Dec. 07--Kate Quealy-Gainer frequently gets asked about her favorite children's books, particularly this time of year.
That's what happens when you work at the Center for Children's Books at the University of Illinois, where she helps review about 1,000 new children's titles annually.
Lucky for her -- and the gift-giving public -- she can point to the 2014 Guide Book to Gift Books, a list she puts together for the holidays that has suggestions for every type of young reader. The list includes about 300 titles in four categories: Picture books for reading aloud to children, and books for young readers (6-8 years), middle readers (9-11 years) and older readers (12-18 years).
Instead of the well-worn classics, the guide features books published within the last three years. One-third of the picks are from the past year.
This year's protagonists include a girl with a pet-sitting business, a gang trying to save the world, and a young boy who wants nothing more than to stay naked as long as possible after his bath.
The free guide, produced annually since 2005, features succinct and witty annotations of the recommended books.
Shopping for a 5-year-old boy? "Naked!" by Michael Ian Black may be perfect.
"What's more fun than running around post-bath naked?" according to the review. "This effervescent, carefully illuminated (all full frontals are cleverly obscured) book takes a look at the boy's joyful quest to keep the clothes off for as long as possible."
Need a gripping story for a mystery-loving middle schooler? "Doll Bones," by Holly Black, is described as a "deliciously odd novel about a group of pre-adolescent friends, a creepy doll that is haunted, and a sad mystery that ties them together."
This year's guide includes a strong showing for poetry and nonfiction -- even for those not yet old enough to read. "This year has been outstanding for nonfiction, from younger kids to older kids," Quealy-Gainer said.
The picture book "Gravity" teaches little ones about the concept of gravity. For teens, there's "The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion and The Fall of Imperial Russia," by Candace Fleming.
"I am not much of a nonfiction person, but I was up until two in the morning reading it," Quealy-Gainer said. "She tells it in such an attention-getting way."
U. of I.'s Center for Children's Books is a research center in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. While the center primarily serves as a resource for librarians and other professionals, the holiday gift guide is a service for the general public.
Quealy-Gainer said she aims to include a variety of books, some that are "affectionate" and others that are "more playful and humorous." For older children, she adds thrillers and graphic novels.
"While there are definitely classics you want your kids to read, there is something to be said for keeping up with contemporary literature and evolving tastes," she said. "Then they get more excited to receive a book as a gift."
Quealy-Gainer said she most often gets asked what book to buy for someone who likes the Harry Potter series. Her go-to answer: "The Glass Sentence," by S.E. Grove, described in the guide as an "emotionally engaging, artsy novel" that features time-shifting and a villain.
"We get a lot of people who ask, 'What is the next Harry Potter?' " she said. "Once people know what I do and I explain it, I get plenty of questions."
She said she tries to always have a few recommendations on hand. Or she directs them to the guide, available at: ccb.lis.illinois.edu.
jscohen@tribpub.com
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