| The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books |
| Blue Ribbons are chosen annually by the Bulletin staff and represent what we believe to be the best of the previous year's literature for youth. See the Blue Ribbon Archive for other lists from 1990 through the present. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. | |
1999 Blue Ribbons |
To become a Bulletin Blue Ribbon a book must undergo severe trials, including close scrutiny by the committee and competition with other strong works. The titles that remain on the field after this qualitative tournament are awarded the colors of honor. Blue Ribbon books are not a publishing year's worth of books that all libraries should buy and all children should read (although they should), nor is it a list of "best" books. Blue Ribbons are the knighthood of the literary realm, the books that are noble, honest, and true. All in all, it was a good year. Here's to the next one.
Janice M. Del Negro, Editor
Daly's sunny watercolors make this exuberant seashore story a beachful of fun.
When Lottie wants to wear her princess dress rather than her mother's preferred sensible skirt and sweater, fashion wars ensue.
A vivacious young redhead imaginatively explains the wonders of the sea to her timid little brother.
Tessie roams her urban neighborhood in search of respite from the baking heat until a summer rain brings the whole block out to celebrate the shower.
When Shaniqua, "the angel in charge of everyone's business," tells God that his creation is a little bland, God livens things up with a panoply of new creations.
Evocative photographic collages illustrate moody verses about a cat on the urban prowl.
While the class teacher offers a dryly informative narration, Priceman's gleeful carnival of colors depicts young Emeline undergoing a series of wild big-top adventures.
Small's homespun but translucent watercolors turn Sandburg's tall tale into a terrific American picture book.
In this thoughtful and sophisticated picture book, a young woman tries to find her own cultural way when her family returns to their roots in Japan.
The irresistible titular chant and a plucky if minuscule heroine make this a delicious readaloud tale of evil ogres vanquished.
An endearing Little Monster's speculative fears are quelled by his mother's loving reassurance.
This rollicking retelling gets additional zest from Sharkey's bouncy new-wavy illustrations.
The sanitary engineer gets his heroic due in this paean to those who "dump it in, smash it down, drive around the trashy town."
Reduced to silence and condemned the status of social outcast after an incident at a summer party, Melinda finds that art and time bring her recovery-and vindication.
Eleventh-century Byzantium comes alive in this history-based chronicle of the young heiress to the throne and her attempts to survive the political machinations of her family.
In this luminous fantasy, Corinna, diguised as the boy Corin, takes the job of Folk Keeper to an old family and discovers truths about her own history.
When Sophie's father dumps his wife for a college-age ex-model, Sophie refuses to let her family go down without a fight in this black comedy.
Eighteenth-century Japan is the setting for this suspenseful fiction about a boy who assists the legendary Judge Ooka in investigating a theft from a dishonorable samurai.
An eccentric visiting aunt brings three children stories of their father's childhood filled with humor and a touch of sadness.
Fate, philosophy, and determinism inform this original novel wherein David changes his name to Blue Avenger and follows his destiny as a superhero.
Hillary is initially horrified that her peripatetic family plans to settle down for a year, but she finds herself making attachments she hadn't expected in this deftly crafted novel.
The high seas abound with adventure as young John Spencer seeks to foil the villains who sail his father's merchant ship with criminal intent.
In prison awaiting trial for felony murder, sixteen-year-old film student Steve Harmon writes his experiences as a film script, shedding only oblique light on the question of his guilt.
A year after the death of her father, Sarah must face not only her loss but also new revelations about the man she misses so much.
In this thoughtful, perceptive novel, Debbie fights friend-drift when her pal Maureen pairs up with another girl.
With the friendship of Marisol, talented writer of zines, John begins to relax his long strategy of emotional isolation-but will he ask more of Marisol than she can give?
Armstrong capably chronicles one of the great adventures in the annals of exploration with the assistance of vivid photographic images.
Additional historical and personal context enriches this account of the little girl famous for integrating a New Orleans grade school in 1960.
Sharp and vivid color photographs pair with a simple but action-filled text in this day-in-the-life look at an appealing amphibian.
Watercolors in unexpected hues illuminate these lyrical poems about winter.
Freedman brings his considerable talent to this biography of one of the greatest athletes of all time.
This combination of photoessay and collective biography offers an illuminating look at six practitioners of historic Japanese arts ranging from sword-making to puppetry.
A zippy text ably conveys the sheer fascination of science behind the work of zoologist Bob Mason, while crisp photographs get up close with his snaky subjects.
Myers deftly chronicles the unusual life of the young Egbado princess who went from kidnapped slave to darling of Queen Victoria's court.
Robbins showcases the behemoths of the road in tinted photographs and a perfect pre- and primary-school-sized load of information.
This page was last updated on January 1, 2000.