Well, 2009 isn’t over yet, but here we have PW’s best children’s books of 2009.

What do you think? Which books did they leave off that should have been on? And which books did they put on that should have been off.

I hate to admit this but I’ve not read a single book on their list. Yikes! And I call myself a children’s book lover. What’s wrong with me? I will read Catching Fire, of course. It’s sixth down in my TBR pile. I want to read it, but I have obligations to others first. (Speaking of Catching Fire, I said that Scholastic wasn’t answering my request for review copies for my blog tour group. Color me green with sickness when I found an email yesterday where they did answer me, and I didn’t see it. So I could have gotten that book for free and early and been my daughter’s hero and I failed. However, I bought it for my daughter’s birthday and that was good, too.) But back to the books I’ve not read. The thing is, I really don’t like contemporary teen books and I don’t like issue books. I see some books on PW’s list that I’d like to try. But I am sorry to not see Julie Berry or Kathryn Fitzmaurice on the list anywhere. I think they both did great jobs with their characters!

What about you? What books were your favorites for 2009?

I don’t have reviews written up yet, but just a quick note in case you’re looking for great books.

Airman, by Eoin Colfer. Wow, what a great book! It reminded me of The Count of Monte Cristo. (Well this movie version. I confess I never read the book.) Airman had a character I loved in a gripping plot and heartbreaking circumstances, and it also had Colfer’s wonderful wit. He’s brilliant.

The next book I’d like to rave about is East by Edith Pattou. I thought her pacing was perfect. I loved the characters–all the narrators. Loved the magic and the message. I’d never read Pattou before–I only did now because I’m reading several books published by Michael Stearns–but now that I’ve discovered her I’m going to go on and try some others. I’ll start with Hero’s Song, I think.