Some Wacky Winners

Once again, as we compiled these listings, certain titles begged us to make special note of them.

Silliest Pseudonym: Nowen N. Particular, author of Boomtown: Chang's Famous Fireworks Factory. (Thomas Nelson)

Most Creative Solution to the Fuel Crisis: Doc Fizzix Mousetrap Racers by Alden J. Balmer, a guide to constructing mousetrap-powered vehicles. (Fox Chapel Publishing)

Most Impassioned Plea to Embrace Vegetarianism: Please Don't Eat Me by Roger De Muth, in which a fish begs not to become an entrée. (Blue Apple)

Bah Humbug Award: The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket, starring a nattily dressed lump of coal. (Harper-Collins)

Title Cautious Kids Are Most Apt to Think Twice About Before Reading: The Child Cruncher by Mathilde Stein, illus. by Mies van Hout, about a girl kidnapped by an ogre. (Boyds Mills/Lemniscaat)

Sequel Most Likely to Scramble off Bookstore Shelves Without Pawsing: If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff, illus. by Felicia Bond. (HarperCollins/Geringer)

Tastiest Packaging: The Handstand Kids Mexican Cookbook by Yvette Garfield, illus. by Kim DeRose, which comes with an oven mitt packaged in a tortilla bag. (Handstand Kids)

Activity Book That Will Be Most Appreciated by Pet-Resistant Parents: Dress Up Your Own Paper Pups, offering paper puppies with punch-out wardrobes. (Klutz/Chicken Socks)

Plot Most Likely to Keep Teachers on their Toes: The Boy Who Went Ape by Benjamin James Watson, illus. by Richard Jesse Watson, the tale of a boy and an ape who change places during a class trip to the zoo. (Scholastic/Blue Sky)

Most Epic Battle Since Godzilla Fought Rodan: Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea, about a dinosaur who conquers all foes in its path. (Disney-Hyperion)

Kids' Best Defense Against Eating Their Veggies: Smelly Peter and the Great Pea Eater by Steve Smallman, illus. by Joelle Dreidemy, starring a boy who turns green after eating only peas. (Tiger Tales)

Most Stressful Read-Aloud for Avid Gardeners: Those Darn Squirrels! by Adam Rubin, illus. by Daniel Salmieri, about a man matching wits with local rodentia. (HMH/Clarion)

Least Practical DIY Guide: How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier, about a girl unhappy with her personal fairy, which gives her the ability to get really good parking spaces. (Bloomsbury)

Most Likely Title to Scare Kids Straight: Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go by Dale Basye, about the afterlife of two siblings killed in a marshmallow explosion. (Random House)

Least Likely Book to Get a Seal of Approval from Emily Post: Punk Rock Etiquette by Travis Nichols, a snarky guide to starting a band. (Roaring Brook/Flash Point)