvania Center for the Book, 814-863-5521.

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