Children's Books in New Hampshire

Thousands of children’s books are published every year, and sorting through the bookstore or library shelf to find the right book can be tricky. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources to help a kid lit aficionado find something to his or her liking.

Here in the Granite State, the New Hampshire State Library’s Youth Services website features recommended reads on a wide range of topics and ability levels, from “100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know” to “Favorite Teenage Angstbooks.” The State Library also issues three book awards each year: the Ladybug for recent picture books, the Great Stone Face for chapter books and the Flume for teen books. New Hampshire kids choose the winner of each award in a statewide vote.

New Hampshire is also home to a number of celebrated children’s authors, including Donna Ciocca, John Stadler, Else Minarik and Tomie DePaola. You can hear NHPR's archive of interviews with New Hampshire children’s authors here.

2006 Ladybug Picture Book Nominees

The best pet of all by David LaRochelle. Illustrated by Hanako Wakiyama.

Our tree named Steve by Alan Zweibel. Illustrated by David Catrow.

I ain't gonna paint no more! by Karen Beaumont. Illustrated by David Catrow.

Llama, llama red pajama by Anna Dewdney.

The dancing tiger by Malachy Doyle. Paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.

The great fuzz frenzy by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. Illustrated by Janet Stevens.

Mr. Tuggle's troubles by LeeAnn Blankenship. Illustrated by Karen Dugan.

The dog who cried wolf by Keiko Kasza.

Terrific by Jon Agee.

Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies Carolyn Crimi. Illustrated by John Manders.

2006 Great Stone Face Award Nominees

Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Stewart

Blue Fingers: A Ninja's Tale by Cheryl Whitesel

The Boy Who Spoke Dog by Clay Morgan

Cabin on Trouble Creek by Jean Van Leeuwen

The Capture by Kathryn Lasky

Chief Sunrise, John McGraw and Me by Timothy Tocher

Chu Ju's House by Gloria Whelan

The Empty Mirror by James Lincoln Collier

Ghost Girl: A Blue Ridge Mountain Story by Delia Ray

Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine

The House on the Gulf by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Ida B by Katherine Hannigan

Iqbal: A Novel by Francesco D'Adamo

The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements

The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry

The Ravenmaster's Secret by Elvira Woodruff

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin VanDraanen

The SOS File by Betsy Byars

The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson

The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck

Wintering Well by Lea Wait

Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman

2006 Flume Award Nominees

The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

First Meetings in the Enderverse by Orson Scott Card

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julia Gregory

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Pirates! by Celia Rees

Vampire High by Douglas Rees