A pair of new works by well-known award-winning writers and one local author top local children's librarians' recommendations of 2011's best books for young readers this holiday season.

Sylvia Tag, head of the Children's Interdisciplinary Collection at Western Washington University; Bethany Hoglund, head of children's services at the Bellingham Public Library, and Aubri Keleman, teen services coordinator for the Whatcom County Library System, discussed their favorite new books for kids of all ages in recent phone conversations and emails.

Their reading preferences vary widely, but three all cited "Okay for Now," by two-time Newbery honor Gary D. Schmidt, and "Wonderstruck," by Newbery-winning writer Brian Selznik, among their must-read books this year.

Keleman and Hoglund also praised "The Pearl Wars," the first in the Skyship Academy series by Bellingham writer Nick James. It has what Keleman calls "buzz" among local teens.

Both "Okay for Now" and "Wonderstruck" are for the middle-school reading level, but they have universal appeal. The stories are so captivating that they can be enjoyed by teens and adults and would be good to read aloud for many younger children.

"Okay for Now" tells the story of a minor character from Schmidt's previous novel, "The Wednesday Wars." It's a magnificent tragi-comedy that combines disparate themes of child abuse, family dysfunction, the Vietnam War, Audubon paintings and Broadway theater into a charming and precious coming-of-age novel.

Schmidt will be one of the authors in spring 2012 at WWU's annual Children's Literature Conference, an event that features some of the nation's top writers in the genre.

"I can't say enough about it," Tag said.

Hoglund confessed that she isn't an Audubon fan or a bird lover, but she treasured "Okay for Now" nonetheless.

"I was just pulled in by its simple - almost boring - plot line. It's so - oh! I loved the way (Schmidt) could tell a heartbreaking story with humor and hope," Hoglund said.

"Wonderstruck" follows Selznik's imaginative style that combines conventional writing with a graphic novel to create a complete tale. His "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" inspired the Martin Scorcese film "Hugo" that's playing in theaters now.

"Wonderstruck" spans 70 years as one character's story is told in words, and the other's is told in pictures.

"Like 'Hugo Cabret,' it's also intergenerational," Tag said. "There's a little bit of - not time travel, but a connection between generations, and they actually discover each other."

For teens, Tag likes "Chime," a dark fantasy by Franny Billingsley, which was a 2011 National Book Award finalist in the category of young people's literature.

"It's not predictable," she said. "It turns out to be more about a young woman discovering herself and the strength within herself."

For upper-elementary readers, Tag cited "Dead End in Norvelt," by Jack Gantos, the Newbery honor author of the Joey Pigza books.

"Oh my gosh - he's hilarious," Tag said. "It's lovely and sweet" in its portrayal of small town America and the story of a boy forced to help a neighbor write obituaries.

She also mentioned "Floors," by Patrick Carman, which she hasn't read but said "looks really wonderful and intriguing." Carman also will be at the 2012 Children's Literature Conference.

Tag said young readers will enjoy "Heart and Soul, The Story of America and African Americans," with words and paintings by Kadir Nelson, and "Every Thing On It," a new collection of poems and drawings by the late Shel Silverstein. "He's as timeless as ever," Tag said.

Among picture books, Tag raves about "New Year's Reunion," a "poignant" Chinese tale by Yu-Li Qiong; and "The Scar," about little boy whose mother has died in the night, by Charlotte Moundlic and Olivier Tallec.

It examines feelings of anger, grief and loss in "honest" terms that a child can understand, she said.

Tag also loved "Press Here," by Hervé Tullet, as a guide for tiny techies.

"It's a wonderful book," she said. "There's a red dot and you press it - it's this wonderful tactile experience that mimics electronics."

Students in her WWU classes loved it, Tag said. "I think they laughed out loud, it was so outrageous."

Hoglund said she hasn't read many teen novels this year, but she had some favorite picture books and titles for elementary-age readers.

"Secrets at Sea," by the acclaimed Richard Peck, features mice as main characters. Hoglund also recommended the nonfiction "Amelia Lost," Candace Flemming's story about the missing aviator; and "Queen of the Falls," by two-time Caldecott winner Chris Van Allsburg, author of "The Polar Express."

For picture books, Hoglund truly enjoyed "Babies on the Bus," a kind of sing-along by Karen Katz. "I think that one's super fun," Hoglund said.

She also enjoyed the "energetic" dog tale "RRRalph," by Lois Ehlert, with its collage-like illustrations. "The kids just love it," Hoglund said. "It's fun, silly and predicable - which is what a picture book should be."

Keleman, whose reading taste revolves around steampunk and dystopian fiction, couldn't pick an overall favorite book for 2011, but cited several titles that are popular among library users.

Right now, Keleman is reading "All These Things I've Done," by Catherine Zelvin. It's set in the 2083 New York, where chocolate and coffee are illegal.

"Politically, its really fun," she said. She said it differs from many dystopian novels in that it focuses on family dynamics and doesn't rely heavily on action.

She also loved Libba Bray's "Beauty Queens," which follows 50 teen pageant contestants whose plane crashes on a mysterious island.

"I think it's possibly the most subversive book I've read this year," Keleman said.

A teen novel that offers good discussion possibilities, Keleman said, is "Trapped," Michael Northrop's survival tale about teens who are stranded in their high school during a blizzard.

"It has been one that has really been fun to take into schools," she said. "Things just go from bad to worse."

She also liked Ransom Riggs' "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" and Maureen Johnson's "The Name of the Star."

"It's not only genuinely creepy, but there are these hilarious moments," she said.

Finally, a book that Keleman said is sure to win over a reluctant reader, is "Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Everest: You Decide How to Survive!" by David Borgenicht and Bill Doyle.

"It's got a lot of nonfiction to back it up," especially about climbing and survival in the wild, Keleman said.