Lane Smith’s picks
Evergreen, by Matthew Cordell
One of the best books of the year. This tale of a fearful squirrel, Evergreen, on a perilous errand to deliver soup to sick Granny Oak is brilliantly, perfectly told and brilliantly, perfectly illustrated in elegant fall tones. The end reveal of Granny is both sweet and hilarious and caught me fully by surprise.
The Skull, by Jon Klassen
The unrivaled Jon Klassen has made his best book yet. Which is saying a lot. The guy is a genius—skull and shoulders above everyone else in kids’ books. His tale of a little girl who befriends a bodiless skull is haunting yet heartwarming.
