did you see this?

Have you seen this?

On the heels of all our best of lists and all the awards comes

The 2009 Cuffies

where Publishers Weekly asked booksellers around the country for their picks in a variety of categories (would love to know who they talked to...didn't include me). Here are winners and some comments

Favorite Picture Book

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (“a masterpiece”)

Honorable mention: Otis by Loren Long (“a wonderful classic feel and a great story of friendship”)

Favorite Middle Grade Novel of the Year

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Honorable mentions: The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo (“she's worked her magic again”); The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech (“characters, language, and message so endearing”)

Favorite YA Novel of the Year

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork (“well written, real feelings, complex plot”)

Honorable mentions: If I Stay by Gayle Forman; Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Favorite Book Title

I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb

Honorable mention: Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem by Mac Barnett, illus. by Adam Rex

Most Memorable Character in a Lead Role

Marcelo on Marcelo in the Real World

Honorable mentions: Micah in Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Favorite Sequel
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Honorable mentions: Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko; The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Favorite Jacket

The Lion & the Mouse

Honorable mentions: Otis; The Curious Garden by Peter Brown; Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Funniest Book

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney (“his snarky comments transcend generations”)

Most Promising New Author

Jacqueline Kelly for The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Favorite Book to Handsell

When You Reach Me

Honorable Mention: Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

Favorite Series

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (“why won't they give us ARCs for #3?!?”)

Honorable mention: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (“a great handsell for reluctant readers”)

Favorite Poetry Book

The Tree That Time Built by Mary Ann Hoberman

Favorite Audiobook

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (“we love books read by their authors!”)

Best Nonfiction Treatment of a Subject

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy (“opens the doors for questions, reflection, and discussion of 9/11”)

Most Innovative Book

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan (“we don't know where to shelve it, but we love it”)

Book You Couldn't Shut Up About

When You Reach Me (“I was handselling it even when it wasn't in stock”); Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Hottest Book to Go Out of Stock

LEGO Star Wars

Honorable mentions: Bubble Trouble and Ounce Dice Trice (“thanks to NPR”)

Most Disappointing Book (in Terms of Sales)

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus, illus. by Mark Burgess (“the Hundred Acre Wood changed too much and lost its magic”)


Happiest to See Back in Print

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey