| Top 10 2010 Illustrated Kids' Books Feb 2nd 2012, 11:04 There were a large number of children's books in 2010 whose illustrations were exceptional in some way. Below is my Top 10 list of the best illustrated children's books of 2010. One of my selections is a wordless picture book, one is a chapter book, one is a beginning reader book, two are poetry books that are also science books, one is a book of nursery rhymes, one is a science book and three are traditional picture books. 
Marshall Cavendish Chalk by Bill Thomson is a terrific wordless picture book. The story is an exciting one, involving three children, magic chalk, the problem of a fearsome dinosaur and a clever solution. The artwork is striking: full page and double-page spreads done in the photo-realism style, not a style used often in children's book illustration. Not only is it fun to speculate on what the expressions on the faces of the children in the story mean, but this book would be a wonderful writing prompt for upper elementary or middle school kids. (Marshall Cavendish, 2010. ISBN: 978076145526) 
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt How to Clean a Hippopotamous is a fascinating science book about animal symbiosis, specifically mutualism, in which all the animals involved benefit. The interesting text by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins comes alive in the cut and torn paper collages by Steve Jenkins. Jenkins uses sequential panels to explain various symbiotic realtionships. The animals and scenes he portrays will capture and keep readers' interest with their detail and beauty. (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. ISBN: 9780547245157) 
Disney Book Group I don't know of any one who can read We are in a Book! with out laughing out loud. This beginning reader book is part of the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. In it, the irrepressible Piggie and her more staid friend Elephant realize that they are in a book and someone is reading it. Both Piggie and Elephant are thrilled and begin encouraging young readers to interact with them. The growing size of the words and the expressions on Piggie and Elephant's faces reflect the joy and fun this book brings to beginning readers. (Hyperion Books for Children, Disney Book Group, 2010. ISBN: 9781423133087) 
Candlewick Press There's Going to Be A Baby is the creation of two award-winning English literary artists, John Burningham, who wrote the book, and Helen Oxenbury, who illustrated it. Perfect for the child whose mother is expecting a baby, There's Going to Be a Baby is the story of a little boy's questions and his mother's answers over the course of her pregnancy. Each time his mother speculates about what the baby will be, the little boy's imagination takes over and there's a wordless double-page spread with panels showing a baby making a mess of an adult occupation. For example, when she says, "Maybe the baby will be an artist," the boy imagines a baby painting and making a mess in an art studio. (Candlewick Press, 2010. ISBN; 9780763649074) 
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night is an excellent book on several levels. It is filled with Joyce Sidman's evocative poems about nocturnal animals, which draw in the reader and set the mood. From the double-page print of dusk at the edge of the woods with which the book begins to the double-page print of dawn at the end of the book, the artwork by Rick Allen enhances the mood set by the poetry. Dark Emperor is also a science book and a narrow column of factual information can be found on the far right of each illustrated poem, a placement that ensures the reader will be ready to learn more about what has just been introduced. (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. ISBN: 9780547152288) Read my review. 
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Poet Joyce Sidman did a great deal of research while working on Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors. Her poetry celebrates, as she says, "in the order of their appearance in evolutionary time," some of the species that have survived over time rather than becoming extinct. Artist Becky Prange's linocuts, hand-colored with watercolor, reflect a similar emphasis on the facts, along with some playfuless. Each double-page spread includes a poem on the left page, factual information on the right and illustrations on both pages. The illustrations both complement the poetry and inform the reader about some aspect of the topic being covered. (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. ISBN: 9780618717194) 
Candlewick Press Bink and Gollie is an early chapter book by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, which contains three short, humorous illustrated stories about the friendship between two girls, Bink and Gollie. Bink and Gollie are different in many ways, but through the ups and downs that come with two independent kids, Bink and Gollie remain friends. What makes this book special is the way in which the girls and their activities are portrayed in the many digital illustrations by Tony Fucile. While the illustrations at first glance seem to be simple pen and ink sketches with spot color, they actually have a look of sophistication that is appealing not only to younger kids but also to tweens.(Candlewick Press, 2010. ISBN: 2010. ISBN: 9780763632663) 
Disney Book Group  City Dog, Country Frog is a collaboration between two well-known creators of children's books, author and illustrator Mo Willems and author and artist Jon J. Muth. In this case, Mo Willems wrote the story, which is a dog from the city who comes to the country, his friend the frog who lives in the country, their treasured friendship, loss and renewal from one spring to the next. Jon J. Muth's watercolors reflect both the joy of friendship, the poignancy of loss and the renewal that comes with time. (Hyperion Books for Children, Disney Book Group, 2010. ISBN: 9781423103004) 
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes by Salley Mavor provides a delightful introduction to more than 60 traditional nursery rhymes. Your young children will want to have you share the book with them again again not only because they enjoy the nursery rhymes but because the illustrations are so appealing. The artwork, created in felt and other fabrics, is made up of hand-sewn people, houses, trees, furnishings and more, set against a felt background and photographed for the book. There is so much of interest to see that your children will want to spend time with each illustration. (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. ISBN: 9780618737406) 
Hatchette Book Group Shark vs. Train is a very funny book. The picture book was written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Two little boys run over to a toy box. Each picks up a toy and the competition begins. It's Shark versus Train. From then on, the boys are out of the picture and the illustrations concentrate soley on the toy shark versus the toy train. Who will win depends on where they are (ocean? railroad tracks? seesaw? hot-air balloons?), what they are doing, including everything from a burping contest to shooting baskets and more. Shark and Train are cartoon-like characters whose competitions get sillier until the game ends with luchtime for the boys. (Little, Brown and Company, Hatchette Book Group, 2010. ISBN: 9780316007627)  | |
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