Which books stand out from an entire year or reading? Titles that didn’t leave me. Books I have wanted to share. To reread. That I have particular plans for. Books that I have read to multiple audiences. Books full of the beautiful and the hopeful. Wonder. Inspiration. Humanity. Sorrow and hope. Books I recommend highly. Books I am pleased to celebrate here.
The 17 books that made the final cut? I chose everything from picture books to young adult novels. Middle grade novels. Transitional chapter books. All of it. (except for nonfiction titles – they got a list all their own)
17 books and no more than 17 words of raving. This was my challenge last year with my Favourites of 2016 (16 books, 16 words) Each year it has been the same: Favourites of 2015 (15 books, 15 words), Favourites of 2014 (14 books, 14 words), Favourites of 2013 (13 books, 13 words) and (12 books, 12 words) with my 2012 Favourites. Each year, I get one more book and one more word to play with!
17 favourites of 2017
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
Nearly wordless. All about important things. Kindness. Trust. Simplicity.
Town is by the Sea written by Joanne Schwartz and illustrated by Sydney Smith
Daily life in a Cape Breton mining town. Illustrations that literally freeze place and time. 
The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
Our voices cannot be silenced. Timely and timeless.
Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin
Wordless and wonderful. Rich with kindness and longing for how we connect.
My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne Del Rizzo
How can we leave one life to begin another? A refugee experience full of sadness and hope.
A creative and inspiring journey that celebrates how what goes wrong is equally exactly right.
Now by Antoinette Portis
Being in the moment has never been celebrated with such lovely wonder and beauty.
Out of Wonder Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander with Chris Colderley and Marjorie Wentworth illustrations by Ekua Holmes
Oh this book of poems and art. Kind of speechless.
Charlie & Mouse & Grumpy (Charlie & Mouse, #2) written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Emily Hughes
Endearing and lovely. Sibling antics. Silly stories. Hilarious illustrations. Reading gold.
A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
Bat, his family and a little orphaned skunk make up a cast of characters that you must meet.
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia
So I kind of love everything about Clayton Byrd.
Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King (A.S. King)
I can’t get Obe and Marvin Gardens out of my head.
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
Suspend belief. Be uncertain. Allow yourself to get lost in this story. Incredible writing.
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
I adore Alex Petroski. His journey to capture the essence of Earth reveals his vulnerable, complicated existence.
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
An isolated setting. Unique characters. Mystery and intrigue and simplicity that makes a can’t put down story.
Refugee by Alan Gratz.
You will cry. Shake your head. Fret. Dream terrible things. Read this book. Hand it to everyone.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Necessary reading for anyone who happens to currently be human. Deserving of all the hype.
Please share your own favourites of the year . . .
Wishing everyone a 2018 full of new favourites and lots of reading!
There's a Book for That 
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I am very behind on middle grade this year–read so few compared to previous years–so there is much good reading ahead of me to catch up on! I loved all of these PBs too. Still have to get my hands on My Beautiful Birds.
It is VERY worth getting your hands on!
I love your list! I am still reading- though more slowly than I would like! I find that pursuing an EdD while teaching is really hard. I hope to blog again in 2019 when my life becomes my own again! From your list, I read 8 of your 17. Orphan Island, Beyond the Bright Sea, Bat, Refugee, The Hate U Give, and Cosmos are all high on my list of favorites. Thanks, Carrie, for continuing to read, write, and share! I still enjoy keeping up with you!
So impressed that you are pursuing future studies. I can’t imagine! Sounds like you still did a LOT of reading!
I LOVE this idea of 17 books/ 17 words. What a fun, creative challenge!
Thank you! It is a lot of fun.