BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW
VINNIE AND ABRAHAM
AUTHOR - DAWN FITZGERALD
GRADES - 3-5
HONORS/AWARDS
BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION
ABC BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
BOOKLIST TOP TEN YOUTH BIOGRAPHIES
BOOKLIST TOP TEN ARTS BOOKS FOR YOUTH
NCSS/CBC NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES TRADE BOOK FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE
BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION'S BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF
THE YEAR
CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY - DISTINGUISHED CHILDREN'S BIOGRAPHY
LIST
THEME - DETERMINATION AND PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
This beautifully written biography tells the story of a young teen sculptor named Vinnie Ream. Living in Washington DC during Lincoln’s presidency, she used her talent to sculpt politicians. After the assassination, she fought conventional “wisdom” and prejudice for the honor of sculpting the full-size statue of Lincoln, her hero, that now stands in the Capitol rotunda. Being a poor, young female presented many obstacles, but her determination, perseverance and her talent allowed her to achieve her dreams.
GENRE - BIOGRAPHY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1.What do you admire most about Vinnie?
2. What special talent would you like to have? How would you use it to make the
world a better place?
PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD
BRING ON THE BIRDS
AUTHOR - SUSAN STOCKDALE
GRADES - PRE-2
HONORS/AWARDS
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
PARENTS' CHOICE - RECOMMENDED AWARD
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST OF THE BEST LIST
CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL'S - "NO ORDINARY BOOK" SELECTION
BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION'S BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF
THE YEAR
KEYSTONE TO READING - ELEMENTARY BOOK AWARD - FINALIST
THEME - APPRECIATING BIRDS
Rhyming couplets are used to introduce readers to twenty one different types of birds. Beautiful illustrations accompany descriptive words such as “Birds with jagged bills. Hummingbirds, drumming birds Birds with bills that drill.”
GENRES - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK, POETRY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Did you find any birds that live in your neighborhood?
2. What other animals are hatched from eggs?
turtles, snakes, crocodiles, fish, lizards
3. Why do some birds drill into trees?
4. Why does the peacock have beautiful feathers?
5. Why are some birds hard to see?
6. Why do birds that never fly have strong legs?.
NEWBERY MEDAL - HONOR
COW-TAIL SWITCH AND OTHER WEST AFRICAN STORIES, THE
AUTHORS - HAROLD COURLANDER AND GEORGE HERZOG
GRADES - 3-6
HONORS/AWARDS
NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR BOOK -
The Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children”.
THEME - UNDERSTANDING WEST AFRICAN CULTURE
Over a half century old, this classic provides some great read-alouds such as Younde Goes to Town and The Cow-Tail switch. Each story lends itself to class discussion. Just perfect for developing critical thinking skills.
GENRE - FOLKTALES
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Did the father give the cow-tail switch to the right son? What do you think?
2. In the story YOUNDE GOES TO TOWN, why did Younde bring home the
wrong message to his family?.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW
WONDERFUL THINGS YOU WILL BE, THE
AUTHOR - EMILY WINFIELD MARTIN
K - 2
HONORS/AWARDS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW
KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW
THEMES - LOVE, ACCEPTANCE
This easy to read, well illustrated picture book celebrates the wonderful things parents wish for their children - kindness, courage, creativity. It is a good feel poem with such lines as
“This is the first time there’s ever been you,
So I wonder what wonderful things you will do.”
You will want to read this at bedtime over and over again.
GENRES - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK , POETRY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
Encourage responses to illustrations and behaviors.
NEWBERY MEDAL - HONOR
ELLA ENCHANTED
AUTHOR - GAIL CARSON LEVINE
GRADES - 3-6
HONORS/AWARDS
NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR -
The Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children”.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - TOP 100 NOVELS FOR CHILDREN
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
DOROTHY CANFIELD FISHER CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD
CALIFORNIA YOUNG READER MEDAL
ARIZONA'S YOUNG READER'S AWARD
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. -QUICK PICK FOR RELUCTANT YOUNG ADULT
READERS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST BOOK
IOWA TEEN AWARD
MARYLAND BLACK-EYED SUSAN AWARD
YOUNG HOOSIER BOOK AWARD
MAINE STUDENT BOOK AWARD
AMAZON - TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
THEMES - FRIENDSHIP, SELFLESSNESS
When Ella was a baby, a fairy placed a curse on her forcing her to become completely obedient. If someone told her to do something, she had to do it, or she would become very sick. Once people discovered this weakness, they took advantage of her. She decided to go on a quest to find the fairy and get the cursed removed.
GENRE - FAIRY TALE
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What do you think was Ella’s worst experience?
Answers will vary. Dealing with giants, ogres, stepsisters are possible
choices.
2. Do you think Ella will ever return to see her family?
Answers will vary. The story suggests that she probably would not visit
them because they treated her so poorly.
3. Rate this book on a scale of 1-10. Explain your answer.
NEWBERY MEDAL - HONOR BOOK
WRINGER
AUTHOR - JERRY SPINELLI
GRADES - 3-6
HONORS/AWARDS
NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR BOOK -
The Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children”.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - "ONE HUNDRED TITLES FOR READING
AND SHARING"
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK
HORN BOOK - FANFARE
AMERICAN BOOKSELLER - PICK OF THE LISTS
BOOKLIST - EDITORS' CHOICE
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH - Notable Children's
Book in the field of Language Arts (NCTE)
THEMES -CONFORMING, NONVIOLENCE, PEER PRESSURE
This is a story about a ten-year-old boy and how he handles peer pressure and pressure from his father. When he was eight years old he dreaded his tenth birthday, because that was when the boys in his town became wringers. Every year a pigeon shooting contest was held and the wringers strangled the wounded pigeons. Most boys cannot wait until they are ten to get this opportunity. However, Palmer is different from most boys. He does not understand why pigeons have to die. He is afraid to tell anyone about his concerns, because he knows that the other boys will make fun of him. He thinks he will also lose the respect of his father who won a trophy as a wringer when he was a boy. Palmer's problems worsen when a stray pigeon pecks at his bedroom window. In a town where everyone hates pigeons, he decides to keep one as a pet. Terrible things will happen to him if anyone discovers his secret. Should he become a wringer and please his father or obey his conscience?
GENRE -REALISTIC FICTION
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Compare and contrast Palmer to yourself. Use personality and examples of
behavior in your answer.
Palmer is smart. He goes to the library to learn more about pigeons. He
wears winter clothes as a disguise so Nipper won’t recognize him.
Palmer is brave. He saves a pigeon in front of a crowd who want the
pigeons killed. He takes a pigeon as a pet even though he knows it could
get him into trouble.
Palmer is kind to animals and people. He doesn’t like to see pigeons
being killed.
He makes friends with Dorothy.
2. Palmer was afraid of his tenth birthday because he did not want to kill pigeons.
As you look into your future, is there anything that scares you? Explain.
3. This story contains many conflicts. Pretend you are Palmer. What are some of
the issues in your life?
I am expected to become a wringer, but I do not want to be one.
My father was an excellent wringer. How could I share my feelings
without upsetting my dad?
Should I stay with the gang or quit the gang?
Should I become friends with Dorothy?
Should I go to the contest or stay home?
Should I save the bird or let it die?
Should I tell people the truth about Nipper or keep it a secret?
4. How do you feel about the pigeon contest? Explain.
ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ☮️
THERE IS A TRIBE OF KIDS
AUTHOR - LANE SMITH
GRADES - PRE-3
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿
ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 👍🏿
KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL - WINNER
BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW
THEME - APPRECIATION OF NATURE
A critical thinking gold mine! A young boy (or girl) goes exploring and finds groups of animals that are labeled with the most interesting names. He finds a band of monkeys who are playing musical instruments, an unkindness of ravens who treat him badly, a bed of clams where he goes to sleep, and over a dozen more imaginative classifications. As you read this book, you cannot wait to see what is on the next page as the author/illustrator uses his talents to develop an appreciation of nature in a most whimsical manner. As a final treat - the artwork is fantastic!
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
What are the children doing on the last two pages?
Can you think of a name for another group of animals?
ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ☮️
THERE'S A BEAR ON MY CHAIR
AUTHOR - ROSS COLLINS
GRADES - PRE-2
HONORS/AWARDS 👍
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW
ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL👍
THEMES - NONVIOLENCE, PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS
A mouse comes home and finds a bear sitting on his chair. He tries all sorts of nonviolent tactics to get the bear to vacate, but nothing works. The mouse decides that he can play the same game, leaving a smile on the face of the reader/listener.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
What do you think will happen next?
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