Welcome to the Writer with Wanderlust stop on the Best of 2016 Giveaway Hop hosted by Bookhounds.

As a children’s book reviewer, I read dozens of picture books each year, a few chapter books, a couple of middle grade and YA novels but only as many adult books as I can squeeze in between. So, it’s no surprise that my Best of 2016 List is focused on kidlit.

But before my list of favorites, let’s talk giveaway…$15 Amazon Gift Card to buy any one of these fabulous books.

Now for my picks for the Best of 2016…(and by that I mean the best of the books I read in 2016, not necessarily published last year).

Best Picture Book for Preschoolers – Where is Bear? by Johanthan Bentley

Best Picture Book for Primary Aged Children – Land Shark by Beth Ferry & Ben Mantle

Poor Bobby…all he wants for his birthday is a shark. Is that so much to ask? Land Shark is a great contemporary picture book with fantastic illustrations that are filled with laugh-out-loud details.

Best Picture Book to Give Children Nightmares – The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt & Tony DiTerlizzi

First, this book was not published last year or last decade, in fact the original poem by Mary Howitt was published in 1829. But this is an exceptional book from the spine-chilling  writing to the almost glowing silver screen-esque illustrations. Just don’t read it to children before bed…it’s been proven to induce nightmares.

Best Tear-Jerker – The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Sometimes I really do wonder where I’ve been. This book, published in 2012, is based on a true story that happened just a hour from where I lived at the time. A Newbery Medal award-winner, this one will break your heart, but it’s worth it.

Best YA Thriller – Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristof

I’m blown away by how many people I meet who haven’t heard of this book. This Australian three-book YA series is being made into a movie people, so check it out. It’s awesome and written in e-mails, reports, charts…just about anything other than plain text. Brilliant!

Best Adult Book – Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis

Written from the point of view of her orphaned 10-year-old nephew, Auntie Mame is the hilarious story of an unconventional caretaker loosely based on the extraordinary life of the author. There is absolutely nothing predictable in this book and it immediately became one of my all-time favorites. OK, it was published in 1955, but it’s still considered a masterpiece of contemporary fiction.

So there you have it…the Best Books (I read) in 2016.

GIVEAWAY – $15 Amazon Gift Card for a 2016 Favorite Book

CLICK HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

Please do hop around the other participating blogs to see more 2016 favorites and enter some fabulous giveaways. Good luck!