Best book we've seen this year
927816
I have probably read over 500 different children's books this year and this is the best one so far.  The illustrations are whimsical, inventive, and beautifully detailed and the story is hilarious.  My three year old, my wife, and I were all laughing out loud as we read this.  And the jokes didn't get tired after the umpteenth reading.  This is Adam Rex' best book for smaller children and I could not recommend anything more.
2929003
My favorite book I've read this year. I enjoyed it as much as "Boys in the Boat!" I couldn't put it down and ended up reading "Lilac Girls" and "The Chilbury Ladies Choir" afterward too. Loved them all! The men and women of this time in history had to be grown ups at 16 or younger and were made of tough stuff. We should all learn more about these kind of people so we can be them!
963961
This was my favorite book this year. As a direct result of Bradshaw's articulate dissection of "alpha theory," something I've known as a certified dog trainer for years has been inaccurate, I ended up including this book and Mr. Bradshaw's findings in my own publication. He's an amazing writer, and I feel that anyone who lives with dogs should read this book. He's articulate, scientific, and writes about challenging concepts in a very easy-to-read manner. I loved everything about this book.
3121955
Very interesting whether you have any medical knowledge  or not.  Best book i've read this year.  Absolutely impossible to put down.  I even paid  more for the kindle edition vs hard bound so I didn't have to wait to read it.
2280744
We must confess that our 4 year old didn't enjoy this as much as the rest of us did. We assume it's because none of us are able to read it without having to stop to catch our breath from laughter. She gets impatient with us because we're having difficulty breathing, to say nothing of reading.

The first time we read it to her, my son and I had to eventually tag team, takibg turns reading sentences and partial clauses while the other caught his breath.

The deadpan serious writing, paired with the ridiculous (and brilliantly done) drawings, on top of characters in Prudence and her family who are a bit too familiar, make this the funniest of all the children's books we've had the pleasure of reading. And we've read so many, from so many authors great and otherwise, through our teen son's childhood on through our daughter's (and a few dozen dollars in library fines).

This book is a gem. We will continue to treasure and enjoy it long, long after our kids have grown.
2089220
One of the best books I've read this year.  A female micro-biologist discovers how to boost human intelligence, using a pill which lasts for about an hour.  The boost is so dramatic that it enables her to solve very complex problems instantly.  However, she can not do this too often as it takes a lot out of her physically. She also discovers how to double the human life span, and there are people plotting how to get the secret of extended life from her.  Very good reading, I liked it a lot.  I am now reading the sequel entitled "Amped", and it is very good also.
397642
One of the best books I have read so far this year (2016). The creative team is doing such an excellent job with this title that it is a shame people do not know about the quality and disregard it. I do not write reviews at all, but I had to because this is so good. I cannot wait for the next volume to come out.
3352013
I finished this book last night and have to say this is one the best books I've read this year.  The stories are all about lower-middle-class people with real problems, so real in fact that much of the book is very, very  sad, but also very beautiful.  Because ultimately what the author is trying  to say about these people and these situations is Hey, wake up, look around  you, see what's happening, and realize that the world around us has to  change.  The stories are funny, and true, and many of them are not only  excellent stories beautifully written, but are obviously metaphorical and  applicable to our real lives, no matter how absurd they may seem on the  surface.
I would highly recommend this book.  If it gives you any  indication, Saunders is on equal footing with other current gifted writers  such as David Foster Wallace, Thom Jones, and T.C. Boyle.
1004020
In terms of the factors above best book of the year!
2689069
I didn't know what to expect from this book. I hadn't read many, perhaps any, non-fiction picture books before, but wow! This book is great. Both the pictures and the text were fascinating. I learned far more than I ever expected to from this children's book.

Boys especially should love this!
4108290
I read probably a book or two a week, and here it is 12/29/09, and this is the best book I've read this year!  As I was reading this book, savoring the language, I felt deeply satisfied in the sense of something filling my soul.  I am not gifted at literary review; I am not an editor.  I can only say that the writing of this book seems extraordinary, a rare thing.  I just now watched the clip of Colum McCann on this site, and he speaks of "channeling" the voices of the characters and of acting as a ventriliquist.  He succeeds expertly at channeling disparate voices--and so many of them--from different races, socio-economic standing, and from different places--Ireland, Guatemala, and the United States (he seems to have New York City down pat and then there was Gloria with her Missouri roots).  He made me love these people, these very different people.  He helped me understand and also care about hookers in the Bronx, about a struggling single mother from Guatemala, and a judge in NYC who's life was not all it seemed to be once McCann helped us see beneath the veneer.  These people are believable, both in the way they talk and the way they think, their interior lives.  This is an outstanding book.  I am not the first to say so; I just wanted to add my thoughts and thanks to so many others'.  Congratulations to Mr. McCann for this amazing work of art!
1134926
I don't read a lot of children's books, but of the few each year I do read, this is the best I've seen in a long time. It's the endearing story of two sisters, a beautiful cultural tradition, and teaches a few Korean words.  The illustrations are adorable and the perfect complement to the story. Hope to see more books from this author-illustrator.
1158060
Best book I've read this year. Philosophy and philosophers brought with clarity and sensitivity to life, a stunning rescue of priceless books story, a touching and the often painful memoir, a beautiful love story - and incredible, very readable and absorbing writing. All lyrically bound together. I never knew of Jane Addams - never heard of her. Now I have, and her lost place in history matters as she does. Eight pages about Jane Addams brought tears. The author takes us places to meet people who instantly evoke our involvement, even attachment. Agnes Hocking. I couldn't put this book down, and I didn't want it to end.

Reviews are often personal, and this book makes it all the more true. So I'll stop writing. James, Hegel, Royce, Agnes and William Hocking, John Kaag. Thank you for the experience and the book to reread.
2956160
I read this book in one breathless evening, and I can't stop thinking about it. This book isn't for everyone, but it was definitely for me. This was, far and away, my favorite book of 2016 (and I read more than 100 books this year). It presents the facts, and then allows the reader to draw conclusions about the events that happen. The author doesn't manipulate feelings. Instead, she shows the story as it unfolds. It's thought provoking, and I loved that many hypocrisies are presented but not directly stated.

There are a ton of fantastic reviews on here that will try to explain to you what this book is about. They come close, but this book isn't easy to explain. It's one you have to read and digest for yourself. Many people have said it's one you either love or hate (or a mix of both), and I can see why that's true. It's beautiful and intense and disturbing and thought-provoking and just amazing.

I keep paging through, rereading chapters and skimming. It was THAT good.
4184467
This book, with it's rich characters entertained page after page. It is a charming  story that brought laughter and tears. This was the best book I have read this year. I am so very impressed and cannot wait for the next book. Applause to Tove Foss Ford.
4967966
This book is going to be "THE" book of 2017. It's brilliant.
3951503
Compelling, engrossing, and entertaining. Best graphic novel I've had the pleasure of reading this year, and there have been some greats this year. Have kids, have teenagers, have imagination yourself? You'll love this book. Bridget is a character you'll think about and care about a long time to come. And you'll hold your breath frustrated that the second book isn't out yet!