Favorite Picture Book of the Year (tie)
Milo's Hat Trick by Jon Agee
Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer
Favorite Novel of the Year (tie)
True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff
The Land by Mildred Taylor
Fair Weather by Richard Peck
Best Book Title
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Most Memorable Character in a Lead Role
Olivia ("because she's such a funny, precocious porker who reminds everyone of a kid they've known")
Best Sequel (tie)
True Believer ("definitely worth the wait!"); The Land; Olivia Saves the Circus
Most Eye-Catching Jacket (tie)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
True Believer ("That cover could not be more enticing or beautiful")
Funniest Book
Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs by Alan Katz, illus. by David Catrow
Favorite Book to Handsell
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech ("It speaks so well to adults and children")
Most Promising New Author (tie)
Nora Baskin (What Every Girl [Except Me] Knows); Ann Brashares (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants); An Na (A Step from Heaven)
Most Promising New Illustrator
Bagram Ibatoulline (Crossing)
Best Bet to Win the Newbery Medal (tie)
Love That Dog ("a wonderful and unique idea")
The Land ("a beautifully crafted, memorable story")
Best Bet to Win the Caldecott Medal (tie)
Milo's Hat Trick
Olivia Saves the Circus
Sleeper of the Year
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, illus. by Brian Selznick
Best Treatment of a Social Issue
True Believer
Many honorable mentions: Goodbye Mousie; The Other Side; Witness; A Fine, Fine School; You Don't Know Me
Best Anthology
You Read to Me & I'll Read to You: 20th Century Stories to Share, selected by Janet Schulman
Best Book of Poetry
A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems, selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illus. by Chris Raschka
Best Nonfiction Book
We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History by Phillip Hoose
Most Overrated Book
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer ("I just did not find this book enjoyable, and was unable to finish it")
Most Overdone Subject
Dysfunctional families
Honorable mentions: Pearl Harbor; "go to sleep, baby" books; high school kids planning the shooting deaths of classmates or teacher
Book Happiest to See Back in Print
The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban, illus. by David Small
Book Sorriest to See Go Out of Print
A Small Miracle by Peter Collington ("We're still mad!")
Most Responsive Publisher
Candlewick ("Our rep is great, shipping is fast and free") ("They are always extremely helpful when we give them a call")
Honorable mentions: Ingram ("I know they're not a publisher, but boy, could the publishers learn from them about packing and customer service") and "Any publishers who have children's reps specifically, because those publishers are infinitely better equipped to tend to our needs and take a greater interest in what is and isn't working for us."
Best Publisher Promotional Materials (tie)
Olivia party kit ("It's jam-packed with the coolest freebies"; "The party we had was a hit, and everyone loved the goody bags"); Junie B. Jones floor display; 3-D Hypno-rings for Captain Underpants; Candlewick's handselling kit
Most Unusual Complaint About a Book
"I have heard numerous times from parents about Click Clack Moo: 'The book is great, but I am not going to buy it because the child won't know what a typewriter is.'"
"A customer didn't like the author's signature in a signed book, saying it was too messy, and not a good example for children. The customer wanted a refund."
"A customer tried to return a book because he thought the ending was silly. It was a Captain Underpants book--what did he expect?"
Oddest Comment or Request
"A woman stops by the store weekly to tell me 'Harry Potter is from the devil.'"
"A guy wanted a book for his friend's daughter to read aloud to their dog."
