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Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2009

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2009 names 143 books across 6 categories. 28 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Best Fiction for Older Readers

  1. Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenkosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burgsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Lealsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Black Angels by Linda Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Burn My Heart by Beverley Naidoosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Jane in Bloom by Deborah Lyttonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Kaleidoscope Eyes by Jen Bryantsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne M. LaFleursource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsensource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmessource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Return to Sender by Julia Alvarezsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Scat by Carl Hiaasensource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Brooklyn Nine: A Novel in Nine Innings by Alan Gratzsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochranesource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardingesource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Steadsource (opens in a new tab)

Best Fiction for Younger Readers

  1. A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Beckersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Jane Lenore Looksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yeesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Cork & Fuzz: Finders Keepers by Dori Chaconassource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Dying to Meet You by Kate Klisesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willemssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Good Dog, Aggie! by Lori Riessource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware by M.T. Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels by Jamie Michalaksource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt by Megan McDonaldsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mix-up by Melissa Thomsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimessource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Neil Armstrong is My Uncle & Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marinosource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Nikki & Deja: Birthday Blues by Karen Englishsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaimansource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Pigs Make Me Sneeze! by Mo Willemssource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictussource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Rich: A Dyamonde Daniel Book by Nikki Grimessource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Big Fat Cow that Goes Kapow by Andy Griffithssource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Gecko & Sticky: The Greatest Power by Wendelin Van Draanensource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillosource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbricksource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelansource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Watch Me Throw the Ball! by Mo Willemssource (opens in a new tab)
  26. We Can’t All Be Rattlesnakes by Patrick Jenningssource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Linsource (opens in a new tab)

Best Folk and Fairy Tales and Poetry

  1. African Acrostics by Avis Harleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Button Up! by Alice Schertlesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Chicken Little by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. City I Love by Lee Bennett Hopkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Hurry Up and Slow Down by Layn Marlowsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myerssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons by Rob D. Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices by Betsy Francosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Mother Poems by Hope Anita Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i by Gerald McDermottsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Rhymes Round the World by Kay Choraosource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Subway Ride by Heather Lynn Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World by Marilyn Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Earth Shook: A Persian Tale by Donna Jo Napolisource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Mitten by Jim Aylesworthsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Three Little Tamales by Eric A. Kimmelsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. There Was An Old Monster! by Rebecca Emberley, Adrian Emberley and Ed Emberleysource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Truckery Rhymes by Jon Scieszkasource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousinssource (opens in a new tab)
  21. my people by Langston Hughessource (opens in a new tab)

Best Nonfiction

  1. A Kid’s Guide to Latino History: More Than 50 Activities by Valerie Petrillosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Benjamin Franklin, American Genius: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Brandon Marie Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoosesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shangesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Denied, Detained, Deported: Stories from the Dark Side of American Immigration by Ann Bausumsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Dinosaurs Roar, Butterflies Soar by Bob Barnersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Every Human Has Rights: A Photographic Declaration for Kids by National Geographicsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Heading West: Life with the Pioneers: 21 Activities by Pat McCarthysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Hurricanes! by Gail Gibbonssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. I and I: Bob Marley by Tony Medinasource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Kerrie Logan Hollihansource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary by Elizabeth Partridgesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Mission to the Moon by Alan Dyersource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Nevermore: A Photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe by Karen Langesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat by Michael Pollansource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Our Abe Lincoln: An Old Tune with New Lyrics by Jim Aylesworthsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Remember Little Rock: The Time, the People, the Stories by Paul Robert Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Dust Bowl Through the Lens: How Photography Revealed and Helped Remedy a National Disaster by Martin W. Sandlersource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Tornadoes! by Gail Gibbonssource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Words to My Life’s Song by Ashley Bryansource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walkersource (opens in a new tab)

Best Picture Books

  1. A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Nasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All of Baby, Nose to Toes by Victoria Adlersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. All the World by Liz Garton Scanlonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day • Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros by Pat Morasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Clang! Clang! Beep! Beep!: Listen to the City by Robert Burleighsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Harriet’s Had Enough by Elissa Haden Guestsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Hello Baby! by Mem Foxsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Henry’s Night by D.B. Johnson and Linda Michelinsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricellisource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCartysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Let’s Do Nothing! by Tony Fucilesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Otis by Loren Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Over in the Hollow by Rebecca Dickinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated by Florence Parry Heidesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Robot Zot! by Jon Scieszkasource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Sergio Saves the Game by Edel Rodriguezsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Shades of People by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles by Darlene Friedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Hat That Wore Clara B. by Melanie Turner-Denstaedtsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Little Dump Truck by Margery Cuylersource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Snow Day by Komako Sakaisource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Tough Chicks by Cece Mengsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Two of a Kind by Jacqui Robbinssource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed by J. C. Phillippssource (opens in a new tab)

Best Teen Fiction

  1. After by Amy Efawsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Along for the Ride: A Novel by Sarah Dessensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Angry Management by Chris Crutchersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bad Apple by Laura Rubysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltassource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collinssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chaddasource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myerssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Fire by Kristin Cashoresource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Flygirl by Sherri L. Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Going Bovine by Libba Braysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Hold Still by Nina LaCoursource (opens in a new tab)
  13. If I Stay: A Novel by Gayle Formansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeldsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Storksource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Mare's War by Tanita S. Davissource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Blocksource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zinksource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvatersource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonaldsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Goodbye Season by Marian Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Orange Houses by Paul Griffinsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burdsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. This Full House by Virginia Euwer Wolffsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)

About the Chicago Public Library Best of the Best

Lists come from CPL's yearly Best of the Best pages on chipublib.org (2014-2025), which link to staff lists on chipublib.bibliocommons.com; titles and authors were read from those BiblioCommons lists. Year is the year in the list name, which is the publication year of the books. Category is the BiblioCommons list name with the year removed (for example "Best Teen Fiction", "Best Books: Top Ten", "Must-Read Books: Fiction"). From 2023 the adult picks are "Our Favorite Books" plus genre "Must-Read Books" lists, all linked from the Best of the Best page. Top 10 lists repeat titles from the full adult list; both are kept as separate categories. For 2007-2013 there is no CPL year page that is still live; we used CPL's own BiblioCommons lists in the same series (teen fiction 2007-2013, teen nonfiction 2008, kids lists 2010-2013). For 2009 kids lists we used the archived chipublib.org Best of the Best page via Wayback; CPL titled that page "Best of the Best 2010" but it covers books of 2009, so it is filed as 2009, and its section names were mapped to the BiblioCommons style ("Picture Books" to "Best Picture Books", "Nonfiction" to "Best Nonfiction"). Award-winner, NatureConnections and Healthy Living sections were left out. 2006 is left out because no archived list for books of 2006 was found. Adult lists from 2013 and earlier were left out because they compile outside sources, not CPL picks. Authors are the catalog's main author put in first-last order; editors are used for anthologies. Translators are filled only for a few titles where the CPL catalog record credits one, so most translated books lack a translator. Where one list names two books from the same series (e.g. Ty's Travels: All Aboard! and Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom!), the series and book title are joined with a dash so the catalog keeps them apart; catalog series tags such as "(I can read book, Book None)" are dropped.

Organization: Chicago Public Library. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2009