Announcing the Summer Children's Book Sense 76 Top Ten

Here is the latest Children's Book Sense 76 Top Ten.

Once again, many, many thanks for all the nominations. The contributions from a wonderfully wide range of booksellers have created a rich and diverse list.

The full Children's Book Sense 76 -- with booksellers' quotes -- will be in next week's Bookselling This Week.

Looking ahead, the deadline for the July/August Book Sense 76 is May 23 -- send in those nominations! There can never be too many!

E-mail your nominations to Dan Cullen at [email protected], or go to www.bookweb.org/read/4264 for an online nomination form.

Looking a little further down the line, here are more upcoming deadlines:

• June 5 - Mystery Book Sense Top Ten 76
  
• June 27 - Fall Children's Book Sense 76
  
• July 7 - University Press/Scholarly Top Ten 76
  
• July 7 - Small Press Top Ten 76

1. SAHARA SPECIAL, by Esmé Raji Codell (Hyperion, $15.99, 0786807938) Ages 9-12. "Sahara is a gifted writer trapped in a lonely, troubled 10-year-old. A brilliant, compassionate, eccentric teacher and a determined, supportive mom help her unlock her gifts. For fans of Codell's Educating Esmé, the news is great: Her first novel is an exuberant success." -- Banna Rubinow, The River's End Bookstore, Oswego, NY Also a Listening Library Audio (0807217204)

2. THE CITY OF EMBER, by Jeanne DuPra (Random House Books for Young Readers, $15.95, 0375822739) Ages 9-12. "A cautionary tale (wrapped up in a mystery-adventure) of what could happen to our world if we squander our resources. Read it with your children, and it will spur discussions about responsibility, citizenship, death, and selfishness. Wonderful!" -- Sarah Carr, McIntyre's Fine Books, Pittsboro, NC

3. GREEN ANGEL, by Alice Hoffman (Scholastic, $16.95, 0439443849) Ages 12 and up. "This is a gritty story of a 15-year-old girl's struggle for physical and emotional survival in a world devastated by horrific violence, yet it is told with the gentleness and magic of a fairy tale. This book epitomizes the grace and simple elegance of a truly well-told story that appeals to all readers, regardless of their age." -- Carol Hill, Book Mine, Leadsville, CO

4. THE SECOND SUMMER OF THE SISTERHOOD, by Ann Brashares (Delacorte Press, $15.95, 0385729340) Ages 12 and up. "Hip, realistic, and smart, Second Summer is a sequel that really is better than the first. This time around, the girls delve into their feelings about their families, particularly their mothers, and find some things out about themselves in the process." -- Sara Yu, Bank Street Bookstore, New York, NY Also a Imagination Studio Audio (0807209678)

5. DON'T TAKE YOUR SNAKE FOR A STROLL, by Karin Ireland; David Catrow (Illus.) (Harcourt Children's Books, $16, 0152023615) Ages 4-8. "This is an immensely readable book with exuberant illustrations. It's hard to resist the snake on a downtown stroll, frogs loose in a gourmet restaurant, and an elephant sunning itself at the beach." -- Carol Dunn, Northwind Book & Fiber, Spooner, WI

6. MOLLY MOON'S INCREDIBLE BOOK OF HYPNOTISM, by Georgia Byng (HarperCollins Juvenile Books, $16.99, 006051406X) Ages 9-12. "Not much is going Molly Moon's way until the day she finds a book on hypnotism stuck on the wrong shelf at the library. Suddenly, her true talents become apparent, and she finds herself on the path to fame and fortune -- and quite a bit of misfortune as well. Funny and touching." -- Kristine Kaufman, The Snow Goose Bookstore, Stanwood, WA Also a Harper Children's Audio (006054273X)

7. OLIVIA KIDNEY, by Ellen Potter; Peter H. Reynolds (Illus.) (Philomel Books, $15.99, 0399238506) Ages 9-12. "Olivia Kidney has a strange life! Especially when she moves into a new apartment building, which is complete with talking lizards, an exiled princess, and an apartment made of glass! Will Olivia's life become any better, or will chaos reign forever? A definite first-rate read about a true first-rate kid." -- Heather Young, Fireside Bookstore, Forest City, NC Also a Listening Library Audio (0807216283)

8. PLUM, by Tony Miton; Mary GrandPré (Illus.) (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, $17.95, 0439364094) Ages 4-8. "This book has taken our breath away! Miton's engaging verse celebrates silly possibilities and everyday miracles. And there is magic in the illustrations, which are at once brilliant, elegant, and totally captivating."-- Carol Moyer, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

9. STANLEY'S PARTY, by Linda Bailey; Bill Slavin (Illus.) (Kids Can Press, $14.95, 1553373820) Ages 4-8. "A fun story with riotous illustrations! Stanley the dog is a kick, and so well-trained he even cleans up the mess (including the dog hair on the furniture) after he and his friends party." -- Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM

10. ARTEMIS FOWL: The Eternity Code (Book 3), by Eoin Colfer (Miramax, $16.95, 0786819146) Ages 9-12. "In the latest of the Artemis Fowl series, Colfer plays with tone beautifully, maintaining the feeling of a noir adventure series and, bringing the series full-circle, perhaps anticipating further Fowl feats." -- Ben Gibbs, Book People, Austin, TX