And the Winner Is . . .

Well, I actually don't know yet. I'm a little behind on the two great kid's-book battles going on at the moment.

The first is Fuse #8's countdown of the greatest chapter books of! All! TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMME! Well, she doesn't really put it like that, because I imagine her throat would get sore.

As of this writing, she's at #5 (From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, in case you're interested), having counted down from 100. Some have been a surprise to me (seriously, guys? That many of you liked The Phantom Tollbooth?) and others have made me preen, newly vain in my own clearly excellent taste. Ever the trouper, Betsy is doing one per day. What will be #1? Place your bets now!

The second big contest of the past month has been SLJ's Battle of the Kid's Books. It's been fascinating to read some of the judgments, and my favorite are the ones where the author-judge says flat-out, "This is totally my subjective opinion because they're both awesome, mmkay?" The Peanut Gallery (reactions to the judgments) have also been worth the reading.

But the One Book to Rule Them All turned out to be . . . *drumroll while I check the website* Marching For Freedom by Elizabeth Partridge. As if that's not enough nonfic love, the Zombie Book was Pamela Turner's excellent The Frog Scientist.

Congratulations!

ETA: And if you think you'll go into Book Battle Withdrawal once Betsy's announced her number 1, never fear, for Nerds Heart YA is here. Contestants to be announced soon, according to the website. And there was much rejoicing.