JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD ☮️

AUTHOR - CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD 

GRADES - 3-6

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD👍

recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people 

THE JEFFERSON CUP AWARD - WINNER - 

Honors a distinguished biography, historical fiction, or American history book for young people. 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

LEE BENNETT HOPKINS AWARD - WINNER👍

Honoring the most outstanding new poetry books

One of the turning points of the Civil Rights Movement occurred when a church was bombed, killing four African American girls. The author uses a fictional witness, a ten-year old girl, to describe this horrible event. The narrative concludes with pictures of the four girls accompanied by poems describing their interests and personalities. Although this book contains only forty easy to read pages, the text and the photos send a powerful message.This emotional story makes a great read aloud as many of the photos could serve as a basis for class discussion.

1. Why do you think the church was blown up? 

2 .On page 6, the author says that, "King's dream woke the nation from a long

    night of wrongs." What do you think that means?  

3. On page 18, the author says that someone "lit the fuse  of hate." 
What did she 

    mean by that? 

AUTHOR - LESA CLINE-RANSOME 

GRADES - 3-6  

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S  BOOK AWARD - HONOR 👍 -

The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.   

CHRISTOPHER AWARD - WINNER -  👍

This award is presented to authors who "affirm the highest values of the human spirit by making a positive difference in the world." 

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - HONOR - 👍

The Award is given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.  

NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE FOR OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - 

     CHILDREN

CENTER FOR THE  STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

      BEST BOOKS👍

a committee of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) identifies the best in multicultural books.

SCHOOL LIBRARY  JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

This beautifully illustrated work of poetry traces Harriet Tubman’s life in reverse order. 

1. What do you think was Harriet’s most dangerous job?
 

2. If you had the opportunity to ask her a question, what  would it be?
 

3. Not everyone could do what Harriet did. Can you think of three personality 

    
traits that allowed her to succeed?
       

    Bravery, Intellect, Persistence, Empathy, Strength                                                      

AUTHOR - JULIE LARIOS

GRADES - PRE-4

BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD - PICTURE BOOK - HONOR

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW 

This book of poems features fourteen animals, each assigned to a specific color. As you turn the pages the bold illustrations make the text come alive and totally engages the reader/listener. From the poem called Yellow Elephant, you see a large yellow elephant walking with her trunk up in the air. Opposite the text reads :                      

                                                  “Yellow elephant                       

                                                    in the jungle sun                      

                                               in the day’s yellow heat,                       

                                                 trumpeting her song                        

                                                 and galumphing along... .” 

                    As I read this book, I found a surprise waiting on each page. 

                                                      DURING READING

1. Green Frog  Show the illustration. What happens to the frog when it jumps into

    the  water? Why do you think the author used green for this page? Listen to the

    poem and  find out. 

    Grass turns green in the spring. 

2. Red Donkey  Show the illustration. What is the donkey doing? Why do you

    think the author used red for this page? Listen to the poem and find out. 

    Red is often associated with anger. 

3. Yellow Elephant    Show the illustration. What do you think the elephant is

     doing with his trunk? How is the elephant walking? Why do you think the 

     author used yellow for this page? Listen to the poem and find out. Discuss the 

     meaning of trumpeting and galumphing. 

4. Blue Turtle    Show the illustration. Why do you think the author used blue for 

    this page? Listen to the poem and find out. 

    Blue is often associated with cool. It is cooler in the shade. 

5. Gray Goose    Show the illustration. How is the gray goose feeling? Listen to 

    the poem and find out. 

    She is in a tizzy because she cannot find her gosling.

AUTHOR - KATE DICAMILLO

GRADES - 3-5

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 #20 

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - TOP 100 CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF LAST 100 

     YEARS👍

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. - TOP 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN #6  

GOODREADS - 100 BOOKS TO READ IN A LIFETIME

JOSETTE FRANK AWARD  👍 - 

This award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally.

MARK TWAIN AWARD 

DOROTHY CANFIELD FISHER AWARD 

BOOK SENSE  BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN.  - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

NEW YORK TIMES - BESTSELLER

A ten year old girl finds herself in a strange town with no friends. Then she meets and adopts a big stray dog, which she names Winn-Dixie, and all good things happen to her. They meet a collection of interesting people including a librarian who fought a bear with a book, an ex-con who sings to animals, and a lady with a big heart. They all become friends because of Winn-Dixie. This tale of kindness, friendship, and understanding is a real gem. 

1. Why do you think the dog followed Opal home in chapter one?
   

    Answer will vary. Maybe the dog was hungry or thirsty. 
Maybe it was 

    looking for someone to take care of him. 

2. Is it easier to make friends with an animal or a person? Explain. 

3. Who benefited the most from Winn-Dixie - the preacher or Opal? 

4. Who benefited most from their relationship - Opal or Winn-Dixie? 

5. Gloria Dump says that the whole world has an aching heart. What does 
that 

    mean?  Do you agree? 

AUTHOR - SUSAN STOCKDALE

GRADES - PRE-2

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

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.”

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?.

AUTHOR - EMILY WINFIELD MARTIN

K - 2

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

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.

Encourage responses to illustrations and behaviors.

AUTHOR - JERRY SPINELLI

GRADES - 3-6

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)


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? 

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.
                                                    

AUTHOR - ROSS COLLINS

GRADES - PRE-2

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL👍

 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. 

What do you think will happen next?       

                                                         PAGE 10