It's always hard to choose the ten best books of the year, when there are so many great ones to choose from! This year it seemed an even more awesome task: the events of September 11th and the ongoing war have put everything in the world into a new perspective. But after hours of brainstorming (and bickering), Kidsreads came up with a list of the books that made us cry, laugh...and believe. We hope that we inspire your must-read lists and your holiday wish-lists.

BALONEY (HENRY P.) by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith Viking Childrens Books ISBN: 0670892483 Fans of Sciesszka and Smith won't be disappointed: this delightful tale of a little alien boy who needs a good excuse for being late to school has all their trademark wit, weirdness and smarts.

BEWARE OF THE STORYBOOK WOLVES by Lauren Child Arthur A. Levine ISBN: 043920500X Author Child uses clever collages and fabric patterns to illustrate this story of what happens when the bad guys get loose from a book of fairy tales.

FULL MOON by Lawrence David and Brian Wilcox Doubleday ISBN: 0385327927 Richly detailed pencil drawings illustrate this charming tale, a paean to New York City, families and love. A treat for grandparents to share with their little ones!

I AM NOT SLEEPY AND I WILL NOT GO TO BED by Lauren Child Candlewick Press ISBN: 0763615706 It's Charlie's job to get his little sister Lola to bed --- but how can she go when a lion is using her toothbrush and there are tigers in her closet? A sumptuously illustrated tale about the perpetual childhood complaint.

THE MANY ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY MUTTON: Stories and Pictures by James Proimos Harcourt ISBN: 0152023798 Everyone knew there was something weird about Johnny --- but no-one guessed he was actually a sheep. This tale told comic strip style will leave kids and parents alike giggling helplessly.

MY WORLD by Margaret Wise Brown illustrated by Clement Hurd HarperCollins ISBN: 0060247983 This new book, which is a companion to GOODNIGHT MOON, was written two years after the original story. It traces the little bunny going through his day seeing the world from his child-like perspective where he is small and the world is so big. The rhymes are clever and the illustrations are wonderful.

OLIVIA SAVES THE CIRCUS by Ian Falconer Atheneum ISBN: 068982954X How did Olivia spend her summer vacation? In the spotlight, at the circus of course! This dryly funny and quirkily illustrated story will charm all readers.

TIMOTHY TUNNY SWALLOWED A BUNNY by Bill Grossman and Kevin Hawkes Laura Geringer Books ISBN: 0060280107 A perfect book for reluctant readers, this volume of hilariously illustrated and definitely bizarre verses will inspire kids to read --- and is a great starting point for the poetry genre.

UNCLE BLUBBAFINK'S SERIOUSLY RIDICULOUS STORIES by Keith Graves Scholastic Trade ISBN: 0439240832 Witty and irreverent, this collection of hip tales and wacky artwork will charm the pre-adolescent set --- and their older arty siblings. The changes in font size and color, as well as the almost historical figures, add to the fun of this all-over-the-place book.

WAFFLE by Chris Raschka Atheneum ISBN: 0689838387 A simple and simply smart little book, WAFFLE makes bold statements about self-confidence and anxiety that will inspire family discussions. Back to top.