What an Inspiration!

I picked up this book a bit by accident (I was attracted to the segmented pages inside that reminded me of the fashion plates I played with as a kid) and could not put it down.  I was fascinated by Chuck Close's painting techniques and marveled at the largess of his work (I am tipping my hat to his huge paintings with a larger-than-normal icon on this post).  And to make his talents even more impressive he paints with genius in spite of facial blindness and partial paralysis.  I will also add that this book helped spark the idea of expanding Jefferson's Golden Jaguar list to include new separate list of just non-fiction.  The list is tentatively called Golden Jaguar: Non-Fiction.  I know, creative right?  Of course, Face Book is one of the first nominees.

I'm so excited!

The first thing I have to do is apologize for my mini-holiday.  I spent most of last week planning and meeting with teachers and we finally came to a decision on next year's list.  And I couldn't be more excited!  I really believe this list may be our best yet.  Tell me what you think!


The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Pick-Up Game by Marc Aronson
How they Croaked by Georgia Bragg
Hidden by Helen Frost
Half World by Hiromi Goto
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Titanic: Voices from a Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson
Name of the Star by Marueen Johnson
Silhouetted by the Blue by Traci Jones
Legend by Marie Lu
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe McCall
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Ghetto Cowboy by Greg neri
A Monster Calls Patrick Ness
Boy 21 by Matthew Quick
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Cardboard by Doug TenNapel
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

Happy Reading!

Great Graphics!

Ichiro by Ryan Inzana 
Inzana does a masterful job of weaving reality and Japanese myths into a tale of adventure and suspense. Check out this book trailer for a great sneak peak!