Top 10 Kids Books of the Year

The owners of children's book store know books, love them and have a lot of experiencing reading and selling them.

Here are Co-owner Trish Brown's top 10 books for 2010:

Ages 3-6

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. A bear goes searching for his lost hat. A quiet story that will have kids laughing at the ending

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. It gives the reader a unique glimpse of what goes on with some of our favorite creatures when the ground is covered with snow.

Say Hello to Zorro by Carter Goodrich. Mister Bud loves his doggy routines and is horrified when his owners bring home Zorro. Dog-lovers will love the illustrations as Mister Bud learns that sharing can be fun.

Stars by Mary Ray and illustrated by Marla Frazee. Ray's tribute to the stars reminds us to stop and enjoy the wonders that surround us, and Frazee's illustrations capture that wonder.


Ages 8-10

The Trouble With Chickens by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Kevin Cornell.  J.J. Tully is a retired search and rescue dog who is looking for a quiet life in the country when he's approached by family of chickens who have trouble telling the truth.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. The author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret has done it again, this time with an intertwining story told in words and pictures.

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban. The story of a very shy girl finding her place in a new town and a new school.

Ages 10 and up

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. One of our favorites this year, this book retells the Snow Queen fairytale in modern times. A wonderful tale of friendship and courage!

Wildwood by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis. This debut novel by a member of the musical group The Decembrists takes you to the Impassable Wilderness, into a magical wild world.

Bigger Than a Breadbox by Laurel Snyder.  This tale of divorce, magic and growing up is wonderfully written.

For more suggestions, see Hooray for Books' .