Jan

Jan suggested these picture books:

Utterly Otterly Night by Mary Casanova, Bear's Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson, Hampire! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid, Gonzalo Grabs the Good Life by Janice Levy and Strega Nona's Gift by Tomie DePaola.

She suggested these nonfiction books:

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet, Christian the Lion by Anthony Bourke and Gifts from the Gods by Lise Lunge-Larsen.

She suggested these chapter books:

Eight Class Pets Plus One Squirrel by Vivian Vande Velde, Pie by Sarah Weeks, Nurk by Ursula Vernon, The Case of the Lost Boy (The Buddy Files) by Dori Butler and The Books of Elsewhere by Jacqueline West.

Excellent new nonfiction

I am not sure that this book would work out for Joliet Reads, but it's definitely going on my list of favorite books of 2009!

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson tells about the fascinating life of former slave Bass Reeves.

Who was Bass Reeves, you ask? He served as deputy U.S. marshal in Indian Territory for 32 years, which was longer than any other marshal. He arrested more than 3,000 men and women, without ever being wounded, and only had to kill fourteen men in the line of duty. The author was not exaggerating when she described his life as remarkable!