The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
	The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly theme-based list of titles available only on-line. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin, we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an extra one or two when we have them to offer--so don't expect an even dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. See the archive for lists from previous months.
	Great Books Make Great Gifts selected by Janice M. DelNegro

Books make the perfect gift, so the saying goes, and we at The Bulletin heartily concur. There is nothing more fun than trying to match the book to the person, or, in this case, giving the right book to the right child at the right time. Here is a list of terrific books from 1998 (with one late entry from 1997) that will make terrific presents for those terrific children in your life. Happy Holidays. --Janice M. Del Negro, Editor

For Toddlers and Preschoolers, 1-4 years

• Boynton, Sandra. Dinosaur's Binkit. Simon, 1998.
  Move over Pat the Bunny. Dinosaur can't find his blanket, and he lifts flaps and wails his woe to the skies in this hilarious (and sturdy!) board book. (BCCB, 12/98)

• Voake, Charlotte. Here Comes the Train! Candlewick, 1998.
  Got a train lover in your life? This is the book for them, as a little girl, her baby brother, and their daddy wait on a trestle over the train track until the train comes rumbling through. Choo-choo! (BCCB 12/98)

• Fleming, Denise. Mama Cat Has Three Kittens. Holt, 1998.
  Two of Mama Cat's kittens are model felines, and then there's Boris, who naps. Fleming's simple text is a readaloud complement to her multi-textured, richly colored paean to a kitten's life with Mama. (BCCB 12/98)

• Mullins, Patricia. One Horse Waiting for Me. Simon, 1998.
  A gently rhyming text combines with mixed-media horses ethereal enough to make any child sigh with wonder in this equine counting book. (BCCB 3/98)

• Oram, Hiawyn, ad. Baba Yaga and the Wise Doll; illus. by Ruth Brown. Dutton, 1998.
  A smart, brave little girl faces the menacing witch Baba Yaga and wins the day in this retelling of an old Russian folktale. (BCCB 2/98)

• Rankin, Joan. WOW! It's Great Being a Duck; written and illus. by Joan Rankin. McElderry, 1998.
  Duckling Lillee refuses to learn to swim until menaced by a wicked fox looking for supper in this jauntily illustrated picture book. (BCCB 5/98)

Primary Graders, 5-8 years

• Woodson, Jacqueline. We Had a Picnic this Sunday Past. Hyperion, 1998.
  Teeka goes to a family picnic with her grandmother, and spends the day happily describing arriving relatives, their contribution to the feast, and her feelings of belonging. (BCCB 9/98)

• Graeber, Charlotte. Nobody's Dog. Hyperion, 1998.
  The small white dog abandoned on River Road finds a home with the elderly but loving Miss Pepper in this gentle novella for beginning readers. (BCCB 9/98)

• Herzig, Alison Craig. Bronco Busters. Putnam, 1998.
  Young horse lovers are going to just adore this picture book story about an untamed black bronco, the three "big bad bronco busters" he dumps in the dust, and the gentle little cowboy that wins the day. (BCCB 10/98)

• Lester, Julius. Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story; illus. by Jerry Pinkney. Dial, 1998. (6-9 yrs)
  Former slave turned Texas cowboy Bob Lemmons sets out to round up a herd of wild mustangs in this riveting picture book biography. (BCCB 5/98)

• McCaughrean, Geraldine. Unicorns! Unicorns! Illus. by Sophie Windham. Holiday House, 1997.
  Unicorn lovers will warm to this gorgeously illustrated oversized picture book about how the generous unicorns missed Noah's ark, and how they were rewarded for their acts of kindness. (BCCB 12/97)

• Glass, Andrew. Bad Guys: True Stories of Legendary Gunslingers, Sidewinders, Fourflushers, Drygulchers, Bushwackers, Freebooters, and Downright Bad Guys and Gals of the Wild West. Doubleday, 1998.
  The exploits of Billie the Kid, Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, Belle Starr and others liven up the profusely-illustrated pages of this appealingly written collective biography. (BCCB 9/98)

• Belton, Sandra. Ernestine & Amanda: Mysteries on Monroe Street. Simon, 1998.
  This is just the latest title in the successful series about two sort-of-girlfriends growing up in an African American community in the 1950s. Belton's humor and point of view makes Ernestine and Amanda lively and intelligent protagonists. (BCCB 2/98)

• Paye, Won-Ldy, ad. Why Leopard Has Spots; illus. by Ashley Bryan. Fulcrum Kids, 1998. (BCCB 11/98)
  Eminently tellable versions of six Liberian folktales grace the pages of this humorous collection, and are complemented by the outstanding black and white woodcuts of Ashley Bryan.

• Gauthier, Gail. A Year with Butch and Spike. Putnam, 1998.
  Jasper spends sixth grade unwillingly trying to cope with the exploits of the notorious Coutier Cousins, Butch and Spike, only to find himself their best ally by the time the year ends. (BCCB 6/98)

Young Adults, 12-18 years

• Conford, Ellen. Crush. HarperCollins, 1998.
  The trials and tribulations of a bunch of high schoolers getting ready for the Valentine's Day Dance is the focus for this series of humorous tales. (BCCB 3/98)

• Jones, Diana Wynne. The Dark Lord of Derkholm. Greenwillow, 1998.
  Jones is at her witty best in this nice hefty fantasy novel in which Wizard Derk and his son Blade get caught up in a power struggle involving tourists, dragons, and the ultimate in fantasy role-playing games. (BCCB, 11/98)

• Paulsen, Gary. My Life in Dog Years. Delacorte, 1998.
  In eight short chapters Paulsen introduces readers to the canine friends and companions that supported and loved him through his life. (BCCB 3/98)

• Morris, Gerald. The Squire's Tale. Houghton, 1998.
  Terence is squire to goodly knight Gawain in this rollicking retelling of Arthurian legend. Magic, wizards, and danger accompany them on their quest for honor and glory in this engaging novel. (BCCB 7/98)

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